Archive for the 'Los Angeles' Category
Be my guide: Eclectic duo on Albuquerque streets really clowns around
July 4, 2009 1:25pm
For my second-to-last stop before arriving in Los Angeles on my two-week, reader-driven road trip, I was in search of something different. I had hoped to find some traditional Spanish- or Mexican-inspired music or a country and western group — anything besides the usual cover bands and interchangeable rock acts.
Based on bars that readers had recommended in Albuquerque, I stumbled over the same old stuff. Just as I was about to give up hope, I came across two wonderfully eclectic guys performing in an unlikely venue.
Singing unusual tunes about clowns with a gruff yet compassionate voice, John Keith fingered the keys of his accordion in the doorway of an unoccupied office building. His partner in crime — well, it looked like you may not need a permit to play on the streets of Albuquerque, so what they were doing may not have been illegal— was Zoltan Szekely, a Hungarian musician who plays the Frankenstein of instruments.
Fourth of July: Fireworks shows, parades & parties in L.A., Las Vegas, San Diego [Updated]
July 3, 2009 1:44pm
Maybe you have Fourth of July weekend plans, maybe you don’t. But these fun Fourth of July events in L.A., San Diego and Las Vegas might entice you to hop in the car after a cameo at your neighborhood block party.
Los Angeles Area
The Standard Hollywood is hosting a poolside Ping Pong Tournament. What to expect: hipster crowd, prizes, organic hot dogs, BBQ and cute referees. Doors open at 11a.m.-7p.m. DJ Max Vanville will be spinning. 8300 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; (323) 650-9090
Go to the Rose Bowl if you want a great big fireworks show. Americafest is a local tradition and you’ll be joined by about 25,000 others. Tickets are $13, 7 and under are free. 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena. Sat., 7 p.m. (626) 577-3101
Redondo Beach puts on a fun, free Fourth of July for families. There’s a kids parade, puppet shows, live music and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Seaside Lagoon, 200 Portofino Way, Redondo Beach. Sat., 2 p.m.
See a full hour of fireworks a the L.A. Coliseum. And the best part? Totally free. 3911 South Figueroa St., Los Angeles.
Rush Street in Culver City will be celebrating Independence Day all weekend long. The Doors cover band Peace Frog will be playing on July 3, the anniversary of Jim Morrison’s death. Expect drink specials and even a raffle for an electric guitar. 9546 Washington Blvd., Culver City, (310) 837-9546. [Correction: An earlier version of this post said July 3 was the anniversary of Jim Morrison's birth.]
Fourth of July: MapQuest shows locations for fireworks events
July 1, 2009 1:47pm
Angelenos, if you are looking for the closest fireworks display to your home, check out MapQuest. They added new icons on their maps so that users can locate local fireworks displays and other holiday weekend events. You don’t have to be in the “directions” section of the site to find it. Type in your city (Map of Los Angeles) and look at the bar of icons on the right hand side of the map. You’ll see a gas tank (gas stations), fork and knife (restaurants) and a red, white and blue fireworks icon to name a few. Click on the fireworks button and then notice the map studded with Fourth of July events.
Morning Links: Airfare information for new Cuba flights; jet with 153 aboard crashes in Indian Ocean [Updated]; Hollywood Walk of Fame
June 30, 2009 10:48am
> Nonstop flights between Los Angeles (LAX) and Havana begin today at 11 a.m., with most customers expected to be Cuban Americans who have family in Cuba. There will be one flight out and one flight returning every Tuesday. Jane Engle, assistant Los Angeles Times Travel editor, outlines who can travel, the cost of flights and how to book in this post.
> A 14-year-old passenger has reportedly survived Yemenia Airways Flight 626, which crashed into the Indian Ocean today with 153 people on board. [Updated June 30: Earlier reports said that a toddler had survived the crash.] The Airbus jet was in rough weather and plunged into the seas near the Comoros Islands. The flight originated in Paris and had been marked for having potential safety faults in 2007.
A soulful Hollywood getaway with the House of Blues & Le Parc Suite Hotel
June 29, 2009 3:35pm
Does Mark Milian’s music-themed “Be My Guide” road trip across the U.S. have you hankering for a soulful getaway of your own? The House of Blues Sunset Strip in Hollywood and Le Parc Suite Hotel in West Hollywood have teamed up to bring you a weekend getaway that’s close to home. There’s absolutely no need to use the word “staycation.” People who hang out at the House of Blues Foundation Room never use ridiculous words like that. Just go and have a good time and know that you’re getting good value with this deal.
Deal: Spend the night in a Studio King Suite at Le Parc Suite Hotel (including tax) and get free admission for two at House of Blues’ Foundation Room ($100 value), two complimentary Foundation Room drink tickets ($25 value) and admission for two to Sunday Gospel Brunch ($85 value). You’ll also get free parking at Le Parc for Saturday night and free parking at House of Blues on Saturday night and Sunday morning ($25). The deal starts at $279 based on availability.
Tested: I found the deal available July 18-19. Without the House of Blues package, the price of a King Suite at Le Parc started at $199.
When: Through Dec. 30, 2009
Contact: Le Parc Suite Hotel, (310) 855-8888
– Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times Travel & Deal blogger
[Photo: House of Blues]
4-day Mexico cruise for $154, and other Carnival deals
June 26, 2009 11:20am
Thinking about cruising this fall or winter? If you want to get your feet wet with a short excursion to Baja, now’s a good time to secure an advanced-bookers’ discount. Some of Carnival’s “Early Saver” rates for its three- to five-day Mexico excursions from Long Beach and San Diego are incredible deals.
Deals: Various itineraries are available, some midweek and others weekend, some from Long Beach on the Carnival Paradise and others from San Diego on the Carnival Elation. The starting rates listed below are for the cheapest of the bunch, the interiors, though if your tastes run fancier, or at least less claustrophobia-inducing, rest assured that discounts are offered across all types of staterooms. Prices are pre-tax, per person and based on double occupancy.
From Long Beach:
> Three-day cruises departing on Fridays hit Ensenada. Early Saver rates begin at $229 per person on the Dec. 4 and Dec. 11 sailings. Read the rest of this entry »
Be my guide: Crowd marks Michael Jackson’s death at Motown Museum in Detroit
June 25, 2009 10:06pm
The music of Michael Jackson blared from car stereos tonight on Grand Boulevard in Detroit as a gathering formed in front of the Motown Historical Museum to commemorate the superstar.
Dozens of people were laughing, dancing and singing along to Jackson songs at the birthplace of Motown Records just a few hours after the Los Angeles Times confirmed that Jackson had died suddenly at age 50 after collapsing at his Los Angeles home. Instead of tears, the music icon inspired celebration among this crowd in Detroit, where the pop idol recorded his early hit records with the Jackson 5.
“As tragic as it is, it’s nice to see all these people out here mourning the loss,” said Zack Herman, who drove half an hour from his suburban home outside of Detroit. “He defined what it was to be a true musician.”
Michael Jackson death will affect travelers, ticket holders
June 25, 2009 3:33pm
Did you buy tickets or a travel package for Michael Jackson’s comeback concerts starting next month in London? Now comes the news that the superstar died this afternoon after he stopped breathing and was rushed to UCLA Medical Center from his nearby rented home, officials said.
In the biggest concert event of the summer — indeed, one of the biggest travel events — Jackson had 18 summer concerts planned in London through August at the O2 Arena, a hugely anticipated series that was expected to resurrect the star’s career. The shows were to begin July 13.
In a sign of the singer’s never-ending popularity, tickets were reportedly sold out. On the resale market, tickets to August shows were selling for $1,600.
When seats first came on sale, news reports showed long lines at ticket windows and fans in tears when they couldn’t get tickets. Many fans planned summer vacations around the concerts, and the cancellation of shows would be a huge blow to London’s travel industry, which sold lodging and airfare packages based on the concerts.
The concerts were scheduled through March 6, 2010.
Jackson stood to earn $50 million for the O2 shows, called “This Is It”— $1 million per performance, not including revenue from merchandise sales and broadcast rights, according to concert organizers. The singer was considering options including pay-per-view and a feature film. But the real money would kick in after his final curtain call in London.
AEG, which set up the series, had proposed a three-year tour starting in Europe, then traveling to Asia and finally returning to the United States. But Jackson had committed only to the O2 engagement thus far.
Organizers estimate ticket sales for the global concerts might exceed $450 million. Such a rebound might have wiped out the star’s huge personal debt.
—Los Angeles Times staff
[Photo: Michael Jackson at a news conference in London in March. Credit: Joel Ryan/Associaed Press]
First look: ‘Creature from the Black Lagoon’ musical at Universal Studios Hollywood
June 25, 2009 2:29pm
Universal Studios Hollywood has begun public technical rehearsals of “The Creature From the Black Lagoon — A Raging Rockin’ Show” in advance of an official debut on July 1.
“Creature” blends a Broadway-style musical with a romantic-comedy-adventure elements that promises to be unlike any other theme park experience.
Another photo after the jump.
Be my guide: Local rock music in Washington, D.C.
June 24, 2009 10:17am
The second day of my two-week, reader-guided road trip from New York to Los Angeles landed me in the nation’s capital. Reader Dave Mann wrote in to suggest I stop at the Black Cat to see his band, Mittenfields, play a show with two other rock groups.
Having been a student for years at the University of Maryland, just a few miles from Washington, D.C., I didn’t consider sightseeing a priority. I had been living and breathing Washington for years. So live music was the only thing on my agenda for the day.
I was happy to take Mann’s suggestion because I had seen Mittenfields play in Washington before. They’re a tight group with indie rock roots that apparently stem from underground sensations like Modest Mouse and Broken Social Scene. With layered and reverbed guitars accompanied by synthesizer, they produce an up-and-down “wall of sound” rock.
