Hollywood, Silver Lake

A trip to Los Angeles wouldn't be complete without visiting Hollywood, well known for its prominent film industry. There are a lot of attractions in Hollywood district and these are some of the places we explored:

1. Hollywood Sign
2. Griffith Observatory
3. Take a stroll at Silver Lake
4. Coffee Time at Intelligentsia Coffee, Silver Lake 
5. Explore Hollywood Walk of Fame & TCL Chinese Theatre
6. Dinner at Johnny Rockets next to TCL Chinese Theater

HOLLYWOOD SIGN

The Hollywood Sign is an American landmark and one of the world's most well known monuments. The sign was erected in December 1923, it started as a temporary billboard for real estate development called Hollywoodland. 

On December 18, 1944, the Hollywoodland tract developers, then known as the M. H. Sherman Company decided to donate the remaining undeveloped land, consisting of 425 acres, to the City of Los Angeles. Hollywood is then added to the Griffith Park acreage in 1945 under the management of the Park Commission.

In 1973 the Sign was designated as Historic-Cultural Monument #111 by the Cultural Heritage Board of the City of Los Angeles. 

A crude road was established by scraping away the brush on the hillside, enabling a tractor to haul most of the materials, including the 60-foot telephone-type poles that would serve as the Sign's support posts, to within about 75 yards of the site.

GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY

Another icon of Los Angeles is Griffith Observatory opened on May 1935. It all started with a dream of one man, Griffith Jenkins Griffith after looking through the 60-inch telescope at Mount Wilson. The experience moved him profoundly to believed that if all mankind could look through that telescope, it would enlightened them and change the world.

Astronomers Monument and Sundial

Upon arrival at Griffith Observatory, you will be greeted with a large concrete sculpture on the front lawn - the Astronomers Monument and Sundial. 

The monument was built to pay homage to six of the greatest astronomers of all time. The six astronomers represent:

1. The Greek Astronomer Hipparchus (about 125 B.C.)
2. Nicolaus Copernicus (1473 - 1543)
3. Galileo Galilei (1564 - 1642)
4. Johannes Kepler (1571 - 1630
5. Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727)
6. John Herschel (1738 - 1822)

The admission to the grounds, building and telescope of Griffith Observatory is Free. However, you will need to pay for a ticket to enter the building.

The observatory is the best vantage point for observing the world famous Hollywood sign. 

Zeiss Telescope

Located in the roof-top dome on the building's east end, the Zeiss telescope is intended mainly for nighttime viewing by the general public.

Foucalt Pendulum

The Foucault Pendulum in the W.M. Keck Foundation Central Rotunda is an elegant scientific instrument mounted to a bearing in the Rotunda ceiling, that swings in a constant direction while the Earth turns beneath it.

 

SILVER LAKE

We headed to a nearby neighborhood, Silver Lake to take a stroll and grab a coffee there. This popular neighborhood gives me a very artsy and hipster vibe with lots of boutique shopping.

Nearby Coffee Shop: Intelligentsia Coffee 

This coffee shop is definitely worth the visit! 

HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME

Next, we went to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. There are some requirements in order to get a star on the Walk of Fame:

1. Celebrities have to be famous for at least five years & produce something iconic.
2. Have to be nominated by someone to get a star on the Walk of Fame.
3. Once they are nominated, they can choose if they want to have a star or NOT.
4. The application must include a letter of agreement from the nominee or his/ her manager.
5. Each star applications costs $40,000 sponsorship fee once accepted. Half goes to the Hollywood Historic Trust, which maintains the Walk of Fame, and the rest of the funds covers the creation of the star including installing and maintaining the star, which is made of terrazzo and brass.

Muhammad Ali was given a star in 2002 and he is the only one you cannot step on. His star was installed in the wall of the Dolby Theatre because the legendary athlete didn't want his name walked on by people and it is disrespectful for him.

TCL CHINESE THEATRE

TCL Chinese Theatre is a movie palace in Hollywood opened on May 18, 1927. It was declared a historic landmark that features a number of major movie premieres and also hosted The Oscars.

The theatre rises 90-feet high and two gigantic coral red columns topped by wrought iron masks hold aloft the bronze rood. Between the columns is a 30-foot high dragon carved from stone and guarding the theatre's entrance are the two original giant Heaven Dogs imported from China. The inside of the theater is decorated with authentic treasures hand-selected from China y Sid Grauman himself.

As you stroll down the street, you will find the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. It is the closest hotel to TCL Chinese Theater. 

The hotel first opened its doors in 1927 and hosted the first Academy Awards in 1929. Marilyn Monroe used to stay at the second-floor Cabana suite for two years, apparently the hotel have a lot of haunted stories if you read it online.

Nearby Restaurant: Johnny Rockets

Johnny Rockets is located in Hollywood & Highland just right next to TCL Chinese Theater.