Set to open Feb. 23, 2008, the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens will unveil the first phase of its new Chinese Garden. Phase I of the Summer Garden will include the lake and pavilions.

Known as the Garden of Flowing Fragrance, when completed, it will be the largest classical garden outside of China and one of the largest of the 14 specialized gardens at the Huntington. The garden will include a lake, tea house, pavilions and bridges set within a landscape of plants native to China — bamboo, canyon, pagoda, penjing (Chinese bonsai) and pine.

Upon completion, the Huntington’s Chinese Garden will include nine gardens — four seasonal and five special collection gardens. The $18-million project was designed and built by leading Chinese artists and artisans.

Kyoto Grand Hotel & Gardens — Effective November 30, 2007, the New Otani Hotel & Gardens became the Kyoto Grand Hotel & Gardens; a 21-story full service hotel, surrounding its guests with a serene atmosphere emanating intriguing accents derived from Japanese culture. The hotel features 434 guest rooms and 20 suites, including three Japanese suites. The property is located in the heart of Downtown’s Little Tokyo. www.kyotograndhotel.com

The London West Hollywood — LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels will re-open the Bel Age Hotel as The London West Hollywood in April 2008, following a complete evolution in design, amenities and service. The opening comes a little over a year after the successful launch of its sister property, The London NYC in Manhattan, and brings together many of the same award-winning partners and collaborators from that project – including award-winning chef Gordon Ramsay. The 223 guest suites will feature an open floor-plan that presents unobstructed views. www.TheLondonWestHollywood.com

Hotel Palomar Los Angeles - Westwood — Texas-based real estate investment company Behringer Harvard Wilshire Boulevard LP recently purchased the Doubletree Hotel Los Angeles/Westwood near UCLA with plans to reopen in May 2008 as the Hotel Palomar Los Angeles–Westwood, under the management of San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. Improvements will include extensive guest room upgrades, a decrease in the number of guest rooms to create more suites, fitness center and a high-end, chef-driven restaurant. The new hotel will have 268 total guest rooms with 26 suites. In-room spa treatment will also be available. www.thewestwoodhotel.com

SLS at Beverly Hills (formerly Le Meridien at Beverly Hills) — SBE Hotel Group, a division of SBE Entertainment Group, announced plans in March 2007 for the launch of its new luxury hotel concept, to be called SLS Hotels. The first SLS property will be operated under a management agreement with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT). As part of the agreement, Le Meridien at Beverly Hills will undergo a complete transformation and emerge as SLS at Beverly Hills, part of The Luxury Collection, in March 2008. A crucial component of the SLS concept’s recipe for success is creative mastermind Philippe Starck, who is designing the look and feel of all SLS properties. SBE also announced an exclusive collaboration with culinary innovator José Andrés to oversee all food and beverage for SLS properties. SLS has 300 guest rooms and suites. www.sbeent.com

The Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa, Pasadena – The Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel is now The Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa, Pasadena, following the sale of the historic property to Langham Hotels International, a luxury hotel group owned by Hong Kong-based Great Eagle Holdings. The hotel is a legendary Pasadena landmark since 1907, set on 23 acres overlooking San Marino. This luxurious property is the only AAA Five Diamond hotel in Pasadena, and the closest to Downtown Los Angeles. Its facilities include 380 guestrooms and suites, including cottages situated throughout the beautifully landscaped grounds; Michelin Star Dining Room; outdoor pool and terrace; three lighted tennis courts, bike riding and nearby golf; a full-service Huntington Spa and fitness center and more than 60,000 combined square feet of indoor and outdoor event space. Langham Hotels International will invest $25 million to upgrade the property. www.langhamhotels.com

You may know her from the popular television show Globe Trekker, but Megan McCormick is now the President of the United States (or at least she will play one on the upcoming LA episode).

You can be the President too. Visit the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.

http://www.reaganlibrary.com/

How often can you say you heard that when you visited LA? Well, sure enough, it’s that time of year when a quick two-hour drive (traffic permitting) will take you to the snow-covered landscape of Big Bear.

Depending on your length of stay in LA, going up to Big Bear for a day of skiing/boarding may seem fitting, but spending a few days in the snow is definitely the way to do it. Cabins and hotels are reasonably priced and the activities are abundant.

Whether you’re a novice skier, avid boarder or a family of toboggan enthusiasts, Big Bear has your number and it is calling. Weekends are the busiest, so as a traveler in LA on a week-long visit, plan the Big Bear excursion mid-week. By doing so, you not only find open slopes, you also find great bargains!

Deal of the Day from Big Bear Lake Resort Association:

“Now is the time to plan and save for winter vacations in Big Bear Lake, Southern California’s premier ski and snowboard destination. Skiers and snowboarders save 17 or 27 percent on both skiing and lodging with ‘Midweek Ski & Ride Packages.’ Two night package deals start at $69 per person, per night, with minimum double occupancy.”

Click here to book.

For those one-day wonders, here’s the recommendation of the day from Snow Summit:

“For a more enjoyable day, we suggest arriving a few hours early when renting ski/ snowboard equipment, purchasing tickets and purchasing lessons. On the other hand, if you have the option of picking up tickets, lessons and rental equipment the day before, we highly recommend it in order for your next day’s activities to go as planned. Have fun on the snow!”

When you spend the first two hours of an early day bumper to bumper, get to know the people in the vehicles next to you, because they’ll be sharing the runs with you.

Like Vegas, know the best times to enter and leave.

Weekend – arrive before 7 a.m. (slopes open at 8 a.m.); depart before 5 p.m. (day slopes close at 6 p.m.) or after 8 p.m.

Weekday – anytime!

Specially priced three-course menus from a wide variety of LA’s best restaurants. It takes place over a two-week time period (January 27 – February 1 and February 3 – February 8).

Participating restaurants include Patina, Grace, Crustacean, 3 on Fourth, Twin Palms, Dakota Steakhouse, Ciudad, Zucca and Katsuya. The two dining levels are Deluxe ($15/lunch and $25/dinner) and Premier ($22/lunch and $34/dinner).

15 LA hotel restaurants are participating:

1) Asia de Cuba (Mondrian Los Angeles Hotel)
2) BALEEN Los Angeles (The Portofino)
3) Bistrotek (Custom Hotel)
4) Cezanne Restaurant (Le Merigot, A JW Marriott Beach Hotel & Spa)
5) CIRCA 55 (Beverly Hilton)
6) Dakota Steakhouse (Roosevelt Hotel)
7) LA Prime (Westin Bonaventure)
NOE Restaurant (Omni Los Angeles at California Plaza)
9) On Sunset @ Luxe Hotel Sunset Blvd
10) Park Grill at The Intercontinental Los Angeles
11) Shula’s 347 (Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles)
12) Simon L.A. (Sofitel Hotel)
13) Studio Bar and Grill (Four Points by Sheraton Los Angeles Westside)
14) The Restaurant at The Hyatt West Hollywood
15) Tracht’s (Renaissance Long Beach Hotel)

For a complete list, click here.

In Los Angeles you can partake in every type of outdoor sport imaginable — disco roller skating, anyone? In fact, it’s not a question of what you’re going to do in LA, but rather how much time you have to fit it all in. The options are endless, but your time isn’t. So plan your LA adventure well and leave knowing you gave it your all.

Hiking
Just a short drive from the city, you can trade in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood for the scenic tranquility of state, county and city parks. At Malibu Creek State Park you’ll find more than 15 miles of creekside trails weaving through coastal mountains filled with sycamore woodlands. Camping sites are available by reservation.

Runyon Canyon is a 130-acre urban wilderness located just minutes from Hollywood Boulevard. Hikers can either head up steep hills on well-marked trails or take a gradual approach on the park’s fire roads. Great views come with good-sized crowds and lots of dogs.

Located in the Pacific Palisades, Will Rogers State Historic Park is a 200-acre getaway that used to be Will Rogers’ private ranch. Today, there are several trails that climb up the hills where panoramic views of the city await. You’ll also find a polo field where matches are held regularly.

Skiing and Snowboarding
If you’re visiting LA in the winter, you might notice the snow-capped peaks visible from various locations around LA. Within a two-hour drive from Downtown, you can hit the slopes of Big Bear, Mt. Baldy and Mountain High for skiing and snowboarding action and then enjoy nearby shopping and dining before heading back to LA.

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Los Angeles is renowned for its sun, surf and celebrities, but its writers have spent the last hundred years giving readers different perspectives on the City of Angels.

Beloved literary icons such as Raymond Chandler, John Fante, Charles Bukowski, Joan Didion and Walter Mosley have all found ample material here to build engrossing narratives with LA on center stage.

Their characters populate the city with dynamic personalities, giving visitors a taste of suspense, mystery and a look into LA’s many faces. Find their works in one of many LA bookstores, then sit back and let these authors take you on a tour of their Los Angeles.

Read more…

-Keith Lin

Whether you’re getting on a board for the first time or you’re a seasoned rider searching for LA’s best breaks, there’s something for everyone. Beginners can learn how to surf with mellow, consistent waves, while experts can head toward the big stuff. No matter what level you’re at, you’ll want to check out these legendary LA surfing spots and dive into surf culture USA.

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-Keith Lin

L.A. LIVE, Downtown’s 27-acre entertainment, sports and residential district, anchored by NOKIA Theatre, STAPLES Center and the Los Angeles Convention Center, will add to its list of completed projects in 2008. New restaurant openings include Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar; Katsuya, the ultra-hip sushi and robata bar; the Yard House restaurant and brew pub; New York-based Rosa Mexicano fine dining; ESPN Zone Restaurant and sports bar; a new Wolfgang Puck eatery at NOKIA Plaza; plus a Starbucks, a New Zealand Natural Ice Cream shop and a quick-service restaurant. In addition, the GRAMMY Museum will open in October as part of the GRAMMY Awards 50th anniversary year. The one-of-a-kind museum will include a 200-seat theatre and a rooftop terrace for up to 450 guests. Club NOKIA will open in 2008 with live performances and private events for up to 2,300 guests. The legendary Conga Room will relocate to L.A. LIVE and Lucky Strike Bowling Center will open 18 lanes, plus billiards, darts and private function rooms. NOKIA Theatre’s 2008 headliners include Willie Nelson, Aretha Franklin, Larry The Cable Guy, Juanes and The Moody Blues.

-Bill Karz

The 23rd annual LA Marathon takes place Sunday, March 2, 2008. The 26.2-mile course begins at Universal Studios Hollywood in the San Fernando Valley and ends at the Central Library in Downtown. Participants will pass LA landmarks including the Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood and Sunset boulevards, the Los Angeles Coliseum and STAPLES Center. Entry fees are $100 through Feb. 25, 2008. During Expo (Feb. 29 and March 1 at the Los Angeles Convention Center), marathon entry fees are $115. Online registration is available through Feb. 25, 2008. It is not possible to register during race day. The LA Marathon was founded by Dr. Bill Burke and Marie Patrick, following the success of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The first race was held in 1986 and attracted 10,868 participants – the largest inaugural marathon in history. In 2007, 24,750 people participated.
www.lamarathon.com

-Bill Karz