Here I am posing with a couple of golden boys lining the red carpet outside the TCL Chinese Theatre (originally known as Grauman's Chinese).
If you've been to Hollywood, you have probably struck a similarly goofy pose and, since this was our first visit to the legendarily historic site (opened over 90 years ago), I was no different. I'm all about all things touristy, especially the first time around, but I'm also about finding local favorites as well as discovering my own future favorites.
Much of our last full day in LA for Mari's 50th birthday long weekend was spent lollygagging about the original Walk of Fame surrounding the famed theater.
Echoes of Old Hollywood grace and glam still resound despite the touristy fandom. Even a Tuesday morning wasn't safe from the boisterous bedlam of which Mari and I were an unwitting part.
Although there were no actual celebrities present, Mari and I found ourselves sufficiently star struck as we walked the Walk of Fame.I was delighted to pose my tired walking shoes alongside Jane Fonda's stilettoed impressions, dated about a year before the photograph of us was snapped at the ALA annual convention in Las Vegas (about 6 months before the premiere of Grace and Frankie).
I had attended Fonda's talk (at 8:00 AM on a Saturday!) promoting teen girls' health and had just queued up approximately an hour to have her sign my book and tell her in person how much I have appreciated her acting and admired her activism.
When I leaned in for our photo, I also desperately wanted to tell Miss Fonda how amazing her hair smelled (and how she was absolutely still Barbarella-lustrous), but I refrained from schoolboy behavior and remained professional (appreciative, but professional).
Mari and I wandered the hustling historic courtyard of the Chinese Theatre amazed at the considerable coalescence of stars (and ever thankful for the alignment of stars that allows us to have these awesome travel moments).
We were unfortunately unable to tour the theater or attend a screening as it was closed in preparation for a premiere that afternoon. Be sure to check the site for movie (and tour) times and for notices of closures which happen throughout the week, not just on weekends.
You can also check the incredibly well-curated Walk of Fame site for notices of upcoming ceremonies, video clips from recent ceremonies and celebrity sightings, as well as a helpful search engine which will give you the precise location of your favorite beloved (stalked) celebrity star. Mark Hamill's recent (March 8, 2018) star ceremony, attended by Harrison Ford and George Lucas, is currently featured on the site's home page.
There is much to see surrounding the Chinese Theatre, including the Dolby Theatre (home of the Academy Awards), Ripley's Believe It or Not!, Madame Tussauds, and the family-friendly Hollywood & Highland Center complex that includes shopping and dining favorites. From the rear/north end of the outdoor mall, just past the Hard Rock, you have a nice view of the Hollywood sign in the distance, too, although you will need a good zoom for a souvenir photo.
I managed to snap this snappy souvenir photo of Mari among a colorful canvas of Hollywood and LA souvenirs inside Souvenirs of Hollywood at the southwest corner of Hollywood Boulevard and North Highland (across the street from Ripley's on the southeast corner). Mari and I couldn't resist the souvenir temptations and I also couldn't resist a great photo op.
When taking photos inside a place of business, be sure to always ask an employee for permission. Sometimes, there are signs posted banning photography inside stores for legitimate copyright reasons and sometimes it's just an annoyance or disruption business owners would rather not encourage. We asked, of course, and were welcomed by the manager to snap away.Mari and I call it a wrap next time with just one more slice of birthday cake and an all-natural, calorie-free California treat that can't be beat.
