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journeyPod headed to sunny Southern California for the 5th Annual San Diego Wine and Food Festival. journeyPod was there for lip smacking, glass clinking, celebrity watching, swishing, swirling, mouth watering kinds of fun! Held at venues along the stunning San Diego waterfront, the Festival was a sizzling five-day festa that offered attendees everything from cooking classes with celebrity chefs, to wine tastings with Master Sommeliers, to a Reserve Tasting aboard the Hornblower’s Inspiration, and the Final Grand Event –where over 800 wines were poured. journeyPod caught up with some of the movers and shakers at the festival. We spoke with the Chef of the Fest from 2007, Chef GT, for some real inside scoop on what it is like to be “Chef of the Fest.” We also chatted with the Dan from Redwood Creek Wines, and with Rita from D...

San Diego, California. The name conjures up complete bliss: pristine beaches, sunny year round weather, the Zoo, shopping, and of course fine dining and luxurious hotels and resorts. journeyPod has had the opportunity over the past few yeas to cover a few select San Diego area properties such as the Ivy, The Rancho Bernardo Inn, La Costa, Estancia, L’Auberge, and a few select others. (Be sure to check out our archives for these great podcast shows!) Well, my fellow jet-setters, it’s time to add a new favorite to the list: The Grand Del Mar. As the name suggests, it’s grand. Located in Northern San Diego, this property will make you think you’ve been magically transported to the Tuscan countryside. Really. Add to the opulent atmosphere of this new destination resort the fact that it’s signature fine dining restaurant, Addison, has earned one of the most coveted awards of all: a Five Diamond rating ...

Welcome to Awards Central, West Hollywood, California! It’s Sunday, February 22nd, night of the Academy Awards and West Hollywood is rolling out the red carpet.  Located at the base of the Hollywood Hills between Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, West Hollywood is the hip and trendsetting center of Southern California where the stars live, work and play! As the calendar turns to a new year, the attention of the entertainment community and fans around the world turns to Awards season. Hundreds of millions of movie-lovers tune in to watch the glamorous ceremonies and learn who will receive the highest honors in show business. journeyPod was there! Listen up for our exclusive interviews with celebs like Candis Cayne, Jodi Lynn OKeefe, Tila Tequila, and Yuvall David.

Let us guide you with this Santa Monica Blvd walking tour with info on the famous Route 66 and surrounding sites.  We take you through beautiful West Hollywood or WeHo as the locals call it so you can experience this hip destination firsthand.

Get the real feel of West Hollywood, California with our Sunset Strip walking tour.  Highlites include behind the scenes info on the famous Strip.  Hear from Roxy owner, Nic Adler.

     Hello fellow jet-setters, we are in West Hollywood! Just a short 20 minute drive from LAX airport and another 30 minutes from downtown Los Angeles, West Hollywood is very accessible.  And with so many fun and crazy things to do in West Hollywood, you could spend days here! As you walk the Sunset Strip—which did you know –that the Strip in Vegas COPIED it’s name from the Sunset Strip?  As you walk this historic street, you can literally breathe in history.  Take all the many nightclubs for example: The Whiskey A Go Go, which is both famous and infamous, and even the lesser known clubs like the Cat Club. Don’t forget to grab a slice of pizza at Frankie and Johnnies, either! journeyPod had the pleasure of sitting down with Nic Adler, the owner of the Roxy, who literally grew up inside the Roxy—riding his skateboard across the stage and crashing a Gladys Knight and the Pips show.  Wanna hear more?  I know you do….so take a listen…. Get ready to “rock on” in West Hollywood! I’ll leave you with the unique song, “Ants in Hollywood” by Francis Collete.“

Hello fellow jet-setters, we’re on Hollywood Blvd, in Hollywood, California!  As we walk down the street we see the famed Kodak Theatre and the Chinese Grauman Theatre.  Find your favorite “star” on the sidewalk and say “cheese!” Afterall, you are allowed to be a tourist ever once and again.  If you look closely up to the hills, you see the most famous landmark of Hollywood—the Hollywood sign!    If you’re in the mood to see the latest Disney or Pixar film, you’ll find many theatres in and around Hollywood, but if you want to EXPERIENCE a movie, head over to the El Capitan Theatre.  This historic landmark is THE place to see a movie—and even see a celeb at their premiere! journeyPod was given the royal treatment that included a private tour with the executive director, Ed Collins. We learned some inside scoop and then had VIP seats (that included popcorn and soda!) for the new Disney film, Ratatouille. There is no other way to see a movie!  We’re believers now! Let’s take a listen…   Swing on by the El Capitan Theatre and enjoy the pipe organ, popcorn, and the true experience of “going to the movies.”  I’ll leave you with the smooth sounds of Lorena Mire and her song, “Movies in My Head.”

journeyPod is your guide to luxury travel around the world.  We give you VIP access to the hippest hotels, hottest nightlife, and coolest restaurants.  Only in Hollywood will you find the legendary Sunset Strip, and Hollywood Blvd, home to unparalleledd nightlife, innovative dining, and world-class shopping.  And in what other 1.9 square mile city will you find 14 distinctive hotels? It’s no wonder it’s the place where the stars come out to play! Today, we’re at Geisha House, a modern Japanese restaurant, sushi bar and sake lounge that embraces the flavor of traditional Japan while catering to the hip, sophisticated clientele of Los Angeles. At the restaurant today, Barry Levinson is filming his newest film, featuring Robert DeNiro. We visited with Lonnie Moore, partner of the Dolce Group, a Los Angeles-based restaurant and nightlife team whose portfolio includes Geisha House, Dolce Enoteca, Ketchup, Les Deux, and Bella Cucina Italiana. Check out our Los Angeles Destination Guide for other groovy restaurants like Dolce Enoteca. Enjoy the unique sounds from Brainpool and their song, “How to Find a Decent Sushi Bar.”

  journeyPod is your guide to luxury travel around the world. Beyond L.A.’s  tangle of freeways, you can pedal, snorkel, and kayak your way to a truly great outdoor weekend. Whether it is for a few hours or a few days, we all got to get away sometime. Just beyond the urban sprawl is The South Bay — consisting of the beach cities of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach.   Besides the beautiful beaches, and beautiful people, there is a ton of boutique shopping, lunching, and just plain-old professional athlete sight-seeing to be had. Whether it is watching your favorite professional beach volleyball player spike the ball around, or boutique shopping, the South Bay is a trendy and hip place to be seen. On any given night you may run into Andy Roddick or Nomar Garciaparra at Zinc Lounge in Manhattan Beach. After all that strenuous outdoor activity, you will be needing some TLC. Head to the place where the local professional athletes go when they need to relax and rejuvenate. You may even run into a certain robe-clad outfielder from the Dodgers, like I did in the Quiet Room at Trilogy Spa in Manhattan Beach. Trilogy Spa is a journeyPod pick for best spa in Los Angeles.

journeyPod is your guide to luxury travel around the world. We give you VIP access to the hippest hotels, hottest nighlife and coolest restaurants. It is beach volleyball season! The AVP tour, established in 1983,  is in full-swing, with records already being broken. This year the tour kicked off April 13 in Miami, and now in its 5th week, it is in Hermosa Beach, CA where journeyPod caught up with some of the great players like second seed Sean Rosenthal, better known by his fans as “Rosie”, had the chance to chat with the “official voice” of the AVP, Chris “Geeter” McGee, and landed an interview with indie band PaperBack Hero who just happened to be doing an acoustic set with their friend Ben Carey of Lifehouse. (Ladies, be sure to listen to find out what accent this Aussie guy prefers.) Hermosa Beach is a favorite stop on the tour for many of the players as they grew up here and this is their “home turf.”  Besides, as Rosie said, it’s great to roll out of bed and walk to the tourney! journeyPod also had the honour of watching the great legend of volleyball, Karch Kiraly, play for his last time in Hermosa Beach and partake in history as Misty May-Treanor (see photo above) beat Holly McPeak’s record for most female wins: 73.  You do not have to live at the beach to experience these amazing athletic contests.  The tour continues this coming weekend in Louisville, KY, then makes stops in Tampa, Atlanta, Charleston, Chicago, Boston, Brooklyn, Cinicinnati, and many more. Check out the complete schedule. And if you are in need of new volleyball apparel or gear, the VB Superstore is your one-stop online shop for everything volleyball. Check out my new favorite song at the end of the podcast, Comic Book Hero Girl, by PaperBack Hero. If you are in the Los Angeles area on July 9th check them out in Hollywood at The Key Club, and tell them Andrea from journeyPod sent you.