Everyone talks about the downtown revival and how the area has changed gradually over time. Go check it out yourself – any given weekend, you are bound to find a host of activities to indulge in. The best part – almost all the metro stations lead downtown! The best way to discover the area is just walk around the neighborhood. And now, with the new Santa Monica line, you can head straight to the beach from there too!
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Are you tired of taking the same kinds of holidays? Is sitting around the pool or by the beach becoming boring? Well, it might be time to think about some of the alternative options out there. Maybe a cruise, or a train journey, or something else altogether?
Holidays aren't just about the destination; they're about the overall experience. Yet, other considerations tend to be secondary. We don't, for instance, think an awful lot about whether we're likely to meet anyone new, or have fantastic new memories. And yet, these are precisely the enduring features that make a holiday special. Often, much more so than the location itself. That's why a cruise ship holiday can be so satisfying for so many people. Yes, they get to cruise around the ocean, stopping off at beautiful locations. But the experience as a whole is somehow elevated by sharing it with a whole community. Let's look at some of the reasons why your next holiday should be aboard a cruise ship. Prepare to be enchanted!
Travel is a fantastic way to broaden your horizons and enrich your life. From sightseeing to tasting local cuisines, it can be an eye-opening experience. But for a more enhanced trip, you need to attend a local festival. Whether it’s Epcot’s food and wine festival or a religious celebration, festivals give you a truly unique perspective.Whether big or small, religious or not, they create a magical vibe and feel. Here are some top reasons why you should head to a festival, no matter where you are in the world.
Solo travel is becoming increasingly popular. People just don’t want to wait around anymore. They want to see the world, and they don’t care that they’re on their own. You meet lots of people travelling anyway, so you’re never truly alone! But are you unsure of what to do? This guide will help you work out whether solo travel is for you.
Life can be stressful sometimes. Work hours are long and the daily commute is a nightmare. We’re aware that we need to adjust our work life balance to tilt more towards life. But that’s not always possible. Annual vacation is the time to relax, slow down and forget about the stresses and strains of everyday life. Follow these tips to treat yourself this holiday and indulge in some much-needed TLC...
Thinking of traveling in 2016? Then you’re probably looking for tips to keep the costs down. Lucky for you, there's five epic ideas right here!
The best part of living in Hollywood is walkability. Have I mentioned that already? One of the events I was fortunate to be able to walk up to was the 2016 Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, happening right down the street from where I live…about 15-20 minutes by walk, which makes for a 30 minute stroll but given the fantastic weather here, who’s complaining?! Held the weekend of 6-10, it gave me an opportunity to mix and mingle with members of the South Asian communities in L.A involved in the film and entertainment industries.
First impressions It was a well-attended event for sure. The Indian community and those interested in the work from the diaspora were certainly out in full force. The central location made it all the better – Arclight on Sunset Blvd is a pretty cool space to host. Grabbing a bite onsite or at any of the restaurants around the area is easy. They also had a pretty cool bar area for attendees which was fun, although I sorely missed not having any samosas and chai for the screenings – what’s a desi movie watching experience without those ingredients?
The second event this weekend as part of the culinary experience that is the All Star Chef Classic L.A. The Grill and Chill was a casual open air/indoor foodie experience all its own. A coupon booklet gives you access for tasters from different chefs who were set up in booths all around the periphery of the indoor and outdoor spaces. Some of the lines were so long it was incredible folks were hanging around and big time kudos to the chefs and their helpers for being on their feet all evening long prepping and plating for so many people! Take a peek :)
This weekend will probably be the highlight of my first quarter this year I think. Was invited to attend the American Masters Dinner presented by Mercedes Benz as part of the All Star Chef Classic in L.A. The All Star Chefs that I got to see in action were Wylie Dufresne of WD-50 in New York, Naomi Pomeroy of Portland's Beast, Jamie Bissonnette of Boston's Toro, Sean Brock of Charleston's Husk, Paul Kahan of Chicago's Blackbird and Johnny Iuzzini of Sugar Fueled Inc. in New York. Could not wait to check out the live action and see what the chefs had in store!
Wish they had this last year when I visited Japan but, oh well, better late than never I guess. AA announced today about their direct flights to Tokyo Haneda from LAX leaving daily! And the best part is its operated on American’s state-of-the-art Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. Amenities include satellite Wi-Fi, HD Panasonic touchscreen monitors, universal AC power outlets and a USB jack. They held a special reception at the George & Sakaye Aratani Central Hall at the Japanese American National Museum, which I was pleased to attend not just for a slice of Japan but also a special curation of Japanese performances and ceremonies, alongside remarks from key dignitaries and officials. Check out all the action!
The first, most obvious attraction to anybody headed to Culver City will be the Sony Pictures studio. Especially if you are a movie freak, or even if you are remotely piqued by the entertainment industry, their studio tours are a big hit. The 2-hour guided walking tour takes you through sound stages, movie history, scenes and props you will remember from some very famous productions. Depending on when you visit, you might be able to catch a show taping here. Do check on the website beforehand though for dates, times and other rules to entry. Go here for the history but chances of any star sightings are rare. You will definitely learn a few things about the movie industry you did not know before.
Enjoyed this beautiful mid-day meal as part of a press luncheon at the beautiful Casa Del Mar property right by the ocean in Santa Monica. The week-long limited engagement features chefs from the Grand Hotel Quisisana at Hotel Casa Del Mar - what a treat! A two-page menu of offerings were available from both visiting Chef Stefano and local Chef Agberico but the media preview was certainly special in its own way. Take a peek!
Budget Travel has released their WHERE TO GO 2016, a compilation of must-see destinations for the New Year ahead! Everything from stylish cities to up-and-coming locales to undiscovered gems are on this list - all 24 amazing locations had to be amazingly affordable as well in order to make the cut. My travel alert is on high for deals to these places! Iceland has taken the #1 spot followed by San Antonio and Cuba. Los Angeles is in fourth place - doesn't hurt that I call this city home now. The rest of the WHERE TO GO 2016 list includes nearby destinations in the United States plus additional not-to-be-missed locales in both hemispheres. Below, is the list of the top 24 - where will you go in 2016? (The Budget Travel website has more details on their slideshow!)
Any visitor to the city usually makes a beeline for Hollywood Boulevard. Why? Let's see - the Hollywood Walk of Fame is usually the first stop for most tourists and locals. Finding the name of your favorite stars marked on the street for eternity is quite thrilling. Doesn't hurt that there are shops aplenty and restaurants galore for your entertainment. The Red Line on the Metro is located here and so is the Hollywood and Highland shopping mall from where you might, on a good weather day, find a reasonable view of the Hollywood sign. But here are my top five picks for a better experience along this street. Given that I now live here, these are insights from a local but seasoned through the eye of a new Angeleno in the making.
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