Finally scored a new digital camera and yes the best place to use it is during my trip to the US. LA was the first destination and I was fascinated with Hollywood Blvd. Here's some photos of Hollywood Blvd. at night :)

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i152/wanchtography/LA/hollywood1.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i152/wanchtography/LA/hollywood2.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i152/wanchtography/LA/hollywood3.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i152/wanchtography/LA/hollywood4.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i152/wanchtography/LA/hollywood5.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i152/wanchtography/LA/hollywood6.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i152/wanchtography/LA/hollywood7.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i152/wanchtography/LA/hollywood8.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i152/wanchtography/LA/hollywood9.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i152/wanchtography/LA/hollywood10.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i152/wanchtography/LA/hollywood11.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i152/wanchtography/LA/hollywood12.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i152/wanchtography/LA/hollywood13.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i152/wanchtography/LA/hollywood14.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i152/wanchtography/LA/hollywood15.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i152/wanchtography/LA/hollywood16.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i152/wanchtography/LA/hollywood17.jpg

[QUOTE=WANCH]Finally scored a new digital camera and yes the best place to use it is during my trip to the US. LA was the first destination and I was fascinated with Hollywood Blvd. Here's some photos of Hollywood Blvd. at night :)

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i152/wanchtography/LA/hollywood13.jpg

Wanch I love your pix, makes me want to go to Hollywood Blvd.......

Also I never knew El Capitan had a Disney store right next door. Nice but not enough billboard type of lightning on the building. Disney should buy the entire building and have huge neon signs all over to stand out even more. Then everyone around would just follow along and The Boulevard would be the spot!!!!

Thanks man. I thought Disney owned the entire building.

^^ I'm not sure if Disney owns the building or not. I doubt since Disney has a tendency to make everything a big WOW!!! This particular building is just getting to become a WOW!!!

NICE pics Wanchtography :laugh:

Dude, you really know how to capture the strreet. Some of these pics recently taken of Hollywood that realy impress me :).

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g189/FROMLOSANGELES/hollywood15.jpg

damnit... i wish i had a camera that could be used at night

Hollywood Blvd is lookin real nice.

I like these photos. Something new over there.

Hollywood Blvd. had a drastic change since when I was there back in 2003. It is more vibrant than ever. I look at it as a counterpart to NY's Times Square. But I think the new development where The Kodak Theatre is at is becoming the most visited in that area.

And it has nice projects in the pipeline too. Just wait 5 more years, and bang.

^^^

this is what happened over the couple of years that made it better.................

You could see it on their faces. When you looked at tourists arriving on Hollywood Boulevard for the first time, you could almost read their minds: "This is Hollywood?" Looking around, they were shocked and disappointed.

For decades, Hollywood was a major disappointment, a case study in urban decay and neglect - a seedy, run-down area populated by a virtual freak-show of young runaways, homeless transients, wannabe heavy-metal rockers, frenzied traffic, and harried crowds of bewildered tourists wandering the dirty sidewalks while trying to find some hint of former glamour left on the famous boulevard.
For the most part, the Boulevard contained one shabby storefront after another, some vacant, but most housing tacky shops offering t-shirts & cheap Tinseltown souvenirs, fast food, and the occasional x-rated movie. (And that's not to mention the giant, pink & grey Frederick's of Hollywood building.) This is definitely not what springs to mind when most tourists think of "Hollywood."

True glamour has always awaited tourists a few miles to the west, of course, in Beverly Hills, but the actual Hollywood area - the downtown shopping district centered around Hollywood Boulevard - had degenerated from a cozy small town to into a bad dream of urban blight.

But no matter what anyone says, the curious still flocked to that famous street by the millions. Like it or not, Hollywood Boulevard was the official "center" of Hollywood.

While it wasn't always obvious to a casual visitor on the Boulevard, if you knew where to look, there have always been quite a few precious jewels of Old Hollywood buried beneath the ash heap that the Boulevard had become. It would be a shame to miss them..

But the great news today is that the old town finally seems to be getting its act together, and appears to be undergoing the kind of renaissance that has been predicted for years. This time, there genuinely appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel. The signs seem clear. The long-awaited rebirth of Hollywood is well under way.
Take, for example, the historic Egyptian Theatre, the first grand movie palace built in Hollywood (back in 1922).

For decades the Egyptian sat on Hollywood Boulevard like an abandoned ruin - closed and in a sad state of disrepair - as did many other former Hollywood landmarks. There were huge holes in its walls, and homeless people camped out inside the former theatre. But in 1998 the Egyptian got a major make-over which restored the classic theatre to its former glory. It reopened in 1999 as the new home to American Cinematheque.

If that were an isolated example, we wouldn't get our hopes up. But there is far more afoot along the Boulevard. Slowly but surely, the fabled street is being restored:

A few years ago, the Disney company restored the El Capitan Theatre, and they did a wonderful job - complete with uniformed ushers and live stages shows (featuring Disney characters) before many movie screenings. The theatre looks fabulous, and has attracted long lines of eager customers ever since. It is now the single most profitable theatre in the country. Recently, the company added a new Disney Store right next door.


The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel is another restored jewel. Just across the street from the Chinese Theatre, this was the site of the very first Academy Awards banquet. It had languished for years, but now gleams again with its original luster.


The Pantages Theatre at Hollywood & Vine reopened in 2000, dazzling after a $10 million facelift, has been home to Disney's hit Broadway musical, "The Lion King", and will next host Mel Brooks' hit musical "The Producers".


Right next door to the Egyptian Theatre, the landmark Pig 'N Whistle restaurant (a favorite of Shirley Temple, Judy Garland and other stars of Hollywood's Golden Age) has been restored to its original luster. It reopened in 2001, after half a century of neglect.


And there are new projects as well. The new Hollywood Entertainment Museum opened just west of the Chinese Theatre. And while it's not the grand museum Hollywood deserves, it offers a number of interesting exhibits, including the original bar from "Cheers", the office set from "The X-Files" and the command bridge from "Star Trek: TNG."


Opening recently at the historic Max Factor building was the new Hollywood History Museum and a new Mel's Diner.


Another new $70 million project was built around the classic Cinerama Dome, offering the new ArcLight theatres, shops and restaurants.


Farther south, at the corner of Third & Fairfax, next to the historic Farmers Market, they've opened "The Grove", a spectacular new outdoor shopping center which offers shopping, al fresco dining, fountains, theatres, and even a brass trolley ride - all in a charming ambiance which mixes elements of Two Rodeo and Disneyland.

New restaurants and clubs are luring celebrities back to downtown Hollywood.


Two new museums opened a few years back: Guinness' World Record Museum and Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, adding more pieces to the Boulevard puzzle.


A successful investment firm, the CIM Group, which has previously placed well-known retail stores in Old Pasadena and on the Third Street Promenade, has taken an interest in the Boulevard. They're investing $100 million in buying up various parcels on the street, wagering that it will soon take off the way those other two venues have. "There is a tremendous movement to the street," said a CIM founder, "Right now, the market has embraced it." Their plans include building a six-screen Laemmle theater at Hollywood & Cherokee Ave., and overhauling the former Hollywood Galaxy center - already they have brought in a new nightclub called the Knitting Factory.


But best of all, is the "Hollywood & Highland," a massive new project which takes up the entire block east of the Grauman's Chinese Theatre. This 1-million-square-foot, $600 million retail and movie complex by TrizecHahn Corp. (the developer of San Diego's Horton Plaza), is an open-air entertainment complex similar to CityWalk or Two Rodeo. It includes restaurants, clubs, unique shops, even a new subway station. But perhaps most importantly, it is home to the new state-of-the-art Kodak theatre which now serves as the permanent home to the annual Academy Awards show. When Hollywood throws its annual celebration, Oscar Night, it will now take place in the actual heart of Hollywood.
This project could well be the crown jewel which finally turns the Boulevard around (much as Times Square in New York was transformed after Disney opened the revived New Amsterdam theatre there).


Add it all up and Hollywood's future is looking brighter than it has in decades.The only remaining problem is what lies in between the various new attractions: dozens of sordid little souvenir shops with garish facades and outlandish prices.

But already, retail rents are rising in the area, and the new Hollywood & Highland project promises to create a level of commercial interest where upscale tenants will scramble to find a new place on the reborn boulevard, pushing out the tacky little shops now lining the street.


http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g280/Joey313_photos/PremiereEntrance.jpg


http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g280/Joey313_photos/RenaissanceHotel.jpg


http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g280/Joey313_photos/HollywoodAndHighland.jpg


http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g280/Joey313_photos/2-1.jpg

hollywood stills has more to show

damn hollywood @ night looks bad ass.

amazing pictures..last time I went to hollywood was like 2-3 years ago to see the lion king! L.A. will be a different place when I go back in 3 years.....how cool!

so Hollywood and LA are the same place? lol... btw those pics are great!

is that a serious question or sarcasum?

Their's something sexy about the way you spelled "sarcasum".

what the fuck are you talking about?

it's sarcasm

Yeah!

oops... oh well... hows hollywood

No doubt , cool shots !

I recently visited Hollywood and it was cool. I tool some pictures too but I went there in the afternoon.

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/3103/hpim0774ik7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img173.imageshack.us/img173/4936/hpim0707np2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img173.imageshack.us/img173/2157/hpim0713bh8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img173.imageshack.us/img173/8850/hpim0723go4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Shrek!
http://img173.imageshack.us/img173/3654/hpim0729ew5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Hooters
http://img173.imageshack.us/img173/7545/hpim0711ee9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/990/hpim0727at3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/4073/hpim0742gk5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/5125/hpim0706ko4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img428.imageshack.us/img428/6461/hpim0724am6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img415.imageshack.us/img415/6945/hpim0726sx2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img428.imageshack.us/img428/4025/hpim0744fj4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img415.imageshack.us/img415/8926/hpim0746ot9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img415.imageshack.us/img415/3355/hpim0765fu6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img415.imageshack.us/img415/5673/hpim0766rv0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img358.imageshack.us/img358/5430/hpim0813iu8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img415.imageshack.us/img415/4359/hpim0772pi8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/7243/hpim0801dj6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

watch these videos
Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdvjcp0kDY8

night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuUxJAj-N4M


other videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mtsrJw5LjU


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbg4_z7vVvA

Hollywood Blvd. is definetly lookin' good and is more vibrant than ever before!

While down there last Thursday night bar-hopping and bowling at Lucky Strike Lanes with a group of friends visiting from NYC and Rhode Island...I was able to observe how vibrant Hollywood Blvd. was, I'd say even more so now than I could ever remember, the place was literally crawling with thousands of people and it was at 10:30 P.M. Even 5 years ago Hollywood Blvd. was pretty dead at 10:30 at night. Hollywood has certainly made gargantuan strides. One of my friends from NYC even commented on how crowded the place was and in her own words, " Awesome place! feels kinda like Times Square but with palm trees"...LMAO!!! I told her Hollywood Blvd. is not quite there just yet, wait another 4-5 years (when the "W" Hotel and Hollywood & Vine projects come on line) then I could positively say it will give Times Square a run for its money. Right now Hollywood is definitely on the right track with all the new developments being proposed and the CIM Group investing heavily with new and more upscale retail on the Blvd.

Ever since the Hollywood and Highland Center/Complex was built in 2001, Hollywood has become more vibrant every year. Many people like to
criticize the place, but I don't give a rat's a$$ what they think. I can actually say I appreciate the Hollywood & Highland Center (for Christ's sake, the place was literally a deadzone parking lot 8 years ago) for being the catalyst that ignited the flame in Hollywood development. Now the future burns brighter than ever on Hollywood Blvd. One must be on psychiatric drugs to deny it has given a tremendous shot in the arm to Hollywood Blvd, injecting
with it with new retail and condo developments that weren't
even fathomable just 6-7 years ago. Retailers are finally seeing the "light" and are now clamoring for a prime piece of the Hollywood Pie like never before and we owe it all to the H & H Center. Can we blame them for jumping on the Hollywood revival bandwagon? I don't think so. The place is bustling with activity and I'm just lovin' it!

In the future, I predict Hollywood Blvd.will be even more vibrant and will complement the LA Live entertainment/sports
district in Downtown LA once completed..The anticipation is killing me! LOL...I'm just excited about the possibility that we Angelenos will have not one , but two of our very own "Times Square West",(Hollywood Blvd.+ LA Live) and add Grand Avenue to the mix, albeit it would serve
a different crowd and niche. It's just fascinating to think of all the alternative night life that will be available to us Angelenos.
No matter which way we look at it, the nightlife in LA will be even more awesome in the future :cheers:

It's has been fun to watch the area develope, but definately Hollywood is not the type of place I want to live around right now. I've spent a few months living in the middle of all that, literally and it doesnt feel quite the same anymore. Vine/Sunset is booming, Hollywood/Highland is starting to look good. Maybe in a few years(make it by 2030) Hollywood will be worth of it's reputation. More hotels, more entertaiment, more restaurants and clubs, even a casino would be nice, linked to a big hotel ofcourse. Maybe then I'll consider Hollywood as a place to stay. Hollywood should take a look at Las Vegas or South Beach and aim for something like that.

:puke: With Hollywoods REAL history, it doesn't have to try to be anything that it actually spawned.

by 2010 L.A live will be completed by know and hollywood would have

become more better and awsome place so i dont think that will happen by

2030 it does take that long. shoot the l.A skyline did not even take that long

oh wait :runaway:

I think Los Angeles was the very first city to establish neon lights on the streets, then during the war they had to be shut down and Las Vegas came in.

Why not Hollywood make one of it's kind with neons? Go sci-fi! Make Hollywood look like it's 2050.
For a city of it's size, L.A could have both old school and new school architecture.

The new Hollywood has a little bit of that futuristic, unique look but imagine if it was way beyond anything like this.
http://mk23.image.pbase.com/u16/zuffy/large/5179927.LasVegas.jpg
http://www.americatravelling.net/usa/nevada/las_vegas/images/las_vegas_neon_sea.jpg

It's has been fun to watch the area develope, but definately Hollywood is not the type of place I want to live around right now. I've spent a few months living in the middle of all that, literally and it doesnt feel quite the same anymore. Vine/Sunset is booming, Hollywood/Highland is starting to look good. Maybe in a few years(make it by 2030) Hollywood will be worth of it's reputation. More hotels, more entertaiment, more restaurants and clubs, even a casino would be nice, linked to a big hotel ofcourse. Maybe then I'll consider Hollywood as a place to stay. Hollywood should take a look at Las Vegas or South Beach and aim for something like that.



Dude! you missed the point of my post. Hollywood doesn't have to be anything that it isn't already. I merely pointed out the vibrancy of the place compared to just even 5 years ago. One thing Hollywood doesn't need is a casino...(what are you smoking?) Hollywood is not about gambling...Dude, don't confuse Hollywood Blvd. with Hollywood Park. Hollywood should be first and foremost about movies and movie stars! Hollywood has its own special vibe and urbanity and will only get better with time. Sure, Las Vegas looks nice with its neon lights...but neon lights does not make a place special by itself. Hollywood is more than just bright neon lights...its about the rich history of films and pop culture it has spawned throughout the World.

Yo, heat is crazy.

Vegas is Vegas, why would Hollywood aspire to that? Only city that should be aspiring to be Vegas is Atlantic City, because that place is falling apart...

Vegas is Vegas, why would Hollywood aspire to that?
I never said Hollywood should go Las Vegas. More coming..

Dude! you missed the point of my post. Hollywood doesn't have to be anything that it isn't already. I merely pointed out the vibrancy of the place compared to just even 5 years ago. One thing Hollywood doesn't need is a casino...(what are you smoking?) Hollywood is not about gambling...Dude, don't confuse Hollywood Blvd. with Hollywood Park. Hollywood should be first and foremost about movies and movie stars! Hollywood has its own special vibe and urbanity and will only get better with time. Sure, Las Vegas looks nice with its neon lights...but neon lights does not make a place special by itself. Hollywood is more than just bright neon lights...its about the rich history of films and pop culture it has spawned throughout the World.
Missed your point? I never talked about you, but just shared my vision of what it should be, that's the difference. Hollywood is about entertaiment and you need to stop living in the past, times changes so do people. Film industry doesn't have the glamour they once did, it's now more like an over marketed trend that everyone wants to be part of. That's why it's very difficult to find a clear line to follow when it comes to Hollywood. Entertaiment yes, but just film or should they expand the area into a world class, futuristic entertaiment capital like no other? If Las Vegas sounds bad, then Universal City Walk?

So it's not really about aspiring Las Vegas, but me just giving you a supreme example to look at. Ok, yes I want more hotels, neon lighted sci-fi outlook, "even" a casino and clubs ofcourse etc etc. Entertaiment is the keyword. Not just film but entertaiment of all kind. Hollywood could be a city of it's own, one of kind, contrasty from the rest of Los Angeles, I mean a city, not just two block of souvenir stores for tourists and a McDonalts.
That's something we should talk about when we say 'on a long run'.

I would like to see Hollyweird Blvd. as a pedestrian only zone from Vine to La Brea. With some tram carrying tourist on the blvd drinking an ice cold Corona Beer. Am I asking too much?

and make traffic even more shitty in that area?

its all about traffic

and make traffic even more shitty in that area?


offcourse not, it will be similar to 3rd st promenade. Traffic will still flow on the main ave as usual. The small streets should become pedestrian only and be closed off to vehicles. Besides isn't the Los Angeles to become a walking city, I remember Villairaigoza mentioned to get off your vehicle and re-discover LA and your neighbors and whatnot. Maybe its a bit different for you since your from the SGV and things run a bit different..........

no. my wife works in that area and everyday i have to pick her up. hollywood blvd is a massive arterial road that 3rd street is not. cutting off hollywood from vine to la brea would seriously have negative effects for the surrounding areas. and that area is already pushin the limits

I never said Hollywood should go Las Vegas. More coming..


Hollywood is about entertaiment and you need to stop living in the past, times changes so do people. Film industry doesn't have the glamour they once did, it's now more like an over marketed trend that everyone wants to be part of. That's why it's very difficult to find a clear line to follow when it comes to Hollywood. Entertaiment yes, but just film or should they expand the area into a world class, futuristic entertaiment capital like no other? If Las Vegas sounds bad, then Universal City Walk?

So it's not really about aspiring Las Vegas, but me just giving you a supreme example to look at. Ok, yes I want more hotels, neon lighted sci-fi outlook, "even" a casino and clubs ofcourse etc etc. Entertaiment is the keyword. Not just film but entertaiment of all kind. Hollywood could be a city of it's own, one of kind, contrasty from the rest of Los Angeles, I mean a city, not just two block of souvenir stores for tourists and a McDonalts.
That's something we should talk about when we say 'on a long run'.



What are you talking about? Hollywood is already synonymous for "entertainment". I get the feeling you are the one living in the past and probably haven't even been down there in quite awhile. There are literally dozens of nightclubs and bars in Hollywood. I recommend you grab a couple of your friends and go chill out.

You want nightclubs and bars? Try the 'Room' (1626 N.Cahuenga Blvd.) it houses some of the best up-and-coming deejays, intermixed in the beautiful crowd are up-and-coming actors and models. Another cool place to hang out with friends and listen to cool music is 'The Burgundy Room' (1621 N.Cahuenga Blvd.) and a short walk away is the 'Opium Den', a perennial favorite for rock enthusiasts. 'The Garden of Eden' has lots of hot chicks but the doorman is freakin' picky with who they let in (7080 Hollywood Blvd.) and a similar crowd if that's your thing at 'The Ivar' ( on the first floor at 6356 Hollywood Blvd.). Also the 'Red Buddah Lounge'(6423 Yucca Blvd.), Daddy's (1610 Vine St.) , 'The Frolic Room'(6245 Hollywood Blvd., Pig 'N Whistle (6714 Hollywood Blvd.) and don't get it confused with the Cat 'N Fiddle (6530 Sunset Blvd.). Also recommended is a small little hip bar with a Hawaiian theme to just chill with your buddies is 'The Lava Lounge' (1533 N. La Brea),' Lucky Strike Lanes' (a pretty hip bar and bowling alley at the H & H center), 'Forty Deuce' (5574 Melrose Ave.) '1650 '( a pretty trendy bar named for its location at 1650 N. Schrader), 'The Beauty Bar' (quirky place but has tons of hot chicks located at 1638 N. Cahuenga Blvd.) Geisha House (tasty sushi place with a lively bar scene located at 6633 Hollywood Blvd.). You want more nightclubs? Try 'Avalon' (formerly the Palace and is a pretty cool club the last time I was there Christopher Lawrence brought down the house! located at 1735 Vine St.). Also recommended for a place to shake your bacon is 'LAX' ( airplane themed club with 3 bars and a chance to catch a glimpse of celebrities located at 1714 N. Las Palmas) Dude, need me to continue???? There's dozens more! There's plenty of entertainment in Hollywood so I don't know where you've been all this time. You speak of Hollywood as if it was some ghostown devoid of entertainment and activity. What's happening in Hollywood right now is critical mass. With critical mass there will only be more nightclubs, music/entertainment venues and Hollywood will only get better (That's why I say the place will be better in 5 years from now).

The point of my post was to point out the pedestrian activity that was non-existent even 5-6 years ago on Hollywood Blvd. late at night. The place is more vibrant now than ever and I predict it will be more vibrant the full length of Hollywood Blvd. in the future. The vibrancy of a place is not dictated by neon lights alone, you need the equation of pedestrian activity/entertainment options/shopping/dining to make a place come alive. I merely observed how some of my friends visiting from out of town and I noticed how crowded and vibrant Hollywood Blvd. was.

I don't know how you can use Las Vegas as a supreme example
for "Hollywood renaissance". Vegas is Vegas and like AndySocks pointed out if any place that should aspire to be like Vegas its Atlantic City. Las Vegas development/entertainment is more oriented towards the tourist, whereas Hollywood and its new developments are becoming more oriented towards both locals and tourists alike. That's the difference buddy! Anyone who has ever been to Hollywood and Vegas will notice the difference between the two. Hollywood has a unique vibe and urban fabric not found on the notorious "Strip". Don't get me wrong I do love Las Vegas and its brand of entertainment but its different than Hollywood. Hollywood just needs to be itself and recapture the glamour and glory of its heyday. The things you want more lighs, neon, entertainment is already happening in Hollywood as we speak and will only get better with time.

You keep saying Hollywood should have vegas like sci-fi futuristic neon lights? Neon lights don't make a place freakin futuristic, buddy. FYI,
neon lights have been around for over half a century. Dude, you want futuristic go to Tokyo. That place is the epitome of futuristic. Everything from its bullet trains to its quirky toilet seats.

Another thing is, you keep bringing up the idea of casinos in Hollywood? Dude, last I checked the parcels of land in Hollywood aren't even zoned for that type of development, its never gonna happen! I guess you equate entertainment with Casinos? You can go to Vegas or even Reno. We have dozens of Indian casinos too for that. Let Vegas be Vegas and Hollywood be Hollywood. In many ways Hollywood is already a city of its own and I wouldn't want it to become another "Vegas".

the state of California prohibits casinos unless its in Indian territory so a casino is definately never going up in hollywood.

The state of California prohibits any kind of gambling where a person is not directly involved in the outcome. There are casinos, but only indian casinos can have slot machines so not many non-indian casinos appear.

The state of California prohibits any kind of gambling where a person is not directly involved in the outcome. There are casinos, but only indian casinos can have slot machines so not many non-indian casinos appear.

But there are some casinos running in LA county as such Hollywood Park, Comptom and Commerce.

Did you even read what I wrote?

Did you even read what I wrote?

I did but got confused on the Indian part. Sorry!

Times Square is a giant tourist trap, why would we ever want not one but two or even three giant tourist traps? Besides, Sunset Strip > Hollywood Blvd. > Chick Hearn Square (my suggestion for L.A. Live). It has as much LA history and flavour than the formerly largely run down Hollwood Blvd that has come back thanks to a megaproject filled with chain stores and restaurants with no connection to LA (well, maybe MAYBE coffee bean) and much more than LA Live, which, if its name is any clue will be more generic than Hollywood and Highland AND the Grove. Too bad stupid condos and deluxe hotels have basically halted traffic on the strip, it still owns other hangouts though.

:puke: With Hollywoods REAL history, it doesn't have to try to be anything that it actually spawned.
I agree...In a city known for theme parks and entertainment, I couldn't figure out why it took this long for Hollywood to rebound and for the city and the developers to recognize its potential. It was, years ago, eclipsed by Universal City Walk, Third street promenade and even old town Pasadena. "HOLLYWOOD" is probably the most recognizable name/place in the world then and today. In marketing, that's a home run---name recognition and "branding" that's equal to none. So, I believe that Hollywood's future is looking great!

Too bad stupid condos and deluxe hotels have basically halted traffic on the strip, it still owns other hangouts though.
Mmm, excuse me but it's not the condos or hotels but residends and the orientation to drive cars instead of using public, well working transportation.

the orientation to drive cars instead of using public, well working transportation.

I'm going to go ahead and guess you are not from/you are new to LA.

http://www.sunsetmillennium.com/siteplan.html
http://www.sunsetmillennium.com/SMII_Marches_Forward.pdf

"Pedestrian friendly" even though Phase II is expected to add a further 400 cars per hour to the area, and Phase I has already added in around 200 extra cars per hour (can't find where I read that tidbit). They should just make the parking lots and leave the the classic surroundings alone, the increased parking is the only good part in this thing.

Anyhow, I just threw in that last part because I was dorky enough to forget about traffic time and ended up getting to a show at the Laugh Factory late and was still pissed about it. It's awesome to cruise down Sunset at night, and residents are used to that, it's a shame they're now being held in increased traffic during nonclubbing/noncruising hours.

Individualism at extreme

I'm going to go ahead and guess you are not from/you are new to LA.
I'm going to assume you live somewhere in the middle of nowhere in the suburbs and use that as an excuse to belittle the public transportation that works just fine in the city area where everyone should be living anyway.

Or you've been driving all your life, never really experienced any other city that has, again a well working public transporation and blindly belive in polluting cars because there's no way in hell a subway can take you anywhere you actually need to go.

Or you're just being ignorant.

As for me, I've lived all over the world. The list is mostly irrelevant, what matters is I've seen cities decades ahead of L.A when it comes to transporation culture and that's due to the people willing to think what's good for the community and use the public. That allows the cities to keep developing the transporation, all because of it's popularity.
Just to say there's absolutely nothing wrong with the MTA and it's services compared to the cities I've seen and experienced.
Busses and subways in L.A have always taken me where ever I need to go. Maybe not having any difficulties might have something to do with the fact I have no business of anykind in the suburbs.

The problem isnt the system itself but the people and blind assumption that it simply doesnt work, it's only for blacks and poor immigrants, as if it stated your weathly and as if even that mattered.
Feel free to think the way you do.(I'm not pointing fingers at you specifically at all, but people overall who see it this way.)
Anyhow, don't come to me to tell I know nothing just because I haven't spent all my life in L.A. Those who choose to move away from the inner city and aren't able to enjoy the services of the city really can't even afford to complain. No choice but to live with the consequence of the decision they've made regarding the area where they wish to live. No need to put any responsibility on the people's shoulders who think different and continue to live in the city. The problem is valley people do bitch all the time, 'this isn't good, that shouldnt be like that, I want it that way' ...and get what they want because of the money, despite not even living near by!

Los Angeles simply can't have the city wibe of NYC, SF, Tokyo or London because the residents aren't open to new. That's what's holding the city still and leaving Los Angeles very much behind as a world class city.

I'm glad to see development especially in downtown area. I like what our mayor is doing. Overall I do like the direction he's taking L.A, back to being a City. But that unfortunately doesn't happen just like that. It very much depends on people's reactions and most of 'us' dont see that. You folks keep moving out and driving with your SUVs. How's that going to do any good for L.A? Tell me that please.

Los Angeles simply can't have the city wibe of NYC, SF, Tokyo or London because the residents aren't open to new.

we dont have a city vibe? ...who knew!

Got anything else to say? Nada? Sure? Positive? Ok then, I rest my case.

Lol, well Hollywood is beginning to look really great lately. Even in just the past couple years, the amount of development and the increase in nightlife has been exponential. Hollywood and Highland was struggling to fill its retail slots and get customers at first, but after it was sold to CIM, they really did a great job with the complex.

I don't know what their marketing is like in Asia, but there are always so many Japanese tourists there. It's pretty awesome. They've also got a shabu-shabu restaurant and Beard Papa.

Hollywood and Vine has some adaptive reuse projects as well as a giant new construction project that will hopefully break ground soon, the Cinerama Dome/Arclite theater is finished, Sunset+Vine is completed with retail and apartments, and Sunset/Vine Tower will be completed soon as residential.

There are many other projects in the pipeline or in the construction phase that will make Hollywood a destination for so many people.

it's good to see Hollywood as a major LA tourist destintion. The only that bugs me is that white corner structure with no life. The one across H&H. What an eye soar, something really needs to be done with it and pronto. Does anyone know if something is being planned or proposed for that life-less structure???

Individualism at extreme


I'm going to assume you live somewhere in the middle of nowhere in the suburbs and use that as an excuse to belittle the public transportation that works just fine in the city area where everyone should be living anyway.

Or you've been driving all your life, never really experienced any other city that has, again a well working public transporation and blindly belive in polluting cars because there's no way in hell a subway can take you anywhere you actually need to go.

Or you're just being ignorant.

As for me, I've lived all over the world. The list is mostly irrelevant, what matters is I've seen cities decades ahead of L.A when it comes to transporation culture and that's due to the people willing to think what's good for the community and use the public. That allows the cities to keep developing the transporation, all because of it's popularity.
Just to say there's absolutely nothing wrong with the MTA and it's services compared to the cities I've seen and experienced.
Busses and subways in L.A have always taken me where ever I need to go. Maybe not having any difficulties might have something to do with the fact I have no business of anykind in the suburbs.

The problem isnt the system itself but the people and blind assumption that it simply doesnt work, it's only for blacks and poor immigrants, as if it stated your weathly and as if even that mattered.
Feel free to think the way you do.(I'm not pointing fingers at you specifically at all, but people overall who see it this way.)
Anyhow, don't come to me to tell I know nothing just because I haven't spent all my life in L.A. Those who choose to move away from the inner city and aren't able to enjoy the services of the city really can't even afford to complain. No choice but to live with the consequence of the decision they've made regarding the area where they wish to live. No need to put any responsibility on the people's shoulders who think different and continue to live in the city. The problem is valley people do bitch all the time, 'this isn't good, that shouldnt be like that, I want it that way' ...and get what they want because of the money, despite not even living near by!

Los Angeles simply can't have the city wibe of NYC, SF, Tokyo or London because the residents aren't open to new. That's what's holding the city still and leaving Los Angeles very much behind as a world class city.

I'm glad to see development especially in downtown area. I like what our mayor is doing. Overall I do like the direction he's taking L.A, back to being a City. But that unfortunately doesn't happen just like that. It very much depends on people's reactions and most of 'us' dont see that. You folks keep moving out and driving with your SUVs. How's that going to do any good for L.A? Tell me that please.

Geez, where to start?

Firstly, I apologize if I'm not trolling these boards all day long and haven't seen your reply to my comments until now. With that out of the way, I think you misrepresented my original comment, It was meant largely as a test of your connection to the city since the Strip is infamous for promoting/representing Los Angeles' car culture and your response to my orginal post

Mmm, excuse me but it's not the condos or hotels but residends and the orientation to drive cars instead of using public, well working transportation.

suggested to me that you were ignorant of that reality. Yet you represented my response as an attack on public transit as a whole. That said, I can assure you that as a card carrying member of the BRU and mostly transit dependent resident I am very pro transit. I am not however a single minded internationalized urbanite who has seen the world and wants to see L.A. give up it's unique flavour because without it we apperantly don't have a vibe or fit the 'stringent' demands to be recognized as a World class city. Nor am i petty enough to classify people or desentants of people who have long ago chased and continue chasing that ingrained imagery of the West and of the American Dream in the form of owning their own land and a house on that land as "the others" who are on their own and have no leg to stand on if they wish to voice their complaint to their city. Nor do I automatically classify them all as irresponsible SUV owners.

Again, I repeat my question, are you an LA native? I ask because the framing of your response, as if people were just now moving away from the city center and into suburbs, seems to ignore that is something that in Los Angeles and the US happened a long time ago. Lord help all those people born in the suburbs who have developed their own narrowmind and hateful way of living, how DARE they? :ohno:

What I do dislike is people who [and I'm not pointing any fingers] naturally associate immigrants and blacks with poor, and people with a strong sense for Los Angeles history and culture [which apperently is wrong and evil, i didnt know] as whinny surubanites or ignorant car drivers, while holding themselves up as superior to everyone else because they sacrifice themselves by riding the bus and the subwayS (of which LA only has one) around. And other people who move to Los Angeles [again, not pointing fingers] and immideately try to change it to their cookiecutter liking.

As for me, I've lived all over the world. The list is mostly irrelevant, what matters is I've seen cities decades ahead of L.A when it comes to transporation culture and that's due to the people willing to think what's good for the community and use the public. That allows the cities to keep developing the transporation, all because of it's popularity.

Really? People are absolutely naturally altruistic? I hadn't realized philosophers had reached a consensus on that one. Of course, it makes sense now though! People in other cities ride public transportation much more than in Los Angeles because they are all deep caring individuals! They care about the enviornment and their communities. How could I have possibly thought that it was simply a matter of density and poor car infrustructure and of their inability to move around any other way!

aren't able to enjoy the services of the city really can't even afford to complain.

Really? The central city has services? I'm pretty sure that's one of the largest complaints of DTLA residents. Aren't they just now building schools there? I guess LA Live has nothing to do with the need for DTLA nightlife?

I have no idea what you mean about the valley,but I somehow agree; the valley DOES suck.

In conclusion:
there's no way in hell a subway can take you anywhere you actually need to go.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Green Line! :tyty:

Times Square is a giant tourist trap, why would we ever want not one but two or even three giant tourist traps? Besides, Sunset Strip > Hollywood Blvd. > Chick Hearn Square (my suggestion for L.A. Live). It has as much LA history and flavour than the formerly largely run down Hollwood Blvd that has come back thanks to a megaproject filled with chain stores and restaurants with no connection to LA (well, maybe MAYBE coffee bean) and much more than LA Live, which, if its name is any clue will be more generic than Hollywood and Highland AND the Grove. Too bad stupid condos and deluxe hotels have basically halted traffic on the strip, it still owns other hangouts though.

The definition of a "tourist trap" is quite subjective...If any supreme example that should be used its City Walk ( I don't recall ever hearing any locals going there on a regular basis). I used the term "Times Square West" loosely to refer to the the type of hectic street-level/ pedestrian activity that wil eventually happen in Hollywood and LA Live, once all the projects get completed.

Anyway, why do you sound so anti-tourist? I personally have nothing against tourists and actually embrace them, heck! I've met so many cool people from all around the World had our city (City of Angels) and "Hollywood" not been magnets for their tourism dollars...chachingg!!$$$$. Afterall, tourism is one of our city's biggest industries: Tourism spending translates into> hotel bed taxes/revenue> translates into much needed $$$$ for infrastructure/road improvements. So let's not hate and appreciate!!

Aside from the tourists, I guess you really don't realize how many Angelenos do flock to Hollywood to party, bar hop, wine & dine and soak in the pedestrian oriented atmosphere. From my observations, the sidewalks were crawling with people, there was pedestrian activity up and down Hollywood Blvd. from Highland Ave. all the way eastward towards Vine St. that wasn't existent even 5 years ago, (think how much more vibrant it will be when the W Hotel/Hollywood & Vine project, and all the other infill projects gets built). The subway stations also get credit for playing an important role in promoting the pedestrian activity onto the Hollywood Blvd.. Hollywood is only in the initial stages of its renaissance and hasn't even reached its pinnacle, the future is only gonna get brighter! A good sign of what's happening in Hollywood is celebrities now are actually seen partying in clubs in Hollywood, which in the past they would've rather be dead than to be caught alive in by paparazzi.. WOW !!! celebrities in Hollywood? *sarcasm* Not since the days of Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable or even Marilyn Monroe has there been any significant celebrity presence in Hollywood (Hollywood the city, and not "Hollywood the industry") You can't tell me there's no correlation between the level of celebrity presence and Hollywood's renaissance.

Regarding the Sunset Strip? Yes, there's alot of history and flavor on the "Strip", no doubt about it! The Sunset strip will always be symbolic of LA's laidback, idiosyncratic lifestyle and love affair with the automobile. There's no experience quite like cruising down Sunset in a convertible, wind blowing in your face (preferably with a hot chick or dude.. whatever your preference is) next to you and soaking in the sunshine with the stunning views of the Hollywood Hills overlooking the city (just the amazing sense of freedom in the air). The night life on the Sunset strip is bar none! still some of the best in LA. has to offer. The Laugh Factory, House Of Blues, Key Club, just to name a few. But unlike two decades ago, the Sunset Strip no longer has a monopoly on LA night life. In terms of pedestrian activity even the gay and eclectic night life scene of Santa Monica Blvd. in WEHO blows it out of the water, not to mention the pedestrian activity of Old Town Pasadena, Venice/Hermosa Beach, Hollywood Blvd. and in the future LA Live. Don't think of it in terms of which is better, just think of it in terms of all the options and alternatives that will be availble to us (That's a big reason why so many people love LA, there's always options availble and rarely can you get bored). No matter what, Sunset Blvd. will always be popular and hold a special place in the heart's of Angelenos and will continue to be the center of much of LA's night life. IMO, Sunset Blvd.'s only drawback is that, it isn't as pedestrian friendly as the other aforementioned places(albeit, there's always lots of car traffic and huge crowds congregating outside of the many clubs/bars/restaurants on the "strip").

it's good to see Hollywood as a major LA tourist destintion. The only that bugs me is that white corner structure with no life. The one across H&H. What an eye soar, something really needs to be done with it and pronto. Does anyone know if something is being planned or proposed for that life-less structure???


Hey Ferney! Welcome back by the way!!

You mean the old Hollywood First National Bank Building ? Located at the corner of Hollywood & Highland (6777 Hollywood Blvd.) The last I checked it looked like they were gutting it out and possibly turning it into condos? I dunno exactly..but I saw people on the 9th-10th floors doing some kind of construction or rehab work inside. I'm not exactly sure about this. So anyone with information about it? It's quite a beautiful building. I wish they would light it up and give it a new paint job. That building would look so beautiful lighted up.

The Hollywood First National Bank is such a beautiful building and I don't understand why they aren't doing anything with it. And we need more shops, restaurants, and hotels in the area. You have Hollywood and Highland and then not too far down the street it's nothing special. Hollywood has a lot of potential and it must be a true center given that its name is known around the world and how will people feel when they find out that most of it is a big disappointment. I really like that portion of Hollywood Blvd. though. I'm hoping LA Live will resemble Hollywood and Highland and I'm pretty sure it will.

The Hollywood First National Bank is sucha beautiful building and I don't understand why they are doing anything with it. And we need more shops, restaurants, and hotels in the area. You have Hollywood and Highland and then not too far down the street it's nothing special. Hollywood has a lot of potential and it must be a true center given that its name is know around the world and how will people feel when they find out that most of it is a big disappointment. I really like that portion of Hollywood Blvd. though. I'm hoping LA Live will resemble Hollywood and Highland and I'm pretty sure it will.




Westsidelife,

Totally agree with you. That building is gorgeous and historic (once the tallest building in Hollywood). They gotta do something to it!!

There's so much potential in Hollywood. Even at its current state, its a great improvement over what was there 6 years ago. And stores like FAMIMA just opened up shop east of H & H (they obviously saw Hollywood Blvd's potential). Slowly but surely, more restaurants, retail/clubs will follow suit. So it's all lookin' good!

Was the El Capitan Theater an abandoned theater and then recently put back into service? If so, GOOD JOB! :)

I'm going to assume you live somewhere in the middle of nowhere in the suburbs and use that as an excuse to belittle the public transportation that works just fine in the city area where everyone should be living anyway.

Really? We all SHOULD be living in the city center? Well thanks for clearing that up, we were all lost before you came along and gave us your brilliant leadership. I always love it when someone moves into my city and begins ordering me around to live my life as they see fit.


Or you've been driving all your life, never really experienced any other city that has, again a well working public transporation and blindly belive in polluting cars because there's no way in hell a subway can take you anywhere you actually need to go.

Or you're just being ignorant.

As for me, I've lived all over the world. The list is mostly irrelevant, what matters is I've seen cities decades ahead of L.A when it comes to transporation culture and that's due to the people willing to think what's good for the community and use the public. That allows the cities to keep developing the transporation, all because of it's popularity.
Just to say there's absolutely nothing wrong with the MTA and it's services compared to the cities I've seen and experienced.
Busses and subways in L.A have always taken me where ever I need to go. Maybe not having any difficulties might have something to do with the fact I have no business of anykind in the suburbs.

The problem isnt the system itself but the people and blind assumption that it simply doesnt work, it's only for blacks and poor immigrants, as if it stated your weathly and as if even that mattered.
Feel free to think the way you do.(I'm not pointing fingers at you specifically at all, but people overall who see it this way.)
Anyhow, don't come to me to tell I know nothing just because I haven't spent all my life in L.A. Those who choose to move away from the inner city and aren't able to enjoy the services of the city really can't even afford to complain. No choice but to live with the consequence of the decision they've made regarding the area where they wish to live. No need to put any responsibility on the people's shoulders who think different and continue to live in the city. The problem is valley people do bitch all the time, 'this isn't good, that shouldnt be like that, I want it that way' ...and get what they want because of the money, despite not even living near by!

I'm not really sure where to begin. First of all, you sound extremely pretentious and somewhat classist. Are we supposed to do whatever you say just because you've had the liberty of living around the world? Hate to break it to you, but we're more than capable of managing our own city as we, its residents, see fit.

You have an extremely distorted and warped view of Los Angeles and it's residents. Judging by your analysis everyone in the city who drives a car is a wealthy, white, suburbanite who left the city to live in the suburbs as some form of white flight. I think you should bum a ride with someone and take a quick jaunt on any of our local freeways and get a wake-up call. The vast majority of people who use a car are working class everyday folk (many of them black and many of them immigrant). While it may be conveniant to you to judge everyone who drives a car as some malicious anti-environmental, greedy person, this is far from true. While I haven't lived internationally, I've lived in both NYC and SF and extensively studied the public transport and urban design of international cities. The fact is the bus system and the metrorail, while being extremely useful (I myself use them often), do not go everywhere and are not always as timely or fast as an automobile, they lack the extensive coverage of those other cities. Castigating someone for driving instead of taking the bus to there work when driving can save them a lot of time is not only stupid, its very snobbish as your economic situation is not shared by all and it assumes that your lifestyle is inherently superior to everyone else's. The other major sticking point I see with what you are saying is that you villify the automobile. The major problem with automobiles is their polluting nature and overdependence on them. The solution is to design clean cars and make public transport more efficient so it makes sense for individuals to use it to get to work. The answer is not to get rid of cars. I don't know what guides your feelings (you seem kind of bitter) but the automobile is not only a major technological innovation that has greatly enhanced the lives of nearly everyone, it provides for greater mobility than pure public transport and is enjoyed by many. It seems from your comment that you see a city that embraces automobiles as being worse than a traditional, completely public-transport dependent city. I can only speak for myself but I completely disagree with that. I see the fact that the Los Angeles is designed to embrace the automobile as being the result of the fact that it truly expanded and came into existence as a major metropolis at a later age and was able to embrace a technology that older cities weren't. I think we have the edge over other cities, our design means we can still embrace public transport for efficient transport to workplaces and other areas and still have keep the car culture that makes us so unique. I would also add that you state you never have to go into the suburbs. To me that seems like a big loss, the suburbs of Los Angeles are among the most culturally diverse and economically vibrant areas in America.


Los Angeles simply can't have the city wibe of NYC, SF, Tokyo or London because the residents aren't open to new. That's what's holding the city still and leaving Los Angeles very much behind as a world class city.

We can't have the city vibe of NYC, SF, Tokyo or London because we are not NYC, SF, Tokyo or London. We have our own vibe, its unique, its real, its not for everyone, so take it or leave it. I personally find the whole "world class city" stuff to be bullcrap to be honest. Who decides what a world-class city is? Urban theorists who view any design that deviates from the one created by 19th century American cities to be bad? Or who try to fit every city into some mold of their own forging? All I can say is I choose to live in the LA metro area, as do about 12 million other individuals, if someone decides our lifestyle is not to their choosing, thats sweat off their back, not mine. Personally I have found that of the cities I've visited there are very few that have the cultural and economic diversity, vibrancy and raw cultural power that LA has.

I'm glad to see development especially in downtown area. I like what our mayor is doing. Overall I do like the direction he's taking L.A, back to being a City. But that unfortunately doesn't happen just like that. It very much depends on people's reactions and most of 'us' dont see that. You folks keep moving out and driving with your SUVs. How's that going to do any good for L.A? Tell me that please.

Wow, this is so pretentious and self-absorbed. So I'm guessing you feel that before now LA was not a "City"(capital C)? Hahaha, wow, so just because we don't fit into whatever image you have laid out for what LA should be we were the worse off for it? Well, thank you so much for moving here and giving us the guidance to get back on track! Who know what we may have done if there wasn't an influx of pretentious, dogmatic individuals into our city to put us back on track by disparaging our lifestyle and converting our city into an imitation of other ones!

future, agree with you 100%

I'm not anti-tourist per se, and I should explain that my view of the tourist trap label is what nonresidents identify as the place to flock to at night in the city. I love to hear about all the great stuff once again happening on Hollywood Blvd (Clark Glabe is right!). I am/was hesitant to have it once again become the symbol of LA nightlife simply because of my bias against the Hollywood/Highland development which I see as too generic to represent what LA is about. However, what I understand from your comments is that the surrounding area has, instead being further left behind, gotten a boost in popularity while keeping its LAness. If that is the case, then I would drop my doubts about it. I'm sorry, if my comments came off as ranking the different hang outs but it was my opinion of what tourists should look to in order to understand LA. I agree that there are many places that LA residents know to hang out and that LA Live will become another option for us (a needed one for DTLAers), but I see a project such as LA Live as attempting to refocus the 'global' vision of Los Angeles entertainment, become the so called Times Square West in that tourists and nonresidents (especially if the convention business does take off, although I doubt it will) see it as the IT place to hang out, while not having a lot/if any aspects to merit such a designation. Things like coporate sponsorships of the buildings and a name such as LA Live only help add to my worry that this thing will turn out like a grove (which, although a nice place to go really does not have any defining aspects and has IMO detracted from the Farmer's Market). Although...maybe it will finally give people a place in LA to celebrate the New Year's in mass ... need I mention the sad, sad 'lighting' of the Hollywood sign a few years back?

My biggest concern of LA Live is that it will have more of an outdoor mall feel. Places like Time Square (NYC) and Ginza (Tokyo) are open right on the street. But the Hollywood and Highland area has a combination of both. I'm just hoping that LA Live won't live up to that Time Square West title.

The definition of a "tourist trap" is quite subjective...If any supreme example that should be used its City Walk ( I don't recall ever hearing any locals going there on a regular basis). I used the term "Times Square West" loosely to refer to the the type of hectic street-level/ pedestrian activity that wil eventually happen in Hollywood and LA Live, once all the projects get completed.

Anyway, why do you sound so anti-tourist? I personally have nothing against tourists and actually embrace them, heck! I've met so many cool people from all around the World had our city (City of Angels) and "Hollywood" not been magnets for their tourism dollars...chachingg!!$$$$. Afterall, tourism is one of our city's biggest industries: Tourism spending translates into> hotel bed taxes/revenue> translates into much needed $$$$ for infrastructure/road improvements. So let's not hate and appreciate!!


I would call Times Square something of a tourist trap. The real attraction is seeing the insane density of people, along with the massive advertisements and electronic boards, plus its such an iconic site. However when you really think about it, its sort of just perpetuating itself as a place of mass density of individuals due to it's fame and reputation. If it weren't for that there aren't that many reasons to go there. Most of the shops and restaurants there are huge corporate owned ones. Do you really wanna eat in the world's biggest applebees or shop at overpriced store that has the same things a less-hectic one somewhere else does? Sure there are attractions like Madamme Tussauds, TV studios, a few live music venues etc, but I think a lot of the essential NY character has been taken away from the site.

I think thats what a lot of people mean when they express the belief that LA Live might be a tourist trap (Steve Lopez had an article on this in the Times recently). There isn't anything quinetessentially LA or unique about it. Its not the type of organic, urban real development that you see in other parts of LA or that defines the character of cities. Thats not to say I opose it, but yeah...

It's tough to incorporate quintessential LA into a place because quintessential LA COMES from places and your experienes at them. I would consider going to a place such as The Grove quintessentially LA. It's more of a culture and lifestyle.

Was the El Capitan Theater an abandoned theater and then recently put back into service? If so, GOOD JOB! :)


Yup, Disney basically bought and revived it along with the Pantages theater near Hollywood & Vine. The El Capitan looks nice now and replacing the generic looking Disney Store with the Disney Soda Fountain store was an ingenious idea by Disney. Cool place to grab an old-fashion ice cream float.

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/el_capitan/soda_fountain/main.html

Yup, Disney basically bought and revived it along with the Pantages theater near Hollywood & Vine. The El Capitan looks nice now and replacing the generic looking Disney Store with the Disney Soda Fountain store was an ingenious idea by Disney. Cool place to grab an old-fashion ice cream float.

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/el_capitan/soda_fountain/main.html

What about the upper floors above the theater? Are they vacant?

I would call Times Square something of a tourist trap. The real attraction is seeing the insane density of people, along with the massive advertisements and electronic boards, plus its such an iconic site. However when you really think about it, its sort of just perpetuating itself as a place of mass density of individuals due to it's fame and reputation. If it weren't for that there aren't that many reasons to go there. Most of the shops and restaurants there are huge corporate owned ones. Do you really wanna eat in the world's biggest applebees or shop at overpriced store that has the same things a less-hectic one somewhere else does? Sure there are attractions like Madamme Tussauds, TV studios, a few live music venues etc, but I think a lot of the essential NY character has been taken away from the site.

I think thats what a lot of people mean when they express the belief that LA Live might be a tourist trap (Steve Lopez had an article on this in the Times recently). There isn't anything quinetessentially LA or unique about it. Its not the type of organic, urban real development that you see in other parts of LA or that defines the character of cities. Thats not to say I opose it, but yeah...


I agree with you completely Spaceman!!

Yeah, Times Square is more or less a tourist trap. I'm just hoping the purveyors of LA Live can replicate the pedestrian activity of Times Square, without all the tourist trap offerings. Hopefully, they recognize the need to create a different and unque urban experience that sets it apart from Times Square. I have no doubt in my mind, LA Live will spawn more developments nearby on its periphery, hopefully they will be more along the organic end of the entertainment/retail/restaurant spectrum.

While on the topic of tourist traps, I don't mind seeing an ESPN Zone at LA Live..LOL.. since LA Live is an entertainment/sports district after all, it'll fit in nicely next to Staples Center.

The Conga Room will also be moving to LA Live, which I wouldn't categorize as being a tourist trap offering in any way, shape or form. This has been around LA for many years, famous for celebrities and popular for its latin/dance music vibe. Its just moving to a bigger venue that happens to be at LA Live. More organic/home-grown establishments like this would be ideal.

http://www.la.com/nightlife/danceclubs/thecongaroom/615

future, agree with you 100%

I'm not anti-tourist per se, and I should explain that my view of the tourist trap label is what nonresidents identify as the place to flock to at night in the city. I love to hear about all the great stuff once again happening on Hollywood Blvd (Clark Glabe is right!). I am/was hesitant to have it once again become the symbol of LA nightlife simply because of my bias against the Hollywood/Highland development which I see as too generic to represent what LA is about. However, what I understand from your comments is that the surrounding area has, instead being further left behind, gotten a boost in popularity while keeping its LAness. If that is the case, then I would drop my doubts about it. I'm sorry, if my comments came off as ranking the different hang outs but it was my opinion of what tourists should look to in order to understand LA. I agree that there are many places that LA residents know to hang out and that LA Live will become another option for us (a needed one for DTLAers), but I see a project such as LA Live as attempting to refocus the 'global' vision of Los Angeles entertainment, become the so called Times Square West in that tourists and nonresidents (especially if the convention business does take off, although I doubt it will) see it as the IT place to hang out, while not having a lot/if any aspects to merit such a designation. Things like coporate sponsorships of the buildings and a name such as LA Live only help add to my worry that this thing will turn out like a grove (which, although a nice place to go really does not have any defining aspects and has IMO detracted from the Farmer's Market). Although...maybe it will finally give people a place in LA to celebrate the New Year's in mass ... need I mention the sad, sad 'lighting' of the Hollywood sign a few years back?

Sprawlie,

Your points are taken and concerns are valid.

About the Hollywood sign lighting in 2000? hahaha an embarassing moment in LA history, I believe it was Mayor Richard Riodan's concept? LOL Anyway, our city can only get better from now on after that incident... :cheers:

Sprawlie,

Your points are taken and concerns are valid.

About the Hollywood sign lighting in 2000? hahaha an embarassing moment in LA history, I believe it was Mayor Richard Riodan's concept? LOL Anyway, our city can only get better from now on after that incident... :cheers:

I thought the lighting ceramony was awfully stupid as a millenium celebration. the Hollywood sign looked cool though, that should be done every night as a regular turist attraction. why not?

I am not however a single minded internationalized urbanite who has seen the world and wants to see L.A. give up it's unique flavour because without it we apperantly don't have a vibe or fit the 'stringent' demands to be recognized as a World class city.
How am I single minded? It's fun to argue but going personal only proves you really have nothing to say, which again was quite obvious..


Again, I repeat my question, are you an LA native?
I, among the millions of others around Los Angeles come from somewhere else. Originally moved here in 1999. But unlike some others I choose to live in the heart of it and not look at the city as a place just to have a career, do business, get rich and move somewhere else later but as a permanent home. Los Angeles is having it's problems because to some it seems more like a bus stop for a career and business instead of a place to be.

I ask because the framing of your response, as if people were just now moving away from the city center and into suburbs, seems to ignore that is something that in Los Angeles and the US happened a long time ago. Lord help all those people born in the suburbs who have developed their own narrowmind and hateful way of living, how DARE they?
I'm aware it happened because of the blacks and mexicans moving into the so called "white neighbourhoods" about half a century ago. That's the whole point. Biased people abandon the city as it's changing to "worse" and multicultural from white paradise. The other point was to point out the sad fact that it's still going on, even 50 years later. If they can't stand the fact mexicans are taking their homeland back then I guess there's not much to do but move somewhere else, somewhere else but 20 miles away to the suburbs I mean.

What I do dislike is people who [and I'm not pointing any fingers] naturally associate immigrants and blacks with poor
Where did I say all the blacks and immigrants were poor? I just said it's mostly blacks and immigrants who use the public because those "better" people still live under the impression it's only for b-class citizens. That takes me back to the subject of L.A trailing by 20-30 years. More like 50 years if you look at the mentality and how biased some still are.

And other people who move to Los Angeles [again, not pointing fingers] and immideately try to change it to their cookiecutter liking.

You actually should be pointing fingers without trying to be funny and sarcastic which is something you do not seem to master. Ofcourse I'm trying to change it to my cookiecutter liking. I want to live here and I want the city around me to be like I see it in my head and I'm going to do everything I can to change it, just like you and the guy from next door, the only difference is the view. Los Angeles stood still for almost 20 years and it only got worse with all the gang and drug problems. The deeper you dig the more fingers point at those "better" people.

I see they cleaned up Hollywood I remember in the 90's going there it didn't look like it looks now. I had a video camera with friends of mine and we seen gangs, homeless people, and it had a lot of hookers too it was bad there. It's good to see they cleaned it up I have to go up there and check it out. I stop going when I seen how bad it was there.

And it will look even better with all the new projects planned!

I love how all you guys are defending LA for what it is, because frankly, that's the way I love it too. I'm a native Angeleno living in SF because of school/work, but my company will be transfering be back to the area since I am very unhappy here among other things. Everyone in SF loves to talk about the how wonderful the traditional "city vibe" is, when in all honesty, there is hardly anything worthwhile here. SF feels so dead and devoid of the excitement, dynamism, and energy that is found in LA, even though it is considered by some (definitely not by me) a so-called "world class City" (with a capital C LOL). LA IS a world class city and it doesn't have to be a mold of anything else to prove it. I love the city for what it is and what it is developing to be, which, I hope, will be nothing like NYC, or even worse, SF.

:hug: I love "redrabbit".

amazing...

I love how all you guys are defending LA for what it is, because frankly, that's the way I love it too. I'm a native Angeleno living in SF because of school/work, but my company will be transfering be back to the area since I am very unhappy here among other things. Everyone in SF loves to talk about the how wonderful the traditional "city vibe" is, when in all honesty, there is hardly anything worthwhile here. SF feels so dead and devoid of the excitement, dynamism, and energy that is found in LA, even though it is considered by some (definitely not by me) a so-called "world class City" (with a capital C LOL). LA IS a world class city and it doesn't have to be a mold of anything else to prove it. I love the city for what it is and what it is developing to be, which, I hope, will be nothing like NYC, or even worse, SF.

I'm currently living in DC, which I guess is also a favorite of urban elitists due to it being one of those traditional east coast transit-oriented cities. Believe me, I'd take LA over DC any day of the week. I don't care if it's the national capital, LA is in my honest opinion, more of a "world city" than Washington. Sorry, but riding DC's fancy metro subway system doesn't come close to giving me the feeling that cruising Sunset/Hollywood/Santa Monica/Ventura...whatever Blvd does. People who have never been to LA just don't understand the vibe that this place has. I've tried to explain it to my east coast friends, but they don't get it. And they won't get it until they visit LA with an open mind about what defines a city. Why should every city look like it was built in the 19th century? I for one can't stand driving the narrow streets of the east coast.

^^ Great summation. I was born in DC, love it. But so doesn't have it like LA.

I had the opposite reaction to DC. I was there for two years, and regreted coming back to LA. I liked the freedom of riding the metro as opposed to driving. The cost of parking, gas, and the oppression of traffic and looking for parking. I perfer walking anyway, a healthier lifestyle. I wish the metro in LA could accomplish the same. LA has a lot of change to do.

Where did you live in LA? 80-90% of my life is done w/o a car here. Coming from a "transit oriented" city did you take into consideration transit rich areas? When I moved to LA I picked a neighborhood w/ good bus and access to Red Line stations and considered the same when finding a job......just like I would in any other city.

...He's from the OC, where else!!!!

Lol, I grew up in Redondo Beach and Torrance. not quite the OC, but not much different.

No but really, I would like to know if any of us take transit into consideration when picking work or life? Or do we just live and work wherever we want and then complain about traffic? This is not a scathing sermon on being more transit friendly but since traffic has been bad for some time here and we've got 5 lines, 6 when counting the orange why isn't this taken into more consideration? Oh well, I'm sure I seem like the nutcase here but it just seems logical to me.......

No but really, I would like to know if any of us take transit into consideration when picking work or life? Or do we just live and work wherever we want and then complain about traffic? This is not a scathing sermon on being more transit friendly but since traffic has been bad for some time here and we've got 5 lines, 6 when counting the orange why isn't this taken into more consideration? Oh well, I'm sure I seem like the nutcase here but it just seems logical to me.......

unfortunately in my job field you pritty much take what you can get. more then 70% of the people in my industry are freelance. not because it offers tax freedom, but because there is no such thing as steady work. most of the turbulently available jobs orbit around hollywood/santa monica/venice. i could say, i will live somewere in the basin. but there is always the chance of me getting a new job in the valley [sfv]. so then what? find a new apartment and move all over again for a job that may only last a few weeks?

...no, so i just said the big "fuck it" and moved out to san gabriel, reasonable rent. lovely community and fantastic grocery and foods. [unlike sherman oaks... were i currently hold employment]

while i have been known to bitch about the commute. i, unlike others i know decided to take the GLAPTS. while it does add a few... 1 hour to my commute. i am much more relaxed and can sleep the whole time.

A lot of commuting in the area also deals with cost of living. If you work in MDR it's not so simple to just find an afforable place to live next door so a commute is a must to survive.

Used to live in MDR commuted to Century City by bus. I would take the Culver City Bus to Overland and Washington then take another CC bus into Century City. Sometimes I would get off of work at 10 pm and I would do the same. After moving to Silver Lake I decided that I would not work another job away from either a train, rapid bus or at least an express bus. I found a job at LAX because I couldn't find another in Hollywood, Downtown or my immediate hood. For the first year and a half I took the #4 to the Red Line to the Blue Line to the Green Line Aviation stop then took the shuttle bus into the airport. Because I had to work nights I would get off at 10:30 pm and repeat the process. After buying a car I committed myself to not drive to work. Luckily the Flyaway bus came into existence and I began driving to Union Station and catching the bus from there. Since I'm in the process of shooting another video I've recently committed myself again to not driving at all concerning work to save the extra money of driving 4 miles back and forth from LAUS, so I bought a bicycle. I now bike to the Red Line station, take the train to LAUS and take the Flyaway bus from there after locking up my bike in one of the rental units on the premises. The only catch is that if I miss the 11:30pm Flyaway bus from LAX I miss the last Red Line train(which is often)which means a 4 mile bike ride up a gradual grade at around 1am and after a grueling bartending gig of 6 hours standing on my feet.
I'm sure if someone is working in MDR they most likely work along Lincoln Blvd so they could in reality find affordable housing somewhere along either the Green or Blue Lines for sure. From the Aviation stop on the Green Line is the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus terminus which one can take either the #4 or now the Lincoln Rapid bus which would easily take you into MDR.
Understandebly not everyone has the will or tenacity that I might have but if you really want it you go get it.

^^ Holly shit (K), I'm already stressed out just reading about your commute. I rather not work than take like 10 buses 5 rail and on top of that drive. So by the time you arrive at work your dead tired. Unless you have a kick back job where all you do is sit and tell people where to go (LAX).

Now that I have a job myself I'm having second thought. I should of meditated long enough to ensure I was ready to make my new commute Westchester----> NO HO Arts District. Oh and by the way I drive with everyone and their mother in the morning....

You've just been spoiled by your car..........Ive never taken 10 busses or 5 rail lines. You could easily take the Green/Blue/Red trio to get you to work instead of helping melt the polar ice caps.

bah... i would be more worried about the shipping boats that brought those italian trains over then fenys stupid car

:righton: