TOURific Los Angeles

03/01/2022

To our TOURific friends and family, the time has come. We are formally announcing the closure of our tour business. The van is for sale and we have removed most of our online presence. It's a process. This Facebook account will be deactivated in the coming week and before I do that I wanted to reach out to the people who have supported us along the way.

What an incredible journey it's been...thank you for coming along for the ride. What started in 2010 as a way for me and Matt to create jobs for ourselves turned into something more amazing than we could have imagined. We jumped right into the local tourism industry. We partnered with some of the best chefs, restaurants, bakeries, and chocolate-makers. We made lifelong friends. We created memories. We employed people. We supported local. We met a few celebrities. We received over 800 reviews on Trip Advisor. We made a few people mad. But mostly we made people happy. We received our share of parking tickets...and did I tell you about the time the van was TOWED from in front of Hollywood High School while I was with guests at Hollywood & Highland? August 15, 2016 is a day I will never forget.

I learned so much about this great city, and I learned even more from my fellow tour operators and guides (you know who you are). We were involved in several tourism associations and organizations. We went to movie premieres, business openings and studio tours. We ate a lot of good food as "research" for social media content and blogs. I only gained a few pounds ;) over the years.

As I like to say, once a tour guide, always a tour guide. I will continue to appreciate Los Angeles and be the best ambassador I can be. Even though I won't be behind the wheel of the Sienna leading tours, I will keep my eyes open for exciting events and happenings to take part in.

Thank you for being part of this TOURific adventure. We will not forget you. With our gratitude and in friendship,
Matt and Trish

02/23/2022

Here's one way to win tickets to the Red Carpet Experience at the upcoming Academy Awards on March 27 at the Dolby Theatre. Five years ago I won seats, after entering contests for many years, and it was an incredible experience. That year they had 700 bleacher seats and I won mine through a People Magazine sweepstakes. This source says this year there are only 100 bleacher seats available. Good luck to all who enter.

On The Red Carpet is giving you a chance to win a pair of Red Carpet bleacher seat tickets to the Academy Awards.

02/22/2022

If you've never had a chance to tour in person with my pal Elisa, L.A. Woman Tours, this Thursday evening you can tune in here on Facebook as she takes you on a journey around Los Angeles to sites associated with the one and only Marilyn Monroe. See details in her post below.

Announcing on MONDAYS WITH MARILYN! I will be speaking (via Zoom) about Marilyn Monroe and LA sites associated with her this Thursday at 7pm. I am very proud to say this is in association with the San Fernando Valley Historical Society. If you would like to attend, use this link or contact the Historical Society. https://facebook.com/events/s/marilyn-in-los-angeles-a-look-/672229220471319/

02/10/2022

On Sunday, February 13, Super Bowl #56 will be held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, a brand new facility just east of LAX. This marks the 8th Super Bowl that Los Angeles has hosted. Lots of good info here, including ideas of where to dine in the area.

Read on for our Guide to the Big Game.

01/27/2022

It's National Chocolate Cake Day! I was recently reminded of how much amazing chocolate there is in this city, by a previous guest on our Chocolate Indulgence Tours. So if you're a chocoholic like me, get out there and celebrate with a big ol' piece of chocolate cake. Today's photo is from Greenblatt's Deli. Even though we didn't serve dessert there, we did have occasion to sample their layered chocolate cake once or twice.

01/17/2022

January 17, 2022 fans of Betty White celebrate what would be her 100th birthday. This is the only photo I have with her...it's actually her wax likeness from Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in Hollywood. This was a special event on their rooftop; if I remember correctly it was an unveiling of some of their newest figures. Betty will be remembered for so many things, her smile, her humor, her love of animals.

01/10/2022

Golden Globes 2022 nominees and winners announced...

Visit Golden Globes Winners & Nominees to stay up-to-date on this year's recipients and dive into our winner & nominee history.

01/07/2022

Hollywood lost a special star in Sidney Poitier, age 94. We had the pleasure of hearing him speak at the Arclight Cinerama Dome about ten years ago during a special AFI event when he introduced the movie, In the Heat of the Night. I will always remember the thrill of being in the same room with him, and hearing his gentle voice. Over the holidays my mom and I just watched To Sir With Love, made in 1967 when he was 40.

01/01/2022

And on the final day of 2021, the world says farewell to the wonderful Betty White. This Golden Girl was an inspiration for a life well-lived. 99 awesome years! I always hoped I would meet her somewhere around town.

12/23/2021

Check out this list by Eater LA. Your favorite Los Angeles restaurant just might have some fun merchandise available for holiday gifts or gifting any time of year. I always love getting a mug to add to my collection!

Handy totes, rad snapbacks, cozy hoodies, and more

12/09/2021

Hollywood Holiday Happenings...Saturday, December 11, the awesome Hollywood Museum is hosting its first-ever Authors Forum and Book Signing. Twenty authors will be present to chat about, sell (and sign!) and discuss their books. Ticket prices also include entrance to the museum. This is such a win-win! If you have holiday shopping to do, want to stock up on some entertaining reading material for yourself, meet a few entertainers who are now authors, and view the costumes and props in the historic Max Factor building, this is the event for you.

The Hollywood Museum Hosts It’s First Authors Forum and Book Signing Featuring Celebrity and Best Selling Authors WHAT: The Hollywood …

11/20/2021

Here's a very sweet story in the LA Times about LA's beloved, 100 year old See's Candies. The author hits the nail on the head...whatever your feeling about See's in comparison to other chocolates, it definitely makes you feel like home. My Dad's favorite was Bridge Mix, my mom loves Nuts & Chews. My personal favorite is the Milk Chocolate Bordeaux Bar and I have such fond memories of choosing them in store with one of my roommates Krissy. We would get one as our sample and buy one to take home. Ah See's thanks for the memories.

Columnist Jenn Harris on what See's Candies means to her and her family.

11/12/2021

The Los Angeles Conservancy has quite the celebration planned for Saturday, November 13, to honor beloved Griffith Park's 125th Anniversary. Check out the website here for info about self-guided tours and special events. https://www.laconservancy.org/schedule-events-griffith-parks-125th-anniversary-celebration

11/06/2021

The Virginia Robinson Gardens in Beverly Hills offers 90 minute private tours of the six acre estate. You'll be transported back in time as you peek inside the residence (built 1911) and pool house. And such a variety of gardens and flowers. Thank you JLLA Sustainers for making this visit possible.

10/29/2021

Took a detour to visit my favorite house in Beverly Hills and loved the splash of orange from all the pumpkins! Last year the Witch was unable to welcome trick or treaters but it sure looks like things are a-go for Sunday night. I have never actually been to this house on Halloween night...have any of you?

10/28/2021

Can't let National Chocolate Day pass without a few mouth watering pictures of some of the best chocolate in town.

10/26/2021

Today is NATIONAL PUMPKIN DAY! I'm sharing a blog post from back in 2012, when I was writing "The Best Bite I Ate This Week". I wrote about a special pumpkin cookie discovered in Skagway, Alaska in the 90's when working for Princess Cruises. Since posting on our website, at least once each fall season I get a request from someone requesting the recipe after doing a search online for Mabel G Smith's pumpkin cookies. Two days ago the first request came in. This photo does not do the cookie justice but my PC shipmates know very well the smell and taste, and the ginormous size! Here is that original blog post:

The best bite I ate this week was something I baked myself: my first batch of Mabel G. Smith’s pumpkin cookies! Who is Mabel G. Smith? I have no idea. However, at 342 5th Avenue in Skagway, Alaska there used to stand a quaint little coffee shop called Mabel G. Smith’s. When I worked on the cruise lines, my Princess ship-mates and I would literally RUN to Mabel G’s and order vanilla lattes and their oversized pumpkin cookies with icing. Served warm they are the perfect cookie with a cake-like consistency.

True story: I asked the employees for the recipe but those girls behind the counter would simply not share it with us. I last visited Mabel G’s in the summer of 2000 while working an Alaska itinerary on the Sea Princess. Fast forward to 2003 and I’m now living in Los Angeles. I go to a holiday party in Hollywood and meet a girl who claims to have the recipe. She takes my email address and promises to send it to me. It was the best Christmas present ever! She kept her promise and I now bake Mabel G’s cookies every fall. Her name and email address are long gone, but I hope that girl gets some good karma for sharing that precious recipe with me.

10/20/2021

Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles celebrates their newest location and their new foundation with the news that October 20 (today) has been named Chicken & Waffles Day. Their Hollywood location remains as is, while the Pico location will house their new offices for the Roscoe's Motivation for Change Foundation. Taking over for the Pico restaurant, the newest eatery is at La Brea and Washington.

/PRNewswire/ -- Roscoe's House of Chicken N' Waffles owner, Herb Hudson, is pleased to announce the launch of Roscoe's Motivation for Change Foundation (RMCF),...

10/17/2021

For your Sunday reading pleasure, here is a nice article on the hopeful return (yay) of the Tail O' The Pup Hot Dog stand thanks to the efforts of preservation team 1933 Group led by Bobby Green who first saw this hot dog stand as a 10 year old boy visiting LA with his family.

The Tail of the Pup — WeHo’s world famous hot dog stand — is finally getting a new lease on life Bobby Green was no older than 10 when he saw Hollywood for the first time. The memories of that family trip more than 40 years ago have faded for the most part, but one …

10/14/2021

Hollywood's Hidden House (aka formerly Grub restaurant) is hosting a public event for Halloween on Saturday, October 30. The passed appetizer list and cocktail offerings look fun and festive. Wish I could go, I have a commitment to a tour guide event that same evening. But if anyone does go, please let me know about it. And I'll keep an eye out for future public events at HHH.

A Spooky Soiree with Delicious Treats & Potions at Hollywood's Hidden House

10/12/2021

If you'd like a chance to view the new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures with Tom Hanks as your host, tune in to ABC this evening Tuesday October 12 for a special one hour program. 7:00pm Pacific time or 10pm Eastern time.

A new primetime special will offer viewers a tour of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

10/05/2021

Halloween season is off and running with a fun evening at Heritage Square Museum. Freeform presents "Halloween Road" in a limited-run five night event complete with trick or treat stations, photo ops, spooky movie scenarios and even a Sanderson's Sisters drag show from Hocus Pocus. Lots of detail went into this production, was so glad to experience it!

09/27/2021

The long-awaited Academy Museum will be officially open on September 30. This week there are preview days for charter members and I was there last night. Big thanks to my friend in tourism JonO for securing a ticket for me. Tickets went live on a day I wasn't near a computer and he didnt want me to miss out. We enjoyed two hours of perusing the seven story exhibit space, including Fanny's Cafe and the Gift Shop. The sphere wasn't open yet and the theatre was showing a screening so we didn't get in there. But I see many visits in my future to get it all in. Here are just a few highlights of my favorite exhibits.

09/25/2021

If you've been wanting to tour Hollywood Forever Cemetery, here is an upcoming special event presented by the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles. I've attended in past years and it's fabulous. What makes it different is members of the society dress up in period costume and stand at the grave sites of notable Hollywood characters sharing their stories and how they lived and died. It's a great way to kick off your Halloween season!

Hollywood Goes UndergroundSunday, October 10, 2021, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.The Art Deco Society of Los Angeles “digs up the dirt” on Hollywood’s history---and several of its scandals---through a walking tour of the 122-year-old Hollywood Forever Cemetery at 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard. Visit the gr...

09/16/2021

Happy Birthday Mary See, who would be 167 years old today. This year See's Candies celebrates 100 years. When Charles See gave up the pharmacy business for the candy business, he moved his wife Florence and mom Mary west to Pasadena CA. His first shop opened in what is now Koreatown in 1921 and the black & white color scheme in the shop mimicked his mom's kitchen. The first candies made were founded on Mary's recipes.

09/13/2021

Interesting, informal survey of LA Times arts staff on what they see as LA's most beloved landmark. Top 25 sites listed here. Which landmark do you suppose made their most beloved spot?

How does Renzo Piano's new Academy Museum rank against other L.A. landmarks like the Hollywood sign, Griffith Observatory or even Randy's Donuts?

09/10/2021

And a few more stories on The Road to Hollywood. I should mention that the artist never provided an "answer key" that I knew of. Some of the stories are well-known and others are more obscure. So your guess is as good as mine.

09/09/2021

One year I took photos of many of the stories along The Road to Hollywood and had a guessing game here on Facebook. Who Am I? Now I'm very grateful I have those photos in my archives since they are removing this piece of artwork from Hollywood & Highland during the transition to Ovation Hollywood. So again I'll ask, who am I?

09/09/2021

And so the demolition begins at Hollywood & Highland as the shopping complex becomes Ovation Hollywood. I knew the white Babylon elephants were coming down but for some reason I hoped they might keep the tiled pathway on the ground known as The Road to Hollywood. I so enjoyed sharing those stories with my guests.

New owners of Hollywood & Highland begin tearing up artist Erika Rothenberg's "The Road to Hollywood." "It's heartbreaking," she says.

08/27/2021

Next time you're on the westside of Los Angeles be sure to visit the newest Mashti Malone's Ice Cream parlor on Westwood Blvd. All the same wonderful flavors we've come to know and love. Plus The Legend of Mashti Malone has returned for all to see (last pic).