Everyone has heard of Hollywood. But where do you go in Hollywood to see stars and stuff?
Last April I attended a party at H&H, Hollywood and Highland Center while attending the U.S. Travel International PowWow. I loaded on a bus in downtown Los Angeles, the area of historic downtown with City Hall, the convention center and LA Live Entertainment Center for a crosstown traffic trip to see stars and bars in Hollywood.
Arriving at Hollywood & Highland Center I walked off the bus onto a red carpet. H&H was home of the 2012 Academy Awards. There was a small crowd of 30 to 50 gawkers across the street, behind a police barricade, snapping photos of the U.S. Travel PowWow tourism delegates.
The biggest stars I saw that night in front of Hollywood & Highland were already flattened on the ground before the party got started.
Steven Spielberg star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood & Highland Center is a destination in the center of the Hollywood tourist attractions. There are places to drink, eat, shop and be entertained. The party I attended was catered by Wolfgang Puck and several participating restaurants of H&H Center. Free food and drink in an exclusive function certainly made the night out easier on the wallet, yet H&H Center is normally a place of entertainment for the masses.
Google Maps pin for H&H Center shows the proximity of Hollywood Wax Museum, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Madame Tussaud’s Hollywood and Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.
Bruce Willis crashed the party at H&H Center.
Cirque du Soleil performed two 30-minute preview shows of Iris at Dolby Theatre (formerly Kodak Theatre) at Hollywood & Highland Center.
Stairway to the Cirque du Soleil show at Dolby Theatre.
Lighted columns list Academy Award Best Picture winners of past four decades.
The Renaissance Hotel seen here from H&H Center April 2012 has since rebranded as Loews Hollywood Hotel. I read this is one of the best places to view the famous hillside Hollywood sign.
Like a Rolling Stone LA style.
Rolling Stone LA Restaurant & Lounge was a journey through the past. This is the first restaurant/lounge/entertainment venue from the legendary rock journal. This place is tucked in the far corner of the H&H Center away from the Dolby Theater.
Rolling Stone LA on right.
I was able to spend some alone time with the dozens of legendary cover art and articles of Rolling Stone before the crowds made their way into the club once the live entertainment turned the place to dancing and noise.
Rolling Stone Feb 24, 1968 Vol. 1, No. 6 – Twenty-Five Cents – Monterey Festival On Again
Unfortunately there was no follow up in 1968 to the Monterey Pop Festival of 1967. Monterey banned rock concerts for a decade after 1967. I was there for the next big Monterey Fairgrounds concert in 1979 when the Clash, Peter Tosh and others played the Tribal Stomp.
Rolling Stone June 22, 1968 – Thirty-Five Cents – The Missing Bob Dylan Album
Hollywood & Highland Center is a festive place to shop, eat, drink and see shows.
Outside the Dolby Theatre near the Hard Rock Café I did see some more pop stars.
Gwen Stefani looked ripped.
Madonna still showing off her dancer legs.
Beer and Iggy Pop at the Hard Rock Café was worth a few minutes of my time.
Bars and Stars with a bit of Cirque du Soleil was an eventful evening at Hollywood & Highland.
When I tired of the crowd and believe me there was quite a crowd that night at Hollywood & Highland Center, I followed the pointed finger that led me out and back to the bus for downtown LA.
Hey Michael, show me the way out of here.
Blogger Disclosure: Hollywood & Highland Center sponsored a private event for several thousand attendees of the US Travel Association International PowWow Los Angeles April 2012. Food, drink and Cirque du Soleil performances were complimentary.
Ric Garrido, writer and owner of Loyalty Traveler, shares news and views on hotels, hotel loyalty programs and vacation destinations for frequent guests. You can follow Loyalty Traveler on Twitter and Facebook and RSS feed.
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