North America: Los Angeles

What's New In Los Angeles

LA INC.'s New Web site - Entertaining and user-friendly, the newly revamped LA INC. Web site, www.discoverLosAngeles.com, is just like the city it represents - filled with new information, new sights and new adventures to appeal to more visitors than ever before. Retooled with exciting itineraries and a special offers section, the new Web site is detailed with easy-to-read stories, maps and "insider" tips for every segment of the LA INC. market: Visitors, Travel Professionals, Meeting Professionals and Media Professionals. Whether you're looking for the ideal museum to take the family or searching for the hotel closest to the hippest nightclub in Hollywood, the various web stories and LA INC.'s extensive listings database allows users to find whatever it is they're looking for. The new www.discoverLosAngeles.com not only sells LA better and faster, it proactively promotes LA INC. members. The updated LA Press Room makes it easy for Media Professionals to locate key information and statistics.

Attractions

LACMA Transformation Update (Westside) - In February 2008, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) will have completed Phase I of a comprehensive project to expand, upgrade and unify its six-building, 20-acre campus. The design, developed by LACMA in collaboration with the Renzo Piano Building Workshop, will create new exhibition galleries, public spaces and gardens, as well as a new building exclusively devoted to contemporary art. Budgeted at $156 million, the first phase features the completion of the 72,000-square-foot Broad Contemporary Art Museum (BCAM) at LACMA. Other highlights include: the 15,375-square-foot, glass-enclosed BP Grand Entrance Pavilion; a covered concourse linking the western and eastern sections of the one-third-mile-long campus; and renovation of the Ahmanson Building including the creation of a dramatic, sky-lit, 60-by-60-foot space for music performances, lectures and other public events. Phase II will begin in March 2008 and is scheduled to open in the spring of 2010. www.lacma.org.

Chinese Garden at the Huntington (San Gabriel Valley) - A new, 12-acre Chinese Garden is being developed in several phases at the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens. It will be one of the largest outside of China and one of the largest of the 14 specialized gardens at the Huntington. The Chinese Garden will include a lake, tea house, pavilions and bridges set within a landscape of plants native to China - bamboo, canyon, pagoda, penjing (Chinese bonsai) and pine. Upon completion, the Huntington's Chinese Garden will include nine gardens - four seasonal and five special collection gardens. The first completed phase will be the three-acre Summer Garden, set to open in February 2008. www.huntington.org.

Gorilla Exhibit Opens at the LA Zoo (Hollywood) - The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens' new $19 million habitat for six African lowland gorillas opened Nov. 8. Campo Gorilla Reserve, as it is formally known, provides the gorillas with an environment that closely resembles their native West African homeland. Visitors share the African experience as they journey along a misty, forested pathway for close-up views of the gorillas living in two separate habitats: one for a family troop of gorillas, led by a silverback male; and a separate habitat for two bachelors. Glassed viewing areas and planted moats are all that separates Zoo guests from the largest primate in the world. Gorillas are endangered species, and the opening of Campo Gorilla Reserve allows the LA Zoo to participate in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) species survival program for gorillas. Admission to the LA Zoo is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 2-12. Groups of 15 or more can purchase adult tickets for $7; children's tickets are $4. www.lazoo.org.

iFLY Hollywood Opens at Universal CityWalk Hollywood (Hollywood) - Universal CityWalk Hollywood takes extreme to new heights with the opening of iFLY Hollywood , LA 's first ever indoor skydiving wind tunnel. Housed in the world's tallest and most technologically advanced indoor wind tunnel, thrill-seekers enjoy a close approximation of a true skydiving experience as they are suspended in mid-air at heights of up to 30 feet and wind speeds of more than 125 miles-per-hour, with 360-degree views of CityWalk's pedestrian promenade. The experience replicates skydiving by using two colossal electric fans (the equivalent of more than 800 horse-power), to give guests of all ages an authentic and intense free-fall sensation. Certified skydiving instructors provide individualized training prior to each skydiving adventure and guests don authentic skydiving gear. Guests receive a Certificate of Completion following their flight. Single flight packages cost $39.95. Group rates are available. www.iflyhollywood.com, www.citywalkhollywood.com.

Encounter Restaurant Reopens (Westside) - Encounter Restaurant, located in the heart of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), is now open after its closure in March 2007 due to renovations. Operator Delaware North Travel and Hospitality Services has refurbished the restaurant's interior with new carpeting, repaired its iconic lava lamps and updated other fixtures. With 135-foot high parabolic arches and a futuristic design, the Theme Building has become one of the most recognizable buildings in the U.S. It was designed by architect Paul R. Williams in 1961 at a cost of $2.2 million and it was complemented by Encounter Restaurant in 1997. The restaurant offers "California Fresh" cuisine prepared under the direction of Chef Michel Audeon. Valet parking is conveniently available to accommodate diners and airport operated parking structures are located directly across the street. The restaurant is not within a screened security area of LAX, so travelers may keep their luggage at their table. Encounter Restaurant is open for lunch daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and dinner on Friday and Saturday from 4 to 9:30 p.m. www.encounterlax.com, www.lawa.org/lax.

NOKIA Theatre Los Angeles (Downtown) - The 7,100-seat, 210,000-square-foot NOKIA Theatre Los Angeles, opened Oct. 18, 2007, and is now the official, premier mid-sized, live performance/award show/special event/music venue for Los Angeles. The state-of-the-art facility has the capability of accommodating such major award shows as the EMMY®s, Latin GRAMMY®s, ESPYS, MTV Music Awards, BET Awards and others, as well as live music concerts, comedy shows, family shows, short-run Broadway and community theater productions, along with corporate conventions and seminars. NOKIA Theatre Los Angeles is the initial development completed at the massive L.A. LIVE project that will promote a 24-hour LA experience. www.aegworldwide.com.

Colburn School of Performing Arts Expansion (Downtown) - A new building opened at the Colburn School of Performing Arts in fall 2007. Adjacent to the Colburn School and across the street from Walt Disney Concert Hall, the new 326,000-square-foot building includes a performance lab, rehearsal hall, teaching studios, practice rooms and housing for up to 145 students. In addition, the new outdoor plaza is a venue for campus and public events, www.colburnschool.edu.

Museum of Latin American Art Expands (Coastal) - The Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA) in Long Beach underwent a significant expansion that more than doubled its original size. Completed in 2007, the museum now features expanded exhibit and art education areas, a new research library on Latin American art, a new film screening area and a new sculpture garden. www.molaa.org.

Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum (Westside) -The Hammer Museum and the UCLA Film & Television Archive opened the new Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum, a truly unique nexus of film, art and cultural dialogue, in 2007. Designed by Michael Maltzan Architecture, the state-of-the-art, 295-seat theater is the new home of the archive's renowned cinematheque as well as the Hammer's engaging and provocative public programs.

Universal Studios Hollywood (Hollywood) - Universal Studios Hollywood breathes life into Universal's most notorious celluloid creatures in "Universal's House of Horrors," a new spine-chilling walk-through attraction, which debuted in 2007 at "The Entertainment Capital of L.A." Guests will encounter fearsome figures as they navigate the dark passages of a Gothic castle. The multi-sensory attraction uses olfactory sensations to produce scents that capture the pungent odors of Egyptian tombs, musty antechambers and decaying life. After being shepherded along the castle's drawbridge, guests enter a corridor laden with dozens of recognizable authentic movie props and artifacts including such cinematic icons as the original corduroy blazer worn by Anthony Perkins in "Psycho," the Hannibal Lector mask from "Red Dragon" and the original "Chucky" doll. Hollywood's longest-running hit studio tour, which has taken more than 125 million visitors behind the scenes of the movie and television industry's biggest hits, also features a number of dramatic enhancements. www.universalstudioshollywood.com.

Universal CityWalk (Hollywood) - Located at Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal CityWalk raises the bar for the movie-going experience in a top-to-bottom re-engineering of its 18-screen movie complex, now with technologically advanced floor-to-ceiling screens, a sophisticated, state-of-the-art sound system and the widest, stadium style seating available in any U.S. theater. Living up to its billing as "The Entertainment Capital of L.A.," Universal Studios Hollywood, the "New CityWalk," features a lively mix of new dining choices, a collection of contemporary retail favorites and an exciting range of entertainment choices, including mechanical bull-riding, virtual NASCAR racing, salsa dancing and SkyVenture Hollywood, boasting Southern California's tallest indoor skydiving experience. www.citywalkhollywood.com.

Noah's Ark (Westside) - Lions and tigers and bears - in pairs! The new Noah's Ark attraction, which opened in 2007 at the Skirball Cultural Center, delights, entertains and educates kids of all ages as they embark on an innovative and interactive journey that parallels the ancient story of Noah's Ark. Inside the new attraction, visitors marvel at artfully crafted life-size animals, experience a simulated flood and learn about the beauty of diversity, community and new beginnings. A stunning, man-made natural rainbow signals the end of the journey and the bright new world to come. The opening of Noah's Ark now makes the Skirball Cultural Center the largest Jewish cultural institution in North America, with 500,000 square feet of building space on 15 acres. www.skirball.com.

Griffith Observatory (Hollywood) - LA's landmark Griffith Observatory features 60 stellar exhibits that bring the wonders of outer space down to earth. Visitors thrill to "The Big Picture," a mural depicting the world's largest astronomical image of the night sky; a dramatic display of the planets - including Pluto, and arguably the most stunning views of LA seen from the Observatory's hilltop plazas. The 200-seat Leonard Nimoy Theater, the Wolfgang Puck "Café at the End of the Universe" and a state-of-the-art Zeiss projector in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium are more exciting features. Originally opened in 1935, Griffith Observatory underwent a glorious $93 million renovation and expansion in 2006. Admission to the Observatory is free, but visitors need to reserve an admission time. Access to the Observatory is via shuttle buses that depart from the Los Angeles Zoo parking lot. The shuttle costs $8 for adults and $4 for children ages five to 12. Visitors who hike or cycle up to the Observatory still need to make reservations to enter. For more information and to reserve a time to visit, call 1.888.695.0888 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. www.GriffithObservatory.org.

Wicked (Hollywood) - The smash hit musical and highest grossing show on Broadway, Wicked, continues its wildly successful run at the historic Pantages Theatre. Exclusive "Wicked Getaway LA Packages" make it easy to get the best tickets in town and reservations at LA's stylish hotels. Participating hotels include Beverly Garland's Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza Beverly Hills, The Fairmont Miramar Hotel - Santa Monica, Hilton Los Angeles Airport, Marriott Los Angeles Airport, The Mosaic Hotel Beverly Hills, Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, Roosevelt Hollywood Hotel, Sheraton Universal Hotel, Sofitel LA, Sportsmen's Lodge Hotel and Wilshire Grand Los Angeles. To book a Wicked package, visit www.discoverLosAngeles.com. For individual tickets, call 866.755.BWAY or visit Broadway/L.A.'s Web site, www.broadwayla.org. Groups of 15 or more should call 866.755.3075 or visit www.nedgroups.com.

UCLA's Broad Art Center (Westside) - The Broad Art Center, which opened on the university grounds in September 2006, exhibits faculty designs, student works and pieces by M.F.A students from the U.S. and around the world. In the plaza of the Broad Art Center there is an enormous sculpture entitled "T.E.U.C.L.A." Designed by Richard Serra, the sculpture is meant to inspire the creative spirit in us all. The venue hosts an ongoing series of lectures, demonstrations and workshops. It is open to the public and free of charge. www.arts.ucla.edu.

The Getty Villa (Coastal) - The former J. Paul Getty Museum in Malibu reopened as The Getty Villa in 2006 following extensive renovations. It houses Greek, Roman and Etruscan antiquities and is a center for the study of classical antiquities, archaeology and comparative ancient cultures. The décor remains classical in inspiration, with patterned mosaic and terrazzo floors, coffered ceilings, colorful plaster walls and wood and bronze details. The Getty Villa is a companion institution to the Getty Center in Brentwood, which opened in 1997. www.getty.edu/museum/villa.html.

The Galen Center at USC (Downtown) - The new 255,000-square-foot, $147-million Galen Center debuted in fall 2006. Featuring 12,258 seats, a 45,000-square-foot pavilion, three practice courts, offices and the Athletic Department Hall of Fame, the arena is home to USC men's and women's basketball and volleyball. The arena is also utilized to host concerts, commencement ceremonies, community events, lectures, meetings, shows and pageants. www.usc.edu.

Urban Garden Tour at the Music Center (Downtown) - A new 45-minute tour explores the nearly one-acre community garden at the Walt Disney Concert Hall with its 45 blooming trees and 15-ton Delftware rose-shaped fountain, and explains how the garden was constructed 35 feet above the ground. The tour is available at 12:45 p.m. on select days, tickets are $15 each. Guided group tours and evening event tours are available by reservation for groups of 15 or more. www.musiccenter.org.

Westfield Shoppingtown Topanga (San Fernando Valley) - The newly expanded Westfield Shoppingtown Topanga in Canoga Park is now home to 100 new shops, restaurants and other amenities. Dallas-based Neiman Marcus, an upscale fashion specialty retailer, is expected to open a 120,000-square-foot, two-level store by spring 2008. The cost of renovating the entire complex is expected to be in the range of $300 million. www.westfield.com/topanga

Vibiana Place (Downtown) - The former St. Vibiana's Cathedral, the Los Angeles Archdiocese's former headquarters and main church, has reopened as Vibiana Place, following a major restoration. Now a venue for community performances, Vibiana Place also is available for public and private events. A second phase of the restoration will retrofit the bell tower and transform the former rectory into a restaurant. www.laloft.com/about_us/projects

Citadel Outlet Mall Expansion (Downtown) - One of the nation's first outlet malls, the Citadel in Commerce, recently expanded its 147,000-square-foot retail space to 272,000 square feet. New stores include Guess, Anne Klein, Nautica and Puma. Another expansion, scheduled for completion in fall 2008, will add an additional 128,000 square feet of retail space at a cost of $25 million. www.citadeloutlets.com.

Hollyhock House Rehabilitation (Hollywood) - Frank Lloyd Wright's first house in Los Angeles, Hollyhock House, underwent a $20 million restoration and tours are now available from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m Wednesday through Sunday. Originally built for oil heiress Aline Barnsdall, the house sits in the middle of the 11-acre Barnsdall Park in Hollywood. More than $2 million was devoted to repairing earthquake damage to the house; the rest was used to implement phase I of the master plan for the park, which included replanting 1,000 olive trees along the hillside on Hollywood Boulevard. www.hollyhockhouse.net.

Downtown LA Walks (Downtown) - Downtown LA Walks is an urban "wayfinding" program that helps pedestrians and drivers find their way through the greater Downtown Los Angeles area. It is the largest urban wayfinding program in the nation, consisting of 1,300 pedestrian and vehicular signs that point the way to local attractions, public offices, subway stations, freeway entrances and other frequently visited destinations. Some of the featured attractions in the Downtown LA Walks program are the Walt Disney Concert Hall, STAPLES Center, Exposition Park, Union Station, Olvera Street, African-American Fire Fighter Museum and Go for Broke Monument. www.downtownlawalks.com.

Air Force One Lands at Reagan Library (San Fernando Valley) - Late President Ronald Reagan's Air Force One, a Boeing 707, is now permanently parked at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. The plane is housed in a new, 90,000-square-foot pavilion, along with Marine One (President Lyndon Johnson's helicopter), Reagan's presidential motorcade, a gift shop and a pub from Ireland that bears his name. Visitors can tour the inside of Air Force One. www.reaganlibrary.com.

Hollywood Walk of Fame CityPass (Hollywood) - The Hollywood Walk of Fame CityPass focuses on the two-block area that honors more than 2,300 celebrities with sidewalk stars. The new CityPass booklet includes tickets to: the Kodak Theatre Guided Tour, Starline Tours of Hollywood (tour of movie stars' homes), the Hollywood Museum in the historic Max Factor Building and Red Line Tours' "Behind-the-Scenes" Hollywood tour. The booklet also includes a book of Hollywood & Highland center discount coupons. The Hollywood Walk of Fame CityPass is priced at $49 for adults and $35 for children ages 4-12; and is valid for 30 days from the date of first use. www.citypass.com.

WiFi Lets People Power Up at Pershing Square (Downtown) - WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) Internet access has come to Downtown's Pershing Square, courtesy of the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles and the city's Recreation and Parks Department. The service is available to park visitors with laptop computers, PDAs with wireless connections and next-generation cell phones. Basic broadband Internet connections are free to individuals for a certain number of hours daily. In addition, a Web portal page offers space for city and neighborhood information. www.experiencela.com.

San Pedro Waterfront Promenade (Coastal) - An attractive, pedestrian-oriented waterfront promenade is now open in San Pedro. Recreational boating, whale-watching tours and tall ships festivals set the tone for shoreside development. The port also recently completed a $17 million renovation of the World Cruise Center terminal. www.sanpedrowaterfront.com.

Hollywood & Highland: Better Than Ever (Hollywood) - Luxury retailer Louis Vuitton is expanding its presences at Hollywood & Highland Center -- the heart of the new Hollywood -- with a new boutique that opened in 2007. More new additions include Guess, XXI Forever, Vino 100 (a trendy new restaurant), Orange (an energetic nightclub hosting Hollywood's A-listers) and the center's exclusive boutique spa, SpaLuce, which is expected to open in early 2008. This follows Hollywood & Highland's $10 million facelift from its new owners, CIM Group, which included new elevators connecting Hollywood Boulevard with the top of the four-level center, making it easy to get from the street to the shops, restaurants and clubs. The Hollywood Visitor Information Center also is located here and is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays, 323.467.4612. www.hollywoodandhighland.com.

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium (Coastal) - San Pedro's Cabrillo Marine Aquarium recently underwent a $10-million renovation. The aquarium's new Exploration Center allows children to explore the habitats and organisms of the Cabrillo Beach Coastal Park through hands-on interactive exhibits and activities. The Aquatic Nursery, a new major exhibit, raises young sea animals like grunion, garibaldi - California's state fish - and white sea bass. A new research facility, the Virginia Reid Moore Library, features an extensive collection of works on Southern California ocean life. www.cabrilloaq.org.

Point Fermin Lighthouse (Coastal) - One of Los Angeles' most historic landmarks, the original San Pedro wooden lighthouse at the Port of Los Angeles, has been restored and is now open to the public. Built in 1874, the Point Fermin Lighthouse guided ships safely into San Pedro Harbor (now known as the Los Angeles Harbor) for decades. In addition to a brush with LA history, visitors to the Point Fermin Lighthouse enjoy scenic views of Angel's Gate, Catalina Island, Point Fermin Park and the vast LA coastline. www.pointferminlighthouse.org.

Outdoors

Ahmanson Ranch (San Fernando Valley) - Ahmanson Ranch now features 15 miles of trails for hikers, bikers, equestrians and dog walkers. Nature enthusiasts are welcome to enjoy the Los Angeles park, open from sunrise to sunset and located just north of Calabasas. The unspoiled landscapes are home to several rare and endangered species. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy purchased the 2,983-acre park for $150 million, saving it from housing development. It is the largest parkland purchase ever (in both acreage and dollar amount) in the Los Angeles and Ventura County regions. www.ahmanson.org.


Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles (Coastal) - The Trump National Golf Club recently opened in Rancho Palos Verdes. Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the course, which is open to the public, provides a spectacular view from every hole. Originally designed by Pete Dye as the Ocean Trails Golf Course, the property was purchased by developer Donald Trump, who spent more than $250 million to redesign it with lakes and waterfalls. Located on the Palos Verdes Peninsula 30 minutes south of Downtown Los Angeles, the course also offers a 45,000-square-foot clubhouse with locker rooms, a pro shop, three dining options, conference rooms and a grand ballroom. www.trumpgolf.com/trumplosangeles/index.asp.


Transportation

Metro Rapid Continues to Grow (Citywide) - In June 2007, two new Metro Rapid lines - Santa Monica and Long Beach - began service to join 15 other lines that operate on high-traffic corridors throughout LA County. Metro Rapid boasts 25 percent increased travel times since its inception in 2000. Unlike an everyday bus, Rapid buses make fewer stops and are equipped with transponders that cause traffic signals to favor the bus. Also in June 2007, Metro introduced the Rapid Express Lines - buses that shave off an additional 12-15 minutes of travel times and only make a handful of stops. The two new lines are deployed on Wilshire and Hawthorne Boulevards. www.metro.net.

LAX Offers Valet Parking (Coastal) - Valet parking service is now available at the Central Terminal Area at Los Angeles International Airport. The valet parking lot is located across from Terminal 4 on the Lower/Arrivals Level and will serve Terminal 4 (American Airlines and American Eagle), Terminal 5 (Delta, China Southern and Aeromexico), and the more than 35 airlines in the Tom Bradley International Terminal. The daily rate in the valet parking lot is $38, which includes the regular $30 daily parking fee charged for Central Terminal Area. Vehicles may park in the lot for up to 30 days. In order to encourage the use of zero- and lower-emission vehicles, airport officials are waiving the daily valet service fee for drivers of vehicles displaying a state-issued sticker allowing the use of high-occupancy-vehicle (carpool) lanes. Drivers of these low-emission vehicles can park in the valet lot for the $30 daily parking rate. www.lawa.org.

Metro Orange Line Simplifies Travel Through the San Fernando Valley (San Fernando Valley) - The new Metro Orange Line now connects Warner Center in the West San Fernando Valley with the North Hollywood Metro Red Line subway station. The first of its kind in California, the Orange Line consists of sleek, 60-foot buses that travel along a dedicated transitway. A path for bicycling, jogging and skating runs alongside much of the transitway. The high-tech buses stop at 13 stations, including LA Valley College, the Van Nuys Government Center, the 80-acre Beilenson Park (formerly Balboa Park) and LA Pierce College. The stations feature original art as well as lighting, seating, security cameras, public telephones, bicycle racks and ticket-vending machines. www.metro.net.

Los Angeles' Future Developments

LOS ANGELES - There is always something new in LA. The nation's second-largest city constantly recreates itself, always adding to its list of exciting attractions. Following is a brief synopsis of upcoming sites to see.

Debuting in 2008

Universal Studios Hollywood (Hollywood) - Universal Studios Hollywood will be adding animated fun and excitement to its roster in 2008. A new highly anticipated theme park ride based on the blockbuster hit series, The Simpsons, is set to open in May. Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson - stars of TV's longest running series - will ride along with guests in a new mega-attraction. Guests will be rocketed along with the Simpson family and experience a side of Springfield previously unexplored. The experience will include thrill rides, dark rides and "live" shows that make up a new fantasy amusement park dreamed up by the show's irritable Krusty the Clown. Universal's award-winning creative team is collaborating with The Simpsons creator and executive producers. The ride will feature the show's classic humor and many of its instantly recognizable characters - all voiced by the original actors. Currently the longest-running sitcom on television, the critically acclaimed series features characters that take traditional family life and turn it upside down. Exploding into a cultural phenomenon in 1990, The Simpsons has remained one of the most visible and marketable series domestically and internationally. www.universalstudioshollywood.com

Ray Charles Memorial Library (Downtown) - The legendary Ray Charles will soon have a memorial library in his name on the site of his historic Los Angeles studios. Charles' famed recording studios on the site are also being upgraded, and for the first time, will be made available to outside producers. The three-story, 3,000-square-foot library is scheduled to open in mid-2008. It will be a combination library, exhibit space, educational center and working studio offices. www.solterspr.com

Angels Flight to Return (Downtown) - The LA landmark dubbed "the shortest railway in the world," is scheduled to reopen in 2008. Located on the corner of 4th and Hill, Angels Flight's $2.6 million restoration will include a new drive system and safety improvements. The original cars, Olivet and Sinai, will return to the funicular, transporting Angelenos and visitors between the historic Downtown core along Hill Street and the offices and condos on Bunker Hill.

Mark Taper Forum Renovation (Los Angeles) - The Mark Taper Forum began its $30 million renovation in July 2007. The theatre will be closed during renovations and is expected to reopen late summer 2008. Improvements include renovations to the lobby, the theatre and the backstage. The lobby will become more spacious with decorative terrazzo flooring and a new lobby bar. Inside the theatre, upgrades will include more comfortable seating and elegant railings along the aisles, as well as improved acoustics for better sound quality. To increase accessibility for patrons with disabilities, an elevator will be installed and seating will be increased by 37 percent. The backstage will also undergo numerous changes to allow for new technology and more space for cast and crew. www.centertheatregroup.org/theatres/mtf/


Neiman Marcus/Westfield Shoppingtown Topanga (San Fernando Valley) - Dallas-based Neiman Marcus, an upscale fashion specialty retailer, has announced plans to build a 120,000-square-foot, two-level store at Westfield Shoppingtown Topanga in Canoga Park. The new Neiman Marcus store is part of a $300 million mall expansion that includes more than 100 new retail shops, restaurants and other amenities. The Neiman Marcus store is expected to open spring 2008. www.westfield.com

L.A. LIVE Sports and Entertainment District Phase II (Downtown) - NOKIA Theatre was the first building to open at the 5.6-million square-foot L.A. LIVE entertainment, sports and residential district. The second phase will open in October 2008 with the restaurants, the GRAMMY Museum, Club NOKIA, The Conga Room, Lucky Strike, the AEG broadcast studio and the corporate office space. Restaurants include a new creation of Wolfgang Puck, New York-based Rosa Mexicano, ESPN Zone, Katsuya sushi and robata bar, The Farm of Beverly Hills, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, among others. By 2008, it's estimated more than 60,000 people will live in Greater Downtown LA, with many of the new residential projects underway near L.A. LIVE. www.aegworldwide.com

New Musical "9 to 5" to Premiere at Ahmanson Theatre (Downtown) -The much-loved comedy movie "9 to 5" has been transformed into a new musical that will have its world premiere at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre in 2008. Seven-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician Dolly Parton has written the music and lyrics for the new musical. Center Theatre Group will present "9 to 5" in Los Angeles, September 3 through October 19, 2008, as the first production in the Ahmanson's 2008-2009 season. Opening is set for September 21. The book for "9 to 5" is by Patricia Resnick, who is the movie's co-author. Choreography is by Andy Blankenbuehler. Two-time Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello will direct. Multiple Emmy Award-winner and Tony Award-nominee Allison Janney will star as Violet Newstead, the super efficient office manager who joins her fellow co-workers - the frazzled divorcee Judy Bernly, to be played by Stephanie J. Block, and the sexy executive secretary Doralee Rhodes, played by Megan Hilty, to turn the tables on their boss, the "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical, bigot" Franklin Hart Jr., played by two-time Tony Award nominee Marc Kudisch. Season tickets to the Ahmanson Theatre's 2008-2009 season will be available for purchase in March 2008. www.CenterTheatreGroup.org

Cabrillo Way Marina Development Project (Coastal) - The recently announced Phase II project will redevelop 42.4 acres of land and 38.9 acres of water into a marina and marina-related facilities in the Port of Los Angeles West Channel Area in San Pedro. The first phase was completed in 1986 and Phase II was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2007. Included in Phase II is a proposed Marina Village Retail Center, featuring retail, restaurant and office space. The project aims to offer activities for Port neighbors and visitors and includes innovative environmental components and a new grant program. www.portoflosangeles.org.

Debuting in 2009

Hollywood & Vine Development (Hollywood) - The much-anticipated $600 million Hollywood and Vine mixed-use development broke ground in February 2007 and is scheduled to be completed in mid-2009. The purpose of this development is threefold: to boost tourism, bring city residents back to the famed site of Hollywood and Vine, and encourage use of the Metro system by having the development in close proximity to the Metro Red Line Station at Hollywood/Vine. It will be the site of a 305-room W Hotel, 143 W Residences, 375 luxury rental apartments (including 78 affordable units), approximately 50,000 square feet of retail space, and improvements to the transit plaza at the Metro Red Line Station. The W Hotel is expected to boast a private rooftop pool and gym, a rooftop bar, a signature restaurant and a 9,200-square-foot spa. The development encompasses a full city block surrounded by Hollywood Blvd., Vine St., Selma Ave. and Argyle Ave. The only original structure to remain is the historic Taft Building. The project is being developed by Gatehouse Capital Corp. and Legacy Partners.www.legacypartners.com; www.crala.com; www.welcometowhotels.com

Ballona Wetlands Acquisition (Coastal) - The Ballona Wetlands Land Trust is implementing a land acquisition campaign to raise money for the purchase of the remaining Ballona Wetlands ecosystem, to preserve it as a wildlife refuge and public park. The Land Trust has already helped in preserving 600 acres, which are now state-owned. Restoration plans may include maintaining natural habitat, creating hiking and biking trails, installing viewing platforms and creating a recreational area. Located just south of Marina del Rey, the Ballona Wetlands is the last coastal wetlands ecosystem in Los Angeles and one of the city's largest natural open areas. It's home to more than 1,100 varieties of plants and animals and is an important stop for birds on the Pacific Migratory Flyway. www.ballona.org

California Science Center (Downtown) - The new World of Ecology is considered the most ambitious component of a 25-year master plan to expand the California Science Center. The Phase II project will fuse the live-habitat concept of zoos, aquariums and botanical gardens with the interactive learning focus found in leading science centers and museums. When it's completed in 2009, the Science Center will be nearly double in size, with an additional 170,000 square feet. www.californiasciencecenter.org

Children's Museum of Los Angeles (San Fernando Valley) - The Children's Museum of Los Angeles will be a 60,000-square-foot building that will house 30,000 square feet of interactive exhibits and workshops. It's expected to open in 2009. Located at the Hansen Dam Recreation Area, the 1,400-acre site also is home to a new library, an aquatic center, riding stables, a golf course and hiking trails. The children's museum will be modeled after an ecosystem with a focus on earth, air, fire and water. Kids will explore the museum via "Big Fun Cool Thing," a conveyor system powered by kids. www.childrensmuseumla.org

California State University, Northridge (San Fernando Valley) - As part of a unique new initiative to explore arts partnerships between California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and the Music Center, a new Performing Arts Center will be built on the university campus. The $100 million Performing Arts Center will be the largest in the Valley, and include a 1,700-seat auditorium to accommodate music, dance, theatre and film performances. Preliminary discussions are underway between CSUN and the Music Center and two of its resident companies - the Center Theatre Group and the Los Angeles Opera - regarding future presentations on the Northridge campus. Construction is expected to be completed by late 2009. www.csun.edu

Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension Project (Citywide) - The Metro Gold Line, currently operating from Downtown to Pasadena, is being extended into East Los Angeles. The six-mile extension will create eight new stations to better serve passengers riding Metro. The new Metro Gold Line Extension is scheduled to open in 2009. The Los Angeles Metro Transportation Authority also is working on the Metro Expo Line, the long-awaited line connecting Downtown Los Angeles with Culver City. Phase I of this project is scheduled to be completed by 2010. www.metro.net


"America Tropical", Olvera Street's controversial mural, to be restored (Downtown) - Painted in 1932 by David Alfaro Siqueiros on the second-story wall of Italian Hall on Olvera Street, "America Tropical" is an aesthetic and political mural that was painted over within a year of being completed. For 20 years, the city and the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) have been monitoring the mural, ensuring the safety of this historical monument of the city of Los Angeles. A $7.8 million public-private investment has been made toward the completion of the mural's restoration, as well as construction of a protective shelter, viewing platform, visitor bridge and an interpretive center to depict the mural in its historical context, with the benefit of showing the advancements in art that the mural represents. Expected to be completed in late 2009, "America Tropical" will be available for public viewing. www.getty.edu/conservation/field_projects/siqueiros/index.html

2010 and Beyond

L.A. LIVE Sports and Entertainment District (Downtown) - In 2010, Downtown will have two new luxury hotels: a 124-room boutique Ritz-Carlton and an 876-room JW Marriott. The convention center hotel will be located at the L.A. LIVE complex. When completed, L.A. LIVE is expected to draw more than 13.5 million visitors annually. It's also expected to have an economic impact of more than $10 billion, create more than 25,000 jobs and produce more than $18 million in new annual tax revenue. www.aegworldwide.com

Cinematographer Organization to Add Museum, Meeting Space (Hollywood) - The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) will be implementing a $6 million expansion of its headquarters. Ground-breaking is expected sometime in 2008. The new building will house a museum focusing on the history of cinematography and featuring equipment including vintage cameras from 1909 to the present. The ASC also will be adding an educational facility that will include a screening room. www.theasc.com

Tom Bradley International Terminal Expansion at LAX (Coastal) - Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was recently joined by airport and airline officials in a ceremony to break ground on a long-awaited major renovation of the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The $723.5-million project calls for major interior renovations, installation of an in-line checked-baggage security system and a second boarding gate for new large aircraft. Considered the largest individual project in Los Angeles City's history, the significant changes are expected to help LAX retain its competitiveness as the premier West Coast international gateway, especially to the Asia-Pacific Region. Because the construction work will be performed while the terminal is fully operational, the project is also considered one of the most complex among U.S. airports. Renovations to the passenger boarding lounge and outside ramp area at Gate 123 on the north end of the terminal concourse will create a second gate to accommodate the new generation of jets such as the Airbus 380 and Boeing 747-800. Gate 101 on the south end of the terminal concourse was renovated in June 2007 to accommodate the new jets in advance of test flights. The 38-month project is expected to be completed by March 2010. LAX is the fifth busiest airport in the world with 53 percent of LAX passengers being served by TBIT. www.lawa.org


Grand Avenue Development (Downtown) - The Related Companies, the New York-based developer that built the new Time Warner Center in New York City, has been selected to transform Downtown Los Angeles' Grand Avenue into a grand center of activity where people live, dine, shop and play. The $1.2 billion project will encompass 3.2 million square feet around the Walt Disney Concert Hall on Bunker Hill, including a 16-acre park that will connect the Music Center with City Hall. The projected completion date is 2011. Among the architects working with The Related Companies on the Grand Avenue Project design are Santa Monica-based Morphosis, and Frank Gehry, who designed the Walt Disney Concert Hall. www.grandavenuecommittee.org

Los Angeles River Revitalization (Citywide) - An 18-month revitalization planning process was completed in May 2007 and a 20-year blueprint was created for development and management of the Los Angeles River, which was approved for implementation by the Los Angeles City Council. The plan calls for replacing much of the industrial land along the river with parks, housing and a natural environment, while retaining the river's flood-control function. The Los Angeles River has a compelling history and flows 51 miles through some of Southern California's most diverse communities.

Information provided by

lacvb.com William Karz
Manager, Media Relations
LA INC. The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau
333 South Hope Street, 18th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071
( (213) 236-2330 | 3 (213) 452-1430
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