Luxury Travel Nightlife Restaurant Chef

Welcome to Awards Central, West Hollywood, California! It’s Sunday, February 22nd, night of the Academy Awards and West Hollywood is rolling out the red carpet.  Located at the base of the Hollywood Hills between Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, West Hollywood is the hip and trendsetting center of Southern California where the stars live, work and play!

As the calendar turns to a new year, the attention of the entertainment community and fans around the world turns to Awards season. Hundreds of millions of movie-lovers tune in to watch the glamorous ceremonies and learn who will receive the highest honors in show business.

journeyPod was there. Listen up for our exclusive interviews with celebs like Candis Cayne, Jodi Lynn OKeefe, Tila Tequila, and Yuvall David.

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Santa Barbara lies on the West Coast of the United States, 92 miles north of Los Angeles and 332 miles south of San Francisco. The area is famous for its beautiful beaches, most of which lie along a unique south-facing stretch of coastline that affords beach visitors sun all day long and greater shelter from winds and surf. But there’s far more here than beaches.

Be sure to check out: State Street, the Santa Barbara County Historic Courthouse, and the Santa Barbara Mission.

Santa Barbara is a very walkable city. You can get everywhere you need to go via foot, the trolley, or public transportation! journeyPod actually took the train—gotta love Amtrak—from Los Angeles. After two hours sipping a nice bottle of Pinot we brought along, the train stopped in the center of downtown Santa Barbara. We walked about seven minutes to our hotel—Hotel Oceana Santa Barbara. (If the name sounds familiar, it’s because journeyPod produced a show on the sister property—Hotel Oceana Santa Monica–last summer. Be sure to check out that podcast as well.)

journeyPod met up with Melissa Treue, the new General manager of this newly renovated beachfront property. Listen up to what she had to say, and then stay tuned for the unique sounds of The Front Street Project and their song, “Nighty Night.”

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journeyPod has teamed with InMotion Entertainment to offer great travel tips and ideas on fun things to do in top destinations around the globe.

Los Angeles is a city of glitz, glamour, limos and lights. Follow along with us as we explore the perfect beach and hotel pool to spend the day bronzing. Favorite ones include Laguna, Venice, Zuma, Manhattan, Hermosa, Santa Monica and Matador. In case you’re inquiring about those lovely swim-up bars… we highly suggest the ones located at the Standard, Beverly Hills Hotel, Mondrian, Peninsula and Chamberlain Hotel pools.

What they say is true “all the stars come out at night” - so get in your finest gear and get ready for these great nightspots! For a true culinary experience we suggest: Mr. Chows, Koi, Katana, Angelini Osteria and The Ivy. Then get ready to party at Sky Bar, The Whisky, LAX, Formosa and The Rooftop Bar at the Standard.

For a full list of our journeyPod picks visit out Los Angeles Destination Guide!

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When you think of Rock-n-roll music - The Doors, Led Zepelin, Guns-n-Roses may come to mind. One of the unique things about these bands is that they all started off in West Hollywood, playing at many clubs on Sunset Strip.  If you are visiting Los Angeles, you owe yourself a trip to this iconic street. So much history and so many stories…if only the sidewalks could talk.

Some of these “glamorous” nightclubs from the 60’s,70’s and 80’s are still around- The Whisky, for example, is where The Doors started as a house band in the late 60’s.

And speaking of stories, The Hyatt on Sunset, better known as “The Riot House” has many stories to tell. If you want to stay at one hotel with history - you gotta stay here!

The notorious hotel is currently going through a major renovation- which includes replacing the notorious balconies - that’s right no more balconies for Axl Rose to BBQ from and then throw steaks at the people walking below (true story from 1986).

journeyPod had the opportunity to tour this iconic property as is - before the renovation. We were also fortunate to stay in the famed Suite 905 - also known as the “Robert Plant Suite” - one of the most photographed suites in Hollywood. Photographers are happy just to get a picture of the outside of the door. Apparently in 1975 Robert Plant was quoted saying, “I am a golden god!” from the balcony during an interview. One evening Keith Moon, drummer of the Who, climbed from his suite to serve him a cocktail.

Enjoy the appropriate sounds of Indigo Shadow and their song, “Window Riot”.

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journeyPod is your guide to luxury travel around the world.

Hello fellow jet-setters, we are in West Hollywood! Just a short 20 minute drive from LAX airport and another 30 minutes from downtown Los Angeles, West Hollywood is very accessible.  And with so many fun and crazy things to do in West Hollywood, you could spend days here!

Shopping, dining, celeb watchingâ.West Hollywood has it all. Did you know thatWest Hollywood is one of the top 10 most filmed sites in the world! With over 150 restaurants, 14 hotels, and unique features like the Sunset Strip and Pacific Design Center, West Hollywood shines in front of a camera.

West Hollywoodâs 1.9 square miles are home to unparalleled historic venues, incredible views, and access to the most desirable locations in Los Angeles. When in West Hollywood, there are plenty of opportunities to whet your appetite.  A few journeyPod picks include: Asia de Cuba at Mondrian, Mels Drive-In, and Sushiya. But the journeyPod pick is The Palm. journeyPod had a lovely dinner with George Gilio, the General Manager of The Palm, West Hollywood, and got the inside scoop!

Enjoy the cool sounds of Caruseo and their song, “Palma Summer Nights.”

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The second annual LA Wine Fest floated into Long Beach Harbor on the Queen Mary June 30th- July 1st. journeyPod attended this groundbreaking event that is the largest consumer-oriented wine festival now taking place annually in the Los Angeles area.

Held on The Queen Mary, more than 110 wineries participated in this gala event. California wines headline the festivities and tasting, with wines from all around the globe, including: Australia, Europe, South America and Africa.

Food to complement the wine was provided by some of the area’s most intriguing restaurants, including: L’Opera Ristorante, and La Creperie.

During the event sommelier and wine making programs were hosted as well. These symposiums offered an interesting education on the world of wines for both the novice and knowledgeable wine enthusiasts.

LA Wine Fest benefits the Hollywood Wilshire YMCA and in preparing to assist a campaign for the Children’s Tumor Foundation.

journeyPod had the unique opportunity to walk the Ballroom of the Queen Mary with the event organizer, Joel Fisher.   Joel’s impressive resume includes: wine columnist for the American Culinary Federation Los Angeles’ Culinary Connection, editor of the Vineyard Report, wine educator for the Art Institute of Los Angeles, member of the Bon Appetite Magazine and Patterson’s Tasting Panels.

Enjoy the bluesy sounds of Johnny Ferriera and his song, “Wine Woman Song.”

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journeyPod is your guide to luxury travel around the world. 

West Hollywoodâs 1.9 square miles encapsulates the best of all Los Angeles has to offer! Equidistant from both the Pacific Coast and downtown LA, West Hollywood is a visitorâs paradise. Whether your plans include a trip to Hollywood, Rodeo Drive or a beachside stroll, WeHo (as the locals say) is ideally situated for both exploring by car or meandering by foot all of the gems Southern California has to offer.

Why not start the day with a tasty LA Breakfast out? Options WeHo-style include local finds such as Dukes Coffee Shop, Hugoâs or Joeyâs Cafe, favorite hang-outs for people in the film and music industries. Or visit the Standard Hotelâs Restaurant, with its savvy, Sunset Strip take on coffee shop fare to satisfy your appetite for trendy spots serving great food.

It wouldnât be West Hollywood without a party! And youâll find it on the Sunset Strip. Venues range from The Roxy, Whisky a Go-Go, Viper Room, Key Club, House of Blues and beyond. All hotels on the Sunset Strip feature a bar or cocktail lounge with trendy scenes, especially SkyBar at Mondrian, Boa at Grafton and the Lounge at the Standard.

For a great dinner, and a possible run-in with Tommy Lee or Leonardo DiCaprio, head for Blowfish Sushi To Die For.  journeyPod enjoyed an extensive tasting and got some inside scoop on this great restaurant.  Take a listenâ

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journeyPod is your guide to luxury travel around the world. We give you VIP access to the hippest hotels, hottest nightlife and coolest restaurants.

Come along as we explore where Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers used to practice their dance moves.  The Royale has plenty of celebrity history to entertain you and great food to keep you coming back for more.

There are an amazing number of museums in the greater Los Angeles area:  Historic museums, cultural and art museums, movie and car museums, marine museums - you name it. Many of them are centrally located on Wilshire Boulevard.

There’s something for everyone’s taste. Make a day of it and eat dinner in one of the nearby restaurants.

La Fonda de los Camperos is a Mexican eatery open since 1969 that hosts nightly performances by the Grammy-nominated mariachi band Los Camperos. The heavily local and Latino audience whistles and hollers at the seven-piece group from plush booths on the ground floor and in the cozy balcony.

But, the journeyPod pick for best restaurant around Museum Row is hidden inside the historic 1920s Wilshire Royale Hotel.  Simply called Royale, this swanky spot features a cool cocktail lounge, a black slate bar, a 35-seat circular booth, and lush patio. The dining room’s soaring columns offset original white Italian marble and hand-carved French oak. Rumour have it that Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers once danced in the Ballroom, which is now the restaurant’s dining room.

Museums and dining await!  Sit back and enjoy the sounds of Aubergine, an electronic music trio based in Fort Worth, Texas and their song, Royale.

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journeyPod is your guide to luxury travel around the world. We give you VIP access to the hippest hotels, hottest nighlife and coolest restaurants.

As sip becomes hip, more and more wine bars are pouring onto the LA scene. This boom in intimate, dark places to sip Brunello di Montalcino and chat over Petite Syrah, is driven in particular by young people’s enthusiasm for wine, and by a rise in wine popularity across all age groups because of greater availability and affordability.

Wine is undergoing a popularization in Los Angeles that’s making it appeal to a wider range of ages and income levels. Wine bars are becoming a nightlife trend, following the martini and cigar-bar crazes of the last decade.

Many bars and restaurants in the area are making wine a priority.  BottleRock in Culver City is a wine bar and shop, offering many interesting, eclectic selections from around the globe.  At Lou they have a fun list that changes about every six weeks to reflect the changing seasons. The food is secondary, almost an afterthought.

The journeyPod pick for best wine bar in Los Angeles is Bin 8945. Bin8945 is so much more than a wine bar —  it can be described as a hip, modern European bistro designed around the pairing of wine and food.  journeyPod sat down with owner, David Haskell, to discuss his new one-of-a-kind experience called Bin8945. 

Drink more wine: It’s not just for special occasions; it can be a part of everyday life!  And as your sipping, enjoy the smooth sounds of My Virtual Band and their song, Red Wine.

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journeyPod is your guide to luxury travel around the world. We give you VIP access to the hippest hotels, hottest nighlife and coolest restaurants.

Believe it or not, people have been manicuring their nails for more than 4,000 years. Originating in China in 3,000 BC, nail color indicated one’s social status — according to a Ming dynasty manuscript, royal fingernails were painted black and red. The Egyptians also colored their nails, using red to show the highest social class. It is said that Cleopatra’s nails were painted a deep red, whereas Queen Nefertiti went with a flashier ruby shade. In ancient Egypt and Rome, military commanders also painted their nails to match their lips before they went off to battle.

When you are in Los Angeles you have a choice of at least six nail salons on every block, in every neighborhood.  If you are ready for a truly unique experience and a different approach to manicures, head to the place where the celebrities trust their hands and feet–Jessica’s Nails.

Amid the chic boutiques and busy restaurants of the Sunset Strip, an elegant canopy marks your arrival at Jessica Nail Clinic, a nails-only salon which is almost as famous as the people who come here.

Our journeyPod staff had the honor of speaking with owner, Jessica Vartoughian, while experiencing this truly different approach to nail care.  Afterall, Jessica has manicured Nancy Reagan, Princess Diana, just to name a few. 

Sit, back, and be pampered while enjoying the song Girls Night Out by group, One Minute of Mercy.

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