Year: 2014

  • Villapiano’s from “That Thing You Do!”

    Villapiano’s from “That Thing You Do!”

    ‘ One That Thing You Do! location that I had been trying to track down for what seemed like ages was the red-boothed Italian restaurant that stood in for Villapiano’s, the “spaghetti place out by the airport,” in the 1996 flick.  Thankfully, a couple of months ago, fellow stalker Owen, of the When Write Is…

  • Colony 29 from “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”

    Colony 29 from “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”

    ‘ After watching the Season 4 episodes of fave show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills titled “Palm Spring Breakers” and “Escape to Bitch Mountain,” I became just a wee-bit obsessed with tracking down Colony 29, the sprawling enclave where the Housewives stayed during their brief desert visit.  Fortunately, it wasn’t a tough find thanks…

  • The El Palacio Apartments

    The El Palacio Apartments

    ‘ Situated at the corner of La Cienega Boulevard and Fountain Avenue in West Hollywood is an idyllic complex named The El Palacio Apartments.  The gorgeous Spanish Baroque architecture is hiding some dark secrets, though.  The building has been the site of two infamous deaths, the most notorious of which was the overdoes of actress…

  • New “Los Angeles” Magazine Post – Eli Wallach’s House from “The Holiday”

    New “Los Angeles” Magazine Post – Eli Wallach’s House from “The Holiday”

    ‘ Today’s Los Angeles magazine post was written in honor of the legendary actor Eli Wallach, who passed away yesterday at the age of 98.  Wallach portrayed one of my favorite movie characters of all time.  Rest in peace, dear Arthur Abbott.  You can read the post here.  My columns typically get published in the…

  • Tom’s Bistro from “Parks and Recreation”

    Tom’s Bistro from “Parks and Recreation”

    ‘ A couple of months ago, I asked fellow stalker Owen, of the When Write Is Wrong blog, to assist me in finding Tom’s Bistro from fave show Parks and Recreation.  It took him less than a minute to track the place down (thanks to this April 25th tweet).  As it turns out, a Hollywood…

  • Kevin’s House from “The Wonder Years”

    Kevin’s House from “The Wonder Years”

    ‘ UPDATE – The Wonder Years is coming to DVD for the first time ever in October!  The 26-disc boxed set includes all six seasons of the show, plus a cast reunion segment, over 15 hours of bonus footage, a collectible metal locker, two production booklets packed with behind-the-scenes information, a replica yearbook, and Wonder Years…

  • The Infamous Ray Pruit Stairs

    The Infamous Ray Pruit Stairs

    ‘ Since moving to the desert last January (I cannot believe it has been a year!), I have wanted to revisit Rancho Las Palmas, the sprawling Rancho Mirage resort where Ray Pruit (Jamie Walters) pushed girlfriend Donna Martin (Tori Spelling) down a flight of stairs in the Season 5 episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 titled…

  • The Open Houses from “Hidden Away”

    The Open Houses from “Hidden Away”

    ‘ I know what you’re probably thinking after reading today’s title – she sure has stalked a lot of locations from a movie she professes not to have liked.  And you’re right.  But what can I say?  The fact that there are filming locales in my current hometown that have yet to be unearthed is…

  • The Victorian from “Mr. Mom”

    The Victorian from “Mr. Mom”

    ‘ Some movie scenes just seem to stay with you, seared into your memory for years, despite the fact that you can remember little else about the storyline.  That’s how it was for me and Mr. Mom.  I had not seen the comedy since 1983 when it first premiered in theatres and recalled few details…

  • Bowfinger International Pictures from “Bowfinger”

    Bowfinger International Pictures from “Bowfinger”

    ‘ I am a sucker for any movie about Los Angeles.  Coincidentally (or perhaps no so coincidentally), Steve Martin has written and starred in two of my favorites – L.A. Story and Bowfinger.  Two completely different takes on life in LaLaLand, but both equally valid and poignant.  Because I originally moved to Southern California to…