In 1904, Abbot Kinney transformed a piece of undeveloped Los Angeles shore into a world class resort city. In order to duplicate Venice, Italy, 16 miles of canals were excavated. It was then that Venice beach was born as a top tourist spot. Most of the canals that encircle this area might be gone; however, six canals still remain. Los Angeles refurbished the six remaining canals in 1994.

The local people as well as visitors from all over still throng into Venice Beach to have a gala time. The Ocean Front Walk or Venice Beach Boardwalk is populated with bikini-clad in-line skaters, tattooed bikers, beautiful people, and crowds of tourists. Right in front of the Ocean Front Walk, you will find the original Muscle Beach, two miles north of Venice, and just south of Santa Monica Pier. Along the southern portion of the beach, at the end of Washington Boulevard, is the famous Venice Fishing Pier. The 1,310-foot (400 m) pier is a popular location for sport fishing.

Apart from this, there are several other activities that keep happening in and around the beach, which include street performances: mimes, break-dancers, drummers, jugglers, talking parrots, and fortune tellers. This place is also home to several restaurants, shops, food stalls, etc. All such fun is bound to keep the tourists occupied in this beach.

Hotels

Best Western Marina Pacific Hotel & Suites
1697 Pacific Avenue, Venice Beach, California 90291
(800) 786-7789 (USA & Canada)
(310) 452-1111 1697 Pacific Avenue
Web Site: www.mphotel.com

Best Western Marina Pacific Hotel & Suites are 200 feet from the beach, and nearby the Venice Beach Walk, new sports courts, bicycle paths and rollerblading spots. Just ½ mile (1 km) from Santa Monica and Marina del Rey, near Los Angeles area business centers and just 5 miles (8 km) from the Los Angeles International Airport. Free wired and wireless internet access in all guest rooms and suites. Valet parking available.

Venice Beach Suites
1305 Ocean Front Walk, Venice Beach, CA 90291
1-877-477-5817

Venice Beach Suites are located on the Venice Beach Board Walk close to both the Venice Pier and Santa Monica Pier.

Venice Beach Cotel, 25 Windward Avenue. Venice, California 90291
Toll Free: 888.718.8287

This Venice Beach Cotel is a hostel with hotel standards. Shared rooms start at $22.00 per person/night and private rooms starting at $52.60 per room/night plus tax. Guests must show a valid passport upon arrival. The cheapest place to stay with ocean views.

The Cadillac Hotel, 8 Dudley Avenue, Venice, CA, 90291
(at Ocean Front Walk)
310.399.8876
Web Site: www.thecadillachotel.com

The Cadillac Hotel is a Venice Beach hotel with views of Santa Monica Bay and the coastline to Malibu.

Inn at Venice Beach, 327 Washington Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
310-821-2557
Web Site: www.innatvenicebeach.com

The Inn at Venice Beach is just a few blocks from the famous Venice Beach boardwalk. Itâ€s a great place to stay and close by to Venice shopping and dining.

Venice Beach Suites and Hotel
1305 Ocean Front Walk, Venice Beach, CA 90291
310-396-4559
Web Site: www.venicebeachsuites.com

Venice Beach Suites and Hotel is located on the Venice Beach Walk, and nearby to Venice Beach, the Venice Beach Boardwalk, the Venice Bike Path and Venice Pier.

Restaurants and Dining

Maos Kitchen, 1512 Pacific Ave, Venice, CA 90291, US
310-581-8305
Website: www.maoskitchen.com

Chinese home-style cooking is served in a rustic atmosphere. Specialties include Shrimp & spinach dumplings and the popular Canton street food bok choy over chow fun which contains rice-flour wide noodles, bok choy, bean sprouts, onion, tomato, green onion, shredded carrot & choice of meat. Maos Kitchen prepares vegetarian, vegan, steamed, sauce on the side, etc…just ask – and they will exchange meat for tofu, cashew, almond or peanut – & also chicken or fish stock for vegetable stock in their soups & sauces. There are lunch specials and the entres priced under $12.

On the Waterfront Café, 205 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA
(Half a block north of Rose Ave)
310-392-0322
Website: www.waterfrontcafe.com

On the Waterfront Cafe is located directly on the famous Venice Boardwalk. Swiss Specials are served both indoors and on the outdoor patio. The Swiss Bratwurst under $12 is yummy and there is choice of veal or pork bratwurst, served with onion sauce and mustard. Of course, Swiss Cheese Fondue is included on the menu along with Bitburger beer on tap. There is free parking around back if you are driving.

Figtrees Cafe, 429 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA
310-392-4937 / Fax: 310-392-0622
Website: figtreescafe.com

The Figtrees Cafe is open 8 to 6 daily. For those of you that are inspired to eat fish, Fresh Grilled Fish of the Day is offered. Other specialties include the tasty L.A. Burrito with black bean chili and guacamole.

I am so psyched and ready for this concert. Especially to hear from Aretha and her thoughts on the faux pa that Beyonce did at the Grammys. Beyonce and Tina Turner did a duet and Beyonce referred to Tina Turner as “The Queen”. Tsk, Tsk, Tsk. It now has sounds of some kittens hissing and lionesses roaring in this little tit for tat.

Can I say wow and wow again. OK, ok. So there are many diva’s that are in their own right. But there are only a handfull that actually hold such honorable titles and never to be passed off to other divas. Can I say that Aretha is truely the “Queen of Soul”.

Now if you are wondering if I am dissing Tina. I am soooooooo not. Her sounds are original, classy, soothing and classic. But would see Tina’s music more on the lines of classic rock than soul. So two seperate music genre’s and two different diva’s that hold their own. And never ever can be compared. EVER. Tina the “Diva”(BTW – your still hot looking in your 60’s) and Aretha the true “Queen”.

But the only reason I can go is that I found a place where I am pretty much paying for 2 tickets for 1. The tickets are going for $55 – $85. I was able to get the 2 tickets for about $65 through a program that I am with called Gold Star Events. Which provides discounted tickets to local concerts, plays, events, operas, ballets, comedy shows, sporting events. Even Vegas shows. You can find tix for such events in major cities such as Seattle, New York City, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Fransico, Boston, D.C and Las Vegas. I have used them for a few things already and love it. Many of the tickets I get are anywhere between 10% to 50% off regular ticketed price.

So off I go to get ready. Cause I soooo R – E – S – P – E – C – T ‘ya Aretha. All praises to thee

So how are you going to vote? Who are going to vote for? Do you know about any of the current presidential candidates and what they stand for? Do you know about any of the propositions and measures? So get out and research. Than go to your designated polling place and vote.

You may also find out which Presidential Candidates were certified to be on the current 2008 California Primaries at the California Gov page for elections.

You may find a list of the current propositons at California’s Voter Guide. There are 7 Propositions which are 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96 and 97.

Proposition 91: Transportation Funds

Proposition 92: Funding, Governance, Fees For Community Colleges

Proposition 93: Term Limits For Legislators In Office

Proposition 94 – Proposition 97: Amendment To Indian Gaming Compact
Proposition S (Los Angeles)

If you need to find out where your polling place is to vote in Los Angeles, you may visit LA Vote.
Or call the following phone numbers to find out. (800) 815-2666 (Local Callers Only) or (562) 466-1310

I have been into the CBS Studios several times for several shows. It is a great experience to view live TV shows. I have seen such shows for free such as “The Price is Right” with Bob Barker, The Hollywood Squares and Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher. And if you are a big soap opera fan of “The Young And The Restless” and “The Bold and The Beautiful” you may get a peek at a few of the stars going and out or just hanging out in the back for small time chatter.

All the tickets are free to get to see the shows. There are several ways to get free tickets. One way is to drive to the CBS studios on Beverly and Fairfax and walk to the ticket window. The ticket window is open 5 days a week from 9 AM to 5 PM. You pick the show, the date and what time(several shows do several tapings per day). Another way to get free tickets is of course to do a search via the net, there are many services out there that you can order tickets from. Or you can call directly to the studios, which is: 1 – 323 – 575 – 2458. And if you are a local of the Los Angeles area, many studios hire temporary agencies or firms to hire what many call in the industry as “Audience Paticipants”. Yes indeed they do get paid. You may not know who they are in the audience because one of the rules is they can not tell others they are there to fill seats and to get paid.

If you want to see a listing of the television shows that are not affected by the 2007 – 2008 writers strike. Here is the listing as of January 21, 2008. Reports are coming in that some studios are actually closing in on deals with the writers union. Many believe the strike will relatively end at the end of January 2008. Here is some information about CBS television show dress code, parking, arrival time and attending the show.

LA KINGS DOWNTOWN ON ICE, celebrating its 11th
spectacular season at Pershing Square, (532 South Olive, LA), open everyday November 20, 2008 through January 19, 2009.

The 11th installment of the Pershing Square Ice Skating Rink continues through Monday, January 19, 2009. There is plenty of time remaining to skate and take advantage of the activities at the L.A. Kings Downtown on Ice rink in Pershing Square. With a low admission price of only $6 (+skate rental $2), it’s a fun thing to do without spending lots of money.

Pershing Square Downtown on Ice, which will stay open until January 19th, so make a date! It’s still worth the trip, though, I would HIGHLY recommend it, especially if you go at night when it’s all sparkly and magical and there aren’t as many people on the ice.

Free L.A. Kings Youth Hockey Clinics Ages 14 and under with advance registration Register Now!

The Pershing Square Ice Rink is open every day from Nov. 20, 2008 to Jan 19, 2008. Admission is $6 and skate rental is $2.

Centrally located in the heart of the City of Angels, the facility is easily accessible by car, bus or rail. Rewarding commuters, a collaboration with Metro allows mass transit riders to receive a $1 skating session discount by showing a coupon available for downloading via the Destinations Discounts webpage at www.metro.net. The convenient stop at Pershing Square Station makes getting there easy. Underground discount parking is available with validation.

Pershing Square Ice Rink
532 S Olive St
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 624-4289
TOLLFREE: 1-888-LA-PARKS (527-2757) or visit www.laparks.org and click on Pershing Square

THREE WEEK HOLIDAY SCHEDULE – 2008-2009 Season
Friday, December 19, 2008 through Sunday, January 11, 2009
Monday – Sunday 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
NOTE: CHRISTMAS DAY – PUBLIC SKATING HOURS ARE 12:00 NOON to 10:00 PM

SKATING SESSION TIMES – 2008-2009 Season
Monday, January 12, 2009 through Monday, January 19, 2009
Monday – Thursday 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Friday – Sunday 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
NOTE: MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY (JAN 19) – PUBLIC SKATING HOURS ARE 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM

J. Paul Getty Museum
Neighborhood: Brentwood
1200 Getty Center Dr.
Los Angeles, Ca 90049
310-440-6810

The J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center in Los Angeles houses pre-20th-century European paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts, and European and American photographs. A small selection of Greek and Roman antiquities can be seen in the Classical Connections gallery in the North Pavilion.

Admission
Admission to the Getty Center is FREE—no tickets or reservations required for general admission. Parking is $8.

Museum Hours:
Tuesday–Thursday and Sunday
10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday
10:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Closed Monday and on January 1, July 4, Thanksgiving, and December 25.

Getting There:
Parking – There is Parking On Site and Paid Lot. Parking is $8.
Public Transportation – Metro Rapid Line 761 or call (800) COMMUTE

Garden Terrace Cafe
Smaller cafe offering coffee, lunch, and snacks in an outdoor setting overlooking the Central Garden.

Hours
Tuesday–Thursday: 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Friday: 10:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m.
Saturday: 11:00 a.m.–8:30 p.m.
Sunday: 11:00–5:30 p.m.

Restaurant at the Getty Center

Neighborhood: Brentwood
1200 Getty Center Dr.
Los Angeles, Ca 90049
310-440-6810

The Restaurant at the Getty Center is located atop the hills surrounding Brentwood offering a magnificient view of the Los Angeles Skyline. The Restaurant at the Getty Center is inside the Getty Center museum complex. Classic California-Mediterranean cuisine with a touch of class. The perfect place to enjoy the views and get away from the crowds.

Lunch Hours
Tuesday–Saturday: 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Sunday: 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Dinner Hours
Friday and Saturday: 5:00–9:00 p.m.

Reservations are recommended. Call (310) 440-6810. Limited same-day reservations may be available at the door or at the Museum Information Desk.

Jennifer Lopez was named by Forbes magazine as the richest Latin American in Hollywood. She film credits include The Governess (2009), Maid in Manhattan (2002), Anaconda (1997),and Selena (1997). Jennifer Lopez has sold more than 48 million records worldwide.

The listing is here.

Pop singer Alisa Apps, without a major record label, has launched her website and singing career just 10 days ago. She has announced that she is not seeking to sign with a major record label.

Her YouTube campaign began 10 days ago with “Will somebody PLEASE sing Jingle Bells with me???” Within 2 days she had 90,000+ views. She then went on to film her tell-all thumb sucking video.

In less than 3 days Alisa Apps website has received thousands of comments, video responses, true confessions from her fans. The massive interest in her music videos has generated 267,000+ views. The interest in Alisa Apps music has made her the # 1 most viewed & discussed musician in the UK and # 4 most viewed and discussed in the US.

Alisa Apps:
Website: http://www.AlisaApps.com
Youtube site: http://www.youtube.com/alisaappsdotcom
Email: info@AlisaApps.com
Contact: Global Enterprises
Contact person: Terry W. or Shannon LaForge
Address: 9454 Wilshire Blvd.- PH Suite – Beverly Hills – Los Angeles, CA 90212
Phone: (310) 248-2977

LAX Hollywood
1714 N. Las Palmas Ave
Hollywood, CA
Additional Info Contact: guestlist@usualsuspectsla.com/
For upcoming events, photos and more visit http://www.usualsuspectsla.com/

Misa Campo is an exotic Filipino-Dutch model. She is 5″6′, quite tall and she has perfect measurements — 34C-24-34. The 2009 Edition of AskMen’s Top 99 ranks Misa Campo #32 top women of 2009. No doubt. She is an up and coming sex symbol that you should check out at her official myspace page.

Calender doesn’t work? Misa Campo is appearing in: San Diego @ Heat July 27th, Seattle @ Hot Imports Nights August 4th, Chicago @ Hot Imports Nights August 11th, HAWAII August 23rd thru August 26th.