RESTAURANT REVIEW: Marmalade Cafe

I just left Marmalade Cafe in Malibu. I still have a sour taste in my mouth...and it's not just from the mis-ordered cobb salad.

Marmalade Cafe located in the Malibu Country Mart was filled with loud screaming babies, clearly a family restaurant, but that didn't stop us from entering and ordering.

We were miraculously seated instantly, but other than that the service was pretty poor. I ordered a chopped salad, which sounded tasty based on the menu description. We got our food, a long while after, and my salad looked confused.

I started eating it...and blegh. When I finally got the waiter to come to our table, it was already time for us to leave, and I asked if this was a chopped salad. He said "that's a cobb salad". I told him I'd ordered the chopped, and he said "Oh, I thought you wanted the cobb salad...chopped". It was a pretty weird encounter.

Needless to say, I was disappointed in the service and the food. I can't NOT recommend the restaurant, because maybe if I'd gotten the food I'd ordered, I would have enjoyed myself. But I can say the ambiance was far from pleasant, unless you like constant reverberating noise, as you try to eat and talk to your dinnermates. The only redeeming quality for me, was the paper kids menu avec crayons, which gave me the opportunity to color, play tic tac toe with my friend, and distract me from the surrounding chaos and poor service.

Thumbs down, Marmalade Cafe. Thumbs down.

If you want to try your luck, you can learn more about Marmalade Cafe here: http://www.marmaladecafe.com/

13. Los Liones Canyon

Los Liones is a some-what hidden street that becomes a trail, also in the Santa Monica Mountains along the border of Pacific Palisades and Malibu.

We drove up the winding street, into the hills, and parked. We walked up and found a quaint spot underneath a tree to have a painting/picnic day. We hooked up a hammock onto the tree, laid out a blanket, and were inspired by the stunning view of the ocean.

This is a magical spot to spend the afternoon. I'm not sure how the hike is, but many people were walking up and down the hills behind us.

The one downside of sitting in this one spot for the afternoon was the copious amount of large ants that kept trying to steal our picnic! But other than that, I'd recommend :)

Learn more about Los Liones on Yelp Here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/los-liones-canyon-los-angeles

12. Solstice Canyon

After learning of my recent Vitamin D deficiency, I realize more than ever, why being outside is almost a craving for me. Spending the week indoors (in buildings without windows!), I long for the great outdoors on weekends. I've been on the prowl for the best hiking spots or most scenic areas around LA.

Last weekend, I went on a hike in Solstice Canyon - another spot in Malibu. Solstice Canyon consists of a hike throughout the Santa Monica mountains. The hike leads to ruins of an old home - the remnants or remains still standing from one of the big fires.

After hiking up the Solstice Canyon trail (not too difficult, but long), we landed upon the ruins. It was pretty interesting. There were old stoves, fireplaces, a bathtub, and we could even tell where the pool used to be.

Just beyond the "house", was a small, but lovely waterfall, which lead into a babbling creak. We climbed up some of the rocks, which was a bit more challenging, to get to a higher vantage point. The hike was certainly beautiful, but not the most scenic, I've seen. Along the way we saw one snake, several lizards, and birds.

After sitting on a large rock that rested in the middle of the creak, we took the Rising Sun trail back towards the parking lot. This trail was much harder. It was mostly uphill and facing the sun (I guess that's where the name comes from). It was very beautiful. We were very high up and could see great views of the ocean, the mountains, some of the very expensive and expansive homes that sit atop the hills, the sun setting, etc. Quite luxurious for my peepers.

When we finally got to the car, I was so relieved. My feet were killing me from my old sneakers, and I was out of breath from the majority of the Rising Sun Trail. For about three days after, I was sore. Which to me - means that was a successful hike. Interesting and beautiful sights, and a work out.

Recommend!

Learn more about the Solstice Canyon here: http://www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/solsticecanyon.htm

11. El Cid Short Film Night

I used to live a block away from El Cid Restaurant and Bar, but for some reason I never went. I had seen advertisements for a Short Film Night there, and thought that might be a fun event to go to. Every evening is different at El Cid: there are open mic nights, band performances, sketch comedy/stand up, and short film night.

I arrived at 7:30 PM and staked out a table. I thought this night might prove fruitful for networking, but most people kept to themselves and their group of friends. So I wouldn't recommend the evening for that.

The show started at around 9 PM. 7 short films were projected on a screen at the front, over the stage. The venue is organized with long tables, high wooden chairs, and booths. The decour almost looks like England from the Elizabethan era, but the food is Spanish (Tapas). I ordered the calamari, and it wasn't too die for. It was a bit too chewy and not crisp enough.

The film program was okay. Each filmmaker spoke before their short played, and their gaggle of friends screamed with support. I enjoyed about three of the seven films, the other four were entertaining, but for lack of better words, just not that good. The ones that I didn't like were dramatic shorts. This venue is great for comedy, because most of the "audience" is drunk and chatty. When the dramas hit, it was a big buzz kill and kind of awkward.

Overall, I had a good time. I saw some short movies, hung with some people, had some laughs, and did something different with my night. I'd recommend the evening for the sake of doing something out of the ordinary and possibly seeing some funny shorts. If you're a filmmaker, this might be a good way to see how your comedy short is received (where people laugh or don't laugh, etc.), but it's not suitable for networking or meeting people. It's mostly just a place where people can show their friends what they've been working on in a cool venue, which is still pretty fun.

You can learn about El Cid Short Film Night here: https://www.facebook.com/elcidshortfilmnight

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Lil Piggy's Barb-B-Q in Coronado

If you take the trip to Coronado, only a 2 hour drive away (highly recommend), you will land on a quaint island city with many sweet homes, boutique shops, and fun restaurant/bars.

When we arrived at Coronado for 4th of July festivities, we went to a few bars, and the small (kind of lame) fair they held in a park, but we ate our main meal at Lil Piggy's BBQ, since we were cravin' some rul American food (said in Southern accent).

Lil Piggy's BBQ had quick service, and a classic USA picnic vibe. Wooden tables, checkered cloths, and only bbq food. I got side orders of corn on the cob, mac and cheese, and a hot dog (off the kid's menu). It was all pretty tasty. The cheese on the macncheese had a kind of strange consistency, but it was still good.

If you are looking for a simple, all American lunch spot, when visiting Coronado, I'd recommend Lil Piggy's :)

Learn more about the restaurant here: http://www.nadolife.com/lilpiggys/

10. Big Bay Boom - Firework Display in Port of San Diego

Big Bay Boom. Ha. That's a pretty ironic title for the name of the firework display that goes off every year in the San Diego Bay.

The Big Bay Boom takes place in the port of San Diego on the 4th of July. It's allegedly one of the largest displays in the United States, garnering over 500,000 viewers. Four barges located in the bay are set to let off fireworks at the same time, revealing an amazing eyegasmic display over the water. Well...this year's show is becoming known as the Big Bay Blunder.

We arrived at the port at 8:30 PM. We sat on a floating public dock in the middle of the bay. Many people had been waiting all day, trying to claim the best spot to see the show. At 8:55 a huge boom did go off across the bay. It looked like a finale. It was amazing, like nothing I'd ever seen before. Pretty much the way I'd imagine an explosion to look. It lasted about 20 seconds. I thought we were in for a huge treat, if that was the beginning of the show. But then, we waited...for 30 minutes, and there were no more fireworks.

We heard mutterings that the show was cancelled. But how could a firework show be cancelled on the fourth of July? The hoards of people started to diminish. We got up too, it was cold. I asked a police officer what happened. Apparently, a technical difficulty had shot off all the fireworks at once, causing a 20-30 minute show to erupt in 20-30 seconds. It was disappointing, but kind of cool. I just couldn't believe what a huge mistake that was.

When we got back to LA (NOTE: San Diego is a great day or weekend trip - only about a 2 hour drive away), we saw that someone's mistake was all over the internet. You can even read about it on the Big Bay Boom's official website.

If I don't have other plans for next year, I would like to try to see this show again. It had the potential to be an amazing show - fireworks over water, in various places, etc. And hopefully, they'll try to make it up to all the people that traveled far and wide (we met people that came down from Arizona, and heard people traversed from different countries, as well!), and have a spectacular show. I can't necessarily recommend it though, since we saw a blunder and not a bang.

Learn more about the show here: http://www.bigbayboom.com/

MOVIE REVIEW: Beasts of the Southern Wild

Excuse me while I dry my red, puffy eyes. I've been crying for an hour and 31 minutes. That's the running time for Beasts of the Southern Wild, a fantastical yet gritty drama about a little girl who lives in "the bathtub," an area in New Orleans that wavers on becoming fully submerged in water due to natural disasters.

Hush Puppy (amazing name) is played by Quvenzhane Wallis whose performance is breathtaking. Her deep-set brown eyes told the emotions for her. She was endearing, vulnerable, and strong all at the same time. I'm not sure if this was a mixture of Benh Zeitlin's directing and her acting, or if it's due to the fact that she is a New Orleans native, and not an actress riddled down by methods and styles of performance. Hushpuppy's father, Wink, played by Dwight Henry, was also impeccably true to life. This is probably because, he has never acted before!

I went to the screening at the Landmark that had a Q+A afterwards, and Dwight spoke of being discovered in his bakery. He rejected the role three times because he needed to provide for his family, through his business, and when he finally conceded, he had to rehearse over baking pastries into the wee hours of the morning. This story sounds like a fairytale, but it happened, and I think the proof is in the pudding (that's a good pun, right there). His performance was so raw and real, not something an actor who was trying could bring to life.

Aside from the emotional, engaging performances, the actual storytelling was daring and captivating. The film was a blend of fantasy/imagination and realism all through the eyes of a little girl in a very precarious living situation. It's a story of longing, and that's something everyone can relate to. Hush Puppy just wants to find her mother, she wants her father to hug her, she wants to be a man (her idea of being strong). I especially loved the attention to detail, particularly in terms of character. My favorite trait was when Hush Puppy would listen to the heart beat of every living thing, she even tries to find the heart beat in a leaf.

There were a few elements of the film that I think needed to be fleshed out a little more. The beast as a character was not as rounded out, as I thought it could have been. The beast was a symbol, but for what exactly? Was the beast a symbol of Hush Puppy's absent mother? Was the beast a symbol of her internal conflict that she had to face head on? Was the beast the external storm or the storm within her? It wasn't clear, and I think it could have been woven throughout the story a little better. The VFX were also a little shoddy, which took me out of the story.

The structure was something I liked and didn't like about this film. I liked it because it was bold. Most movies seems to follow the same formula: Beginning, Middle, Climax, End with Resolution, or some form. Where other films can be graphed with a line, this story to me was like a big scribbled blob of emotion. I liked that it dared to be different, but it also felt like things just happened, and I wasn't sure of anything at the end. Was Hush Puppy going to be okay? What was going to happen next? It wasn't a complete enough ending, for me. But I am happy that a movie that is so well recognized and well received, does not fit "the formula" because it opens more doors for filmmakers and writers.

Overall, I think Beasts of the Southern Wild is a must see. It's emotional, in tune, sensitive, creative, and beautiful. I really loved it. And it inspired me, greatly.

Learn more about Beasts of the Southern Wild here: http://www.beastsofthesouthernwild.com/

9. Go Karting at K1 Speed Anaheim

I think I must be a bad driver. I don't know. When I was little I used to be pretty klutzy. I guess I still am. But when I was seven, I specifically remember knocking into a dresser and spilling a Pure Chocolate Ice Blended from Coffee Bean. I used to get those with my best friend at the time (that was our treat). It was a joke in her family, and whenever I bumped into something or dropped something, her dad would always make fun of me. "Vic! Look what you did!" And there I was, cleaning up my spilled milk (literally) with a wash cloth. I also remember burning pop corn in the microwave at her house, and we tried to air out the kitchen so when her dad came home he wouldn't smell it, but of course he did, and then of course, I was embarassed...AGAIN.

I think I must have poor depth perception mixed with a general incoherence when it comes to math and simple calculations or equations - like how far away something is or how close. You know, basic measurements, like distance. This probably makes me a bad driver. I also think that someone's car is a great indicator or symbol of his/her current state of mind. A clean, washed car says something very different than a dirty car filled with old tupperware containers, water bottles, items from who knows when, etc. Different state of minds. And if someone bangs up their car or gets in an accident...I bet there is something going on upstairs...something maybe not so peaceful?

Anyway,  I went to the pre-party for Vid Con (which I am not including as a culture vulture point because it was part of my job and thus mandatory), we had the opportunity to go kart. My instincts and guts told me "No". Why would I want to race on a track with a bunch of drunk people who want to drive fast and let loose? I just want to drive nice and safe in my lane and not get bumped. This very instinct made me realize I had to do it. Conquer a little fear. Maybe have a little victory.

I bought my ticket for $12.00 and awaited my turn. The go-karting experience here was probably different on this night in comparison to a regular night when a big, loud event isn't happening. They announced your name over a deafening speaker.

When we were called - one of the several guys working there (interesting how the only woman was behind the cash register...hmmm...) tried to explain the rules while shouting over loud music and general hoopla. He described how to use the go-kart (the pedals) and the different flags that would be waved during the course. "The white flag means what??" I could barely hear him. I didn't want to screw up or get hurt. We had to sign a waiver moments before, basically saying we were okay with dying...so I wanted to limit that possibility as much as possible.

After our all too brief safety seminar, we got these sock like things to put over our heads. There was a small hole for our eyes (I wasn't even sure if it was supposed to cover my mouth or not, and I spent a good ten minutes struggling with it, pulling it over my mouth and then trying to squeeze my chin out, just to understand how it was supposed to fit). We then got helmets. Afterwards, we were given numbers assigning us to a specific kart. Since I'm short, I was given a booster seat. Yeah...I felt pre-tt-y cool. He...He...He?

We buckled ourselves in and the race began. I, of course, was passed by pretty much everyone. Some people even passed me twice. I tried to stay on the side of the track so people could pass me easily, but I did get bumped a few times. It was startling, but not scary. While I was driving, I honestly just wanted it to be over. I didn't feel the need for speed, the need to drive recklessly, the need to win. I just didn't want to get hurt.

During some parts of the loop, I tried to set goals for myself: try not to get passed here! Try to speed up here! I was trying to test my bravery. But I just don't think go-karting is my thing. All the while, these men, stationed throughout the course are waving various flags, constantly, and I have no idea what they mean or if they are referring to me.

By the end of the race (yes I came in last of about 15 people), I was glad it was over. Glad I did it, but can't see myself doing it again. It's hard for me to understand people that don't have fear of hurting themselves - maybe they'd done it before and believed it to be safer than I? I don't know. It just wasn't that fun to me. I hate driving. I commute to work, to school, even to see friends. I'm stuck in traffic all day, and then have to circle around for hours to find a parking spot. It seems a little counter intuitive to then go to a race track and drive, again, for fun. But hey, if that's what gets you smiling - then go for it. I'll cheer you on from the side-lines.

K1 Speed is located in Anaheim, a bit far away, but if you're ever in the area or trying to go to Disneyland or somethin', maybe check it out! You can learn more about it here: www.k1speed.com/

MOVIE REVIEW: Magic Mike

Well...I thought I was in for a night of naked dancing men. Unfortunately, my night was less like a bachelorette party and more like...a...kind of lame...night at the movies. Why wasn't there more shirtless dancing?? The trailer for this movie was very misleading, in my opinion. Based on the trailer, I thought this was going to be another Sex and the City type movie - high energy, stupid jokes, fun, loud top 40's music, hot men to oogle at with your girlfriends or gayfriends. This is not typically my scene, but I thought, heck, sounds kind of fun, right?

Well...it wasn't that fun. First of all, the dance scenes were few and far between, and those sequences, in my opinion, were the only redeeming quality of the film. Channing Tatum is a really great dancer. The way he moves his body is definitely sexy and kind of mind boggling. Watching the men dance was fun and embarassing and induced crowd participation. I also liked that men were the sexual objects in this movie, which basically never happens in most blockbusters.

Other than that, boy did I have a lot of problems with this movie. 1) Whose story was this? It starts out with Channing Tatum's character, but then soon enough we meet Alex Pettyfer (hello cutie!). His story, to me, was more captivating than Channing's: a struggling teen trying to earn a living who turns to stripping and gets sucked into a life of partying and drugs. But we follow both of them back and forth, which prevents me from empathizing with either one.

We are also introduced to Channing's love interest, played by Cody Horn. It was just too predictable. We knew she'd reject his stripper life-style, but end up allured by his dance moves and charm, and then fall for him. And this happened, but in an almost too-subtle way. I didn't get who her character was at all. She wasn't straight edge enough, she didn't reject the scene enough. She has tattoos (suggesting a freer spirit?) and goes to the club and takes Channing up on most of his invitations. It was just too easy to seduce her. Also, the interactions between Channing and Cody seemed almost entirely improvised, which made their characters hard to understand. It just seemed like incoherent, inconsequential babble to me.

The story also lacked basic plot structure. Events just sort of unfolded with no guidance or direction, and it ended the same way. I left the movie theatre thinking: what just happened and to whom? And why wasn't there more hot shirtless men dancing!? That's what I was promised!

I was mostly dissappointed, because I think the premise is very interesting, especially since it's based on a true story. I thought the film should have gone strongly in one direction. Either it should have been a fun, light-hearted movie or it should have been a drama about the hardship and turmoil of trying to earn money, find a life-path, etc. But instead it was this weird amalgam of the two, leading me to feel nothing for any of the characters, and feel confused about what I was watching.

I would have liked to know the  real story, and seen clearer character arcs and truer emotions. I don't recommend this movie, although I must say, out of the seven people (men and women) I saw this flick with, I was the only one who disliked it...so...do as you will.

Learn more about Magic Mike here: http://magicmikemovie.warnerbros.com/

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Wood Ranch

Short and Sweet Review:

How bout some o' dat bar-b-que?  Feel like eating with your hands? You can do that at Wood Ranch, located in The Grove. A bunch of us gathered there before seeing Magic Mike (review to come...). Most people got barbeque which they messily ate. I got chicken tenders and pomegranate iced tea. It was tasty and reminded me of childhood. Wash cloths for dirty hands provided. I'd recommend this restaurant for a casual dining experience, though it was very noisy and crowded.

Learn about Wood Ranch here: woodranch.com/ 

8. Martini Jazz Club at House of Blues

The 1940's is my favorite era. Smoke, swank, jazz, blues, red-stained lips, marilyn monroe moles, curled hair, men smoking cigars - their face hidden by a hat and up-turned collar. Ah! So romantic and glamorous.

When I heard about the Martini Jazz Club, I had to attend. It's a 1940's theme jazz night at the House of Blues, every Tuesday night.

I arrived slightly in costume (didn't go all the way, because had come from a long day of work). We did valet parking (which I try not to do), because street spaces are sparse in the Hollywood area. We walked up to the back entrance, and took a moody, red-colored elevator into the small lounge space.

The Martini Jazz night takes place in a small room of the House of Blues located on an upper level. It's very cozy - Persian rugs on the floor, couches, stools, and a small bar. They serve appetizers and specialty drinks. Note: space was limited, and my friend and I had to park it on a small stair-case. Because of this, our view was often blocked by oblivious, dancing, drunk people.

The night comprised mostly of up and coming singers: some had some serious pipes, others were mediocre. Most sang classic jazz and musical songs, while others sang original and current ones. I preferred the older jazz. Each singer performed a repetoire of about 3-6 songs. 3 for the regulars and 6 for the newcomers. The varied nature of the show kept my interest. Most people in the audience were not in costume (sad face), which did make the night less fun, but also more casual and laid back.

The performances were introduced by Ace Michaels, the host/producer of the evening and the event, who seemed to be friends with each performer. He was extremely complimentary and supportive, as was the crowd.

Overall, I had a really fun night. The Chris Glik band, which played with each performer was excellent, the atmosphere was lively, encouraging, and warm, and the singers were passionate.

To learn more about Martini Jazz Night you can go to the yelp page here: http://www.yelp.com/events/west-hollywood-martini-jazz-show-at-house-of-blues-los-angeles

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Blu Jam

I love french toast. I always have. My mom makes great french toast out of challah bread with raisins. French toast is certainly my favorite breakfast food.

My friend and I tend to do brunch. That's our thing. We usually go to BLD, which is an amazing brunch place on Beverly. http://bldrestaurant.com/ They have incredible blueberry ricotta cheese pancakes. But, because of this blog and for the sake of adventure and french toast, I decided to find some place new for our morning date.

I googled "best french toast la" and Blu Jam was the third on the list. We went there.

Blu Jam is a small breakfast, lunch, dinner place located on Melrose. I was warned by the yelp reviews of the potential long wait, especially since we went on a Saturday morning. We had to wait about 45 minutes...which was pretty brutal. Luckily, they offered cucumber water to all the thirsty lurkers.

The food was almost worth the wait. We split the crunchy french toast which was french toast baked with corn flakes as a coating. It also came with a vanilla bean sauce on the side (which was a bit too sweet for me) and fresh nanners and strawberries. The french toast was really good and was a large portion. We shared it and even had some to go. We also shared a warm mushroom salad, which had sauteed mushrooms, goat cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and balsamic vinaigrette. The salad was good but - more goat cheese please!

Overall, I left feeling very satisfied and full. The service was also great! I would definitely recommend Blu Jam for a one-time breakfast, but because of the wait wouldn't completely recommend it. I'd say - go on a weekday? I do want to go back - not over the weekend - and try some of their other kinds of french toast...they have 3 different variations :)

Learn more about Blu Jam here: http://www.blujamcafe.com/

Also check out this cool "French Toast Stick Maker in Red"! and um...this French Toast T-Shirt! Man, this french toast thing is kind of an obsession. Yeesh.

MOVIE REVIEW: To Rome With Love

I probably should have written this review right after I saw the movie. Because here I am, a week or so later, and I can barely remember it...which in itself, says something and is worthy of mentioning. As an avid Woody Allen fan - a movie-lover who admires his romanticism of New York in the 70s, the intellectual talk, the exclusivity, the real relationships, the neurosis of a Jewish man in a cluttered, chaotic world or city...his past few modern films have proven disappointing.

I live in LA, I don't want to watch the superficiality, the phoniness, the airs of post-modern people. When I see a movie, especially from Woody Allen, I want to escape that disgusting realism and go back to a time when life seemed glamorous and enchanting, exciting and interesting.

In To Rome With Love, I hoped that due to the fact that he chose a romantic city, I'd feel that very romanticism in his film. But...I didn't, really. A big part of Woody Allen's appeal, is the absurdity of events or people in his work, but I haven't been shocked in a while. SPOILER ALERT: The whole singing in a shower on the opera stage, was mildly amusing, but overdone. After the first moment of seeing a man singing in a shower on stage (which I predicted), I didn't need to see it again. It seemed, however, that the rest of the audience was soaking (pun intended) it all up. One older woman in the audience even said (in a Jewish NY accent) "He's in the showah...on the stage!" Yes. He is. And frankly, I don't think it's that funny. Come on, Woody! Give me more!

I also did not like the choice of Ellen Page as the seductress. I find the nasal quality to her voice and her petite stature to be far from sexy, and though I know the juxtaposition was the point, I still didn't get the allure.

A minor note that bugged me was the clothing. Everyone, except for Penelope Cruz, seemed to wear vintage outfits or linen, reminiscent of Woody's older films...but it takes place in modern day and everyone's talking like phony modern people trying to appear smarter than everyone else...so why have them wear non-modern clothing? It just didn't ring true. If you're going to make a modern movie, make it modern...just because people visit or move to Italy, does not mean they start dressing like fashionable Italians.

I guess, the characters just bothered me in general. I didn't like any of them. There was the unassuming couple with a boring sex life, who quickly allowed themselves to be unfaithful and explore. There was Ellen Page the alluring temptress (not), the sap who quixotically falls in love with her quick but phony tongue, and his boring too trusting girlfriend with no redeeming qualities. Thankfully Woody Allen acted in it, because I had missed seeing him. Then there was the typical guy (my favorite) who just wanted someone to listen to him. I liked his character the best, but similar to the shower, the paparazzi gag went on too long, for my taste. Though I did find humor in the sudden public interest in the mundane actions of this every man.

Overall, the movie was fine. I suppose my review is a bit too harsh. Of course, the music was lovely and drew the viewer in, the acting was good, the city was beautiful, etc. I just wish Woody would go back to his roots, good ol' NYC, and make a movie about people living there and struggling with real things (but telling the story in a playful way). Because that's what I've loved so much about his work.

Learn more about To Rome With Love here: http://sonyclassics.com/toromewithlove/
And here's a "Woody Allen Hoodie"!

7. Point Dume

I'm always looking for eye candy...and I'm not talking about men. I'm talking about nature, folks. Beautiful, brightly colored, fresh environments lush with greenery and rich with life. Last weekend, I went to Point Dume for a hike.

While it wasn't much of a hike (it still, unfortunately, was a bit of a work out - though I don't think it should have been...I think I was out of breath...because I, am in fact, out of shape), it was sincerely beautiful.

We took a drive down the coast and arrived at Point Dume, which is in Malibu. The view was breathtaking. Point Dume is essentially a small hill that juts out into the Pacific. You can see the ocean, the coast, and hills behind you. There are also stairs leading to a small area of tide pools. We saw a couple crabs and sea anemones (I've seen more active tide pools, but it still granted a moment of excitement). The beach itself was clear, trash-free, but cold.

I would highly recommend going to Point Dume - not for hiking purposes - but instead to spend a day there, at the beach, on the hill, at the tide pool, etc. It's a great weekend activity...maybe pack a picnic lunch? :)

Learn more about Point Dume here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Dume

Here's a photograph of Point Dume during the winter time (still beautiful): "Point Dume At Winter Sunset Panel Print"