Destination: Los Angeles, CA

My Trip:

I’ve only been to LA for work related matters (for the most part), and it’ fun to walk around and tell everyone that I’m “in the business”. Of course, EVERYONE’S in the business, so no one cares. With the mountains to one side and the ocean to the other LA is a lot prettier than I had imagined, and never once have I witnessed the infamous “smog”. I always stay at the Santa Monica Beach Hotel, a politely priced place that lets me wake up with a view of the Pacific. That, my friends, cannot be beat. Of course, when I’m there, I just gotta do all that touristy stuff I’ve always heard about – visit Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (see a blockbuster there – the screen’s huge!), take a trek on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to find my favorite or least-favorite star, tour one of the studios (the Universal tour was especially cool). When I’m going off the beaten track I take in a performance of The Groundlings for a guaranteed laugh, or stop by The Dresden for a couple of drinks and to awe at the stylings of Marty and Elaine who were immortalized in the movie “Swingers” (they have to be seen to be believed), or maybe call Audiences Unlimited and score a ticket for the taping a TV show. A personal favorite that I insist you partake is a drive along the coast of Malibu. Of course, the traffic is horrendous no matter what time of day you get behind the wheel, but as long as you know that and accept it, everything will be AOK.

Erik Hastings

©2007 Scripted Improv Media Inc