Alex Ram

By: Rick Lockwood
California Car Rental

As one of the world's top trendsetters, you can count on Los Angeles to constantly evolve, adapt and re-imagine its possibilities. Innovative new hotels, restaurants, museums and more consistently set new standards, and classic LA favorites stay on top of their game with revamps and expansions. So no matter how often you visit, you'll always find a fresh perspective on our dynamic city. Read on to discover the developments we're anticipating in 2010 and beyond.

King Kong at Universal Studios Hollywood

King Kong 360 3D, a new attraction, based on the Oscar®-winning 2005 Peter Jackson film, is set to become Universal Studios Hollywood's new signature attraction this summer. Riders on the Studio Tour tram will be transported, via a darkened soundstage, back to King Kong's home - Skull Island. The action, which takes place before King Kong ever makes his way to the modern world, culminates in a ferocious battle between the worlds' most famous ape and a 35-foot dinosaur. Visitors will be thrust in the middle of the action -- through the magic of the world's largest Surround Digital 3D projection system -- and will feel the tram jolt and reverberate as the 3D battle unfolds around them.

Hollywood & Vine Development

If you went in search of the birthplace of show business, you'd likely find yourself at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street — the neighborhood where countless classic Hollywood deals went down. Now, this iconic LA spot is getting a 21st-century makeover with the W Hotel Hollywood as its centerpiece. The glamorous hotel opened in January and is already making a splash as Hollywood's newest starlet. Coming soon, a rooftop club from legendary nightclub owner Victor Drai will add to the excitement. And across the street, the Pantages Theatre continues its long history of charming audiences with its art deco opulence. Upcoming performances include "The Color Purple," "Cats" and "Chicago."

L.A. LIVE Sports and Entertainment District

Already one of the world's most comprehensive entertainment complexes, L.A. LIVE keeps getting bigger and better. The 14-screen state-of-the-art Regal Cinemas is the latest addition to open, and the district will welcome The Ritz-Carlton in March and JW Marriott in mid-February, meaning visitors can tour the GRAMMY Museum, dine at LA's famous Katsuya, cheer on the Lakers or Clippers at STAPLES Center, bowl at Lucky Strike Lanes & Lounge and then relax in a posh hotel — all without leaving the neighborhood.

Santa Monica Place

After making cameos in too many Hollywood movies to count, Santa Monica's distinctive open-air shopping center, Santa Monica Place, is in the midst of a massive renovation that planners are equating to the "rebirth of a star." It's hard to imagine it any other way, considering the $155 million price tag and gorgeous artist renderings of the rooftop ocean-view dining patio. Watch for its red-carpet debut (which includes a brand-new Bloomingdales and a Nordstrom) in August 2010.

Ring Festival LA

In an extraordinary collaboration with more than 50 cultural institutions around the city, the Los Angeles Opera will be staging all four operas of Richard Wagner's 19th-century "The Ring of the Nibelung" April 15 through June 30. Dozens of Southern California's most acclaimed arts, music and cultural institutions will lend their unique talents to exploring the controversial German composer and his music. Visit www.laoperaring.com for tickets.

California Science Center's "Ecosystems"

When the much-anticipated "Ecosystems" exhibit opens in 2010, you'll be invited to experience a flash flood in the Extreme Zone, walk through a simulated ocean-floor tunnel and discover what kinds of icky, earthy things happen in the Rot Room. A major component of the California Science Center's 25-year expansion plan, "Ecosystems" features dozens of interactive exhibits that take visitors on an ecological quest to uncover the complex relationships between living things and their habitats.

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

When the vision of the Academy is complete, this comprehensive museum will show visitors the behind-the-scenes world of Hollywood and its most famous export. Through film screenings, artifacts, lectures and more, the museum will provide a fascinating look at the moviemaking process from start to finish. The museum is scheduled to break ground in 2011 and open in 2013. Visit www.moviemuseum.org for the latest information.

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