Courier June Courier | Page 28

CITY SPOTLIGHT Los Angeles COMPILED BY PAT HENDERSON premier travel destinations, Los Angeles rolls out the red carpet for groups of all sizes,” says Kathryn Smits, vice president, international tourism, travel industry, for Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board. “The city offers signature ‘only-in-L.A.’ experiences that you’d expect from the undisputed entertainment capital of the world.” For more information, contact Tamy Martelli of the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board at [email protected] or visit discoverlosangeles.com. 26 June 2017 City of Stars As Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone danced and sang their way across Los Angeles in the acclaimed 2016 film “La La Land,” they not only captured the hearts of moviegoers but also provided the City of Angels with a major day in the sun. While this wasn’t Los Angeles’ first shining moment on the Silver Screen, “La La Land” artfully show- cased many of the things that make the city enduringly appealing to visitors. “‘La La Land’ beautifully captures the spirit and energy of Los Angeles, and we have been so thrilled to see the film’s representation of the city transmitted into an enthu- siasm to experience it firsthand,” says Smits. Travelers seeking to channel their inner Sebastian and Mia can explore some of the movie’s popular filming sites, such as the following five: Griffith Park The Lighthouse Café The Bridge in Pasadena After a party, Sebastian and Mia take in the spectacular view of the San Fernando Valley from 4,300-acre Griffith Park, where they perform “A Lovely Night.” This Hermosa Beach staple, which has been showcasing live jazz since 1949, was a stop for the movie’s main characters during a big night out. A stop at the Colorado Street Bridge allows travel- ers to re-create Mia and Sebastian’s bridge interlude or discover Pasadena’s other architectural highlights. Griffith Observatory Hermosa Pier As an homage to “Rebel Without a Cause,” Sebastian and Mia visit the Observatory, where an unforgettable scene takes place in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium. After the couple’s visit to The Lighthouse Café, they stroll along the pier over- looking the Pacific Ocean, and Sebastian sings “City of Stars.” “As one of the world’s