New York Street Scenes
A little more than two years after fire damaged the world's largest working movie studio lot, Universal Studios has re-opened its iconic sets, built with creative consultation by Steven Spielberg himself, unveiling innovative shooting locations designed to meet contemporary film production needs. The new and re-created sets will be featured on the Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ...
"Mummies of the World," a new exhibition of the largest collection of mummies and artifacts ever assembled, is coming to the California Science Center July 1. Visiting only 7 museums worldwide and premiering in Los Angeles, this is a one-of-a-kind collection of mummies and artifacts from around the globe, some dating as far back as 6,500 years. Interactive exhibits allow you to explore whom the mummies were in life, where and how they lived and what they can tell us about the past. Learn about recent technology that has revealed new secrets about ancient life and changed the way scientists study mummies.
Los Angeles has an outstanding lineup of bands and performers coming to stages all over the city this summer. Catch Kings of Leon and Dave Matthews Band at the iconic Hollywood Bowl, Rihanna and Lady Gaga at STAPLES Center, The Black Keys at the Palladium and much, much more.
King Kong 360 3D, a new attraction, based on the Oscar®-winning 2005 Peter Jackson film, is set to become Universal Studios Hollywood’s new signature attraction this summer. Riders on the Studio Tour tram will be transported, via a darkened soundstage, back to King Kong’s home - Skull Island. The action, which takes place before King Kong ever makes his way to the modern world, culminates in a ferocious battle between the worlds’ most famous ape and a 35-foot dinosaur. Visitors will be thrust in the middle of the action -- through the magic of the world’s largest Surround Digital 3D projection system -- and will feel the tram jolt and reverberate as the 3D battle unfolds around them.
If you went in search of the birthplace of show business, you’d likely find yourself at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street — the neighborhood where countless classic Hollywood deals went down. Now, this iconic LA spot is getting a 21st-century makeover with the W Hotel Hollywood as its centerpiece. The glamorous hotel opened in January and is already making a splash as Hollywood’s newest starlet. To top it off, a rooftop club from legendary nightclub owner Victor Drai adds to the excitement. Drai's Hollywood features a restaurant, lounge, poolside cabanas and breathtaking views. And across the street, the Pantages Theatre continues its long history of charming audiences with its art deco opulence. CLICK HERE to view upcoming performances.
Already one of the world’s most comprehensive entertainment complexes, L.A. LIVE keeps getting bigger and better. The 14-screen state-of-the-art Regal Cinemas is the latest addition to open, and the district welcomed the The Ritz-Carlton in March and JW Marriott in February, meaning visitors can tour the GRAMMY Museum, dine at LA’s famous Katsuya, cheer on the Lakers or Clippers at STAPLES Center, bowl at Lucky Strike Lanes & Lounge and then relax in a posh hotel — all without leaving the neighborhood.
After making cameos in too many Hollywood movies to count, Santa Monica’s distinctive open-air shopping center, Santa Monica Place, is in the midst of a massive renovation that planners are equating to the “rebirth of a star.” It’s hard to imagine it any other way, considering the $155 million price tag and gorgeous artist renderings of the rooftop ocean-view dining patio. Watch for its red-carpet debut (which includes a brand-new Bloomingdales and a Nordstrom) in August 2010.
With the much-anticipated “Ecosystems” exhibit now open, you’re invited to experience a flash flood in the Extreme Zone, walk through a simulated ocean-floor tunnel and discover what kinds of icky, earthy things happen in the Rot Room. A major component of the California Science Center's 25-year expansion plan, “Ecosystems” features dozens of interactive exhibits that take visitors on an ecological quest to uncover the complex relationships between living things and their habitats.
When the vision of the Academy is complete, this comprehensive museum will show visitors the behind-the-scenes world of Hollywood and its most famous export. Through film screenings, artifacts, lectures and more, the museum will provide a fascinating look at the moviemaking process from start to finish. The museum is scheduled to break ground in 2011 and open in 2013. Visit www.moviemuseum.org for the latest information.
