Do you listen to Fleet Foxes? Santogold? The Wailers? Well, apparently, these are all bands. Popular bands, according to my staff. I’ve never heard of them. Whatever happened to calling it like it is, like the days Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin? What’s the world coming to? What I do know is that the next line of musicians and bands that just might make it big will be on-hand this week at the Hollywood Music Awards, right next to us at The Highlands Hollywood.

This award-show, celebrating the best in new independent music, is coming to the Hollywood & Highland Center on Thursday, November 20th – yes, this week. You can still actually buy tickets to the event here and see it live. The show is hosted by comedian Russell Peters, and features a number of great musical performances by tomorrow’s hottest bands. (I got $5 for writing that!) During the show, I’ll be backstage, just mingling and schmoozing, using my VIP pass to hang around the cool kids. I may play “Stairway” if there’s a spare Strat sitting around.

And the best part of being located right next to a major awards venue (we host the big Oscar parties in February, remember?) is we’re going to be hosting a bunch of the nominees at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa. That means they have to hang out with me. Ha!

EDIT: I’ve been informed that, due to my contract rider, which the show’s management deemed “ridiculous and possibly illegal,” my VIP pass has been revoked. Really, is it that hard to have fifteen bowls of M&Ms with all the yellow ones picked out ready for me at my arrival?

This is Bruce, signing off.

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Still, it’s November and Thanksgiving is coming up – another holiday the Brits are not particularly fond of. And December is the home of such illustrious holidays as Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, as well as other slightly less well-known holidays as National Cookie Day (December 4th), Human Rights Day (December 10th), and Poinsettia Day (December 12th). Yes, the fabulous poinsettia gets its own holiday. Don’t you feel smarter knowing this?

All this is a roundabout way of getting to the important point: the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa, the delightful home of yours truly, is offering a special rate for all those people out there looking for a place to stay this cold winter season. And by cold, I mean under 60° F. Any colder and I get frostbite through my silk undergarments.

The hotel is offering a very low rate of $229 per night for one of our amazing guestrooms and, if you’re really really special and have an Elephant Card from the Hollywood & Highland Center, you can get an even more-special rate of $199 per night. Now, here’s the secret: I’m going to tell you exactly where to get this fabled Elephant Card. Go to Visitors Information on Level 1 of the H&H Center and tell them Bruce sent you. They promised me they would take care of you, my beloved audience. I trust them; you should too. Supposedly you can also get these cards mailed to you by visiting www.hollywoodandhighland.com but who trusts these intertubes anyway?

Now, go forth, and celebrate! Today, November 14, is National American Teddy Bear Day. I thought you should know that.

This is Bruce, signing off.

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First, I would like to welcome a new member to our Hollywood family: Dan Shaughnessy. He is our new Director of Sales & Marketing. While he’s new in Hollywood (sorry, ladies, he’s married), he’s a veteran in our industry, with over 20 years of experience in hospitality at hotels and resorts in Rancho Las Palmas, Phoenix, and Marina Del Rey. Most recently, he was Director of Sales for the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa.

Fun facts about Dan: his mother, Ilene Woods, was the voice of Cinderella in Disney’s classic 1950 film and his father, Ed, was the drummer on Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show. A big show-biz background for our newest director… sounds like he’s going to be right at home in Hollywood after all. We just announced his appointment to the media, and I wanted to share this money quote:

“We’re very happy to add Dan to our team,” says General Manager Bruce Gorelick. “His wealth of experience will be a great addition to our current operation and his marketing and sales record really speaks for itself.”

What a dashing young man that Bruce is, even in print… So well-spoken, so articulate. Like a young Abe Lincoln, but more handsome and athletic. Anyhow, I wanted to congratulate Dan on his appointment. I really look forward to working with him.

Finally, I would like to extend hearty congratulations to our former Director of Sales & Marketing, the dear Chris Orr, who is moving on to Baltimore. Good luck, Chris! We’ll miss you!

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This video takes us viewers on a roller coaster ride through the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa and Los Angeles with our guide, Verity, one of our divine cast members from the front desk. It’s a lot of fun, and Verity looks like she’s having a blast. But the best way to really understand the crazy energy of this video is simply to take a look yourself:

Isn’t Verity lovely? And what a hat! After seeing this, I may institute a sombrero-only policy for all cast members here at the hotel. It’s also nice to see that it REALLY IS EASY to use public transportation from our hotel, and it does go FUN PLACES. You can get to Pasadena, Downtown, Manhattan Beach… the list goes on. People forget this in Los Angeles, but we try to keep our lovely guests informed, especially with gas prices as they are.

But once again, well done, Verity! I look forward to the next video, “Verity and the Raiders of Twist’s Lost Kitchen!” Adventure, prestige, gold… flakes on top of flourless chocolate cake. Good fun for the whole family.

This is Bruce, signing off.

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The major problem here is that Michaela Pereira, the Fit to Fitter series, was on vacation. What’s wrong with these people? Don’t they understand the whole concept of vacation? To do nothing!

Michaela, who looks great by the way, takes a few days off and drops by the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa (good), only to bring along her 24 Hour Fitness trainer, Jenna (bad), and then they start doing exercises in the hotel room (aaaghhh!) The horror…

They demonstrate a number of exercises, each more confusing than the last. Honestly, I couldn’t possibly tell you what a “glut” is, and if my life reaches the point where a “supine bridge” is my only escape from certain death, just bring me a stiff drink and show me the door, thank you very much. However, if you’re interested in knowing how to keep fit on vacation, here’s the very “useful” clip, courtesy of KTLA:

While staying fit should not be ridiculed in any medium, even on a personal blog, I hope all you healthy people are happy. You’ve taken over vacations too. Go enjoy your Bicep Dips at the bathtub.  I’m going to be at the bar.

This is Bruce, signing off.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The preceeding post was an illogical rant from our General Manager. Take no heed.

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Real or not, we don’t like to toot our own horn - we’d never stoop to such a level - but recently the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa was written up by rocker-chick-extraordinaire Robin Roth of Rock Over America (link), and her glowing review, it’s our feeling, pretty much summarizes how we feel about the hotel:

I simply loved this awesome hotel, and for so many reasons I would highly recommend it. Its contemporary L.A. residential décor of the ’50s creates a strong sense of context and place that is warm and inviting. I found everything about this hotel from the location to the hotel itself to be a fascinating adventure.

So yes, we’re brilliant. I’m blushing. Then she goes on to praise the hotel’s location, next to so many great shops and near so much Hollywood history. It’s hard being so wonderful.

During her stay at the hotel, Robin also popped by Spa Luce, our brand new spa that opened earlier this year. This rocker chick wasn’t afraid to put up her feet and get pampered:

From the moment I walked through its doors, I felt as though I was transported into an ultra-chic, cave-like, futuristic, calming atmosphere. As corny as it might sound, I literally entered into a sensory journey of bliss, well-being, and tranquil serenity like no other spa I have ever been to in the world.

Kind words, indeed. I mean, I didn’t do anything, Robin, but I’ll pass the compliment along to our divine staff. They deserve all the praise that’s fit to print (or publish on a private blog).

But where was I? Rocker chicks = Awesome. I’m using “awesome” correctly, right? Oh, bother, there’s that Grammy. I just stubbed my toe.

This is Bruce, signing off.

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Here’s what’s important: Midnight Club: LA, the fifth game in the franchise, is coming out on October 7, 2008 for Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. I have no idea what I just said, but I’m sure it sounded very clever. Here’s a trailer for the game:

The game will feature photo-realistic graphics and 3D renderings of the best roadways and landmarks of Los Angeles. This means that all you players out there, as you cruise up and down Highland Boulevard, you’re going to see the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa in fully 3D high-definition splendor. Yes, our dear hotel is making its first supporting role as a Hollywood landmark in a major videogame. Um, w00t!

You can find more information about the game, watch other videos, and see tons of screenshots from the game at the official website (link). Me, I’m just going to go beat my highscore on Tetris.

This is Bruce, signing off.

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AIDS Walk has been an LA institution for over twenty years, which is pretty incredible, and every year, this inspiring event raises millions of dollars for important AIDS education programs and health services. Last year, AIDS Walk LA raised a record $3.9 million, and the event organizers are all hoping that they can break that record this year with the help of the Hollywood community.

A big part of what makes this event possible is the generous support of local businesses, and this year, the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa is doing its part. We’re donating a bunch of guestrooms for all those event organizers and volunteers – many of whom travel from all across the country to help out.

If you’re interested in helping out, click here. There, you can sign up to take part in the walk, join a walking team, and find tips on how to get yourself sponsored. It’s a great cause, and it’s local, which means all the funds raised go to AIDS services right here in LA. What’s better than helping out your local community? And, hey, it’s October in LA: you know the weather’s going to be great… Why not come out?

This is Bruce, signing off.

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James Beard, for the uninitiated, is one of the legendary American chefs of the last century (yes, I’m ancient, I get it). His friends established this foundation in the hope of ensuring a continuing legacy of excellence in the American culinary arts. The foundation has grown tremendously over the last few decades and, in 2004, launched the Celebrity Chef Tour, offering people a chance at a “once-in-a-lifetime” dinner prepared by the foremost culinary masters in the nation.

Chef Appleman is currently Executive Chef and part-owner at the San Francisco restaurant A16. The evening will feature at least five (possibly seven) courses, each paired with a select wine from Souverain Winery, and while he hasn’t yet revealed his menu, Appleman’s specialties include rustic fare from Italy, cured meats, and wood-burning ovens so you better believe this is going to be good.

I can’t quite express how much fun we had at the last James Beard House event we hosted (we had some excitement caused by California forest fires – ask me about it sometime) and I just know this time’s going to be even better!

Co-hosted by our own illustrious Chef Elie Chow, the dinner starts promptly at 7:00 pm and tickets are available for $175.00 per person, with proceeds going to the James Beard Foundation. Buy tickets here. For more information, call 720-201-1853 or check out their website at www.celebritycheftour.com.

Hope to see you all there!

This is Bruce, signing off.

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No one knows about travel trends better than our very own Chris Orr, Director of Marketing & Sales who appeared on Fox network and Fox Business News, discussing how these “staycations” are affecting us at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa. Here’s the money quote:

“We’re noticing that a lot of people are staying closer to home, but luckily we have 6 million people in our backyard, so they’re rediscovering Hollywood as a nice vacation spot where they don’t have to drive.”

Well done, Chris. In another segment, he mentions that the weaker American dollar is leading to a rise in international visitors.

Now, all I have to figure out is why Fox’s Louise Pennell had to interview you ALL THE WAY ACROSS TOWN in Santa Monica. I hope you rode public transit, Chris.

This is Bruce, signing off.

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