Author: Tyler Crouch

Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville at Universal CityWalk Hollywood is currently undergoing soft rehearsals to the public. These soft openings allow staff to train before the restaurant officially opens. Margaritaville had previously been undergoing technical rehearsals with Universal employees. Based off the classic Jimmy Buffett song, Margaritaville seeks to take diners on a tropical getaway where they will indulge on Volcano Nachos, Cheeseburgers in Paradise, and of course, frosty margaritas. Margaritaville was started by Jimmy Buffett in 1985 as a retail store in Key West Florida. It has since expanded into over 25 restaurants worldwide, earning a cameo in the 2015 smash…

After a nine month refurbishment, Universal Cinema at CityWalk Hollywood has emerged from its construction cocoon to unveil a stunning new update to the classic movie theater. The theater has been completely overhauled with the newest theater trends, technology, amenities designed to create a classier – not to mention more comfortable – theater-going experience. The story begins as guests walk underneath the theater’s brand new open glass front. They will assume the role of a Hollywood insider: appearing at the studio to screen the hottest new films hitting the silver screen. Fitting in with the theme, a new bar dubbed…

We’re back with a fresh and clean 2017 photo update! It’s a very exciting time to be a Universal fan because this week’s update is all about taking a glimpse into the future. With all the construction going on around the park, it’s really fun to imagine where it’s all headed. Let’s take a look! Park Update Index » Christmas is over » CityWalk Hollywood » Studio Directory » WaterWorld Refurbishment » StarWay Construction » Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride / Mummy Treats » Universal’s 5-year Plan Christmas is over The holidays may be over, but we have a…

Last week, Universal Studios Hollywood held their annual “Day of Giving” charity event, which hosts 250 homeless children from Operation School Bell for a day of fun at the theme park. Along with a day of fun, participants were also able to pick up school supplies, shoes, clothes and books for the school year. Universal’s “Day of Giving” also benefited several non-profit organizations, including Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Project Angel Food, and the AIDS Project L.A. among several others. Hundreds of Universal team members across the company participated in this annual charity event, which serves to connect the company with…

As one of this year’s most anticipated mazes, American Horror Story makes its debut at Halloween Horror Nights 2016 on Universal’s famed metropolitan sets. For those who are unaware of the popular television series, American Horror Story is a horror anthology on cable network FX, featuring original episodes without an overarching story arc alongside an ensemble cast. How could an anthology possibly translate into a functional maze at Halloween Horror Nights? Simple: like the show, the maze is divided into different seasons: Murder House, Freak Show, and Hotel. Each section is broken up by a archways, each featuring a projection…

It all began in the late 1950s when Harold Kappowitz entertained children of all ages as his alter ego Koodles the Clown. Over time, circus attendance dropped and the portrayal of clowns in the mainstream media had become negative, turning the friendly concept of clowns into that of scary creatures. Once he lost his circus career, Kappowitz became the unofficial mascot of Universal Studios Hollywood till the 1970s when he became an unpaid street performer. Kappowitz became unstable and psychotic, scaring guests, being violent, and succumbing to sudden outbursts that resulted in his permanent removal from the property. Kappowitz fled…

Based off of European folklore, Krampus is a horned half-goat, half-demon beast that hunts, captures, and punishes naughty children during the holiday season. Starring the Engel family (a dysfunctional family coming together to celebrate Christmas), trouble starts when the youngest in the family declares that he hates Christmas along with his family and storms off to his room. The outburst beckons Krampus to the Engel home to punish the family for forgetting about the real spirit of Christmas. As family members are slowly taken one at a time by the goat demon and his horde of evil toys, the family…

An old Catholic priest named Father Merrin is on an archeological dig in Iraq and begins to feel a sense of dread as he stumbles upon forewarning omens and unearths an artifact with figure of the demon called Pazuzu alongside a coin with unusual markings. Meanwhile, a 12 year-old girl named Regan relocates with her actress mother to Washington D.C to film a movie. The once sweet and innocent girl begins to act strange, reciting incantations, becoming violent, and appearing to have seizures. Many neurological tests are performed but doctors cannot even begin to explain what is going on with…

Welcome back to another photo update! This week, we’re going to cover the continuing construction at Universal’s Lankershim entrance, new details on this year’s Halloween Horror Nights event, the ongoing rejuvenation of CityWalk Hollywood and more. We’ve got a lot to cover, so let’s get right to it! Park Update Index » Lankershim Entrance » CityWalk Hollywood » Halloween Horror Nights » Soundstage 28 » Universal Studios’ 5-Year Plan Lankershim Entrance Hollywood Crews are progressing on the tunnel connecting 10 Universal City Plaza to the studio with heavy machinery continuing to dig away at the huge mounds of dirt that…

The Pokemon Go phenomenon is sweeping the world with people of all ages out and about with their cell phones trying to catch ’em all! It’s currently shaping up to be the biggest mobile game of all time, forcing players to go outside to catch new Pokemon, gain items, and level up. As luck would have it, theme parks have become an exceptional location to play the game and Universal Studios Hollywood is no exception. This guide will give you tips on how to be the very best that no one ever was just by enjoying your day at the…