Spotlight: Hollywood

Visitors come to Hollywood hoping to see TV and movie stars on the job—but you might also spot them picking up groceries, or running home to grab the cell phone they left on the kitchen table. That’s the case at least with Jimmy Kimmel, who was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Nevada but now calls Hollywood home.

The Emmy-winning host and comedian has been helming ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! since 2009, interviewing celebrities and performing sketches in front of a live audience at Disney’s El Capitan Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. (Interested in attending? Here’s how to get audience tickets to that and other L.A.-based shows.) We asked Kimmel to share his favorite places to eat and explore in L.A. and throughout the Golden State. Here’s what he had to say.

Where do you live? I live in Hollywood, actually, not too far from the show.

Why there? There are lots of nice neighborhoods in L.A., but the primary reason I live there is so I can be close to work. I have a tendency to forget things. Today I forgot my cell phone. Typically, I forget my wallet. Living in Hollywood just makes it easier to retrieve my forgotten items.

Who or what is your greatest California love? California is the best state overall—no question. Everything you could possibly want is here. In Southern California, the weather is almost always nice, there are great places to eat, and there’s the beach. But if I had to choose just one, I’d have to say the weather. I appreciate having the same weather every day.

What is the biggest misperception about Californians? That everyone is phony, that everyone is fake. That is a ridiculous statement to make about an enormous state. And, also, the whole thing about people in L.A. being bad sports fans is exceptionally false. That is a perception that’s out there, that we are fair-weather fans, but our weather is fair every day.

What is the stereotype that most holds true? The traffic here isn’t great, sure. That really holds up. But if you live here, you know how to minimize that. I am not a fan of generalizing, but that is true. That’s why I live close to work.

What is your favorite Golden State splurge? The beef short rib at APL Restaurant in Hollywood. It’s expensive and it’s worth every penny. I have it about once a week. Too much.

Time for a road trip—where are you going? I love a road trip. I liked them more before I had two little kids. You know where my wife and I like to go? Depending on how much time we have, we drive or fly up to Concord and drive over to Healdsburg. I love that area. Of course, they make a lot of wine up there. We love to get up there and do nothing all weekend but eat and drink. Sometimes we rent a house, but there are great hotels.

If you could decree an official state culinary experience, what would it be? People are going to be so mad at me, because it’s hard to get in as it is. There’s a place in a strip mall in West Hollywood called Sushi Park that I love. I go in and get the omakase—the chef picks what you get—and they keep bringing you food until you tell them to stop. And I never tell them to stop. I’m like a goldfish—I will eat until I explode. There’s also the Mariscos Jalisco taco truck downtown. They don’t have a restaurant. They just sort of cleared out and set up some folding chairs in a crappy room, near the food truck. And the food—the shrimp tacos are exceptional.

How do you define California style? I always think of those OP shirts, from when I was a kid. Or, really, here it is: I actually have a fold-up-top ’74 Volkswagen Thing that I converted to electric. That, to me, is the essence of California style. In fact, I petitioned the state department of motor vehicles to give me a permit to ride in the HOV lane and they granted it. Because previously only cars that were built electric were given them, and now they are eligible.

Best California song? “California Stars” by Wilco & Billy Bragg. Woody Guthrie actually wrote the lyrics. It’s about relaxing and looking at the sky. I listen to it whenever I’m in a really good mood.

How would your California dream day unfold? I have two little kids and two older kids. So my wife and I love to go to the farmers market with everyone on Sunday mornings. I have gotten to know the people there, like the lady with the fresh avocados. We never go with a plan for what we’re going to make for dinner, but we get it all there. We have a little lunch at the food stand there, and then go home and fire up the grill in the backyard. That for me is the best day I can think of.

Award-winning chef Curtis Stone was born in Melbourne, established his culinary chops in London, and rose to fame on TV, appearing on multiple cooking shows as well as The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and NBC’s Today. He now expresses his lifelong passion for food at two highly regarded Los Angeles County restaurants.

Maude, a tasting menu-driven spot located in Beverly Hills, is named after Curtis’ paternal grandmother and pays homage to his first culinary mentor. Gwen Butcher Shop & Restaurant, in Hollywood, is also a family affair: Curtis opened this meat-centric fine dining establishment with his brother Luke and it is named after their maternal grandmother.

We asked this affable Aussie to take the California Questionnaire and he happily obliged.

Where do you live? Los Angeles.

Why there? Well, it wasn’t some grand plan, but I fell in love and married Lindsay and this is where we are raising our sons. I just lucked out that L.A. also has a vibrant food scene and it’s finally getting its day in the sun and recognition on a global level.

Who or what is your greatest California love? California’s ingredients. The state has so much to offer agriculturally. For a chef there is no greater reward than the incredible vegetables, fruit, nuts, wine, and livestock that can be found here. Often chefs see ingredients for the first time as they’re delivered at the backdoor of the restaurant, but you truly are able to cook effortlessly in California because there is continually a bounty of the season at the [various] farmers markets each week.

What is the biggest misperception about Californians? Probably that they’re all vapid and don’t take much seriously.

What is the stereotype that most holds true? There is an ease about Californians, everything from a hippie-ness to a surfy vibe, and that confidence and comfort often gets misconstrued.

What is your favorite Golden State splurge?  Uni and wine.

Time for a road trip—where are you going? From Los Angeles north to Mammoth, where the family likes to trek during the holidays to get in some skiing; south to Baja where I can surf and crack open a beer; east to Joshua Tree and Palm Springs where the desert reminds me of Central Australia; and west to the Pacific where I can put my feet in the sand and relax. We’ve got it all.

If you could decree an official state culinary experience, what would it be? Can I say “tacos”? They are my guiltiest of pleasures. I didn’t have solid Mexican food until I was well into my twenties, and up and down the state, a good taco can always be found—even breakfast tacos.

How do you define California style? Sophisticated comfort.

Best California song? Man, there are so many, but I’ll go with “California Dreamin’” by The Mamas & The Papas. It’s an oldie but a goodie. As a boy growing up in Melbourne I had big dreams, which took me to Europe and eventually London, a city I adore but which can be quite dreary at times. So much of that song embodies the aspirations people carry with them in their lives. And the line, “I’d be safe and warm, if I was in LA” rings truer for me than it ever has, on multiple levels.

How would your California dream day unfold? Let’s assume I get time away from the restaurants where I feel so at home. I would keep it really simple: Coffee and brekkie with Linds and the boys, perhaps a dip in the pool or a swim in the ocean, bike rides, an easy hike, time in the vegetable garden to prepare dinner, and having the rest of the family over for a feast. That would be my perfect day.

Take the kids to Los Angeles on your California family vacation, and you’ll likely hear one big request: Hollywood. After all, teens, tweens, and even smaller kids tend to be pretty pop-culture savvy, so this part of L.A. carries a lot of magic. Build your visit based on these family-friendly, don’t-miss Hollywood attractions—some related to TV shows and movie stars, and others offering just-for-fun museums and sweets.

Stroll the Walk of Fame

Kids can find their favorite celebrity’s star along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located on Hollywood Boulevard between La Brea Avenue and Vine Street. Wander along the boulevard and see how many of the 2,500-plus names family members can identify, or use the StarFinder feature on the walk’s website to track down your favorite stars. Hollywood Boulevard can get bustling, especially on weekends, with street performers, costumed movie characters, and trinket sellers, but there’s also plenty of good people-watching.

Score Seats at a Live TV Show Taping

While many Hollywood-based television shows offer free seats to live tapings, the age minimum for most is 18. There are a few shows, however—such as Nickelodeon’s Figure it Out and The Thundermans, or game shows like Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune—that welcome kids as young as 8 or 10. Double-check age restrictions and request tickets online through a ticket broker such as Audiences Unlimited or On Camera Audiences. (One great ticket: Seeing the annual Kids’ Choice Awards, which limits audience members to ages 10–15.) Keep in mind that while tickets are free, they don’t actually guarantee admission, since shows often overbook for no-shows. Save a chunk of the day if you’re hoping to see a live taping: Waiting in line and the show taping itself can take from 3 to 6 hours.

Experience Universal Fun

Combining a studio tour with rides, restaurants, and shopping, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk thrill kids and adults alike. Take the backlot tour of this working studio for a chance to see sets and soundstages from current movies and TV shows, then explore the rides, lives shows, and attractions featuring characters from Despicable Me, King Kong, The Fast and the Furious, Transformers, Shrek, and more. Don’t miss the park’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter, with its motion-simulator ride through Hogwarts Castle, as well as the re-creation of Hogsmeade village, complete with a Honeydukes sweet shop. The most popular rides require that kids be at least 40 inches tall, so check height restrictions before you go.

Explore the Ultimate Hollywood Mall

More than just shops and restaurants, Hollywood & Highland Center includes a number of must-do Hollywood activities. Take a tour inside the Dolby Theatre, where the Academy Awards are held each year, or grab tickets to the TV festival PaleyFest, where you can see your favorite TV stars in person. Head up to the second level to create your own chocolate bar at the Chocolate Lab inside Sweet! Hollywood, then visit the fourth floor for a postcard-quality family shot with the iconic Hollywood sign in the background. Up for a friendly family competition? Prove your bowling prowess at the hip Lucky Strikes bowling lanes on the ground floor. (Just keep in mind that the alley becomes 21-and-up after 8 p.m.)

Spot a Few Celebrities

One surefire way to get a selfie with a star is to visit the L.A. branch of famed wax museum Madame Tussauds, which features famous faces such as Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Barack Obama, Kobe Bryant, Taylor Swift, and Shrek. If you’re set on seeing a star in person and don’t have luck at the local coffee shop or pressed juicery, check out Seeing Stars for a list of upcoming opportunities, including Walk of Fame unveilings, movie premieres, TCL Chinese Theatre footprint ceremonies, and more.

Visit a Working Movie Studio

Take the Warner Bros. Studio Tour—technically in neighboring Burbank—for a serious show-biz fix. The two-hour guided tour includes visits to backlots and soundstages used for classic films and TV shows such as Casablanca, Gilmore Girls, and Friends, as well as current WB programs. The tour also includes special exhibits of props and costumes from the Harry Potter films (as well as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them) and DC Universe, which features first-edition comics, DC video games, and even the actual Kryptonite used in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Don’t miss the chance to see all the Batmobiles ever used. (One hitch: The tours are for ages 8 and up.)

Take in an Old-Style Movie

A visit to the historic El Capitan Theatre includes much more than a movie. This Disney-owned theater offers both new-release and classic films from Disney, Pixar, and Marvel. Besides seeing the gorgeous Art Deco interior, you can experience sing-alongs, live-action shows before the movie, prop and costume exhibits, or character meet-and-greets. Seats are first come, first served, or you can order VIP tickets online that include a reserved seat, popcorn, and a drink.

Break a Record

Know how many items are in the largest Star Wars memorabilia collection? Want to guess the record for the most hamburgers eaten in three minutes? If your kids love odd and unusual trivia, they’ll love the Hollywood Guinness World Records Museum. More than just looking at exhibits, kids can also attempt the world’s long jump record, compare their weights to the world’s heaviest person, and experience the feel of speed records in the Adrenaline Theater. If you have enough time to see them all, consider a combo ticket that also includes the Hollywood Wax Museum and Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

Make Dessert Like a Celebrity Chef

Fans of cooking reality shows will dig Duff’s Cakemix, owned by Food Network star Duff Goldman. Stop by and savor a premade cake or cupcake, or sign up for one of the bakery’s Drop-In and Decorate sessions that include prebaked goods, decorating supplies, and an hour of studio time. Weekends often fill up fast, so grab a reservation online.

—Kate Bayless

When it comes to icons, this towering sign stands tall—literally. Originally erected in 1923 to promote a housing development called Hollywoodland, the enormous sign—which lost its last four letters in 1949 and got a massive makeover in 1978 (spearheaded by Hugh Hefner of Playboy fame)—now acts like a towering beacon for anyone who dreams of being in the movies.

Get good views of the sign along Mulholland Highway as it snakes through the Hollywood Hills, as well as from the Griffith Observatory and Lake Hollywood Park. From town, look up at the sign from the Hollywood and Highland Center. Or, for a more novel way to see the sign, hike the West Trail in Griffith Park or join a guided trail ride out of Sunset Ranch, at the end of Beachwood Drive. Sunset Ranch’s horseback riding tours include one- or two-hour rides through Griffith Park, evening tours with dinner, and even overnight stays that all offer great photo ops of the famous sign—along with other L.A. scenery, stretching all the way out to the Pacific.