During your Los Angeles vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
The Egyptian Theatre
Conceived by grandiose impresario Sid Grauman, the Egyptian Theatre is just down the street from his better-known Chinese Theatre, but it remains less altered from its original design, which was based on the then-headline-news discovery of hidden treasures in Pharaohs' tombs -- hence the hieroglyphic murals and enormous scarab decoration above the stage. Hollywood's first movie premiere, Robin Hood, starring Douglas Fairbanks, was shown here in 1922, followed by the premiere of The Ten Commandments in 1923. The building recently underwent a sensitive restoration by American Cinematheque, which now screens rare, classic, and independent films (see chapter 10 for details).
Descanso Gardens
Camellias -- evergreen flowering shrubs from China and Japan -- were the passion of amateur gardener E. Manchester Boddy, who began planting them here in 1941. Today his 160-acre Descanso Gardens contain more than 100,000 camellias in more than 600 varieties, blooming under a canopy of California oak trees. The shrubs now share the limelight with a 9-acre International Rosarium, home to hundreds of varieties. This is a very relaxing place, with paths and streams that wind through the towering forest, bordering a lake, bird sanctuary, Japanese Garden & Tea House, and Boddy House art museum. Each season features different plants: daffodils, azaleas, tulips, and lilacs in the spring; chrysanthemums in the fall; and so on. Monthly art exhibits are held in the garden's hospitality house, and the Courtyard Café offers light meals daily from 10am to 3pm. Guided tram tours, which cost $2, run Tuesday through Friday at 1, 2, and 3pm; and Saturday and Sunday at 11am and 1, 2, and 3pm. Picnicking is allowed in specified areas.
Craft & Folk Art Museum
This gallery, housed in a prominent Museum Row building, has grown into one of the city's largest. "Craft and folk art" encompasses everything from clothing, tools, religious artifacts, and other everyday objects to wood carvings, papier-mâché, weaving, and metalwork. The museum displays folk objects from around the world, but its strongest collection is masks from India, America, Mexico, Japan, and China. The museum is also known for its annual International Festival of Masks, held each October in Hancock Park, across the street. Be sure to stop in the funky, eclectic Museum Shop (tel. 323/857-4677) to peruse the wearable art, folk art books, and various handmade crafts.
Beverly Hilton
If you're a fan of awards shows, you'll probably recognize this hotel, at the crossroads of Wilshire and Santa Monica in the heart of Beverly Hills, as the annual home to the star-studded Golden Globe Awards. This boxlike eight-story hotel has been attracting movie city business travelers, movie stars, U.S. presidents, royalty, and tourists alike since 1955. The guest rooms are similar but not all alike -- only about half have balconies, and some are decidedly larger than others. During the summer, the ground-level poolside rooms are a good choice, thanks to French doors that open directly onto the sun deck. For city views, request one of the tower rooms. Among the Beverly Hilton's best advantages are its food and cocktail outlets: It's hard to beat a pupu platter and a rum-spiked Navy Grog at the supergroovy Polynesian-style Trader Vic's, often favored by celebs looking for a quiet hangout; you can also dine poolside at Griff's on nice days. The lavish buffets offered for breakfast, lunch, and dinner are a good deal for big eaters. All in all, a pleasant, well-located, and relatively affordable slice of Hollywood glamour.
W Los Angeles
Design-savvy hipsters looking for cutting-edge style and familiar comforts will enjoy this 15-story, all-suite hotel near UCLA. The former Westwood Marquis underwent a transformation in 2000 under new owners, W Hotels, the "boutique" hotel brand backed by corporate giant Starwood Hotels. Hidden behind a severe concrete exterior, this oasis-like property has always had advantages: an all-suite configuration, 2 lush acres of greenery, and eye-catching '60s architectural detailing that's been liberated from its long-standing Sheetrock prison. Each large two-room suite features bold, angular furnishings in dark African wenge wood, accented with gray carpeting and soft plum textiles. Luxuries include divinely dressed beds, two 27-inch TVs, and two CD players. The bathrooms are spacious but unremarkable, save for inviting waffle-weave robes.Like the all-black-clad staff (who run around with silly Secret Service-style headsets), the public spaces are dressed to impress. Mojo restaurant serves Latin-inspired cuisine and colorful cocktails to uberstylish industry types, but ends up being more flash than substance. Nightlife impresario Rande Gerber runs the bar, Whiskey Blue, which pretty much guarantees a hipster scene on weekend nights. The well-furnished gardenlike pool area has its own outdoor cafe. The full-service spa will even schedule massages in the boldly striped poolside cabanas.Facilities: Restaurant; cocktail lounge; 2 outdoor heated pools; full-service spa and exercise room; concierge; car-rental desk; courtesy car; business center; 24-hr. room service; in-room massage; babysitting; laundry service; dry-cleaning service; video and CD libraries.
Magic Castle Hotel
Located a stone's throw from Hollywood Boulevard's attractions, this garden-style hotel/motel at the base of the Hollywood Hills offers L.A.'s best cheap sleeps. You won't see the Magic Castle Hotel in a shelter mag spread -- the rooms are done in high Levitz style -- but the newly refurbished units are spacious, comfortable, and well kept. Named for the Magic Castle, the illusionist club just uphill, the hotel was once an apartment building; it still feels private and insulated from Franklin Avenue's constant stream of traffic. The units are situated around a swimming-pool courtyard ensconced with trees. Most are full, extralarge apartments, with fully equipped kitchens with a microwave and coffeemaker (grocery shopping service is available as well). Several units have balconies overlooking the large heated pool. Ideal for wallet-watching families or long-term stays.
