“Star workers” put thier finishing touches on The Hollywood Walk of Fame for Hugh Jackman’s star ceremony tomorrow 12/13/12.

The Hollywood Chamber will honor Hugh Jackman with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday, December 13, 2012. His star will be unveiled at 6931 Hollywood Boulevard in front of Madame Tussauds Hollywood where his wax figure depicting him as Wolverine is on display. “Fans from around the world have been consistently asking when this star will be dedicated,” said Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez. “We are happy to say that now is the time! Hugh is one of the world’s most popular actors and we are excited that he is joining our Walk of Fame family.”

Australian native, Hugh Jackman made his first major U.S. film appearance as Wolverine in the first installment of the “X-Men” franchise, a role he reprised in the enormously successful X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand in 2006. Most recently in the franchise, he played Wolverine in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which serves as a prequel to the popular series and grossed an outstanding $85 million domestically in its first weekend of release in May 2009. Audiences will again see Jackman in the popular role in the next X-Men chapter titled The Wolverine, which just wrapped in Australia.

Jackman will next star in the much-anticipated film adaptation of the hit musical, Les Miserables, directed by Tom Hooper (of The King’s Speech), co-starring Anne Hathaway and Russell Crowe. The Universal Pictures film is slated for wide-release on December 25, 2012.

Most recently, Jackman lent his vocal talents to the DreamWorks family holiday adventure, Rise of the Guardians. He also starred in director, Shawn Levy’s successful robot boxing drama, Real Steel in October 2011.

Jackman made his return to the Great White Way in his one-man show “Hugh Jackman – Back on Broadway” in the Fall of 2011. Backed by an 18-piece orchestra, the revue, which previously opened to rave reviews during its limited engagements in San Francisco and Toronto earlier that year, was comprised of both Broadway hits and a selection of some of his personal favorite standards. Although the show ran only until the end of the year, Jackman’s continued dedication to the Broadway community was feted at the 2012 Tony Awards, where he received a Special Award from the Tony Awards Administration Committee, recognizing his accomplishments both as a performer as well as a humanitarian.

In the fall of 2009, Jackman appeared on Broadway in the Keith Huff penned “A Steady Rain.” Co-starring Daniel Craig, the play tells the story of two Chicago cops who are lifelong friends and whose differing accounts of a few traumatic days change their lives forever.

On February 22, 2009, Jackman took on the prestigious role of hosting the 81st Annual Academy Awards. Live from Hollywood, he wowed those in attendance and helped ABC score a 13% increase in viewership from the previous year. This wasn’t, however, Jackman’s first foray into Awards show hosting. Previously, Jackman served as host of the Tony Awards three years in a row from 2003 – 2005, earning an Emmy Award for his 2004 duties at the 58th Annual ceremony, and an Emmy nomination for his 2005 appearance at the 59th Annual ceremony.

In late 2008, Jackman headlined the 20th Century Fox’s romantic action-adventure epic, Australia directed by Baz Luhrmann. The film, set in pre-WWII northern Australia, sees Jackman as a rugged cattle driver who assists an English aristocrat (played by Nicole Kidman) in driving a herd of 2000 cattle across hundreds of miles of rough terrain where they must also face the Japanese bombing of Darwin, Australia.

Additional film credits include: Darren Aronofsky’s The Fountain, Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige, Woody Allen’s Scoop, Happy Feet, Flushed Away, Deception, Someone Like You, Swordfish, Van Helsing, and Kate and Leopold, for which he received a 2002 Golden Globe nomination.

For his portrayal of the 1970s singer-songwriter, Peter Allen in “The Boy From Oz,” Jackman received the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actor in a musical as well as Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle and Theatre World awards.

Previous theater credits include: “Carousel” at Carnegie Hall, “Oklahoma!” at the National Theater in London (Olivier Award nomination), “Sunset Boulevard” (MO Award – Australia’s Tony Award) and Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” (MO Award nomination).

Jackman’s career began in Australia in the independent films Paperback Hero and Erskineville Kings (Australian Film Critics’ Circle Best Actor award and The Australian Film Institute Best Actor nomination). In 1999, he was named Australian Star of the Year at the Australian Movie Convention.

Jackman is involved in various aspects of philanthropy and works with Laughing Man Worldwide, Harlem Village Academies and World Vision to name a few.

While some people just use summer vacation to experience their own city, many people that take our tour are from another city, state, or country!  We thought it would be useful to compile tips for those people traveling to Los Angeles for the very first time:

1. Yes, it’s sunny in California.  Bring sunscreen!  Stay hydrated!

Sometimes the urge to get a California tan is so strong that people visiting Los Angeles will forgo hats and sunscreen for those tell-tale tan lines that say “I just got back from the beaches of California…”  Well, we can understand that.  But it can get pretty hot, and the more inland you go (Hollywood is many miles east of the beach) the higher the temperatures get.  In the summer in Los Angeles, it is quite common to see a range of temperatures during the day from 80 degress to 100+ degrees Fahrenheit.  Don’t forget your hat and your water bottle!

2. Los Angeles is a very spreeeeeeeaaaaaaad oooooouuuuuttttttt city.

Los Angeles County covers over 1000 sq. miles and has 88 incorporated cities.  To go from Santa Monica on the “West Side” to Hollywood on the “East Side” (sort of) can take you over an hour in traffic, if you don’t get lost.  And parking?  Forget it!  Make sure to time your travel accordingly!  This is one of the reason are tours are so popular – it’s really the best way to get from one side of town to the other without wasting a lot of time.  Unlike many other big cities, Los Angeles public transportation is not always easy or convenient.  There is no easy way to go to the beach via Metro from Downtown LA.  Los Angeles is in the middle of making new changes, some call a new “Golden Age of Public Transportation” but those wont take effect for many years.

On a saturday, it will take you at least 1hr 22 min to go 11 miles on public transportation to the beach from Hollywood. Don’t even get me started on the funky hours!

3. Los Angeles is a really diverse city – enjoy all the different foods you can!

If you’re traveling from somewhere that doesn’t have decent Mexican food, you HAVE to make sure you try as many different Mexican food joints as you can.  There are both spicy and not spicy, meat loving and vegetarian Mexican options everywhere in town.  Not to mention, Kimchee pancakes & Korean BBQ in Koreatown, a Salvadorean Pupuseria, a Vegan/Vegetarian/Raw/Macrobiotic food only place, Thai iced coffee, or German sausage kitchen with craft beers.  Try using Yelp.com to find places near you with good ratings.  And don’t forget, leaving a tip of (gratuity) is 15-20% the standard everywhere in America, and it’s not included in the check unless you have a big party.  And I should mention, when you take a tour with us, tip your drivers too!

4.  You can buy just about anything anytime anywhere.

Basically, if you’re traveling and you realize you need something important (like a hairdryer that is on the correct USA voltage = 110volts, NOT 220!) there’s hardly a block that goes by that doesn’t have a grocery store that has anything from hairdryers to food to emergency first aid to tequila.  Most stores in the Los Angeles are open everyday from 8am – 10pm, while some stay open later and occasionally 24 hours a day.

5.  While we get 60 million visitors a year, we are still one of the friendliest cities in the country!

While not everybody can be counted on to represent the City of Angels at any given moment, generally Los Angeles culture is open to new faces.  (So many Angelenos are transplants, afterall).  If you are lost or confused, it is perfectly normal to say “Excuse me..” to a random person in the street and ask them if they know what direction you should go.  If you need real help, remember that the Emergency Telephone number is 9-1-1 everywhere in the USA.  As with any big city, keep an eye on your valuables and don’t leave anything unattended, especially in the busy parts of town.

6.  Los Angeles is a city of real people, not just famous landmarks and hollywood stars!

People often forget that in between the iconic Hollywood sign and Rodeo Drive that they’ve seen in movies for so long, is a working city.  Bring your camera to catch all the landmarks, but don’t forget to meet some local Angelenos!

The most iconic blond bombshell of all time (although she was actually a natural redhead, for details sake) Marilyn Monroe would have been 86 years old this year if she hadn’t tragically died of an overdose on August 5th, 1962.  She was a complicated woman, a beautiful and photogenic actress admired and fawned over by millions, and yet, she was always struggling to get things she wanted most in life: to be a mother, and to have respect as an actress.  Hollywood in the 1960s was a complicated place.  Photographer Lawrence Schiller recently surfaced with some rare photographs of Marilyn; he had spoken to her the day before she found dead in her home.  He had a lot of intriguing things to say about the woman behind all the iconic photographs:

I had read that for Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, which she’d made in 1953, Jane Russell had been paid $200,000 while Marilyn, the blonde referred to in the title of the movie, had earned all of $1,250 per week—about $15,000—for the entire picture.

Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell put in their hand prints at Grauman’s Chinese Theater; come see them right across the street from our office!

Marilyn Monroe’s handprints up close today…they are so petite!

Funny of course that no on hardly knows who Jane Russell is today (at least, youngsters) and Marilyn is still a household name.  You can come see her handprints right across form our office and compare sizes!  We also visit her home on our Stars Homes Tour and can tell you a lot more.  This summer, to honor the 50th Anniversary of her passing, the Hollywood Museum put together a rare look into the closet of Hollywoods most undisputed star for “Marilyn Monroe: The Exhibit” which is just for this Summer, from June 1st, 2012 – September 2nd, 2012 to give the public a closer look at her life.

From LA.com:

Some of the highlights include the actual dresses she wore in Some Like It Hot and Gentleman Prefer Blondes, never-before-seen pictures taken by  George Barris, who’s best known as the last photographer to have a session with the actress shortly before her death;movie scripts, various hand-written personal letters, and Monroe’s 1961 Fleetwood Cadillac limousine…

The Hollywood Museum mentions these highlights:

• Marilyn Monroe’s million-dollar honeymoon dress, worn on her honeymoon for her marriage to Joe DiMaggio.  This was Marilyn’s favorite gown designed by Ceil Chapman, hand beaded in Marilyn’s signature style. Marilyn wore this gown on numerous occasions including a USO tour to entertain 10,000 troops in Korea in 1954.
• Marilyn’s famous cream colored, beaded costume worn in the 1957 film The Prince and the Show Girl.
• Personal wardrobe items including the lime green Pucci blouse Marilyn Monroe wore in the last ever photos of her taken alive, together with Marilyn’s favorite furs and accessories.
• The evening cape worn by Marilyn to the 1955 world premiere of the James Dean classic East of Eden.
• Furniture and artwork from Marilyn’s Brentwood home, including the solid wood dresser that was next to Marilyn’s bed in her bedroom the night she died.
• Never before seen photographs of Marilyn Monroe taken by her close personal friend George Barris.
• NBC’s critically acclaimed “Smash” will have a special costume display featuring their Marilyn Monroe dresses.
• The famous “Red Velvet” photographs by photographer Tom Kelly. Shot in 1949, Marilyn was still a struggling actress, delinquent in her monthly car rental payments and on the brink of having her car repossessed. To earn quick money, Marilyn agreed to pose at a typical “day rate” for what would become this legendary photo shoot.
• Original works of art by famed artist Robert A. Delgadillo and LUDVIC.

• Max Factor ‘s “Marilyn Monroe” makeup room where he created the famous “Marilyn Monroe blonde” hair including Marilyn’s makeup case and other personal items on display.
• A prescription pill bottle and the Decodron vial found next to her bed at the time of her death.
• A vast photograph collection of many never-before-seen photos of Marilyn’s childhood, family and early modeling career, including an array of photographs showing how Monroe lived, worked and played in Los Angeles.

• Original Magazine and newspaper articles conveying Monroe’s popularity and the kinds of coverage accorded both her career and personal life.

• Rare family photographs of Marilyn Monroe.
• Marilyn Monroe’s annotated film scripts, personal letters, invoices, receipts and financial accounting documents, showcasing in great detail the personal and very private life of the greatest film star of all time.

• An original Ralph Emerson Jr. High School photo showing a young Norma Jeane.
• Marilyn’s personal Kodak Brownie camera from her childhood.

We know a lot about Marilyn Monroe and other classic Hollywood history at LA City Tours.  In our Stars Home Tour, we go by the houses she lived in and ponder her life.  And The Hollywood Museum is right on Hollywood and Highland, just a few paces away from our office.  So if you want to see the Stars’ Homes and cruise for today’s celebs, or go on a trip to Santa Monica Pier and beaches and fill you in on other things to do, come to Hollywood.  LA has so much to see!  If you’re in Los Angeles on vacation or planning one, come down to our office on Hollywood boulevard for shopping tours, trips to Santa Monica beach, LAX layover, or entire Los Angeles vacation packages.  Today is a great day to go!  Every day is a great day in southern california, so give us a call or visit LA City Tours if you’re coming anytime soon!

And sometimes, on top of the quadrupling of people and events, you wake up and get to  Hollywood boulevard and it looks something like this….

Suspicious road closure on Hollywood that normally shows up when a star is around or a red carpet premiere is happening…

Oh yeah, did I mention this is HOLLYWOOD?  Every week some big event is going on.  Just last week I’m excited to say that Katy Perry performed live and for free right here for the opening of her new Katy Perry 3D: Part Of Me. Yup, there she was in her cotton candy glasses and popcorn skirt, performing ”Hot And Cold,” “Part Of Me” and “Kissed A Girl outside of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

Katy Perry nows how to pick out the most spectacular clothing! We like this popcorn and movie reel 2 piece. Edible?

Katy Perry & her candy colored dancers

Over the top lollipops…yup, just another day in Hollywood.

Katy Perry belting it out to happy fans on Hollywood Boulevard

What is Katy Perry 3D all about?  A write up from HuffPost sums it up and adds a little fodder to the continuing ex-hubbie Russel Brand rumor mill:

Katy Perry: Part Of Me is an expertly edited and directed concert documentary about a girl who has gone from singing in church to being one of the most famous faces on the planet. Many wondered how much screen time Perry’s recent ex-husband, Russell Brand, would get — especially since he reportedly asked for scenes to be removed from the film. Aside from some crowd boos when Brand first came on screen, the rest of the theater felt excited, inspired and happy.

Come visit us at LA City Tours and find out what all the crazy Hollywood hub bub is about!  We’ll take you to see the Stars’ Homes and cruise for celebs, or set you up on a trip to Santa Monica Pier and beaches and fill you in on other things to do!  If you’re in Los Angeles on vacation or planning one, come down to our office on Hollywood boulevard for shopping tours, trips to Santa Monica beach, LAX layover, or entire Los Angeles vacation packages.  Today is a great day to go!  Every day is a great day in southern california, so give us a call or visit LA City Tours if you’re coming anytime soon!

LA City Tours Driver Don “always hoping the stars are out…” Us too!

LA City Tours driver Don “He Wants Stars in their Eyes”

LA City Tours makes the cover of the LA Times!

That’s right, the story shared the front page with other big-deal headlines, like Elections in Egypt and the Levitated Mass opening at LACMA.  From the abbreviated online LA Times article (the full story in the paper is so worth a read):

Baisa…knows what his passengers want during their two-hour journey through Hollywood and Beverly Hills….

On this afternoon, as his tour winds through Trousdale Estates, Baisa gets lucky. “Look, everyone!” he says, pausing outside Courteney Cox‘s sprawling home. “It’s David Arquette. Hi, David!”

Arquette, unsmiling, waves. He pulls a white Avanti convertible into a gated driveway.

“Oh my God!” one Australian tourist gushes. “Hi, David! Hi, David!”

“Yes, this is Hollywood, folks,” Baisa says amid the heightened chatter and iPhone camera flashes. “Where the stars live, work and play.”

The article is an interesting and unflinching look at the diverse characteristics of the modern day Hollywood.  We feel honored that our driver of 4+ years Don was chosen for the article and gave such a full portrait.  Grab a tall soy latte, stear clear of the homeless man in your favorite chair at Starbucks, and flip through the LA Times and read all about it!  I did.

If you’re in Los Angeles on vacation or planning one, come down to our office on Hollywood boulevard and we’ll give you our best shot at seeing stars!  If you bring in a copy of the paper, hell, we’ll give you a discount.

There’s lots to do while you’re in the expansive City of Angels.  On our Los Angeles sightseeing tour, we take you through the historic and cultural diverse hotspots in Los Angeles and fill you in on Hollywood history, old and new.  We do, as the article in the LA Times suggests, the movie stars homes tour, and we also do Santa Monica beaches tours, Disneyland and Universal Studios stuff, and while Los Angeles Vacation Packages!  Today is a great day to go!  Then again, every day is a great day in southern california, so give us a call or visit LA City Tours if you’re coming anytime soon!

She has a really cool sound and is super charming.  Yuna sounds kind of Norah Jones-ish with more of an indie-pop bent, and she’s from Malaysia and has a really cool backstory!  Want to check her out?  You’re in luck because she will actually be performing at the iconic Amoeba Records on Tueday for free! (Most Amoeba performances are free – just another reason why its the best damn record store in America)

What URB has said about Yuna after a live show that had people lined up around the corner to get in:

“Vocally, the singer blends the sultriness of a jazz chanteuse with the sincerity of an acoustic singer-songwriter – think Norah Jones meets Regina Spektor or Ane Brun – and balances an inherent sense of confidence with a nervousness more endearing than perplexing.”

A little more info on her from Yunamusic.com:

At the age of 19, while in law school, she picked up a guitar and began to fervently write. She released her self-titled EP in Malaysia in 2008.  Yuna joined FADER Label in summer 2010 and released her digital EP Decorate in March 2011, which had fans, critics from Billboard, KEXP, The New York Post, and even Russell Simmons himself, who raved, “an amazing new singer…her music is incredible”, all instantly praising her talents.

Also in 2011, SPIN featured Yuna in their Buzzcatcher piece, “Eight Bands You Need to Hear Now” and she gave a stellar performance before a packed audience at MTV Iggy’s “Best New Band in the World” concert in New York City. In January 2012, Yuna released “Live Your Life”, the first single from her forthcoming full-length album. It started getting airplay immediately at Sirius – The Loft, KCRW and KROQ. The music video premiered on MTV2 and was featured on the homepage of VEVO.com. Yuna’s self-titled album will be released on April 24, 2012.

Law school?!! Another interesting fact that Garth Trinidad (who was hosting the “Music in Film” event) noted was that Yuna was actually discovered on Myspace when she posted songs there that she’d recorded for fun in her house on her computer in Malaysia!  Now, she’s with Fader Records and you can look for her cover of The Beatles “Here Comes the Sun” on Oliver Stone’s upcoming film “Savages”…what a journey!

Malaysian singer/songwriter Yuna will visit Amoeba to play a set and sign copies of her self-titled album (out now on the Fader Label).  On our Hollywood tours we explain how awesome Amoeba Records is, so you should check it out regardless. It would be a great way to finish up a day in Hollywood after one of our tours – by listening to a great new musician and getting your CD signed by her! Just check out her sound:

If you’re in Los Angeles on vacation or planning one, come down to our office on Hollywood boulevard and we’ll fill you in on any cool new music acts going on at Amoeba and the many famous nearby venues and nightclubs!  There’s lots to do while you’re in the expansive City of Angels.  On our Los Angeles sightseeing tour, we take you through the historic and cultural diverse hotspots in Los Angeles and fill you in on Hollywood history, old and new.  We also do Santa Monica beaches tours, Disneyland and Universal Studios stuff, and while Los Angeles Vacation Packages!  Today is a great day to go!  Then again, every day is a great day in southern cali, so give us a call or visit LA City Tours if you’re coming anytime soon!

To illustrate what I mean, today’s Hollywood Celebrity-of-the-Day goes to Oscar winning legendary actor Dustin Hoffman.  Seriously!

Dustin Hoffman with Donnie in front of LA City Tours!

Know much about the guy?  He has an interesting past!  From Imdb:

Graduated from Los Angeles High School in 1954. Went to Santa Monica City College where he dropped out after a year due to bad grades. But before he did, he took an acting course because he was told that “nobody flunks acting.” Also received some training at Los Angeles Conservatory of Music. Decided to go into acting because he did not want to work or go into the service. Trained at The Pasadena Playhouse for two years.

I’d say Dustin certainly didn’t flunk since he’s gotten 2 Oscars and 7 nominations. (“Boooring,” says Dustin.)  About a year ago Dustin was around on a regular basis while they filmed “Luck” the HBO series as the nearby Santa Anita racetrack.  Sadly, the show was cancelled (I never got to see it…sad about the horses) but I’m sure he’ll come back with a passion in his upcoming film to look for “The Song of Names”.

If you’re in Los Angeles on vacation or planning one, come down to our office on Hollywood boulevard and we’ll take you to all the spots where you’re most likely to see the famous actors, musicians, and socialites that have been in all your favorite parts of pop culture!  There’s lots to do while you’re in the expansive City of Angels, celebrity schtuff is one small part of it.  On our Los Angeles sightseeing tour, we take you through the historic and cultural diverse hotspots in Los Angeles and fill you in on Hollywood history, old and new.  We also do Santa Monica beaches tours, Disneyland and Universal Studios stuff, and while Los Angeles Vacation Packages!  Today is a great day to go!  Then again, every day is a great day in southern cali, so give us a call or visit LA City Tours if you’re coming anytime soon!

Be safe, have fun, come to a legitimate tour company with a real office!

Yes, like us.

Here we are on Google Maps street view – the real deal! Don’t take any imitations!

OK, so here’s where I toot our horn.   Clearly I’m biased, but the following are just plain and simple facts about us!  Here at LA City Tours, our office is open year round, every day of the week.  We’ve been here since 1981!  OVER 30 YEARS!  Our reputation speaks for itself.  Many hotels will recommend us as their first choice for people when they ask about what tour to go on!  And it’s not hard to see why.  We’re reliable and we care about your experience.  And we do everything – movie stars homes tours, Los Angeles neighborhoods sightseeing tours, tours to the west side to see the beautiful beaches of Santa Monica and Venice, LAX Layover trips, trips to Universal Studios and Disneyland (which is not even in LA county, by the way!).  We can arrange any kind of package, from one day 2 hour trip to week long package with all your accommodations and bells and whistles.

LA City Tours Map on Hollywood Boulevard

Opportunists wearing makeshift “tour guide” shirts can’t offer that, and I’m embarrassed that people on holiday have to put up with them, and occasionally get suckered into taking one of their tours.  Just say no and come straight to our Office!  You’ll know by the nice people in front and at the desk with the real uniforms that say “LA City Tours”!!!  We’re the ones posing with all the celebrities!

Donnie in front of LA City Tours Office posing with Guillermo from the Jimmy Kimmel Show!

A bunch of well wishers came out to celebrate with her on the Walk of Fame, including nearly the entire cast of Everybody Loves Raymond like Ray Romano plus co-stars from newer shows like Neil Flynn!  (<– big fan since Scrubs)

Patricia Heaton gets funny Roast from Ray Romano at her Star Ceremony!

Romano gave a great toast (shall I say ROAST?) of Patricia that got some big laughs from everyone.  I’m paraphrasing, but he started with something like this:

Ray: The last time i was here was for Doris (pointing to Doris)…2 wonderful actors,  Everybody Loves Raymond characters…getting a star.  (chuckles in audience) Before i go on, I just want to ask the committee……..you guys have my number right? (big laugh) I’m kidding, i couldn’t be more happy.

–> Which brings up a good point, how come Raymond doesn’t have a star??  Get on that, fans!!  Get Ray a star and you’ll get a free stand-up at the ceremony, I guarantee it.

He went on to say a few more words:

Ray:  We saw a hundred actresses for the role.  Patty came in, she nailed it. But the reason i liked her was, she was the only one who kissed me on the lips in the audition!  And i thought to myself…

Patricia: ….i was desperate for work…

Ray: Hey, you stepped on my line!

Patricia: (laughing) Woops!

Ray: I was going to say, I thought ‘she really needs a job.’  And then she had to pretend to kiss me for 9 years!

HAH!  Romano and Heaton has a great funny chemistry, so its no wonder they did so well on screen for 9 years!

Unveiling Patricia Heaton’s star…

Congratulations Patricia! Your very own star on the Walk of Fame…

Neil Flynn signs autographs after Patricia’s star unveiling…me, me!

And she’s a lot more than just the iconic wife on Everybody Loves Raymond.  According to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s Walk of Fame, she’s done so much more:

In addition to her acting and producing credits, Heaton is a bestselling author whose bookMotherhood and Hollywood – How to Get a Job Like Mine was on the New York Times best-sellers list.

In 2001, Heaton co-founded FourBoys Films, whose recent productions include the documentary feature film  The Bituminous Coal Queens of Pennsylvania  and the critically acclaimed film Amazing Grace, directed by Michael Apted, in conjunction with Bristol Bay Productions.

Heaton is very active in a number of charity organizations.  She has long supported Big Brothers/Big Sister, and was a Big Sister herself in her 20s in NY.  She has worked with the TS Alliance for nearly a decade, participating in their annual fundraiser, “Comedy for a Cure” to raise money for research and treatment for Tuberous Sclerosis. She supports the Lighthouse Medical Mission and recently travelled to Sierra Leone with the relief organization.  And she has spent time preparing care packages for our troops overseas with Operation Gratitude.  She also gives generously to Reece’s Rainbow, an organization that assists in the adoption of children with Down Syndrome and other special needs.

She seems like a charistmatic, well rounded person, actress, artist, and mother.  Congratulations Patricia!

Her star is just down the street from the LA City Tours office on Hollywood Boulevard.  This is just another day on Hollywood Boulevard, from stars getting their ceremonies on the Walk of Fame, to a footprint at Graumans, to a Red Carpet Premiere of a big Hollywood blockbuster… So, if you’re planning a Los Angeles vacation package, got an LAX layover, or planning one day of sightseeing, come see us at LA City Tours!!

Patricia Heaton, more than just Debra Barone although we’d love her for that alone, congrats!

Depp posing in front of the ‘Dark Shadows’ poster

Johnny Depp signing autographs for people at ‘Dark Shadows’ Premiere – sweet!

More Johnny Depp signing autographs- nice smile!

Michelle Pfeiffer gets to the ‘Dark Shadows’ Premiere

Michelle Pfeiffer posing for cameras at ‘Dark Shadows’ Premiere – photogenic!

Steven Tyler at the ‘Dark Shadows’ Premiere!

The man himself, Tim Burton signing autographs at ‘Dark Shadows’

Thinking of catching the film on opening weekend?  Here’s some info about the plot of Dark Shadows via IMDB:

Synopsis: In the year 1752, Joshua and Naomi Collins, with young son Barnabas, set sail from Liverpool, England to start a new life in America. But even an ocean was not enough to escape the mysterious curse that has plagued their family. Two decades pass and Barnabas (Johnny Depp) has the world at his feet-or at least the town of Collinsport, Maine. The master of Collinwood Manor, Barnabas is rich, powerful and an inveterate playboy…until he makes the grave mistake of breaking the heart of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green). A witch, in every sense of the word, Angelique dooms him to a fate worse than death: turning him into a vampire, and then burying him alive. Two centuries later, Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972. He returns to Collinwood Manor to find that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin. The dysfunctional remnants of the Collins family have fared little better…

Just another day in Hollywood…

Every day there is some kind Hollywood affair or another happening on Hollywood Boulevard, from stars getting their ceremonies on the Walk of Fame, to a footprint at Graumans, to a Red Carpet Premiere of a big Hollywood blockbuster… I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if you’re planning a Los Angeles vacation, come see us at LA City Tours to get started with a sightseeing Tour or a whole vacation package!

One lucky dude on our tour got these drumsticks signed by Guns N’ Roses drummer!

Close-up of Guns N’ Roses Drumsticks signed by Ferrer!  Thanks Robbie-Raabe for snapping this pic in our front office before he left!

If you’re a Guns N’ Roses fan, you’d know that Axl Rose is the only original remaining member still in the band.  The old drummer, Steve Adler, now has his own gig and it goes by “Adler”.

There’s no doubt that there’s some bad blood between many of the original members of the band (but then again, hey, what big band has lasted through years of mega stardom? Beatles? Beach Boys? Backstreet Boys?  I’m on a “B” thing here…)

Guns N’ Roses were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this month, and there was even difficulty getting everyone to be there for that.  It ended up being everyone from the original lineup…except Axl Rose.  Bummer.

Wikipedia cites and interview Dizzy Reed about it:

“I know that all the original band will be there. I do not know exactly what will happen, but I’m sure will be very nice “[...]” Honestly, have not talked about it. I do not know when, how or why, but I’m sure the day will come when we must, all of us who talk about it. ^[79]

Well they’ll always be the Guns N’ Roses of my memory – churning out “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Sweet Child o Mine” – songs I know resonate in our collective past if you grew up sometime in the 80s/90s!

Want to go on a sightseeing tour of Los Angeles and Hollywood, and maybe just maybe get a pair of autographed drumsticks from the like of Guns N’ Roses???!  Well then you know where to go- just come by LA City Tours and sign up for any of our tours (we also do LAX layovers, Los Angeles vacation packages, and trips to Santa Monica beaches).  We’re right here on Hollywood boulevard!

If you don’t know, Cinco de Mayo is HUGE in Los Angeles.  I’m not exaggerating, because the truth is that Mexico doesn’t really celebrate the holiday!

The celebration (which just translates to Fifth of May) is a holiday commemorating the battle on May 5, 1862 where the Mexican army was victorious against a much larger (and supposedly better) French army in the Battle of Puebla!  While its not an official holiday in Mexico (although they supposedly celebrate in and around Puebla itself) it sure is a big celebration in California!  Why not?!  We have some of the coolest, more colorful Mexican culture north of the border!

There are tons of things going on today, with street fairs all over the city and nearly every restaurant offering some kind of Cinco de Mayo celebration.  I would reccomend Cinco de Mayo at Olvera Street !  Olvera street is a charming and colorful place any day of the week.  (El Pueblo de Los Angeles is a historical monument! )

Cinco de Mayo in Los Angeles in 1952!

And we just happen to offer a Los Angeles sightseeing tour that goes to Olvera street! :0)

If you’re in Los Angeles on vacation or planning one, come down to Hollywood boulevard and we’ll fill you in on what you should do.  The Los Angeles sightseeing tour (also part of the larger Los Angeles vacation package where you can do this over a period of day, which you need to really ‘get’ LA!) we take you through the historic and cultural diverse hotspots in Los Angeles.  Today is a great day to go!  Then again, every day is a great day in southern cali, so give us a call or visit LA City Tours if you’re coming anytime soon!

I’m really curious, and I have to admit, clueless, as to what this black car is at the bottom.  What is that?? If only we had the RoadInc. classic car iPad app, I might be able to figure it out!

(From classiccar.com on what this sweet app is: “Tap the ‘Archives’ option for each car, and a new world of investigation of the 50 Ancestor, Veteran, Vintage, Post-Vintage, Classic, Modern Classic, Contemporary Classic, Supercar, and Race car awaits. There’s 2,500 archival and studio photographs, plus cutaways, sketches, factory schematics, videos and more for you to admire.  Also under the Archives menu, are engine noise samples, original brochures and promotional material, maintenance manuals, press cuttings, correspondence, fact sheets, and an essay on each car commissioned for this app.  Every part of Road Inc. has been reviewed by experts, from the authentication of 3D reconstructions to the technical data sheets, to the selection of finishing materials to the racing trophies.”)

Of course, I would also need an iPad to use this App, which I don’t so whatever.  If anybody has a guess, we’d love to know.

Just another day in Hollywood!

If you’re bored, on layover at LAX, or planning your Los Angeles vacation, consider coming in to LA City Tours and having us hook you up with a vacation package for sightseeing in Los Angeles, Hollywood, and or Santa Monica!  We have the best sightseeing tour in Los Angeles!

An excited crowd of celebrities and regulars alike gathered on Hollywood Boulevard to celebrate Scarjo’s career, just across from our office!  Check out these cool pics that our awesome driver Xochitl (pronounced So-Chee – yes she is as bodacious as her name sounds!) for taking these pics:

The Beautifl Scarlett Johansson got her star today in a huge ceremony at the Hollywood Walk of Fame!

Scarlett Johansson all smiles about her Star and rising career.

Clifton Collins Jr. (Loved him in ‘Extract’ and ‘The Event’ before it got cancelled, argh! What happened with the invasion?! We’ll never know!) at Scarjo’s star ceremony.

Jeremy Renner looks good in his suit at Scarjo’s Star Ceremony.

Scarlett Johansson on stage with her Avengers co-star Jeremy Renner (Hurt Locker)

Jeremy Renner, her ‘Avengers’ co star made a speech and joked that it was “tremendously awful to work with” Scarjo.  So many people came to wish her well, she must be fun to work with!  Scarlett has also made her mark in real theater too, something few actors have the chops to do!  A few more details about Scarjo’s career and upcoming films from the Walk of Fame reps who put these cool Star Ceremonies together:

Four-time Golden Globe nominee and BAFTA winner Scarlett Johansson, has proven to be one of Hollywood’s most talented young actresses. She won a Tony in 2010 for her Broadway debut in the Arthur Miller play “A View from a Bridge” opposite Liev Schreiber.  She was most recently seen in the Cameron Crowe film “We Bought A Zoo” opposite Matt Damon and in the box office hit “Iron Man 2.”  Next up, she will portray Janet Leigh in the film, “Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho” opposite Anthony Hopkins.  Soon afterward, she is slated to begin production on the film, “Don Jon’s Addiction,” written and directed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

You can also watch a video of the whole ceremony at the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s Walk of Fame site.  Cool!

If you’d like to do some sightseeing on your Los Angeles vacation, whether its finding out about Hollywood history or present, or exploring the many cultural tourist destinations in Los Angeles and Santa Monica, come down to LA City Tours or visit our site and we’ll help you get started on the best tour in Los Angeles!

Yes Jessica Simpson got pretty big during her pregnancy - but come on, that's what a healthy baby needs! Plus its the only time celebrities can probably eat whatever they want...We're all for it.

We’re kind of baby-crazy at LA City Tours right now because the Founder of the company, Monique, just had her first grandchild less than a month ago!  And he’s soooo cute!!!

After all the hubbub of the morning delivery was over, Jessica was quoted on her website,

 ”We are so grateful for all the love, support and prayers we have received. This has been the greatest experience of our lives!!”

Well good for you guys.  The only question…Why oh why did Jessica and her fiance Eric Johnson choose the name “Maxwell Drew Johnson” for their daughter???  Never met a girl named Maxwell before.  But hey.

Come down to Hollywood Boulevard today and book a sightseeing tour with LA City Tours – it’s the best tour in Los Angeles!  And we’ll keep a look out for Miss Simpon and her new little baby Maxwell bundle….

Happy May Day!

Piano at the Eyptian being tuned up for you!

On April 12 pianos showed up all over Los Angeles, at L.A. Live, UCLA, USC, the Santa Monica Pier, Union Station, and here right across the street from our Office on Hollywood Boulevard at the Egyptian Theatre as part of an art installation called “Play me, I’m yours!” originally started by artist Luke Jerram.

The pianos are completely open to the public to play; they were put there through the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra with the whole purpose of letting people play music together spontaneously!  How sweet!  Check out these videos of peeps playing our piano at the Egyptian along with local bands, very funny! (You can post your pic or video of it straight to the street piano site if you feel like it.)

Each piano has a unique art design to match where its been placed (colorful skylines, dragons, eyeballs all painted on the eclectic instruments!)  The pianos were donated mostly by the Hollywood Piano Company.  When the ‘exhibit’ ends, the pianos will find permanent homes with schools and community groups like the Braille Institute and Homeboy Industries so they can continue to add music to peoples lives.

If you’re planning a Los Angeles vacation or are going sightseeing anytime soon in Hollywood, Los Angeles, or Santa Monica come by the LA City Tours office and we’ll get you started with a tour!  And don’t forget to tickle the keys on the piano across the street!

British Airways

Los Angeles Tours from LAX

Hollywood Sign Tour

Next you should see Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. You can spend some time there walking by most expensive stores in the world and watching as celebrities pass by in their ultra expensive cars.

Third is Santa Monica City where you can enjoy fresh breeze and walking on Third Street Promenade and Pacific Park on Santa Monica Pier

Fourth is Sunset Strip, part of Famous Sunset Blvd., in Hollywood between Laurel Canyon and Doheny Drive. You will be walking by bars and clubs, birthplace of hard rock in the 80-s. Highly recomend at Friday, Saturday nighta, as it gets busy and there is a good chance to see famous stars.

Schedule your Los Angeles Tour