Holiday Festivities in LA

Not only has this week been about finals and packing to go home, it's been about holiday events. It started off last week when I decided to take pictures of the Grove/Farmer's Market all decked out for Christmas. They are playing classic Christmas songs on the speakers and have special live performers and bands come each night. Also, there's a huge Santa gingerbread house all decked out with fake, massive candy. The (probably fake) Christmas tree at the Grove is gorgeous and gigantic. There are lights up on the palm trees, snowflakes dangling in the air, and special happy feet glaciers around as well. Lucky me, in my picture-taking venture, I got into the Grove as they started to blow shaved ice out as "snow." Nothing like shaved ice to get you in the mood for the holidays! Still, it's really pretty there, and it's even been a bit chilly this week, so maybe the weather does change here sometimes.

This weekend was the ICLA holiday party at the Steves' house on Mt. Olympus. It really was like being up in the clouds. They had an amazing view over the city. Their house was gorgeous, and the party was really fun. It's for alums as well as current ICLA students, so I got to see a lot of familiar faces of friends who graduated a few years ago. Just like at Cortacal, it's nice to be able to catch up with people. The food was amazing also, and who doesn't love a free, tasty dinner when you've been cooking for yourself for four months! The Steves were awesome and gave each apartment a present of study snacks for this week, which is finals week technically. I just took my open-note government and media final, and I'm sure it was fine. I also found out I got 100% on my huge government and media paper that I was worried about! Coming up later in the week, I have to turn in my final paper and do my final presentation for Senior Seminar. My topic is the portrayal of gender in Disney Animated Features.

On Sunday, Abby, Jill, and I went to use our second days at Universal Studios Hollywood for Grinchmas. I wanted to get some pictures of the park decorated for the holidays, so I thought it was a good time to go back. Grinchmas doesn't technically start until next weekend, which is annoying, but there were still decorations up, and it was nice to get out of the house for a few hours. We didn't stay too long, but Jill hadn't been yet, so we did a few of the most important things with her.

The last holiday event I have to tell is that B&B shot their "remote" (meaning next door from the CBS TVC building at the Grove) Christmas scenes. I was helping to escort extras to set from wardrobe, so it was a little crazy at first. As things got rolling, I was able to take some pictures of the crew and scenes. They did a bunch of different holiday activities in and around the Farmer's Market. It was really fun to watch, especially because we had a legitimate Santa! The child extras LOVED it! That man was Santa from the moment he arrived until he wasn't around the kids anymore. He was even telling me that he has a motorized sleigh at home. He was pretty fantastic.


It's so crazy that it is already my last week out here in LA. I still have the B&B intern night. The staff at the office are taking us out to dinner, which is really nice of them to do. I've enjoyed working with them so much, and I've loved it in LA in general as well. See everyone when I get home Saturday night!