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News & Notes - July 2015

07/08/2015

Discover Los Angeles


Out Now Global, an Australian research firm, predicted enormous growth in LGBT travel to the United States as a result of the recent landmark Supreme Court decision that established gay marriage as a fully legal right in the U.S. The firm predicts LGBT tourism will likely increase by 9 percent over the next three years, creating an influx of 1.3 LGBT tourists spending more than $4.25 billion over that same period. Seven key LGBT markets were surveyed including Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the UK. Each country showed an increase of LGBT visitors of between 9 and 11 percent. Brazil showed the largest projected increase with 465,000 visitors.


The Metro Expo Line extension (Phase 2) from Culver City to Santa Monica is nearly 90 percent complete and is on pace to open by spring 2016. The extension, a 6.6-mile corridor, will connect Downtown L.A. to the beach in an estimated 46 minutes. The project is expected to carry up to 64,000 people by 2030 with the addition of Santa Monica to the existing line.

Air China recently launched the airline’s third daily nonstop service from Beijing to Los Angeles. With the launch, Air China also began operations at LAX’s new Tom Bradley International Terminal. Air China is the only airline with nonstop service between the two cities.

The experience at LAX's Terminal 5 now reflects the style of L.A. and its travelers as Delta Air Lines unveiled the completion of a three-year terminal wide refurbishment, including the airline’s first private check-in lounge, Delta ONE. The $229-million project included enhancements such as new jet bridges; a renovated Sky Priority lobby; an expanded ticketing lobby and four additional security screening checkpoints; and new baggage carousels and international baggage recheck facilities.

Anime Expo 2014

24th Annual Anime Expo Kicks Off at L.A. Convention Center

07/02/2015

Discover Los Angeles

People dressed in costumes that ranged from superheroes to internationally famous manga characters and the simply indescribable. The costumes added to the festive and somewhat chaotic atmosphere, which included dozens of food trucks parked both on the Convention Center grounds and across Downtown L.A.’s Figueroa Street. Lines at the opening of the show ran about 45 minutes to get into the Convention Center’s South and West Halls.

Inside the South Hall, the mood was convivial as attendees milled around merchandise booths, and outrageously-dressed people snapped photos of even more outrageously dressed people. Despite having attended about 300 anime shows, 23-year-old Devin Adkins was impressed by the sheer scale of his first AX. "It's definitely overwhelming, and I definitely plan to come back next year," said Adkins, who was dressed as Yato from Noragami. "I'm going to have to take tons of photos."

"You could fit all of the Texas cons (anime conferences) into this one," added 21-year-old Houston native Sophie "Tofu" H., who was dressed as the character Shampoo from Ranma 1/2. "There's lots of pretty stuff."

Wild Style on Melrose Avenue

The Guide to Melrose Avenue East

06/26/2015

Elina Shatkin

Designer boutiques and high-end housewares stores dominate the western end of Melrose Avenue. As you continue exploring Melrose from Fairfax Avenue, the glossy boutiques give way to a funkier vibe.

Melrose Avenue

The Guide to Melrose Avenue West

06/25/2015

Elina Shatkin

Along its western end, Melrose Avenue is all about strolling and shopping, so bring dough and plenty of it. The street begins where the cities of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood meet, otherwise known as the intersection of posh and funky.

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