The Nightmare Before Christmas cast enjoying their 3-D premiere!

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, is playing in Hollywood this weekend at Disney’s El Capitan Theater. To make this Halloween entertainment even more exciting, they’ll be showing this version in 3-D!

I’ve never been to this venue but its reputation has me intrigued. I’ve heard it’s quite an experience. I’ve also been told it’s worth it to pay the extra price for a VIP ticket, so I bought one. The price was $22 dollars, along with a $2 dollar processing fee.  Included in the cost will be a drink, popcorn and a reserved seat I chose myself on the El Capitan website.

After seeing the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland decked out in Nightmare style, I wanted to see this movie again, especially with the added effects. You can enjoy them too, as the film will be playing there from the 16th to the 22nd. You’ll have another opportunity on the 30th and on Halloween night. Wouldn’t that be an ideal way to get your tricks and treat!

Entering Knott's Halloween Haunt.

For young children or for those of you who are young at heart, Disneyland during Halloween is ideal. However, for those of you that prefer a little more terror in your All Hallow’s Eve, then perhaps Knott’s Scary Farm is the “it” place to be.

Knott’s Berry Farm is celebrating the 36th year of its annual Halloween Haunt. It’s an autumn celebration of all things horror. The Haunt, with its realistic ghouls and nightmarish apparitions, is definitely not for children under thirteen or for those of you that are feint of heart. But it’s definitely for die-hard fans of fear.

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The ferris wheel at the Pike.

If you live anywhere near Long Beach, you know the Pike. Even if you aren’t a local, you’ve probably been to the world renowed Aquarium of the Pacific , which is in walking distance. The Pike is a focal point for dining and entertainment in the downtown area. It’s easy to spot, with it’s faux roller coaster structure and real ferris wheel, with rides for two dollars if you’re so inclined.

Not only is there an amusement ride and a fabulous aquarium, there’s plenty of dining opportunities along with entertainment for adults at the Laugh Factory. Restaurants range from the inexpensive to mid range, with such choices as Islands, the Great Steak & Potato Co., California Pizza Kitchen (which is one of my favorites) to P.F. Changs and seafood at Gladstones.   [ Read The Full Story -> ]

I personally think it’s way too early for Oscar talk and don’t care too much about the International FIlm Festivals (and won’t until someone decides to send me to Venice to cover one), but that’s what going on this week.  There’s nothing worth seeing at the movies (Bangkok Dangerous??) and fall TV hasn’t even started yet.  Time to go back to bed.

• In this week’s Gold Derby blog at latimes.com, Tom O’Neill confronts the question: could Peter O’Toole beat out Heath Ledger for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar?  Then he goes on to describe O’Toole’s latest vehicle, Dean Spanley that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival this week, as “lollipop sweet” and “a nice Disney or Hallmark pic.”  The whole (imagined) conflict is at the core of how basically unimportant and random the Oscars are.  How could Ledger’s Joker even be in the same category as a curmudgeonly but sweet grandpa?  The question I want to confront is: How do I get a cushy and completely unnecessary job like Tom O’Neill?

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While the amount of celebrities that live in this fine city in their million dollar mansions are not few and far in between, there are a handful (or two) places of residents that are interest. You might want to keep this list handy in your case star-crazed aunt or uncle have decided to come visit

• Torrance, three blocks from Torrance High School - Buffy’s house (right) on the fictional Revello Drive Residence was actually in Torrance and was used in the widely popular series, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

• Kenneth Road between Brand and Pacific, Glendale - The “Gone With The Wind House’s” terrace can be seen as you take a scenic drive through Kenneth Road in Glendale. Beware, you might be tempted to declare that you will never go hungry again when passing by.

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The night that I discovered “Stringers: LA” on Tru Tv, it became my guilty pleasure. Actually, I shouldn’t say ‘guilty’ because I don’t feel ashamed to be watching it at all. If you’ve never heard of this television series, Stringers: LA follows freelance video journalists who prowl the streets of Los Angeles to find news as it happens. This routinely includes shootings, car crashes, hostage situations, explosions and fires. Their cars come equipped with police, fire and EMS scanners that help them to find and get amazing footage that is then fed to news organizations. Chances are that the car crash you’re watching on KTLA’s 11 o clock news was filmed by a stringer.

Stringers: LA is like COPS without the mental cases. Not only is it an intriguing and fascinating show for the action and adventure it provides on the mean and lean streets of this city, it makes you appreciate the efforts of these journalists who risk their lives on a daily basis to bring you the news. Seeing the work that goes behind stringing, gives people a rare glimpse into the behind the cameras work that goes into bringing footage to your local news station. Make no mistake about it, this is real reality tv.

Meet the stringers:

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A Majestic Tall Ship!

The Tall Ships will be sailing into the port this weekend, the 15th to the 17th.  San Pedro and the Port of Los Angeles plan to celebrate their presence with the Festival of Sail LA 2008.  These big, sailing ships were the main mode of travel and commerce for centuries, prior to the steam and diesel engined vessels that we know today.

The festival kicks off on Friday, at 10:00 am,  with a parade of these magnificent, tall-masted ships. They will be berthing near the Ports O’ Call Village area of San Pedro. There will be ship viewing, children’s activities and a variety of booths providing entertainment on each day of the festival from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm, except on Friday, which will begin at noon.

Some of the ships participating, will be the HMS Bounty and the HMS Surprise. The Bounty was used in the filming of Mutiny on the Bounty and the Surprise was in Master and Commander:The Far Side of the World, starring Russell Crowe. San Pedro’s Warner Grand Theater, plans to show these films on Friday and Saturday evening at 8:00 pm, respectively.

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Sunday nights on the Sunset Strip do not live up to the hype of their heyday many moons ago, but nonetheless, L.A.’s own funk/rock outfit Casxio managed to put on an energetic set at the Key Club. The band hit the stage on time, a shocker in and of itself, and then proceeded to deliver a healthy and concise set of the “Casxio sound.”

For those not already in the know from their previous LA Cityzine interview, Casxio (pronounced Ka-see-oh), was one of our “Get to Know LA Bands” features. Surely, a band described in print, or experienced via MP3, deserves a look in a live setting.

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ENTERTAINMENT

• Cinco de Mayo Celebration | Friday, May 2 through Sunday, May 4, 2008 | 10 a.m | Olvera Street - Map | Start your Cinco de Mayo celebrations early at Olvera Street where there will be carnival rides, live music and dance and traditional food.

• Pre-Cinco de Mayo Fiesta #8 | Saturday, May 3, 2008 | 6 p.m. | $25 (Presale) Crash Mansion LA - Map | Awesome music, burlesque dancers named La Cholita and Ruby Champagne and five full bars round out another pre-Cinco de Mayo bash at the Crash Mansion.

• BodyRock in the Park | Saturday, May 3,2008 | 2 p.m. | Free | Griffith Park - Map | DJs provide live music in Griffith Park from 2 p.m through 9 p.m. Bring your own BBQ ( and beer) and have a good time. Suggested $10 donation.

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Everywhere else it’s a crime, but in California, it’s convenience.

Some of us have back problems (wink), glaucoma (wink wink) or various sundry ailments that will provide access to the nation’s first weed vending machines. If you are cursed with perfect health and a scrupulous physician, however, there are games available that provide their own unique sensations of “heightened” reality.

In honor of this watershed achievement in self-service, here’s a list of titles that simulate (and perhaps stimulate) altered states.

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• Kofi Baker’s Tribute To Cream | 9:30 & 11:30 pm at The Baked Potato - Map | Age Unknown | Tickets $10 at the Door - 2 Drink minimum
• Howlin Rain | 7:00pm at Ameoba Music in Hollywood - Map | All Ages | Tickets - Free!
  
• Rooney, Brett Dennen, Lisa Donnelly | 7:30pm at the Roxy - Map | Tickets $25
  
• Nicole Atkins, Let’s Go Sailing, and The Parlor Mob | 8:00pm at the The Troubadour - Map | Tickets $10 in advance $12 at thedoor.
• Van Hunt | 9:00pmat the Temple Bar - Map | $12 in advance, $15 at the door.

There is a lot to choose from this weekend. No huge releases, but plenty to keep you entertained. 10,000 B.C. (which is sure to get some people’s knickers in a twist) comes out tomorrow. It looks like it have amazing special effects, with possibly a little bit of history thrown in. The Bank Job is yet another shot um up, clever, action movie with Jason Statham. Sadly, I don’t think this will be another Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, but it is getting some good reviews. CJ7, is basically a Japanese version of Flubber. College Road Trip is Martin Lawrence not at his best. Cheezy joke, after cheezy joke. I bet it does well. Married Life is about a husband who loves his wife so much, that he has to kill her in order to marry someone else. At least it sounds interesting. My pick for the week is Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, with Amy Adams and Frances McDormand, how could you go wrong? Snow Angels may be hard to find but is supposed to be amazing, so if you can, try to make some time for it.

Here it is, you’re movie list, reviews, ticket information, and trailers for the week!

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