Recent Posts

Hollywood: Making Movies & Dreams Come True for 125 Years

The world-famous Hollywood sign.
Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/34065722@N00/1151601662

Bright lights, big premieres, beautiful stars. Hollywood and the movies – one would likely not exist without the other.

Hollywood, Calif., may not be the actual birthplace of the movies (the East Coast holds that particular distinction), but Hollywood is definitely where the movies became legendary, and the movies helped make Hollywood the land of dreams it is today.

On February 1, The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will honor the 125th Birthday of Hollywood with a celebration at the Hollywood & Highland Courtyard. To honor the special relationship between the land of stars and the world of movies, we present a brief history of some of Hollywood’s highlights, along with the film world’s biggest moments.

Hollywood Feb. 1, 1887: Harvey Wilcox, a transplant from Kansas, officially registers Hollywood with the Los Angeles County recorder’s office after his wife Daeida meets a woman on a train who speaks of her summer home called Hollywood. She convinces her husband to name their new community "Hollywood." 1903: The community is incorporated as Hollywood. Wilcox, a prohibitionist, bans the sale of alcohol in the community except by pharmacists. 1910: Hollywood officially becomes a part of Los Angeles in order to benefit from the water and sewage systems. 1911: David Horsley purchases the Blondeau Tavern on Sunset Boulevard and turns it into the Nestor Film Company, Hollywood's first film studio. 1917: The Charlie Chaplin Studios are built just south of Sunset. Charlie Chaplin Studios 1923: The Hollywood sign, which reads "Hollywoodland," is put up as an advertisement for a Hollywood Hills housing development. After the advertisement is over, the sign remains. 1927: Grauman's Chinese Theatre has its Grand Opening. The film shown is Cecil B. DeMille's The King of Kings. A riot breaks out as onlookers try to see the stars entering the theater. 1929: The first Academy Awards ceremony and banquet takes place in the Blossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. 1935: Max Factor opens his beauty salon to the stars. It is now the home of The Hollywood Museum. 1949: The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce takes charge of the Hollywood sign, removing the "land" and repairing the letters that now spell simply "Hollywood." 1960: The first star is placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The celebrity honored is Joanne Woodward. 1968: Grauman’s Chinese Theatre is declared a historical and cultural landmark. Grauman's Chinese Theatre 1980: Los Angeles population rises to 3,005,072, surpassing Chicago as second in the nation. 1998: The American Film Institute announces its list of the top 100 films of all time. Citizen Kane tops the list. 2000: A section of East Hollywood is designated as America’s first and only Thai Town. So many ethnic Thais live in Los Angeles (roughly 80,000) that the city is sometimes referred to as Thailand’s 77th province. 2001: The Kodak Theatre opens on Hollywood Boulevard in the location of the old Hollywood Hotel. 2009: Madame Tussauds opens in Hollywood. Feb.1, 2012: Hollywood celebrates its 125th birthday!

The Movies 1889: William K. Dickson, commissioned by Thomas Alva Edison, builds the first motion-picture camera and names it the Kinetograph. 1903: Edison Corporation mechanic Edwin S. Porter turns cameraman, director and producer to make the first film: The Great Train Robbery. It is also the first Western. 1909: The New York Times publishes the first movie review, a report on D. W. Griffith's Pippa Passes. 1910: Thomas Edison introduces his kinetophone, which makes "talkies" (talking motion pictures) a reality. 1914: In his second big-screen appearance, Charlie Chaplin plays the Little Tramp, his most famous character. Charlie Chapman as the Little Tramp 1919: Charlie Chaplin, D. W. Griffith, Douglas Fairbanks, and Mary Pickford establish United Artists in an attempt to control their own work. 1923: German Shepherd Rin Tin Tin becomes film's first canine star. 1927: Al Jolson astounds audiences with his nightclub act in The Jazz Singer, the first feature-length talkie. 1939: Gone with the Wind premieres and will go on to gross $192 million, making it one of the most profitable films of all time. It's also one of the longest films, clocking in at 231 minutes. Screenshot of the title page from the trailer for the film Gone with the Wind 1953: To counteract the threat of television, Hollywood develops wide-screen processes such as CinemaScope, first seen in The Robe. 1968: The motion picture rating system debuts with G, PG, R and X. 1975: Jaws, a film by a young director named Steven Spielberg, inaugurates the age of the modern blockbuster. Hollywood. 1980: Sherry Lansing, 36, was named president of production at 20th Century Fox, becoming the first female to hold this position and head a major studio. 1999: The 71st annual Academy Awards show was the longest Oscars awards ceremony ever held at 4 hours and 2 minutes. 2000: The national average ticket price for theatre admission was $5.39, according to the National Association of Theatre Owners. 2008: A back-lot fire at Universal Studios destroyed iconic sets including the clock tower from Back to the Future and the King Kong exhibit on the studio tour. 2010: Johnny Depp was the highest-paid actor of the year ($75 million).

Timeline information courtesy TWOOP timelines, Discover Los Angeles and Infoplease.com.

Exploring and Enjoying Santa Monica

Downtown Santa Monica as seem from the Santa Monica pier. Photo credit: Derek KT W beyondphotography.net.tc

As the second largest city in the United States, the Los Angeles area has a lot to offer visitors. The reality is that you could spend years in L.A. without seeing all that there is to see. From Hollywood to Anaheim and Ventura to Long Beach, the possibilities are endless. Making a weekend trip is even more daunting, especially if it’s your first time to the area. A good strategy is to pick one area to focus on when visiting, rather than trying to do too much. With that in mind, I’ll focus on Santa Monica, which is one of Los Angeles’ more enchanting communities.

Part of the fun of any city is exploring for yourself, so it’s highly recommended that you take some time to just wander the streets of Santa Monica. Of course, you’ll also want to check out the Santa Monica Pier. The pier is over 100 years old, and features restaurants, beautiful ocean views, and sport fishing.

Another great attraction in downtown Santa Monica is the Promenade, which has some of the best shopping in LA. If you’re looking for some new threads, check out the stores there by Seven, American Apparel, Burberry, and Hugo Boss. They also have some excellent dining, including Xino Modern Chinese, and a variety of street performers that will keep the little ones entertained.

There are a lot of great hotels to stay at in Santa Monica, but most of them are fairly expensive. The best value you will find is the Holiday Inn at the Santa Monica Pier. Rates are a little over $100 a night during the week, and around $160 on the weekends, and they offer unparalleled access to downtown Santa Monica. For added savings, try using a Travelocity promo code to save 10% or more on your stay.

A nighttime view of Pacific Park at the Santa Monica pier.

The great thing about staying right by the pier is that you’re only a few blocks from downtown Santa Monica, which is filled with unique restaurants and bars. For breakfast, try Le Pain Quotidien. This charming little bakery offers wonderful organic meals made with fresh local ingredients. Their entrees are particularly excellent, especially the Roasted Asparagus and Goat Cheese Omelet.

If you enjoy drinking wine, a great spot for dinner is Upstairs 2, also located near downtown. This restaurant is a wine drinker’s Mecca, and they organize their menu selections based on the type of wine you want to drink. Some can’t miss items here are the Cold Cucumber Soup, the Monkfish Croquettes, and the King Crab Ravioli. If you find any wines that you particularly enjoy, you can purchase them in the giant wine store located downstairs.

Santa Monica has an endless supply of nightlife, so you’re bound to find something that’s right up your alley. If you want a glass of wine, Pourtal is an excellent place to start your night. They have over one hundred wines, including many from unique regions such as Germany, Israel and Slovenia, and they also feature a light menu.

If you’re looking for a more rowdy experience, check out Busby’s. This bar has a very authentic west coast vibe, and is filled with beautiful people and reasonably priced drinks. They also have pool tables, arcade games, and a great dance floor.

Third Street Promenade decorated for the holidays.

For those who desire a slightly more upscale experience, try checking out Copa d’ Oro. The ambiance and service there are excellent, but the highlight is definitely their cocktails. If you need convincing, just take a look at the Mestizio. This potent masterpiece contains Chinaco Blanco Tequila, Crème de Ginger, Basil Ruby Red Grapefruit, and Organic Agave Nectar. It’s not just a drink, it’s a work of art!

You can make a hundred trips to Santa Monica without experiencing everything the area has to offer. The key here is to not get overwhelmed, but rather to be open to adventure. The recommendations here are all great points of departure, but don’t be afraid to explore on your own.

Santa Monica is one of Stefan Georgi’s favorite areas of LA. He highly recommends using a Travelocity promo code when booking a hotel near the pier.

Embrace the Fine Art of Dining

This article was written by Melissa Davidson, one half of the CityPASS social media duo. After her recent visit to San Francisco, she was inspired by the wonderful food she found at the San Francisco CityPASS attractions.

Caffé Museo at SFMOMA. Photo credit: www.sfmoma.org

On a recent trip to San Francisco, my husband and I wanted to check out the final days of Richard Serra’s exhibition at SFMOMA. We popped in, took a look around the atrium and caught a glimpse high above of a flickering grid of tiny lights before a kind employee politely told us the museum wasn’t open for the day.

Lucky for us, the museum’s restaurant was open, and we were starving. We decided to eat an early lunch in Caffé Museo before submerging ourselves in art. After all, one must be properly fueled to fully appreciate art.

Located on the first floor of SFMOMA, the café’s walk-up counter was inviting and the menu looked tasty, albeit pricey. I easily decided on the soup of the day, which was a simple and nourishing yam soup, and a fresh mixed greens salad. A good place for a nosh and people-watching on Third Street, Caffé Museo was the perfect pit stop pre-opening. And we didn’t stuff ourselves so much that we couldn’t enjoy a casual walk through the museum.

Part of the fun of using our San Francisco CityPASSes was eating the museum fare. We were at these museums already, so why not give them a try, if not for the convenience and ease, then for the delicious, creative and fresh dishes? It goes without saying you can expect to pay a bit more at museums, but don’t forget they usually use lots of local, fresh, organic ingredients. The vibrant orange soup and dark green salad definitely put a smile on my face!

The next day, at the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park, we grabbed a bite at the de Young Café, this time after several hours of art viewing. My husband, whose eyes are typically larger than his stomach, ordered a healthy quinoa salad with lots of fresh herbs and veggies, but the star of his meal was the “fall-off-the-bone” tender chicken cacciatore with porcini, fennel, carrots, onions, capers, faro and mushrooms. He loved it. The flavors blended well and warmed our insides.

The menu even recommended a wine pairing for each dish. Had he been in the mood, he might have enjoyed a glass of Jade Cabernet Sauvignon. As for me, I was perfectly content chowing down a huge, moist Rice Krispie treat topped with a thick layer of dark chocolate and a sandwich.

The Modern at New York's MoMA.
Photo credit: www.themodernnyc.com

On the East Coast, the next time you’re in Philly visiting attractions with your Philadelphia CityPASS and have a need to calm cranky kids, stop by Please Touch Museum’s eatery, the appropriately named "Please Taste Café.” It offers a pasta station with fresh veggies and homemade sauce, hand-crafted pizzas, homemade soups, and grilled or baked items. The café also offers gluten, dairy, nut and egg free foods. Please Touch Museum is such a fun place, it’s hard not to enjoy everything it has to offer, including the restaurant’s variety of treats.

If plastic trays and straws aren’t quite upscale enough, perhaps something more sophisticated will entice you. Count on New York City museums to serve up high-end, visually impressive restaurants.

The Modern is one of the favorites. Located on the ground floor at MOMA in Midtown Manhattan, lunch will run you $55 for a two-course meal plus dessert and $70 for a three-course meal plus dessert. Be prepared to tempt your taste buds with foie gras, rabbit terrine, tartars and palette-cleansing desserts. The Modern might be that restaurant to check off your bucket list, or maybe you’re just having a business lunch. Call for reservations, (212) 333-1220 or visit www.themodernnyc.com.

You can always eat in the restaurant’s Bar Room if you want a more casual setting and rustic menu. Or, on the second floor of MOMA, there’s Cafe 2, specializing in pasta, salumi, panini and other Italian dishes ordered deli-style and served at large communal tables.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History and Guggenheim also have fantastic restaurants.

The Wright at the Guggenheim, New York City.
Photo credit: http://www.thewrightrestaurant.com

The Guggenheim’s The Wright, named for Frank Lloyd Wright, who designed the Guggenheim, comprises only 58 seats. A New York Times article (Jan. 2010) describes the room itself, which can also be entered from the street, as “largely white, with lots of sweeping curves that arch to the ceiling and a sinuous communal table in the middle, both of which manage to evoke the circling ramp and spare aesthetic of the museum building without mimicking them.”

“Our old cafe was a get-your-own-tray cafeteria with photos of artists and a kind of rinky-dink buffet,” said Maria Celi, the Guggenheim’s director of visitor services and retail operations. “Some of the old-timers may miss those photographs, but people are more sophisticated now about food, and that is something we had to recognize that if we are going to grow the repeat visits we want.”

Big names in fine dining, such as Wolfgang Puck, have extended to museums across the country, including many museums included in CityPASS. Over the past several years, Wolfgang Puck has partnered with museums in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Toronto.

Visitors to Boston’s Museum of Science can enjoy views of the Charles River and Cambridge while eating Wolfgang Puck pizza in Riverview Café. Catering services are also available.

Many museums offer a similar experience, and while you’re enjoying the fine art that brought you to the museum in the first place, you can also embrace the fine art of dining. Bon appetit!