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The excitement over the upcoming Jonas Brothers concert is certainly getting the better of people in San Diego, California. Radio station Channel 933, the concert's sponsors, held a contest this morning for second row seats to the show, and all you had to do was compete with others in a radio challenge to find out what you'd be willing to permanently ink on yourself for these seats.    more »

The City of Los Angeles announced that Disney Channel's Demi Lovato will headline the Hollywood Santa Parade and Winterfest on November 30^th!

Actress and singer Demi Lovato, who also co-stared with the Jonas Brothers in Disney's Camp Rock, will help kick off the holiday season with the festivities taking place at their new location at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue.

According to the official press release, the Hollywood Santa Parade will take place in conjunction with Winterfest, "an all-day street festival that will include an entertainment stage where families can enjoy live performances throughout the day plus an exclusive Radio Disney concert."

This fun-filled day called Hollywood Holiday, will run from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday after Thanksgiving. The parade will roll down Hollywood Blvd. at 5 p.m. and will feature marching bands, floats and Santa Claus himself.

City Council President Eric Garcetti said, "We are very pleased to announce we are working with Radio Disney and the participation of some of today's hottest young talents like Demi Lovato. It's going to be a great way to start the holiday season".

Whether other Disney personalities will be joining the parade is uncertain, but I would anticipate the announcement of a special guest as Grand Marshal keeping with the theme of this spectacular procession. 

As I mentioned in an earlier post, several organizations are collaborating to continue with this long-standing tradition: Hollywood's Santa Parade, LLC, Radio Disney, Lift Up America, and The Hollywood Youth Foundation. Winterfest still has sponsorship opportunities for the event. Click on the banner for more information.

If you’re thinking about watching the parade at Hollywood and Highland, here are some useful tips to help you plan a memorable day:

* Grandstand seats are available for $35. Ticket information is available  by calling (866) PARADE1, or logging on to www.HollywoodSantaParade.com.

* Parking is available at the Hollywood and Highland complex.

* Get there early and dress warmly, evenings tend to get chilly.

* For the truly star struck, don't forget your camera!

Major Disney Channel personality to headline free concert at Winterfest and Hollywood Santa Parade   more »

With the Holidays around the corner, it's not too early to consider making a difference in someone's life, but also having a little piece of Hollywood and Disney magic touch your life would be a new twist on the season of giving. I found a wonderful organization that intends to do just that, and I want to share their cause with you.

On November 30th, The Hollywood Youth Foundation (HYF) is partnering with Lift Up America, Radio Disney and Pink Cadillac Entertainment to provide Winterfest, an event dedicated to giving back to less-fortunate children in Los Angeles, California. HYF is a newly established non-profit organization planning to provide food, toys, a live concert featuring current pop artists and a red-carpet greeting to underprivileged children, or “VIPs” as they are called on this special day, from local LA organizations like Ronald McDonald House, children’s hospitals, the Boys and Girls Clubs and others.

What’s my connection to this organization when I live in San Diego, you ask? I had the good fortune of meeting Greg Durfee at the taping of the Jonas Brothers mini-outdoor concert for the Jimmy Kimmel Show in March of this year. While waiting for the show to begin, Greg told me about his successful effort last year to keep the Hollywood Christmas Parade alive, and his work assisting needy kids as part of this annual event. Having experienced rock-bottom himself, he has taken on the purpose of providing children with a lot of cheer, sprinkled with a bit of Hollywood glitter, during the holidays.

The Los Angeles Hollywood community almost lost the 79 year-old parade in 2007 when the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced it couldn’t support the event any longer. The LA Times reported: “The city’s decision to save the parade followed a months-long lobbying effort by a private group that sprang up days after the event’s demise was announced. Organizer Greg Durfee, a production-company operator who lives in Hollywood, donned a Santa Suit and led an impromptu protest down Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.”

Courtesy Hollywood Chamber of Commerce

You, your business or group can lend a hand by becoming a sponsor, or making a tax-deductible donation, to be used to pay anything from toys to the extravagant staging area planned for the children to enjoy. Sponsorship opportunities are available at several levels, and donations in any amount (every little bit helps!) are welcomed too. Advertising in the Winterfest program, and VIP seating for the concert and parade are some of the benefits you'll enjoy as a sponsor.

To find out more about sponsorship packages visit their website at www.hollywoodyouthfoundation.org and click on the green gift-tag.

If you would like to help by making a financial gift, you can also send your tax deductible contribution to:

Or contact:

Greg Durfee

Executive Director

323.317.5186

Greg@HollywoodYouthFoundation.org

or

David Ruiz

President

David@HollywoodYouthFoundation.org

When contacting HYF, please mention you heard about them on my blog, and feel free to forward or link this post so we can help spread the word.

Of course, what kind of Hollywood event would this be without a little star power? Click here to read about past celebrities who've participated in the parade. And be sure to come back later this month to find out what stars will be shinning bright down Hollywood Boulevard this year ... when Disney's involved, you never know who might show up!

 The Hollywood Youth Foundation and the City of Los Angeles are preparing to continue Tinsel town’s traditional procession down the heart of Hollywood with the 77th annual Hollywood Santa Parade. With your generosity, Winterfest will be filling needy children's hearts with the joy of the season too.

During election time, candidates in our area set their sights on prime pieces of land -- not for personal investment, but for personal use nonetheless -- our front yards.    more »

Women are Complicated ...   more »