100. Where is the Most Desired Destination for Tourists Visiting L.A.?

Was your answer, "Hollywood"?  Then go to the head of the class.  Tourists can visit beaches and even Disneyland-type experiences other places.  But there is only ONE Hollywood.  And it's in L.A. baby!

When you think Hollywood, what enters your mind?  For most, the Hollywood/Highland area.  Makes sense.  This is where the Academy Awards holds their event.  This is where Grauman's Chinese Theatre is located.  And so on.

Yet, Hollywood is so much more.

Did you know that technically Hollywood is not its own city?  It is a neighborhood or district within the city of Los Angeles.  Did you know that technically, Hollywood, similar to Manhattan in New York City, has neighborhoods within its neighborhood, such as North Hollywood and East Hollywood?  While West Hollywood is actually an incorporated city in Los Angeles County?

Did you know that much of Hollywood is easily accessed by a true underground subway known as the Metro Red Line?  Do you care?

Maybe you don't care now.  However, if you are going to visit Hollywood, hopefully these words will somehow register in your brain for they may truly enhance your Hollywood experience beyond the Hollywood/Highland visit.

So what's today's Hollywood destination?  East Hollywood.  Specifically, Barnsdall Art Park.  Easily accessible from Hollywood and Highland by jumping on the red line to the Vermont/Sunset terminal.  Walk a block north on Vermont to East Barnsdall Avenue.  Turn left (going east) and follow the signs to walk into the south portion of the park.  You, of course, may drive there as well.  Free parking is available, although there is only one vehicle entrance into the park.  It is on Hollywood Boulevard just east of North Edgemont Street.

Barnsdall Art Park is rich with a history that goes back before there was a Hollywoodland Sign or the Griffith Park Observatory.  This lush, beautifully landscaped parcel of terra firma with one of the most magnificent views of Los Angeles (after Griffith Park in your SoCal Gal's opinion) was once known as Olive Hill.

Almost 100 years ago, a forward thinking, wealthy heiress named Aline Barnsdall had a vision for Olive Hill.  Her vision was to build a theatre complex, which included a theatre, a home for herself, a residence for a director and on-site apartments for actors and crew.  And she teamed up with the then not as well-revered, yet also forward thinker, Frank Lloyd Wright, to help bring her vision to physical manifestation.

Aline's vision was never realized as initially intended.  Due to her donation of this property to the City of Los Angeles with the priviso it be kept as an arts park; the general art vibe of Barnsdall Art Park was realized and still alive.

Barnsdall Art Park, 4800 Hollywood Boulevard, includes the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, Junior Arts Center, a lushly landscaped inner grounds peppered with sculpture and Hollyhock House (which I will write about in my next blog post).

Best days to go to Barnsdall Art Park are Thursday through Sunday, which are the days the art gallery and Hollyhock House are open to the public.  The art gallery is free.  Hollyhock House does charge a fee.  It is the opinion of your SoCal Gal that this is definitely a sight you will wish to see.

On another personal note:  Whoo hoo!  This is my 100th blog post for CaliforniVacation.  Your SoCal Gal is thrilled and very appreciative to this area she loves, those who read what I've written and are hopefully inspired to visit some of the amazing sights the greater Los Angeles area has to offer.  Thank you.

80. Hollywoodland Experience

Currently nestled between the Hollywood Masonic Temple building, which houses the Jimmy Kimmel Live! studio where the show is taped, and Hooters; a single glass door with the numbers 6912 above it is the only sign for this historic address on Hollywood Boulevard.

6912 Hollywood Boulevard is the location of the first suite of offices rented and occupied by the then newly formed Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in mid 1927.

In November 1927, AMPAS offices moved to the next block to occupy space on the Mezzanine Level of the Roosevelt Hotel, 7010 Hollywood Boulevard.  I wrote a blog post about the Roosevelt Hotel as it was also the sight of the first Academy Award ceremony on May 16, 1929.

Then in June, 1930 in need of more space for the growing staff, AMPAS headquarters (HQ) made another big move west one block to 7046 Hollywood Boulevard.  This building is also known as The Hollywood Professional Building.

The Hollywood Professional Building designed by John Lautner (probably no relation to Taylor Lautner) in the style of Gothic Revival was completed in 1925 and has earned inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.

 Since 1925 the building has had a face lift inside and out, including an earthquake retrofit in 1997.  The Hollywood Professional Building currently has retail, office and living space allowing one to both live and work in this historic setting so close to the hub of the Hollywoodland Experience also known as Hollywood and Highland.

In previous blog posts, I wrote about my quest for the fifth AMPAS HQ located at 9038 Melrose Avenue.  The two-parter included mention of the sixth and current AMPAS HQ at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard.  Going there helped me solve the 9038 Melrose mystery.

To be honest, I am getting a wee bit weary of writing about academy stuff (even though tomorrow I plan to briefly touch on the subject). I imagine you may be a little weary of reading about it.  Of course, I may be wrong.  Won't be the first time.  Certainly won't be the last.

Still, I did gather the info and took the time to visit and photograph all AMPAS HQs. So, I decided to briefly include location number four in this blog post, especially since its location is on another famous Hollywoodland corner, Hollywood and Vine, a mere .98 miles from 7046 Hollywood Boulevard.

If you wish to go to these first four AMPAS HQ locations yourself, but don't with to walk the distance, you might choose to subway it.  The red line (I wrote about in a previous blog post) stops at Hollywood and Vine.

In my photo, included in this blog, the camera is pointed north on Vine allowing for a glimpse of another famous Hollywood and Vine building, Capitol Records.

AMPAS moved to location number four in 1935.  The building known as the Taft Building, 1680 North Vine Street, was that corners first high rise at 12 stories, built in 1923 by architects Walker & Eisen in the Renaissance Revival style for A. Z. Taft Jr.

BTW, the transformation from Hollywoodland (as the original 45 ft. high white letters spelled out) to "Hollywood" took place in 1949.  In case you were wondering.

As Forest Gump, the fictional, not from the Hollywoodland Experience character was repeatedly fond of uttering, "That's all I have to say about that."

79. Eat at Mel's

As I pondered the one way I seemed intent on writing about Mel's Drive-in, another way entered my consciousness.  I loved it for its seeming novelty, as it is not something I usually think about when I eat at a restaurant.  So here goes.

As I ingested my meal at Mel's, 1660 North Highland Avenue in Hollywood, on a somewhat overcast, slightly windy, almost evening, Monday in March, 2010; it didn't occur to me the depth of all that came before making it possible for me, your CaliforniVacation SoCal gal, to enjoy my meal at those particular moments at that particular space in time.

I didn't know I had Mel Weiss and Harold Dobbs to thank for building their first carhop eatery back in 1947 at 140 South Van Ness in San Francisco, replete with a staff of 14 carhops covering a 30,000 square foot parking lot.  Thank you, Mel and Harold.

I didn't know that thanks to the advent of fast food, serve yourself restaurants taking over American culture while shaping the decline of the carhop eatery; that in 1972 a New York restaurant conglomerate would come in and purchase the original Mel's Drive-ins leaving the soon to be demolished restaurants perfect for then up and coming film director, George Lucas, to feature Mel's Drive-ins in his 1973 movie, American Graffiti.  Thank you, fast food.  Thank you, New York restaurant conglomerate.  Thank you, George Lucas.

I didn't know that Mel's son's, Steven Weiss, nostalgia, restaurant know-how and persistence would see him open the first of the "next generation" Mel's Drive-ins in 1985, along with his partner, Donald Wagstaff.  Thank you, Steven Weiss.  Thank you, Donald Wagstaff.

I didn't know the dawn of the new millenium would see Mel's Drive-ins opened at 8585 West Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood and the one your SoCal gal visited at Hollywood and Highland, with its full-service celebrity bar.  Thank you for opening these two eateries, less than three miles apart.

I did know of Mel's Drive-ins thanks to my first hand experience of the phenomenon, the American Graffiti years in the 70's.  I owned and just about wore out the double album movie soundtrack, which would have no doubt drove my parents crazy if it weren't for the fact most of the songs were beloved reminders of their youth.  Thank you, American Graffiti movie and soundtrack for a lot of great memories.

I didn't know the Mel's Drive-in from the movie was an actual in the physical world place until I noticed the "don't blink or you will miss it" inclusion of one of the next generation Mel's in the opening credits for the HBO show, Entourage.  Thank you, Entourage and your opening credits.

I didn't know the Mel's at Hollywood and Highland isn't the Mel's in the Entourage opening credits (that is the Mel's at 8585 West Sunset Boulevard) or I probably wouldn't have chosen to eat at Mel's Hollywood/Highland location.  Thank you, ignorance.

I didn't know when I first walked into the doors of the Hollywood/Highland location how great and clean the interior of Mel's would be considering the outside is not a drive-in nor really looks anything close to the original exterior one might expect of Mel's from the American Graffiti movie.  Thank you to all those past patrons who refused to judge this "book" by its cover.

I didn't know the Mel's at Hollywood and Highland had a bar or a happy hour, which brought about a choice making moment: milk shake or beer?  Seriously.  You can't have both.  Okay, you could.  But can I just write, yewwwwwww!  I chose Happy Hour.  Thank you, choices.  Thank you, Happy Hour.

I didn't know what sort of items I may encounter on the menu for food or beverage.  Mel's menu did not disappoint with many choices beyond what you may expect of burgers, fries and milk shakes.  The menu promised the burgers are made of ground chuck with no additives or preservatives, delivered fresh daily.  Mmmmhmmm.  Mmmmhmmm.  Yes!  They have an avocado burger.  I need look no further.  And as I alluded to in earlier posts, bottles of domestic beer during happy hour just $1.50 each.  In a restaurant...in Hollywood...that almost seemed to me like stealing them.  Not that I am complaining.  At that price, it was easy to decide to order that second bottle of Bud.  Thank you, burgers.  Thank you, fries.  Thank you, avocados.  Thank you, bottles of Bud for just $1.50 each.

I didn't know if I would spill on my shirt from the juicy burger, as the menu suggests.  Usually I don't need any excuse to spill, I just seem to be blessed that way.  Thankfully, while my burger was the bomb (delish), I didn't spill.  And for as "yewwww!" as I find beer and ice cream, I didn't know I would order their apple pie.  Mel's did a sly thing with their menu, they included photos of various menu offerings.  Let me say, they had some great looking dessert items that were awfully tempting.  How could they know I am a sucker for french-style apple pie warmed up and served ala mode?  The force...too strong.  Must resist.  Must be strong.  Dang!  That was one jam-packed-with-apples piece of pie.  Thank you, apple trees and apples.  Thank you, pie.  Thank you, cows and ice cream.

Thank you, to my waiter, the cooks and the entire restaurant staff.  Thank you to the vendors, distributors and past customers that allows Mel's to stay open.  Thank you to everyone and everything which allowed me to enjoy the brief hour I occupied the space known as the Hollywood/Highland Mel's Drive-in.  Thank you for every reader and everything which allows me to share this experience with the cyberworld.  Mahalo!  Aloha!

P.S.  In an effort for full disclosure, the second photo in this blog post is not mine.  It is one of the photos used in Wikipedia's web page for American Graffiti.  Thus, I am including a link, here, which explains the photos copyrights.  Thank you to Wikipedia for all the information it freely provides to the cyberworld.

78. You Won't Find Any $5 Footlongs at this Subway

When your CaliforniVacation: SoCal gal wrote about the Hollywood and Highland street closing, including the subway stop located there being closed, she decided she wanted to find out for herself just how subway this subway is.

In all her years in SoCal she had only adventured the Los Angeles County Metro Rail system once.  That was to go to downtown Los Angeles.  While that ride had been fairly painless and perhaps even a little enjoyable, the green and blue line portions of the Los Angeles County Metro Rail system are not subway lines.  They run either level with or above ground.

Well, let me tell you.  The portion of the Los Angeles County Metro Rail system known as the Red line, which runs from 7th Street/Metro Center to North Hollywood, definitely runs underground.  It is definitely sub of the way.

At 20 minutes actual in subway car travel time, there is probably no faster way to get from downtown Los Angeles to the Hollywood/Highland area than the Red Line (except maybe by helicopter, blimp...where would you park them...or Scotty beaming you).

I enjoyed the three sets of stairs/escalators which are the way to street level and all the happenings of the Hollywood/Highland area.  I enjoyed descending these same three levels to take the red line back to downtown Los Angeles.  each level down made me feel more convinced that either I should find a really cool bat cave (ala Batman) or maybe a door to Lex Luthor's lair being so far down below sub street level.

I enjoyed, after my preconceived notion of subways from what one hears about New York's subway system, how clean and non-urine smelling the stations are and the subway cars too.

It may have something to do with the posted signs of all the things prohibited in the subway stations and on the subway cars for which non-compliance buys you a $250 fine AND 48 hours of community service.

I found helpful the computer-screen-like displays located in the stations which relay the current time and date, the times for the next train and let you know when your train is coming.  That way you don't need to keep straining to try to look down the track wondering when the train might show up next.  And those trains...they were right on time.

I found myself wondering about being so far underground and what if an earthquake hit.  It wouldn't be fun then, now would it?  Seems I was not the only one with this thought.  The tunnels were built to resist an earthquake of up to magnitude 7.5.  Good to know.

Compared to the bus, I found the subway cars enjoyable as they just seemed far more spacious and roomy to me.

Of course, there are always a few who don't follow the rules like the fellow on my ride back who not only was panhandling, but had a cup of coffee in his hand while doing so.  He stopped to drink the coffee.  Finished it.  Littered his Styrofoam cup on the floor of the subway car for someone else to pick up.  Then walked to another part of the subway car.  No one said a word.  Myself included.  I noticed subway cars did have posters with a phone number you may call to report such things.  My only other dislike was the panhandling.  Not that it was exceedingly prevalent, but just the same, I prefer a panhandling-free ride.

One of the beauties of riding the subway is not worrying about being as alcohol-imbibing responsible as one needs to be if they are getting behind the wheel of a vehicle.  It makes it easier to say "Yes" to that 10th bottle of Bud.  10!  Is that wrong?  Okay, truthfully, ten and I'd be passed out on the floor.  Knowing I was taking the subway made it easier for me to say "yes" to bottle of Bud number two, which I enjoyed with my dinner at Mel's.  It also had me seriously consider bottle number three, but I shake enough as it is when I film...  More about Mel's in my next blog post.

With all this talk about how much I enjoyed this adventure, you would think I would wish to make Metro Rail my new, best, go-to choice if I wish to go to Hollywood and Highland.  And if I lived downtown Los Angeles, it probably would be.  When you ride only one color (for instance, from downtown L.A. to Hollywood/Highland is all on the red line), a round-trip ticket is only $2.70.  Oh and before I go further, let me mention something about the Metro Rail line fares.

There is no one to buy your ticket from.  You put your money in a vending-type machine and your proof of fare is spit out from the machine for you to hold onto.  Why?  There is no one who will collect your ticket before you get onto your Metro Rail car.  Basically, you are on your honor.  Before you go getting any ideas, Metro Rail personnel conduct spot checks.  I experienced one.  And if you recall, the price if you are caught is a $250 fine AND 48 hours of community service.  

Anyway, if you ride only one color, round trip is a mere $2.70.  If you are like me, someone who needs to ride the green line, blue line and red line to get to Hollywood/Highland; you are better off buying a day pass for $5. (Hey!  I just realized you may not be able to find a $5 footlong, but you may find a $5 deal with the day pass.)  With 79.1 miles of rail in the system, who knows, one day I just may go nuts (more nuts?) and see if I can ride them all...really get my five bucks worth.

Even with the need for three different colors to reach my destination, I was pleasantly surprised to find it only took a little over an hour.  Still, as fun of an adventure as it was, I am able to reach Hollywood/Highland via La Brea Avenue in about 45 minutes or so for only a little more than $5 to cover the cost of my gas.  So you need to decide for yourself what works for you.  And if nothing else, it sure is nice to know the choice is available.

Did you notice?  Here's a little insight to local SoCal ways.  Distance is rarely measured in miles.  Distance is usually measured in estimated time to traverse the journey at hand.

76. 24 Hours After

Normally, your CaliforniVacation: SoCal gal, Lori Bjork, is a gal of many words.

She wrote blog post no. 72 about Hollywood Boulevard being closed between Highland Avenue and Orange Avenue the week before the 2010 Academy Awards ceremony.  So, she thought it would be interesting to see just how much was packed up and gone by 24 hours after the award ceremony started.

One surprise was the stop lights were removed, literally, and were being put back into place (as you will note in the video).

These images tell at least a thousand words.

What a difference a day can make!

A quick P.S. and F.Y.I.  Lori arrived at Hollywood and Highland about 4:15 pm and was enthralled with the unkempt look of the curtains still hanging and flowing in the breeze at the Kodak Theatre only to note it had been removed by the time she returned from dinner at Mel's to film at 5:30 pm.  That's why she decided to include the curtain in the video below.

73. Before Sex and the City

Once upon a time (1923) in a land far, far away known as Hollywoodland, 45-foot tall white letters were placed in the Hollywood Hills area of Mount Lee in Los Angeles, California as an advertisement to sell homes in a new housing development.

At that time, who in the movie biz may have predicted the current nature of the film industry today?  Had they owned an accurate crystal ball allowing them to tell the tale of the current film industry, might those in 1923 have thought it one of the most outlandish fairy tales ever told?

You see, in 1923 there were no movies in color and sound was just being introduced.  The top grossing film was, "The Covered Wagon".  Number two on that list was Cecil B. DeMille's first, silent version of, "The Ten Commandments".

There was no Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) or AMPAS members nominating and voting for Best Picture of the Year or any other Oscar categories for that matter.  AMPAS would not be dreamed of until 1927 with Louis B. Mayer credited as its patriarch.

Thus in 1923, there were not yet plans accepted in May 1928 for an award ceremony where all films released from August 1, 1927 through July 31, 1928 would be eligible for the first Academy Awards.  It would be 1934 before considered films were based on the previous calendar year.

In 1923 there was no Roosevelt Hotel located on the corner of Orange Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard (7000 Hollywood Boulevard).  It would be 1926 before architect H. B. Traver would design the Spanish Colonial Revival structure known as the Roosevelt Hotel, which was commissioned by investors such as, Douglas Fairbanks, Louis B. Mayer and Mary Pickford.  It would be May 15, 1927 before the $2.5 million, 12-story, Roosevelt Hotel opened its doors for business.

It would be May 16, 1929 before the Roosevelt Hotel was home to the very first, only non-broadcast, five minute Academy Award ceremony inside its Blossom Ballroom.  I venture to guess that no one at the very first award ceremony would have predicted there would one day be a Kodak Theatre kitty-corner from the Roosevelt Hotel where the 82nd Annual Academy Award ceremony will be hosted on March 7, 2010.

It would be less than a short sixty years later that the Roosevelt would be in such decline there was serious talk of tearing it down.  It would be 2005 and $35 million invested to bring this historic landmark to its current shine.

And it would be March, 2010 when said hotel would play host to a "little" six-story advertisement for a sequel to a movie which was spawned by a hit cable tv-show phenomenon, known as "Sex and the City".

All I can say is "Carrie On" and live happily ever after.  Isn't that how all good fairy tales end?

P.S. and BTW.  Your CaliforniVacation SoCal gal created her own short sequel, "TTHD - The Totsquel".   She's not bitter...no not one little bit...that the Academy passed it over for consideration.  No.  That is not one glistening, slowly moving tear gliding down her cheek.  Is someone cutting an onion?  Someone must be cutting an onion.

27. Isn't It Just A Hot Dog?

I mentioned in one of my other posts how huge the greater Los Angeles area is, which to me means "lots o' choice" as to what to write about.  Then the friendly couple from Bakersfield who chatted with me while waiting to be seated in the audience at the Bonnie Hunt Show mentioned, "Did I watch Huell Howser?"  Who?  So, I was a tidge concerned where the conversation may lead.

It led to talking about a place called Pink's on Melrose Avenue and LaBrea Avenue in Hollywood.  Had I been there?  No, I hadn't.  After all the good stuff Dr. Wayne Dyer talked about during the show, I decided to let the universe flow through me and make Pink's my next place to sightsee.

Sure enough as I waited at the light to go north on LaBrea at Melrose, I spied Pink's off to my left.  I was surprised (although I'm not sure why I should have been since I didn't have a preconceived notion about what to expect), to find Pink's didn't appear to be much more than a glorified hot dog stand.  Plus, there was a line.  I don't enjoy lines.  Okay, I don't have anything against lines.  It's the waiting the line implies...but I digress.

I didn't immediately search for parking.  On this day I was multi-tasking.  There is another anniversary in the media currently that I wanted to address, as well.  It's landmark is a little further up the street.  Stay tuned.

I continued north on LaBrea, found the landmark and proceeded to determine where to park.  It isn't that there aren't places to park.  It's just most of them are connected with establishments that monitor if you are frequenting said establishment or not.  The "not" gets towed.

Anyway, when I finally found my way back to Pink's there was still a line and it was longer.  It took everything in me to stand in line and order...you know to get the full experience...instead of snapping a few photos and digital footage...then calling it a day.

I am glad I decided to go for the full experience.  It was interesting how many different ways you can serve a hot dog.  I was a little sad as I figured the menu would prominently list their signature offering and it might have a name like, "the original Pink's _____" (fill in the blank).  Instead, it appears they are known for their chili dog.

The line appears to have a purpose.  It allows you plenty of time to see what is offered and decide what you wish to order.  There are a plethora of items to choose from and not just hot dogs.  I have to say I was a bit excited to see they offer sauerkraut.  I'm a fan.  Okay, I'm a fan as long as someone else is cooking it and serving it.  Still, I'm a fan nonetheless.

Also, as you stand in line you have the opportunity to peruse signed photos of celebrities  that have visited Pink's.  I noticed Steve Martin's photo in two different locations.  I'm not sure why he is so special.  I'm just sayin'!

After you order, you move to the paying and pick-up area.  It is here where you see there is so much more to this landmark than what you would expect if all you have ever seen is a picture of the front of the restaurant.  There is an enclosed back eating area with a wall of celebrity photos.  There is also an outdoor eating area and a parking lot for patrons.

I sat outside to eat my selection.  I have to say I wasn't overly impressed with my food.  The thought popped in my mind that I had paid almost $3.65 for this.  A hot dog!  As I was about to think, "too much", I was happy that another thought popped in.  "Hello!  You think nothing of spending $3.85 for an iced, grande, caramel macchiato."  Enough said.

Anyway, maybe my expectations by then were a little too high.  After all, to me hype implies there is something worthy of the hype.  Then again, perhaps in the same way a hot dog from a ball park tastes so much better than the ones I make at home, when you factor in the experience, it just may be worthy of the hype.

Having said that, I feel congratulations are definitely in order for a business that can successfully span 70 years in the same place with the same owners.  Congratulations, Pink's!

As I finished my food and walked away, I expected this to be the end of my story.  When I was passing Pink's on my way home, OMG!  The line was even longer than when I had been there earlier.  I had to film this.

By now Pink's parking lot was beyond full.  It was before 7 PM so no parking on LaBrea.  In this area, the side streets do not allow parking after 6 PM unless you have an appropriate sticker denoting you as a resident of the area.  Believe me...the Parking Police will not hesitate to issue you a $55 parking ticket.  At this point with my own dogs barking (you know, tired feet), I simply opted to do a drive by shooting, which I include in the video below.  Enjoy!

21. Hooray for Hollywood

Before I begin, I dedicate this post to Megan and all first time visitors to SoCal.  Megan is engaged to my oldest son and recently (as I write this) made her first ever visit to Los Angeles (L.A.).

As I mention in my first ever article for examiner.com, as their LA Sightseeing Examiner, of course, Megan's first experience of L.A. was LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) as it has been for so many before her and will be for so many after her.

Still, I was tickled to find out this was her virginal visit to L.A.  Now that I write these blogs and articles, I knew I would be interested to find out her first choice for sightseeing in L.A.  Her answer I'm sure you can guess by the subject of this blog, Hollywood.

If you've never been to L.A. before you may have a completely different idea of Hollywood than I do.

There is the iconic HOLLYWOOD sign, which is no where close to the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  There is the Hollywood Bowl, which is not very close to the Hollywood and Highland Complex.

Hollywood is actually a district in Los Angeles not its own city or town.

Or maybe you do think of the place you do want to visit in Hollywood the same as me, which is Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue.  It is where the El Capitan Theatre is located where Jimmy Kimmel Live is recorded.  This is where the Kodak Theatre is.  This is where Grauman's Chinese Theater is, where on any given evening you might find a moving premiere happening.

To get to Hollywood, we drove north on Highway 110.  For late October it was hot.  We all got a great view of the smog hovering over downtown.  We caught our exit and proceeded on Highway 101.  Traffic.  Traffic.  Traffic.  If you are from a less traffic laden area, this much traffic on a Sunday will seem stifling to you as it was to my guests.

After taking the Hollywood Boulevard exit, we turned left onto Hollywood Boulevard toward our destination.  By now we'd already been in the car for almost an hour.  We passed the Capital Record Building and started noticing stars on the sidewalk.  When we finally got to Hollywood and Highland we were hot, tired and noticing a ton of other tourists.  None of us were too thrilled about parking and walking around.  So we just kept driving.  Maybe next time...when we also attend a Jimmy Kimmel Live taping and it is night and cooler and the sun isn't in our eyes and...

What I hadn't expected to find is that a scant two or three blocks west of Hollywood and Highland is La Brea Avenue.  In fact, it is from La Brea Avenue this blog post's photo of the Hollywood Sign was taken.  I could have taken La Brea all the way to Hollywood Boulevard. It probably would have been a shorter drive.

We then decided what we'd enjoy more is finding the House of Blues on Sunset Boulevard to stop and have a brew.  We're big fans of the House of Blues (HOB) venue and have been delighted with every experience regardless of location.  Here's a tip.  If you can work it out, you will be better off entering parking opportunities for the House of Blues Sunset if you are going east on Sunset Boulevard.  It was only 3ish PM, but when we pulled into the parking lot it sure seemed quiet.

Waaaaahh!  We were denied.  HOB was closed due to a private event.  I know.  Maybe it was for the best.  What's the deal now, "Buzzed driving IS drunk driving!"  I personally would have had only one beer and I was driving.  And I was thirsty.  And I will admit, a little bummed.

I felt all was not lost however.  We would follow winding and meandering Sunset Boulevard all the way to the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH).  There would be plenty to see along this infamous thoroughfare.  I'd driven it before but for whatever reason on today's drive the almost 20 miles seemed extra longer and farther than I recalled.  Definitely scenic though.  To me the prize when you reach the end of Sunset Boulevard at PCH is my favorite Taco Bell (so far that is).  More about that in another blog post.

You know, in hindsight maybe as much as we were trying to push it, none of us were really much in the mood for sightseeing.

Thinking back on it, I feel I should have demanded we park and walk around at Hollywood and Highland.  So, I went back the other night with the intent of parking and videoing and such as my way of somehow making up for not getting out of the car.  A funny thing happened on the way to Hollywood.  Once I got there I still had no desire to get out and walk around, etc.

Instead, I shot this little video from my car.  My heart was in the right place.  I'm just not sure where the rest of me was.  In closing then, what comes to mind is simply "Hooray for Hollywood!"