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.

If you do, then you are among countless people yearning to live at The Broadway Hollywood, a condominium complex that gives a new twist to the classic loft style of living. The Broadway Hollywood is located at Hollywood and Vine and is housed in a 1927 department store building. The builders of this condominium complex took the original New York loft style and added their own brand of creativity.

Taking a step away from the industrialized loft style, The Broadway Hollywood has all the perks that are needed for style and comfort. It has a fitness center, the view is fantastic, it has a rooftop pool with cabanas for lounging, and more. The units themselves are designed for the most discerning tastes. Think Hollywood big names such as Charlize Theron, Dave Navarro, and Danny Masterson – they all have units in this building.

The Broadway Hollywood has more to offer than the condo units. With its strategic location, there are so many conveniences to be had. There is the Katsuya sushi joint downstairs and The Geisha House is within walking distance. This is not to mention the other numerous shops that you can visit within minutes.

Of course, you have to pay a considerable sum to enjoy all of this. Guess how much a unit will set you back? I could not find prices for the average lofts but a two-floor penthouse unit with a living area of 2,000 square feet was recently listed at $1.8 million!

He is a big star in Hollywood – and the rest of the world for that matter. He starred in so many hit movies. He bought a Toyota Prius (a green car, for those who do not know what it is) more than 7 years ago, when buying green cars was not the trend. He inspired other big stars to follow suit. He doesn’t have a Hummer (or a similar gas guzzling car) on the side. He even refuses to fly on a private jet and instead takes commercial flights. He has made films, which include a documentary, that highlights the environmental crisis. This is one man that “walks the talk” when it comes to being green. Can you make a guess as to who I am talking about?

To be honest, he was not the first person to come to mind. He is Leonardo di Caprio. Of Titanic fame, this guy has done a lot to bring environmental awareness to his part of the world. Even in private ways, he has been consistent in living a green life. Even international news agencies have taken notice. The Times Online (UK) ran a feature on him some time ago and noted that he has not always been this conscious of the environment:

The actor wasn’t always so planet-conscious: his first car, bought when he was 16, was a 1969 Ford Mustang, one of the original muscle cars. “It broke down on the freeway three times,” he says. “I nearly died [of embarrassment].”

So what made him change? He says that his role in the movie The Beach helped him become aware of our duty to conserve nature. His first act when he returned home after filming? He bought a Prius.

Seems to me we can learn something here.

…look for a posh dog hotel instead. It is not a secret that many Hollywood personalities have a deep affinity for pooches of all kinds. Even if you’re not a high profile personality, if you live in Hollywood and you find yourself needing someone to take care of your canine best friend during the holiday season, you have a new option that will help you have peace of mind.

The Street has a feature for Hollywood dog lovers and their top choice is Rover Kennels, described as the “haughtiest dog hotel:”

Rover is more than just a dog hotel; it also offers cage-free daycare, training and grooming for an array of dogs and cats. All guests and owners are interviewed to assess temperament and ability to play with others.

…our favorite amenity at Rover Kennels is its endless concierge services that include an in-room mini-bar of pre-selected treats like turkey hotdogs, doggie ice cream and holiday dinners of organic turkey and sweet potato. Those looking for a more glamorous stay can enroll in one of the photograph packages that include art-quality prints and posters of your best friend while on their winter holiday retreat.

Um, I love dogs and I would not really want to leave my pets over the holidays. This hotel does seem a bit excessive for me though. There are other options mentioned in the feature article – they seem more practical to me. If you want to read more, visit the whole article titled “Four-Paw Holidays for Hollywood Dogs.”

It looks harmless. Even boring. Just an office building, with names of production companies, which don’t even leave much impact to the average tourist.

Until they know the story behind the street.

8439 Sunset Boulevard, now called Piazze del Sol, used to be the site of Hollywood’s most exclusive brothel, called “House of Francis.” People would go here for a different kind of networking, and whatever happened behind its doors stayed behind those doors.

Today there are still brothels, but they are typically held in private houses.

Gower Street may not be the most popular or well known areas of Hollywood, but it’s played a big role in its history. This humble road was home to the very first motion picture studio was built here, the Christie Studios, founded by Al Christie in 1911. It later became the location of major players like Paramount Pictures, Sunset-Gower Studios (occuping the former lot of Columbia Pictures). The Oz Film Manufacturing Company also used to stand here, before it was bought out by Paramount.

Gower St’s Columbia Drugstore was also the favorite hangout of young movie stars who loved the soda fountain. They would also buy their hometown magazines and newspapers from the vendor outside the store.

So who’s Gower? He was not a producer, or an actor. Actually, he was a farmer who brought in the area’s first farming equipment — back when Hollywood was mostly pastureland. In the 1930s Hollywood actors called the place “Gower Gulch”. It was the height of the Western films and many extras would walk around in their cowboy costumes. A mall named “Gower Gulch” now stands here.

There are easier ways to get pictures of celebrities than to crouch hidden in the bushes. Just go to the restaurants where they hang out. Just be prepared to pay — these celebrity hang outs charge an arm and a leg for their food, though (if you’re lucky) the “view” could be excellent.

Some legendary Hollywood hangouts are Chasen’s and Spago’s. This is where A-list celebrities go for a quick lunch between takes, or meet with reporters for their magazine interviews. Restaurants like Morton’s serve as Hollywood’s unofficial power center. Here agents, producers, and other deal-makers negotiate million-dollar deals.

Some, such as the Hotel Bel-Air, entice their wealthy celebrity clientele with sheer luxury.
Still others are well-kept secrets; modest, inexpensive places like Nate & Al’s Deli or Patrick’s Roadhouse, where the stars go simply because they like the food (or the company).

This is the world’s most famous theater — and a must-see for any Hollywood tourist.
It was first opened in 1927, and since then, it’s been visited by millions of people. There are plans to improve its facilities and turn it into a state of the art entertainment complex. Some are even lobbying to make it the permanent home of the Academy Awards.

Until that happens, guests are already happy to look at the handprints outside, especially since there’s no charge. You can also watch some of Hollywood’s first motion pictures. (The sound quality is incredible, and the screen really makes you think that you’re jumping into another era.)

True Hollywood trivia addicts can look at the full list of handprint ceremonies or even buy the book.

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Some restaurants can boast of celebrity chefs, but some of Hollywood’s eateries have something else — celebrity owners.

Quite a few of the bars and diners are owned by stars, and have become favorite celebrity hangouts. There’s the funky vibe of Dan Aykroyd’s House of Blues (found along the Sunset Strip). Or the classy Schazi, run by Schwarzenegger (no, the waiters don’t say, “Ah’ll be back!” after they take your order).

Steven Spielberg’s Dive! restaurant shows his quirky personality, being shaped like a yellow submarine. Peter Fonda chose to make his Thunder Roadhouse look like a biker joint (love those Harleys).

You can also try J. Lo’s restaurant, Madre’s, or Kevin Costner’s uber-exclusive Clubhouse. The 70′s Show cast also opened their own diner, thankfully free of any tacky upholstery — it serves traditional Italian, so there’s no lava lamp in sight.

Every Hollywood tourist brochure recommends a visit to the Wax Museum, but with an admission fee of $15 (and you can only stay an hour) is it really worth it?

Most visitors say that you go so you say you can go — and to have a lot of laughs. Think of it as a chance to get your pictures taken with celebrities, but don’t be too disappointed if the wax likenesses look like you’ve caught them at their worst. (David Hasselhoff looks like he has jaundice.)

Some of the scenes are pretty cool — like the segment from The Exorcist — others border on the creepy. But since the hours extend till 1 am, and the airconditioning’s fantastic, it’s a quiet, relaxing way to end to a long and frenetic day of touring. Get a shared pass to the Guiness Book of Records museum across the street to get your money’s worth.