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HOTEL ERWIN

• By ARLENE WINNICK

Ask any tourist visiting LA and they all want to go to the beach but not just any beach, the iconic Venice Beach.  If a beach could be a cultural icon, then Venice beach is it. But getting close to it can be a hassle unless you know a little secret and that my fellow Angelenos is the Hotel Erwin. This is the place to soak up all that is LA particularly if you are a local looking for the perfect peaceful staycation.

Let’s start with the view of the Pacific Ocean and clear skies from their intimate High Rooftop Lounge.  Soak in the whole frenetic seaside scene; wait for the epic sunsets and stay around for a nightcap under the stars. It’s got it all – and yes there’s cold beer, craft cocktails (inspired by the Door’s Music anthology and a homage to rip Crock’s giant mural with Jim Morrison just a few doors down) at their extremely cool rooftop bar (High) and lots of good food – their New York inspired Pizza will blow you away and now they’re serving weekend brunch.

The landmark hotel was created in 1975 by Erwin Sokol to celebrate the surf culture and bohemian vibe of the city. Remodeled in 2017 designers kept the original vibe but brought a modern sensibility to the place. Lots of vintage photos from old Venice line the walls.

Check out their special deals for locals. Book now!

CICLAVIA SOUTH LA

• By KENNE HOFFMAN

On Sunday, December 5, the streets of South Los Angeles will once again be opened for cycling enthusiasts and Angelenos to enjoy as CicLAvia returns to Southern CA. The event is not just open to cyclists. Participants can ride, bike, skate, run, walk, skateboard, and any other human powered transportation method. It is all about getting people out and about the city to enjoy all that LA has to offer throughout South Central, Exposition Park, Leimert Park, and Crenshaw. All ages and levels of ability are welcome. CicLAvia is a free event with streets closed to auto traffic from 9am to 4pm. This is not a race and there is no official starting point or finish line. Begin where you like and enjoy the day your way. CicLAvia will be following LA County Health guidelines, so everyone is encouraged to bring a mask.

Explore the parks, Rancho Cienega Recreation Center,andExposition Park(and Expo Park Rose Garden), Martin Luther King, Jr. Park,andCentral Avenue Jazz Park. There will be an abundance of art, murals, and culture along the route showcasing some of the most talented painters in the world. There are plenty of points of history and education like the California Science Center and the Natural History Museum. Do not miss the food trucks and booths and the shops and eateries with dishes you may not find anywhere else.

For map of route and details, click here.

SING 2

• By RICH ANDREW
• Photo Courtesy of UNIVERSAL

Writer-director Garth Jennings is amping up the competition amongst the creatures of Calatonia with his charming animated sequel to Sing. We last left koala Buster Moon and his band of all stars with a hit show that saved his theater from ruin. Now tasked with producing the biggest spectacle at the Crystal Tower Theater, the hottest venue in the sin city of Redshore, Buster and friends set out to pull off the impossible — coax rock legend turned recluse lion Clay Calloway back into the spotlight. As the cast prepares for a theatrical extravaganza full of big dance numbers and even bigger acrobatic stunts, overcoming their personal fears and failures along the way, it falls to punk rocker porcupine Ash to track down Calloway and beg him to perform. But no matter what she says, Calloway struggles to muster the courage, still mourning the loss of his wife. Ultimately, it becomes the magic of music that reminds them all of the power inside themselves. With the star-studded vocal stylings of Matthew McConaughey (The Gentlemen), Taron Egerton (Rocketman), Tori Kelly (The Masked Singer), Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show), Nick Kroll (Dickinson), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Bobby Cannavale (The Watcher), Halsey (A Star is Born), Eric André (Archer), Pharrell Williams (The Grinch), and the iconic Bono (Pandemica), Sing 2 promises to top the charts.

“Sing 2” hits theaters on December 22.

The Go-Go’s

• By Arlene Winnick

The legendary 80’s all-girl band, THE GO-GOs are back. Their record-breaking live concert tour will be at LA Live’s Microsoft Theatre on December 29 and there’s lots to celebrate following their much-deserved and much-delayed induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. And yes, they got the whole band back together:  Belinda Carlisle (lead vocals), Charlotte Caffey (lead guitar, keyboards, vocals), Gina Schock (drums, percussion, vocals), Kathy Valentine (bass guitar, vocals) and Jane Wiedlin (rhythm guitar, vocals). These amazing artists haven’t aged at all.

 A little history – THE GO-GO’S were a LA rock band who broke the glass industry ceiling and paved the way for other female entertainers when in 1982, their debut album Beauty and the Beat topped the Billboard chart making history as the first multi-platinum all-female band to play their own instruments, write their own songs and be #1 on the charts (for 6+ weeks). That album featured “Our Lips Are Sealed” and “We Got The Beat” two of the band’s Hot 100 hits. Other signature songs were “Vacation,” “Cool Jerk” and “Head Over Heels” which was the title of a Broadway show featuring their music.

The band broke up in 1985 after a tumultuous few years but reunited in the 1990’s. In 2020, the band released a documentary THE GO-GO’S chronicling their rise to fame and resurrection earning them a new generation of fans.

To purchase tickets, click here.