There are times you move through Los Angeles, California and you are greeted by all that makes L.A. and Hollywood the place to be… restaurants, shopping, entertainment, attractions, and more. Then, when you stop for a moment between tourist attractions and gala events, you notice an incredible site of beauty in this wonderful city.
Always remember to look for those moments. That is the best part of traveling…
Visiting Universal City and the LA Area? Share your photos with everyone on Flickr.
Join us every Thursday night in Universal City for New Orleans Creole Cuisine favorites, plus a few of our chef’s own specialties. Relish the cajun flare in sight and sound of the live entertainment from J. Curtis music.
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UNIVERSAL CITY, CA –Universal Studios Hollywood’s new restaurant, The International Cafe, has been honored with a prestigious Sante Restaurant Award for innovation and outstanding achievement in culinary service and hospitality.
Now in its 13th year, the Sante Awards program is the only peer-judged national restaurant and hospitality competition in North America. Of the restaurants recognized with awards this year, The International Cafe is the only establishment located within a theme park. The International Cafe opened earlier this year to provide theme park guests with healthy food choices in a casual, unhurried European bistro-style setting.
The menu includes creative salads, cheese plates and healthy artisanal sandwiches, along with juices, mineral waters and many other food options suitable for a relaxed, sit-down or on-the-go meal for hungry theme park guests.
“Dining is an important part of the experience we provide at Universal Studios Hollywood and we want to ensure that our guests have choices that fit their tastes and their lifestyles,” said Eric Kopelow, Universal Studios Hollywood Executive Chef. “The International Cafe is helping us to satisfy a growing demand for healthy, tasty food options.” A graduate of New York’s Culinary Institute of America, Kopelow designed The International Cafe’s innovative menu.
Sample menu choices include a shrimp cobb and Greek salad, a grilled vegetable sandwich with gorgonzola cheese, a turkey with muenster cheese and arugula sandwich, a roast beef and brie with roasted pears sandwich and a “caprese-style” plate featuring heirloom tomatoes with mozzarella and basil. Located adjacent to the theme park’s “Streets of the World” film locations, which re-create European streets and plazas, The International Cafe offers indoor and al fresco seating.
The Sante Awards were created to recognize excellence in restaurant food, wine, spirits and service hospitality. Award winners represent a broad spectrum of restaurants and industry professionals.
For those of us still planning their entertainment this week, here is a few more great locals ideas. In Los Angeles there is a little something for everyone, no matter what you are in the mood for. For more information on local theme park Halloween events and attractions see the post on Halloween’s Best Haunted Attractions in Southern California.
And because we are true fans of Universal City and Universal Studios… do not forget that the Halloween Horror Nights event is still running this week through Sunday. Stop by and visit us here at the Hilton Los Angeles / Universal City for a little respite from the terrror. Hotel packages are still available for those that would like to make a weekend of it.
Fall is upon us and the rush of travelers has slowed slightly from the tourist filled summer season travel. Maybe this is the time for you to look into an Amtrak vacation or roadtrip, especially if you have never done that sort of thing before. The national train network makes it possible to get around from most major cities. Convention and Visitors Bureaus are located in almost every city and can assist road warriors with most questions or concerns along the way. Given how beautiful and interesting our country is, the trip itself can be a big part of the total enjoyment.
Of all the many great vacation destinations accessible by train, San Diego is in the top echelon. The train runs right into the middle of town, with easy local public transportation available to take you to your choice of many San Diego hotels, and most of the attractions. San Diego is spread out over a tighter radius than other parts of southern California, notably Orange County and Los Angeles. In fact, a great many of the local points of interest can be enjoyed by walking. Enjoy marine life? Don’t forget to add Sea World, right next to Legoland on your list of attractions.
Maybe it’s your idea to spend some time on this vacation at a theme park that offers thrill rides. I’m talking about Knott’s Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain (aka Magic Mountain to the locals). As a means to compete more effectively with the Disneyland Resort, one Southern California vacation writer notes that these two theme parks have invested a tremendous amount of cash in developing their thrill rides over the years.
You won’t find any place with more edgy thrill rides and coasters than Six Flags Magic Mountain. There’s lots more to do there besides roller coasters (for the rest of your group who may not be coaster fanatics), so check out what is availability ahead of time, to get the most from your visit. Also keep in mind that larger Los Angeles hotels in the area should be able to provide you information and tickets through their concierge service.
Knott’s Berry Farm also has really focused on thrill rides, although they offer Camp Snoopy, Ghost Town and many other fun attractions and themed areas within the park. My daughter worked on the new Silver Bullet ride and she says that is one of several coasters that will really help you lose your dinner.
Of course Disneyland is the first park that comes to mind, with Dumbo, Mickey, Goofy and the others. Who doesn’t love the wonderful job Disney has done in creating a fictional universe of lovable characters? While you are in the area be sure to peruse Downtown Disney and consider visiting the Angels Stadium of Anaheim for a lively baseball game or quick tour.
Your next stop would be Universal Studios Hollywood and the many TV and movie stars such as Betty Boop, the Hulk, Batman and Spiderman, joined most recently by Homer Simpson and his wonderful family. The metro red line will drop you directly across the street from the main entrance to Universal City. Only two stops away from the excitement and entertainment of Hollywood and Highland, this would be an ideal location to stop for a rest and visit some of the nearby centralized L.A. area sites.
Pick up some useful information and tips about Universal Studios Hollywood theme park and nearby attractions from one of the local host hotels. The guest services at Hilton Los Angeles / Universal City hotel will help you navigate through the many ticket options and offers shuttles to and from the park, even though it is only a short walk away. Better yet, save a little with the online hotel package and have everything ready and waiting for you when you arrive.
Whatever your primary vacation objective may be, it is important to be smart about where you stay. You will spend way more time than you expected traveling around Southern California if you goof up the selection of your hotel. So get input from as many places as possible while planning your trip. Online reviews, hotel concierge desks, travel agents, convention and visitors bureaus, and online planning guides are all great places to start.
(Information courtesy of Southern California Guru)
This Halloween the competition is fierce for the title of best haunted attraction in Southern California, and Los Angeles in particular. The key players this year for older children and adults are Knott”s, Universal Studios and Magic Mountain. Disneyland, Legoland and Seaworld San Diego are hosting haunted events that are suitable for all age groups.
Halloween Horror Nights® opened its 17-night run today at Universal Studios HollywoodSM with the annual presentation of the Eyegore Awards, honoring the horror genre’s top stars and creative artists. The 2010 “Halloween Horror Nights” event at Universal Studios Hollywood offers spine-chilling new mazes based upon the horror genre’s most compelling characters. Rob Zombie and other top artists collaborated with Universal Studios Hollywood in the creation of new mazes, “scare zones” and backlot experiences. Halloween Horror Nights’ mazes will include “A Nightmare On Elm Street™: Never Sleep Again,” “Friday the 13th™: Kill, Jason, Kill!,” Rob Zombie’s “House of 1000 Corpses: In 3D Zombievison” plus “Saw: Game On” and “Vampyre: Castle of the Undead.” Among the six “Scare Zones” is a new “La Llorona” experience, based upon the timeless Mexican legend.
Overnight hotel packages are also available to make planning a complete weekend experience easy.
Knott’s Berry’s Farm
Knott’s Berry Farm Haunt is the world’s largest Halloween celebration. Starting September 24 and running for 27 horrifying nights the typically family friendly theme park will transform itself for its willing victims into 160-acres of sheer terror. Knott’s Halloween Haunt continues to be the leader in theme park Halloween events offering a whopping 13 mazes, seven hair-raising shows, three horrific scare zones and 1,000 roaming monsters roaming throughout the entire park. Knott’s Halloween Haunt dates are September 24-26, September 30-Oct. 3, 6-10, 13-17, 20-24, 27-31, 2010. Event hours are 7pm – 1am; Fridays and Saturdays from 7pm-2am.
Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain is transformed from a “theme park” to a haunted “scream park” for Fright Fest Presented by SNICKERS® beginning October 8 and running for four frightfully fun weekends through October 31. Fright Fest offers 12 days of terrifying haunted mazes, roaming zombies, the scariest clowns on the planet and new shows … leaving no tombstone unturned to bring the ultimate sensory overload for every range of fear. For the little monsters, a Trick or Treat Trail Presented by Walgreens, Scaryoke and Crafts in Bugs Bunny World round out the activities. October 8-10, 15-17, 22-24 and 29-31.
SeaWorld San Diego
Seaworld Halloween Spooktacular where can kids meet some spooky and not-so-spooky animals, pose for pictures with mesmerizing mermaids and trick-or-treat among a sea-inspired atmosphere, which includes friendly sea princesses, octopuses and schools of fish? It’s all part of SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, where Halloween meets the sea this October. Kids are invited to come in costume and enjoy animal meet and greets, special Halloween shows and colorful costumed characters, from 1 to 6 p.m. the following weekends: Oct. 2–3, Oct. 9–10, Oct. 16–17, Oct. 23–24 and Oct. 30–31, 2010.
Queen Mary Dark Harbor
The ship’s crew have ensured this Long Beach Halloween tradition’s unforgettable and macabre makeover at the hands of fright masters long responsible for some of Southern California’s biggest scare-fests. More than 45,000 scares per hour await, along with 160 monsters and 20-foot tall flames. Three shipboard and two onshore mazes confuse and ensnare visitors, and although visitors will have every opportunity to turn back, the food, drink and entertainment inside will ensure leaving is unthinkable. 18 Nights Oct. 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31
7:00 p.m. through the darkest hour of midnight
Thank you to California Destination Guide for the valuable information.
Executive Chef George Sit has his own personal flair for Pacific Rim cuisine. He shares yet another treasure with the guests of Cafe Sierra Restaurant, located in Los Angeles, CA.
Ingredients:
Preparation Method:
Executive Chef George Sit
Find more of his culinary inspirations in the Chef’s corner at http://www.CafeSierraHilton.com.
For reservations at Cafe Sierra Restaurant or more information regarding party parties, please contact the restaurant staff at 818.509.2030.0
A long celebrated festivity, Oktoberfest creates an annual following even in the US and Los Angeles in turn serves up its own respectable options for celebration:
LA Convention Center Oktoberfest – This all day event takes place on Friday, 9/9 thru Sunday 9/11 . An all inclusive experience for one set price. Enjoy unlimited food and drinks upon entry. Tickets still available.
Alpine Village — People from all over Los Angeles flock to Torrance’s Alpine Village for its Oktoberfest, which runs from 9/10-10/23 every Friday, Saturday, & Sunday. Visiting Los Angeles?
LA Oktoberfest — Located right around the corner, literally, at the Universal Studios back lot. With a full schedule of entertainment, this event is already sold out. Not to be missed, we felt we must mention it. So look for it next year and buy your tickets early!
Need more options? Check out what else is happening here.
A lighting designer, an audio visual technician, a dj, a writer, an entertainer… Jack K. Hou brings his talents and skill to the events at Hilton Los Angeles / Universal City hotel, creating lush atmosphere and ambiance for the luxury wedding every bride is looking for.
“Kicked off the labor day weekend @ Universal Hilton Hotel for a beautiful wedding with Lianny & Stanley. Lianny & Stanley are without a doubt one of the sweetest couples I’ve ever met. We were very privileged to provide them with lighting and dj services. For their lavish wedding, we lid up the entire room using LED wash lights, double pinlighed all the centerpieces and projected a vintage gobo. This wedding had all the classic in the making, Taiko Drummers from UCLA, beautiful floral arrangements, and a first dance for the ages. Lianny & Stanley danced to Scent of a Woman’s Por Una Cabeza. The movie was an absolute classic and that tango track is a legend… A big thanks to the ladies of In the Cloud for coordinating this awesome event. Really blessed to have been part of this awesome event. We wish them the best with everything…” – Jack Hou
An large scale event with extensive audio visual requirements our staff was exceptionally proud to have helped put together this interesting and amazing technology conference.
Universal City & Los Angeles 