Bar Chloe

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 Bar Chloe 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.

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  I added that I saw it on the menu online to which he responded that menu is old and outdated in a rude tone.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 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.

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!

Third Street Promenade - Santa Monica

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 Third Street Promenade. 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.

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. 

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.  

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!

Santa Monica Pier

The Santa Monica Pier has to be up there on the list of most photographed places in LA.  I've been before but this time I went with one intention - to ride the Pacific Ferris Wheel.  The pier is picturesque.  On the water, it has a great beach vibe, an aquarium, and an amusement park all in one place.  It is a landmark that cannot be duplicated.

 The pier originally opened in September 1909.  The first roller coaster, The Blue Streak Racer was put in in 1916.  The pier flourished through the decades with rides being replaced or updated or even shut down.  Attractions were added and it quickly became a destination spot for tourist and locals alike. In 1983 a pair of storms wiped out nearly 1/3 of the pier however the people of the community came together, raised money, and it was rebuilt by 1990.  In 1996 the last major addition was added to the pier, the Pacific Park which brought back the full scale amusement park with coasters and an old fashion carousel.

 

Ideally I wanted to ride the Ferris wheel while the sun was going down but because of other constraints ended up there at night. We got to the pier around 8ish and it was quite dark.  It was a breezy weeknight so it wasn't as crowded as I  expected however there were a lot of tweens running around. We bought our tickets to the Ferris Wheel which were $5 each.  There was a short line but they take your picture while you wait (to of course sell you later).  The ride was about 5 min but it stopped frequently to let  people get on and off.  The view at the top was still amazing even though it was dark.  After our ride we went to the arcade and played a couple of games of skeeball before taking off.

The pier would be a great 1st or 2nd date activity. There are street vendors and lots of concessions and restaurants.  If you go in the winter check the calendar for time for the rides because the hours are limited.

Father's Office Burger - Best Burger in LA???

I have seen countless lists and articles that have the Father's Office Burger as one of the best, if not THE best burger in LA.  With a claim like that I needed to check it out and evaluate it for myself.  First, let me say that burgers are one of my favorite foods, hands down.  My heart belongs to the best burger I've ever tasted -- The Sobelman's Burger in my hometown of Milwaukee, WI.  This burger has bacon, grilled onions, 3 types of cheese, and jalapenos all on an amazing bun.  So needless to say, the Father's Office burger had a lot to live up to.  I usually scope out the website before I visit the establishment and I must say, the FO website left much to the imagination.  It is vague, there isn't a menu, and it's hard to tell that its a restaurant, much less a restaurant with the best burger in LA.  The absence of a menu adds to the mystique.  So, there was a lot of anticipation leading up to this visit.  There are two locations in SoCal; one in Santa Monica and one in LA.  We went to the Santa Monica location because we were already in the area and it is the original restaurant.  We found rockstar parking right across the street at free meters (it was after 6 or 7) which was awesome.  We walked in and there was a guy at the door that informed us that seating was first come first serve and all ordering is done at the bar.  There aren't waiters and the restaurant itself is pretty small.  So we made our way to the bar and found a couple seats.  We ordered a Belgium beer from there externsive and ever changing beer list but that's not what we were there for.  We each ordered a Fathers Burger done medium with a side of fries and sipped our beer while anxiuosly awaiting what was to be a delicious treat.

Once the burgers came I immediately was excited but a bit perplexed.  The burger looked curiously healthy loaded with fresh arugula and the bun was what looked like a kaiser roll instead of the usual round bun.  The sandwich is actually dry aged beef that sits upon a French bun, topped with caramelized onions, applewood bacon compote, gruyere, maytag blue cheese and arugula.  The first bite was....delicious.  But in a different way.  I usually like burgers because of their greasy toppings that add flavor but this burger had all of its flavor in the meat.  The onions and bacon compote didn't hurt but the meat was flavorful, juicy, and cooked to perfection.  It is definitely a mouth full in a good way.  It was so big, along with the side of fries that I shared, that I could not finish my whole burger leaving a few bites on the plate.

Besides the burger, the atmosphere was enjoyable and the beers were unique and fresh.  The bartenders engaged in snobbish beer banter with me and I loved it.  One was particularly knowledgeable about micro breweries all over the country including one of my faves New Glarus in Wisconsin so he of course won me over.

I'm not sure I would classify this as the best burger in Los Angeles (Umami anyone?) but it was a good sandwich at a great price ($12).  The burger had character, charisma, and loads of flavor. I'm going to put it in my top 5 in the city and check some more places out.  If you're in the Santa Monica area 1018 Montana Avenue Santa Monica, or Los Angeles area 3229 Helms Avenue Los Angeles, CA I wouldn't miss this place. Check the website for hours.