1. Do not, I repeat do not get in the way of a baker and her spatula. I learned that the hard way when the Renaissance Hollywood hosted DrinkEatPlay’s annual Cupcake Challenge. They may bake sweets but I will tell you one thing-if they say you cannot lick the spatula, you drop that spatula.

2. Just because people say you look like Ryan Gosling’s older brother, does not mean you can joke that you two are related. If you do, there will be a stampede and near riot on the property.

3. Even though, the guys at Cirque de Soleil make it look easy, IRIS cannot be recreated-no matter how hard you practice.

4. Lions, like their domesticated cousins the house cat, enjoy a little cat nip here and there.

5. Sweet potato tator tots at Twist are extremely addictive. Try them with caution. I spent most of September in a spud haze because of the delicious, crispy, piping hot morsels. Kicking those babies was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to give up. Even worst than the time I went on an Almas Caviar binge. In fact, I think to reward myself for my hard work I will pop over and place a small order of them.

To commemorate this great year I encourage you to celebrate with style. Here are a few more tips from me to you for this NYE season:

Universal City Walk has a huge free, all ages, outdoor New Year’s Eve Countdown Bash available to the public. The event features live music and DJs beginning at 9 pm, and fireworks from 2 ends of the street at midnight.

When: 9 pm – 12:30 am

Where: Universal City Walk, at the top of Universal Studios Blvd. off the 101 Freeway.

Tickets: Free

Parking: Before 6 pm, $15 general/$20 preferred, after 6 pm $40 general, $45 valet.

Metro: Red Line to Universal City station

New Year’s Eve at Hermosa Beach Pier is a free community celebration with Lou Giovanetti and His Big Band performing and a replay of the New York Times Square ball drop. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early to dine at the surrounding restaurants.

When: 8:30 pm – 1:30 am

Where: Pier Plaza, Hermosa Beach

Tickets: Free

Parking: various lots

Info: www.hbchamber.net

Big Bang New Year’s Eve with Cobra Starship and Lupe Fiasco hosted by Mario Lopez and Extra TV at Hollywood & Highland also includes multiple parties. In addition to the one at Highlands nightclub, which is also included in several other multi-venue tickets, there will be festivities in the Kodak Theatre Ballroom, the Annex Special Event Center and a candle-lit pool area.Entertainment includes live bands, DJs, cirque performers, choreographed dancers and more. Cobra Starship concert is only available to VIP ticket holders.

When: 9 pm to 2 am

Where: Hollywood & Highland Center, 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90028

Tickets: $75 General Admission, $125-150 VIP with open bar, table packages available

Parking: $2 for 2 hours, $10 max at Hollywood & Highland (must be validated at Hollywood & Highland), limited street parking.

Age Limit: 21 and up
Info and Tickets

As always, the Metropolitan Transit Authority will offer free rides on Metro buses and trains New Year’s Eve. Take advantage of this free and safe ride. Service will be free between 9 pm and 2am starting on December 31. To plan your Metro trip, go to www.metro.net or call 1-800-COMMUTE.

Whatever you end up doing this New Year’s Eve have fun, be safe and stay classy.

This is Bruce, signing off.

The all you can eat brunch will feature your classic breakfast foods.  A waffle station with berry and whipped cream topping, an omelet station, cold smoked Norwegian salmon, various breakfast meats and cheeses, traditional eggs benedict, herbed seasoned potatoes and enough fruit to keep the doctor away for life.

We’ll also be carving up prime rib with au jus sauce and roast rack of lamb with blackberry sage reduction.

The hot station will include herb roasted chicken, pistachio crusted sea-bass, caramelized onion smashed potatoes, rice pilaf, medley of grilled vegetables and potato & leek soup.

I am only getting started. At the cold station there will be a full salad bar, taco shimi crisp, buttery poached shrimp, spicy Italian panzanella salad with grilled chicken, fresh Caprese salad and a Waldorf salad.

I hope you didn’t think we forgot about the kiddies. Their taste buds will be tantalized with the kids’ pancake making station, allowing them to create their own masterpiece. Who knows maybe we will help create the next Wolfgang Puck or Rachael Ray.

RenHollywood will also dish up desserts almost as sweet as momma herself. Better save room for our pecan tarts, mixed fruit tarts, passion fruit cake, tiramisu, Zucotto (an Italian chocolate cake) and assorted mini pastries. 

To wet your pallet we will be serving coffee, tea, juice, soda, milk, water and of course mimosas.

For yours and mom’s musical enjoyment Judy Wexler will perform. Deemed by JazzTimes “as one of the most focused, unpretentious, no-nonsense, bop oriented jazz singers around,”

The brunch will be this Sunday, May 8, from 10 am to 2 pm (music will start at 11). $44.95 for adults, $21.95 for kids 12 and under, free for children 6 and under. Reservations can be made by calling 323-491-1000 or visiting www.jazzandblue.org

                While traveling through Ireland I popped into a bar in Dublin. Had I known that my thirst for a Guinness would have possibly derailed my ambitions of becoming a hotel GM I would have promptly turned around. But after throwing back a few rounds with a local band, I had become their drummer’s replacement while his broken hand healed. As we traveled from country to country and played show after show I grew tired of touring. We stayed in some ghastly hotels and in my opinion you should never settle on hotel accommodations. It pains me to think about the sub par thread count linens I slept on. It was fun times, but all the fans, attention and glamour was not enough for me. Despite the desperate pleas from my band mates, I turned in my sticks over to their original drummer so he could resume his spot behind the base drum and cymbals. To save the drummer some embarrassment I do not want to reveal the band name, but can give you a hint . . . . ..two symbols, one vowel and one number.

                Although I abruptly ended my music career, I never lost my love for music. Lucky for me, ASCAP will once again bring their “I Create Music” EXPO to the Renaissance Hollywood in 2011. From April 27^th through April 30^th the hotel will be filled with musicians, songwriters, producers and people involved in every aspect of the music industry networking with each other and listening to panel discussions from some of the best in the business.  As always, ASCAP will have in attendance and be honoring a who’s-who of the music biz.  This year, the list of panelists includes Lindsey Buckingham interviewed by Sara Bareilles, Pharrell Williams, Fergie, Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic), John Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls), Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald, Desmond Child, Rodney Crowell, Jermaine Dupri, Wes Craven and Rufus Wainwright to name a few.  Rod Stewart is also being honored With the prestigious ASCAP Founders Award at the 28^th Annual Pop Music Awards on the evening of the 27^th.  Past recipients include Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, Heart’s Ann & Nancy Wilson, Billy Joel, Annie Lennox, Sir Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Smokey Robinson, Patti Smith, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Tom Waits, Stevie Wonder and Neil Young.

                And if that wasn’t enough excitement, the RenHollywood’s Lobby Bar will be jamming each night from Wednesday through Saturday during the Expo with 3-4 live independent artist performances starting at 8:30pm.  These performances are open to the public and FREE to attend with no cover charge.  Try and say you’re not interested in that. For updates on the artists performing check our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter.  

Til next time my babies. This is Bruce, signing off.

This week’s featured presentation is the children’s classic The Sandlot. Scotty Smalls moves to a new neighborhood with his mom and stepdad, and wants to learn to play baseball. The neighborhood baseball guru Rodriquez takes Smalls under his wing, and soon he’s part of the local baseball buddies. They fall into adventures involving baseball, treehouse sleep-ins, the desirous lifeguard at the local pool, the snooty rival ball team, and the travelling fair. Beyond the fence at the back of the sandlot menaces a legendary ball-eating dog called The Beast, and the kids inevitably must deal with him.

Watch the trailer here:

Well, if it does, make your way to our weekly series of Dive-In Movies, playing every Saturday this summer on our celebrated Pool Deck, starting at 8 pm.

This week’s flick is the recent action movie, “Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief,” which, other than sporting one of the longest names in movie history, was a great little jaunt through Greek mythology, full of humor and drama. It’s great fun for the kids so don’t miss it!

This week’s featured presentation is the indie hit Little Miss Sunshine. The Hoover family is the dictionary definition for the word “dysfunctional”. The dad Richard is a man who gives lectures on winners and losers, the wife is Sheryl, a chain-smoking, frazzled wife and working mother whose idea of a home cooked meal frequently consists of a bucket of chicken. Her gay brother Frank recently attempted suicide. The grandpa is Edwin, a drug addict. The son is Dwayne a rebel who has vowed not to talk until he gets into the Air Force. And then there is Olive, a seven-year old girl who dreams of going to the Little Miss Sunshine pageant. So what happens when they do?

Watch the trailer below:

This week’s feature is the classic The Princess Bride. One of the great modern fairy tales of our time, The Princess Bride is both grand adventure and brilliant satire of the fairy tale genre. What’s it about? A battle of wits, chatty swordfights, beautiful princesses, the Dread Pirate Roberts – well, the plot itself is so convoluted that it’s not worth retelling, but if you haven’t seen this movie – no matter what your age is – you owe it to yourself to come check it out. Written by William Goldman and directed by Rob Reiner, this modern classic is without equal: hilarious, exciting, dramatic, and devilishly quotable. Don’t miss it!

Watch a clip from the movie below:

Well, if it does, make your way to our weekly series of Dive-In Movies, playing every Saturday this summer on our celebrated Pool Deck, starting at 8 pm.

This week’s flick is the lovely animated movie, Fantastic Mr. Fox. Funny, dramatic, and accessible to all ages, this movie is based on the much-loved children’s book by Roald Dahl, stars George Clooney and Meryl Streep, and was directed by the quirky Wes Anderson. If you missed this flick in the theaters, don’t miss it now.

Where was I? Oh, yes: Wouldn’t you prefer to relax by the pool while watching a great movie with the kids? If it gets a little hot, you can take a dip in the pool or maybe find yourself a cocktail at the nearby bar. Maybe order some tasty morsels from a menu designed by Wolfgang Puck? Does that sound a little appealing?

Well, if it does, make your way to our weekly series of Dive-In Movies, playing every Saturday this summer on our celebrated Pool Deck, starting at 8 pm. And you don’t even have to wear pants, so hurrah! (Editor’s Note: But swimming suits of some kind are obviously required.)

This week’s flick is Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. Exciting and funny, this is the perfect summer night movie for the whole family. It stars Ben Stiller as he returns to the role of the museum security guard who simply is way over his head when all the exhibits in a museum come to life… again.

This is Bruce, signing off.

This week’s feature presentation is Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel. After the first movie, Alvin, Simon, and Theodore are on top of the world. But it can’t last. After an on-stage accident leaves their human friend, David, in the hospital, Alvin and the chipmunks have to head back to high school where they face off against bullies, popular girls, and most terrifying of all, true love. It’s the Chipmunks vs the Chipettes, as the boys are confronted by an equally talented, and much cuter, trio of female chipmunks. Will Alvin and the chipmunks make it out of high school alive? Will they fall in love? Will they ever behave?

Watch the trailer below: