Wedding Our mini-moon in L.A.: help with traffic, driving to Vegas

[CJ2008]

Musey - doesn''t necessarily need to be in the same area. Thanks for the Manhattan beach idea and the Hollywood idea...I''ll check it out. Trip advisor is great, but sometimes, it''s so hard to trust it! You get 10 great reviews and 10 horrible reviews on the same place - I usually try to rely on just the pictures, which to me tell a lot. Everything else could pretty much be subjective. Maybe I''ll post a thread in hangout and see what I come up with.

LA - the Best Western really does seem OK according to the pictures. Of course there were some horrible reviews on it as well...so you just never know. The neighborhood is safe, would you say? I am definitely copying down that little itinerary you just gave me! Sounds fun.

 

[diamondfan]

Greystone Mansion brings back memories.

I used to play on the grounds. It is a stunning mansion that was built by the Doheny family. The street Doheny Drive is named for them. It is a spectacular home with tragic vibes.

It was used in many tv episodes (S.W.A.T.), the Mr. Mister video "Is it Love" and Steve Martin''s movie "All of Me". I used to watch things being filmed there and my friend and I picnicked on the lawn and talked our way into the mansion. I will never forget the huge foyer with its checkerboard marble floor, and the huge grand wooden staircase in the center. There was a huge room off the kitchen for arranging flowers. It had the most gorgeous grounds. There was a stunning rectangular pool and a lovely pool house with a special roof so orchestras could play there during summer parties.

Ed Doheny was murdered in the house by his personal secretary under murky circumstances. His wife moved to another gorgeous home not far away. I think the American Film Institute was leasing the property and it was used in countless films and tv shows. There was a gate house and huge entry gates. The house sat high above on a hill with a winding driveway...like a castle. The stone walls were at least a foot thick and stone and marble was brought in from all over the world. The house was amazing. Paul Trousdale developed the land all around it called Trousdale Estates, leaving the house with about 13 or so acres down from over 400 in the days of its grandeur.

 

[diamondfan]

Greystone Mansion brings back memories.

I used to play on the grounds. It is a stunning mansion that was built by the Doheny family. The street Doheny Drive is named for them. It is a spectacular home with tragic vibes. It is the second largest home in California I believe, next to Hearst Castle.

It was used in many tv episodes (S.W.A.T.), the Mr. Mister video "Is it Love" and Steve Martin''s movie "All of Me". I used to watch things being filmed there and my friend and I picnicked on the lawn and talked our way into the mansion. I will never forget the huge foyer with its checkerboard marble floor, and the huge grand wooden staircase in the center. There was a huge room off the kitchen for arranging flowers. It had the most gorgeous grounds. There was a stunning rectangular pool and a lovely pool house with a special roof so orchestras could play there during summer parties.

Ed Doheny was murdered in the house by his personal secretary under murky circumstances. He then killed himself. His wife moved to another gorgeous home not far away, but did live there a long time with her new husband. I think the American Film Institute was leasing the property and it was used in countless films and tv shows. There was a gate house and huge entry gates. The house sat high above on a hill with a winding driveway...like a castle. The stone walls were at least a foot thick and stone and marble was brought in from all over the world. The house was amazing. Paul Trousdale developed the land all around it called Trousdale Estates, leaving the house with about 13 or so acres down from over 400 in the days of its grandeur.

It is now on the National Registry of Historic places, thankfully, as it was almost torn down at one point.

 

[LAJennifer]

Date: 5/22/2008 12:41:29 AM
Author: claudinam
Musey - doesn''t necessarily need to be in the same area. Thanks for the Manhattan beach idea and the Hollywood idea...I''ll check it out. Trip advisor is great, but sometimes, it''s so hard to trust it! You get 10 great reviews and 10 horrible reviews on the same place - I usually try to rely on just the pictures, which to me tell a lot. Everything else could pretty much be subjective. Maybe I''ll post a thread in hangout and see what I come up with.

LA - the Best Western really does seem OK according to the pictures. Of course there were some horrible reviews on it as well...so you just never know. The neighborhood is safe, would you say? I am definitely copying down that little itinerary you just gave me! Sounds fun.

Very safe, great location. From what I understand, the hotel is very clean and comfortable - but could be somewhat noisey (it is right on the Sunset Strip). You can walk to lots of great restaurants, nightlife, etc. I think it is right across the street from the Saddle Ranch (fun time - ride the bull). You can find whatever your heart''s desire on the Sunset Strip. My favorite places are Bar Marmont (LOVE), Cabo Cantina, and Skybar (in the Mondrian hotel, has a great view of the city). Asia de Cuba is a nice restaurant, also in the Mondrian (you can go for dinner and then hang in the Skybar for a few drinks).

I just realized I haven''t been to any of these places in a loooooong time. I need to get out more.

 

[LAJennifer]

Date: 5/22/2008 1:15:37 AM
Author: diamondfan
Greystone Mansion brings back memories.

I used to play on the grounds. It is a stunning mansion that was built by the Doheny family. The street Doheny Drive is named for them. It is a spectacular home with tragic vibes.

It was used in many tv episodes (S.W.A.T.), the Mr. Mister video ''Is it Love'' and Steve Martin''s movie ''All of Me''. I used to watch things being filmed there and my friend and I picnicked on the lawn and talked our way into the mansion. I will never forget the huge foyer with its checkerboard marble floor, and the huge grand wooden staircase in the center. There was a huge room off the kitchen for arranging flowers. It had the most gorgeous grounds. There was a stunning rectangular pool and a lovely pool house with a special roof so orchestras could play there during summer parties.

Ed Doheny was murdered in the house by his personal secretary under murky circumstances. His wife moved to another gorgeous home not far away. I think the American Film Institute was leasing the property and it was used in countless films and tv shows. There was a gate house and huge entry gates. The house sat high above on a hill with a winding driveway...like a castle. The stone walls were at least a foot thick and stone and marble was brought in from all over the world. The house was amazing. Paul Trousdale developed the land all around it called Trousdale Estates, leaving the house with about 13 or so acres down from over 400 in the days of its grandeur.

Diamondfan - I''m sooooo jealous!

 

[diamondfan]

Jennifer, it was really amazing. For a time my friend lived up Loma Vista Drive, in Trousdale, and we used to walk down the hill to the property. It is one of the most magnificent homes in the world. They had a huge garage down at the end where all the chauffeurs lived, and they had their own gas pumps and a fire station too. There were so many amazing rooms and places in that house, we explored the grounds for hours.

 

[diamondfan]

If you go on You Tube and look up Mr. Mister Is it Love, you can see the video. It shows the grounds and the gorgeous main stair and foyer. You need to watch the whole thing. You can get a really great sense of the interior. I think they have been recently working on a renovation which is great, since it really is one of the most magnificent private homes possibly in the United States.

If you rent All of Me with Steve Martin, it is Edwina (Lily Tomlin's house) and it is in a lot of scenes, especially the big party scene at the end. You get a real sense of the grandeur from this movie.

Can you tell I love this house?