We’re coming back to sponsor another great Sunset Strip Music Fest (SSMF), and this year’s live up is amazing. Mark your calendars & get your tickets because you’re not going to want to miss:

Thursday: August 26

Thursday: SSMF salutes rock icon Slash at House of Blues

Friday,August 2

Friday: Six legendary venues, one full night of music
Cat Club
House of Blues
Key Club
The Roxy Theatre
Viper Room
Whisky A Go-Go

Saturday, August 28

Saturday: Street festival Outdoor stages on Sunset between San Vicente and Doheny, performances in the venues, vendors and interactive experiences all day on The Strip.

See you there!

Australia will come a little bit closer to Los Angeles on July 15 when the Santa Monica Pier’s Twilight Concert Series will host a night of all-Australian music.  Australian singer/songwriter Ben Lee (We’re All in This Together, Cigarettes Will Kill You) will be joined by two exciting new acts to showcase some of the best of what contemporary Australian music has to offer.

While at the show, be sure to stop by the V Australia booth to enter for a chance to win a 5-night trip to Sydney, Australia including a cruise on Sydney Harbour and round-trip airfare from Los Angles on V Australia.  The Prize comes courtesy of V Australia and Tourism New South Wales.

To get us into a party mood, we’re offering one lucky WHO reader and a friend an exclusive invite to V Australia’s sexiest people party followed by the chance to experience the glamour and glitz of LA!

Grab a copy of WHO on sale from Friday October 30 and jump over to their site. To enter the comp, tell WHO in 25 words or less why LA is a hot and sexy place and vote which of our top ten favourite locations are on the must-see list for your LA journey.

For inspiration, here are some pics of the 10 LA hotspots on our hitlist.

The Grove

Malibu Pier

Pink's Hot Dogs

Rainbow Room

The Viper Room

Venice Beach

Rodeo Drive

Santa Monica Pier

Follow your carnivorous instincts to Animal, Jon Shook & Vinnny Dotolo’s new restaurant, opened in June of 2008.   Known from their Food Network reality show, “Two Dudes Catering,” these two laid back chefs feature mostly meat on their menu to the delight of LA hipster crowds— pork chops, ribs, steaks, and mmm… bacon.   The “Food Dudes” are not known for green leafy vegetables, so bring a hearty appetite.  And if you’ve heard the rumor but didn’t believe it, you’ll just have to taste it for yourself: they even serve bacon for dessert– their signature “bacon chocolate crunch bar!”

There’s no sign on the door, so follow your “animal” instincts to sniff it out.  It shouldn’t be hard to catch a waft of the savory & smoky flavors within a mile of the vicinity.   435 North Fairfax Avenue, between Oakwood and Rosewood Avenues, (323) 782-9225 open for dinner Sun-Thurs 6 pm-11 pm, Fri-Sat, 6 pm-2 am.

If you fancy yourself more of a bacon fanatic than just a bacon fan, you might try this crowd-pleaser at your next party: the Candied Bacon Martini.

Line a baking sheet with foil, sprinkle ¼ cup of brown sugar over 8 bacon slices, and bake at 400 degrees until crisp and caramelized, about 15-20 minutes.  In a large cocktail shaker, combine 6 ounces vodka, 4 ounces Applejack brandy, 2 ounces amaretto, and 2 ounces maple syrup with ice.  Shake until chilled, and then pour into 4 chilled martini glasses.  Garnish with an apple slice and half a slice of candied bacon.   Really?  What could be more delicious?!

Well, after a quick reminder of the task at hand…

The Challenge: 3 friends, non-stop in LA for 3 days. Celebs, clubs and chaos.
The Catch: Send a tweet every minute they’re there. All 4,320 of them.
Success: 3 around-the-world tickets on V Australia and Virgin Atlantic.
Failure: not an option.

700pm: guess where? The poolside cabana on the rooftop at the SLS Hotel; a day-time contrast to our ‘graveyard shift’ SLS Foyer jaunts.

800pm: we wind our way to Griffith Observatory for a sunset picnic and the most spectacular views of LA as night embraces us and reveals the jeweled blanket that covers the west-side of LA.

1000pm: the cigar club on Sunset. No need to light-up; it’s pleasurable enough to meet the owner, Mark, and listen to his stories of hand-made cigars. The front room is a like someone’s living room on display to all who pass on Sunset Blvd. Downstairs is a hidden gem with rear deck that feels miles away from the bustle of the street above.

1100pm: House of Blues is always a mecca for touring acts, but out back at street level is a private bar with quilted walls, heavily carved timber joinery and bar and a hip-hop DJ hammering out fat beats

1200am: the V Tweeters momentarily leave us to enjoy the delights of the Sky Bar at the Mondrian Hotel. This is truly where LA’s rich and famous come to be seen. And who do we meet? Several fellow Aussies enjoying their stay in LA.  Aussies are everywhere when you travel.

Nathan shows off his new tan

 200am: LA is bedevilled by strict licensing laws that close all venues serving alcohol at 200am so unless you know someone with an all-night / off-licence club (members-only) then your best bet are the many diners and cafes such as Swingers.

230am: V Tweeters and crew sample Swingers all-day breakfast including pancakes, coffee, chilli, burgers, um … well it’s not all breakfast, but we won’t judge.

400am: our third grave-yard shift begins. The crew are fading but the V Tweeters tweet on.

500am: Barry’s Boot Camp beckons. The V Tweeters are welcome to it. And the visit by a Tarot reader at the Urth Café immediately after. Not for me though, my third and final nap is a marathon five hours.

1130am: once again in a cabana by the rooftop pool at the SLS Hotel. Why move? The pace is nice now. Well for me anyway – the V Tweeters are on the home stretch and sensing it: 4,000 tweets have been sent.

100pm: a visit to Sunset Tan of reality TV fame. The V Tweeters, well Matt and Nathan anyway, are now sun-kissed, LA-style.

230pm: marguerites in Hollywood near Vine. Why not? I recommend the jalapeño marguerite.

Sensing the end is near it's time for a cocktail, by this time the V-Tweeters can smell success and sleep

330pm: a visit to the Australian cosmetics man, the  Napoleon Perdis flagship store on Hollywood.

430pm: a quick trip up Beachwood for the iconic shot of the Hollywood sign

530pm: arrive at the rooftop pool and bar at the Andaz Hotel

600pm: mission accomplished, 4,320 tweets and the V Tweeters toast LA and V Australia. It’s been intensely rewarding for all involved and we are stunned to reflect that it’s been just 4,320 minutes; 72 hours; 3 days in LA. The flight home on VA2 departing 1145pm is guaranteed to bring a long, deep sleep.

If you still can’t get enough of the V-Tweeters, no worries, catch up on all the tweets and pictures here.

Or if you want follow the V-Tweeters lead and take off to Sydney, V Australia flies daily from Los Angeles, departing 1145pm, arriving 800am in Sydney (+2 days).  Bookings at www.vaustralia.com (US) or www.vaustralia.com.au (AU)

Now that you have heard from us, we want to hear from you.  What Hollywood hotspots and legendary LA attractions did the V-Tweeters miss?  Leave your comments and suggestions below.

The Catch: Send a tweet every minute they’re on the ground. All 4,320 of them.

Success: 3 around-the-world tickets on V Australia and Virgin Atlantic.

Failure: not an option.

Here’s what our winning team of V Tweeters (Kelvin, Nathan and Matt- pictured from right to left above) got up to, tweets and photos can be found here.

Day One

800pm: depart VA1 SYD 800pm; arrive 430pm LAX 430pm, same day. The V Australia crew are very friendly and share the excitement of the 3 days and 4,320-tweet challenge ahead of us.

600pm: let the tweets begin with a quick stop at In-and-Out Burger on Sepulveda Blvd. LA is renowned for some of the best burger joints in the world including its chains which include the aforementioned, Fat Burger and All American Burger to name a few.

700pm: check-in to LA’s swankiest hotel, SLS, just down the street from the Beverly Centre.

830pm: rehearsing lines from a remake of the 1980’s homage to 50’s pubescent awakening, Porkies, with actress Cristin Michele Beaver in the SLS Hotel outdoor lounge (foyer)

Tweeting in the Escalade

930pm: make a hasty exit from the growing huddle in the SLS Foyer to Eagle Junction / Echo Park in our luxury 7-seater black Cadillac Escalade

1000pm: Vintage Tattoo and Kelvin undergoes his first inking

1130pm: hunger besets the V Tweeters and their entourage (us, the V Crew); pit-stop on Sunset Blvd for New York-style pizza and beers

1230am: Saddle Ranch Chop Club and both Nathan and Matt are cowboys, riding the bucking bull, before changing gears and assaulting us with their karaoke skills

200am: where-else but The Standard Hotel and the all-night diner for the first of many coffees. Don’t miss gazing at the Peter Pan wallpaper in the men’s restroom.

300am: a quick late-night trip to the Walk of Stars on Hollywood Blvd. What better time to match your hand and feet size to pint-sized stars at Manns Chinese Theatre than now? Only now do the more eccentric characters of Hollywood outnumber the tourists, in all their glory.

400am: back at the SLS Hotel foyer, a spot that will become a regular refuge during what is known as the ‘graveyard shift’; weary and bleary eyes set about the task of continuous tweeting while reflecting on what this city has to offer, on its surface and beneath it. LA does have a soul. We saw it each morning at 4am.

600am: showered and refreshed we hit the road en route to Malibu: La Cienega to the fabled Sunset Blvd through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills, Pacific Palisades, past my old turn-offs to some of the best mountain biking tracks (up Dirt Mulholland way), and right onto the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway)

Matt & Nathan on their surfing adventure

700am: V Tweeters, Matt and Nathan, learn to surf at Malibu. The long-boarders are out in force despite a small swell; it’s a classic Californian summer  morning– arid with clear blue skies; the marine layer or June Gloom is no longer with us in July.

830am: back along the PCH to Santa Monica for the Farmers Markets

The Farmers' Market

900am: escape the organic fruit and vegetable growers for a breakfast burrito

1000am: stroll to Santa Monica Pier

1100am: time for Botox as Nathan decides the character-filled lines of his 25 years deserves de-wrinkling

1230pm: false start at the pedicurist (are we lost? Has Robertson Blvd deceived us? Are their two #350’s??); so lunch is called …

130pm: bookings at the Ivy for the V Tweeters, fabled more for star-spotting than its food, while we (V Crew) enjoy a healthy alternative at  the Newsroom Café across the road

300pm: I give in, briefly; it’s time for sleep while the V Tweeters nominate Matt for a chest waxing. LA is for beautiful people. Everyone can be beautified.

V Australia flies daily to Los Angeles from Sydney, departing 800pm, arriving 430pm the same day.  Book your own Hollywood weekend at www.vaustralia.com.au

Photos: Brooke George 2009

Recently, a little haggling at the car hire counter had me cruising Hollywood Boulevard in a sleek black Hummer.  Constantly, checking my mirrors for paparazzi I soon found myself caught up in a media frenzy courtesy of the latest Terminator movie premiere. With red carpet laid out and barricades in place, super sized limos were lined up outside the Kodak Theatre depositing the beautiful. For a moment I thought they mistook my black Hummer with tinted windows and a mysterious air as containing someone of interest, but no, I was waved on without thought.

Whilst driving the Hummer through the LA streets was fun, it was the car I scored on my latest trip that afforded me the biggest buzz to date.  Having decided to drive north to Santa Barbara, on arrival at the car hire, my friend and I were given the choice of hiring either a red Dodge or a silver convertible Mustang.  No prizes for guessing which one we chose.

From LA proper the 101 carves through the hills framing the Los Angeles basin and eventually hugs the coastline. This route is a pleasure to drive, particularly if you have the luxury of a convertible and Bob Segar crooning his love of Hollywood nights as the wind whips through your hair.

The Santa Monica Pier

After a few hours exploring the sights of Santa Barbara we were headed back to our base, but were easily tempted into a spontaneous shopping trip at the famous Santa Monica Pier.  After all, who are we to ignore an iconic destination? That would just be rude, so while minding our manners (mostly, we were on holiday) we set out for the Third Street Promenade.

Rumbling stomachs guided us to Bravo, a quaint looking Italian restaurant. Pinot Grigio accompanied by delicious bruscetta as local buskers serenaded us in the relaxed atmosphere was just what the doctor ordered.  To walk off our meal, we wandered past shops such as Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle, Gap, H&M and Victoria’s Secret and did our part to support the American economy.

Without the luxury of a car, our trip would have included a lot more time in and around the hotel, instead of a series of Hollywood-esque adventures.  If you do happen to find yourself a lost or daunted, stay positive and attentive because you could stumble upon a red carpet or at least a great sale.