Let The Good Times Roll! Mardi Gras in L.A.

Dear Friends,

Amidst all the Award show hoopla I almost forgot to check for the funkiest celebration in town: Mardi Gras! Yes, we are on the West Coast, miles away from New Orleans but thanks to Farmers Market we do have a Second Line Parade, a Mutt Costume contest, bead throwing, Po Boy Sandwiches and serious dancing to Zydeco. L.A. is home to a large community from N'Awlins that has only grown since Katrina and we do let the good times roll!
Put on your beads and join us this Weekend!
Here the details:

Happy Holidays - Frohes Fest und Guten Rutsch! - Feliz Año Nuevo - Bonne Année!

We are celebrating California Style!

Mele Kalikimaka!
Marion

I Had Fun Talking About Los Angeles On AirBerlin Radio Lounge!

Dear Friends,

Thanks to Anette Kaiser-Rott and AirBerlin's Eva Martini and Claudia Monréal for interviewing me on AirBerlin Lounge. Of course, we talked about Los Angeles. And caught in the fun of the moment I shared some of my secret tips normally for good friends only! If you understand German, you can listen to the podcast. The show aired on Tuesday, September 6th, 2011 on Antenne Duesseldorf.

Thanks for reading and listening,
Marion

http://www.energieusa.com/Energie_MediaWorks_-_Traditional_and_Social_Media_Services/Air_Berlin_Radio_Broadcast_with_Marion_Renk-Rosenthal/Air_Berlin_Radio_Broadcast_with_Marion_Renk-Rosenthal.html

Tour Drivers Beware! No More Access to Hollywood Sign Viewpoint from Outpost Drive

Dear Friends, liebe Freunde, chèrs amis, queridos amigos!

My colleague, driver David Lewis, was mentioned in Los Angeles Times yesterday. Not for fun reasons! David got pulled over by the police on Outpost Drive - the small curvy street many of us drive to get from Hollywood and Highland to Mulholland Drive and the great view point of the Hollywood Bowl and Hollywood sign. He was driving an open-top van with 14 passengers. Van plus passengers exceed the 6000-pound limit and the police is cracking down. Too many vans were going up and too many celebrities with homes in the area were complaining.
See the full article in L.A. Times.

Now, how do you get there without getting a ticket?
It is legal and safe to take Highland Avenue North, passed the Bowl, continue on Cahuenga Blvd parallel to the 101 Freeway, turn left on Woodrow Wilson Drive and follow the road.

Bon Voyage!
Marion

Check Out The New WALK OF FAME Website!

Dear Friends,

My friends at the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce just announced the launch of the newly designed Walk of Fame website. I checked it out. It is a really useful tool for Hollywood visitors! The new website features a list of addresses of the Stars on the Walk Of Fame, videos of recent Star ceremonies, the possibility of searching Stars based on hometown, birthday and more and the all important calendar of upcoming Star ceremonies! For the first time ever, there is also a contact form for Stargirl Ana Martinez. Ana has produced the ceremonies for 25 years and she will be happy to share her information.
Most of the questions I get from my clients concern the Walk of Fame. So, since most of you are out and about, here the QR code so you can pull up the site from your phone while you are there!
Or click the button on the top right to link to WalkofFame.com.

Bon Voyage!
Marion

Beware of the 405 FREEWAY CLOSURE - AUTOBAHNSCHLIESSUNG - FERMETURE D'AUTOROUTE - CIERRE DE LA 405

Dear Friends and Travelers!

Local media predict "Carmageddon". Due to construction projects the whole 405 Freeway will be closed for an entire weekend! 405 will be closed in both directions between the 101 Freeway in the Valley and the 10 Freeway in West Los Angeles. So brace yourselves and plan ahead!
The shutdown begins Friday, July 15th at 7PM and all lanes should hopefully reopen by Monday, July 18th at 6AM.
Click METRO to get to the official website with all the detour maps and updated announcements!

And simply take the metro to avoid carmageddon! We have the cleanest, nicest and most affordable public transportation system all around. Red Line will connect you from Universal Studios to Union Station Downtown, Gold Line takes you from Union Station to Pasadena or East Los Angeles via Little Tokyo and more. Get to the beach with either Metro busses or Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus from Union Station.
Click METRO PLANNER to see the metro subway and bus routes and schedules.

Click BIG BLUE to see the Santa Monica Busline route and schedules.

Bon Voyage!

FREE-GRATIS: Summer Concerts Around Southern California

Summertime and the living is easy!
Nothing better than a summer in Southern California. I love this time of year best. Everyone is out and about and many communities offer free entertainment. Last year, I saw Rickie Lee Jones at the Santa Monica Pier and the African band Bassekou Kouyate at California Plaza, both were awesome! I compiled a list of the stages to make it easier for you to plan. Click the names to get to the websites. I plan on catching Pete Escovedo at Hollywood-and-Highland and I hope to see some world music at California Plaza again. We have bands from Yemen and Egypt this year. It should be interesting!

Click the links to see the schedules:

Santa Monica Pier Twilight Dance Series

Farmers Market

Hollywood&Highland Wine-Jazz-Moonlight sponsored by KJAZZ Jazz and Blues Station

Grand Performances at California Plaza

Pershing Square

Fridays and Sundays: LACMA Concert Series