The American Booksellers Association is inviting member booksellers to kick off their stay in Los Angeles for BookExpo America 2008 with fun activities on Wednesday afternoon, May 28.
ABA has made special arrangements with a local walking tour company, which has added a significant literary edge to its standard Hollywood Walking Tour, just for member booksellers. The association has also arranged a shuttle bus to take members for a special tour of the Getty Museum and Bookstore.
The afternoon will be capped with a "Welcome to Hollywood" Author Reception, sponsored by ABA and the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association, at the famed Egyptian Theatre.
The list of things to do and see in L.A. is endless, so ABA has also provided a suggested list of alternative activities, but all member booksellers are reminded to be back in time for the Author Reception at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
| EXCLUSIVE! Literary & Hollywood Sites Tour for ABA Bookstore Members
Space is limited for this unique tour, so members are urged to sign up today. E-mail reservations@redlinetours.com to reserve your spot. Tour price is $16 to ABA member booksellers. |
This customized, behind-the-scenes tour of Hollywood is exclusive to ABA members. Red Line Tours has become world famous for its unusual approach to touring Los Angeles. The company envisions L.A. as a vast living museum, hence its slogan -- "The City is Our Museum." To reinforce this concept, guests are outfitted with audio receivers much like the kind used on a museum audio tour, except this tour is not recorded. Guides will offer commentary via a microphone transmitter as they lead booksellers through the heart of Hollywood and into some of its most storied landmarks. Join other ABA member booksellers, as Red Line takes you on this customized version of its most popular tour. You will visit several Hollywood landmarks, among them settings for great novels by Raymond Chandler, Dorothy Parker, and Nathanael West. You will also visit historic landmarks such as the El Capitan Theatre, where stars such as Clark Gable and Fred Astaire were discovered. Later the theatre was converted to a movie theatre, which was the site for the premiere of Citizen Kane. Other Hollywood sites such as the historic Walk of Fame, Hollywood Sign, Kodak Theatre, and Grauman's Chinese Theater will be on the tour, which will end at the Egyptian Theatre, for the ABA/SCIBA "Welcome to Hollywood" Author Reception.
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In its 10 years of existence, the Getty Center has become much more than an architectural icon; the center is a vital part of the L.A. community. The Getty Center offers a unique collection of European paintings, drawings, sculpture, decorative arts, and European and American photographs, in a lovely setting of modern architecture and gardens. This tour will look at the written word as viewed from the Getty's centuries-old manuscript collection. You will also enjoy a tour of the Getty Bookstore. Space is very limited for this unique tour, so member are urged to sign up today by e-mailing Jamie Rogers at ABA at jamie@bookweb.org. A complimentary shuttle departs from Hotel ABA at 1:00 p.m., and the tour ends at the Egyptian Theater for the ABA/SCIBA "Welcome to Hollywood" Author Reception at 5:00 p.m. This tour is free to ABA member booksellers. |
Getty Center Museum & Bookstore Tour
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It has been said that to visit Los Angeles and not see Grauman's Chinese Theatre is like visiting China and not seeing the Great Wall. Grauman's opulent, awe-inspiring presence and its storied history have been a cornerstone of Hollywood for more than 75 years. Conveniently located in the same complex as Hotel ABA. Tours are offered seven days a week. Call (323) 463-9576 in advance for tour times and tickets, or visit the theatre's website, www.manntheatres.com/chinese/ Admission fee applies. |
Grauman's Chinese Theatre
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In an enjoyable setting, guests will explore amazing world records encompassing sports, space, animals, food, human achievement, and more. Guinness World Records are brought to life through incredible displays, cool interactive games and trivia, themed galleries, and video productions! Located about two blocks from Hotel ABA. Hours: 10:00 a.m. - midnight. For ticket and tour information, call (323) 463-6433, or visit the museum's website, www.guinnessattractions.com. Admission fee applies. |
Guinness World Records Museum
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One of the most popular attractions on Hollywood Boulevard, the Hollywood Wax Museum is the only wax museum dedicated to showcasing Hollywood celebrities. You'll be so swept away by the lifelike realism that you may be tempted to ask for an autograph from such stars as Harrison Ford, Mike Meyers, Katherine Hepburn, Julia Roberts, Robert Redford, Tom Hanks, and hundreds more. Located about two blocks from Hotel ABA. Open 365 days a year, 10:00 a.m. -l midnight. For ticket and tour information, call (323) 462-8860, or visit the museum's website, www.hollywoodwax.com.. Admission fee applies. |
Hollywood Wax Museum
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Experience a first-hand look at moviemaking magic on this world famous Studio Tour. You'll get a sneak peak at Hollywood blockbusters in the making as you journey through real working sets from movies and hit television shows. Encounter awe-inspiring wreckage from Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds, check out Skull Island set pieces from the movie King Kong, see the astounding set of the Emmy Award-winning CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and much more. Located about three miles from Hotel ABA (a short subway ride). Open 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Call for ticket and tour information at (800) UNIVERSAL, or visit the Universal website, www.universalstudioshollywood.com/st_info.html. Admission fee applies. |
Universal Studios Tour
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See "behind the scenes" and "into the scenes" of your favorite shows and movies at the world's busiest motion picture and television studio. Guests of the Warner Bros. Studios VIP Tour are offered a rare look into the world of entertainment. Located about five miles from Hotel ABA (a short subway ride). Tours are given daily from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Ticket orders are recommended prior to visit. For ticket and tour information, call (818) 972-8687, or visit the Warner Brothers website, www2.warnerbros.com/vipstudiotour. Admission fee applies. |
Warner Brothers Studio Tour
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Whatever you decide to do during your free time in Los Angeles, the ABA/SCIBA kick-off celebration at the famed Egyptian Theater is something you definitely won't want to miss! Join your fellow booksellers and L.A.-area authors for food, foam, and fun!
Da Capo Lifelong Books, a member of the Perseus Books Group, and Mäni's Bakery will be providing special bakery items in honor of Mäni Naill's new cookbook Sweet! Home Baking With Every Kind of Natural Sugar and Sweetener. |
"Welcome to Hollywood" Author Reception at the Egyptian Theatre 
For more on ABA's programming at BEA, including details about the Thursday, May 29, "Day of Education" at Hotel ABA, visit www.bookweb.org/events/bea.html. And look for updates and announcements on all ABA programming in upcoming editions of Bookselling This Week.