Los Angeles Weekend Fun: Hollywood Wax Museum

Looking for a fun place to take the family? Visit the Hollywood Wax Museum. Located on Hollywood Boulevard, the Museum is the longest running wax museum in the U.S. This particular location is dedicated to only creating wax figures of celebrities. Popular wax figures featured at the Museum are Angelina Jolie, Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, John Wayne, and for the kids-The Teenage Mutant Turtles.

Address:

667 Hollywood Blvd.,

Los Angeles, Ca 90028

(323) 462-5591

Hours:

10 a.m. to Midnights

Home Security and Safety Tips

Here are some important tips to keep your family and home as safe as possible.

1. Don’t leave notes for service people on your door, this will tell burglars you’re not home.

2. Never put outgoing mail containing personal information in an unsecured mailbox

3. To prevent tipping off burglars when you plan to be away from your home, set your home phone volume to low- an unanswered phone is a giveaway your home is empty.

4. ALWAYS lock your doors, even if you’re taking your dogs for a quick walk.

5. When you move into a new house, change all of the locks.

6. To create the illusion that someone is home at all time, install timers on your lights and radio to go on when you’re not home.

7. If the entrances to your home are dark, install some lighting to brighten the entrance doors.

8. When considering your landscape plan, avoid putting trees or shrubbery near windows where buglers can easily hide.

9. Dogs are good preventers to burglars. Regardless of the size, a barking dog draws attention to the house and hopefully deters the burglars from moving forward with their plan.

10. If you’re going away, ask your neighbors to use your garbage cans to keep traffic at the house.

Local Entertainment- L.A. Live in Los Angeles

L.A. Live is an entertainment complex in Downtown approximately one hour from Palos Verdes and situated next to the Staples Center.

The Nokia Theatre and Club Nokia. The Nokia Theatre is a music and theatre venue, seats 7,100 people The venue has hosted concerts from The Eagles, John Mayer, American Idol, award shows- The ESPYs, Primetime Emmys, American Music Awards, etc. Club Nokia is a club venue, seating 2,300 people who can enjoy live music and cultural events.

Nokia Plaza is a 40,000 square-foot plaza the provides a broadcast venue for special events.

The Grammy Museum, dedicated to Grammy history, opened in December 2008. The museum is four floors with historical music artifacts.

L.A. Live offers hotels and residences as well. Located above the parking lot of the Staples Center, is a 54-story hybrid hotel with rooms available through the Marriott, Ritz Carlton, and Ritz Carlton Condominiums.

Regal Entertainment Movie complex includes 14 screens, seating up to 3,772 people. The “Regal Premiere House” is a three-story atrium and 806 seat theatre.

Restaurants in L.A. Live includes Katsuya, Wolfgane Puck Bar and Grill, Yard House, Fleming’s Steakhouse, and Lawry’s.

Looking to sell your home in the South Bay? Below is a selling guide created by HGTV.

Part 1: Evaluate your situation

Determine why you want to move or need to sell your home

Define your howls for the next 5-10 years

See if you’re subject to capital gains tax

Calculate the costs of repairs and home improvements

Compare the costs of selling and remodeling

Calculate your selling and moving expenses

Calculate your buying expenses

Know the mortgage option for your next home purchase

Research the local housing market

Consider renting out your house

Part 2: Plan your selling strategy

Set priorities and a timeline

Time your sale to maximize your selling price

Weight the pros and cons of selling the home yourself

Choose a real estate agent and list your home on the MLS

Negotiate the terms of your listing agreement

Get a professional home inspection

Determine your home’s fair market value

Price the house

Consider selling your home at auction

Know the rile when selling an investment property

Part 3: Stage and show your home

Start with the outside

Prep and stage your home

Promote your ohm’s strengths and potential

Use photos and video to showcase your home

Take advantage of the Web and technology when advertising

Show your home and find ways to increase your showings

Make open houses count

Offer incentives that save buyers money

Explore alternative financing options

Manage your expectiations

Part 4: Close the deal

Prepare seller disclosure statements

Review offers with a detached eye

Focus on serious buyers

Consider the contingencies

Make a counteroffer

Negotiate terms and sign the contract

Time the sale of your home with the purchase of your next one

Open an escrow account

Ensure contract terms are met and sign closing documents

Move out and into your new home

The Los Angeles Zoo is the perfect place to take the family. Set on 133 acres, the zoo is home to 1,100 animals from around the world. The zoo receives over 1.5 million visitors per year and is owned and operated by the City of Los Angeles. Zoo highlights include the Elephants of Asia, Campo Gorilla Reserve, Chimpanzees of Mahale Mountians, Dragons of Komodo, Winnick Family Children’s Zoo, and the Australian Koalas.

Address:5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA. 90027

Hours: 10:00am to 5:00pm daily, closed December 25

Admission: General Admission: Adults, $14.00 – Children (2-12), $9.00, under 2 free – Senior Citizens (62 and older) $11.00
Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA) member: Free

Parking: Free

Places to Visit in Los Angeles: The Huntington Library

The Huntington Library is a private, non-profit institution, that features a library, art collections, and botanical gardens. The Library offers rare collections of books and manuscripts in both British and American history. The library is one of the nation’s largest centers for the study of the American West with an expansive collection of materials on the pioneer experience, the Gold Rush, and the formation of Southern California.

The Art Collections are distributed in three separate galleries. A fourth gallery is dedicated to hosting changing exhibits. The Huntington Art Gallery preserves one of the most comprehensive collections in the country of 18th and 19th British and French Art.

The Gardens cover 120 acres with more then a dozen specialized gardens. The most visited include the Desert Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden, and the Chinese Garden.

Admission to The Huntington is free to all visitors on the first Thursday of every month with advanced tickets. Hours on Free Day are 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Hours

Exquisite traditional home ideally situated in the heart of sought after “Island View.” This home exudes exceptional quality and fine workmanship. Bright living room w/soaring ceiling,crown molding,beautiful hardwood floors and fireplace with custom mantle. Gourmet kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances. Family room with fireplace and custom surround, recessed lighting and hardwood floors. Spacious formal dining room. Elegant master suite with fireplace, 2 walk-in closets. Other features include: plantation shutters, newer "Pella" double pane windows and doors, Venetian plaster walls, custom closets, custom designed 3 car garage by GarageTek, professionally landscaped yard, in-ground pool/spa.

For more information, contact:

Frank Fountain, Heidi Mackenbach and Betty Coull

Remax Palos Verdes

450 Silver Spur Road

Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274

Direct Phone: 310-990-9652 Business Phone: 310-544-9999

Mobile Phone: 310-971-0970

Fax: 310-703-1999

E-mail: FrankFountainHomes@gmail.com

Website: http://www.PalosVerdesHomesandRealEstate.com

See the full tour at http://www.floorplanonline.com/89981

The First Chance Foundation, located in Palos Verdes Peninsula, is a personal foundation helping to further education for underprivileged high school graduates from seven local schools. Below you will find the First Chance Newsletter explaining more about the foundation and its efforts for the community and its students. One-hundred percent of your contribution goes to the students. No funds are used for operating expenses and the directors take no fees.

For more information about the First Chance Foundation, please call: Betty Coull, Vice President 310.541.2878

2 Saddle Road, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

310.831.9691

Palos Verdes High School students created a lib dub video promoting what the campus has to offer  in order to encourage current eighth graders to choose PVHS for their upcoming freshmen year. A collaboration of all students (including the science club, sports teams, marching band, etc.) promoting the school’s spirit and diversity. At Palos Verdes High School there is a place for every student that walks its halls.

Check out the video…

Home Safety Tips

How safe is your home? Here are some tips to consider

1. Have bright lights over stairs and steps to prevent falls.

2. Keep cleaners, medications, and beauty products out of reach of children or use safety locks.

3. Check all of your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors every month to make sure they are still working

4. Children can easily choke on coins, balloons, hard round foods (peanuts) so keep out of touch for children.

5. Store ladders on their sides in a shed or garage

6. Have a service person check heaters, fireplaces, and stove every year to make sure they are operating correctly.

7. Have a service person inspect chimneys, fireplaces, and central furnaces yearly.