Istayed at the JW Marriott Los Angeles LA Live during my last overnight trip to Los Angeles.  The JW Marriott is connected to the 54-story Ritz Carlton LA Live Residences and Hotel that serves as an anchor to L.A. Live, an entertainment district complex in Downtown Los Angeles.  The L.A. Live entertainment district is adjacent to the Staples Center and the LA Convention Center.  L.A. Live is nestled in the South Park District f Downtown LA at Figueroa Street and Olympic Boulevard.

This part of Los Angeles has grown from what I remember were parking lots across from the Staples Center to what is now known as L.A. Live where you’ll find a variety of dining and entertainment options.  L.A. Live is home to the Microsoft Theater (used to be Nokia Theater) which was the first venue that opened in the L.A. Live complex in 2007.

You will also find the Grammy Museum in the L.A. Live complex.  The Grammy Museum is an interactive educational museum devoted to the history and winners of The Grammy Awards.  Also, for a little entertainment make sure to check out the Grammy Walk of Fame, which winds through and around L.A. Live.  The Grammy Walk of Fame commemorates the winners in the top four Grammy categories since the awards began in 1959.

If you feel like an afternoon of bowling, there is the  Lucky Strike bowling alley that you can go to.  After a game of bowling you may want to  take in a movie at the Regal Cinemas multiplex theater across the street.  You will also find the Conga Room, Novo, Katsuya, Flemings Fine Steakhouse and Wine Bar, The Yardhouse, Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill and the WP24 Restaurant and Lounge to name a few bars and restaurants that are located in the L.A. Live complex. Also located here is the 12,300 sf. ESPN Zone and Broadcasting Studio building that also houses the  restaurants Tom Urban’s and Smashburger.

The Staples Center across from L.A. Live is the home of four professional sports franchises:  the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and the WNBA Los Angeles Sparks.   It has also been the venue for performances, special events and concerts that brought international stature to Los Angeles sports & entertainment legends.

With about 25 high definition billboards on the building facades around Microsoft Square, the 40,000 sq. ft. open-air plaza that serves as the central meeting place in the complex, and with billboards on free-standing towers located in the complex, the L.A. Live Entertainment District gives one a West Coast “mini” Times Square feel.  When you stand in the middle of the complex you will be stimulated by the colorful lights from the billboards that showcase alternating and complementary video advertising.

Since L.A. Live opened 10 years ago, the complex has had more than 2 million guests from around the world and has hosted over 15,000 events.

Whenever I am in Los Angeles, I love to be able to stay at the JW Marriot or The Ritz Carlton.  The convenience of these hotels being located in the L.A. Live Entertainment District is a real plus.  Being able to walk to wonderful restaurants and have access to entertainment options, make traveling for business and being away from home not as bad as it could be.

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