Hollywood Dreams

As a teenager, I had big Hollywood dreams. I thought I'd be a great celebrity (!!) or at least very good at managing some major hard rock act. I wasn't "discovered" during my first - or subsequent - visits, however I have had fun checking out everything from the original Frederick's of Hollywood to the Beverly Center to Universal Studios to several area beaches.

Quick Tips:

When choosing a place to stay in LA, don't just think of it as needing a place to stay. The hotel you choose and the neighborhoods you spend your time in will greatly affect your trip. Whether you hang out in beachy Santa Monica or Venice, chill in leafy Pasadena or stay in a scene-y joint on the Strip, do a little research before heading to LA so you can get the most out of your visit. Even consider staying in more than one neighborhood if time permits. When booking your flight, don't forget to look at fares to nearby airports such as Burbank, Ontario and Orange County. They're not as close to LA proper as LAX, however these airports are not so far that it's not worth the little extra travel to save .

Best Way To Get Around:

Sadly, a car is still necessary to get around LA for the most part. Plan to rent one and spend lots on valet parking. Cabs are available, however in most cases, you'll need to phone for one rather than hailing one on the street.

I have stayed at the Loews Santa Monica two times - once on business, once for pleasure. After my first visit, it's amazing I ever returned.

My first stay, a business trip, took place in the midst of massive construction both in the hotel and outside on Ocean Avenue. I had selected the hotel based on its location right on the beach in Santa Monica so when I arrived, I was disappointed that the staff had not alerted me to the mess and the noise.

The hotel lobby was a true disaster: the entire 4-5 story atrium covered industrial strength plastic and construction workers everywhere. Check-in took place at a make-shift registration desk with a line out the door.

Things got worse when I arrived in my room. Facing the noisy Ocean Ave. construction, not the beach, it had no view to speak of. Just plenty of hammering sounds, lots of dust. My room was odd in other ways too. It didn't have a tub, just a large shower, and furnishings seemed rather low to the ground in general. Later, I put two and two together and realized that the hotel had given me a handicapped accessible room. No idea why and they didn't acknowledge this fact at check in.

Why did I ever stay there again, you might wonder? After my brief first stay, I wrote a letter to the general manager filling them in on my negative impressions, top to bottom. In response, I was offered a complimentary return visit and I chose to take them up on it, making a fun weekend visit to LA with a friend.

My second stay was so very different from the first. I received a top-floor ocean view room that had recently been renovated. The vaulted ceilings and balcony overlooking the beach made this room so much better than the last! In my room, I found fresh flowers, a fruit plate and a bottle of wine waiting.

During this visit, I had the chance to check out other hotel amenities such as the pool (small, but with a fantastic view of the beach and ocean) and health club (much larger and nicer than most hotels' gyms).

Would I recommend this hotel? Yes, but with some hesitation. I still love the location - Santa Monica is my favorite part of town and the Loews is about a 10-15 minute walk from the Third Street Promenade and the Santa Monica Pier. However I need to stay at the hotel a few more times to ensure that the service level remains the same when I revert to just another "average guest." For the price, I'm not sure if it's worth it.

Simply fabulous.

During what was the most awesome business trip of my career to date - hands down - I had the opportunity to spend four nights at the beautiful Ritz-Carlton Huntington in Pasadena. Top to bottom, it was the most wonderful hotel experience.

Posh, but somehow unpretentious. Lush, green and peaceful. I can't say enough about this hotel. The only sad part (and I feel like jerk for even mentioning this) was that I did not have the opportunity to try out the spa.

The staff is incredible, working hard to anticipate your every need. And in such a friendly way! Completely unintimidating.

I was unfamiliar with Pasadena prior to this trip so I took advantage of the concierge's pre-printed driving directions at every (ha!) turn. They never let me down, frequently alerting me to shortcuts and warning me about traffic trouble spots before I could even ask.

The hotel itself is beautifully decorated and spotlessly clean. Just walking to your room, you will find so much to look at whether it's the gorgeous gardens or carefully chosen furnishings.

My room was elegant and comfortable with a bed I want to recreate at home. And the view? Incredible - my room overlooked a green expanse, some of the hotel's 23 acres in (I believe) the San Gabriel Valley.

I spent several enjoyable afternoons at the sparkling pool, reading and enjoying the sun. Some business trip!

Downsides? The only two I can come up with are

1. The location. I like Pasadena a lot, however it's a good twenty minute drive (without traffic) to LA proper. Don't rule Pasadena out though - it's a great town.

2. The cost. This isn't a budget hotel, but clearly, you get what you pay for.

I can't wait to stay at this Ritz again!

I came upon Bravo Cucina one lonely day... I was in LA on business and had some free time. My ex, an LA resident, was blowing me off so I was feeling a little sorry for myself. Not wanting to eat yet another room service dinner, I went to the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica and looked around. When I got hungry, I stopped into Bravo Cucina and had a pleasant solo dinner.

Service is just the right amount of friendly and they didn't make me feel weird about eating alone. In fact, if you like to eat in a more communal setting, there's a bar area of sorts back by the open kitchen.

Bravo Cucina is a very low-key Italian restaurant/cafe. Prices are reasonable -most entrees hover just above or just under the $11 mark. They offer all of the usual Italian fare staples, but also branch out a bit. One of my favorites is their farfalle with grilled chicken and an unusual but delicious soy/cream sauce. Not traditional Italian, but very, very good.

Blueberry is a great spot to get breakfast in Santa Monica. As the name implies, you'll find a LOT of berries in menu items.

This place is popular - unless you are a party of one or two and willing to sit along the bar-like counter, you should expect to wait a few minutes. In my opinion, it's worth the wait. Grab a free cup of coffee and hang out on Santa Monica Blvd. for a moment before going back inside to enjoy the country kitchen atmosphere and great eats.

My favorite breakfast at Blueberry is (surprise!) the traditional short stack of blueberry pancakes with a side of crispy apple smoked bacon.

The only possible gripes about Blueberry shouldn't extend to the food. Service is variable (as it is with most restaurants). Sometimes your server will be very friendly; other times you'll feel rushed by brusque service. Prices are also a bit on the high side for breakfast. If you're looking for a cheap plate of steak and eggs, there are several other local spots that will serve the purpose better than Blueberry.

I have fond memories about most of the time I have spent in Southern California, however one of my most enjoyable CA days was spent at the Paradise Cove Beach Cafe.

I grew up with a mother who idolized Johnny Carson. I remember her staying up for his monologues on the Tonight Show each and every night. She soaked up his descriptions of California life like a plant drinks in water. The Ventura Freeway, Mulholland Drive and most importantly, living in Malibu. When we finally went to LA when I was a teenager, it nearly put her over the edge, she was so happy. Prior to my last LA trip, I did some research and found a fun place to hang out there, the Paradise Cove Beach Cafe.

Malibu is a gorgeous drive away - straight up Route 1/Pacific Coast Highway which is easily accessed from Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, among other points of entry. Just keep driving north. Enjoy the views. Open your windows or better, if you have a convertible, drop that top! The mountains, the water, some surfers, a few lucky beach residents... those are the only things you'll see for about 20 minutes.

Once you get to Malibu, just watch for the sign that says "Paradise Cove." You will take a left turn and go down a short winding road. At the end, is the restaurant.

Visiting the cafe is like stepping back in time. It's very much like a fisherman's wharf restaurant. The decor isn't much and the food is just OK, but it's worth the trip. Why? Go out back and you'll see.

The beach cafe has tables set up right on the beach, as a number of awesome, old-fashioned wooden beach chairs, umbrellas and cocktail tables. Sink your toes into the sand, order a beer and some nachos, and just enjoy the view. You'll be steps from the ocean without a care in the world.

To be honest, the food isn't anything fancy and the service can be spacey as the servers are usually Pepperdine students or aspiring actors, but at least they have been friendly during my visits. Points for that.

Extra credit for the beach chairs. I can't wait to go back and watch for Johnny Carson.

My first trip to Los Angeles took place back in the late 1980s when I was fourteen or fifteen. Growing up in a small Pennsylvania town, I was more or less your typical teenager. I liked boys, being a cheerleader and all of the hair metal bands like Bon Jovi and Poison that were popular at the time(!!).

Fortunately for me, I had cool parents who were kind enough to indulge me (plus my friend Johanna) in a trip to LA after a minimum of nagging. Soon the four of us were off to sunny Southern California.

The trip didn't start off so great. I was irritable and cranky after the long trip. And, spoiled brat that I was, I wasn't happy with the location of our hotel. "Studio City" in "The Valley" meant nothing to me except a long drive from the heart of LA. But things rapidly improved.

In the back of my mind, I had fantasies of ditching my parents and heading off with Johanna to the cool clubs I read about in Tiger Beat and Metal Edge. The Rainbow... The Whiskey A Go Go... the stuff of my dreams! They were so near and yet completely unattainable. I think even I knew that the notion of going to one of these clubs was far-fetched: I didn't look a day over 16. No fake ID could have helped me.

Still, the trip didn't leave me feeling sorry for myself. On the contrary. I think my parents had a pretty good sense of what I would have liked my trip to be had I been a few years older so they did give my friend and me more freedom than I expected. Unfortunately, by letting us spend some unaccompanied shopping time on the Sunset Strip (long before Tower Records was a chain store!), they missed the majority of our one big celebrity meeting. More on that later...