Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is opening its doors to the public May 3-4 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. both days.

The event celebrates JPL’s accomplishments with exhibits and demonstrations about the Laboratory’s ongoing research and space exploration. Many of the Lab’s scientists and engineers are on hand to answer questions about how spacecraft are sent to other planets, how scientists utilize space technologies to explore Earth and how researchers are searching for planets beyond the solar system.

When: May 2, 10 a.m.–10 p.m.
Where: El Pueblo Historical Monument
What: Los Angeles celebrates Mexico’s victory over the French with live entertainment, cultural attractions and authentic food.
Scoop: For visitors, one of the biggest events in LA is the perfect opportunity to explore historic Olvera Street and the Old Plaza, two LA cultural attractions that help celebrate LA’s strong Mexican tradition. Situated in the oldest part of the city, Olvera Street hosts this free 3-day festival every year in honor of Cinco de Mayo, culminating on the holiday itself.

www.elpueblo.lacity.org

The 14th annual celebration of “Bike to Work Week” will kick off Monday, May 12, 2008 at the Metro Red Line Universal City station.

Metro will be offering a chance to win a folding bike from REI to those who register in advance online at www.metro.net/biketowork and pledge to be part of the solution to reduce traffic by pedaling to work, school, or other destinations on Thursday, May 15, Bike to Work Day.

In addition, on Thursday, May 15, Metro will offer free rides to bicyclists on Metro buses and trains throughout Los Angeles County. Moreover, Beach Cities Transit, Commerce Municipal Bus Lines, Culver CityBus, Gardena Municipal Lines, Glendale Beeline, Montebello Bus Lines, Norwalk Transit, Pasadena ARTS Bus, Santa Clarita Transit, and Torrance Transit, also will offer free rides to bicyclists who use transit for part of their commute day.

Green clothing is one of LA’s hottest fashions, but think again if you believe this city would actually conform to a single style. Thankfully, a number of eco-conscious retailers in Los Angeles have adopted the green philosophy and designed clothing lines that are unique, personal and completely eco-friendly. From T-shirts to shoes, these green-friendly stores are LA’s favorite standbys on the green fashion front:

www.discoverlosangeles.com

-Keith Lin

Tucked away on the busiest thoroughfare in LA (Hollywood Boulevard), Tropicana Bar is truly an oasis of talent. The kind guys/girls drool over and the kind critics dream of. The ladies got their eye candy yesterday when Casey Affleck showed up and sat down poolside with a book. Knowledge is power…something he probably learned from Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting.

Connection: Tropicana Bar was featured in Jimmy Kimmel’s spoof on his girlfriend’s music video. Sarah Silverman f*cked Matt Damon, so Jimmy f*cked Casey’s brother. It’s the scene with Brad Pitt:

Tropicana Bar at the Hollywood Roosevelt - A Thompson Hotel
7000 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90028
Phone: (323) 769-7260

The 2008 National Business Travel Association (NBTA) International Convention & Exposition, to be held in Los Angeles from July 27-30, is on pace to be the largest convention in the association’s history. With a little more than three months away, more than 90 percent of 18,493 blocked hotel rooms have already been reserved.

“Last year, we declared the 2007 convention in Boston to be the largest and most successful in the 39-year history of the event. This year’s convention will undoubtedly be even more impressive,” said Kevin Maguire, president and CEO of NBTA. “With questions about how economic changes will impact businesses, it’s more important than ever for corporate travel buyers to sharpen their skills to maximize travel value for their companies. Los Angeles is one of the most important business travel destinations in the world, and it is proving to be an attractive destination for NBTA 2008 attendees.” More than a quarter of LA’s domestic and international visitors are business travelers. In fact, Los Angeles draws 6.2 million domestic business travelers annually and 1.3 million international business travelers.

“The success NBTA is seeing with respect to its record-setting attendance is indicative of what we’re seeing across the board when conventions arrive in Los Angeles,” said Mark Liberman, president and CEO of LA INC. The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Last fiscal year, attendance for conventions held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Downtown jumped as high as 20 percent compared to attendance at the same conventions held in other cities in 2006. Meeting professionals understand this trend and are booking Los Angeles at an unprecedented pace.” LA INC. forecasts 43 citywide conventions will be booked by the end of fiscal year 2008; totaling 646,000 room nights and generating an economic impact of $355 million for Los Angeles in the coming years.

The 2008 NBTA International Convention & Exposition
Widely recognized as the must-attend event for business travel buyers, suppliers, industry leaders and business travel journalists, the 2008 NBTA International Convention & Exposition will be held in Los Angeles from July 27-30. More than 6,500 travel professionals are expected to take advantage of the convention’s programming, designed to empower attendees to maximize value for their companies, including more than 40 seminars on the most important topics in business travel, more than 400 companies exhibiting in the Expo and countless opportunities for networking with peers. For details, visit www.nbtaconvention.org.

About NBTA
The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) is the world’s premier business travel organization. U.S.-based NBTA and its regional subsidiaries – NBTA Asia Pacific, NBTA Canada and NBTA Mexico – serve more than 3,200 members in 30 nations around the globe. NBTA has 41 U.S. Chapters with more than 5,000 members. NBTA members are corporate and government travel and meetings managers, as well as travel service providers, who collectively manage and direct more than US$170 billion of global business travel expenditures annually. The association provides industry-leading networking, education & professional development, research, news & information, and advocacy. For more information, visit www.nbta.org.

About LA INC.
LA INC. The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau is a private, nonprofit business association whose primary mission is to market and promote Los Angeles as the premier site for meetings, conventions and leisure travel. Though not part of city government, LA INC. is recognized as the city’s official tourism marketing organization. For more information, visit the official visitor information Web site of Los Angeles at www.discoverLosAngeles.com.

When: April 26–27, Sat., 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Where: UCLA Main Campus
What: This two-day event is free to the public and includes panel and speaker sessions and activities for both children and adults. Several outdoor stages host readings and performances for approximately 130,000 visitors each year. Parking $8. Call 213.237.6552 for more information.
Scoop: This is the largest and most prestigious book festival in the country. With more than 450 authors attending, chances are good that one of your favorite writers will be there. In addition to readings and panels, authors will be signing books.

For the first time in 27 years, the 2008 Grand Sumo Tournament will return to Los Angeles. Scheduled for June 7 and 8 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, the tournament will feature the top 40 professional sumo wrestlers from Japan.

Tickets for the Los Angeles Grand Sumo Tournament will be sold at the Los Angeles Sports Arena box office and at all Marukai outlets.

For more information, contact the Los Angeles Grand Sumo Tournament office: 213.620.9723 or visit www.sumotour.com

Getting acquainted with the variety of hiking in Los Angeles is the perfect way to discover why LA is the ideal place to get outside. Most of the hikes listed here are easy to moderate, so it’s not necessary to be an experienced hiker to enjoy them. But you will need to keep a few things in mind when you’re planning your excursion. It’s important to wear sturdy hiking shoes, carry plenty of drinking water, use sunscreen and wear sunglasses. Take along a camera, and make sure you stay on the trails.

Heart-of-Hollywood Hike
Trail: Runyon Canyon Loop
Distance: About 3 miles round-trip
Special Feature: The views at Cloud’s Rest, the off-leash policy for dogs and the occasional celebrity sighting
Getting There: From Hollywood Boulevard, head north on Fuller Avenue. Park at the end of Fuller and enter the well-marked park. Take the trail to the right and complete the loop counterclockwise.

By no means is this hike a wilderness experience, so if you’re looking for solitude, you might want to try other trails. On the other hand, this is a great hike for people-watching, and it gives beginning hikers a chance to check out the Hollywood Hills and the amazing views at the trail summit, known as Cloud’s Rest. Whether you’re wearing the latest hiking gear or just sandals and sun hats, this is a fun hike highlighted by million dollar mansions and priceless views of the Hollywood sign, the Sunset Strip and the rest of the LA Basin.

Topanga State Park
Trail: Los Liones Trail to Parker Mesa Overlook
Distance: About 7 miles round-trip
Special Feature: The magnificent views at Parker Mesa Overlook
Getting There: The hike begins in Pacific Palisades at the end of Los Liones Drive, just north of Sunset Boulevard. Leave the car in the parking lot at the end of the street. From there, follow the trail up to East Topanga Fire Road and follow that to the turnoff for the Parker Mesa Overlook.

Switchbacks and steep hill climbs characterize the first two miles of this hike. With an elevation gain of about 1,300 feet, the hike is definitely a tougher climb. But you’ll get rewarded as you gaze out from your vantage point atop the bluff. Enjoy a picnic lunch or relax on a bench while taking in the overlook.

Griffith Park Trails
Trail: Griffith Observatory West Trail Loop
Distance: About 2.5 miles
Special Feature: Views of Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood sign and the LA Basin
Getting There: The hike starts at the Fern Dell picnic area near Los Feliz Boulevard. You can pick up the trail near the creek past the restrooms. Stay to the right and head uphill toward the Griffith Observatory. You’ll be able to stop and enjoy views of the city along the way. As the path flattens out, you’ll see a trail to the right leading up to the observatory. On the way back, stay right all the way down the hill. The trail will curve around a bit and then take you back to the Fern Dell picnic area.

Trail: Brush Canyon Trail
Distance: About 2 miles
Special Feature: Peace and quiet, as well as spectacular views near Mount Hollywood Drive
Getting There: You can park in the lot on Canyon Drive, located just past Bronson Park. From there, head uphill past the gate and pick up the trail on the fire road heading toward the Pacific Electric quarry. You’ll pass a park and a picnic area and then climb out of the canyon. After about 3/4 of a mile, the trail intersects with the Mulholland Trail. Follow the trail to the right and continue another 1/4 mile to Mount Hollywood Drive. To get back, follow the same route, taking a left at the Mulholland Trail junction.

Will Rogers State Park
Trail: Rustic Canyon Loop/Inspiration Point Trail
Distance: About 6 miles round-trip
Special Feature: Exploring what was once the private ranch of a Hollywood star
Getting There: Head to Will Rogers State Park in Santa Monica. The main road to the park is just off Sunset Boulevard about a half mile east of Chataqua Boulevard. You can park the car near the visitor’s center. The hike begins just behind the main ranch house at the park, next to the sign for Inspiration Point Trail.

After about a mile, you’ll see the turnoff for Inspiration Point. It’s a quick detour and worth the effort to head up this side route for some spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, the LA Basin and the Santa Monica Mountains. Follow Backbone Trail to the junction with Rustic Canyon. Follow that trail back to Will Rogers Park. After the hike, explore the park and enjoy a picnic on the massive lawn in front of the house.

Santa Monica Mountains Waterfall Trek
Trail: Escondido Canyon and Falls
Distance: 4.2 miles round-trip
Special Feature: The waterfall at the end of the trail
Getting There: Head northwest on the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) from Santa Monica for about 17 miles. Just past Latigo Canyon Road, you’ll see the turnoff for East Winding Way where you can park in the well-marked lot. Follow the paved road toward the mountains. It’s a little less than a mile to the end of East Winding Way. You’ll see the entrance of Escondido Canyon Park clearly marked at the end of the pavement.

From the trailhead, it’s about a mile-long trek to the falls. The trail crosses Escondido Canyon Creek several times, so be prepared to get your feet wet if you’re hiking in the rainy season. This is a gradual climb that drifts in and out of tree covering, alongside canyon walls. Soon, you’ll be standing at the base of the 50-foot-high Escondido Falls, admiring the multi-tiered cataract flowing over moss-covered rocks.

In the springtime, the waterfall is usually quite active, but the amount of water can vary depending on when you visit. You can scramble up the rocks to the upper level and see even more of the falls — the upper tier is about 100 feet high. Wading in the pool beneath the falls is a great way to cool off before you head back along the same route.

The best of American and international cinema will be celebrated during the 2008 Los Angeles Film Festival in Westwood (June 19 - 29). Hundreds of screenings and special events will take place in venues throughout the area, including the Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum, the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse, the Mann Festival Theatre and the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre. Festivities include opening and closing night galas, more than 200 feature films, shorts, and music videos, as well as Coffee Talks, Poolside Chats, and other special star-studded events. The Los Angeles Film Festival is presented by the Los Angeles Times and is produced by Film Independent, a non-profit membership organization that champions independent film. General admission for attending screenings is $12. Tickets can be purchased online beginning May 21. www.lafilmfest.com