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Glendale News Food/Drink

A Guide to Happy Hours in Glendale

Dave's on Broadway offers a fantastic happy hour with inexpensive drinks and complimentary hot dogs.
Dave’s on Broadway offers a fantastic happy hour with inexpensive drinks and complimentary hot dogs.

With summer comes perfect weather, longer days and the need to feel like you are on vacation at all times. Happy hours are the perfect way to relax after a long day of work and we have provided a guide to a few great happy hours in Glendale.

Katsuya (702 Americana Way)

Katsuya located in the Americana offers a happy hour Monday through Friday from 5PM to 7PM. This modern Asian lounge is conveniently located in the mall, so you can enjoy a movie and shopping before sitting down to some drinks and snacks. The Burning Mandarin cocktail with Serrano chili is drink favorite here, partnered with their crispy Brussels sprouts and hand-cut sushi rolls. Something to note, happy hour is served on the outside patio.

Dave’s on Broadway (708 E Broadway)

Dave’s is one of Glendale’s most iconic bars and can be recognized by the vintage neon sign outside. This cozy dive bar was established in 1934 and can be heard playing your favorite from the 70s. Happy hour is daily from 4PM to 7PM, and during those three wonderful hours you can enjoy $2 beers, $3 well drinks and complimentary hot dogs.

Check in throughout the summer as we share more secrets of Glendale’s happy hours!

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Hollywood News Movies/Television

Rocky and Bullwinkle leave Hollywood

The Rocky and Bullwinkle statue was first erected on Sunset Blvd in 1951.
The Rocky and Bullwinkle statue was first erected on Sunset Blvd in 1961.

Rocky and Bullwinkle have been inhabitants of Hollywood’s Sunset Strip for 52 years and last week we were sad to see them go. The landmark statue had a large crack in it and needed to be removed in order to attempt to refurbish it. Dreamworks is the current owner of the property and ordered the crane that removed Bullwinkle and his small squirrel friend, Rocky. The statue is said to need some freshening up in true Hollywood style and it will be a surprise where we see our favorite duo pop up next in Hollywood.

The Rocky and Bullwinkle statue first went up in 1961 in front of what was then Jay Ward Productions, who produced the animated show. “The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show” was an animated television series that first premiered in 1959 and ended in 1964. The two main characters were Rocket “Rocky” J. Squirrel and his best friend Bullwinkle J. Moose. The flying squirrel and dim-witted, but good natured moose went on adventures together and became a great duo that America fell in love with.

The statue was located on Sunset Boulevard, on the cross street Marmont Lane. Cement disks surrounded the statue that displayed signatures and elbow prints of the cartoon’s writers in a “Walk of Fame”-style.  

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Movies/Television

Shark Week is Back for the Summer

Shark Week starts on Sunday, August 4th on the Discovery Channel.
Shark Week starts on Sunday, August 4th on the Discovery Channel.

With the recent obsession over Syfy’s “Sharknado” in social media, the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week has come at just the right time. The network’s yearly Shark Week starts on Sunday, August 4th and will include 7 days of television programs purely about sharks. This fun-filled week of sharks first started in 1987 and this weekend will mark their 27th year. This year’s slogan is “It’s a Bad Week to be a Seal” and has been promoted through their Snuffy the Seal campaign on YouTube.

Shark Week will include 11 hours of new programming made just for Shark Week, with sensational titles such as “Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives,” “Sharkpocolypse” and “Voodoo Sharks.” Discovery Channel has also expanded the programming to include a new late-night live talk show that will recap highlights each night. This new addition, “Shark after Dark,” will be hosted by comedian Josh Wolf who will infuse humor into America’s much anticipated week of sharks. In 2011, Shark Week was hosted by Andy Samberg who was a big hit because of his comedy and high profile. Last year’s host was Philip DeFranco, but this year’s official host has not been announced yet.

Shark Week takes place every summer and was originally developed to raise awareness and respect for sharks. People are intrigued by these dangerous marine animals, and Discovery Channel has made an outlet for people to learn more about them and enjoy a lighthearted humor that surrounds the entire event. Last year, Shark Week brought in a cumulative 21.4 million of viewers, up from the 18.6 million in 2011. Last year, Discovery Channel also took the 18-49 demographic for non-scripted cable networks that week.

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Glendale News Movies/Television

ABC Television Screening at The Americana

ABC presents Sneak Peek Night at The Americana at Brand.
ABC presents Sneak Peek Night at The Americana at Brand.

One of the largest television networks, ABC will be hosting an event at The Americana at Brand. On Saturday, August 3rd, ABC will present Sneak Peek Night, which will include free outdoor screenings of three brand new ABC comedies before their premiere dates this fall. The event starts at 7:00PM on The Green and the screenings include new series Back in the Game, The Goldbergs and Trophy Wife. The event is free and open to the public, and the screenings are scheduled to start at 8:00PM.

Back in the Game’s series premiere is September 25th and will continue to air throughout the fall on Wednesdays at 8:30PM. This show is a sitcom that follows a former All-Star softball player whose promising professional sports career comes to an end when she has a son, loses her college scholarship and dumps her loser husband.

The Goldberg’s will first premiere on television on September 24th and will be a Tuesday night show that airs at 9:00PM weekly.  The show is a comedy that is set in the 1980s and follows The Goldberg family as they try to survive in a decade filled with bright colors, no computers and over-sized sweaters.

Trophy Wife is scheduled to air on Tuesday nights at 9:30PM after The Goldberg’s and will make its first debut on September 24th. The sitcom will revolve around a reformed party girl who marries a guy she meets at a karaoke bar and who must now learn to deal with his two ex-wives and their children.

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Glendale News

Meatball the Bear will be Riding in the Float Parade

Glendale's submission for the 2014 Rose Parade.
Glendale’s submission for the 2014 Rose Parade.

Glendale has been brainstorming what their next float will be in the 2014 Rose Parade, and they may have come to a decision. Meatball the bear first gained notoriety when he was found in a Glendale garage eating Costco meatballs over a year ago, and he quickly became a media sensation. The City Council was scheduled to meet to review the float design that is said to contain an animatronic Meatball moving in and out of a trashcan while being surrounded by other wildlife creatures.

The 2014 parade’s theme will be “Dreams Come True” and the float design under review is named “Let’s be Neighbors.” This float idea goes along with the idea of conserving nature and living in harmony with our surrounding wildlife. Meatball has become an icon of Glendale and its coexistence with nature. The bear was actually captured several different times last year and would be re-released deep into the Los Angeles National Forest. Each time he would return to the foothill neighborhood where he would be spotted foraging for food. This last encounter in a resident’s garage booked him a ticket to a wildlife sanctuary in Alpine.

This float design will mark Glendale’s 100th entry into the New Year’s Day parade and it’s most expensive in years. The city has set aside $155,000 for the large project, but officials have also set up a donation program to raise more money for the event. Their current goal is to raise $75,000.

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Glendale News

August’s Perseid Meteor Shower

The Perseid Meteor Shower is a spectacle that can be witnessed once a year during the summer months.
The Perseid Meteor Shower is a spectacle that can be witnessed once a year during the summer months.

Glendale — Glendale invites you to enjoy a night under the stars! The City of Glendale Community Services & Parks Department is hosting a special event on August 10th to view the Perseid Meteor Shower. The shower is a yearly occurrence in the summer months, typically starting in mid-July and reaching its peak in early to mid-August. The Community Services & Parks Department’s program will start at 9PM at the Deukmejian Wilderness Park’s Amphitheater with a slide presentation by the Burbank Sidewalk Astronomers, which will cover meteors, asteroids, comets and other space matter that falls from the sky. Shortly following this presentation, the Burbank Sidewalk Astronomers invite you to use their telescopes to enjoy the sights of a warm, summer night. This is sure to be a fun filled informational night that offers a chance to see the once-a-year spectacle that is the Perseid Meteor Shower.

The Perseid Meteor Shower is considered one of the most beloved meteor showers of the year, as the Northern Hemisphere enjoys Mother Nature’s summer wonder. The Perseids are best seen as we near mid-August and are best appreciated between midnight and dawn. While the meteor shower radiates from a point in the constellation Perseus the Hero, the shower appears in all parts of the sky. Sightings of meteors are typically 50 meteors per hour.

The Community Services & Parks Department will be providing astronomy themed drinks and snacks. The hosted event will end at 11pm. It is recommended that you bring a lawn chair or blanket for comfort. The Deukmejian Wilderness Park is located at 3429 Markridge Rd., Glendale, CA 91214. Visit the City of Glendale’s website at www.ci.glendale.ca.us to learn more and reserve a spot. Mark your calendars, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

Categories
Hollywood News Movies/Television

Cinespia Continues Strong in Hollywood

Cinespia's screening take place every Saturday during the summer at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Cinespia hosts screenings every Saturday over the summer at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Hollywood – Visit the Hollywood Forever Cemetery and you will see 62 acres of famous men and women of the entertainment industry laid to rest, but it is also home to Hollywood’s cemetery summer movie screenings, Cinespia. Screenings are held on Fairbank’s Lawn, a grassy field within the cemetery that allows movie goes to enjoy the summer night sky while watching a classic movie. Every Saturday throughout the summer, Cinespia puts up a screen in the cemetery to show a film at night with live musical entertainment to kick it off as patrons set up their blankets and seating in the grassy lawn. Both hardcore and amateur movie goers alike can enjoy this night of relaxation, and take a moment to bond with fellow Angelinos in the great outdoors of Southern California.

Classic movies in this summer’s lineup include “Pulp Fiction,” “Princess Bride” and “Scream” to name a few. Organizers suggest bringing snacks, wine and beer to enjoy throughout the night, as well as coming early to save a spot. These nights have grown in popularity as more Angelinos want to embrace the beautiful city they live in and enjoy everything it has to offer. In 2008, “Los Angeles” magazine named Cinespia on the “16 Best Things about L.A.” list.  

Cinespia’s movie screenings first started in 2002 with the showing of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Strangers on a Train.” They showed 4 films that first summer and have since grown their number to 25 movie screenings each season. To learn more about Cinespia and see the full list of movies that will be screening this summer, please visit www.cinespia.org. Hollywood Forever Cemetery can’t wait to welcome you!

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Glendale News

Cruise Night is Back for its 20th Year

Glendale's 20th Annual Cruise Night will take place Saturday, July 20th in Downtown Glendale.
Glendale’s 20th Annual Cruise Night will take place Saturday, July 20th in Downtown Glendale.

Downtown Glendale — Glendale’s annual Cruise Night is back for its 20th year! Southern California’s most popular car show will take place on Saturday, July 20th from 5:30pm to 10:30pm. Visitors from all over will flood into Downtown Glendale to see over 400 classic pre-1979 cars, and learn more about how the owners maintain their classic car’s performance and efficiency. In addition to viewing beautiful cars, there will also be activities for children, making this a fun night the entire family can enjoy! The event is completely free to attend. The 2013 Cruise Night musical headliners will be The Tokens and The Surfaris, who are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their chart-topping song “Wipe Out.”

The event is expected to bring in over 50,000 people to Brand Blvd. based on past years’ turnouts. The Glendale Cruise night previously depended on the city’s Redevelopment Agency to provide funds for the event, but since its elimination, the event has had to cut back on its budget. This will be the second year since its extreme budget cuts, but they are not worried because the 2012 event continued on without a hitch, and they are expecting the same for this year.

While this is a great opportunity for car enthusiasts to check out what cool cars are in the area, it is also a great way to get people to Downtown Glendale to check out the fantastic shops and dining in the area. This day is projected as the largest one day sales generator of the year.

To learn more about this exciting event, visit their website at www.glendalecruisenight.com.

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Hollywood News Movies/Television HPC News

“The Originals” are the New Vampires in Town

"The Originals" is a new television series that is based on The CW's "Vampire Diaries."
“The Originals” is a new television series that is based on The CW’s “Vampire Diaries.”

The Hollywood Production Center is once again proud to house a new television series. “The Originals” will be airing on The CW Television Network for its fall 2013 season. The supernatural show is a spin-off of The CW’s popular television series, “The Vampire Diaries.” “The Originals” will take place in New Orleans and is centered around the Mikaelson siblings, the Original vampires in the vampire world. This dangerous and seemingly unstoppable family of vampires has their own agenda when it comes to surviving in a supernatural world, and they take to Louisiana to sort it out.

Julie Plec is the executive producer on “The Vampuire Diaries” and will take on the same position on “The Originals.” Julie presented her backdoor pilot on the April 25th episode of “The Vampire Diaries” and it will serve as the jumping point for the real pilot that will air in the fall. While “The Originals” is a spin-off, it is also meant to feel like a new series that people who haven’t already been following the gang of vampires can jump right in and start watching.  

“The Vampire Diaries” first premiered in 2009 and just completed its fourth season in 2013. The fifth season is set to air in fall 2013. Other new television series to air alongside the vampire gang is “The Tomorrow People,” “Reign” and “Famous in 12.” Other new CW television series that will be working out of the Hollywood Production Center are “The 100” and “Star-Crossed.”

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Glendale News Food/Drink

Cupcakes Galore in Glendale

Annette Starbuck won Cupcake Wars and used the cash prize to open a shop in Glendale.
Annette Starbuck won Cupcake Wars and used the cash prize to open a shop in Glendale.

Downtown Glendale — Annette Starbuck is the owner of Goodie Girls Cupcakes in Glendale, and is looking to expand her successful business by opening a second store in La Cañada Flintridge. The July store opening is following the requests from customers who drive from La Cañada Flintridge to order her tasty treats. She will opening up her new store along Foothill Boulevard, in the Plaza de La Cañada.

We saw Annette Starbuck on the Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars” as she competed against 3 other top cupcake bakers for the cash prize and the chance to showcase their cupcakes at a big event. Annette competed in the season 3 premiere in 2011, and was able to stomp out her competition. With the $10,000 grand prize, Annette opened up her first cupcake shop right here in Glendale. Since then, Annette has enjoyed serving the Glendale community and astounding everyone with beautifully crafted and absolutely delicious cupcakes.

Annette’s new store will not only offer her signature cupcakes topped with edible glitter, but you can also buy coffee, homemade hot chocolate, cupcake sundaes, miniature cakes, cookies and breakfast pastries. Unlike the Glendale location, the La Cañada Flintridge shop will have both indoor and outdoor patio seating. With this move, Annette will also be able to bake in her very own shop. Up until now, she has been renting out a commercial kitchen in Pasadena, so with this move she will be able to do all of her baking in her own store, and it will provide her Glendale location with treats as well.

Glendale has been enjoying the tasty Goodie Girls Cupcakes since it opened its doors two years ago. The store is located at 415 E. Broadway #100, Glendale, CA 91205, on the corner of Broadway and Jackson. Visit her website at www.thegoodiegirls.com to buy fun aprons, t-shirts, and of course, put in an order of delectable cupcakes.

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Glendale News

Black Asteroid to Light Up the Stage this 4th of July

Black Asteroid will be performing on July 4th at Complex in Glendale.
Black Asteroid will be performing on July 4th at Complex in Glendale.

Downtown Glendale — Black Asteroid is coming to Glendale on July 4th. Bryan Black is an underground techno DJ by the name of Black Asteroid who began his career in his hometown of Minneapolis working for Prince at his Paisley Park Studios. He will be spinning in Glendale for Independence Day at the Complex. Music lovers can go to this fairly new live-music venue to enjoy DJ Black Asteroid’s live DJ set with four decks of music, drums, and other sounds and programming that will go late into the night.

DJ Black Asteroid focuses on the underground techno scene, and there has been a larger American following to his music since the huge success of electronic dance music. EDM has had a large influence, but Black Asteroid believes that people are seeking out his underground music because they are finding that it is the root of EDM music, which is catchy, but burns out fast.

Bryan Black is also one-half of the techno/electro duo Motor. He’s also been recently recruited by Depeche Mode to remix “Soothe My Soul,” and they are also playing his music during the pre-show of their current world tour. Bryan Black plays gigs in Europe, Asia and North America.

This new music is just another example of what musical events are available to Glendale after the opening of Complex in 2012. The small bar and live music venue has weekday entertainment that starts at 9pm daily and varies by night. Saturday night features live music and DJ events, and on Sunday the festivities continue with a day party from 2pm to 8pm. Complex is located at 806 E. Colorado St., Glendale, CA 91205. Visit them at www.complexla.com.

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Glendale News

Alex Theatre Closing until November

The Alex Theatre will be dimming its iconic spire for 5 months.
The Alex Theatre will be dimming its iconic spire for 5 months.

The Alex Theatre Performing Arts & Entertainment Center in Glendale first opened its doors in 1925. For nearly 90 years it has served as the centerpiece of the City’s arts, culture and community programming. On Sunday, June 30th, The Glendale Arts will host the Alex Theatre Open House that will allow the public to enjoy the history of the Alex Theatre before they close their doors for an expansion project. The Alex Theatre on Sunday night will be open for self-guided tours, food from local restaurants, a look back at the last 20 years of programming and a sneak peak of what’s to come. The event has garnered a lot of support from local businesses in the area as they hope to keep this icon alive.

The 6,400 square foot renovation is set to start shortly after the event and will continue into November. The $5.3 million construction project will improve the historic venue and make it more competitive as it is slowly taken of an annual government subsidy. The improvements will allow the theatre to house larger, more technical productions in the future, hopefully leading to a wider-range of clientele.

The theatre’s operator, The Glendale Arts, will be closing down the theatre for 5 months to make an expansion to the theatre. The event starts at 6:00pm and at 8:30pm there will be a ceremonial dimming of the Alex’s iconic spire. Please RSVP to this fantastic Glendale event on Facebook @GlendaleArtsCA. This free open house is made possible through a generous grant from The Walt Disney Company.

The theatre is located at 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91203. For more information visit Glendalearts.org.

 

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Movies/Television Glendale News

Glendale Dancer Competing in “So You Think You Can Dance”

Glendale's Paul Karmiryan will be competing in this season's "So You Think You Can Dance."
Glendale’s Paul Karmiryan will be competing in this season’s “So You Think You Can Dance.”

“So You Think You Can Dance” is back on Fox this summer for its 10th season, and this year a Glendale resident will be dancing for the top title. Paul Karmiryan is a 21-year-old Glendale resident that started learning Latin ballroom at the age of 17. He is among the Top 20 dancers chosen to move on to the regular competition after surviving the Vegas Week callbacks. Paul will be up against 19 equally talented and professionally trained dancers from across the United States.

The first Live Show of the season premieres tonight, Tuesday, June 25th at 8:00PM as a 2-hour episode on Fox. Each week, dancers will be coupled up and randomly given a genre to dance to. They will have one week to practice before performing at the live competition. One couple will be eliminated each week until the final winning couple is chosen at the end of the season. As the couples begin to dwindle, the dancers will also be performing solos.

Paul may have an advantage in this season’s competition because he competed in and won the Armenian version of “So You Think You Can Dance” two years ago. Paul entered into the competition while visiting the country for the first time since he left, and he quickly won over their hearts with his dancing. While the experiences will be completely different, Paul was able to grow as a person and dancer while competing on the show, and hopefully will be able to use that to his advantage.

Paul came to Glendale from Armenia at the age of 6 and his only previous dance experience was traditional Armenian dancing. With only 5 years of professional dance experience, Paul will have to work hard to compete with the dancers who have been dancing since a very young age.

This year’s judges will include Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Adam Shankman, and the show will be hosted by Cat Deeley. The weekly live shows are filmed in Los Angeles.

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Glendale News Movies/Television

DreamWorks Animation Now Producing for Television

A scene from DreamWorks Animation TV show, "Dragons: Riders of Berk."
A scene from DreamWorks Animation’s TV show, “Dragons: Riders of Berk.”

Glendale – Glendale is home to DreamWorks Animation SKG. Up until now, DreamWorks Animation has focused primarily on making animated movies, but this week they have become a multifaceted media company. They signed deals this week with Netflix and a German leading children’s television channel to produce animated television shows for them. With the decline in DVD sales everywhere, DreamWorks has decided to expand their horizons in order to not have to rely solely on box office revenues from their animated features.  

The Glendale company will be creating over 300 hours of programming for Netflix. DreamWorks Animation has already produced several animated television shows based on their character from previous films, such as “Dragons: Riders of Berk,” which airs on Cartoon Network and is based on the 2010 movie, “How to Train Your Dragon.” By creating animated programming for Germany’s children’s channel, they are also guaranteeing that their franchises will continue to grow and be enjoyed by children all over the world.

DreamWorks Animation’s first animated film was “Antz” and was released in 1998. To date they have released 26 movies, and they have all been very successful. Most notably, “Shrek,” “Madagascar,” and “How to Train Your Dragon” have been the most successful, as well as their sequels. DreamWorks Animation is preparing for their next premiere, which will take place next month for “Turbo.” This movie will tell the story of an ordinary garden snail whose dream is to become the fastest snail in the world. “Turbo” is scheduled to be released on July 17th.

DreamWorks Animation was spun-off from DreamWorks Studios in 2004 and is headed by one of the original founders, Jeffrey Katzenberg.

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Glendale News

Glendale’s Downtown Hopes to See a Parklet Soon

Glendale's rendering of a "parklet" to be built on Brand Blvd.
Glendale’s rendering of a “parklet” to be built on Brand Blvd.

Downtown Glendale – Downtown Glendale hopes to open a “parklet” on Brand Blvd. soon in order to give the street more of a comforting atmosphere. Last month, the 200 block of Brand Blvd was ruined by a fire that blazed through a multi-unit building. The fire devastated two businesses, Skaf’s Lebanese Cuisine and Regali Preciozo, and both expect to be closed for months. As a way to bounce back from this scarring fire, the city of Glendale has decided to replace four parking spaces with a 300-square foot “parklet,” a small open space that will invite the residents of Glendale to relax and enjoy the city’s beauty.

The park will front the two businesses closed down by the fire, as well as Sedthee Thai Restaurant, which was able to escape the fire’s devastation. The city plans to keep the parklet for a year and then assess its success. If deemed successful, they will plan similar changes to other parking spaces in the city. While this is Glendale’s first attempt at converting parking spaces into parks, other surrounding cities have already adopted the idea.

Glendale hopes that this open space filled with plants and seating will draw in community members and be used in the future for community events. The Library, Arts & Culture Department plan to set up a library there based on the honor system. The concept is that a person takes a book from the library, replacing it with another book they may have. This encourages people to exchange reading material and has been known to be popular in small coffee shops.

The parklet will be located south of the corner of Brand Blvd. and California Ave., just north of Chess Park. The project is set to be complete by the end of July.

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Glendale News Movies/Television HPC News

IDA, Inc. to Animate New Feature Film

'Tailchaser's Song' will begin production later this year.
‘Tailchaser’s Song’ will begin production later this year.

Glendale Tenant News – Hollywood Production Center is proud to announce that their very own IDA, Inc. will be working on the new animated feature film, ‘Tailchaser’s Song.’

IDA, Animetropolis and EFG-Renascence recently announced at the Cannes Film Festival that they will be teaming up to animate the feature film, ‘Tailchaser’s Song.’ The stereoscopic 3D CG-animated family film will begin production later this year. The director of ‘Rise of the Guardians’ (2012), Peter Ramsey, will be joining the team as Executive Producer, along with the author of this fantasy-adventure novel, Tad Williams, as Co-Executive Producer.

‘Tailchaser’s Song’ is an adaptation of Tad Williams’ acclaimed bestselling novel of the same name. ‘Tailchaser’s Song’ was the first novel this fantasy and science-fiction author had written, first published in 1985. This story follows the adventures of a tom cat, Fritti Tailchaser, as he journeys to find his missing friend. Williams’ ‘Otherland’ series was optioned by Warner Brothers last year.

IDA, Inc. has offices in Los Angeles and Japan. They were the first Japanese studio to be nominated for a Visual Effects Society Award for animation.

Congratulations again!

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Hollywood News Movies/Television

The Monsters Take over Hollywood

Monsters University hits theaters on June 21st.
Monsters University hits theaters on June 21st.

The Monsters are back after 12 years, and they are coming back with a bang. The ‘Monsters University’ premiere took place Monday night in Hollywood at the El Capitan Theater. Before the screening, there was a monstrous college tailgate that included the Monsters U marching band and cheerleaders. The blue carpet was filled with monsters, along with attendees that all wore the Monsters U royal blue school colors. Children and parents alike flooded the blue carpet to enjoy the newest edition of universities in Los Angeles.

‘Monsters University’ will come out in theaters Friday, June 21st, and it is a prequel to ‘Monsters, Inc,’ which was released in 2001. As a prequel, Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan, commonly referred to as Sully, are just starting out at college as they try to figure out what kind of ‘scarers’ they are going to be. By going back a couple of years, producers were able to add new lovable monsters to the storyline and explain how Sully and Mike came to be the monsters that we knew and loved in the original ‘Monsters, Inc.’

There has been a lot of marketing promotions around this movie as children and adults had the chance to make their own Monsters U student ID badges and we saw trailers for the movie that played out just like a college promotional commercial. There is a lot of fun and excitement surrounding this movie, and the next generation of children will be able to enjoy the monster gang as well.

Mike Wazowski is voiced by Billy Crystal, John Goodman is the voice of Sully, and Randy is played by Steve Buscemi. ‘Monsters University’ is produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. If you want to check out some of their fun interactive games, go to www.disney.com/Monsters-University.

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Movies/Television

‘The Purge’ Goes Beyond a Thriller

'The Purge' is out in theaters June 7th.
‘The Purge’ is out in theaters June 7th.

Written and directed by James DeMonaco, ‘The Purge’ is a speculative thriller that takes place in a future America where one night a year people are allowed to take part in any act of crime without punishment. In 2022, ‘The Purge’ America has been reborn with unemployment and crime rates at an all-time low. This can be attributed to the yearly Purge. In this 12-hour period, from 7:00 PM to 7:00AM all the law-abiding citizens can address their pent up anger and attack and kill anyone without consequence. A wealthy family readies themselves for yet another Purge, which they personally do not participate in, but regardless, hoards of murders come to their home ready to attack. DeMonaco’s film is overflowing with ideas about social class, race, and violence and he has found a horror/thriller story line in which to address them.

DeMonaco’s film was screened at the Stanley Film Festival this year, which showcases classic and contemporary independent horror cinema at the haunted Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. While there is plenty of bloodshed and violence, the most disturbing part of the movie is the actual concept of this Purge. ‘The Purge’ has been criticized for not delving deep enough into America’s issues, but just touching on the ideas of aristocracy and race is enough to get the audience thinking. It is hard to ignore the idea that in this world America has saved itself from destruction by killing themselves off. The Purge allows them to kill anyone in general, but what what becomes a reality is that they are killing the people that are not contributing to the betterment of society; in essence, the poor and homeless.

This movie was released on June 7th and has made nearly $52 million to date domestically. ‘The Purge’ stars Ethan Hawke, Rhys Wakefield and Lena Headey. ‘The Purge’ received a B- from Entertainment Weekly’s ‘Movie Review’ and a 37% on Rotten Tomatoes’ ‘Tomatometer.’

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Celebrity News Movies/Television

Kim Kardashian Gives Birth to a Baby Girl

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West welcome home a baby girl on June 15th.
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West welcome home a baby girl on June 15th.

The Kardashians have a newest addition to their family with the birth of Kim Kardashian’s baby girl on Saturday, June 15th. The little girl was born at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles to 32-year-old reality show star Kim Kardashian and 36-year-old music artist Kanye West. Their baby comes a little early with their announced due date not until July. While the name of the baby has not yet been released, the family is happily tweeting congratulations to the new mother.

The couple is not married, as Kim was still officially married to Kris Humphries only 11 days before the birth. The NBA player married Kim in 2011 and they filed for divorce only 72 days later. The divorce filings were long and difficult, and the courts finally announced the official divorce of Kris and Kim on June 4, 2013.

The baby will be Kim Kardashian’s first child, and the third grandchild of Kris Jenner. Kim’s sister Kourtney Kardashian, 34 years old, gave her mother the first two grandchildren, Mason and Penelope. Kim’s pregnancy was highly publicized, along with pregnancy partner Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge. The Duchess’ baby is due in mid-July, and has been closely followed in the media. The two women were expected to have both their first babies be girls.

The Kardashian family has become a spectacle in media with their family being famous for various things. Kim gained her fame as a model, actress, business woman, and reality television star. Her two sisters, Kourtney and Khloe followed her into various business ventures as well. Their brother Rob graduated from USC and recently launched a sock line. Their father was the legendary Robert Kardashian who served as the defense attorney during O.J. Simpson’s murder trial in 1995. Robert Kardashian passed away in 2003. Kris Jenner remarried Bruce Jenner, the gold medal winner for the decathalon in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Kris and Bruce Jenner had two more children together, Kendall and Kylie. The entire family stars in Keeping Up with the Kardashians, an E! reality television series that follows the lives of the Kardashian/Jenner family. The series’ success led to the spin-offs Kourtney and Kim Take New York, Khloe and Lamar, Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami, and Kourtney and Kim Take Miami.

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Movies/Television

The Much Awaited ‘Man of Steel’ Releases this Weekend

'Man of Steel' comes out in theaters Friday, June 14.
‘Man of Steel’ comes out in theaters Friday, June 14.

With “Iron Man 3” released last month, “The Wolverine” to be released next month, and “Thor: The Dark World” set to be released in November, 2013 is far from lacking in superhero movies. However, June came with anticipation and excitement as “Man of Steel” was debuted to the world today. “Man of Steel” had a limited release of midnight showings last night, for which they were able to collect $21 million. This surpasses “Iron Man 3,” which was released earlier this summer and was only able to bring in $15.6 million on its midnight opening. While the box-office is expecting “Man of Steel” to collect $85-100 million domestically, the distributors at Warner Brothers are staying conservative and projecting $80 million.

Directed by Zach Snyder and produced by Christopher Nolan, “Man of Steel” follows the life of Clark Kent in the original tale as he tries to hide his superpowers and live a regular everyday life. Here we see Clark Kent played by British actor Henry Cavil. Amy Adams stars as Lois Lane and Michael Shannon plays the role of the menacing General Zod.  

There is a lot of hype surrounding this superhero movie, especially after Christopher Nolan wrapped up the final movie in the Batman trilogy last year. Although this weekend is dead in terms of new releases, “Man of Steel” will have to compete with last weekend’s batch of releases such as “The Internship,” “The Purge,” and “This is the End.” Only time will tell whether this superhero will be able to fly away with this weekend’s box office.  

We last saw Zach Snyder directing “Sucker Punch” in 2011, and his counterpart, Christopher Nolan, was directing “The Dark Knight Rises” in 2012.

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Movies/Television

The Los Angeles Film Festival is Back

The LA Film Festival kicks off in downtown on June 13th and ends June 23rd.
The LA Film Festival kicks off in Downtown on June 13th and ends June 23rd.

Downtown LA – The Los Angeles Film Festival is back for its 19th year. Following the heels of the Sundance Film Festival, South by Southwest Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival, there is a lot of excitement surrounding the films to be seen in Southern California this year. The festival kicked off with some pre-festival excitement on June 12th with the pre-screening of much awaited “Man of Steel.” The next night, however, was the official opening night of the festival where they debuted “I’m So Excited” by Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar. Tonight the festival continues on with 11 screenings, the first one starting at 7:10 PM and the last one starting at 10:00 PM.

What sort of things do you have to look forward to these next 10 days? While the movies are still the main attraction, there has also been a particular emphasis on providing out-of-the-theater events that add to attendees’ movie experience. These include conversations and panels with actors, directors and writers. The festival is also offering a great opportunity for families with kids to enjoy the big film culture through Family Day. Family Day is an event free to the public that will be celebrated with activities the entire family can enjoy thanks to their sponsors at Hasbro Studios. This fun day of family-friendly adventure will conclude with the world premiere screening of “My Little Pony Equestria Girls.” Family Day will take place Saturday, June 15 at the Nokia Plaza at L.A. Live from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

While most of the screenings will be taking place at L.A. Live’s Regal Cinema, there will also be screenings at the LA County Museum of Art (LACMA), JW Marriot – ION Rooftop Bar, GRAMMY Museum and Grand Performances and Arts Brookfield at FIGat7th Plaza. Starting Thursday, June 13th, the festival will run until Sunday, June 23rd. For more details about the festival and the schedule, visit their website at www.lafilmfest.com.

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Press Release Uncategorized

Production facility adds office space

NewOfficeSpace_DAXKOCompany expands its offices into a pair of buildings on Brand Boulevard.

DOWNTOWN — With a growing need for office space in the entertainment industry, Glendale’s Hollywood Production Center has acquired two new buildings to accommodate its growth and expand its services.

Hollywood Production, located on the northeast corner of Lexington Drive and Orange Street for about a year and a half, is expanding into adjacent buildings at 401 and 413 N. Brand Blvd.

“We rent out office space only for people in the entertainment industry,” General Manager Lucy Mardonovich said. “Since we’ve opened, we’ve seen a lot of interest in Glendale from the industry.”

The company provides office space for industry tenants, and amenities such as a gym, car wash, private kitchens and other accommodations.

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Uncategorized Press Release

Arts foundations raise funds for public dance performances

Nerd-Herd-1024x681Glendale Arts is working with the Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre and the Anna Djanbazian Dance Company to raise money for free public dance performances that will be held on Oct. 15 and 16 in the vacant lot on the corner of Brand Boulevard and Wilson Avenue in Glendale.

The three organizations will host a dinner on Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. at the Ard Eevin house located at 851 W. Mountain St., Glendale.

Designed by Nathaniel Dryden in 1902, the Ard Eevin House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Dinner guests will enjoy an elegant buffet dinner and a dance performance by the Djanbazian Dance Company. Tickets to the dinner cost $100 per person.

The funds raised from the dinner will underwrite the free dance performances of a dance work titled “Expulsion.”

The performance is a thought-provoking work of art based on the themes of the often fragile nature of home and the universal experience of being forced to leave it.

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HPC News Hollywood News Press Release Glendale News Uncategorized

Hooray for Hollywood

Hollywood Production Offices open for production staff looking for extra space or a spot closer to home.While nearly a million square feet of office space sit vacant in the city, Amidi Real Estate Group has just finished renovating a Glendale building that sat vacant for the past five years with plans to reopen it Wednesday.The Los Angles-based group, which owns the Hollywood Production Center, will reopen the building at 121 W. Lexington Drive for short-term leases by video production support staff who are crowded at their home offices or who need a place closer to home, said general manager Lucy Mardonovich.”We had an asset that wasn’t being used so we just decided to do something with it since the Hollywood office was so successful,” Mardonovich said. “We felt there would be great energy for city of Glendale to have. Disney and DreamWorks are expanding and those valley production companies need to have something nearby.”

Amidi also owns the Glendale Office Center and the Brand Jewelry Mart, she said.Dubbed the Hollywood Production Center-Glendale, offices come with furniture, high-speed Internet, phones and other amenities. They will only lease space to the creative people who work on video production, she said.”It’s an absolutely total remodel,” she said. “Every floor’s been gutted and separated into the offices.

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Hollywood News Press Release Uncategorized HPC News

New ‘Hollywood’ site

Production center opens downtown building targeting entertainment industry clients.

BLACKNEWADDOWNTOWN — The Hollywood Production Center celebrated the opening of its newest office building Thursday, even as it enters a market with low demand and more than 1 million square feet of empty downtown work space.

Hollywood Production Center, which owns a property in Hollywood and another downtown, hopes its new 70,000-square-foot building on the corner of Broadway and Louise Street will draw tenants as a space for entertainment-industry workers or individual entrepreneurs who are not interested in conventional offices.

The center’s open lobby, with curvy suede arm chairs and blue accent walls, leads directly to individual offices and suites, giving tenants the opportunity to mix and network, said Lucy Mardonovich, the company’s general manager.

But while Hollywood Production Center has historically succeeded in drawing entertainment-industry tenants with flexible leases and stylized work spaces, the company did not start the project expecting to be opening during a recession, Mardonovich said.

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Press Release

Press Release – Hollywood Production Center to Launch Second Exclusive Location in Hollywood

New facility offers turnkey suites designed specifically for the Hollywood entertainment industry.

gI_73014_hpc4_thumb2013

Hollywood Production Center announced today that they will be expanding their selection of elite executive office space locations to include a new facility west of their current flagship location. The company offers elite turnkey production suites with all the amenities for the film and television production industry. The new location is located at 6350 Santa Monica Boulevard between Vine Street and Cahuenga Boulevard and is expected to open in June. A gala grand opening party has already been scheduled for 6 PM on June 27, 2013 to celebrate the new facility.

Hollywood Production Center already offers two exclusive locations in the Glendale area as well as its existing facility in Hollywood. With more than 10 years in the executive office space industry, the company continues to enjoy unparalleled success in the field of entertainment production. The addition of the second Hollywood location was prompted by exceptional demand for the company’s unique blend of cutting-edge production facilities and boutique amenities combined with improved economic conditions in the Hollywood film industry. The new building will incorporate contemporary design features and spa-level facilities as well as lightning-fast Internet access and convenient locations to provide the most advanced and specialized experience for television and movie production crews throughout the industry.

The all-inclusive turnkey production suites at Hollywood Production Center offer a full array of luxury features, including the following:

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Hollywood News

Oscars Outdoors 2013

Oscars Outdoors

The 2013 Oscars Outdoors summer series kicks off with a special KCRW Matt’s Moviesscreening of Joss Whedon’s “Much Ado about Nothing” and a special advance screening of “Twenty Feet from Stardom.” The weekend Oscars Outdoors slate includes California-centric titles and films with international locales from Paris and India to Neverland and Skull Island.

Oscars Outdoors 2013

Tickets

On sale starting May 22 online and by mail to the Academy Box Office.
Tickets to each screening are $5 for the public; free for children 10 years and younger; and $3 for Academy members and students with ID.
Seating is unreserved.
Gates open at 6:30 p.m.
Screenings begin at sunset.
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Hollywood News

LA Weekly’s 1st Annual Tacolandia

Tacolandia

LA Weekly is excited to announce their first annual Tacolandia, celebrating Los Angeles’ favorite food – tacos! The extraordinary summer taco fest will include a selection of over 30 taco creators from LA/OC and even a few all the way from Baja – curated by the World’s First Tacorazzo, Bill Esparza.

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Hollywood News

2013 FYF Line Up Announced This Week

Yeah Yeah Yeah

The Yeah Yeah Yeah’s and My Bloody Valentine are headlining the 2 day event which starts Saturday, August 24th and closes out Sunday night. FYF Fest, which takes place Aug. 24-25, will also throw longtime fans a bone by starting two hours later, going from 2 p.m. to midnight each day instead of starting at noon.

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Hollywood News

Create Replaces Vanguard

Create Replaces Vanguard

SBE announced a partnership with Insomniac (producers of Electric Daisy Carnival) on the launch of a new nightlife facility named Create, which debuts May 11 in the old Vanguard space. SBE is going to run operations for Create and Insomniac is on-board to curate musical talent. “Create will showcase some of the world’s highest-profile dance