Jaunted

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Got 'Visit a Haunted Mexican Village' on Your Bucket List?

The calendar just turned to September, but it’s already time to start thinking about the end of October and thus, Halloween. Stores already have bags of the sweet stuff lining the shelves in advance of trick-or-treat season, and the folks at Universal Studios are ready to scare us silly.

Out in Hollywood it’s only a few more weeks until the frightening bits move into the park, and as in past years there will be plenty of mazes, scare zones, and even a special "backlot experience."

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NYC's Papaya King Looks to Reign in the West Coast with New Restaurants

West Coasters no longer have to trek to New York City for the oh-so-good hot dogs from Papaya King. The 80-year-old hot dog heavyweight chain plans to open a shop in Hollywood.

Papaya King Hollywood, which will be on Wilcox just south of Hollywood Boulevard, is scheduled to open in May. And we're loving its ad campaign, "We're 100% Natural, But We Think We'll Fit in L.A. Just Fine."

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Universal Studios Hollywood to Get an Infusion of New Attractions...Eventually

It’s easy to pick out the world’s best Universal Studios theme park, as there’s only one with an entire wizarding world devoted to Harry Potter. The theme park out in Hollywood—despite being the only one with an actual movie and television studio—must be getting a little jealous of its brother in Florida so it’s out to change a few things.

A new long term plan for Universal Studios Hollywood spills a few secrets about where the park is headed over the next 20 or so years, and reveals that as many as seven new rides and attractions might be joining the park's lineup. Known as the "NBC Universal Evolution Plan," it means some of Jack Donaghy’s colleagues are looking to spend $3 billion to create new spots to spend cash at CityWalk as well as new places to film a little television and movie stuff.

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See Serial Killer Art at Hollywood's Gory 'Museum of Death'

Some people like their art with dark themes, but the Museum of Death takes it to a whole other level. The Hollywood museum specializes in what it calls "death education."

The museum owns the largest collection of artwork from serial killers. It also has collections of coffins, mortician instruments, replicas of execution devices and different colored body bags. But this oddball museum isn't going to expire any time soon. It marked its 15th anniversary last month.

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Fall Through The Rabbit Hole In Hollywood

Alice In Wonderland fans will get a chance to get up close and personal with the new movie's director and select cast members in Hollywood.

On Friday, Feb. 19 at 5:00 PM, director Tim Burton and some of the cast members from Alice in Wonderland will be on hand at Hollywood & Highland in Hollywood, CA for a special fan event. There will also be performances by some of the musical acts who appear on the movie's soundtrack including Kerli, Never Shout Never, 3OH!3, Metro Station and Family Force 5. Dress as your favorite character to enter the Alice-themed costume contest judged by the movie's costume designer, Colleen Atwood. The winner will get to attend a special screening of the film at the El Capitan theater!

Immediately following the festivities at 7:00 PM, Alice herself, actress Mia Wasikowska, will be signing autographs at Hot Topic, 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood.

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Sing Along with Phyllis Nefler at Cinespace (No Red Feathers Allowed)

Last week HotelChatter got all excited about the Eloise Suite opening at The Plaza and Twittered that they now wanted a "Troop Beverly Hills" suite to open inside The Beverly Hills Hotel. Well, that's not happening (as far as we can tell) but Phyllis Nefler is alive and well and she's hosting a Troop Beverly Hills Sing-a-long at Cinespace in Hollywood.

Come celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 80s cult classic Troop Beverly Hills. Be an honorary Wilderness Girl for one night only (for now)! Earn patches, boo Velda Plendor, dance "The Freddie", and of course sing Kumbaya.

Word is that film director Jeff Kanew will be in attendance as well as some other "special guests."

The showing begins at 8pm on October 5. Tickets are $12 and can be ordered here. Otherwise, it's $15 at the door. Oh and yes, we will be attending. Possibly in leotards and leg warmers.

You can follow all your favorite Troop Beverly Hills character on Twitter here: @phyllisnefler, @veldaplendor, @freddynefler, @annieherman, @hannahnefler. (And Jaunted too!)

Related Stories:
· Phyllis Nefler [Twitter]
· The Houlywood Reporter [Tumblr]

[Front Door Photo: Beverly Hills What a Thrill/Tumblr]

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Not Even The 'Entourage' House Can Escape a Fire

While every episode may end with bottle service at hot Hollywood clubs and toasts to the good fortune of the boys of Entourage, in real life, things aren't quite as awesome. The house used for the first two seasons of the HBO show, was spotted with its roof on fire over the weekend.

Perez Hilton reports that a fire broke out atop the Charles Toberman Estate in the Runyon Canyon area. But while much of Los Angeles north of Pasadena is suffering from serious wildfires, this fire appears to have started in the kitchen.

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Celebrities Strut Their Stuff in Hollywood to Help Neglected Animals

Every year in Hollywood, celebrities lend their time and talent by hitting the catwalk for charity, raising funds and awareness for animal rescues. This year's Celebrity Catwalk Fashion Show will held on Thursday, August 27th at The Highlands and will be hosted by Hugh Hefner's former girlfriend and the host of "Bridget's Sexiest Beaches," Bridget Marquardt.

Stephanie Pratt of "The Hills," Loretta Devine of “Grey's Anatomy,” Kimberly Caldwell of “P-Diddy’s Starmaker,” Pamela and Hayley Hasselhoff, Kim Coles from “Pay it Off," KayCee Stroh from “High School Musical 3-Senior Year,” Megan Hauserman of “Megan Wants a Millionaire," and Carolyn Hennessy of “General Hospital” will all walk the catwalk in clothes from Heather Mills' line Be@1, Lane Bryant, Rocawear and Puma.

Proceeds from the event will benefit two charities: Noah's Ark Animal Foundation, a no-kill shelter whose mission is to rescue, protect and find loving homes for stray and neglected dogs and cats, and Almost Home Dachshund Rescue, a nationwide organization of volunteers that seeks to rescue abandoned, abused, neglected, and unwanted dachshunds.

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Three Cemeteries To Visit Now That Michael Jackson Will Rest In (Private) Peace

At least one aspect of Michael Jackson's life will be kept private: The King of Pop will be buried on his birthday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles—away from the prying eyes of the souvenir-takers.

Although Forest Lawn's Great Mausoleum has been closed for decades, we've rooted out a few places where you can get personal with the famous corpses of your choice. Below, Three Cemeteries Full Of The Famous:

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'Entourage' Finds Vince Alone in His House After Partying at MyHouse

We're not sure exactly why Entourage has returned to HBO for another season. They should have ended the series with the final episode of last season which had Vincent Chase dramatically pulling himself out of nasty career funk by scoring a movie role with Martin Scorcese. But no. Entourage is now back in our living rooms on Sunday nights throwing all the perks of movie stardom and beautiful people and VIP lifestyle into our faces. Ok, we could choose not to watch it but what fun would that be?

The episode finds the boys once again living the good life now that Vince's done shooting the movie and is starting the publicity rounds, including a Leno appearance. But this year, it seems not everything revolves Vince. E, Turtle and Drama amazingly have found their own lives and things to do while Ari has his hands full with a promotion-seeking Lloyd and an old friend who has joined him at the agency.

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JetBlue, VH1 and Robin Thicke Take Over MyHouse in Hollywood

Last night to celebrate their big arrival into LAX, JetBlue threw a party with VH1's Save The Music foundation at the Hollywood Club du Nuit, MyHouse. Yes, that's the place with the bed upstairs. And yes, we sat on it and took pictures.

The night was largely about Save The Music and people in Hollywood than JetBlue. Still, JetBlue made their presence known with the flight attendants serving the famous blue Terra chips and the bartenders outfitted in JetBlue LA t-shirts. Blue Malibu rum drinks and champagne were served and everyone walked away with a JetBlue gift bag full of LA and NYC goodies as well as a good-sized bottle of the Absolut 100 vodka. (It was definitely not the TSA-approved three ounces.)

It's no surprise that JetBlue chose to do up their LA debut in such a large way, what with Richard Branson popping champagne off the wings of his V Australia planes and showing up for every new Virgin America launch. Let's face it: the competition is on between JetBlue and Virgin America to become THE airline for the young, the hip, the famous and the bicoastal. The only edge we see right now is that VA has first class which is more conducive to celebrity privacy. (Unless we're sitting behind them!)

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Hollywood To Get Another Wacky And Original Wax Museum

How many times have you walked down Hollywood Boulevard and thought to yourself "you know, this place is classy and all, but what it could really use is another shticky tourist attraction filled with zany wax figures." If you've mused thusly - and we've lost count of how many times we have - then Madame Tussauds Wax Museum is here to help. The international wax museum chain, which has locations sprinkled from Shanghai to London, is finally opening a Hollywood location. Doors are scheduled to open on August 1.

The new $55 million museum will sit next to the Grauman's Theatre, along the Walk of Fame and it should not be confused with the already established, Hollywood Wax Museum. Arriving guests walk in on a red carpet and will be greeted by a wax Joan Rivers rasping something about their clothes. Any guests who get past that part will eventually rewarded with a Jamie Foxx wax figure, one of many that are spread over 3 floors and 18 themed zones. Magic.

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