El Carmen - Tequila Bar

In honor of Cinco de Mayo yesterday we went to El Carmen, a tequila bar in LA.  We went fairly early in the afternoon, around 4 so the party had not gotten started yet; there were only a few people at the bar.  When we walked in it felt like walking into a bar in Mexico.  It was dark inside the only light that came in was light from the open door or the ceiling skylight -- just enough to set the mood.  The decor was festive.  What was especially impressive was the Mexican wrestling masks and posters that lined the ceiling and walls.  The bar does a great job of getting you in the mood to drink some tequila.

So on to the tequila...overwhelmed doesn't even begin to describe how I felt when I opened the menu. It is massive. There are over 270 different kinds of tequilas for one to try.  They even have flights of tequila (like flights of wine) that start at just $25.  What a steal.  Since I was driving and we had other places to go we would only be getting one drink.  I got a shot of pineapple infused tequila on the rocks ($8) and gret gret got fresh cactus margarita on the rocks ($9).  I for one don't usually sip tequila so this was truly an experience.  The pineapple was faint and it was hard to drink especially because I love love love the taste of margaritas there was one right across from me.  It was interesting but I don't know if I'd get another shot as a drink.  The Fresh Cactus margarita on the other hand looked and tasted amazing.  It was bright magenta and had a fresh taste that was incredibly hydrating (that may be the best and worst part about margaritas).  I don't usually like fruity margaritas but this drink was great.  Needless to say Grete was feeling pretty good after having her drink and finishing half of mine :) 

Unfortunately we could only stay for one drink but the bartenders were so nice that we may just have to go back.  They also have food which I've heard is amazing.  If you're looking to get schooled on tequila's I'd make the trip to El Carmen.  If you do, take a DD or get a cab home.  It will be hard to just stay for one!

Aquarium of the Pacific

When you're so close to the ocean its kind of a necessity to learn about the animals and the ecosystem in it.  After all, we all love to go to the beach, we love clean water, and some even like eating fish.  The Aquarium of the Pacific is the perfect place to spend a day, have some fun, and get educated about marine life. It is located in Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach and has a lot of friendly people eager to tell you about the ocean and its inhabitants.

AOP has over 11,000 animals representing 500 species. It focuses on the Pacific Ocean which of course makes sense because we're so close to it.  There are 19 major habitats and 32 focus exhibits.  The three major galleries are Baja California, Northern Pacific, and Tropical Reefs. Popular exhibits at the Aquarium also include the Aquarium's interactive Shark Lagoon where guests can pet sharks and sting rays and Lorikeet Forest where guests can feed nectar to colorful lorikeet birds.

The unique aspect about the aquarium is it's staff.  There are over 900 people on staff including 300 paid employees and over 600 volunteers.  I recently became on of the 600 volunteers so my experience is a bit different from just visiting for fun.  I volunteer once a week for 4 hours and on my first day had the opportunity to see the aquarium from a patrons point of view.  There is so much to do and see.  I started by going to one of the many live shows that occur daily.  I watched one of the volunteer scuba divers speak to the crowd while in the tank with the animals.  I then went to the Sea Otter exhibit to see Maggie the youngest otter that is super fun to watch.  Next I saw the 4D movie Turtle Vision in the theater which follows a couple sea turtles (my fav).  I finally made my way outside to Shark Lagoon to pet the sharks and sting rays.  Then lastly went to the Lorikeet Forest and fed the lorikeets which was weird because they land on your arm while they eat out of the little cup you hold.  There was so much more to do and see but I was done for the day and quite tired.

A few tips; the aquarium is open from 9-6 daily but to avoid the crowds and the kids I would go around 1 and stay till close during the week if you can.  Most of the school groups leave at 1 so you're not dodging rowdy kids.  Otherwise go on a weekend, perhaps the kids are less rambunctious when with their parents.  It can be a bit pricey at $24.95 per adult but there are a lot of discounts that can be found and as simple as buying your ticket online and saving $4.  You can also participate in their Seafood for the Future promotion by eating a seafood dish at one of the participating restaurants and getting a free ticket.  There are additional discounts and promotions, just check out the website. The website has a host of info and is vital to look at before you visit so you can get the most out of your day and your money.  I'm not going into how focused the aquarium is on conservation education so you can also look of their to find out about their mission and how to get involved if so inclined.  Otherwise, just visit and have a good time.  If you want to see me there come on Wednesday mornings :)

Point Dume Hike

This is almost a continuation of the previous post however I decided to separate them because it's easy to do one without the other.  Point Dume sits on top of Zuma/Westward Beach and overlooks the beach and ocean.  It's a beautiful short hike, 4 miles round trip. It becomes especially popular during whale watching season (mid-December through March), when hikers ascend to the lookout at the top of Point Dume to get a chance to spot a migrating California gray whale.

We went on a bright and sunny April day.  We parked on the street in the free parking and walked up to the trail head.  Once at the trail head there was a distinct path that led up to the lookout point.  Along the trail there were various plants including a community of sea fig and sage, coreopsis and prickly pear cactus. It took about 15 minutes to get to the top however it is not an amazing view spot.  We took some pics on top of the official Point Dume sign.  At the top of Point Dume you can look down into Pirate's Cove which is two hundred yards of beach tucked away between two rocky outcroppings (see the previous post to actually get to Pirates Cove). Since there was more path left (I think we came up the wrong side) we kept trekking.  Walking a little further we came upon another lookout point with benches then found the path that led down to the beach.  We ventured off of this path to get to the cliff lookout point.  I must warn, this isn't part of the park path and I don't think its really allowed to veer off course but the view was spectacular and worth it.

As we stood atop the rocky triangle projecting into the Pacific, we could clearly see the dense black Zuma volcanics and much softer white sedimentary beds of the sea cliffs extending both ways.  After we enjoyed the fantastic views we went back to the main trail and descended the stairs to the beach.

You can start either at the top of the path or from the beach parking and walk up.  I do recommend if you do Point Dume, go out to the beach as well and play in the sand!

Zuma and Westward Beach in Malibu

There are tons of beaches in Southern California.  I live across the street from the beach.  But the best beach by far in this area is Zuma Beach and Westward Beach in Malibu. I include them both because one leads into the other.  They have lots of clean sand, great waves for surfing, and ranks among the healthiest beaches for clean water conditions in LA County so I don't think twice about getting in! Zuma is huge, great for kids and big parties.  Has lots of facilities and is easy to get to.  Westward is small but more exclusive.  You have to climb rocks to get to its most coveted point but the view is breathtaking.  Below summarizes my trip and cool facts about the beaches.

We went on a Monday during the day so the beach was fairly empty and it was a beautiful day!  We walked along the sand and admired the incredibly clean water.  Zuma Beach has been a popular filming location. It was a frequently used site for the television series Baywatch as well as numerous films, television episodes, and advertisements. The beach is referenced in the 1978 TV-movie Zuma Beach starring Suzanne Summers.  Westward Beach has been used for innumerable films, television shows, and advertisements for decades. Planet of the Apes's famous final scene was filmed near here (on the cliff face of Point Dume). Countless advertisements, both film and print, that require beach scenes are shots of Westward Beach.

 

It was low tide so we were able to climb the rocks over to Westward Beach and Pirate's Cove which was the real treat.  Westward is geographically situated on Malibu's westernmost promontory known as Point Dume. This beach is small and seemingly private as it is harder to get to.  We were the only ones in the area so we had the whole beach to ourselves.  Westward Beach is marked by a shorter sand shelf than Zuma, a veritable pipeline, making the waves of less duration and higher impact. Westward Beach is recommended for strong swimmers, as the wave action compared to Zuma Beach is stronger, can push down on swimmers, and delivers more of a "crunch." Zuma Beach hosts several premier surfing events each year.

Zuma/Westward Beach can be accessed directly from PCH, and lies between the major access corridors Las Virgenes/Malibu Canyon Road and Kanan-Dume Road to the south, and Las Posas Road to the north. Parking is available on the road as well as a fee parking lot. We parked on the street and saved $7.  If you're looking for the quintessential beach experience I would venture to one of theses!

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.

Copa D' Oro

Two words: Amazing Cocktails

Copa D' Oro is pretty awesome. It is a bar and cocktail lounge in Santa Monica minutes from the ocean.  Walking in was like walking into the 20's or 30's.  It wasn't over done with early decor; it was modern but classic! 

The cocktail menu was definitely reminiscent of that time though.  We went on a Monday when happy hour is all evening.  The market menu has cocktails that are just $5.  Originally we went for just 1 cocktail each but got sucked in to having a 2nd round because we were intrigued, the mood was awesome, and the drinks were gooood.  I started with a Buck Fizz which was created at the Buck's Club in London in the 1920's. It has Gin, Champagne, Fresh Orange Juice, and Cherry Brandy.  It was good and you couldn't taste the gin at all.  Grete had a Moscow Mule which has Vodka, fresh lime juice, homemade ginger beer.  This drink was invented in 1941 at the Cock 'n Bull Restaurant in Hollywood, CA.  What really makes the drinks is that they are homemade at the bar using fresh, local, organic ingredients from the Santa Monica Farmers Market.  The menu changes seasonally which adds a little more excitement.

On our 2nd round we both decided to go with something with a little more punch.  I had the Clover Club which originated at the Bellevue-Stratford in Philadelphia around 1931.  This drink has Gin, homemade raspberry syrup, fresh lemon juice, pasteurized egg white.  It was really good except for the pasteurized egg white on top.  Every time I drank it I had to hold my breath because it reminded me of smelling raw chicken.  No Good.  Grete had the Affinity which a classic cocktail from the 19th century that has Scotch, Extra Dry Vermouth, Sweet Vermouth, Orange Bitters.  Talk about strong, this drink was like drinking straight scotch but it had a lot of character and didn't smell like raw chicken so I was on board.


We didn't have any apps but there is a small food menu.  Happy hour is all day Monday and Tue-Sat from 5:30 -8.  This is a great bar to go to for drinks before hanging out in Santa Monica and at $5 a drink, its a great deal.


Check them out at:
217 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401
t. 310.576.3030  

The Getty Villa

The Getty Villa in Malibu is one of two museums open to the public from the J. Paul Getty foundation.  Getty first opened up his Malibu home as a museum to show his large collection of antiquities in 1954.  After the collection became too large for his home he built the villa in 1968 on the estate to house all of it. The Villa was modeled after the Villa dei Papiri, a Roman country house buried by the eruption of Mouth Vesuvius.  Many of the Getty Villa's architectural details are based on elements drawn from other ancient Roman homes in the towns of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae. The Villa opened in 1974 and the collection of art inside is dedicated to the study of the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria including antiquities arranged by themes including Gods and Goddesses, Dionysos and the Theater, and Stories of the Trojan War and Roman-inspired architecture and gardens.



We arrived a couple of hours before they closed so we only had a limited time to explore.  We started with the Garden tour which explores the 4 garders in the villa and puts them in context of the time period of the AD 79 (when the original Villas was destroyed).  The Inner Peristyle garden is an intimate resting spot at the center of the Museum.  Around a narrow reflecting pool sit replicas of finds from the Villa dei Papiri in Herculaneum, including square marble basins and bronze statues depicting women who have come to draw water from a stream. Outside the Museum entrance is the Herb Garden, which includes fruit trees and fragrant and colorful annuals and perennials used by the ancient Romans in cooking, ceremony, and medicine.


The Museum's south doors open onto the Outer Peristyle, the largest garden at the Getty Villa. It has hedge-lined pathways and circular stone benches. Plants favored by the ancient Romans, such as bay laurel, boxwood, myrtle, ivy, and oleander, are planted around a spectacular 220-foot-long reflecting pool. Bronze sculptures, replicas of statues found at the Villa dei Papiri, are placed in their ancient findspots. A peristyle, or covered walkway, surrounds the formal garden and leads visitors past illusionistic wall paintings to spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.  Beyond the East stair in the Museum lies the East Garden, one of the most tranquil spaces at the Villa. This walled sanctuary is shaded by sycamore and laurel tree.

After the garden tour we watched a short video on the history of the museum then looked at some of the exhibits on the upper level of the villa.  Unfortunately we ran out of time and didn't get to see as much as we wanted which means we will just have to take another trip.

Definitely leave a lot of time for this museum. It is open Wed- Mon 10am - 5pm.  There's a lot to see including tours and movies.  The best thing about this museum is it's totally free you just have to reserve the tickets in advance.  Parking is $15 for the car load. After visiting this museum I'm super excited to go to the Getty Center.