Forget buying gifts for other people — what should Hollywood fans get for themselves? What about these vintage movie posters, available at emovieposter.com This site carries some of the posters from old blockbusters, from Disney’s 102 Dalmations to Empire Strikes Back to Ghostbusters.
Better yet, arrange a Hollywood tour that’ll bring you to the studios or sets. Now that’s what we call bragging rights.

The Vanguard is one of the hottest places to party in HOllywood. It’s famous for its cool DJs, go-go girls on a catwalk and enough dance floor space to fit in the relaxed but energetic crowd, which ranges mainly from 25s-early 30s. There’s an outdoor tropical-style patio in the back for VIP service, but this place is really just a pure dance club with few distractions.
(6021 Hollywood Bvld., 213-480-3232.)

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?

Do you consider yourself to be a maverick? I know a lot of people who do. It does not mean that they become instant successes but they do have a character of their own. In Hollywood, more than in other places, we can find a lot of mavericks. Forbes actually ran a feature article on some of Hollywood’s best known mavericks with this unforgettable lesson: “If you make people money, you can get away with being a maverick in Hollywood. If you don’t, well, that’s another story.”

So who made the list? Here are some of them.

Oliver Stone
He’s cemented his outsider status with a rebellious nature and a penchant for high-minded, controversial films. His work has provocatively depicted American culture, politics and business with Wall Street, Born on the Fourth of July and Natural Born Killers. But his latest film, W, grossed just $10 million during its opening weekend.

Michael Moore
He’s turned controversy into commerce, with documentaries that have explored American health care, the Iraq war, President Bush and gun ownership. But when his 2004 film Fahrenheit 9/11 grossed over $200 million worldwide–though it had a production cost of $6 million–that’s when he became a Hollywood darling. He’ll earn a reported $20 million to do the sequel.

Mel Gibson
Besides being outspoken, they’re adept at manipulating publicity–both positive and negative–to boost their fame, allowing them to work on their own terms. “Celebrities are selling their own brands because it affords them more freedom and they can drive the machine,” Says Levine.

That last description was actually referring not only to Mel Gibson but to other personalities such as Madonna and Kanye West as well. We all know where these people are right now and I think that being mavericks is one big reason that they reached where they are.

You’ll probably be seeing and hearing that phrase a lot in the next weeks, even months, as it is the tag line for the new tourism campaign that the city of Angels has launched. On Friday last week, Los Angeles city officials kicked off a new tourism campaign that is aimed at boosting the economy and providing jobs.

You would think that this part of the world would not have a lack of tourists. Indeed, last year, they still had a record number of visitors. However, the economic troubles of the country – and hence the city – are far from over and the authorities are bracing themselves for the worst. As such, they have launched this campaign in an effort to attract more visitors.

Mind you, they have put a lot of money into this campaign – a whopping $2M worth! Initially, the campaign is geared at reaching Southern California residents who might want to take a trip to the city. Eventually, the campaign will be widened to target other places in the US as well as international markets.

Despite the money that Hollywood movies brings in – and they capitalize on Hollywood for tourist attractions, believe me – the city knows that tourism is the lifeblood of their economy. As such, $2M is but a small price to pay to entice people from all over the world to spend their money in the city.

That’s So LA is replacing the old campaign dubbed See My LA. It still features the most popular attractions in the city.

Anyone who has visited one of Madame Tussauds’ museums would know just how amazingly lifelike the exhibits are. And for those who just can’t get enough of their Hollywood stars, Madame Tussauds has something especially for them – the newest museum in its already vast line up.

This time, the museum is dedicated to the stars – the human kind, not the twinkly kind you see up in the night sky. The newest addition to Madame Tussauds’ museum is located right next to Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, near the Kodak Theatre. If you follow the Walk of Fame, you will go by the new museum, which opened on the 1st of this month.

There are 115 celebrities immortalized in wax, and guess what? This is no stuffy museum where visitors have to stay behind the red ropes! Those who go inside Madame Tussauds can literally rub shoulders with the wax figures.

To add to the whole experience, the stars do not come as stand alone figures. Some of them actually have props, which they are most known for. Tom Hanks, for example, sits on a bench as Forrest Gump did. You can even put on some the available habits around Whoopi Goldberg’s figure to join her in Sister Act. Needless to say, the possibilities for fun are endless in this museum.

Tickets are sold online and at the door. Online, you can buy Priority Access or Flexi Tickets, both for a 10 percent discount. What are you waiting for? It’s the perfect trip to end the summer.

Millions and millions of tourists have set foot on Hollywood and have roamed the streets to discover what this amazing city has to offer. Being one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, it is no wonder that Hollywood is home to all sorts of establishments catering to all sorts of tastes and preferences. There is one thing that will always be sought after: that authentic Hollywood feel; and if you are looking for the real deal, then you should pay Musso & Frank Grill a visit.

This is not your run-of-the-mill restaurant which tries to emulate the Hollywood in everybody’s dream. It IS part of Hollywood’s rich and colorful history. Founded in the early 1900s, this establishment was the regular haunt of many personalities – from actors to literary figures. It changed ownership in 1926, and has continued to cater to locals and visitors alike. Recently, Musso & Frank has undergone some radical changes yet again. Jordan M. Jones, a descendant of the owners, took over the reins and implemented improvements while at the same time sticking to old traditions.

It used to be that the grill was best known for its martinis. Today, they have expanded their menu to include excellent wines and other drinks. They have also started playing music late at night, which was something “unknown” in the past. Once you put your foot inside the door, however, you will not be able to deny that Musso & Frank has something that all the other establishments in Hollywood may not have. Whatever you want to call it, you’ll definitely get that feeling at this Hollywood fixture.

The Grauman Chinese Theatre is one of the most popular attractions in Hollywood. The great thing about this theatre is that its popularity is not only due to its “star record” but also because of its architecture. In fact the theatre is has been a historic-cultural landmark since 1968. Thanks to this status the theatre has been kept well preserved undergoing several facelifts and much needed earthquake retrofits to ensure that future generations will still have a Grauman’s Chinese Theatre to visit and enjoy when going to Hollywood.

The Grauman’s Chinese Theatre was first opened in May 18, 1927 with Cecil B. DeMille’s “The King of Kings” premiering that night. From the opening the theatre has already been popular and been making history as attested to by the thousands of fans, that turned out to see both the celebrities and the theatre, and then went ahead and rioted.

As mentioned earlier the theatre is also very special due to the architecture and the interior design. Quite obviously the theatre is of Chinese architecture, but what makes it really special is its legendary forecourt better known as the “Forecourt of the Stars”. The intricate artistry, from the fountains to the statues, displayed in the forecourt is actually the work of real Chinese artisans. Lots of the other artifacts that dot the theatre, such as the giant Heaven Dogs guarding the entrance of the theatre, are genuine Chinese artifacts imported from China. Of course, to the fans the emphasis goes to the stars part of the “Forecourt of the STARS” since it is there where you’ll find the hand and footprints of more than 200 celebrities. The very first hand and footprints belong to Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks in April 30, 1927 with more and more stars adding to the A-List each year.

The theatre, though a tourist attraction, is also still very much a real theatre serving as the venue for premieres of the best shows in Hollywood.

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.

Knots Berry Farm is a well known brand all over the world. Situated not far from Hollywood, Knotts Berry Farm is the perfect destination for tourists, especially for those with families. There are various agencies operating in and around Hollywood which offer tours to the Farm.

One example is prominent Hollywood Tours. Here is something from their web site:

The Knotts Berry Farm Excursion from Hollywood (Day and Evening) includes admission and unlimited use of all rides and attractions, with hotel pick-up before 9:00 am and return from the park at 9:30 pm.

Pick-up from Hollywood, San Fernando Valley, the Valley, Mid-Wilshire, Pasadena, Glendale, and Burbank area hotels.

Enjoy 165 wild rides, live shows and attractions including an action-packed Old West Ghost Town, six-acre Camp Snoopy for kids, and all-new Jaguar!, the Streaking Big Cat of Roller Coasters!

Of course, I am sure that you want to know how much a tour would set you back. For adults, they charge $106.95. If you book from their web site, you get a discount and pay only $101.95. Prices for children are cheaper at $77.95.

If you are planning on taking the Knotts Berry Farm tour, you should be ready to spend about 14 hours. Basically, you have to set aside a whole day for the tour, with perhaps some time to relax in the evening upon your return.