Looking for a different spin on the City of Angels? Look no further. Esotouric Tours has drawn much praise for their off-the-”beaten”-path guided crime/literary/architecture tours of LA. I can honestly say their worth every penny!
On May 3, they’re offering their ever-popular Raymond Chandler tour. Click here for more information: http://www.esotouric.com/chandler-5-3-08
Contact me at billkarz@gmail.com if you’re interested in receiving a Family Guy prize pack, consisting of a t-shirt, Stewie football, Stewie Wacky Wobbler bobble-head and a Family Guy whoopee cushion. Reach me ASAP!
Additionally…
KTLA AND FAMILY GUY ANNOUNCE NINTENDO Wii GIVEAWAY
Los Angeles, April 28, 2008— Peter’s gotta Wii and beginning Monday May 5, 2008 KTLA/CW’s Family Guy fans will have an opportunity to win a Nintendo Wii during a five night, “Watch to Win” giveaway contest.
KTLA/CW viewers will be asked to participate by tuning to Family Guy between 6-7 p.m. A “code word” will appear onscreen during a pre-determined time in the show; viewers are to visit www.ktla.com and enter the code that will place them in a drawing for their chance to win a free Nintendo Wii. A Wii winner will be chosen every night that week.
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.
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:
-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
13th Annual Light Festival
When: November 26-December 30
Where: Griffith Park
What: Each year, more than half a million visitors come to see the Griffith Park holiday light festival along a one-mile section of Crystal Springs Drive.
www.dwplightfestival.com.
The 2009 World Baseball Classic Semi-Final and Final games will be held at Dodger Stadium from March 21-23, 2009.