Ashley Tisdale Performs Live at The Grove

On Saturday, June 27, Ashley Tisdale, from the mega-hit High School Musical franchise will perform songs from her new album, Guilty Pleasure, live at The Grove. The album, being released by Warner Bros. Records on July 28, is an edgy, guitar-driven pop-rock sound, a creative and mature leap forward for this appealing young singer and songwriter, sure to have fans at The Grove moving along with the music.

The free concert will also feature an opening performance from Reprise Records’ young and talented singing and dance group, V Factory. Always a fan-favorite, Ashley received a 2009 MTV Movie Award in the “Breakthrough Performance, Female” category for her role in High School Musical 3: Senior Year. The albums catchy first single, “It’s Alright, It’s OK,” has been aired on MTV and featured on hit shows such as, The Hills and So You Think You Can Dance. More information about The Grove can be found online at www.thegrovela.com.

Casey and Sayre's Executive V.P. to Chair 50th Anniversary of the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Karen Diehl, pictured above behind Kevin and Kyra, will head up the 50th Anniversary of the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010.

New Architecture Prize From China to Spotlight Young Architect of Great Promise

The Ordos Prize, a new international architecture prize from China, the first ever from Asia, will honor a young architect at a pivotal point in his or her career. Qingyun Ma, dean of the University of Southern California School of Architecture, is the Founding Director and he has brought together leading global architects to serve as nominators and jury members.

“Unlike other major prizes that recognize an architect for a significant project or body of work, The Ordos Prize is the first to honor emerging young talent,” says Rem Koolhaas, chair of The Ordos Prize Jury and principal of Office of Metropolitan Architecture based in Rotterdam. “The Ordos Prize winners will be our next generation of great architects,” he adds.

Candidates for the prize are being nominated by preeminent global architects: Ben van Berkel, Stefano Boeri, Liz Diller, Jacques Herzog, Thom Mayne, Pierre de Meuron, Enrique Norten, Kazuyo Sejima, Wang Shu and Robert A. M. Stern.

Cars of the Stars on Display at The Americana at Brand

On Sunday, May 31, Caruso Affiliated will host its second annual Concours d’Elegance presented by the prestigious Petersen Automotive Museum at The Americana at Brand in downtown Glendale. From 11a.m. to 4p.m. visitors will get an up close look at 25 rare and classic convertibles many of which have either been owned by celebrities throughout Hollywood history or have appeared in major motion pictures.

One main attraction will be a 1949 DELAHAYE Type 178 Drophead Coupe formerly owned by the legendary Elton John. Other cars of the stars include a 1956 Jaguar XKSS, formerly owned by Steve McQueen; 1965 Imperial Convertible formerly owned by Katherine Hepburn; and a 1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Convertible, formerly owned by Jack Nicholson and used in the movie, "The Two Jakes"; the 1951 Mercury Kustom from David Lee Roth's "California Girls" video, and the "Speed Racer" Mach 5 prototype.

Hollywood's 16th Annual Women of Distinction Awards

The Hollywood Chamber's 16th Annual Women of Distinction Awards luncheon will take place tomorrow at The Globe Theatre at Universal Hollywood.  KTLA's Cher Calvin will be emceeing the event where the following people are being honored.

Mary Pickford Award

Marlee Matlin

Golden Award for Community Service

Oscar Arslanian

Women of Distinction

Chanell O'Farrill - Hollywood Forever Cemetary

Judy Kloner - Assistance League of Southern California

Leslie Lambert - Community Redevelopment Agency, Hollywood Region

Sarah MacPherson - Hollywood Property Owners Alliance

All proceeds from this luncheon will go to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Community Foundation, which supports Hollywood charitable organizations advancing initiatives such as the arts, education and affordable housing.

The Grove Partners With Third Street Elementary School For The Second Annual Olympic Games

Students will compete in an Olympic-themed athletic competition when Third Street Elementary School, in partnership with The Grove, hosts its 2nd annual Olympic Games on Saturday, May 2 at the school’s 201 South June Street campus.  From 10a.m. to 1p.m. students in grades K-5 gain admission to the event by donating backpacks filled with new school supplies purchased at their own expense, which will later be distributed to homeless kids in Los Angeles by “School on Wheels,” a tutoring service for the underprivileged. 

In addition to support from The Grove, the Tiger Woods Foundation awarded Third Street Elementary a $2,500 grant in an effort to help the students meet their fundraising goal for this year's event -- 1,200 backpacks filled with school supplies and $12,000 raised for some of the school's key programs.  

No Surprise here -- We Are the Center of the Universe!

This new opus, "Smile Southern California, You're the Center of the Universe" by James Flanigan, hit the shelves this week letting Americans know the obvious... we are the center of the Universe!!  The book argues that Southern California is the economic model for the U.S. and the world!  Again, no surprise there.  

The book covers everything L.A. including our strides in technology, the entertainment business as well as our fast paced entrepreneurship.

For over 50 years, James Flanigan has been a renowned journalist, columnist, editor and storyteller for Forbes, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and the Herald Tribune. 

Pick up your copy today: http://www.amazon.com/Smile-Southern-California-Center-Universe/dp/0804756252/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240341804&sr=8-1