Coming to Hollywood does not mean you only have to go see the standard Blockbusters. To experience another side of the great art of cinema, plan on visiting the LACMA museum, just down LaBrea, for their Film Series and Special Screenings.

This weekend, LACMA presents: Latin America Cinema: A Weekend Celebration ~ August 24-August 26, with 9 showings and 2 guest appearances.

August 24 7:00 PM The Violin
August 24 9:30 PM Memories of Underdevelopment
August 25 2:00 PM Susana
August 25 3:40 PM Rosaura at Ten O’Clock
August 25 5:30 PM Oriana
August 25 7:30 PM The Place Without Limits
August 25 10:15 PM Si sos brujo: A Story of Tango
August 26 1:30 PM The Woman of the Port
August 26 3:00 PM Victims of Sin

There still are two other mediums to embrace this culture completely–art & music–through the exhibition The Arts in Latin America, 1492-1820 & the Los Angeles Choro Ensemble (which features authentic Brazilian acoustic instruments).

The film series continues with “Hardcore Existentialism: The Early Films of Michael Haneke,” showing September 7 – September 8.

September 7 7:30 PM The Seventh Continent
September 7 9:20 PM Benny’s Video
September 8 7:30 PM Funny Games
September 8 9:20 PM 71 Fragments of a Chronology of Chance

These are very interesting, and I personally like heavy themes, but for others there is also the following series, which is much lighter.

Six Enchanted Evenings: Rodgers and Hammerstein on Film ~ September 14 – September 29 These musicals have been a favorite and nothing like revisiting them in the big screen at such a beautiful location.

September 14 7:30 PM Carousel
September 15 7:30 PM South Pacific
September 21 7:30 PM The King and I
September 22 7:30 PM Oklahoma!
September 28 7:30 PM Flower Drum Song
September 29 7:30 PM The Sound of Music

Just having the pleasure of visiting this gorgeous museum already is a great evening, then to experience so many forms of art, beauty, deepness, and lightness all in one place truly is a gift! =)

This year I am on the planning committee for this great event that will be crossing the country this Fall.  CMN Torch Relay spans from coast to coast over 5,000 miles and culminates with a celebration event here in Hollywood.  On November 18th (Sunday before Thanksgiving), there will be a mid-day event to welcome the torch to its final resting place in the H&H Central Courtyard. 

The Children’s Miracle Network raises money for a collection of 27 non-profit children’s hospitals across the country.  In 2006 this relay raised $1,000,000 for this organization and our goal is to crush that number this year.  Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles is the local member of this organization.  This year will be my third year to participate in this event and it is more fun and more rewording each time.  Please register to join us in walking, running or riding through any community as the torch crosses the country.

How many Bachelorette parties can we have in Las Vegas? Brides today are looking for something different. I have something even more WICKED! Not only do we have an unbelievable package deal for this AMAZING play which is perfect for a Girls Only trip but The Hollywood Men Show is in our very own complex. Imagine you and your girls ordering cosmopolitans by our roof top pool, having dinner at TWIST, then off to the Pantages to experience “THE BEST MUSICAL OF THE YEAR” or Watching the Sexiest Men in Hollywood and then dancing the night away all at The Highlands.

After such an amazing night, spend the day shopping at Banana Republic, Bebe, Express, Louis Vuitton, MAC Cosmetics, Origins, Planet Funk, Sephora, BCBG Max Azria, Victoria’s Secrets, and 50 more great shops to visit. Take in Lunch at one of the 20 different restaurants! Almost makes me want to be a bride…just to have a weekend like this..almost!

I am Juliana Ribeiro, the Sales Coordinator at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel. For me, summer really is the best time of the year! Nice weather, blue skies, trendy new stores to check out, awesome concerts at the Bowl and great new plays pretty much EVERY weekend. Leaving work last Tuesday, I was reminded of the Summer Jazz Festival at the Hollywood & Highland Central Courtyard – I decided it was a perfect occasion to enjoy the surprise with one of my new favorites, the “Ray of Sunshine” smoothie from D’Lush. There is a lot of bustle and movement, and the Renaissance Hotel is right in the middle of it all. There are some great hotel rate packages set up with shuttle tickets included for the Hollywood Bowl and the Pantages Theater nearby. Now that SpaLuce is being added to the hotel, it will be refreshing to “hide”, unwind, and relax in the middle of all that is happening in Hollywood. Who knew that could be possible—this is probably how a celebrity feels living in the Hollywood Hills!

I am Chris Orr, the Director of Marketing at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel.. a truly great place to work! I’m sure most people are familiar with the ESPY Awards. Tonight we have the pleasure of hosting the ESPYs for the fourth time. An unbelievable event, this annual gathering brings together the “A List” from the sports world and the entertainment world. It’s so surreal to be at the heart of it all on the day of the show. What’s even better is to have a live boxing match during the post-party in the Hollywood & Highland Center’s Central Courtyard.If you watch Wednesday Night Boxing on July 11th, you will notice a landmark hotel in the background… that’s us. In addition, the boxing analyst (Teddy Atlas) filmed his pre-fight breakdown on the roof of the hotel. Working in the heart of Hollywood has really shown me the inner workings of the industry and I have been lucky enough to witness some of the entertainment industry’s biggest events. Stay tuned for more stories from inside one of Hollywood’s greatest hotels…