I didn't watch the Oscars, but I'd like to see an actual award...

Last night the Oscars were held at the Kodak Theatre, and I couldn't have cared less.  I saw that Hollywood was setting up for the awards show 2 weeks ago when I was in California for the NBA All-Star festivities.  Believe it or not, I actually thought the stands that were set up were for the Kobe Bryant event at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.  ****  I'm totally serious.  The upcoming Oscars had completely escaped me, and there was even a huge sign that I missed.

Even though I'm not that into the awards show and missed watching it, since the New York Knicks were playing the Miami Heat, I must admit that it would be nice to hold an Oscar one day.  I solicited my friends for a picture of a Grammy Award for a post I did earlier this year, and my friend, Tracy, said she had a picture of herself with an Oscar (i.e. post awards ceremony at Chateau Marmont). 

Ok, immediately I was curious.  What a lucky girl!  This is Tracy and she is posing with an Oscar was for the movie, CRASH which won three Oscars in 2005 (i.e. Best Film, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Screenplay).  The man in the picture won the Oscar for Best Film Editing.  Not too shabby! 

Maybe if I decide to go "Hollywood" I'll start paying more attention to the Oscars...  I doubt it, though.  There will probably be a game on. 

Don't get me wrong.  I love movies.  I saw Black Swan, The Fighter and The Social Network.  I liked The Social Network the best.  I actually watched The Fighter after watching Black Swan on the same day, and I thought Black Swan was overrated.  The Fighter was interesting to me for a number of reasons, but primarily because I'd actually been to Lowell, MA.  The city plays a distinct character in the movie, similar to New York City in Sex and the City.

One thing I learned from last night's awards ceremony, I need to watch The King's Speech.

THE WIRK

Kobe Bryant's concrete slab at Grauman's Chinese Theatre ~ Take the Tour

One of Kobe's practice slabs

Kobe Bryant is the first athlete to be honored outside of Grauman's Chinese Theatre and I wanted to see his concrete slab.  Kobe's footprints and handprints are being housed inside the theatre so the only way to see them is to buy a ticket for the movie or take the tour.  I opted for the tour, and since I was the only one who bought a ticket, I basically had a private tour guide.

Since I had individual attention, I was able to ask plenty of questions and move through the tour and my own pace.  My tour guide was very knowledgeable and even gave me a coupon to lessen my ticket price.  As we started the tour, we entered the theater and I could see the Chinese theme.  ****  Did you know there's an Egyptian theater also? I didn't.

Immediately I beelined to the front of the theatre for the Kobe Bryant slab of concrete.  Did you know that the honoree practices on three slabs before given a chance to "work on" the larger slab that will go outside?  I didn't.  For Kobe's practice ones, he only did his hands.  For the official one, he did both his hands and his feet.

With a flash you can see the concrete on the red carpet

Kobe's official slab at Grauman's Chinese Theatre ~ hands and feet



Kobe Bryant's official slab and the 3 practice slabs on concrete

I'm not going to tell you everything I learned on the tour, because frankly I don't remember it.  I do think it's an interesting tour though, especially if you like movies.  In college, I took "Introduction to Theater and Film", and it was interesting to learn more about some of the actors and films from that course in relation to Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

Cameron Diaz sat in this seat

Rita Hayworth's hands look like chicken feet, they're so small!

The tour also includes a trip upstairs to a more modern theater with more modern technology.  Ever sat in a seat with D-Box technology?  I did.  It's very cool and now I wish more theatres had it.  The seat moves to go along with the action on the screen!

Grauman's Chinese Theatre is easily accessible by Metro.  I started my trip at the 7th Street Station and took the red line to Hollywood and Highland.  It cost me $3 round trip and the ride is approximately 20 minutes one-way.  I'm usually not one to take public transportation, but this trip was very easy and a great way to avoid LA traffic.

THE WIRK

2010 MLB All-Star Game Mickey Mouse Scavenger Hunt Completed

It took about 3 days and 30+ hours, but I did it!  I found all the 2010 MLB All-Star Mickey Mouse statues in Southern California.  There are 36 total.  The list of statues that you find on-line and Hertz Never Lost is NOT enough to get you to all the correct locations.  You're going to need Google Maps also.  For those of you that don't know (i.e. I didn't), the Disneyland Esplanade is a fancy way of saying the entrance to the Disneyland parks.  You don't need a ticket to get in, but you will need to get your bag checked if you want to walk through the entrance to get to the other entrance side (i.e. unless you want to go around, but I have no idea how/why you'd do that).  For that location you can park in the 15 minute parking area, so you don't have to pay.

I made 35 friends, since I had to ask people to take the pics of me (i.e. except at the Newport Sports Museum, where there was no one to be found on a Sunday afternoon).

I walked deep into the Orange County Park/Zoo area at night to get to the Chicago Cubs Mickey, since the office was closed.  I don't recommend doing that though, because the walk is a little scary when it's dark.

I found a friendly mall cop in Orange, who let me into the mall after hours to take a picture.

I nearly killed myself in Anaheim, when the Hertz Never Lost told me to make a left, and I did - but it was a green light and not a green arrow.  The Anaheim Police Officer, saw that I was sorry, and he let me go after he ran my license.

For the LA locations if you're smart, just pull into the valet of the hotels and tell them what you're there to do, and they probably won't make you pay for parking (i.e. I didn't have to).

If you have any specific questions about where the Mickeys are, comment me and I'll help you out.

Doing this hunt was a fun experience and I was able to see a lot of Southern California.

Day 1:
Rancho Cucamonga
Newport Beach
Laguna Beach
Irvine
Tustin
Santa Ana
Costa Mesa
Huntington Beach <-- I couldn't find this on my Hertz map, so I lost time going back to it.
Long Beach
Garden Grove
Orange

Day 2:
Hollywood
Los Angeles
Santa Monica

****  While in Hollywood, I got caught up in a Top Chef Tour Live taping and had the chance to see Eli Kirshtein and Hosea Rosenberg in action.  It's no secret I like tall, bald guys ~ but microwave sponge cake...  Who knew?!?!

Also, in Hollywood, I've decided that I'm ready for my star on the Walk of Fame, and evidently so is Hollywood!  I was driving back from New Jersey a couple of weekends ago and my Iphone started playing Phil Collins.  I heard "Groovy Kind of Love" and "Sussudio", and almost hurled my phone out of the window.  Just saying...

I used to be a fan, I guess...

This should read, "The Wirk"

Day 3:

Anaheim

HAVE FUN!!!

 

THE WIRK