On Friday night, after a boring day of just reading to get some homework done, the group went to a Dodger's game. We took the Metro and then a free with Dodgers ticket, Dodgers express bus to the stadium, definitely the easiest way of getting there. It was cool to be able to go to a professional baseball game for no where near the Red Sox prices, but it was so much less exciting than a Red Sox game. I couldn't believe that not all the seats were filled! That would basically never happen at Fenway. Still, it was really fun to be able to get out of the house and experience some LA culture. Every Friday home game, the Dodgers do fireworks. We all got to go out onto the field to watch! That was pretty cool. First time being able to actually touch the grass in a professional baseball field! It was a Beatles-themed night because apparently they were having some sort of anniversary the Dodgers were paying tribute to. It was a short but really nice fireworks display, and it was definitely something unique to do in LA.
On Sunday, it was first RA event. I was planning to do a Hollywood walk/bus tour to check out some of the sights in LA, but apparently a lot of people had already done that. Some people wanted to go to the Video Music Awards, but after looking into it, we found out the red carpet was inside, so there wouldn't be much to see down there. Instead, I decided to stick to the original plan and check out Hollywood and Hollywood/Highland. It was only Shelly, Melissa, and I, but we had a good time. Hollywood/Highland has a huge grey arch with Egyptian art and two HUGE elephant statues on columns surrounded by an outdoor shopping center and fountain. On the walkways, there are quotes from different people talking about how they got to Hollywood, and at the end of that path of quotes there is a "casting couch," a huge couch statue. 
It was pretty cool. We walked along the Walk of Fame taking pictures of the stars, and then we went to Grauman's Chinese Theatre. I decided to take a tour of the theatre because the only way you can see inside is if you see a movie or take a tour. It was a quick tour detailing some of the history of the theatre and the hand/foot prints of celebrities outside. The architecture and design of the building is, obviously, Asian inspired, but there are details in the design that people wouldn't notice unless they were pointed out (like names of significant people written in Chinese on the walls). The first premiere at the theatre was the May, 18 1927 premiere of King of Kings. Movies from Star Wars to Singing in the Rain have premiered there. Actually, Singing in the Rain filmed the last sequence, where the truth is exposed about Lina's voice really being Kathy's, was filmed there. The tour guide told us about the process to keep the theatre up. For example, it took two years to make an exact replica of the 1927 red curtain the theatre has. Grauman's Chinese Theatre is a lot about the history of filmmaking, but it is also about the new and upcoming technology in the film industry. It prides itself on remaining current and up-to-date in that respect, and it shows films on the best projector available. Outside, the tour guide pointed out a few prominent cement slabs. Only 1 or 2 people a year typically get a place outside the theatre, so it is much more competitive than the Walk of Fame. The owners of the theatre decides who they want to give a place to. Apparently, Jennifer Anniston did one, and it is drying currently! Marilyn Monroe wanted to put a diamond on the dot of her i, but was deterred because people said it would get stolen. Instead, she used her earring as the dot, but that was also stolen. The back of the her earring is still there, but the theatre replaced the earring with something plastic. From the Harry Potter cast to R2D2's footprint to Frank Sinatra and Johnny Depp, a huge range of celebrities are celebrated in the cement outside the theatre. Because Grauman's is a movie theatre, the cement only contains autographs and prints for movie stars.
After the theatre, we walked further along the Walk of Fame until we got to the Gateway to Hollywood sculpture. It depicts four silver ladies holding up an archway with Hollywood written on it. It is meant as a tribute to the multi-ethnic women of Hollywood. It's a pretty cool statue, and the Elvis Presley and Beatles stars, as well as the Walk of Fame starting star, are located right there. We walked back on the other side of the street to check out the stars on that side before heading home. Even though there were only three of us, I think we had a really good time, so I count it a successful RA event!
Unfortunately, I found out when I got home that the start date of my internship had to be pushed back, so I wasn't able to start on Monday as planned. I spent Sunday night reading for homework and making myself a star with photoshop! I made one that says my name and has the TV logo on it. I think I did a pretty convincing job!
Today, I got a little reading done and went for a short run down to the Trader Joe's in the Toluca Lake area of Burbank. It only amounts to a couple of miles for a run, but whatever. I'll make it longer later. I spent some time also trying to get my next RA event, a trip to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to see the Tim Burton exhibit, organized. I had to call the other students and find out how many wanted to come, so I can make the reservation tomorrow. Well, I think that's all my news.
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