Hollywood Has It All

What's really cool about Hollywood is the simple fact that this place has it all. Whatever you want it's there. Art? Oh man, check out Wacko's for the latest oddity and gallery exhibit from the newest artists. Want the cutting edge of fashion? Try Kidrobot on Melrose Ave. Movies? Well, you know that Hollywood is the film superpower of the entire world. There are movies everywhere. Everything from the latest summer blockbuster to the smallest indy film. Hey, it's true what they say about seeing actors and actresses walking the streets. On my last trip I saw Denzel Washington and Dick Clark. Below is a picture of pop art legend Frank Kozik at Kidrobot signing a new toy release.



Is acting your thing? Are you interested in drama at school? Hollywood has everything an up and coming actor or actress could ever want. A friend of mine that lives there tells the tales of hundreds of opportunities a day to have a part in some new movie. Casting calls for extras are off the charts. I don't mean to smoke screen you and say that you're guaranteed a role in the next Harry Potter, but I'm saying if you have the chance and want to pursue acting, getting a few credits as an extra might be worth a trip to Hollywood.

Ok, so you just want to go on a fast paced vacation in tinsel town. No problem. Check out the Roosevelt Hotel. This is the birthplace of the Academy Awards and has seen the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable and thousands of the biggest actors and actresses stay there. (When I stayed there, I rode in the elevator with the singer of the group 4 Non Blondes)The Roosevelt Hotel is centrally located just a block or so from Grauman's Chinese Theatre and MTV's headquarters.



It doesn't matter what you're looking for, Hollywood has it all. Sports, fashion, art, music, movies, food, high glamour and fun times for everyone. Heck, I don't care if your thing is robotic zombie hacky sack playing dragons... I bet they have them there. This is just a tiny sample of Hollywood... an Amuse Bouche if you will... Explore, look Hollywood up online. There are millions of fascinating things about Hollywood just waiting for you to find them.


Nick Valentino's steampunk novel "Thomas Riley" comes out October 2009 on Echelon Press. http://nickvalentino.blogspot.com

Hollywood? I've Been There!

Hollywood Walk of Fame that is. For just an average girl raised in the midwest, I got lots of perks when my grandparents moved to California.

First, I got to fly on an airplane - I mean pteradactyl - by myself every summer. I earned quite a collection of plastic wings, playing cards and snack foods.

Then of course there were all the fun things we did. Like day trips to Chinatown, Disneyland and Marineland, or the weeks of gymnastics lessons, swimming lessons, tennis lessons...well you might get the idea that my grandparents doted on me! My grandparents took pics of me at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, on the Hollywoood Walk of Fame - which is totally cool in person...did you know that some celeb animals actors even have their paws on stars? Of course I've yet to turn any of those old photos and slides into digital formats...

But one of my favorite Hollywood landmarks is the Hollywood Bowl. My grandparents took me for a puppet show and I was addicted to the site. It's the biggest amphitheater in the world, there's no place like it - for a picnic or a drama class and especially not for a concert. The picture here is a satellite image of the new bowl. I was last there before they had to rebuild it a few years back for acoustic reasons. If you're into architecture, the structure itself has an amazing history.

Wikipedia has a great page of info and links to other websites full of history of The Bowl. Some of the most incredible music events have happened at the bowl. Here' s a You Tube link of a famous Silly Walks sketch from Monty Python played at night. For a large venue you can tell how the audience really feels connected.

Here's to bowling -the Hollywood way!

Regan

author of the Shadows of Justice series, the Pixie Chicks series, and other short stories.