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What's in A Name? Kodak or Not?

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:17:26 +0000

When Mann's Cinemas took over Grauman's Chinese Theatre, they tried to change the name to Mann's Chinese, and some people made the switch, but the name Grauman's was so deeply embedded in the common consciousness and Hollywood history, that they eventually gave in and switched it back.

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Finalists Announced and Voting Open for Readers' Choice Awards

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:41:32 +0000

The tallying is done and finalists have been determined. The voting is now open for the final phase of the About.com Los Angeles Travel Readers' Choice Awards. Check out the finalists to see if your favorites made the cut and vote for LA's best hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, live music venues and comedy clubs in the LA Travel Readers' Choice Awards.

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Celebrate the Oscars with Events Around LA

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 12:15:39 +0000

It's Oscar season in Los Angeles, with the Kodak Theatre being draped in it's annual finery in honor of the big day, which will be February 26, 2012. Many of the events surrounding the Academy Awards are closed to the general public, but there are lots of ways to join in the excitement if you're in town during Oscar Season. You can see the Oscar contenders for Best Costume up close, meet the nominated filmmakers in the Documentary category, or walk down the red carpet to an Oscar Viewing Party. Check out some of the ways you can take part in the Hollywood Oscar celebration in Oscar Events for Everyone.

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LA Weekly Gold Standard at the Petersen Auto Museum

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 09:33:32 +0000

Can't decide which LA restaurants to try while you're in town? LA Weekly's Pulitzer Prize winning food critic Jonathan Gold has selected 40 of his favorite restaurants to be featured at the 3rd Annual Gold Standard Food & Wine Event. Offerings range from Campanile, The Tasting Kitchen and Hungry Cat to the late Amy Pressman and Nancy Silverton's Short Order and Short Cake. A portion of the proceeds benefits Heal the Bay.

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2012 LA Marathon Coming in March

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:17:23 +0000

The Los Angeles Marathon is still a month away, but if you're training for the marathon and haven't registered yet, you'll want to get that taken care of as soon as possible, as the event has been known to sell out. If it doesn't sell out, you can register the two days before the race at the marathon expo, but they may reach the 25,000 maximum participants before race weekend, in which case there would be no on site registration at all. Online registration ends March 9, 2012 or whenever the 25,000 cap is reached, whichever comes first.

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Carnaval vs Mardi Gras in Los Angeles

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:23:11 +0000

This year Long Beach Mardi Gras is expanding from its N'awlins roots. The event will kick off with Carnival in Venice including gondola rides on Rainbow Lagoon at noon and the Dance Ballo Della Colombina. Next, the New Orleans Mardi Gras Parade will proceed to Shoreline Village at 3 pm. A Brazilian Samba Show will follow at 4 and the New Orleans Mardi Gras Party will continue at 6 at Outback Steakhouse. Family festivities will stretch around Rainbow Harbor from Shoreline Village to the Pike and the Aquarium of the Pacific, which is the starting point for the parade.
When: February 18, 2012, family festival Noon - 7 pm, Parade 3 pm
Where: Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach
Cost: Free
Parking: Paid parking at Shoreline Village, the Aquarium, the Pike or Convention Center, or metered street parking.
Metro: Blue Line to First Street Station
Info: www.lbmardigras.com, http://rainbowharbormardigras.moonfruit.com

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Visit the Nixon Library on Presidents Day

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:08:28 +0000

The Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace in Yorba Linda is offering visitors free admission for Presidents Day, Monday, February 20, 2012 from 10 am to 5 pm. The "Mount Rushmore Presidents" will be on hand in costume to talk about what it was like being president during their historic terms. Other activities include live patriotic music and free cherry pie for the first 100 visitors. For more information visit nixonfoundation.org.

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Queen Mary Scottish Festival

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:33:37 +0000

Every year the Queen Mary celebrates its own heritage with a tribute festival to the land of its birth, Scotland. The Queen Mary Scottish Festival showcases Scottish food, music, crafts, highland dancing, historic reenactments and lots of men in kilts. You can compete in the Dart Tournament or Haggis Eating Contest. The event kicks off with a Glenfiddich Whiskey Tasting and Men of Worth concert on Friday night. The outdoor athletic competitions will be back (Whoohoo! I love those men in kilts throwing cabers.), as well as the sheep herding competition. The Los Angeles Scots Pipe Band will perform on Saturday night at Plaidpalooza.

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Stars and Footprints: Overly Touristy and Still Worth a Visit

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:14:29 +0000

I was just reading Matt Long's blog post on Landlopers.com on what he loves about visiting "touristy" sights in Paris. This brought to mind comments I've heard from fellow "travelers" when I recommend that people visiting Los Angeles go to the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Forecourt of the Stars at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. "It's such a tourist trap! Why would anyone go there?"

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Valentine's Day in Los Angeles

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:00:05 +0000

Los Angeles is a flip-flops and shorts kind of town with champagne and caviar tastes. It's also one of the most romantic places on the planet, which makes it a great place to celebrate Valentine's Day. From the simplicity of a walk along the beach or a horseback ride through the mountains to the luxury of a sunset helicopter tour or a diamond-studded exploration of the Jewelry District, there's something to suit everyone's romantic sensibilities and budget in my guide to Valentine's Day in Los Angeles. If you won't be in town for Valentine's Day, the activities listed there are still romantic any time of year. If you are here for V-Day, there are some additional options on my Valentine's Day Special Events page.

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