A Star and Dinner

Next to our hotel was an In-N-Out Burgers. We had heard from interviews with stars after the Oscars that they were going to or had been to In-N-Out Burgers. So on our first night we stopped in to check it out. They serve up hamburgers that have not been frozen and fries from real potatoes […]

Grand Stairs

Hollywood & Highland is located in the heart of Hollywood and sits right on top of the Red Line subway station. The center is isolated from the Boulevard by grand stairs. When we reached the top, we saw many levels and walkways. There were a combination of stores, restaurants, clubs and live theatre. We could […]

Chinese Decor

In the middle of the ceiling, there is an eye-catching chandelier illuminating the center of a gigantic, ornate starburst surrounded by a ring of dragons. This is then encircled by a ring of icons showing scenes from Chinese drama. The interior of Grauman’s is very impressive. The original painted murals and Chinese decor, such as […]

Curtains and Boxes

TThese are the views of the Sid Grauman’s private box high above the theatre, the view of the auditorium from the private box and the two projection rooms. Inside the projection rooms. One holds the Christie projectors and the other holds two mammoth IMAX projectors that are dismantled piece-by-piece after each use.One of the clips […]

An Unusual Lobby

As we entered the lobby, through the bronze doors, the first thing we noticed was the Art Deco architecture and the carpet. It was hand-woven in China, reproduced based on swatches and images of the 1927 original. Leye Luke, from the “Kung Fu” television series, painted the two wall murals in the lobby, above the concession […]

Hands, Feet, Signatures and Other Things

One of the reasons that the Chinese Theatre remains so famous today is its legendary hand and footprint ceremonies.  Even now stars long to be immortalized in cement in the theater’s forecourt.  There are several stories on how this first occurred and they all seem to start with someone accidentally stepping in cement.  Some say […]

Stepping Back in Time

The TCL Chinese Theatre, a.k.a. Grauman’s theatre, located on Hollywood Boulevard. The theatre rises 90-feet high and two gigantic coral-red columns topped by wrought iron masks, hold the bronze roof. Between the columns is a 30-foot high dragon carved from stone and guarding the theatre’s entrance are the two original giant Heaven Dogs brought from […]

Stars, Musicians and Costumes

Along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine there was so many activities it was like a maze of tourists. We encounter musicians asking us to buy their CD, protesters and people in costumes wanting us to pay them to take a picture with them. The Walk of Fame runs 1.3 miles and the stars are paced at […]

Day One of Three

We headed out to the airport at 5:15, it was way too early to be going anywhere but with the two-hour difference in time it would mean we had all day to do some extra sight-seeing. As we were taking off. the sun was coming up, very pretty. It is not often that I see […]

Songs and Dancing

After a day of relaxing by the sea, we boarded our catamaran for our 45 minutes ride back to the ship. During trip back the staff put on a nice show of singing and dancing while we enjoyed an open bar.   Save