Joshua Tree Rock Climbing

This might be sad but I didn't know what an actual Joshua Tree was until I went and visited the Joshua Tree National Park.  I knew of the park, but didn't know what the actual tree looked like. The park is named for the Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) which is native to the land. It is a tall-growing variety of the yucca genus that grows prevalently within its boundaries. The name Joshua Tree was reportedly given by a band of Mormons who crossed the Mojave Desert in the mid-19th century, the tree's unique shape reminding them of a Biblical story in which Joshua reaches his hands up to the sky.

The national park encompasses nearly 800,000 acres (an area slightly larger than the state of Rhode Island) of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts, conserving two separate desert ecosystems at different altitudes. The profile of the Joshua Tree National Park (then a National Monument) was raised significantly in 1987 with the release of the best-selling U2 album The Joshua Tree, the cover of which featured evocative black-and-white photography of the Park's landscape and distinctive trees.  The area enclosed by the park was declared a National Monument in 1936, a Biosphere Reserve in 1984 and finally a National Park in 1994.

The park is popular with rock climbers and was originally a winter practice area while Yosemite Valley and other parts of the Sierra Nevada were snowbound, but later became an area of interest in its own right. There are thousands of named climbing routes, at all levels of difficulty. The routes are typically short, the rocks being rarely more than 230 ft (70 m) in height, but access is usually a short, easy walk through the desert, and it is possible to do a number of interesting climbs in a single day. The rocks are all composed of quarts monzonite, a very rough type of granite made even more so as there is no snow or ice to polish it as in places like Yosemite.

We were there for rock climbing through a nifty groupon deal!  We originally wanted to go the night before and camp but I couldn't muster the energy on that Saturday to get out there (due to a festive evening), so we woke up early Sunday morning to make the drive from Long Beach.  It took around 3 hours and we had to meet our guide at 9am.  When we booked our excursion we were warned many times by the guide company that Joshua Tree would be fairly warm that time of year (1st weekend in June) and they didn't advise climbing there that time of year (they preferred Mammoth), however we were set on seeing JT.  We arrived and met our guide at 9 and he was excited to show us round.  The groupon is such a good deal because it was just the two of us and the guide so were got his full attention.  Our guide was a little bit older and informed us that he has been climbing for over 30 years which made us feel fairly safe.  We geared up and set up base camp on a ledge not too far above ground.  He gave us the safety talk, went and anchored the rope and we were on our way!  We did a preliminary climb then he started reviewing techniques with us.  After, we used some of the techniques to tackle a harder climb.  The guide was very helpful in giving hints for holds or how to maneuver the mountain.  We could tell he'd done this path many many times.  In total we climbed 5 paths each. My knees got a big scraped up but I got to the top of each of them.  After the 5th, I was tired, in a bit of pain, and done for the day.  It actually took us the whole 4 hours, and it was getting a bit warmer.

It's easy to get a passion for climbing.  It's incredibly liberating and empowering.  Not to mention the amazing workout you get while doing it.  Having a place like Joshua Tree so close is a gift for climbers.  If you get the chance, try rock climbing while in SoCal, its an experience like none other.

Last Remaining Seats

Have you ever wanted to go into one of those old theaters in downtown LA?  The Orpheum, The Palace, The Million Dollar Theater, and The Los Angeles Theater.  The LA Conservancy shows a movie in each of these theaters once a year in their Last Remaining Seats series. The Conservancy, which is run by volunteers, created this event in 1987 as a way to draw attention to the historic movie palaces of downtown Los Angeles, many of which were underused and in need of restoration.  Now in its 25th year it has become their signature event, drawing over 10,000 people a year from around the country and the world.

Many of the theaters began as vaudeville stages, where lives acts like the Marx Brothers and Sophie Tucker entertained wealthy families.  As film progressed and grew in popularity they were transformed into movie theaters. Behind their deceptively simple exteriors, these movie theaters from Hollywood's golden age are breathtakingly lavish temples.

We went to the bonus showing this past Sunday.  The shows are usually on Wednesday however they had a Sunday showing to mark the 100th anniversary of The Palace Theater.  The Palace was built in 1911 as part of the Orpheum chain and is now the oldest remaining Orpheum theater.  It seats 1,167 and is a replica of a Renaissance Florentine Palace but is reduced in size. They were showing a fan favorite, the 1950's film Sunset Boulevard.  The show was so popular they had to add two additional shows to their original one.  We got tickets to the last show added which was at 10am on Sunday morning.  Early!  We went arrived at the theater at 9:00 to find a line already formed half way down the block.  We stood in line anxiously waiting for the doors to open while the line quadrupled in size.  The doors were supposed to open at 9:30 however they were having technical difficulties so it was delayed 15 minutes.  We were allowed to enter and it was a rush to find good seats.  There was a short program before the movie started on the history of the theater which was entertaining.  Once the movie started the everyone was silent and enjoyed the show.  The picture was great, as it was a newly refinished copy.

Overall this is a great event.  Tickets are $20 each but the sale of them is tricky.  Members of the conservancy get a first shot at ticket sales about a month before everyone else.  The good shows usually sell out.  After that, the general public has a chance to buy tickets.  The good thing is, like any movie, seats are for the most part first come first serve, but you definitely need to plan ahead if you want to attend a show.  The last show of the series is tonight at The Orpheum.  If you're interested in this event look for tickets on the website in the spring.

Taco Tuesday - The Fish Taco

I'm sure Taco Tuesday is a national thing.  I am also sure there are fish tacos everywhere.  But I don't think its as regular an event and as popular as in Southern California.  There are countless places that have taco specials on Tuesday, the trick is to find a place that is consistently good and a deal!  I've found that place....Hole Mole in Long Beach.  A friend introduced me to this place a little over a year ago.  I had no idea they had such an amazing array of taco's all day long for just $1.  They have carne, carnitas, pork, chicken, etc.  However they are best known for their ensanada style fish taco which is also only $1 on Tuesdays. 

I get 2 fish tacos and 1 carne taco, some chips, then load up on salsa.  It's best if you eat there but I usually take it home.  You can also add beans and rice for just .99.  It's a deal and it's great food.  Plus it gives you something to look for at the beginning of the week.  SO, tomorrow is Tuesday, my advice, go to your local taco eatery (if that happens to be Hole Mole that's even better) and grab some tacos.  If you've never had a fish taco you'll hopefully be surprised!!!

As a side note, they also sell the same tacos every night for $1 after 9.  In case you can't make it on Tuesday :)

Angles Baseball Game

I know I've already done a post on a Dodgers Game but I'm also posting about an Angels game because it's an incredibly different experience.  You have to visit both stadiums, if for nothing else, just to compare and contrast the experiences.  LA vs. OC.  Angel's fans vs Dodgers fans.  They couldn't be farther apart.

We went to a Monday night game which is much quieter than any other night.  We sat along the 3rd base line and hoped for some foul balls.  Angels stadium is really tight on security.  The crowd is much less rowdy (than Dodgers), and it's more of a family atmosphere.  My favorite thing about the stadium is they have just about any kind of beer you can imagine.  I opted for a Blue Moon, but no matter what you want, one of the stands will have it.

The food, like many other places is expensive, and nothing else is too out of the ordinary.  Just a great place to take the family and see a ball game.  You can always find cheap last minute seats if need be!

Grand Central Market

If you're downtown and hungry, the Grand Central Market is the place to be.  It reminds me of a mall food court, just with a much better selection.

This market has been in existence since 1917.  Then Angelenos rode the Angels Flight Railway for a penny down to the best open-air shopping in town. It is located in the ground floor of the stately Homer Laughlin Building, which once housed an office for American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and forms the centerpiece of L.A.'s Historic Core District. It is Los Angeles's oldest and largest open-air market. Over 38 merchants offer their finest selections of produce, delicacies, and unique specialty items from around the globe.

We went during the week at lunch time and it was quite crowded.  There are a lot of options for lunch but the place that was the most crowded by far was a Mexican eatery called Tacos Tumbras A Tomas.  I had to wait in the crowd for about 5 minutes before I could work my way up to the counter to order.  They had 6 pans of different types of meat behind the corner that were ready for any kind of burrito, taco, quesadilla, or whatever else you want.  I stuck with the simple carne asada burrito with everything on it.  It was pretty big for the price ($5.50), and it only took a minute or so for him to make. 

Once we got the burrito we sat down and split it in 3 parts to eat.  It was slightly hard to find a clean place to eat.  If I make another trip, I'll probably take the food to go.  The burrito was amazing.  The meat was flavorful and wasn't too fatty.  It was perfect for a snack (because we split it) but would have been more than enough for a meal. 

We walked around the market after we ate.  They have butchers, spice shops, and produce.  Food wise, just about anything you could want (except dairy.)  I would stick to getting fast meals that are good and fairly inexpensive.  Definitely a great lunch stop!

Shatto Lanes Bowling

I haven't been bowling in years. It's a pretty big past time back home in Milwaukee but I never really got into it. Shatto Lanes is a bowling alley in downtown LA near Koreatown that's pretty cool and cheap.  I had to check it out!

We went during the day on a week day and the alley was virtually empty.  There may have been one other group bowling.  It was $3.50 per person per game and $3.00 to rent shoes, a deal!  We picked out our balls and started our game. They were blasting Power 106 which was a great soundtrack for the atmosphere.  I've never been very good at bowling so I had a few gutter balls.  The game went fairly quickly.  Grete won, Liz came in 2nd, and I was last with a dismal score.  We decided to play another game since it went by so quickly. The 2nd game was more my pace and I actually won, but still with a pretty bad score.

The bowling alley is pretty old school.  Nothing fancy, but that's what makes is so enjoyable.  They have a bar that didn't open until 6 but their drinks are pretty cheap.

$4.00 cocktails!  We'll have to go back in the evening :)

Grilled Cheese Food Truck

I first saw the Grilled Cheese Food Truck at the LA Art Walk (see previous post).  The truck parked and a line formed within seconds.  Before I knew what was going on the line was an hour long.  I of course was not going to stand in the line after a long day.  But I was intrigued.  Since then I've been on a quest to get to the food truck in a timely manner.  So I started tracking the food truck online.  They put out a weekly schedule of where the trucks will be (they have 2 at least) and I waited until the truck came somewhat close to Long Beach.  Last week it did!  I saw early in the week that it would be at the San Pedro Art Walk and I made plans to be there when it opened.

A few friends were interested so we all went down to San Pedro.  We got there at 6pm when the food truck was supposed to open.  When we got to the line there was already ~30 people ahead of us.  I was not surprised.  They weren't even open yet.  While waiting in line someone from a local bakery came by to give us danish samples which were yummy.  We got menu's and contemplated what we would get even though I had been planning my order for days.

When they opened it took about 30 minutes to get to the ordering window. They have an ordering menu and a pick up menu.  I ordered my sandwiches and waited to be called.  I ordered a custom sandwich which was a sharp cheddar grilled cheese with turkey and caramelized onions.  Grete ordered the Cheesy Mac and Rib which has macaroni and cheese with sharp cheddar, with bbq pork and caramelized onions.  I also ordered tater tots and a grilled cheese to go for a friend. The total order was only $21. Our friends ordered other sandwiches including the Veggie Melt, the Pepperbelly Melt, and the daily special.  It took about an additional 10 min to get our sandwiches then it was time to find a spot to chow down.  We picked the curb right in front of the truck and began to indulge.

My sandwich was incredibly cheesy, which I loved.  Being from Wisconsin, I can't get enough cheese.  It was a little unmanageable because of all the ingredients but well worth the wait.  My sandwich in particular is something that shouldn't be eaten everyday (otherwise you might have a heart attack.)  It was rich and incredibly good. Other sandwiches weren't as rich but equally good! The tater tots only made the meal that much better.  All in all, the food off of this truck is spectacular.

Anywhere the truck is, there will be a crowd.  I suggest looking online at their schedule to see where they will be and get there early.  Otherwise if you see the truck and want a sandwich be prepared to wait!  The wait will be well worth it.  And you will be able to say you've had a meal from the famous Grilled Cheese Food Truck.