Rode in to town on the 5 on the inspirational wings of Don MaClean's American Pie blasting away on KRTH 101.1 FM. Needed some inspiration in the form of music as I certainly wasn't getting it from staring into the haze and smog that often hits the Los Angeles area this time of year. I was in town for only about a day and it was packed with events. I always like how whenever I spend any sort of time in Los Angeles events just seem to materialize. … [Read more...]
Los Angeles Consortium of Online Travel, September Meetup
Wanted to squeeze this post in between our continuing Europe trip posts. The Los Angeles Consortium of Online Travel (for travel writers and bloggers and those who love to travel) is an excellent monthly networking event held in the Los Angeles area for those in the online travel industry in the LA area. In addition, a local charity is always featured at each meetup (this month its Project Angel Food and a representative gives a short … [Read more...]
Meet Plan Go Los Angeles Interviews
This video is from the Los Angeles Meet Plan Go meetup that we attended at the Hotel Angeleno from earlier this summer. Just received the video from Lisa & George of the Los Angeles Chapter - thanks for the interview :) … [Read more...]
Oakley Headquarters, Orange County CA
We recently had a chance to re-visit the Oakley Headquarters in Orange County California - it had been 12 years since I was here and this time I had a formalized tour by one of their employees. For something different and probably out of the way, make a trip up the "bunker" or Oakley Headquarters located at 1 Icon Parkway in Foothill Ranch (Orange County, South East of Irvine). Visitor parking is available across from the entrance - lots of … [Read more...]
More fun in Los Angeles
There's always, always something to do in Los Angeles and this past weekend was no different. Stumbled into a place to stay at the last minute - turned out to be where George Clooney used to live and Quentin Tarantino wrote Pulp Fiction. Nice! Location was quintessential West Hollywood - minutes from the "strip". Hit the LACOT Travel Tweetup at the Xbar at the Hyatt in Century City. Good to reconnect with other LA area based travelers … [Read more...]
LACOT Meet-Up #4
The next LACOT meet-up is Thursday May 12th from 6-8pm. This will be held at the Xbar at the Hyatt Hotel in Century City. We first got word of these monthly meet-ups at party in LA earlier in the year. They are a great chance to network with other travel writers, pr folks and journalists. If you are in the Los Angeles area, do stop by for an evening of socializing. See you there! … [Read more...]
“The Privileged Pooch” Book Review
We spend a fair amount of time in the Los Angeles area and when "The Privileged Pooch" came across our desk we jumped at the opportunity to review it. Southern California with its great year round weather is one of the friendliest pet destinations in the country. This book is the essential guide to luxury travel in Southern California with your pet. Long time San Diego resident and travel journalist Maggie Espinosa reviewed 69 hotels from San … [Read more...]
Bluecause – Purchase with a PurposeTM
I've been following The BlueFish for some time and attended one of their networking parties last year. Bluefish is an organization based in Los Angeles that focuses on providing exclusive lifetime memories based on unique activities or experiences, both domestic and International. Recently they started "BLUEcause" - "an interactive space for cause-conscious consumers to bid on and buy items and experiences associated with the hottest brands, … [Read more...]
LA Gangland Tours
I'll be writing a much more detailed story about this at some point because this is a great story. I had the opportunity to join one of the LA Gangland Tours. This unique organization is not glorifying gang violence and activities rather they are humanizing it, raising awareness, and raising money to work with kids before they get sucked into this "culture" as well as other preventative measures against the gangs. Its touching to see rival … [Read more...]
More LA Times Travel Show
As always Los Angeles is a study in contrasts and that is the beauty of this incredible city. I'm just as comfortable at an exclusive party at a secret location on one of the blvd's in Hollywood or Beverly Hills as I am slurping up Menudo or enjoying Horchatas at a small taco stand in the heart of South Central or Watts. I'm always in town every year for the annual LA Times Travel Show. Like many things that are "big" in LA, this the largest … [Read more...]