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tagged: America, Chinese Theatre, Double Bay, Film Financier, Hollywood, Hornsby Westfield, Hustler Headquarters, Justin Browne, Killara, Los Angeles, Melrose Place, Travel Writing, Urban Outfitters, WestfieldThoughts on the American Experience: Part II
Posted by Claire Connelly in Politics, Religion, Travel
I am never again shopping in Australia. Purely online only.
I LOVE LA and I don’t know why it has such a bad reputation with Australians.
It definitely helps to know someone, having the social hook-up makes things a lot easier when you are in LA and I can understand why people find it overwhelming and hostile. It’s difficult to meet people in the states, especially if you’re a guy.
HOWEVER, the people in LA were the friendliest I’ve met in any city so I don’t know what everyone is complaining about.
The weather is awesome, there’s heaps to do, great shopping and lots of little niches split up all over the city – much like Sydney. People are finally going green and reducing smog emissions (and increasing smug emissions, South Park anyone?) Seriously folks, what is there to complain about?
Burbank is not the ‘hole’ I was expecting it to be. (Who lied?)
Picture the ‘downtown’ shopping area as the love-child of Hornsby Westfield and Double Bay, and throw in a Killara cousin living on the suburban outskirts. Really nice. Beautiful weather. Lovely shops and restaurants accompany the palm tree lined streets.
Cool stuff I did in LA that I haven’t been bothered to write about:
- Attended a party in a Hollywood Hills mansion hosted by a millionaire: My dear friend Farrell, who is slowly but surely taking over the Hollywood Film Industry generously invited me to attend a party hosted by the Bartenders Guild.
They basically get an alcohol company to sponsor the party, threw on some wicked Mexican food and lounge music, and invite the who’s who of Hollywood.
The weather was HOT, real hot.
People mingled around the pool, searching for patches of shade, drank, staring longingly at the pool, generally enjoying each others company in the late afternoon of one of the most perfect days of summer.
I was disappointed that the people there weren’t more obnoxious – it would have made for a better story: bitching about unprecedented wealth and the kids who exploit it, but unfortunately, they were just too damn nice!
- Met Hollywood film financier Justin Browne: Again, Farrel had the hook up – this dude is connected!
Justin was nice enough, perhaps slightly more obnoxious than the mansion dwellers, but again – just too nice to write about.
Any people interested in trying to get a script looked at?
This is your guy.
- Visited the crazies at Chinese Theatre: Met Jesus. He’s a lot older than I envisioned. Stay tuned for pictures of random costumed characters with their back to me.
- Cruised Melrose: I am an effing rock star.
- Swung by Hustler Headquarters: You could practically here the screams down the block.
- Hung out with Roxanne!!!!! The reasons surrounding Roxanne’s impromptu visit to the states are unfortunate, but I’m really glad that she is the last person I hung out with in the states before heading home.
We took lunch in Burbank, sipped cocktails, and did some last minute shopping at Urban Outfitters where we bought awesome MATCHING HATS!
We’ll be rockin’ the summer fashions long before it hits Sydney’s shores!
The weather in LA varies significantly depending upon where you are.
It’s insane.
The temperature up in the hills can be between 10-20 degrees higher than the rest of LA, and Santa Monica can get 10-20 degrees lower than the rest of LA.
Oh, and by the way – that haze that accumulates above LA in the morning is not, as you claim , “cloud cover”.
Clouds do not “burn off” by mid-morning.
Clouds don’t burn for that matter.
It either rains, (winds might redirect them somewhat), but mostly they linger and accumulate until it storms.
The haze you are referring to is what we in the rest of the world calls “smog.”
Anyway… Claire’s Amazing American Adventure was one of the most difficult, and rewarding trips I have ever taken.
Though I was plagued by homesickness a lot of the time, I am really glad I came here.
I learned a lot about myself and I had an absolute blast.
I’ll miss you guys so much but I’ll definitely be back.
In the mean time, start putting your money away:
Vegas 2010 anyone?!
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I remember the atmospheric conversation to which you refer in this article. However, I remember it differently. I think I said the opposite- Clouds DO burn and can accumulate over the city. It’s called the marine layer and is not brown like smog, but grey like clouds which, incidentally, burn off.
No no, it wasn’t our conversation lovely, it was the conversations I had with many LA locals.