Audiences Unlimited / Studio audiences

TRAVEL BY NIC…….The Perpetual Tourist!

 

Audiences Unlimited / See Dad Run / Paramount Studios -5555 Melrose Ave, Hollywood, CA

Hurray for Hollywood!!  I love seeing the behind the scenes magic that happens while filming movies & TV programs.  So the family participated in a taping of See Dad Run, a Nick-at-Night program that is taped at Paramount Studios.  I want to share our experience, however keep in mind each studio may handle studio audiences differently.

We chose to get our tickets through “Audiences Unlimited”, they are a reputable place that makes reservations for studio audiences all the time.  It does not cost anything to participate, but do expect to spend a good part of your day being involved in this experience!  Taping times will vary, our show started at 5:30pm and they informed us to arrive 60 minutes prior.  The entrance for this particular show was along a wall on “Gower Street”.  A parking lot was offered, don’t know the price, because free parking was available on Gower Street, so we parked for free!!  Audiences Unlimited is aware of your reservation, but entrance is not guaranteed, they let you know that it is on a 1^st come 1^st serve basis.  So we did arrive at 3:45pm.  Participants need to be over 16 years of age and they asked that we bring ID.  They also tell you not to bring your cell phone in.   Soooooo, here’s the real scoop....for us anyway!! (Not going to guarantee that the next bunch won’t go through a metal detector and have their ID’s checked!)  They only checked our printed reservation, not our ID’s and practically everyone had their cell phone out.  We did use a little discretion about blatantly pulling out our cameras/phones in front of a page, but for the most part, photos were taken!

They let us through the gate around 4:30pm, where we had a chance to go to the bathroom and get water before they took us into the studio.  From there we enjoyed the cool air while they played music to entertain us.  Since my husband and I work production we found it interesting watching all of the camera man, stage assistants, producers, and set people.  Really the time went fairly quickly.  Oh ya, remember the rule about 16 or older…..rules are broken when the star of the show or any of the folks working on the show have guests!  Matter-of-fact, we had Scott Baio’s wife and child right in front of us and one row over.

The studio audiences area is rather small.  If I had to guess…..I’d say it seated around 300 – 400 people.  This is my 3^rd taping of a show and they always have someone to entertain you in-between the scenes that are shot.  Our guy would play fun music, get us to dance, place games, tell us jokes, or offer us trivia.  The gal setting next to us won a script.   Prior to the actors being introduced they had us watch one of the episodes so we could get to know the characters.  Then the Hollywood magic began!

Each of the characters is introduced and then they jumped right into taping.  Of course you are expected to stay quiet, but encouraged to laugh.  So I find myself trying to have that last laugh so I could hear myself!  I know……what a dork!  I enjoy seeing the difference of what you see in real life verses what you see on your TV screen.  It’s so interesting how small the rooms really are and how the actors are standing just off stage ready to enter the scene.  It’s interesting to see how a scene may have to be done over and over until the Director is happy with the take.

I would say the taping did start at 5:30pm and we were in the studio until around 8:30pm.  I felt like the time went pretty quickly, but again, I enjoyed taking it all in.  Once the Director calls it a wrap each of the actors are brought back out for us to applaud them.

So we watched “See Dad Run”.  Scott Baio is the actor you may recognize, he plays David Hobbs,  the Dad.  David Hobbs was a dad on a sitcom for 10 years and now he is a stay at home dad with a teenage girl, a boy, and another young girl.  His wife is also an actor and is going back to work.  Some other fun characters, his producer and his former stage assistant.  Both of those people are involved with helping him raise his children.  Lots of times David Hobbs (Scott Baio) will try and refer back to an episode on his former show to help in whatever situation he’s in.  It’s a half hour sitcom that is pretty fun.

Here’s the kicker……..I used to have Scott Baio posters on my wall when I was a teenager!!!  So girls everywhere……those teen crushes…..maybe 30 years later you to will be able to be in the same room as your former poster crush!!  Teenage Dreams do come true!!

For a true Hollywood experience, everyone should do this at least once!  The only thing it really costs you is the time and the gas to get there!  Entrance is free, and in some cases, parking is free!!

Sunset Ranch / Horseback riding

TRAVEL BY NIC…….The Perpetual Tourist!

 

Sunset Ranch/Horseback riding - 3400 N. Beachwood Dr.

So I had a GREAT Mothers Day!!  My family helped me cross of an item on my tourist “To Do” list!!  Plus my girl had horseback riding on her bucket list….#26!!  So you know I can’t just ride horses at just any ranch…….right?!?!  It had to be Sunset Ranch!!  Why you ask?!  Because you get great views of the Hollywood sign and great views of Los Angeles!

Just the address alone should tell the most seasoned tourists that you’re headed for the iconic sign!  As you’re driving down Beachwood the Hollywood sign is straight in front of you!  Many people drive this street for perfect views of the sign.  Right before you reach the Hollywood Hills, where the ranch is located, you will encounter beautiful stone pillars that were supposed to support a gate into Hollywoodland.  Right in front of you is the original real-estate office for Hollywoodland.  In this area you’ll find a small shopping area with a market and café.

As you wind your way up the hill to the ranch, enjoy the twisted roads and beautiful mansions.  Just know that you’re surrounded by several celebrity residences.  I’m always eyeballing the joggers and dog walkers hoping I’ll see someone famous out on their run.

So once you get to the sign announcing that you’ve arrived at Sunset Ranch, just a heads up, the drive is incredibly narrow!  We chose to park towards the bottom of the hill, and this old mama had a hard time making the climb to the ranch but I made it!  There was some parking up near the ranch, but again, I don’t know what you do if you encounter a car coming the opposite direction….it is NARROW!  Besides reaching Sunset Ranch, you will also encounter miles & miles worth of trails that wind around through the hills of Griffith park.

 

Sunset Ranch offers all kinds of different packages.  We just did the 1 hour ride, which was just right for us!  Our 1 hour ride cost us $40.00 per person / 2 hour ride $60 per person.  Something to remember, you are expected to tip your experienced guides that take you up into the hills.  (tips suggestions range from $10-$20 per person).  Sunset Ranch also offers lunch & dinner rides that range in price.  As-of-today, they do offer 2 for 1 prices on Tuesdays!

So we took our 1 hour ride around 11am and it was sooooo hot!  There was really not much shade at all on the trails.  They will pick your horse according to your experience, “Beginner, Intermediate, or Experienced”.  You will of course be expected to sign a waiver and wear a helmet.  I was worried about getting on the horse!!!  LOL, I thought my husband may have to push my bum up since I have no upper body strength, but I was thrilled that the horses pull up to a ledge that we’re standing on, so it was no problem at all getting on your horse.  If you are afraid of heights, please keep in mind that the horses like to ride along the edge of the trail….so don’t look down.  Since the guides won’t remember your name, you’re expected to remember your horses name!  I rode “Mouse”!  Yes!  A horse named Mouse!  He was a naughty boy!  He kept holding up the hold whole line no matter how much I tried to get him to go!  (He just knew he had a non-experienced person on him!)

Our day was a little hazy, but on a clear day I’m sure you could see Catalina from up there!  I hope you enjoy my photos, but I gotta confess, it hard to take a good photo with one hand, on the back of a horse!  I couldn’t really zoom or anything fancy.  Just know, I highly recommend this ride!  If you’re going to ride a horse why not do it at a place that offers breathtaking views?!

Enjoy!

Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel / Philippe's

TRAVEL BY NIC…….The Perpetual Tourist!

 Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel, 506 S Grand, Los Angeles, CA

I think I’ve mentioned before that I LOVE architecture and I love being a member of the LA Conversancy.  With my membership I was able to take a tour of the historic hotel for $5 / $10 for non members.  The Conversancy offers tours of the Biltmore on Sundays only and the tour lasts about 2 hours.  We meet at Pershing Park right across the street where they point out that the hotel had its grand opening in 1923.  If I remember right it was 10 million to build and at the time it was the largest hotel west of Chicago.  As we walk around the outside of the hotel we’re able to see the additional tower that was added years later.  With the addition of the Biltmore tower, I found it interesting that they were able to use bricks from the same quarry as the original building.  At that time they also offered added covered parking and place for their guest to pull in off the street. Because of the tower some of the interior was altered.  But trust me you won’t be disappointed with the beauty you find when you walk inside.

Inside you will find the Biltmore angel everywhere.  Remember to look up!  Every ceiling is breathtaking.  Inside you will find frescos, murals, carved marble fountains, oak paneled walls, lead crystal chandeliers. 

 

The tour did give us access to several of the ballrooms.  Each ballroom had its own personality and beauty.  The Emerald Room was once the hotels main guest dining room.  There you’ll find beautiful wood work and the décor features images of hunt and harvest with hand painted animals and fish on the cast plaster ceiling beams.  Next to the Emerald room you’ll find the Gold Room that used to be 2 rooms separated by columns.  When it opened it was a dining room for the elite.   In the later years it became a room with an upper & lower level.  It soon opened as a night club and during the prohibition era  had hidden liquor compartments and panels can be found.  Along the ceiling press photographers would hide cameras in secret compartments to capture the Hollywood elite at the club.  It is decorated with a gold cast plaster ceiling.  The entrance to the Gold Room as a beautiful gilded gate that was installed when it because a club.

At the other end of the Galleria you will find the Tiffany Room, beautiful in its own right but….it is just the drop off point for the Crystal Ballroom.  The Crystal Ballroom is the crème de la crème of beautiful ballrooms.  You will find several balconies looping around the room.  Remember to look up!  There you will find a hand painted mural on the ceiling that was created by Giovanni Smeraldi known for his work in the Vatican & the White House.    We learned that the mural had to be hand cleaned because of all of the cigarette smoke that had damaged it; I found it interesting that they used buttermilk to preserve it!  It was a natural way to protect the precious mural. The Austrian crystal chandeliers are 12 feet across in size.  Here’s the history I found most interesting about this room; The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was founded in this very room!  Louis B Mayer met to discuss plans for the Academy awards, and it was in that room that Cedric Gibbons grabbed a linen Biltmore napkin and sketched the design for the Oscar statue!!  Eight Oscar ceremonies were held in the Biltomore Bowl during the Academy’s early years of 1931, 1935-39 and 1941-42.  In 1977 Bob Hope hosted the Academy’s 50^th Anniversary in the same banquet room.

Being the movie buff that I am wanted to know what movies had been filmed at the hotel.  I’m sure there is a long list, but the ones that stood out….Ghostbusters!  Pretty in Pink was filmed in the gorgeous Crystal Ballroom.  Some other familiar films: A Star is Born, Splash, Bachelor Party, Beverly Hills Cop, True Lies, Independence Day, Ocean’s 11, Bugsy, Wedding Crashers, Italian Job, National Treasure and Spider Man!  I also noticed some episodes of 90210 filmed in the Gold room and the Rendezvous Court.  Glee also did a scene in Rendezvous Court.  As I mentioned the hotel has been around for so long, I’m sure there are many more movies filmed there!

Rendezvous Court is where the original lobby was prior to the tower being built.  Organically it had a Gentleman’s lounge off of it, but now you’ll find a restaurant next door.  The Rendezvous Court’s staircase is the 1^st thing that takes your breath away as you enter!  The decor is described as Moorish Revival.  The ceiling is painted with 24 carat gold accents.  You will also find two original imported chandeliers from 1923 and a grand Spanish baroque revival bronze doorway.  The astrological clock, at the stop of the staircase,  still keeps time today.  Today the lobby features a tea in the afternoon that runs $35 a person.

 

We also enjoyed the beauty of the current lobby.  We viewed the bar off the lobby that takes you back in time.  They have a hallway near the office that features awesome historic photographs.  The Galleria is the main hallway that is breathtaking….remember to look up!  We were not able to view the Biltmore Bowl, it was destroyed by fire and at the time they did not bring it to its former grandeur.  From what I understand that was the largest of all of the ballrooms.   Because the rooms was sooooo large instead of splitting it in 2 horizontally, they spilt it in 2 vertically!  Isn’t that crazy?!  It must have been huge!

Because of my passion for architecture, I loved this tour.  If this is up your alley, I highly recommend spending $25 and joining the LA Conversancy, you’ll have lot of opportunities to enjoy the beauty of our city.

Wanna hear about the good eats?!

Philippes – 1001 N Alameda, Los Angeles, CA

Philippes is a historic landmark that has been family owned and operated since 1908.  It’s located just 1 block from Union Station and Olivera Street.  They are famous for their French dip sandwiches, and they’re proud to say that the menu hasn’t changed.  They offer beef, ham, turkey and lamb French dip sandwiches. 

Folks come to Philipes for the nostalgic feel.  It still retains its original furnishings, wooden stools, sawdust floors and hand painted menu board.  Downstairs you’ll find the communal tables where you can people watch upstairs you will find a quieter atmosphere where it is easier to chat.  I loved the old 1927 candy counter and a row of telephone booths.

So happy to have experienced an LA keepsake!  Highly recommend it!