Some of Hollywood’s hotels can be considered as historical as Hollywood itself — like the Knickerbocker.

It was built in 1925 as a luxury apartment building, and its Renaissance Revival bar was a favorite hang out of the stars. Rudolph Valentino loved to tango here. FIlm director D. W. Griffith spent many hours at the bar, especially after he was “dismissed” by Hollywood after years of pioneering the industry. He was was walking in the lobby when he had a stroke, and died under the huge crystal chandelier.

Another Knickerbocker patron was Frances Farmer, who enjoyed an intense, but brief, career. She appeared in 18 films, three Broadway plays, thirty major radio shows and seven stock company productions, but alcohol, drugs, and weight problems had her career in shambles before she was 28. In 1943 she was arrested while she was at the Knickerbocker, and had to be dragged (half naked) out of her room. Famous costume designer Irene Gibbons also committed suicide here, checking in under another name, then trying to slit her wrists. When that didn’t work she jumped from the window.

The Knickerbocker was also the “lovenest” of William Faulkner and Meta Carpenter, a script girl from the Fox studios, Marilyn Monroe and Joe Dimaggio. Other celebrity guests were Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Mae West, Lana Turner, Cecil B. DeMille, Frank Sinatra, Laurel and Hardy and many others.

The Knickerbocker was also the stage for the last Houdini seance. After an hour, a violent thunderstorm drenched participants and ended their attempts. They later discovered that the storm didn’t occur anywhere else in Hollywood — only above the hotel!

Today a coffee shop called “The All-Star Theatre Café & Speakeasy” stands where the bar used to be, and is frequented by celebrities like Sandra Bullock and Leonardo DiCaprio.

If you’re spending some time enjoying Southern California’s beaches this week, you ought to know that there are some dangers involved. It is true that you could have some of the most exciting times in the beaches of LA and the surrounding areas; however, the Los Angeles Times warns surfers and beach lovers that rip currents are presenting higher risks than usual, especially this weekend.

According to the report, the high surf has combined with runoff from storm drains (this goes straight into the ocean waters) to result in substantial changes in the formation of the sea floor. As such, the currents have also changed, posing more danger with regard to rip currents. Even those who are quite familiar with the usual currents in the beaches may have a surprise or two waiting for them.

Tourists may not have the beach as the main reason for visiting this part of the world, but anyone visiting Los Angeles would end up at the beach at one point or another. Whether you are an expert swimmer or not, you have to be aware of the dangers these rip currents present. Expert swimmers and surfers would know what to do, but panic can easily override common sense. The sensible thing to do is to swim parallel to shore instead of against the current. In the midst of danger, however, the instinct is to swim straight to shore – which will almost always end up in tragedy.

So, if you’re hitting the beach in Southern California anytime soon, consider yourself warned and prepare yourself!

If there is one place on Earth that could be hailed as the trendsetter of trendsetters, Hollywood will probably win hands down. After all, the exposure that Hollywood gets is comparable to none. And, if trends are what you are after, then here’s one trend that seems to be the favorite of Hollywood couples these days: renewing wedding vows.

Just to give you a background, let’s mention some of the Hollywood couples that have recently renewed their vows.

There’s Mimi and Nick. They renewed their vows for the third time late in April.

Seal and Heidi Klum – already known for loving wedding ceremonies – renewed their vows for the sixth time!

Then there’s Dean McDermott and Tori Spelling, who dispelled rumors that they were getting divorced. Last week, they renewed their vows as well.

There are more Hollywood couples who have been going through the same thing – saying “I do” for the nth time. So I was thinking, if you’re looking for a short break and you’re married, why not follow the trend? Why not go to Hollywood for the weekend or for the week (you can have your nth honeymoon there while you’re at it) and say your wedding vows again?

These stars may not be the perfect examples of how marriages should be, but hey, renewing your vows is something good, isn’t it? And, doesn’t saying “I do” (yet again) in Hollywood give you a perfect fairy tale ending?

Hollywood now comes with a big W. I don’t mean HollyWood but the new W Hotel and Residences that opened last Friday on the corner of Hollywood and Vine.

The W Hotel is a mixed-use development with hotel suites and apartment for a total of 143 residences, restaurants, clubs, shops, and a subway station right underneath it. The W Hotel also has energy efficient rooms and is expected to draw more tourists to Hollywood.

The W Hotel presents $350 million in investment, which is expected by the city government to be pumped right back to the economy. In terms of employment this will be true since it will bring about 500 jobs, good news with the still struggling economy. Aside from the jobs they are hoping that the development will end up revitalizing the whole area surrounding the hotel. According to Gatehouse Capital CEO Marty Collins, “It creates and really anchors a vision that allows the whole area to expand and really in some ways become back to what it once was before, that whole renaissance of Hollywood.”

However, some are already calling the hotel “ungainly”. As Christopher Hawthorne, architecture critic of LA Times, said, “The rather ungainly result… is not what you’d call an elegant addition to the rapidly expanding Hollywood skyline,” but even he has to agree that how this “urban-experiment” will end is still a puzzle that will only be solved by time. For now we can be sure that this curiosity will be the talk of Hollywood; as to what people will be saying, we can only wait and see.

Rolling Stone – the magazine – has long ago established a name for itself in the entertainment and news industry. Aspiring musicians and writers consider themselves made once they become a part of the magazine. Over the years, Rolling Stone has become an icon in its niche.

Here’s the news: they are branching out into something quite new for them. According to the LA Times, the owners of the magazine are aiming to further cement their iconic status by setting up a restaurant and nightclub in Hollywood. And that is only the first step.

Think Planet Hollywood. Think Hard Rock Café. If things go as planned, Rolling Stone (the restaurant and nightclub) will be seen all over the place. Next summer, we should see the flagship branch at Hollywood & Highland Center. And according to the owners, guests will be in for a treat – more than one can expect at their competitors. They say that the food will be of better quality and everything is supposed to be hipper and fancier than all the other establishments in its niche.

More from the LA Times:

The Rolling Stone venue in Hollywood will operate on two tiers, Donnelly said. On the top level, which opens into the mall, will be a restaurant and bar intended to appeal to the estimated 15 million tourists a year who come to the Hollywood intersection near Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. He also hopes to pull in local residents who may come to watch sports or have a drink.

Being located in a mall certainly has its pluses. Even if you didn’t intend to go to the resto in the first place, you probably would be enticed once you see it. Something to look forward to next year!

Yoga has long become a trend in celebrity circles for getting and staying fit. If rumors are to be believed, though, the in thing these days is going butt naked to do yoga! Rumors being what they are, nothing has really been confirmed, but if they are to be believed, Hollywood celebrities such as Nicolas Cage, Halle Berry, Gwyneth Paltrow, Naomi Watts, Jennifer Lopez, and Rita Wilson are doing naked yoga.

So what is so special about naked yoga? The World Sentinel reports:

The proponents of naked yoga say that it is taboo-breaking, thrill, liberation, unique perspective, profound spiritual and healing experience; unifies body-soul-mind; sheds barriers/inhibitions/masks; provides greater freedom of movement; saves the hassle of buying expensive yoga outfits; offers acceptance of body with all imperfections; makes one feel comfortable in one´s own skin; overcomes weight/body image issue; etc. But they insist that it is not about sex.

They just had to include that disclaimer about sex, didn’t they? Anyhow, yoga practitioners say that many people actually practice yoga naked in the comforts of their own homes. After all, yoga practitioners are actually encouraged to do the exercises on their own. And who (or what) is to stop private individuals to do yoga without any clothes? Joining a whole class wherein everyone – instructor and students alike – is something else altogether!

Despite my inhibitions (and other people’s as well, perhaps), naked yoga is actually catching on. If you think about it, the Hollywood stars are not pioneers in this field. There are many naked yoga clubs around the world. Check your local listing, there might be one near you.

Photo courtesy of www.yogalifestyle.com

In spite of the fact that marijuana (weed or pot or whatever other name you call it) is illegal, we know that it is being used widely across the country. Hollywood is no exception. In fact, weed may even be used here more than in other parts of the country.

If the LA authorities are to be followed, however, weed is soon going to be harder to come by in the area. City inspectors are currently targeting what is known as medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles. One by one, these dispensaries are being inspected – the first step towards shutting them down. The orders come from the City Council, which is now regretting its decision to allow the shops (hundreds of them) to operate.

Naturally, shop owners are not happy with the developments. Anthony Folsom is one of the owners of Bulldog Café, one of the medical marijuana dispensaries. He is quite unhappy with the City Council’s move as he believes that they (the shop owners) are in the business for the right reasons. He also stated that if this crackdown does not stop, all those people with good intentions are going to disappear and that at the end of the day, the city will be left with illegal drug dealers.

He does have a point and the City Council realizes this. They are having a hard time getting their way and many members acknowledge how difficult and potentially dangerous the road they are taking is. In the meantime, shops which are still in business are being frequented by their loyal patrons.

Prop 8 has got to be one of the most controversial pieces of legislations ever. It has got people from all sorts of backgrounds speaking their minds. And of course, in Hollywood, most everyone has joined the fray. The general consensus – as was to be expected, I think – is that upholding Prop 8 is not right.

USA Today featured some quotes about Prop 8 from prominent Hollywood figures. Here are some of the more interesting AND sensible ones. (Yes, everyone is having their say but some of them just do more harm to Prop 8, I think.)

George Clooney to E!: “This just should invigorate people to get it back on the ballot in 2010 and 2012 and every two years until all people are allowed a basic civil right.”

Yep, this was voted on. Those who didn’t vote do not have a right to complain.

Charlize Theron to E!: “I am deeply disappointed by the (California) Supreme Court’s ruling on Prop. 8 today. I don’t agree with homophobia or discrimination of any kind. I will continue to fight this fight for equality and speak up for the basic civil rights of all Americans.”

I don’t agree with homophobia or discrimination either. Then again, the issue runs deep and touches faith and beliefs. It’s not that simple.

Demi Moore: “There’s no room 4 judgment it only creates separation & i’m pretty sure we R all equal in God’s eyes. luv is luv in whatever form! … Amazing the country that likes 2 pride itself on liberty & justice 4 all can continue 2 fail certain groups!”

That’s on Twitter, and she does have a point on liberty and justice.

So is Hollywood right on this one? What’s YOUR say?

Forrest Gump may have been a ping pong sensation back in the day, but that did not really propel the game to the top of the list of “cool” games. Many many years later, it seems that the game has gotten the break that it deserves, for it is now the “in” past time of Hollywood celebrities.

The Independent – a UK newspaper of all things! – recently ran a feature on this phenomenon:

It has to be one of the unlikeliest Hollywood pastimes yet, involving two people, a couple of vaguely S&M wooden paddles and a hollow plastic ball. Whisper it: ping-pong is cool.

Forget scout huts and church halls – on Saturday, the latest achingly hip New York table tennis venue will open its doors to an adoring star-studded following. SPiN New York will be an exclusive ping-pong parlour big enough to house the sport’s growing number of A-list devotees who turn up, bat in hand, at ping-pong social clubs around the city.

So who are the people who have been captivated by this sport?

Among the Hollywood elite captivated by the craze are the actors Ed Norton and Matthew Broderick, and the actress Susan Sarandon – who will be cutting the ribbon at SPiN’s glitzy launch. Even the rapper 50 Cent wants to be seen at America’s cult table tennis parties.

You know what? Call me nerdy or call me cool – it doesn’t matter to me. I love ping pong. It used to be my sport of choice and now that these Hollywood bigwigs are playing it, I can’t help but feel a sense of vindication.

When I first heard of this piece of news, for some reason, the song “Peter Pumpkinhead” started playing in my head. Until now, as I am writing this post, the song will not stop playing! Oh well, I suppose there is a connection somehow and the song is good anyway, so I will not complain.

So what is the pumpkin bread all about? If you do not know already, there is this convent in Hollywood that has become famous because of their pumpkin bread. The convent is called the Monastery of Angels, and it has been in existence for 75 years now.

Their existence is being seriously threatened right now, however, as the convent’s finances are way in the red. According to the nuns, donations and other sources of income (including a gift shop and other investments) have not been earning them much money recently. Their budget has actually been cut down by more than 70%. As a result, they might have to close the convent down, perhaps opening the property to some other sort of development.

Naturally, neighbors and other concerned people are not about to let that happen, if they can do anything about it. Talks have been going around about making use of the nuns’ famous pumpkin bread, in the hopes that revenue can be made from this product. There are currently 20 nuns in the convent and their days revolve around prayer, with three hours of work in the morning. It is during these three hours that the nuns bake their pumpkin bread and work in the gift shop.

With this news going around in the community, the people are scrambling to help the nuns. Now isn’t that just the perfect attitude this Easter?