- The Roxy with it’s new Guitar
A fresh coat of paint, some brand new asphalt, new sidewalks and voila, a ribbon cutting ceremony for the “New Sunset Strip” unveils that place of legend that rock n’ rollers have dreams about. The place where Jim Morrison and the Doors hung out, where John Belushi OD’d, the center of the hair band, tight jeans, make-up on guys, amps too loud to hear, guitars too distorted to discern notes and and ultimately the place where dreams of musical stardom are born and die. The Sunset Strip is a place of legend.
- Rodney Bingenheimer, Mayor of Sunset Strip
Thursday night they brought out the legends to usher in a new age of the 1.6 mile stretch along Sunset Blvd between Harper Ave and Sierra Drive. Peppered with Bars, Boutiques, Clubs, Restaurants and a myriad of shops and stores, Sunset’s new look is like a bad face-lift. The kind that makes you question the legitimacy of the doctors credentials. I mean, they’ve told me it’s the “New Sunset Strip” but it really doesn’t feel like they’ve done anything. I was half expecting to turn the next corner to find the stuff they piled up in the closet until “company” leaves. Where the hell was Ron Jeremy?
- Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys
Nevertheless the shine on Thursday night included special appearances from The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, the Mayor of the Sunset Strip, Rodney Bingenheimer and Hollywood legendary producer, Lou Adler. All convening at the Rainbow to kick off the 1.6 mile tour walk down the new strip.
Starting at the Rainbow, myself and PubClub.com’s Kevin Wilkerson, took the 1.6 mile stroll to explore the strip. It didn’t take long before we found the Red Rock Bar. Perfectly centrally located at Sunset and Holloway near the final resting place of Tower Records (now a clothing store), Red Rock is a pub atmosphere. With a outdoor patio that gives you a perfect vantage point to watch the parade go by, the Red Rock is a great bar. Small stage for live entertainment…but nothing when I was there. After a couple brews, it was time to move on.
Of course, we couldn’t pass up the chance to dip into the Sky Bar and then quickly dip out. Located by the pool in the Mondrian Hotel, the Sky Bar needs to have a sign by the front door that says, “You must be this cool to ride” alongside a photo of Johnny Depp.
No trip to the strip would be complete without a stop at Barney’s Beanery. It’s technically not on the strip but just a short stroll over to Holloway and Santa Monica for some world class chili. According to legend, Marilyn Monroe used to eat there for the chili. Naturally I got the chili burger.
If you haven’t been to the Sunset Strip in awhile, I suggest taking the walk again. It’s certainly a stroll down music’s memory lane. Don’t just go to one place though. Explore it. Go from one end to the other and don’t pass up the chance to visit some of the legendary landmarks that make the Sunset Strip timeless.
More photos of the many guitars along the Sunset Strip on the Shakedown News Facebook Page.
Cool stuff coming up on the strip.
Barley Legal at the Whiskey A Go Go on 8/21 @ 7:30pm
Sunset Strip Music Festival featuring Slash and the Smashing Pumpkins on the 26-28th of August.
