Ranging from overnight to as long as a week, Princess Cruises’ new 2008-09 “coastal” sailings offer a great way for travelers to sample the cruise line’s vessels while exploring North America’s Pacific coastline. Passengers can choose from one-, two-, three- and four-night escapes in the spring and fall. “Coastal voyages are a great way to sample what Princess offers from shipboard amenities, dining and entertainment, to our acclaimed service,” said Jan Swartz, Princess’ senior vice president of customer service and sales. Several ships offer a choice of three-night getaways between Los Angeles and Vancouver, including Coral Princess on Sept. 15, 2008 and May 15, 2009; Golden Princess on Sept. 28, 2008; and Island Princess on Sept. 22, 2008. Island Princess also offers a four-day voyage on May 7, 2009 with a call in Victoria.
www.princess.com

-Bill Karz

January through March is prime whale-watching season and Spirit Cruises is heading into its 26th year of providing the perfect opportunity to experience the magnificent display of nature off the coast of San Pedro; home of the World Cruise Center. On one or the other of its 65-foot or 90-foot motor yachts, Spirit offers two-hour professionally narrated cruises that sail between one and three miles offshore. Whales are seen 95 percent of the time and passengers always enjoy marine life sightings from sea lions to dolphins. Tickets are $18 for adults and $10 for children. Group rates are also available. When you return to harbor, continue the seaside adventure with waterfront dining at the scenic Ports O’Call Restaurant.
www.spiritmarine.com
www.portsocalldining.com
www.portofla.org

-Bill Karz

The hottest after-dark scene is Downtown, where it’s see and be seen at cool clubs and nightspots for everything from cocktails under the stars to living history vibes. Here’s a sampling:

Mayan Theatre and Club - On weekends, this 1927 venue pulsates with Latin tunes to a background of hand-carved, richly-painted walls and a giant Sun Calendar. www.clubmayan.com

Elevate - Guests in this sleek 21st floor penthouse lounge seem to float on the shimmering skyline seen through 150 feet of sliding glass doors. www.elevatelounge.com

Tatou - Created by Studio 54 owner Mark Fleischman, guests party nightly to music and live entertainment specials. www.clubtatou.com

The Edison - Night owls soak up living history amid the mechanical artifacts at this art deco-style lounge built in a former power plant. www.edisondowntown.com

J Lounge - The vibe is chic in what used to be the legendary Little j’s, a long-time hangout for stars like Natalie Cole, Janet Jackson and Stevie Wonder. www.jloungela.com

The Standard Rooftop Bar - 360-degree views of the Downtown skyline make this bar at The Standard Downtown LA an ultimate see-and-be-seen scene. www.standardhotel.com

Library Bar - Plush leather barstools, sofas by the fireplace and bookshelves filled novels, offer an intimate, cosmopolitan vibe. www.librarybarla.com

Redwood Bar and Grill - Old LA is alive and hotter than ever at this Downtown institution, which has been an “in” spot for decades. www.theredwoodbar.com

The second phase of L.A. LIVE will open in October 2008 with nightspots including:

Club NOKIA - Some 150 live performances by emerging musical groups and cultural shows will entertain up to 2,300 guests annually. The venue also will offer space for corporate events and private parties. www.lalive.com

Conga Room - LA’s legendary mid-Wilshire Latin nightspot will relocate to Downtown. The nightclub will feature top-name Latin, world and alternative music, special events, a television broadcast with live Latin programming, and daily radio broadcasts. www.lalive.com

-Bill Karz

Los Angeles is at the forefront of cutting-edge exhibits and the best of the old and new world collections. Here’s a sampling of the newest offerings.

Japanese American National Museum (JANM)
Giant Robot Biennale: 50 Issues
Now - Jan. 13, 2008
369 E. First St., Los Angeles
In celebration of the 50th issue of the pop-culture magazine Giant Robot, the exhibit features works by 10 cutting-edge artists from around the country.
www.janm.org

Geffen Contemporary at MOCA
©Murakami
Now - Feb. 11, 2008
250 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles
Features more than 90 pop culture and anime works by internationally renowned Takashi Murakami. The exhibit also includes a preview of his new animated film, kaikai & kiki.
www.moca.org

Craft and Folk Art Museum (CAFAM)
Mystical Creatures & Characters: Tales from Around the World
Jan. 20, 2008 - May 18, 2008
5814 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
Historic marionettes and contemporary puppets from the Conservatory of Puppetry Arts (COPA) depict the heroes and villains of fairy tales and legends.
www.cafam.org

The Hammer Museum
Kara Walker: My Complement, My Enemy, My Oppressor, My Love
March 2, 2008 - June 8, 2008
10899 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
Kara Walker has risen to international prominence for visually stunning works that challenge conventional narratives of American history and the antebellum South.
www.hammer.ucla.edu

-Bill Karz

LA’s legacy as the “entertainment capital” takes on historic proportions with the milestone anniversaries of two of the world’s most famous and prestigious entertainment award shows. The GRAMMY® Awards will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a live airing on CBS. The show will take place on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008 at STAPLES Center in Downtown LA. “Over the past 50 years, the GRAMMY Awards has become the world’s most famous music telecast and the highest honor bestowed upon music makers,” said Neil Portnow, president of The Recording Academy®. The year-long 50th anniversary celebration culminates with the opening of the new GRAMMY MuseumTM at L.A. LIVE in Downtown. The 30,000 square foot, one-of-a-kind museum is expected to draw more than 300,000 visitors annually. On Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008, the Academy Awards® will present the 80th Oscar awards ceremony at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. The show will be hosted by Jon Stewart and will be televised live on ABC.
www.grammy.com
www.oscars.org

-Bill Karz

Universal CityWalk Hollywood takes extreme to new heights with the opening of iFLY Hollywood, LA’s first ever indoor skydiving wind tunnel. Housed in the world’s tallest and most technologically advanced indoor wind tunnel, thrill-seekers enjoy a close approximation of a true skydiving experience as they are suspended in mid-air at heights of up to 30 feet and wind speeds of more than 125 miles-per-hour, with 360-degree views of CityWalk’s pedestrian promenade. The experience replicates skydiving by using two colossal electric fans (the equivalent of more than 800 horse-power), to give guests of all ages an authentic and intense free-fall sensation. Certified skydiving instructors provide individualized training prior to each skydiving adventure and guests don authentic skydiving gear. Guests receive a Certificate of Completion following their flight. Single flight packages cost $39.95. Group rates are available.
www.iflyhollywood.com
www.citywalkhollywood.com

-Bill Karz

Here’s the updated list of participating restaurants w/ menu, details and map:

www.dinela.com/restaurantweek/participating.php

The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens’ new $19 million habitat for six African lowland gorillas opened Nov. 8. Campo Gorilla Reserve, as it is formally known, provides the gorillas with an environment that closely resembles their native West African homeland. Visitors share the African experience as they journey along a misty, forested pathway for close-up views of the gorillas living in two separate habitats: one for a family troop of gorillas, led by a silverback male; and a separate habitat for two bachelors. Glassed viewing areas and planted moats are all that separates Zoo guests from the largest primate in the world. Gorillas are endangered species, and the opening of Campo Gorilla Reserve allows the LA Zoo to participate in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) species survival program for gorillas. Admission to the LA Zoo is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 2-12. Groups of 15 or more can purchase adult tickets for $7; children’s tickets are $4.
www.lazoo.org

LA INC. The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau and American Express have partnered with the LA restaurant community to launch “dineLA;” showcasing LA as a World-Class Dining Destination.

dineLA’s first event is “dineLA Restaurant Week” scheduled for January 27 – February 1 and February 3 – February 8, 2008

dineLA Restaurant Week will allow local foodies and visitors to LA the opportunity to indulge in a selection of specially priced three-course menus from a wide variety of LA’s best restaurants.

Dining experiences during dineLA Restaurant Week are available in two categories, providing guests the opportunity to experience many different types of cuisine, dining neighborhoods and restaurants during the event:

Deluxe Dining = $15 for lunch and $25 for dinner
Premier Dining = $22 for lunch and $34 for dinner

*beverages, tax and gratuity are not included

“dineLA Restaurant Week is LA’s most anticipated restaurant event,” said celebrated chef/owner Neal Fraser of GRACE and BLD restaurants. “GRACE and BLD are thrilled to be a part of such a thriving culinary community that offers a wide variety of world-class dining opportunities.”

“LA has diverse, close knit neighborhoods with many restaurants that cook for local eaters and area visitors,” said the world renowned “Two Hot Tamales” - Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, chef/owners of Border Grill and Ciudad restaurants. “LA’s own unique style of dining will be highlighted during dineLA Restaurant Week, and we look forward to introducing new customers to Border Grill and Ciudad throughout the event.”

www.dinela.com/restaurantweek

From luxurious to whimsical to surfer cool, LA’s boutique hotels have it all for visitors who prefer mid-sized accommodations. The 4-Diamond Hilton Checkers Los Angeles in Downtown is all about luxury. Gourmet Magazine showcased Checkers’ restaurant (serving California fusion with French and Asian accents) among LA’s best restaurants. The hotel has 188 guest rooms and penthouse suites, along with the 3,300 square feet of meeting and banquet space. Bonus: Checkers rooftop pool, whirlpool and sundeck offer stunning Downtown skyline views. Guests find trendy serenity at the O Hotel Los Angeles, the newest Downtown boutique property. Recently re-opened, the original 1920s hotel combines Euro chic, history and relaxation in its 68 guest rooms and meeting and banquet space for up to 100. The hip Oh! restaurant and bar pairs Spanish classics and tapas with new world California cuisine. Following a two-year, $4 million makeover, the European-style Orlando Hotel, on West Third Street amid West LA’s hottest new shopping district (from La Cienega Boulevard to Fairfax Avenue), has 98 guest rooms beautifully appointed in a clean modern style. The hotel also boasts La Terza, a new first-class Italian restaurant. Beach accommodations are better than ever at the Best Western Marina Pacifica Hotel and Suites in Venice, a short walk from the sand. A $15 million renovation completed this past summer brings a new fifth floor of premium ocean view guest rooms to the forefront along with a new rooftop deck with panoramic views of the Pacific coastline.