Ava Gardner never felt quite at home in Hollywood, but soon found her place in Madrid, a city she once said, resembled herself.
Embracing its culture of bullfighting and flamenco, she moved into a home in La Moraleja. She took her time decorating it, hand picking antiques she gathered from local markets. I love that she did this!
Read MoreDo a quick Google search on Lauren Bacall and you will get a steaming pile of stories of intimidation -- from what I can tell, a casual encounter with the woman could be an absolute dream -- or your worst nightmare. Perhaps it was her smoldering eyes that scared the living daylights out of people, but people seemed to be truly frightened by the woman.
Read MoreIt goes without saying -- Warner Brothers has made some of the greatest classic films ever, from Casablanca to Citizen Kane. Recently I attended an event at the lot -- whilst others thrilled at the free hot pretzels, and the house music blared from Gilmore Girls' gazebo (the party was hosted in the "Stars Hollow" set, one could literally enjoy a coffee in Luke's Diner), I was in starstruck wonderment of a different sort.
I wandered through the facades that once served as the setting for films such as Bonnie & Clyde, or Sinatra's Oceans 11; as you can imagine, I was in heaven.
Read MoreDo you have any summertime flicks you watch every year? Here are a few of my favorites!
Read MoreFather's Day is coming -- why not treat dad to a movie night? Stack one or two of these classics amongst your Star Wars and Indiana Jones lineup.
Read MoreDo you share some favorite things with the inimitable Marilyn Monroe?
She was a truly a mysterious woman, and one who has enchanted generations of cinephiles. Behind her alluring image, Marilyn Monroe seemed to be a kind, gentle woman (don’t miss the story of her encounter with a gas station attendant), not to mention incredibly intelligent (the books Marilyn Monroe kept on her library shelf might shock you!).
Read MoreAre flowers busting out everywhere near where you live? I have been noticing them creeping up all over the cement jungle of Downtown LA. Secret spots such as the Lillian Disney memorial garden at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, or the Japanese temples in Little Tokyo offer great respite.
These "blooms busting out all over" have been thinking a lot about flowers and the role they play in films, from Easter Parade to Rebecca. I love this sentiment from Emma Stone:
The end of 'City Lights' makes me cry every time I see it - when Charlie Chaplin walks by the shop window and the once-blind girl brings him a flower and pins it to his lapel.
Read MoreMother's Day is coming -- why not treat mom to a movie night? Settle in with a homemade dinner (courtesy of you) and watch one (or all!) of these heartwarming favorites? (Bonus hint: Looking for a recipe? Try this classic beef stew from Jean Harlow and make your Classic Hollywood themed night complete!)
Read MoreDrip drip drop little April showers! Did you get some good puddle jumping in this month? I think we can all agree that taking time to play in nature helps us be our happiest-get-out-there-and-make-the-world-a-more-awesome-place self.
In that spirit, grab a glass of wine, kick your legs up, and recover from the most ubiquitous holiday as we enjoy these handpicked stories from the month. They are guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
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