tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68324073298739835892024-03-21T11:16:46.608-07:00Oh! The Places You'll Go...In LAA blog that compiles a list of 100+ things to do, see, drink and eat in Los Angeles.Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-20590696571237949382011-08-16T10:32:00.000-07:002011-08-16T10:32:11.653-07:00Catalina Island<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bAdzLT_UAjs/Tkqn2eMSCaI/AAAAAAAACD8/5IHlbDml8yo/s1600/jazztrax1197-600.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bAdzLT_UAjs/Tkqn2eMSCaI/AAAAAAAACD8/5IHlbDml8yo/s200/jazztrax1197-600.jpg" width="200" /></a>Catalina Island is a rocky island off the coast of California. The island is 22 miles long and 8 miles across at its greatest width.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6aUEGXeGWKc/Tkqn1gZc6WI/AAAAAAAACD4/2Y4xFBo324Y/s1600/family-vacations-in-california-3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>The island has a rich <a href="http://www.catalina.com/history.html">history</a>. Most of the island is now controlled by the Catalina Island Conservancy, a private nonprofit organization. The mission of the Catalina Island Conservancy is to be a responsible steward of its lands through a balance of conservation, education and recreation. Through its ongoing efforts, the Conservancy protects the magnificent natural and cultural heritage of Santa Catalina Island. Under an agreement with Los Angeles County, the Conservancy has granted an easement to allow day hiking and mountain biking, but visitors must first obtain a permit <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6aUEGXeGWKc/Tkqn1gZc6WI/AAAAAAAACD4/2Y4xFBo324Y/s1600/family-vacations-in-california-3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6aUEGXeGWKc/Tkqn1gZc6WI/AAAAAAAACD4/2Y4xFBo324Y/s200/family-vacations-in-california-3.jpg" width="200" /></a>at the Conservancy's office. Hiking permits are free, whereas bicycle permits are available for a fee. About a million tourists visit the island every year; Catalina is serviced by ferries from Newport Beach, Dana Point, Long Beach, San Pedro, and Marina del Rey. The trip takes approximately an hour and costs approx $65 round trip. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I went to Catalina Island to visit my parents who were attending the annual JazzTrax Festival. I took the ferry from Long Beach and the trip was relaxing. The Island overall is a welcome change if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of LA. The main drag caters to tourist. I would recommend getting a hiking permit and exploring some of the Island to get away from the commercial side of the Island. </div>Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-42115176130674127232011-08-16T10:08:00.000-07:002011-08-16T10:08:33.798-07:00Comme Ca for Happy Hour<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-86sPRHxJJQQ/Tjb7cHi1VXI/AAAAAAAACDU/8ObaqAkBTWs/s1600/DSCN3292.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-86sPRHxJJQQ/Tjb7cHi1VXI/AAAAAAAACDU/8ObaqAkBTWs/s200/DSCN3292.JPG" width="200" /></a>Our goal was to get to <a href="http://www.commecarestaurant.com/los-angeles/">Comme Ca</a> for happy hour (5-7), to get the special bartender's choice drink. However, because of traffic we arrived around 6:56 and sat at the bar. We asked the bartender if we could still order happy hour to which a chef at the side of the bar promptly responded happy hour is over. The bartender, very understandingly said we still had a few minutes and could order drinks. I ordered the hourglass cocktail and Liz got a drink. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UxzpVn0JD5U/Tjb7V_vMufI/AAAAAAAACDQ/wb8DbBBi65w/s1600/DSCN3291.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UxzpVn0JD5U/Tjb7V_vMufI/AAAAAAAACDQ/wb8DbBBi65w/s200/DSCN3291.JPG" width="200" /></a>Liz ordered French onion soup while I looked at the menu, wishing I was able to order from the happy hour menu because the crab croquettes sounded extremely good but they were not on the regular menu. Liz's soup came out which had an extra pungent stench from the Gruyere cheese and while was still deciding what to have from the regular menu. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xxmrl31TGOE/Tjb7gkrGFZI/AAAAAAAACDc/3wtZyN327DM/s1600/DSCN3295.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xxmrl31TGOE/Tjb7gkrGFZI/AAAAAAAACDc/3wtZyN327DM/s200/DSCN3295.JPG" width="200" /></a>We both ordered another round however I had not ordered food yet. A bit later the chef brought the crab croquettes out without me ordering them. I was happy and devoured them. They were extremely good. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x9VPa7ioKYs/Tjb7e-KYhWI/AAAAAAAACDY/75SYXDKitJk/s1600/DSCN3294.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x9VPa7ioKYs/Tjb7e-KYhWI/AAAAAAAACDY/75SYXDKitJk/s200/DSCN3294.JPG" width="150" /></a>We decided to get another round of drinks, this time I got a drink the bartender recommended called <b style="font-weight: normal;">Penicillin</b> which had Blended Scotch, ginger, honey, lemon, and Laphroaig 10 year. It is vaguely reminiscent of a honey lemon cough drop but in a goo<span class="menuItemDesc">d way. The bartender took our dishes away and gave us a new place setting with spoons. We were confused because we had not ordered anything else. A few minutes later a server brings out a dessert, which he says is the house specialty. It was incredibly good. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="menuItemDesc"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fhtbld3c5S4/Tjb7i1E8LeI/AAAAAAAACDg/ohknA7Odxmo/s1600/DSCN3296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fhtbld3c5S4/Tjb7i1E8LeI/AAAAAAAACDg/ohknA7Odxmo/s200/DSCN3296.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The experience at Comme Ca was amazing. The staff was accommodating, charming, and engaging. The food was great and the atmosphere was comfortable and elegant. I highly recommend this restaurant, even if you can only get a drink. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="menuItemDesc"> </span></div>Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-68798432941314789032011-08-15T18:06:00.000-07:002011-08-15T18:06:36.294-07:00LAX<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nUUiUCdrtsU/TknCHzHCquI/AAAAAAAACDw/AzaYUDUDiz0/s1600/LAX_Aiport.314131450_std.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nUUiUCdrtsU/TknCHzHCquI/AAAAAAAACDw/AzaYUDUDiz0/s200/LAX_Aiport.314131450_std.jpg" width="200" /></a>I know most people might wonder why Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is on the list, but I have encountered a number of people that have lived in California their whole life and have never been to the airport. LAX is not just any airport, it is THE airport. It the the 6th busiest airport in the World. It also handles more "origin and destination" passengers than any other airport in the world.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJO-YGPDz8wFZu73W_2DxSGQ015OaRL5uxMHs18BbDk4PCRKgWae4L0DT8JAxCY7QhzpHK0myHYfXGltab3FQByFwZ4W0kpfJqe0YYXrpY5pY3jKMT7KDJV_RzPSqeWUvTVefcad2vKowm/s1600/lax.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJO-YGPDz8wFZu73W_2DxSGQ015OaRL5uxMHs18BbDk4PCRKgWae4L0DT8JAxCY7QhzpHK0myHYfXGltab3FQByFwZ4W0kpfJqe0YYXrpY5pY3jKMT7KDJV_RzPSqeWUvTVefcad2vKowm/s200/lax.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've flown out of LAX countless times and have never gone without some kind of incident. With most airports that I frequent (MKE, BOS, ORD) I can show up within a couple of hours of my flight and have no worries about making my flight. LAX is always a crap shoot so I leave extra early. The airport can make even the most organized airline look like a disaster.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_iWisIgRin4/TknCEkUGMYI/AAAAAAAACDo/VbT-RJB-Oo4/s1600/lax-airport-address.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_iWisIgRin4/TknCEkUGMYI/AAAAAAAACDo/VbT-RJB-Oo4/s200/lax-airport-address.jpg" width="200" /></a>It's on the list because it is such a great opportunity to visit so many awesome places around the world by cheap direct flights. If planning to visit most countries in the eastern part of the world you can usually find a deal leaving from LAX. There are also a lot of places intercontinental to visit that are cheap. The northwest and the southwest all have spectacular destinations that are a pain to drive to but a hop on the plane from LAX. Outside of the airports in NY, I don't think any other airport allows this kind of access to travel. If you like to watch planes its ideal as well because a plane lands every 30 seconds.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Although it may not be always convenient to get through their internal logistics, it's a convenient place to get to other places.</div>Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-59914444875653405452011-08-09T22:32:00.000-07:002011-08-09T22:32:15.550-07:00Rodeo Drive<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2OuEsySZA8/TjbpcGvn8cI/AAAAAAAACCI/rvpuwAI9zzk/s1600/300px-Rodeo_drive_street_sign-93.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2OuEsySZA8/TjbpcGvn8cI/AAAAAAAACCI/rvpuwAI9zzk/s200/300px-Rodeo_drive_street_sign-93.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.rodeodrive-bh.com/index4.html">Rodeo Drive</a> is a shopping district in Beverly Hills known for designer label and haute couture fashion. The name generally refers to a three-block long stretch of boutiques and shops.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzc1pb1wUabEhyphenhyphenN7sZ7GuMEwq1whrMPVp5stmHnwuaDN8h9mFmOUjx4xcd8HWfAbZYe5zoUp-2_CRZtA8dDq54OmlFywDnn0GRF-D8cdHjdWfMKGuffSC48lvCTbTp5oHO1Q2avgjpUmr/s1600/LA_BH_rodeo_drive_01.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzc1pb1wUabEhyphenhyphenN7sZ7GuMEwq1whrMPVp5stmHnwuaDN8h9mFmOUjx4xcd8HWfAbZYe5zoUp-2_CRZtA8dDq54OmlFywDnn0GRF-D8cdHjdWfMKGuffSC48lvCTbTp5oHO1Q2avgjpUmr/s200/LA_BH_rodeo_drive_01.JPG" width="200" /></a>The shopping district as presently constituted developed in the 1970s. The business district, which extends from Wilshire Boulevard to Santa Monica Boulevard, is an exclusive shopping district, but also a major tourist attraction. The "Rodeo Drive" business district also includes those businesses on the streets that lie for a few blocks in either direction. Some of the more famous retailers include: Girgio Armani, Tiffany's, Chanel, Cartier, Fendi, and Gucci. There are also resturants with the same designer appeal as the stores.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rodeo Drive is home to the single most expensive store in the world: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bijan_%28designer%29">Bijan</a>. You must make an appointment in advanced to shop there. On a typical visit, Bijan's average customer spends $100,000 on men's fashions, which range from a $50 pair of socks to $15,000 suits.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5hAeDFHIQdM/TjbqWE_RQmI/AAAAAAAACCc/6xTkcGA5UTw/s1600/DSCN1359.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5hAeDFHIQdM/TjbqWE_RQmI/AAAAAAAACCc/6xTkcGA5UTw/s200/DSCN1359.JPG" width="200" /></a>I don't have to mention the pop culture presence of Rodeo Dr, most notably in the movie Pretty Women. The famous store where Julia Roberts is snubbed is the women's clothing store, Boulmiche, located just a few steps west of Rodeo at 9501 Santa Monica Blvd. The hotel she and Richard Gere stayed at is the Beverly Wilshire which is at the south end of Rodeo. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6eKwnrugmY/TjbpjMmDKfI/AAAAAAAACCU/dvUxy0UyzDg/s1600/rodeo-drive-rolls-royce.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6eKwnrugmY/TjbpjMmDKfI/AAAAAAAACCU/dvUxy0UyzDg/s200/rodeo-drive-rolls-royce.jpg" width="200" /></a>On a typical day you see more tourists on Rodeo than stars but occasionally you can spot a celebrity shopping in the area. You will also usually see countless rare luxury cars such as an old Rolls Royce or limited edition Bentley. It's a fun place to take friends that are visiting or just people watch, but wouldn't recommend if you want to do some casual shopping.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div>Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-25577783300092435572011-08-09T13:20:00.000-07:002011-08-15T16:59:47.905-07:00NBC Universal Tour<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-01eoO-Vvnfs/TjbYxizazKI/AAAAAAAACBY/E1f7EDZmHDw/s1600/DSCN2794.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j8JXfXvnFZI/TjbYoKuHIHI/AAAAAAAACBU/OYFY0r5Zryg/s1600/DSCN2791.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j8JXfXvnFZI/TjbYoKuHIHI/AAAAAAAACBU/OYFY0r5Zryg/s200/DSCN2791.JPG" width="200" /></a>There are a lot of studio lots in SoCal and a tour is necessary to get a feeling for the main industry in the city. I have a friend that works at <a href="http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/attraction_studio_tour.html">NBA Universal</a> and was nice enought to take a few hours out of her day to give us a tour. We arrived at the lot on a Monday morning and got passes curtosey of my friend. We toured her office and some of the offices of the people that worked with her. It was interestesting seeing some of their office swag: signed <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-01eoO-Vvnfs/TjbYxizazKI/AAAAAAAACBY/E1f7EDZmHDw/s1600/DSCN2794.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-01eoO-Vvnfs/TjbYxizazKI/AAAAAAAACBY/E1f7EDZmHDw/s200/DSCN2794.JPG" width="200" /></a>posters or original scripts from NBA shows. Her boss had a signed picture of the Law and Order SVU cast which is one of my favorite shows. After the office tour she took out a golf cart and took us on a tourn of the lot. Although we were unable to go into any of the stages we saw the outside sets of the Desperate Housewives set and some of the Parenthood set. After our tour we had lunch at Universal City Walk.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OsLnWY5IxQ8/TjbY1dUtVuI/AAAAAAAACBc/6etCUftE10c/s1600/DSCN2799.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OsLnWY5IxQ8/TjbY1dUtVuI/AAAAAAAACBc/6etCUftE10c/s200/DSCN2799.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pX_DRtoJoJA/TjbaTx2H86I/AAAAAAAACBo/Bh2R4a01sEE/s1600/DSCN2841.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pX_DRtoJoJA/TjbaTx2H86I/AAAAAAAACBo/Bh2R4a01sEE/s200/DSCN2841.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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If you can get to one of the studios it will be worth it!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9cc5uTMvOdc/TjbaOWbp6zI/AAAAAAAACBk/JXDBNDjVbuM/s1600/DSCN2816.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9cc5uTMvOdc/TjbaOWbp6zI/AAAAAAAACBk/JXDBNDjVbuM/s200/DSCN2816.JPG" width="150" /></a> Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-24937154033719314572011-08-08T23:16:00.000-07:002011-08-08T23:16:40.620-07:00MOCA<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K8fJAzBjrXg/TjbUnhOVAUI/AAAAAAAACBM/uKzE1AaZyLU/s1600/thefuturistics_via_flickr_moca_miami_edit.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K8fJAzBjrXg/TjbUnhOVAUI/AAAAAAAACBM/uKzE1AaZyLU/s200/thefuturistics_via_flickr_moca_miami_edit.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.moca.org/">MOCA</a>, the Museum of Comtemporary Art Museum is a contemporary art museum with three locations in greater Los Angeles, California. The main branch is located on Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles, near Walt Disney Concert Hall. MOCA's original space, initially intended as a "temporary" exhibit space while the main facility was built, is now known as the Geffen Contemporary, in the Little Tokyo district of downtown Los Angeles. The Pacific Design Center facility is in nearby West Hollywood. The museum's exhibits consist primarily of American and European contemporary art created since 1940. Since the museum’s inception, MOCA’s programming has been defined by its multi-disciplinary approach to contemporary art.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdfKXe-Zqc4/TjbUaXGjazI/AAAAAAAACBI/DmuX0JnktBs/s1600/DSCN2156.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>In a 1979 political fund raising event at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Los Angeles Mayor Tom <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdfKXe-Zqc4/TjbUaXGjazI/AAAAAAAACBI/DmuX0JnktBs/s1600/DSCN2156.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdfKXe-Zqc4/TjbUaXGjazI/AAAAAAAACBI/DmuX0JnktBs/s200/DSCN2156.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdfKXe-Zqc4/TjbUaXGjazI/AAAAAAAACBI/DmuX0JnktBs/s1600/DSCN2156.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Bradley, Councilman Joel Wachs, and local philanthropist Marcia Simon Weisman happened to be seated at the same table. Throughout the evening, Weisman passionately discussed the city’s need for a contemporary art museum. In the following weeks, the Mayor’s Museum Advisory Committee was organized. The committee, led by William A. Norris, set about creating a museum from scratch, including locating funds, trustees, directors, curators, a gallery, and most importantly an art <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yuyNc1-XCeo/TjbUVGkNifI/AAAAAAAACBE/_0FXmm6yTdE/s1600/DSCN2154.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yuyNc1-XCeo/TjbUVGkNifI/AAAAAAAACBE/_0FXmm6yTdE/s200/DSCN2154.JPG" width="200" /></a>collection. The following year, the fledgling Museum of Contemporary Art was operating out of an office on Boyd Street. The city’s most prominent philanthropists and collectors had been assembled into a Board of Trustees in 1980, and set a goal of raising $10 million in their first year. A working staff was brought together; Richard Koshalek was appointed chief curator; relationships were made with artists and galleries; and negotiations were begun to secure artwork and an exhibition space. Following Weisman's initiative, $1-million contributions from Eli Broad, Max Palevsky, and Atlantic Richfield Co. helped securing the construction of a the new museum.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SUF_7GqlIL0/TjbUP-XlhBI/AAAAAAAACBA/a1J9rKsHcCg/s1600/DSCN2133.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SUF_7GqlIL0/TjbUP-XlhBI/AAAAAAAACBA/a1J9rKsHcCg/s200/DSCN2133.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FIsvyP7o7RQ/TjbUJGKabJI/AAAAAAAACA8/hbAvAhvNKTI/s1600/DSCN2128.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FIsvyP7o7RQ/TjbUJGKabJI/AAAAAAAACA8/hbAvAhvNKTI/s200/DSCN2128.JPG" width="200" /></a>We visited the museum (grand ave and Geffen) on Thursday's after 5pm, which it free. The exhibits were interesting however we did not attend any events or tours. Like the Getty museums, its worth it to stop by especially on a free night and indulge in the great art. Check the calendar to see if you can catch a special show or event.</div><h2><span style="font-size: xx-small;">History Curtosey of Wikipedia</span></h2>Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-12102431917992830972011-08-06T23:08:00.000-07:002011-08-15T16:57:04.638-07:00Drive Up the California Cost (HWY 1)<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oLnlgYWrjoI/TjbQVGKdzHI/AAAAAAAACAw/cOU4K_1G_54/s1600/Img_9242_Hwy1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvT1s0g-oAdo9aDZVjyW4ndA__CYXrPEarVwhqENW8sRgL75SbNZmZEPWB3krnI8kMw1Q6uv1X2YXx_ES88K5CaPNYJuz5vr6nvTQghkzfMMsVAUeNDrgfnoO3woLKhjV-_zw3r4MZLdS7/s1600/f7123320-b03c-4187-b819-86d995944008.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvT1s0g-oAdo9aDZVjyW4ndA__CYXrPEarVwhqENW8sRgL75SbNZmZEPWB3krnI8kMw1Q6uv1X2YXx_ES88K5CaPNYJuz5vr6nvTQghkzfMMsVAUeNDrgfnoO3woLKhjV-_zw3r4MZLdS7/s200/f7123320-b03c-4187-b819-86d995944008.jpg" width="200" /></a>Highway 1, is a state highway that runs along much of the Pacific coast of California. It is famous for running along some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, leading to its designation as an All-American Road. Highway 1 does not run over the entire Pacific coastline of California. It starts at Interstate 5 (I-5) near Dana Point in Orange County and runs north to U.S. Highway 101 (US 101) near Leggett in Mendocino County. Highway 1 also at times runs concurrently with US 101, most notably through a 54-mile (87 km) stretch in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, and <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oLnlgYWrjoI/TjbQVGKdzHI/AAAAAAAACAw/cOU4K_1G_54/s1600/Img_9242_Hwy1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oLnlgYWrjoI/TjbQVGKdzHI/AAAAAAAACAw/cOU4K_1G_54/s200/Img_9242_Hwy1.jpg" width="200" /></a>across the Golden Gate Bridge. It also serves as a scenic alternative in several locations; and a major thoroughfare in the Greater Los Angeles Area, the San Francisco Bay Area, and other coastal urban areas along its route. Highway 1 has several portions designated as either Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), the Cabrillo Highway, the Shoreline Highway, or the Coast Highway.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sx9KLoMvFfE/TjbQTnel6yI/AAAAAAAACAs/_PNaQyi9-6s/s1600/Highway1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sx9KLoMvFfE/TjbQTnel6yI/AAAAAAAACAs/_PNaQyi9-6s/s200/Highway1.jpg" width="200" /></a>State construction of what is now Highway 1 started after the state's third highway bond issue passed in 1919. The first two approved sections of what is now Highway 1 were Legislative Route 56 from San Simeon to Carmel (connecting with existing county highways at each end) and Legislative Route 60 from Oxnard via the coast to San Juan Capistrano, intended as links in a continuous coastal roadway from Oregon to Mexico.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"> </sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Route_1#cite_note-13"></a></sup></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C6LdjHPSFz4/TjbQW52_USI/AAAAAAAACA0/nWnKDzE--Cs/s1600/tumblr_lhgxu2mpsz1qcjtd8o1_400.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C6LdjHPSFz4/TjbQW52_USI/AAAAAAAACA0/nWnKDzE--Cs/s200/tumblr_lhgxu2mpsz1qcjtd8o1_400.jpg" width="200" /></a>Although I've driven on Hwy 1 or PCH as its known in SoCal many times we decided to try to take it all the was to San Francisco. We decided to drive it on the way there because we would have enough time to stop and take pictures, rather than rush back (although on the trip back you're on the edge side of the road.) We did not check ahead and map out our route so got got lost a few times as the road does merge onto US 101 occasionally and it's not clearly labeled. Below is a guide that will help map out your drive if you happen to do the drive: </div><br />
<ul><li>In Orange County and most of Los Angeles County, it's a city street, usually named Pacific Coast Highway. See the Pacific Coast Highway guide. </li>
<li>One of the most scenic sections goes from Santa Monica through Malibu to Oxnard. </li>
<li>From Oxnard to San Luis Obispo, Hwy 1 and US 101 merge. The road detours from 101 for about 50 miles just north of the Gaviota Tunnel and rejoins it in Pismo Beach. This section is sometimes called Cabrillo Highway. </li>
<li>The stretch from San Luis Obispo to San Francisco includes Hearst Castle, the Big Sur coast, Carmel, Monterey and Santa Cruz and is the best-known section. </li>
<li>The road continues through the city of San Francisco as 19th Street, leading to the Golden Gate Bridge. </li>
<li>From the Golden Gate Bridge through Marin, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, the official name is Shoreline Highway.</li>
</ul>Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-27579727198929665382011-08-04T12:20:00.000-07:002011-08-04T12:20:03.666-07:00The Edison<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.edisondowntown.com/">The Edison</a> is a bar located in the basement of a downtown LA building, the Higgins. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NxuiwGZvNvw/TjbhmERo10I/AAAAAAAACCA/bH2F9I_n-mI/s1600/edison_downtown.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="91" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NxuiwGZvNvw/TjbhmERo10I/AAAAAAAACCA/bH2F9I_n-mI/s200/edison_downtown.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NxuiwGZvNvw/TjbhmERo10I/AAAAAAAACCA/bH2F9I_n-mI/s1600/edison_downtown.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>The Higgins Building basement originally was L.A.'s first ever power plant, built by Thomas Higgins. After spending many years derelict and underwater, it was finally rescued by entrepreneurs Andrew <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HfxquuSdXHI/TjbhEBH2h7I/AAAAAAAACBw/WjpAUsUmDYM/s1600/DSCN3500.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HfxquuSdXHI/TjbhEBH2h7I/AAAAAAAACBw/WjpAUsUmDYM/s200/DSCN3500.JPG" width="200" /></a>Meieran and Marc Smith, who created a post-industrial steampunk venue for Los Angeles bar-goers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Edison, opened in 2007, is a hip Happy Hour spot, restaurant, and hang out area. It is dedicated to the old-world romance that once dominated LA nightlife. They therefore have a dress code which is loosely enforced as far as I can tell. They say "innovative, sophisticated, and cultured attire is required." A lot of the staff was dressed in 20's and 30's attire, and a few of the guests. I presume as the night wears on, the guests become more festive with their dress.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1-VoLiM3L10/TjbhNQQ__WI/AAAAAAAACB4/G_YF_l6IgPE/s1600/DSCN3502.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mMGk1eKzt2o/TjbhHSPzp3I/AAAAAAAACB0/IwvkRnANRzw/s1600/DSCN3501.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mMGk1eKzt2o/TjbhHSPzp3I/AAAAAAAACB0/IwvkRnANRzw/s200/DSCN3501.JPG" width="200" /></a>They have a special happy hour on Thursdays that feature a $.35 cocktail special. Yes, that is $.35. You get one token for the cocktail upon entrance and it is only good for the featured cocktail. When we went the cocktail was the derby which has bourbon, lime juice, orange juice, and sweet vermouth. The bar was crowded and most of the seats were reserved. We were able to get a table from the <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1-VoLiM3L10/TjbhNQQ__WI/AAAAAAAACB4/G_YF_l6IgPE/s1600/DSCN3502.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1-VoLiM3L10/TjbhNQQ__WI/AAAAAAAACB4/G_YF_l6IgPE/s200/DSCN3502.JPG" width="200" /></a>hostess on the premise that we had to vacate it before 8 (because it was reserved.) It was barely 6 so we had more than enough time to enjoy a couple of drinks. There was a stage with instruments for a band but the band didn't start until much later. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9js5HntX6UM/Tjbhk6tu4lI/AAAAAAAACB8/4fxw27kp6do/s1600/edison2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9js5HntX6UM/Tjbhk6tu4lI/AAAAAAAACB8/4fxw27kp6do/s200/edison2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The food looked appetizing but we did not stay for eats. If you go, make reservations ahead of time, and the later you go the more your attire will be scrutinized. </div>Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-39790001730945222642011-08-03T12:12:00.000-07:002011-08-03T12:13:41.716-07:00Mulholland Drive<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dx3urnZAaTk/TjbHieOt_TI/AAAAAAAACAQ/IJVxJYO9WVI/s1600/250px-2004-04-02_-_31_-_Mulholland_Drive.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dx3urnZAaTk/TjbHieOt_TI/AAAAAAAACAQ/IJVxJYO9WVI/s200/250px-2004-04-02_-_31_-_Mulholland_Drive.jpg" width="200" /></a>Mulholland Drive is a road in Los Angeles, named after engineer William Mulholland. The mostly two-lane, minor arterial road loosely follows the ridge line of the Santa Monica Mountains and the Hollywood Hills, It offers spectacular views of both the Los Angeles basin, Hollywood, the Hollywood Bowl, the Hollywood Sign, Griffith Park Observatory, and the San Fernando Valley.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AHiXO69nuTI/TjbHmt_Pr5I/AAAAAAAACAg/LgKwaN0A-TY/s1600/mulholland_drive.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AHiXO69nuTI/TjbHmt_Pr5I/AAAAAAAACAg/LgKwaN0A-TY/s200/mulholland_drive.jpg" width="200" /></a>We had a party to attend in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverly_Park">Beverly Park Neighborhood</a> which is in the hills above LA. We took Mulholland drive to get there. I drove there and didn't get to enjoy much of the scenery as I was concentrating on driving. The sun was setting and every once and awhile I would get an amazing view of the city or the basin. If you're not use to driving this road, you definitely need to concentrate because you drive along the edge of the mountain and it can be nerve wracking. Grete drove home and I was able to see the city lit up. It is worth the absolutely worth the trip up the mountain.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0cAIjCna8SE/TjbHkyTMYVI/AAAAAAAACAY/FrboEZCYpnE/s1600/mulholland-drive-los-angeles-view1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0cAIjCna8SE/TjbHkyTMYVI/AAAAAAAACAY/FrboEZCYpnE/s200/mulholland-drive-los-angeles-view1.jpg" width="200" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ghr8JHlWgIo/TjbHlnSHtjI/AAAAAAAACAc/Ov9OFJG-8Og/s1600/mulholland.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ghr8JHlWgIo/TjbHlnSHtjI/AAAAAAAACAc/Ov9OFJG-8Og/s200/mulholland.jpg" width="135" /></a>In pop culture Mulholland drive has quite a presence. There is the infamous movie <a href="http://www.mulholland-drive.com/">Mulholland Dr</a> by David Lynch. <i>King of the Mountain</i> was a movie loosely based on actual Mulholland Drive racers, racing to be king of the hill, it is a painting by David Hockney, A ride at Disneyland's California Adventure is called "Mulholland Madness," Mulholland Drive Dog is a kind of hot dog at <a href="http://100thingstodoinla.blogspot.com/2011/05/pinks-hot-dogs.html">Pink's Hot Dogs</a> in Los Angeles, referencing Lynch's film <i>Mulholland Drive</i>. A scene in the movie took place at Pink's, and the dog's description on the menu is "a 10-inch STRETCH dog", with "stretch" capitalized, since a critical part of the film revolves around a stretch limousine driving up Mulholland Drive and American pop artist Ke$ha wrote a song about Mullholland Drive titled "Shots On the Hood of My Car." </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_16XbBI7QDY/TjbHjT-NexI/AAAAAAAACAU/3nikF64F568/s1600/800px-San_Fernando_Valley_from_Mulholland_Dr.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="70" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_16XbBI7QDY/TjbHjT-NexI/AAAAAAAACAU/3nikF64F568/s400/800px-San_Fernando_Valley_from_Mulholland_Dr.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><br />
The easiest roads to access Mulholland Dr are:<br />
<ul><li><i>Highland Avenue to Cahuenga Blvd West</i> - from Hollywood</li>
<li><i>101 Freeway to Barham to Cahuenga Blvd West</i> - from Downtown LA and all points south and east</li>
<li><i>Crescent Heights to Laurel Canyon</i> - from Hollywood, The Grove & Farmers Market, Museum Square in Miracle Mile, Beverly Center</li>
<li><i>Beverly Drive to Coldwater Canyon</i> - from Beverly Hills, Hollywood, The Grove & Farmers Market, Miracle Mile, </li>
<li><i>Beverly Glen</i> - from Westwood, Century City or Beverly Hills</li>
<li><i>The 405 freeway or Sepulveda Blvd</i> - from West LA, including Westwood area, near the Getty, from LAX or Santa Monica</li>
</ul>Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-27806728152134402032011-08-02T15:48:00.000-07:002011-08-02T15:48:46.375-07:00Zankou Chicken<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dC_R5kwmqQE/Tjb0-SiRYlI/AAAAAAAACC4/PsESTV0D8-c/s1600/DSCN3616.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dC_R5kwmqQE/Tjb0-SiRYlI/AAAAAAAACC4/PsESTV0D8-c/s200/DSCN3616.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.zankouchicken.com/">Zankou Chicken</a> is a small, family-owned chain of Armenian and Middle-Eastern fast casual restaurants within LA. Its specialty is rotisserie chicken served with a garlic paste and pita bread but also serves middle-eastern favorites such as hummus, falafel, and shawarma.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-12rHzdL5798/Tjb1EjaJTQI/AAAAAAAACC8/Q7N1b3sowyE/s1600/DSCN3617.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-12rHzdL5798/Tjb1EjaJTQI/AAAAAAAACC8/Q7N1b3sowyE/s200/DSCN3617.JPG" width="200" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first Zankou Chicken opened in 1962 in the Bourj Hammoud neighborhood of Beirut, Lebanon, by Armenian Vartkes Iskenderian and his family.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LAmagApril2008_0-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zankou_Chicken#cite_note-LAmagApril2008-0"></a></sup> The chain was established within the United States in 1983 by his son, Mardiros Iskenderian, after the family immigrated to Los Angeles, California. The first restaurant in Los Angeles is still located in Hollywood, California at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Normandie Avenue. The restaurant's famous garlic sauce was created by Vartkes' wife, Markrid.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G4qQNDWgL5o/Tjb1IGuviWI/AAAAAAAACDA/kAvGj2SULhg/s1600/DSCN3618.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>On January 14, 2003, after a heated argument, Zankou Chicken owner Mardiros Iskenderian shot and killed his sister, Dzovig Marjik, and his mother Margarit Iskenderian; he then took his own life in a double-murder suicide. It is believed that Mardiros was in the late stages of colon and brain cancer, which might have affected his mental faculties.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G4qQNDWgL5o/Tjb1IGuviWI/AAAAAAAACDA/kAvGj2SULhg/s1600/DSCN3618.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G4qQNDWgL5o/Tjb1IGuviWI/AAAAAAAACDA/kAvGj2SULhg/s200/DSCN3618.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Despite the family drama, the chain has expanded to 9 restaurants in the greater Los Angeles area; the second Zankou Chicken opened in Glendale (2 locations), followed by Van Nuys, Anaheim, Pasadena, Burbank, and West Los Angeles, as well as a branch in Montebello opened by the same part of the family that still owns the original Hollywood branch.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AXVlaNIuPYc/Tjb1o1UL7VI/AAAAAAAACDI/YuN0Rh5KAsY/s1600/csJ4i6Soer3ztgaby-ekYc640x480.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AXVlaNIuPYc/Tjb1o1UL7VI/AAAAAAAACDI/YuN0Rh5KAsY/s200/csJ4i6Soer3ztgaby-ekYc640x480.JPG" width="200" /></a>We went to the Anaheim location on a Saturday for lunch. I love rotisserie chicken and was looking forward to trying the famous garlic sauce. We ordered the half chicken plate which came with beet salad, hummus, and pita bread. The chicken was good but the garlic sauce was beyond amazing. I wanted to dip everything in it! It had a hint of lemon, was thick and went especially well with the chicken. If this is indicative of Armenian food, I have a new found love for it. With the multiple locations, its hard to come up with an excuse not to try this restaurant. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-18406322007127565272011-08-01T11:19:00.000-07:002011-08-01T11:19:36.871-07:00Bar Chloe<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4WH0fPZdWMU/TjbtaO6mTpI/AAAAAAAACCs/CkOLDq290U0/s1600/tumblr_liy231NGhG1qh850o.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4WH0fPZdWMU/TjbtaO6mTpI/AAAAAAAACCs/CkOLDq290U0/s200/tumblr_liy231NGhG1qh850o.jpg" width="200" /></a>It's not everyday that you run across a bar that shares your name. Especially if your name is Chloe. I just had to add <a href="http://www.barchloe.com/">Bar Chloe</a> because I was so enamoured by its existence. Even though I had been to a bar just around the corner, I did not see the big Chloe sign that marks Bar Chloe.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dzOdR9iwE6k/TjbteA7ICyI/AAAAAAAACCw/HIYo2OOihHs/s1600/DSCN3578.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3-OXBZsojgU/TjbtXyJP-VI/AAAAAAAACCo/pPdPB17nZcY/s1600/IMG_1061.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3-OXBZsojgU/TjbtXyJP-VI/AAAAAAAACCo/pPdPB17nZcY/s200/IMG_1061.JPG" width="135" /></a>I found out about this bar when I was at another bar in LA. A guy sitting at the bar next to me mentioned that he worked at Bar Chloe to the bartender. I inquired and he invited me to come on one of the night's he was working. A couple of weeks later I stopped in, only to find that particular bartender was not there. Disappointed, but I decided to stay and at least get the Chloe cocktail that was on the menu online. When I asked for the drink the bartender that night looked a bit puzzled. I added that I saw it on the menu online to which he responded that menu is old and outdated in a rude tone. Now I was really disappointed. I then got a drink, I don't even remember the name of it, but at this point I didn't care. If not for being with other <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dzOdR9iwE6k/TjbteA7ICyI/AAAAAAAACCw/HIYo2OOihHs/s1600/DSCN3578.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dzOdR9iwE6k/TjbteA7ICyI/AAAAAAAACCw/HIYo2OOihHs/s200/DSCN3578.JPG" width="200" /></a>people I would have just left. While they still had the Chloe burger, which did sound good from what was posted online but I had no desire at that point to try it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I had high expectations for this bar, obviously because it shares my name, but also because the bartender I met was so nice. I would consider going back to see if the bartender is working and maybe have a different experience but as it stands now, I'm completely disappointed and uninterested in this bar. Too bad, it had so much potential!</div>Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-23480656109494586342011-08-01T08:08:00.000-07:002011-08-01T08:08:55.903-07:00Hollywood Forever Cemetery<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HJBrUpojXqM/TjbAAslt1MI/AAAAAAAAB_8/-HaJoEuKrGo/s1600/DSCN2844.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HJBrUpojXqM/TjbAAslt1MI/AAAAAAAAB_8/-HaJoEuKrGo/s200/DSCN2844.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.hollywoodforever.com/">Hollywood Forever Cemetery</a> is at 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard in the Hollywood. It is unlike any other cemetery in the world. Founded in 1899, the cemetery was an integral part of the growth of early Hollywood. Paramount Studios was built on the back half of the original Hollywood Cemetery, where the studio is still in operation today. The cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites and boasts an admirable collection of old-fashioned standing headstones, monuments, and statues. It is the cemetery of choice for most of the <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VIelPd7QKrw/TjbArf3VRrI/AAAAAAAACAI/D2EZbq4Y0ao/s1600/johnny_ramone_2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VIelPd7QKrw/TjbArf3VRrI/AAAAAAAACAI/D2EZbq4Y0ao/s200/johnny_ramone_2.jpg" width="200" /></a>founders of Hollywood’s great studios, as well as writers, directors, and, performers, Hollywood Forever Cemetery is now listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. Visitors come from all over the world to pay respects Johnny Ramone, Cecil B. DeMille, Jayne Mansfield, Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, and hundreds more of Hollywood’s greatest stars.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLFbs1w3JiG1vV4EMGVg98kzEoybH3CNvu119u4-BbUX_MHJhQp09lSMCra5ogqm70WljFmIRpaVBbGgiv-J61vig3pSKpl1J2cIg4KuEQ3Nevrw52Z7r3DNfnR8yHHLs6qGkL04d0YyT/s1600/hollywood+halloween+005+%25283%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLFbs1w3JiG1vV4EMGVg98kzEoybH3CNvu119u4-BbUX_MHJhQp09lSMCra5ogqm70WljFmIRpaVBbGgiv-J61vig3pSKpl1J2cIg4KuEQ3Nevrw52Z7r3DNfnR8yHHLs6qGkL04d0YyT/s200/hollywood+halloween+005+%25283%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a>The cemetery has two huge indoor mausoleums an countless outdoor graves. A map is needed to locate any of the stars' burial sties which can be picked up upon entrance to the park from the flower shop. On top of the headstones and towering monuments, there are also some unusual headstones including ones shaped like obelisks and rocket ships. The cemetery is picturesque and has been used as a background locations for many Hollywood movies and shows including Hot Shots, L.A. Story, and The show Charmed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mGDsrxjGp6c/TjbAnJaPnxI/AAAAAAAACAA/zuLl6qvCYR4/s1600/6a00d8341c630a53ef00e5528f29178833-800wi.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mGDsrxjGp6c/TjbAnJaPnxI/AAAAAAAACAA/zuLl6qvCYR4/s200/6a00d8341c630a53ef00e5528f29178833-800wi.jpg" width="200" /></a>Of course, torus are given regularly. Motion picture historian <a href="http://cemeterytour.com/">Karie Bible</a> leads a walking tour through the cemetery. Bible is the current "Lady In Black,"<sup> </sup>carrying on the tradition of the mysterious woman who put a rose on Rudolph Valentino's grave every year.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We went to the cemetery for an event, The <a href="http://100thingstodoinla.blogspot.com/2011/06/movie-in-hollywod-forever-cemetery.html">Cinespia Movie night</a>, but had a chance to look around the cemetery before the movie started. I don't regularly hang out in cemetery's and probably would not have done had it not been for the event, but I"m glad I did. The headstones are indeed impressive. One of the world’s most fascinating landmarks, Hollywood Forever Cemetery is the final resting place to more of Hollywood’s founders and stars than anywhere else on earth. This is a site worth seeing.</div>Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-33387492098174186662011-07-30T07:32:00.000-07:002011-07-30T07:32:23.438-07:00The Original Farmers Market<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bgAzIkQoZvQ/TjQVb4DlHeI/AAAAAAAAB_s/B7Pl6AYYP1k/s1600/farmers-market.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bu4900sg69M/TjQVfuJm9kI/AAAAAAAAB_0/-AqQMGtmoAA/s1600/FarmersMarket.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bu4900sg69M/TjQVfuJm9kI/AAAAAAAAB_0/-AqQMGtmoAA/s200/FarmersMarket.jpg" width="200" /></a>The <a href="http://www.farmersmarketla.com/">Original Famers Market</a> is located on 3rd and Fairfax in Los Angeles, just south of the CBS studio. It first opened in July 1934 and has become a landmark and major tourist attraction since. The market started when a dozen nearby farmers would park their trucks on a field to sell their fresh produce to local residents. The cost to rent the space was fifty cents per day. Tourists soon discovered the impromptu Farmers Market, marveling at the array of fresh produce available even in mid-winter, and the Farmers Market grew into a more formal <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bgAzIkQoZvQ/TjQVb4DlHeI/AAAAAAAAB_s/B7Pl6AYYP1k/s1600/farmers-market.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bgAzIkQoZvQ/TjQVb4DlHeI/AAAAAAAAB_s/B7Pl6AYYP1k/s200/farmers-market.jpg" width="200" /></a>complex of produce stalls. The crowd is now a mix of tourists licking ice cream cones and Hollywood locals who still come here to buy meats and produce. It is also a destination for food enthusiats in search of the market's ethnic cuisines as well as its specialty food markets and prepard food stalls. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e0IzmD81Teo/TjQVdckuSUI/AAAAAAAAB_w/suS_GCGQb5k/s1600/farmerslogo.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Hollywood's famous have been going to the Farmers Market for years. Walt Disney sat at a Farmers Market table while he designed Disneyland, and it is said that James Dean <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e0IzmD81Teo/TjQVdckuSUI/AAAAAAAAB_w/suS_GCGQb5k/s1600/farmerslogo.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e0IzmD81Teo/TjQVdckuSUI/AAAAAAAAB_w/suS_GCGQb5k/s200/farmerslogo.jpg" width="191" /></a>ate breakfast here on September 30, 1955, shortly before getting into his Porsche and going for the last drive of his life. Today, groups of writers, directors and Hollywood executives gather for breakfast meetings, and not long ago, the Los Angeles Times listed the Farmers Market as the best place in Los Angeles to spot celebrities.<br />
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The Farmers Market features more than 100 restaurants, grocers and tourist shops, and draws more than 3 million visitors a year. You can't go wrong taking some time out to visit the market!Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-74394410871806473772011-07-29T13:59:00.000-07:002011-07-29T14:00:05.563-07:00Third Street Promenade - Santa Monica<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RKwSQN4imi8/TjMel8yKaOI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/GvZlaKlFdbo/s1600/DSCN3575.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RKwSQN4imi8/TjMel8yKaOI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/GvZlaKlFdbo/s200/DSCN3575.JPG" width="200" /></a>There is a three-block stretch of 3rd street in Santa Monica has been sealed off from traffic, tuning it into a pedestrian shopping and dining mecca, which is called the <a href="http://downtownsm.com/visitors/index.html">Third Street Promenade</a>. The Promenade's roots date back to the 1960s when three blocks of Third Street were converted into a pedestrian mall. While most people in LA drive, on the Promenade you can always find a crowd of happy pedestrians enjoying sunshine or moonlight, along with the shops, movies, and restaurants. And best of all, it's free to roam<span style="font-family: arial;">.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNn0yYr-PBVbjVR1x9hJCiSN1R2w9NMSUivIr-yMLoXqjq-WmJulzkDkGG3P0JX_krGNQclrpGRd08PaoAfMc_wODNPw3S843LB2EBGpbQqRioFZEpZGpnLfXrT4vnX_MrkML4S6NORUG_/s1600/5772564.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNn0yYr-PBVbjVR1x9hJCiSN1R2w9NMSUivIr-yMLoXqjq-WmJulzkDkGG3P0JX_krGNQclrpGRd08PaoAfMc_wODNPw3S843LB2EBGpbQqRioFZEpZGpnLfXrT4vnX_MrkML4S6NORUG_/s200/5772564.jpg" width="200" /></a>In the center of Third Street are free-standing pavilions which resemble Victorian greenhouses, with aged brass roofs. Colorful flower boxes bloom on many ledges and bright flowers dangle from the old-fashioned, powder blue street lamps. The promenade has a growing number of intriguing book shops, antique stores, and unique memorabilia shops. Movie going is another main attraction with 3 different theaters which offer a total of 17 screens. There are also restaurants which range from fast food stands to upscale nightclubs. Some notable spots in the area include Border Grill II, Bob Burns, Fama, Mesa Grill, and Wolfganf Puck's Cafe. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OfDVTdWlhBQ/TjMezC-gqcI/AAAAAAAAB_g/muMfh9qKFeg/s1600/santamonica-3rdstpromenade.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OfDVTdWlhBQ/TjMezC-gqcI/AAAAAAAAB_g/muMfh9qKFeg/s200/santamonica-3rdstpromenade.jpg" width="200" /></a>Street performers and entertainers are a frequent sight on the street. On a typical Saturday night in the summer, singer-songwriters, classical guitar players, magicians, clowns, hip-hop dancers, lounge singers, session drummers, and other artists line up approximately 40 feet 50 feet apart from each other all along Third Street<span style="font-family: arial;">. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is a great place to people watch and hang out if you're both a local and a tourist. You're guaranteed to find something you like!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div>Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-40959664443242982952011-07-29T09:37:00.000-07:002011-07-29T09:37:53.245-07:00Capitol Records Building<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xy2hwD1fhMw/TjLhRiYXDnI/AAAAAAAAB_M/0txF1jZGw24/s1600/capitol+records+-+web.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-93HYN-MXG4Y/TjLhSFcwOaI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/e7P0-f3WZxY/s1600/capitolbldg.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-93HYN-MXG4Y/TjLhSFcwOaI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/e7P0-f3WZxY/s200/capitolbldg.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZduVjid6C_A/TjLf_rqyV2I/AAAAAAAAB_A/WkyWpThRxdE/s1600/day-after-tomorrow-capitol-records-building.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>The Capitol Records Tower is one of the most distinctive landmarks in Hollywood, California. The 13-story earthquake-resistant tower, designed by Welton Becket, was the world's first circular office building, and is home to several recording studios. It is designed so the wide curved awnings over windows on each story and the tall spike emerging from the top of the building combine to <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xy2hwD1fhMw/TjLhRiYXDnI/AAAAAAAAB_M/0txF1jZGw24/s1600/capitol+records+-+web.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xy2hwD1fhMw/TjLhRiYXDnI/AAAAAAAAB_M/0txF1jZGw24/s200/capitol+records+-+web.jpg" width="133" /></a>give it the appearance of a stack of vinyl 45s on a turntable. The building is located just north of the intersection of Hollywood and Vine and is the center of the consolidated West Coast operations of Capitol Records—and was nicknamed "The House That Nat Built" to recognize the enormous financial contributions of Capitol star Nat "King" Cole. The building houses the Capitol Studios, a recording facility which includes an echo chamber engineered by guitarist Les Paul. The first album recorded in the tower was Frank Sinatra Conducts Tone Poems of Color.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_VBqSlNXt7c/TjLhRK3Yi5I/AAAAAAAAB_I/ljW7_DIvHic/s1600/Capitol_Records_sunset.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_VBqSlNXt7c/TjLhRK3Yi5I/AAAAAAAAB_I/ljW7_DIvHic/s200/Capitol_Records_sunset.jpg" width="145" /></a>The blinking light atop the tower spells out the phrase "Hollywood" in Morse code, and has done so since the building's opening in 1956. This was an idea of Capitol's then president, Alan Livingston, who wanted to subtly advertise Capitol's status as the first record label with a base on the west coast. The switch activating the light was thrown by Lyla Morse, Samuel Morse's granddaughter.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-kcet.org_1-1"> </sup>In 1992 it was changed to read "Capitol 50" in honor of the label's fiftieth anniversary. It has since returned to spelling "Hollywood".</div><div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZduVjid6C_A/TjLf_rqyV2I/AAAAAAAAB_A/WkyWpThRxdE/s1600/day-after-tomorrow-capitol-records-building.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZduVjid6C_A/TjLf_rqyV2I/AAAAAAAAB_A/WkyWpThRxdE/s200/day-after-tomorrow-capitol-records-building.jpg" width="200" /></a>In the 1974 disaster blockbuster film Earthquake, the tower was shown collapsing during a massive tremor. Thirty years later, in an homage to Earthquake, the tower was again depicted as being destroyed, this time by a massive tornado, in The Day After Tomorrow.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This landmark is very significant in Hollywood and can be seen from miles away. It is worth the trip for an up close visit! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-92084441513167363882011-07-28T06:46:00.000-07:002011-07-28T06:46:17.634-07:00Musso and Frank Grill<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4zmmhEZYUKMChS2wb0DmZGjSRspMHeaIlOCNST3OuAXyHzXaQu8EgPUvR8e_MPov0nVwaRdWatpgJO97nDuzTQqkTcwjf_MTFQ7Y9w6dm7SgFr4Csa05T3wsxYDLcyDq7QfBuaptQt02/s1600/DSCN3521.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4zmmhEZYUKMChS2wb0DmZGjSRspMHeaIlOCNST3OuAXyHzXaQu8EgPUvR8e_MPov0nVwaRdWatpgJO97nDuzTQqkTcwjf_MTFQ7Y9w6dm7SgFr4Csa05T3wsxYDLcyDq7QfBuaptQt02/s200/DSCN3521.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ntUKPF4y-c/TjFnI_zdBqI/AAAAAAAAB-4/xa8unEUa2JE/s1600/DSCN3512.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4zmmhEZYUKMChS2wb0DmZGjSRspMHeaIlOCNST3OuAXyHzXaQu8EgPUvR8e_MPov0nVwaRdWatpgJO97nDuzTQqkTcwjf_MTFQ7Y9w6dm7SgFr4Csa05T3wsxYDLcyDq7QfBuaptQt02/s1600/DSCN3521.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Musso & Frank Grill is a restaurant located on Hollywood Boulevard. Their actual <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4zmmhEZYUKMChS2wb0DmZGjSRspMHeaIlOCNST3OuAXyHzXaQu8EgPUvR8e_MPov0nVwaRdWatpgJO97nDuzTQqkTcwjf_MTFQ7Y9w6dm7SgFr4Csa05T3wsxYDLcyDq7QfBuaptQt02/s1600/DSCN3521.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>website is under construction however they have a fan site with <a href="http://www.mussoandfrankgrill.com/">7 Chapters</a> of history and stories. Opened in 1919, it is steeped in Hollywood history, having been the hideout of a host of famous Hollywood celebrities from days gone by. It is named for original owners Joseph Musso and Frank Toulet.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-seeing-stars.com_0-0"><span></span><span></span></sup> As Hollywood's oldest eatery (since 1919),<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-seeing-stars.com_0-1"><span></span><span></span></sup> Musso & Frank is the paragon of Old Hollywood grillrooms. In its heyday it was a popular destination for Hollywood's elite, including movie stars, film directors and producers and the great writers F. Scott Fitzgerald, Charles Bukowski, William Faulkner, and Ernest Hemingway drank here during their screenwriting days and where Orson Welles used to hold court. Legend has it that <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ntUKPF4y-c/TjFnI_zdBqI/AAAAAAAAB-4/xa8unEUa2JE/s1600/DSCN3512.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ntUKPF4y-c/TjFnI_zdBqI/AAAAAAAAB-4/xa8unEUa2JE/s200/DSCN3512.JPG" width="150" /></a>Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino, and Douglas Fairbanks raced each other down Hollywood Boulevard on horseback, the loser having to pick up the dinner tab at Musso & Frank's.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-37f2rHjVXtA/TjFnCa3xunI/AAAAAAAAB-w/GNUrHReEds8/s1600/DSCN3513.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-37f2rHjVXtA/TjFnCa3xunI/AAAAAAAAB-w/GNUrHReEds8/s200/DSCN3513.JPG" width="150" /></a>We went on a Thursday night, around 7ish, the restaurant was actually pretty empty but the bar was packed. We scored 1 bar stool so we shared it/Grete stood. The bartender was nice and anxious to make us a drink...whatever we wanted. Grete chose a Grasshopper and I had a Cosmo. They are known for their martini's but I'm not a big fan of straight up martini's so I went with the Cosmo. I tried Grete's drink, a little too sweet for me. It reminded me of the Girl Scout cookie, thin mint. My Cosmo was good but <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qe2_ZP63uDs/TjFm9s1Jp6I/AAAAAAAAB-s/pwbmE0DT7qw/s1600/DSCN3517.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qe2_ZP63uDs/TjFm9s1Jp6I/AAAAAAAAB-s/pwbmE0DT7qw/s200/DSCN3517.JPG" width="150" /></a>nothing special. If I were to go back, I would bite the bullet and try a dirty martini. If it's going to be my first one might as well be at a place that is known to have the best in the city.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Their dinner menu looked good but we didn't get any eats. They have nightly specials. The special that night was prime rib and it reminded me of classic Hollywood which overall sums up the vibe of this place. If you're in the mood to get glammed up (you don't have to) and relive the old days, Musso and Frank's Grill is the place to go.<br />
</div>Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-83787530109151448922011-07-26T16:36:00.000-07:002011-07-26T16:36:31.379-07:00Palm's Thai Restaurant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v3iS83y7f2Y/Ti9NnoX1LPI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/LNUfSvVG4z4/s1600/DSCN3527.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v3iS83y7f2Y/Ti9NnoX1LPI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/LNUfSvVG4z4/s200/DSCN3527.JPG" width="150" /></a>I was a little disappointed when I went to <a href="http://www.palmsthai.com/">Palms Thai</a>. It is a Thai restaurant located in Thai town (in Hollywood.) The restaurant is know for having a signing Thai Elvis perform, however he wasn't there when we went.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GS9-7gzRR54/Ti9NtEJPNuI/AAAAAAAAB-g/Fm_ohVyyqSk/s1600/DSCN3533.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GS9-7gzRR54/Ti9NtEJPNuI/AAAAAAAAB-g/Fm_ohVyyqSk/s200/DSCN3533.JPG" width="200" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8j8dsbzM2Zo/Ti9NkfUxuGI/AAAAAAAAB-U/MtYv_zUdP0I/s1600/DSCN3524.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8j8dsbzM2Zo/Ti9NkfUxuGI/AAAAAAAAB-U/MtYv_zUdP0I/s200/DSCN3524.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We went on a Thursday night, around 8:30ish. It was packed inside and seating was cafeteria style. The hostess seated us at a table in the middle of the room and we looked at the extensive menu. It was slightly overwhelming with so many dishes, but that is almost typical of a Thai restaurant. We finally settled on two dishes, me the Kee Mao Noodle which is Flat rice pan fried noodles with chili, bell pepper, basil leaves, tomato, and onion served on a bed of lettuce, and <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-itKvtYHfaeI/Ti9NvxNDQGI/AAAAAAAAB-k/lBnSUYehWbw/s1600/DSCN3530.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-itKvtYHfaeI/Ti9NvxNDQGI/AAAAAAAAB-k/lBnSUYehWbw/s200/DSCN3530.JPG" width="150" /></a>Grete ordered Spicy Noodle Soup which is rice noodle with shrimp, squid, ground pork, BBQ pork, fish ball, imitation crab, and bean sprout seasoned with lime juice, chili, and ground peanut. I've had my dish before (sometimes known as drunken noodles) but I haven't found a place that I like in California. Grete really had no idea what she was ordering but liked it because it had a lot of seafood.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My dish came out first, had we known the portions would be as big as they were, we would have only ordered one dish. We both really enjoyed the noodles. It was actually the best I've had since leaving Boston. Grete's dish came out not that long after mine. I thought it was fairly good but Grete thought it was too spicy. We ate dinner while listening to an acoustic guitar performer <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-81QJsDD1BRU/Ti9NqqcyL1I/AAAAAAAAB-c/MvTmpJMyR8s/s1600/DSCN3529.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-81QJsDD1BRU/Ti9NqqcyL1I/AAAAAAAAB-c/MvTmpJMyR8s/s200/DSCN3529.JPG" width="150" /></a>playing James Taylor covers. We left with a lot of leftovers which we enjoyed the next day for lunch. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Overall, the food was good, but not really worth going to unless you're in the area and you can catch the singing Elvis.<br />
</div>Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-37732917227309228692011-07-26T14:24:00.000-07:002011-07-26T14:24:21.777-07:00Chinatown<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OJinx0NiQTY/Ti8vQtytLeI/AAAAAAAAB98/EKVCiRS55VM/s1600/DSCN3087.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OJinx0NiQTY/Ti8vQtytLeI/AAAAAAAAB98/EKVCiRS55VM/s200/DSCN3087.JPG" width="150" /></a>I previously posted about Empress Pavilion, the Dim Sum restaurant in Chinatown, but didn't really touch on all there is to do in the LA <a href="http://www.chinatownla.com/index.php">Chinatown</a>. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7LIPKGgrJ08/Ti8vqyMY8jI/AAAAAAAAB-I/Zv8tSvF1iVE/s1600/6a00d83451be3369e200e554ded0798833-800wi.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7LIPKGgrJ08/Ti8vqyMY8jI/AAAAAAAAB-I/Zv8tSvF1iVE/s1600/6a00d83451be3369e200e554ded0798833-800wi.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>The area that encompasses Chinatown was originally Los Angeles' Little Italy. In the 1920s and 30s, Italians began moving out of Little Italy to elsewhere in the city. When the Italians moved out, the Chinese began moving in. In the 1930s, under the efforts of Chinese American community leader Peter Soo Hoo Sr., the design and operational concepts for the Chinatown evolved through the collective community process, resulting in a blend of both Chinese and American architecture. The Los Angeles Chinatown saw major development, especially <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7LIPKGgrJ08/Ti8vqyMY8jI/AAAAAAAAB-I/Zv8tSvF1iVE/s1600/6a00d83451be3369e200e554ded0798833-800wi.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7LIPKGgrJ08/Ti8vqyMY8jI/AAAAAAAAB-I/Zv8tSvF1iVE/s200/6a00d83451be3369e200e554ded0798833-800wi.jpg" width="200" /></a>as a tourist attraction, throughout the 1930s with the development of the "Central Plaza", a Hollywoodized version of Shanghai, containing names such as <i>Bamboo Lane</i>, <i>Gin Ling Way</i> and <i>Chung King Road</i>. Chinatown was designed by Hollywood film set designers and a "Chinese" movie prop was subsequently donated by the legendary film director Cecil B. DeMille to give Chinatown an exotic atmosphere. Today, this section of Chinatown is less frequented by ethnic Chinese residents and dayshoppers, though it is where several benevolent associations are located.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hAhP322ydbU/Ti8vaByDxuI/AAAAAAAAB-A/6mfljbUtNQI/s1600/DSCN3108.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hAhP322ydbU/Ti8vaByDxuI/AAAAAAAAB-A/6mfljbUtNQI/s1600/DSCN3108.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hAhP322ydbU/Ti8vaByDxuI/AAAAAAAAB-A/6mfljbUtNQI/s200/DSCN3108.JPG" width="200" /></a>This neighborhood is very convenient to the Metro Gold line, if you so choose to venture out on LA's booming public transportation system. There is a page dedicated to the adventure through <a href="http://www.experiencela.com/explore/adventure/Chinatown">Experience LA - Chinatown</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i4gJW0IFR80/Ti8vj6YLLFI/AAAAAAAAB-E/BiFqUfcYxYM/s1600/DSCN3109.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i4gJW0IFR80/Ti8vj6YLLFI/AAAAAAAAB-E/BiFqUfcYxYM/s200/DSCN3109.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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We decided to drive there on a Sunday afternoon. It was hard to find parking, the streets were crowded, and there were a lot of people out. We walked the streets looking in the shops for deals on knick knacks, got lunch, and had a drink. We didn't get a chance to go into the museums, however I recommend if you go to Chinatown, try to check out some of the historical monuments and attractions. Every 1st Saturday on the month there is a <a href="http://www.chinatownla.com/calendar.php?eventcategoryId=2&eventId=5">walking tour</a> of Chinatown for $20. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JNlR-rGTIWg/Ti8vHXuBEkI/AAAAAAAAB94/XEGtuULGhO8/s1600/DSCN3096.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JNlR-rGTIWg/Ti8vHXuBEkI/AAAAAAAAB94/XEGtuULGhO8/s200/DSCN3096.JPG" width="200" /></a>Art galleries are also becoming a big attraction on Chung King Road. On art opening nights, which occur on Saturdays every few weeks, throngs of LA art enthusiasts come to check out the latest in a the new galleries. It’s a strange and somewhat romantic scene, with the alley’s lanterns and worn-out gallery facades, as if pulled from some derelict 1950s movie set. Yet, it’s a scene that has become a new center for art in Los Angeles. Some describe it as a displaced Westside arts district — hip, edgy and young. And while the art is breaking boundaries, the galleries are still paying tribute to the culture of Chinatown; many have kept the original storefront names.<br />
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All in all, Chinatown is a definite must stop on a tour of LA. There is plenty to do and see, it will keep you busy for quite awhile.Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-33024548739441413812011-07-26T08:35:00.000-07:002011-07-26T08:36:45.117-07:00ArcLight Cinema - Hollywood<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2964NX5-x4iEcSATvh35IZHdKpSIWmd8v7QS2dCpjS7r_kOyXkKf5Dp7CTSGNE3E-pBZuBvd3-6RUwqlmvb8SRsZB4Ct4JcbhsSmF1dd0z3PWNaYrqS_sTu08j2CyXhejJyFz9TGYb6F/s1600/arclight-cinemas-sherman-oaks-300x225.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2964NX5-x4iEcSATvh35IZHdKpSIWmd8v7QS2dCpjS7r_kOyXkKf5Dp7CTSGNE3E-pBZuBvd3-6RUwqlmvb8SRsZB4Ct4JcbhsSmF1dd0z3PWNaYrqS_sTu08j2CyXhejJyFz9TGYb6F/s200/arclight-cinemas-sherman-oaks-300x225.jpg" width="200" /></a>The Arclight Hollywood is a 14-screen movie theater on Sunset Blvd. It prides itself on being a different kind of theater, even having a whole website dedicated to describing the <a href="http://www.arclightexperience.com/">arclight experience</a>.<br />
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Each theater has reserved seating. When a customer buys a ticket they select their desired seat. The seats in the ArcLight's theaters are wider than average and feature arm rests that are wide enough to support usage by patrons on both sides of the arm rest simultaneously.<br />
<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-about_0-1"></sup> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZzIoYuX0WMHuwBNdOLHpMTqck2dV_51pvFr07fSjAi2okDLp4IhEYNdproD2pHqNYTSSogVAvAVvVkDNyztk7HLKMVf6MvMrcELu89oCrqHnfAmU7zi-JjOjVbUqW77wTOWAGPT-gpYM/s1600/arclight-hollywood.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZzIoYuX0WMHuwBNdOLHpMTqck2dV_51pvFr07fSjAi2okDLp4IhEYNdproD2pHqNYTSSogVAvAVvVkDNyztk7HLKMVf6MvMrcELu89oCrqHnfAmU7zi-JjOjVbUqW77wTOWAGPT-gpYM/s200/arclight-hollywood.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
Unlike the majority of contemporary theater chains, there are no ads or movie trivia displayed on screen prior to the feature presentation. The only promotional material shown before showtimes are trailers and a brief ArcLight "feature presentation" logo.<br />
At showtime, immediately before the trailers begin, an employee (called an Usher Greeter) introduces the film to the audience and states the ArcLight's policies regarding quality assurance, i.e. two ushers will remain in the theater until a few minutes after the film has begun, to ensure that the picture and sound quality are acceptable. They also inform the audience to turn their cellphones to the silent function, and to refrain from texting.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-newyorker_1-0"></sup> Five minutes after the scheduled start time of a film has elapsed, further seating is prohibited, reducing interruptions.<br />
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The ArcLight Hollywood concessions stands strive to serve high quality items, such as all-beef hot dogs, gourmet chicken sausage on baguettes, premium bottled water, decadent chocolates, fresh popcorn with real butter, and caramel corn made on-site. <br />
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ArcLight is almost unique among contemporary theaters, as the large lobby area also holds a gift shop with books, magazine, art, clothing items, music, and other entertainment-oriented items. In addition, there is a full-service café and bar, which serves lunch and dinner, and is available with or without purchasing a movie ticket. A smaller bar is located upstairs, which is mainly open on weekends or during special events, and which has a more limited menu. Both feature indoor and outdoor dining areas.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDtYkyzLOqoVkc4kB3C-nOmkfOpkKebXOE1IZWMEZdSxo0zNn7kEoPZWef-7vzb4X9noZFhzh8elidF6UmzKJFeQggMbmZuaDwAR-eeDkfXHmOM3E6yUO5JHLrmfOjOaDIQacSp4YSCKI/s1600/arclight_theater.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDtYkyzLOqoVkc4kB3C-nOmkfOpkKebXOE1IZWMEZdSxo0zNn7kEoPZWef-7vzb4X9noZFhzh8elidF6UmzKJFeQggMbmZuaDwAR-eeDkfXHmOM3E6yUO5JHLrmfOjOaDIQacSp4YSCKI/s200/arclight_theater.jpg" width="200" /></a>In addition to special event screenings, the ArcLight regularly holds "21+" screenings in which patrons must be 21 years old or older to be admitted and patrons may consume alcoholic beverages purchased from the theater's bar.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oqTyyvf_ltsHVeninLjdMSbCXyRKHpY5r5LNVxTUjhTMcDU90zVdLpzWRXw-ikD7OKZib08AOLeSfWYYvTs9zSEx-5cG1aMzrsK83hrUg3E9tnXoWRFO1vCbSXhvdLIcy09yVB3mHiwy/s1600/arclight01.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>ArcLight Hollywood is known to be a good place for celebrity sightings because of its Hollywood location, quality of picture presentation, and myriad of special screenings and events, which often feature Question and Answer sessions with actors and directors.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxbLNNaWGGyarBkUBpyCUucaPfixBnstsYjDxXffwZakmbKF8BL8bi7dj_KxOF1BgTO-Y1t0nvNHVwk00KWnYcvOrWUeEXkk_11vShnom-pXAIaRzSfUgYHjT4TSr68oRwC7v9F1EA-iWq/s1600/screenstory.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>We went to the ArcLight Hollywood for a special screening of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1234719/">Red Dawn</a>. We had to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oqTyyvf_ltsHVeninLjdMSbCXyRKHpY5r5LNVxTUjhTMcDU90zVdLpzWRXw-ikD7OKZib08AOLeSfWYYvTs9zSEx-5cG1aMzrsK83hrUg3E9tnXoWRFO1vCbSXhvdLIcy09yVB3mHiwy/s1600/arclight01.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oqTyyvf_ltsHVeninLjdMSbCXyRKHpY5r5LNVxTUjhTMcDU90zVdLpzWRXw-ikD7OKZib08AOLeSfWYYvTs9zSEx-5cG1aMzrsK83hrUg3E9tnXoWRFO1vCbSXhvdLIcy09yVB3mHiwy/s200/arclight01.jpg" width="200" /></a>stand in line for over an hour but since the tickets were free it was worth it. We didn't get to the bar before the movie but the experience of the movie theater was noticeably different.<br />
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There are additional ArcLights in Pasadena, El Segundo, and Sherman Oaks.<br />
<span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Parking"></span>Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-17625967194013396572011-07-25T14:05:00.000-07:002011-07-25T14:05:50.182-07:00Saturdays Off the 405<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KJOs3KHG_Cc/Ti3Z7ENkaJI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/Zpt9sKZ5Ixo/s1600/getty405flyer_cutchemist.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QBkLgSRsToo/Ti1SgHgH7ZI/AAAAAAAAB9M/hP0BZuyWpiQ/s1600/IMG_2300.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QBkLgSRsToo/Ti1SgHgH7ZI/AAAAAAAAB9M/hP0BZuyWpiQ/s200/IMG_2300.JPG" width="200" /></a>I've posted on both <a href="http://100thingstodoinla.blogspot.com/2011/04/getty-villa.html">The Getty Villa</a> and <a href="http://100thingstodoinla.blogspot.com/2011/07/getty-center.html">The Getty Center</a>. This is a place that just keeps on giving. <a href="http://www.getty.edu/museum/programs/performances/saturdays_405.html#recent">Saturday's Off the 405</a> is an event hosted by the Getty Center in Brentwood that brings together food, drinks, music, and art...oh, and a lot of people. We went a few Saturday's ago. After reading up on the event online, we decided to try to get there fairly early but park a bit away from the Getty and walk. Parking, which is usually $15 at the museum is free after 5pm. The event starts at 6 however cars start lining up very early, clogging the road, the free way exit, and making it plain uncomfortable for all. On top of that, once parking fills up they stop letting people in. So we parked in Bel Air, about a mile<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KJOs3KHG_Cc/Ti3Z7ENkaJI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/Zpt9sKZ5Ixo/s1600/getty405flyer_cutchemist.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KJOs3KHG_Cc/Ti3Z7ENkaJI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/Zpt9sKZ5Ixo/s200/getty405flyer_cutchemist.jpg" width="200" /></a> away, walked, and were stress free. Technically you're not supposed to park in Bel Air for this event and there are cops around blocking streets so do it at your own risk.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1D2dnNBZvzM/Ti1RttZKZOI/AAAAAAAAB9E/FLtiWk1x20Y/s1600/DSCN3231.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>We arrived at the museum and waited in line for the monorail for about 10 minutes, the line moves fairly fast. Once we got to the actual museum it was still early, about 6:30, but there were people everywhere, sitting down, eating and drinking. This is yet another event where picnics are welcome, however outside alcohol is not. They do have a cash bar where they serve wine and Getty-tini's. We ordered some drinks and found a table to have dinner while <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1D2dnNBZvzM/Ti1RttZKZOI/AAAAAAAAB9E/FLtiWk1x20Y/s1600/DSCN3231.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1D2dnNBZvzM/Ti1RttZKZOI/AAAAAAAAB9E/FLtiWk1x20Y/s200/DSCN3231.JPG" width="150" /></a>the DJ was playing music in the background. The band, which for the night was <a href="http://bestycoasty.blogspot.com/">Best </a><a href="http://bestycoasty.blogspot.com/">Coast</a>, was supposed to start at 7, but in true LA fashion they were very late. We walked around the museum for a bit and came out just as they were starting.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T7DBRonH8ZI/Ti1R8kQDaUI/AAAAAAAAB9I/HbKFEWYoCys/s1600/DSCN3232.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>The sound was good, and people were really into the music. Having walked around we really didn't have a great view of the band so we stood in the background listening to the music. We left after a few songs, but enjoyed them while we were there.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As we were leaving there was still a long line trying to get in. At this point, they were turning every car away and traffic was backed up. They were even <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T7DBRonH8ZI/Ti1R8kQDaUI/AAAAAAAAB9I/HbKFEWYoCys/s1600/DSCN3232.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T7DBRonH8ZI/Ti1R8kQDaUI/AAAAAAAAB9I/HbKFEWYoCys/s200/DSCN3232.JPG" width="200" /></a>turning away people who had walked so if you do plan on walking, get there early. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T7DBRonH8ZI/Ti1R8kQDaUI/AAAAAAAAB9I/HbKFEWYoCys/s1600/DSCN3232.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Once parking fills up, no one gets in, even if people are leaving.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T7DBRonH8ZI/Ti1R8kQDaUI/AAAAAAAAB9I/HbKFEWYoCys/s1600/DSCN3232.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is just another great event where you can go, watch the sunset, eat, drink, and enjoy the city. Just keep in mind the logistics, it can be a pain to get there. The next show is this Saturday, July 30th.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div>Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-87131888480733431262011-07-25T03:53:00.000-07:002011-07-25T03:53:06.345-07:00The Original Pantry Cafe<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8IePL2P9R48/Ti1KBEp7tHI/AAAAAAAAB80/pe18DYWkDdQ/s1600/DSCN3509.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8IePL2P9R48/Ti1KBEp7tHI/AAAAAAAAB80/pe18DYWkDdQ/s200/DSCN3509.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.pantrycafe.com/">The Original Pantry Cafe</a> is an iconic coffee shop and restaurant located at the corner of 9th and Figueroa in Downtown L.A.'s South Park district, The Pantry claims to never have closed or been without a customer since it opened in 1924, including when it changed locations in 1950 to make room for a freeway off-ramp. It served lunch in the original location and served dinner at the new location the same day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LoB812zfE1s/Ti1J9h6cueI/AAAAAAAAB8w/u-PMClUmBQw/s1600/DSCN3508.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LoB812zfE1s/Ti1J9h6cueI/AAAAAAAAB8w/u-PMClUmBQw/s200/DSCN3508.JPG" width="200" /></a>The menu is pretty simple. They have your typical breakfast selection and then steak and chops and salads. Notably, they have a Gallon of Coffee on their menu as a side. It must be for cops or other night workers that come in.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GoxghiQ2-g0/Ti1KEDWX9lI/AAAAAAAAB84/tq7tdyAseqw/s1600/DSCN3504.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GoxghiQ2-g0/Ti1KEDWX9lI/AAAAAAAAB84/tq7tdyAseqw/s200/DSCN3504.JPG" width="200" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O3HuRIu7RMs/Ti1KJRsli-I/AAAAAAAAB88/oOiYPoEn6ps/s1600/DSCN3505.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-46VkXdOrb8Y/Ti1J5Z_zqcI/AAAAAAAAB8s/6rZMcBv-Ldc/s1600/DSCN3507.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-46VkXdOrb8Y/Ti1J5Z_zqcI/AAAAAAAAB8s/6rZMcBv-Ldc/s200/DSCN3507.JPG" width="200" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">We stopped in on a Thursday afternoon, the cafe wasn't too busy so we sat at the counter in front of the grill. We went for a side order they call the "Set Up" which is bread, butter, and cole slaw. Sounds weird, I know, but they are known for this side so we got it. The cole slaw is creamy and sweet. It is not the healthiest dish but very good and goes really well with the thick grilled bread. It was filling for a side but very fitting for the diner. They boast about <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O3HuRIu7RMs/Ti1KJRsli-I/AAAAAAAAB88/oOiYPoEn6ps/s1600/DSCN3505.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O3HuRIu7RMs/Ti1KJRsli-I/AAAAAAAAB88/oOiYPoEn6ps/s200/DSCN3505.JPG" width="200" /></a>their generous portions and they're not lying. Plan on taking a lot of food home or sharing. This place is definitely worth the visit, even if only for a slice of pie and coffee. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O3HuRIu7RMs/Ti1KJRsli-I/AAAAAAAAB88/oOiYPoEn6ps/s1600/DSCN3505.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Stop in and soak in a little bit of history.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span></span></div>Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com0877 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90017, USA34.0463421 -118.26289300000002-0.93356640000000368 -178.02851800000002 69.0262506 -58.49726800000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-23677718844971552082011-07-24T13:11:00.000-07:002011-07-24T13:11:08.392-07:00The Comedy Store<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3G0bly0HBPg/Tix7v0v_VjI/AAAAAAAAB8Y/cpQKgaxDYD0/s1600/DSCN3300.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3G0bly0HBPg/Tix7v0v_VjI/AAAAAAAAB8Y/cpQKgaxDYD0/s320/DSCN3300.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="http://thecomedystore.com/">The Comedy Store</a> is a comedy club located in West Hollywood, California, on the Sunset Strip. The club has an interesting Hollywood True Story like history and an extensive alumni list. It was opened in April 1972 by comedians Sammy Shore and Rudy DeLuca. The building was formerly the home of Ciro's, a hugely popular Hollywood nightclub owned by William Wilkerson, and later a rock and roll venue,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ogden99_1-0"><span> </span></sup>where The Byrds were discovered in 1964. When the venue reopened as The Comedy Store in 1972, it included a 99-seat theatre, where Johnny Carson was one of the first comics to perform.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Lord_2-0"><span> </span><span></span></sup>As a result of a divorce settlement, Sammy Shore's ex-wife Mitzi Shore began operating the club in 1973, and she was able to buy the building in 1976. She immediately renovated and expanded the club to include a 450-seat main room.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Lord_2-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Comedy_Store#cite_note-Lord-2"><span></span><span></span></a></sup> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Beginning in 1979, The Comedy Store served for many years as the host location for the annual <i>HBO Young Comedians</i> specials. Also that year, stand-up comedians formed a short-lived labor union and demanded to be paid for their appearances at the Comedy Store. For five weeks, several famous comedians staged a protest in front of the club, while others crossed the picket line. The comedians involved formed a union called Comedians for Compensation and fought for pay where they had received none before. They eventually picketed in front of the club when their demands were not met. Jay Leno and David Letterman were amongst those on the picket line. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RMAtDlkvTuE/Tix6EFS9lrI/AAAAAAAAB8E/fKVX-JX2n2o/s1600/DSCN3303.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RMAtDlkvTuE/Tix6EFS9lrI/AAAAAAAAB8E/fKVX-JX2n2o/s200/DSCN3303.JPG" width="200" /></a>The job action was not legally a strike as the comedians were classified as "independent contractors" and were not under contract with the club. Mitzi Shore argued that the club was and had always been a showcase and training ground for young comedians and wasn't about profits. She alleged that comedians came to the club and could work on their material in front of casting agents and other talent scouts who would possibly hire them as professionals if they were good enough. The comedians at the club became unhappy when the club was expanded several times and it was perceived that Shore's profits were quite substantial. Shore also paid the rest of her staff, including waitresses and bartenders. Several of the young comedians who had moved to Los Angeles to make it big were so poor they could not afford 3 meals a day or even housing.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><span> </span><span></span></sup>Jay Leno briefly lived in his car upon first arriving in LA and performing at the club.</div><div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">After the strike some comedians were no longer allowed to perform at the club, including Steve Lubetkin, who committed suicide in front of the building by jumping off the roof of the Continental Hyatt House next door. His suicide note included the line: "My name is Steve Lubetkin. I used to work at the Comedy Store."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><span></span><span></span></sup> Lubetkin hoped that his suicide would resolve the labor dispute. He also cited Shore as the reason he no longer had a job.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The union ceased to exist as of 1980, although from the time of the job action onward, comedians in Los Angeles were paid for their shows. This included the Comedy Store and the Improv.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In 2005, Sammy Shore's son Pauly Shore starred in the TBS reality show <i>Minding the Store</i>. The series followed Shore as he pretended to take control of The Comedy Store and attempted to "revitalize" it. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The alumni includes many of the greats: Tim Allen, Robin Williams, Damon Wayans, Bob Saget, Eddie Murphy, and many more.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Q4fPfT0pos/Tix6UmD1P6I/AAAAAAAAB8M/6YusdkPdKAE/s1600/DSCN3306.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Q4fPfT0pos/Tix6UmD1P6I/AAAAAAAAB8M/6YusdkPdKAE/s200/DSCN3306.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We went on a Wednesday night for their 9 o'clock stand up show. The charge is $15 but we actually ended up getting in for free through a facebook promotion that Liz found. The show is 16 headlining comics and goes well into the morning, usually until around 3. The comics started off entertaining. We actually had a surprise show by comedian Sarah Silverman who was trying out some new material. The night before John Stamos was unexpectedly there to do the same thing. As the night wore on, the comics got less and less funny and we left after the 13th performer. Overall it was a good night. Even if we did have to pay, it would have been well worth the money. If you're in town and have time this is a show worth checking out. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Note: History of The Comedy Club courtesy of Wikipedia</span></div>Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-11356567673754660402011-07-23T12:56:00.000-07:002011-07-23T12:56:00.575-07:00Sprinkles Cupcakes<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BdSUC3o3GvU/Tismd8pgKGI/AAAAAAAAB70/-7mHvpOLGlI/s1600/DSCN3497.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BdSUC3o3GvU/Tismd8pgKGI/AAAAAAAAB70/-7mHvpOLGlI/s200/DSCN3497.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.sprinkles.com/">Sprinkles</a> Cupcakes is a Beverly Hills, California-based cupcake bakery chain established in 2005 by Candace and Charles Nelson. It is considered the first cupcakes-only bakery.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Candace is described as taking a "sophisticated" take on the classic cupcake, using ingredients like sweet buttercream, pure Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon vanilla, and Callebaut chocolate. She also creates offbeat offerings like vegan and gluten-free cupcakes and even dog-food cupcakes. The cupcakes are baked daily and are free from preservatives, trans fats and artificial flavors.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YrsXtvFMwEk/TismgCliUBI/AAAAAAAAB74/YOH7e0reyLE/s1600/DSCN3498.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YrsXtvFMwEk/TismgCliUBI/AAAAAAAAB74/YOH7e0reyLE/s200/DSCN3498.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vbo-z06q4zg/Tismi6PI4wI/AAAAAAAAB78/nRXtmkvxGgU/s1600/DSCN3499.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>We went on a Thursday afternoon, there was a line out the door. The store is small, simple, and elegant. There are a lot of varieties of cupcakes but I went with a classic favorite, red velvet. Grete opted for the salty caramel which sounded just as delicious. We ordered and received our cupcakes 5 minutes later in a cute little box. We wasted no time biting into them. We ate the cupcakes within minutes outside of the store. The red velvet was good but I loved the salty caramel. Both were moist with rich frosting on top. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vbo-z06q4zg/Tismi6PI4wI/AAAAAAAAB78/nRXtmkvxGgU/s1600/DSCN3499.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vbo-z06q4zg/Tismi6PI4wI/AAAAAAAAB78/nRXtmkvxGgU/s200/DSCN3499.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YrsXtvFMwEk/TismgCliUBI/AAAAAAAAB74/YOH7e0reyLE/s1600/DSCN3498.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There original bakery is in Beverly Hills however they now have 10 stores across the US with plans to open 15 more. They have delivery, do cupcakes for parties and weddings. The cupcakes here are much better than your everyday store bought cupcakes and are worth trying.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-33668138378051224152011-07-22T16:05:00.000-07:002011-07-22T16:05:11.332-07:00In N Out<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0aortScASY_UI8YCZsoRCQKxsgIcAaZuKVoxWFmZ6l4pGIs-yHUdbpT_hcgchlnl-l8dIfgT6-gU-xWDSfVfZuWnA7NO17g_HTb-YNyXfvTcNe8FlYAEqBmCsdXdXKwi8fGvAORZkUyS/s1600/in-n-out-burger1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0aortScASY_UI8YCZsoRCQKxsgIcAaZuKVoxWFmZ6l4pGIs-yHUdbpT_hcgchlnl-l8dIfgT6-gU-xWDSfVfZuWnA7NO17g_HTb-YNyXfvTcNe8FlYAEqBmCsdXdXKwi8fGvAORZkUyS/s200/in-n-out-burger1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.in-n-out.com/">In N Out</a>...That's what a hamburger is all about...right? Sometimes I can't get that out of my head, it's catchy! When I moved to California, people kept telling me that I had to try a burger from In N Out. I tried it, it was good, but it wasn't amazing. But then it grew on me. I don't know if it was the jingle, or the mystique of the secret menu, or the fact that they are everywhere. Perhaps its something they put in those fresh pattys. Whatever it is, if i'm on the road and want some fast food, In N Out is where it's at.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Founded in 1948 by Harry Snyder and his wife Esther, the first In-N-Out was in Baldwin Park and headquartered in Irvine, California. The current owner is Lynsi Martinez, the only grandchild of founders Harry and Esther Snyder. There are currently 258 locations (as of March 2011) with no location more than one day's drive from a regional distribution center. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The company's dedication to fresh food is reflected in the adherence to never freezing their produce or meat patties. As the chain has expanded they have opened several distribution centers in addition to their original Baldwin Park location. The chain has developed a loyal customer base, and has been rated as one of the top fast food restaurants in several customer satisfaction surveys.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9CxmcWPRFzE/TioBqk7_1iI/AAAAAAAAB7s/Mmx-LGVjQgw/s1600/raw.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9CxmcWPRFzE/TioBqk7_1iI/AAAAAAAAB7s/Mmx-LGVjQgw/s200/raw.jpg" width="194" /></a>The In-N-Out menu consists of three burger varieties: hamburger, cheeseburger, and "Double-Double" (double meat/double cheese). French fries and fountain drinks are available, as well as three flavors of milkshakes. The hamburgers come with lettuce, tomato, with or without onions (the customer is asked upon ordering, and may have them fresh or grilled), and a sauce, which is called "spread" (a Thousand Island dressing variant).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12"> </sup></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoqCVZwwi4nK8RbYAUhsXlwgE9vvpA5QQWbe2-sAxCMSM3k1SzzdYXTxUaITFrM73K-eAhQ4FgujXMvujzm7OZDuw0PQE-QR_OVmPYfOiL4muLHq3hojheTLnLTwk45JT7GmgVb2MT6sM/s1600/228.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>There are, however, additional named items not on the menu, but available at every In-N-Out. These variations reside on the chain's "secret menu," though the menu is accessible on the company's web site. These variations include 3x3 (which has three patties and three slices of cheese), 4x4 (four patties and four slices of cheese), Neapolitan shakes, grilled cheese sandwich (comes with everything that the burgers come with except meat, plus two slices of melted cheese), veggie burgers (comes with everything that the burgers come with; is not an actual veggie patty, and does not come with cheese), and Animal Style, a house specialty that the company has trademarked because of its association with the chain. An Animal Style fry comes with two slices of melted cheese, spread, and grilled onions on top; Animal style burgers have mustard fried into the meat patties as they cook, and in <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoqCVZwwi4nK8RbYAUhsXlwgE9vvpA5QQWbe2-sAxCMSM3k1SzzdYXTxUaITFrM73K-eAhQ4FgujXMvujzm7OZDuw0PQE-QR_OVmPYfOiL4muLHq3hojheTLnLTwk45JT7GmgVb2MT6sM/s1600/228.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoqCVZwwi4nK8RbYAUhsXlwgE9vvpA5QQWbe2-sAxCMSM3k1SzzdYXTxUaITFrM73K-eAhQ4FgujXMvujzm7OZDuw0PQE-QR_OVmPYfOiL4muLHq3hojheTLnLTwk45JT7GmgVb2MT6sM/s200/228.jpg" width="200" /></a>addition to the lettuce and tomato it also includes pickles, grilled onions and extra spread.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The food is consistent and good. The resturants are easy to find and a treat everytime I go. If you're in California, you definitley have to have something from In N Out!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Side Note...In-N-Out Burger has expanded outside Southern California to the rest of the state, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Texas.</div>Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832407329873983589.post-50859026855285892442011-07-22T09:40:00.000-07:002011-07-22T09:40:25.625-07:00Hollywood Bowl<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6aCMpVrKNgE/TimmFXW1wtI/AAAAAAAAB7M/Snr32BEgWJU/s1600/DSCN3309.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6aCMpVrKNgE/TimmFXW1wtI/AAAAAAAAB7M/Snr32BEgWJU/s200/DSCN3309.JPG" width="200" /></a>I've been to the <a href="http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/">Hollywood Bowl</a> many times. It's one of my favorite places in LA. The Hollywood Bowl season is June - September and is the summer home of the LA Phil. There are concerts and musicals performed there that aren't in association with the LA Phil and are just as fun. It is known for its band shell, a distinctive set of concentric arches that graced the site from 1929 through 2003, before being replaced with a somewhat larger one beginning in the 2004<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yewm5sUh5I8/TimmPxHiG1I/AAAAAAAAB7Q/41ObwtWfUEg/s1600/DSCN3310.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yewm5sUh5I8/TimmPxHiG1I/AAAAAAAAB7Q/41ObwtWfUEg/s200/DSCN3310.JPG" width="200" /></a> season. The shell is set against the backdrop of the Hollywood Hills and the famous Hollywood Sign to the Northeast. The "bowl" refers to the shape of the concave hillside the amphitheater is carved into. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iWvi0azgf0k/Timmaikd06I/AAAAAAAAB7U/IP9QbXz0jkc/s1600/DSCN3314.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iWvi0azgf0k/Timmaikd06I/AAAAAAAAB7U/IP9QbXz0jkc/s200/DSCN3314.JPG" width="200" /></a>The cool thing about the Hollywood Bowl is everyone comes a couple of hours before the concert and has a picnic on the grounds. There is always lots of wine and food, and if you're lucky to make friends you usually get to taste some exciting things. We went last Friday to see Sarah Mclachlan play with the La Phil. We got there earlier than expected because the scare of carmagedon cleared the freeway. We stopped at the gift shop then miraculously found a table to have dinner at. It was amazing that we actually found a table in the picnic area, you usually have to spread a blanket on the grass or ground. I packed a dinner of strawberries, sandwiches, chips, and wine. We were at a big table and it was only two of us so we invited a couple who was walking around looking for a place to sit, to sit with us. They had lots of food and wine and offered to share, plus it made for great conversation. It was incredibly relaxing sitting in the bowl while the sun was going down, drinking wine and talking to good people. That is the beauty of the Hollywood Bowl experience.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pXsEKU0qKcQ/TimmiMvdQbI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/eOcW7RTbe8g/s1600/DSCN3323.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pXsEKU0qKcQ/TimmiMvdQbI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/eOcW7RTbe8g/s200/DSCN3323.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We went to our seats about 20 min. before the concert. Like most concerts it started a little bit late. The Phil did two selections by themselves before bringing Sarah out. I was ecstatic because they did Gershwin's 'I've got Rhythm'. The crowd went a bit crazy when Sarah came out. She sounded amazing with the orchestra. It's the best I've ever heard her. She played all of her favorites along with some new songs. We finished our wine and ate some chocolate while listening to the great music. It was fantastic.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O8sFzTi2Nec/Timmq-mlvpI/AAAAAAAAB7c/HB0AMoVIVJY/s1600/DSCN3325.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O8sFzTi2Nec/Timmq-mlvpI/AAAAAAAAB7c/HB0AMoVIVJY/s200/DSCN3325.JPG" width="200" /></a>I bet you're thinking, this all sounds good, but I'd hate driving to and from the Bowl. This is the 2nd great thing about the shows here. They have shuttles from all over LA that take you to and from the bowl. We take the Lakewood shuttle which is a few miles from our house. For $5 we can relax on the way to the concert and sleep on the way back. We don't have to deal with traffic, or parking, or anything. It's stress free. There really isn't a reason to not see a concert here. My dream concert at the bowl would be the Counting Crows. If they ever play there I will fly back for it :)</div>Oh! The Places You'll Go.....In LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01399446269051264434noreply@blogger.com0