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Murals

Los Angeles is one of the world’s capitals for street art. As we drove around there were so many. These are just a few we saw. The mural “Luminaries of Pantheism” is a collection of portraits of many great thinkers, artist and writers. Near Venice Beach Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jim Morrison grace the walls of […]

Multi-million Dollar Houses

Venice Canal Historic District is located between Washington Avenue and Venice Boulevard, just two blocks east of Pacific and is one of Venice’s most affluent neighborhoods. Inspired by Venice, Italy, there are six slim streams with multi-million dollar houses facing the water. The architectural styles range from mid-century modern to storybook cottage, to Roman-inspired villa. […]

Music, Music, Music

Going to a movie at the TCL Chinese Theatre was never on our list of things to do, in fact we did not know they showed movies. When we discovered they were showing LA LA Land it was quickly added. This famous IMAX theatre, has the 5th largest screen and the largest seating capacity (more […]

Back Lot Building

We toured the 13 city blocks on four acres of historic studio lot in the largest set construction project in studio history. Built with creative consultation from Steven Spielberg himself, it is the movie industry’s busiest sets. Among the sets we traveled along these streets: Brownstone Street, Denver Street, Central Park, Courthouse Square, New York […]

Outside Location for a TV Show

We visited the set of a TV show called The Good Place (starring Kristen Bell). The Good Place, is a town where those who have been good throughout their life go to once they have passed away.

Trains and Wands

The Hogwarts Express, in Harry Potter books, travels between the London, King’s Cross Station Platform 9 3/4 and Hogsmeade Station. The Express carried students to and from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This Express is at the entrance of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We went into Ollivanders, makers of fine wands since […]

Talking Pictures

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey was buried deep inside Hogwarts Castle. We traveled through Gryffindor Common Room, which was filled with all the talking paintings. It was hard to listen to the conversation that the paintings were having. We then passed through Dumbledore’s office and got some advice from him. All of this was […]

Snow-capped Roofs

From the cobblestone alleyways to the snow-capped roofs, you get the sense you are on the street of an English village. It all feels very natural, organic, and comfortable, and that’s was deliberate by the designer. There are film artifacts throughout the village. The school desks and chalkboard in the Defense Against Dark Arts classroom […]

Spell Limits

Above the entrance to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a sign says “please respect the spell limits.”  Once inside, our eyes immediately go skyward to a huge, rambling, castle with a jumble of towers and battlements. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the magical wizarding school towers over the snow-capped village of Hogsmeade.