Year in and year out, people from all over the United States and the world come in droves to Hollywood. They all want to see a glimpse of the real Tinsel Town that they normally only see on TV and the wide screen. Hollywood already has tried and tested places that attract visitors like nothing else.

What we see on TV and the movies may not be reflective of the “real” Hollywood and the “real” Los Angeles, however. And this is exactly what Robert Cabrales wants to share to visitors. Together with the Communities for a Better Environment, he is organizing tours specially designed for eco tourists. This group is actually an advocacy organization that aims to give something back to communities.

So what does an eco tour of Los Angeles include? The answer is quite stark: a guided tour among the most “notorious environmental black spots” of the city. Dubbed Toxic Tours, these unique vacations are aimed to reveal the “dirty little secrets” of the city.

AFP reports:

“The purpose is mainly to let people know that there is something going on here, which is the dirty little secrets that pretty much most people don’t know about,” Cabrales says. “When we talk about tourism and people coming over to visit Los Angeles they’re not going to see the nasty parts.”

Launched in 2007, the tour departs several times a month, ferrying anyone from environmentally conscious tourists to schoolchildren, activists and even government officials.

Cabrales said the tour aims to shine a light on the “environmental injustices” of Los Angeles, where residents in poorer neighborhoods live in close proximity to heavy industry.

I admire the initiative and concept of the tours. However, I don’t know if I would want to pay to see these places. I mean, I might as well take note of the places and then go there myself. Then again, that wouldn’t mean much for the cause of trying to change things, would it?

How about you, would you pay to go on a Toxic Tour?

Disclaimer: This is NOT a political endorsement nor is it propaganda. I only wish to report what has happened on a momentous day in American history.

Today, Barack Obama made history when he gave his acceptance speech for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. Thousand of people were there to show their support – including a veritable host of Hollywood stars. Hello Magazine writes:

Among the stars gathered in a Denver stadium to watch the Hawaii-born nominee speak – 45 years to the day after Martin Luther King made his famous “I have a dream” decalration - were Oprah Winfrey, Susan Sarandon, Anne Hathaway and Jessica Alba.

Others, like Jennifer Hudson, contributed to the evening’s entertainment. The Dreamgirls star took to the stage to sing the national anthem, while Stevie Wonder also performed, along with Sheryl Crow - who sang Change Is Gonna Come. Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am, meanwhile, teamed up with John Legend for a rendition of his song Yes We Can, which was inspired by the ground-breaking new nominee.

It seems that Hollywood has made up its mind about who it is going to support come the elections. Do you think that this support will somehow influence the way the voting is going to go nationwide? Hollywood is definitely a leader and model for many people all across the country (and across the seas as well) and I am thinking that the support of the stars will be nothing but good for the presidential candidate. What do you think?

Is Hollywood synonymous to art? I know a lot of people who would say that there are a lot of mainstream Hollywood movies which would not classify as art. Then again, these people are purists and they have a whole different way of classifying art anyway. But did you know that Hollywood movies actually show a lot of art? This may or may not have been done on purpose but the fact remains – you can get a glimpse of a lot of artwork in Hollywood movies.

AFP reports:

Mr Bean wrecking a Whistler or Julia Roberts expounding on a Pollock: in much the way James Bond films help cocktail connoisseurs improve their drinks skills, Hollywood in the past half century has provided key insights into US art.

So says a rare exhibition on film and art outside Paris in Giverny, the leafy sprawling home of Impressionist giant Claude Monet.

“For Europeans, cinema is the quintessential US art form,” said Sophie Levy, chief curator of the Musee d’Art Americain.

“But we were surprised to see how many Hollywood films actually featured US artworks, specially those made in the last 20 years.”

So there – the experts have said it. Movies made in the last 2 decades are rife with various art work. One question remains, though, are these art work real? I do not have the answer right now – need more research on this. Maybe one of you would have the info?

Do you love tequila? I know very few people who do not. Well here is good news for tequila lovers who are in the area of Hollywood. There is a newly opened tequila bar called the Mission Cantina. Judging by the name alone, the theme is Mexican but where does the “mission” come in?

The tequila bar somehow resembles a small church or chapel. The windows are stained glass, there is a front courtyard patio, and there are chandeliers that are reminiscent of a tiny Mexican chapel. The pride of the Mission, however, is the bar, which is made of dark oak and is hand built. The beautiful bar seats 20.

So who owns this hot new bar located at 5946 Sunset Boulevard? A man whose name many people from Hollywood would recognize - George Abou-Daoud. This man is, in fact, considered to be one of the up and coming restaurateurs in Hollywood. He is already known for his other restaurants Delancy and Bowery.

The LA Times writes of the Mission:

Mission Cantina serves food at reasonable prices for a thirtysomething crowd. On the menu? How about Mexican ceviche with Red Snapper, barbacoa tacos, fish tacos or their “mole rojas” (served with jalepeno cornbread).

Dishes like the afforementioned aside, we suspect it’s the “liquid gold” that will be the true draw for Mission Cantina well into 2009. Expect an extensive tequila list, including Casa Noble Reposado, Cazadores Reposado and of course, Patron. We also like the strawberry guava mojitos here….the perfect L.A. drink to sip on a hot summer night.

Ahh, I bet you can’t wait to pay the Mission a visit.

Are you the type who likes to go on trips with big groups? To be honest, these kinds of vacations are not my type at all but there are a lot of advantages to going on vacations with a group. For one, you get to have a lot of fun, especially if everyone in the groups gels well with another. Another reason would be more practical – you save up a lot on the expenses as you can split everything many ways.

If you plan to go to Los Angeles with a big group, you might want to hire a party bus. What is a party bus exactly? It is basically a big bus which you can rent to use just for your group. Different party bus companies have various products, which are priced accordingly. These buses come in all shapes and sizes, some following a certain theme and offering different features.

For example, you can rent out a London double-decker bus – you know, the red buses that used to run in the streets of London. If you want more bling, you can rent a Vegas-themed bus. Those are just a few examples. Most buses have amenities such as a bar, a bathroom, and entertainment centers.

What people normally do is hire these buses to take them around the city. They get to see the various tourist spots, visit bars and clubs, and so on. While they are at it, they could drink and be merry inside the bus without having to worry about getting to their destinations.

I don’t know about you but one of my main considerations when I go on vacation is the quality and the variety of choices when it comes to food. Going to Hollywood should be no different. In fact, if there is one city in the United States wherein you should expect some of the best restaurants, then it should be Los Angeles. So how would you know which restaurants to go to? You can always look for the restaurants of some of the celebrity chefs.

Then again, if you want some more variety, there are other alternatives – many other alternatives. Your best bet would be to visit the site Los Angeles Restaurants. I went through the web site earlier today and I really liked what I found. For one, on the main page, you already see some really useful lists. Some of the categories are Best Restaurants – Overall Dining Experience, Best Service, Best Food, Best Ambiance, and Best Wine List & Bar Selection.

When you click on a restaurant name, you will be taken to a page with more details about the restaurant. You can find information such as the full review, which is very detailed, I have to say. You can also find details about the location, type of cuisine, pricing, dress code, and more. There are some items on the menu shown with the description and price. Best of all, you can actually make reservations on the site itself.

Everyone who goes to Hollywood has aspirations of spotting the stars, having their pictures taken with them, and even maybe exchanging niceties with them. Though the chances of these things happening are the highest in Hollywood, not everyone will really be able to have a close encounter with the superstars.

For some, “replicas” will do. Head on over to Hollywood Boulevard and you will see countless characters from movies and cartoons milling around. It all started 17 years ago when Christopher Dennis – who looks just like Christopher Reeves – dressed up as Superman and posed for pictures on the Walk of Fame. Dennis was (is, actually) an aspiring actor who used to work as a waiter in a diner. After many patrons remarked on his resemblance to the original Superman, he decided to try the costume and posing thing out.

The rest is history. On his first day, he earned $600 on tips. He has not gone back to the diner since then. More so, other people started copying his idea. From Spiderman to Batman to Elmo to Elvis to Marilyn Monroe – you will see all these characters on the Walk of Fame. They may not be the real thing but they sure look real in the pictures.

Of course, life is not as easy and pleasant for Dennis as it was when he first started. Word of his “racket” has reached far and wide and no one has been able to stop the busloads of other people wanting a piece of the pie. Calls are being made to regulate them but so far, nothing has been done. As for the tourists? They are continuing to enjoy having their pictures taken.

We were just talking about tourists taking home chunks of Hollywood – literally – with them when they leave the city in the previous post. Now who would have thought that the Walk of Fame would be subject to something similar? Well, come to think of it, it would make more sense for people to actually try to bring home a piece of the Walk of Fame with them.

This time however, the shabbiness of the area just might NOT be intentional. Just like any other piece of property, the Walk of Fame is prone to wear and tear. Considering that countless of people walk over the stones year in and year out, it is but natural to expect wear and tear to take its toll on the stars.

The Independent reports:

The star-studded tourist attraction is to undergo a $4m (£2m) restoration amid reports that it is deteriorating under the feet of the crowds of visitors who trek along the two-and-a-half mile route through the heart of Los Angeles to admire the names of more than 2,300 of Hollywood’s best-known celebrities.

In recent years, dozens of the bronze stars that adorn parts of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street have buckled and warped, while many of the pink marble slabs that surround them are starting to crack.

Tourist guides have started to complain that the area looks tatty and unloved, while the city’s authorities are worried that a sightseer might trip on the damaged pavement and sue.

The solution? The Walk of Fame will be torn up and relaid. The current Walk of Fame has concrete that is 3 inches thick. The proposed revamp will have concrete laid out – all 8 inches of it. Sounds good to me!

Photo courtesy of cybertoad

Whenever I travel to another place, I always take home a piece of that place with me. I am talking figuratively here, though. Like for example, my last trip was to a tranquil beach. When I went home, I took the memories of lying under the sun with only the sound of the surf. But what do people take home with them when they go to Hollywood?

Would you believe that tourists are taking home pieces of Hollywood – literally? Marissa Gluck of LA Curbed shares her experience:

While the city looks under the couch cushions to find the estimated $4.1 million it will cost to repair the mysteriously buckling sidewalks at Hollywood & Highland, a reader clues us in to what may be accelerating its decline: Tourists! “Everyone wants a piece of Hollywood, literally it seems. Don’t have a clue as to what is causing the mess, I may have some insight into what is NOT helping the situation. Last night, I went to my favorite watering hole, the Powerhouse, on Hollywood and Highland to down a few beers, and afterwards I caught the bus home because I didn’t want to worry about the whole DUI thing. Any way, as I was waiting for the 217 bus, I noticed tourists breaking off little pieces of the sidewalk and walking off with it.

Ahuh. Apparently, even ordinary cement can mean something to some people. I find this quite amusing although I am sure the city council will disagree with me. Perhaps they should take certain measures to guard against this? Or maybe they should use longer lasting cement!

Photo courtesy of Unhindered by Talent

I once heard someone ask “What is America’s national food?” A friend then replied without any hesitation, “Hotdogs!” Now I would have to say that there just might be some truth to that answer, although of course, it could be questionable. The fact is that we love hotdogs and many of us have our own favorite brand.

If you are ever in Hollywood, if there is one hotdog place that you should try, it should be Pink’s Hotdogs. This is actually one of the famous landmarks in Hollywood and in fact offers more than hotdogs today. Indeed, the Pinks have gone a long way since Paul and Betty Pink sold hotdogs in a pushcart in 1939. Back then, they did their business on the corner near La Brea and Melrose.

Today, Pink’s home is in a building found at 709 North La Brea. Their menu has also expanded to more than hotdogs – from burgers to side orders and special hotdogs, one can expect to have a LOT of choices at Pink’s. Of particular interest to many tourist are their special hotdogs which are named after Hollywood Stars. It is said that these are the hotdogs that the stars themselves have ordered in the past. Want a few samples? Well, they have The Ozzy Spicy Dog which has spicy Polish dog, Nacho cheese, American cheese, grilled onions, guacamole, and chopped tomatoes. This one goes for $5.40. There are other interesting concoctions like Rosie O’Donnell Long Island Dog, and the Martha Stewart Dog (which seems to be popular).

Pink’s is definitely a place to visit – just be sure to pack along a lot of patience with you as there is usually a long line.