Up-to-date List

There is life to be lived! Proverbial Catch Up Commences:

34. IO West Secret Family Showcase

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Susina's Bakery

RESTAURANT REVIEW: The Commissary

MOVIE REVIEW: Short Term 12

MOVIE REVIEW: Salinger

RESTAURANT REVIEW: A-Frame

MOVIE REVIEW: The Spectacular Now

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Franco's

35. La Descarga

36. Yacht Ride and Jet Skiing in the Marina

MOVIE REVIEW: Afternoon Delight

37. Smooth Jazz: Dave Coz and Friends at Hollywood Bowl

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Kaido

RESTAURANT REVIEW: The Glendon

38. Trip to Martha's Vineyard: jumped off Jaw's Bridge, Alpaca Farm, Tubing, Light House, Beach

MOVIE REVIEW: Arbitrage

39. PTA Restrospective at the New Beverly: Hard Eight and Boogie Nights

40. Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Francelli's

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Pinnochio's

42. Dias De Los Muertes at Hollywood Forever Cemetary

43. Short Ends by Neil La Bute at Open Fist Theatre

44. Tattoo

45. Birthright trip to Israel: Kabbutz, Tzvat, Golan Heights, Ancient Jerusalem, Bat Mitzvah in Jerusalem, Yad Vashem (Holocaust Museum/Memorial), Masada (Hike), Bedouin Tent, Camel Ride, Dead Sea, Ein Gedi (Desert Waterfall Hike), Negev Desert, Tel Aviv, Marketplace

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Volcano Tea

MOVIE REVIEW: Django Unchained

46. LA Book Festival at USC

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Katsuya Studio City

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Palermo Restaurant

MOVIE REVIEW: Frances Ha

47. Trip to Miami: Jet Skiing, Beach

MOVIE REVIEW: Fruitvale Station

48. Trip to NYC: Sleep No More Show

MOVIE REVIEW: Sleepwalk with Me

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Goldenstate

49. Book of Mormon Show

MOVIE REVIEW: Argo

MOVIE REVIEW: In a World...

MOVIE REVIEW: Wreck it Ralph

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Chop Stop

MOVIE REVIEW: The Campaign

MOVIE REVIEW: Skyfall

MOVIE REVIEW: Cloud Atlas

50. Stanley Kubrick Exhibit at LACMA

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Aoli Truck

RESTAURANT REVIEW: the Boba Truck

MOVIE REVIEW: Lee Daniels' The Butler

MOVIE REVIEW: Blue Jasmine

BOOK REVIEW: John Green Collection

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Bourgeois Pig

So I'm a writer, clearly...well, hopefully that's clear by now, and I am often looking for quaint cafes with interesting characters and surroundings to entice my imagination. Having a proper work space can completely change one's ability to create.

Coffee Bean, Starbucks, and other franchises are fine...but I think those places lend themselves to a studying environment, not a prosperous, artistic one. Being in an individualistic cafe with its own style and taste tends to conjure up a different palette from which to paint.

As part of my exploration of places to work and write and people watch and sit and pretend to be productive, I stumbled across the Bourgeois Pig, located on Franklin in Franklin Village (situated between Hollywood and Los Feliz). This quirky place is quite dark inside and is very much its own little world.

There are chairs and couches and tables of different variety, evoking an eclectic, odd, yet cozy environment. It has free internet, a small bar where you can purchase drinks or a snack (I got a really tasty iced chai latte - very large and very caffeinated!)

Within the dark living room-esque space is a pool table, conducive to small talk and quiet games. What makes this place different, and exceptional, in my opinion, is an even darker room with fake trees (one has indentations in the trunk like a doll house), a large fake moon, and even a fake owl. I believe it is supposed to resemble Where the Wild Things Are, but I could be mistaken. The room contains nooks and crannies, large comfortable couches, and smaller stools, for people to sit, sip, converse, or work. I'd never seen anything like it, which is precisely why I have such an affinity for it.

I found parking a few blocks away for the day, but it's a safe enough neighborhood that I felt fine making the minor trek. Parking is harder to find at night since the cafe is located on the same street as UCB, Birds, and other popular spots.

I highly recommend Bourgeois Pig for a nightcap with a friend or date, or a day-time rendez-vous with a study buddy or writing partner. It draws an interesting crowd, as well. I wouldn't be surprised if many romances started here. Now I'll just wait for mine...

See for yourself here: https://plus.google.com/117673859809324640837/about?gl=us&hl=en

33. The Spectacular Classics Showcase

From the writers of 500 Days of Summer (one of my favorites) comes The Spectacular Now. In order to gear up for the release of this new film, the writers have helped coordinate a screening series in certain theaters across America. This screening shows some of the films of the 80's and 90's that inspired Michael Weber and Scott Neustadter in the writing of The Spectacular Now.

This past Tuesday, I went to the screening of Dazed and Confused at the Los Feliz 3 Theatre. The theatre is small, but despite not having stadium seating and the multitude of snacks we are used to at places like the Grove, the Arclight, and the Landmark - the Los Feliz 3 has a certain charm, and the screen was high, so being height-challenged, wasn't a problem.

To begin the screening, they play the trailer of The Spectacular Now, which looks charming and sweet despite my distaste for romantic comedies, along with a short video (very poorly shot) of the writer's discussing this series and from where they draw their inspiration.

This was my first time seeing Dazed and Confused, and while I find the acting very naturalistic, and the characters fun to watch and easy to relate to, overall these 90's movies tend to be fairly un-cinematic and have too many main characters. I wasn't sure who to follow, who to empathize with, etc. Also, after learning much about structure, I found that this film was very much a slice of life. The characters didn't really change all too much, despite minor arcs, and I'm so used to stories that have concrete beginning, middle, and ends that watching something that seemed fairly slow paced was hard for me to get into. Probably doesn't help that my high school experience was much different than the one portrayed in this film (small private school in brentwood, CA in the 00's versus a lax public school in anywhere, usa in the 70's).

However, despite my ambivalence for the film, it was fun and I am happy that small theaters like this one still exist and participate in programs where you can watch classics on the big screen. Some of the other films in this particular series include Say Anything (which I managed to see half of), Almost Famous, and The Breakfast Club. Tickets are $9.50.

Learn more here: http://www.slashfilm.com/say-anything-dazed-and-confused-almost-famous-and-the-breakfast-club-screen-to-promote-the-spectacular-now/#more-183461

MOVIE REVIEW: Monster's University

You can always count on Pixar for an emotional, humorous, charming animated feature that brings personality and life to mere objects or fantastical figments of one's imagination. Monsters Inc. is one of my favorite pixar movies as it shows a different side to nightmarish creatures, giving them heart and human goals that everyone can understand. It also cleverly turns the scaring of children into a business, and the life purpose of monsters, who really aren't that bad. My favorite element of Monsters Inc. was the relationship formed between Sully (one of the best scarers played by the voice of John Goodman) and a brave little girl he attempts to frighten but ends up loving instead.

I was excited for Monsters University which is a flashback to the "glory" or not-so-glory days of Sully and Mike Wazowski (Sully's neurotic Jewish monster friend - genius - voiced by none other than Billy Crystal) in college.

While the movie was certainly entertaining, and displayed loveable characters and clever comparisons between our cherished college days to those of monsters (showing the cliques, sorority and fraternity life, various kinds of teachers, etc.), it lacked real heart. I loved the beginning which showed a dimunitive, young, retainer-wearing Mike Wazowski as a teacher's pet (pictured below - so adorable!) (sidenote: why did he wear a retainer - wouldn't gnarled teeth be a good thing as a monster? PLOT HOLE). I could have watched him and the other endearing characters for the entirety of the movie. But once we got to the University section and the bulk of the movie, I wasn't that impressed. I thought the creativity of showing the similarities and differences between Monsters University and a human university was not delved into quite enough, and thus, the story wasn't as funny as it could have been and missed a lot of opportunities. I also felt the true "heart" story which was the budding friendship between two enemies and monsters of a different sort was not pushed enough to evoke the classic Pixar tears.

I guess, my problem was, the stakes weren't high enough. The main low point for the characters occurred when they were kicked out of the scaring program at the university. I can understand that being devastating -  professional life-long goals being thrown out the window - but us avid Pixar watchers know that both Mike and Scully do "make it" in the end, so maybe knowing that, made their low point sort of fall flat. Also - the main "bad guy" was a dragon-like stern and brittle professor, who wasn't all that menacing to me and didn't pose such a great threat.

All in all - the movie was fairly entertaining, easy to watch, and inviting (didn't bore me), but I think Pixar missed out on a lot of creative moments that is such a large part of the company's reputation. Here's to hoping the next film is akin to some of the greats, such as Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and Wall-E.

Learn more about Monsters University here: http://disney.go.com/monsters-university/

RESTAURANT REVIEW: 9021PHO

A Vietnamese friend of mine recently made me home-made, vegetarian pho (pronounced fa). It was delicious - a simple, subtly spicy broth, fresh vegetables and herbs (basil, sprouts), rice noodles, and tofu. The soup was so scrumptious and comforting and I craved more.

One casual Friday, I was walking through Beverly Hills and stumbled upon 9021PHO. The name makes the restaurant seem like a cheap chain, but I figured it'd be worth a try. 

I ordered the chicken breast pho with extra vegetables, to go. They package the rice noodles, chicken, and vegetables separately from the broth to preserve freshness. Overall, it definitely wasn't as good as the home-made authentic pho I had prior, but the broth (though fairly salty) was tasty and I liked the assortment of vegetables (mushrooms, baby corn, carrots, broccoli). The chicken was dry and flavorless and I ended up not eating it.

Overall, ordering from 9021PHO made me realize that I want to try more pho places, but not necessarily this one. I'd go back if someone else wanted to, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it or go out of my way to go there. As far as ambiance goes...it was hard to tell because they were redoing their floors, so I can't speak for the feeling of the resturant. I also noticed that the chefs were not Vietnamese...which made the place seem less authentic. Sidenote: it was reasonably priced. 

Moral of the blog post...try pho! Just maybe not in 90210. 

32. Chamber Music Concert at Disney Concert Hall

Need inspiration, moments to meditate, or a place to sleep? Go to Disney Concert Hall. On December 11th, I went to a Chamber Music Society concert at Disney Concert Hall. The artists were the members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The program included music by Bach, Haydn, Mozart, and Zelenka. The concert itself lasted about an hour and 1/2 with a small intermission. 

I am not a huge classical music fan, though I did listen to it quite often while studying for the SATs back in the 2000's, and it proved very efficient. Occasionally I listen to classical while writing or working, and I can find it quite relaxing or a means to creative thinking. However, generally, it's not the genre of music I am drawn to. 

This concert was probably a very different experience for classical music lovers, but I can only blog about my evening. During the four classical pieces, I went from scribbling harried notes for a script I was writing at the time on a small piece of paper while squinting in the dim light, to staring in awe at the musicians (I had a good view, though we were seated in the balcony), and finally to closing my eyes and resting my mind. 

I recommend going to a concert here mostly if you enjoy classical music and would like a sophisticated, different experience. Most of the crowd at this particular concert was older and casual. I was probably one of the youngest people in attendance. I would also recommend going if you want to sit amongst people, while having a very internal, personal, and thoughtful experience- it's renewing and productive at the same time. 

Learn more about the concerts here: 

LAPhil.com or call 323-850-2000

MOVIE REVIEW: For a good time call...

For A Good Time Call is a bromantic comedy for and about women...not a bromance but a WOmance. It follows Lauren Powell, a reserved overachiever, and her friend and apartment-mate, Katie Steele, a seemingly free spirit. When Lauren loses her job and breaks up with her current boyfriend who finds her "boring," the two girls start a phone-sex service, which breaks Lauren from her hard shell and shows Katie the importance of true friendship and connection. 

Overall, I found the movie comical and entertaining. It's always nice to see female protagonists and films by women writers. However, the director was a man, and I think that might have influenced some of the tone of the film. What I didn't like was the sexual nature of the friendship between Lauren and Katie. As a comic gag, their friendship seems like a romantic relationship at times, and there is a hint of their mutual sexual curiosity. This bothered me. I have many close friendships with women. I am heterosexual and so are they. We cuddle, we laugh, we poke each other playfully, we hug, we kiss each other on the cheek - but there is nothing sexual about it. It's love and affection and sisterly or familial. I didn't like the choice to sexualize a beautiful friendship, because to me, that turns a movie that is for women into a movie that is aimed at men. 

Men want to see women together in a sexual way. It's the old cliche of men wondering what happens at a slumber party - they pray for scantily clad women in lingerie having pillow fights. In real life, it is far from glamorous - at least the slumber parties I've been too. The night consists of pajamas and oversized sweatshirts, gabbing over fatty foods (pigging out is almost a requirement), talking about our woes with men, watching Lifetime or reality TV, reading trashy magazines, and occasionally polishing each other's nails. I think For A Good Time Call had a good opportunity to shed light on a true female relationship that grows and evolves through a comical situation, but I think the filmmakers copped out a little bit by having sexual undertones.  

On the other hand, the movie did shed light on my own female friendships and hit something personal. There is something so wonderful about having a "best" friend - someone you tell everything to and talk to every day. I have a lot of very special, close friends, but not one be-all-end-all friend, and it made me want to get even closer to my gal pals - because at the end of the day they are truly the ones that understand you and can be there for you. 

I recommend For A Good Time Call because it was a funny, sweet story and the acting was really well done. I just wish they would have honed the friendship a bit and made it more realistic. 

Learn more about For A Good Time Call here: 

http://www.foragoodtimecallmovie.com/

31. Derby Dolls

I don't like watching sports. It just doesn't speak to me. The hype and energy one can feel from a live-game does not translate through the television screen, and I get bored. I typically don't love watching sports in general. One of my college roommates was on the Ice Hockey team. Going to the cold stadium, knowing all the players, and watching them hit or get hit, sent to the penalty box, score a goal, etc. was the first time I felt excited and interested at a sports game.

When I learned about Derby Dolls - tough women skating and knocking each other over, I kind of loved the idea, in a weird way. Men and women are always compared physically and athletically, and men always end up feeling empowered - that women aren't as ruthless, strong, or physically capable. So, Derby Dolls, to me, seemed to stand up to that stereotype and shove it back down in the ring where it belongs.

The Derby Doll arena is located in between Downtown and Echo Park. The night was a total event. Food trucks outside, a large souvenir shop, and tons of feisty people. When we first arrived, I got a slice of pizza from Garage Pizza - this is a restaurant located near my old apartment, and they were serving by the slice at the event. Great, thinly sliced, and flavorful. There was also a shaved ice truck - so I got a small serving of passionfruit and mango - refreshing!

Once inside, there is a large room adjacent to the stadium, which had a live band for after the game and during half-time. There were people selling food (one that I remember vividly was a cookie stand - and they did have samples and ingredients!) as well as alcoholic beverages, t-shirts infused with a kick-some-ass vibe, and other derby doll related paraphernalia (skull and cross bones t-shirts, jewelry, colorful socks and booty shorts, etc.) There was also a traditional store for straight up derby doll souvenirs - it's almost its own brand.

The actual game was really fun to watch. At first I didn't understand the rules, but once I got it - it was pretty exciting. The girls skate with agility and speed and cannot be afraid of getting hurt or possibly hurting others. I also liked how the girls used silly nicknames, typically anacronyms or puns, which were announced over the loud speaker after plays. There are two kinds of seating - actual benched seats and then "standing room only" which are risers for standing. We were in the standing room only, but we leaned on the railing and it was fine.

Here is a snippet of the game:

Overall, I had a great experience and would definitely go again if prompted. The crowd was lively, diverse, and friendly. The event was entertaining. And I love the message. It made me want to be tougher. I was happy to see that the players weren't dressed provocatively (because I thought they might be). While they were wearing short shorts, skorts, fishnets, and tight tops, it seemed more like fun athletic wear then anything to be sexualized. There were women of all shapes, sizes, orientations, etc. on the teams which was refreshing and positive. Even though I probably couldn't do what these women do (too much of a sensitive and fearful soul), it made me happy that there are women out there getting out their aggression in positive ways and showing that just because you have female anatomy does not mean you are not capable of being tough, getting bruises, falling down, shoving opposing teammates, and excelling at a competitive sport. WOMEN POWER!

Note: The whole evening was a bit pricey (but worth it) due to tickets, food/drink, parking (we parked at a $10 lot a block or two away), and any souvenirs if you want them.

Learn more and buy tickets here: http://derbydolls.com/la/

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Petit L'Ermitage

I've already discussed the calming, yet inspiring atmosphere of Petit L'Ermitage. But I thought I'd dedicate a smaller post just about the food. As mentioned, the breakfast in bed was seriously crave-worthy. I'm sad I might not ever experience their french toast again, or at least not in the near future. I am a french toast queen, and I dare-say the soft brioche bread was cooked perfectly. I ate my entire plate in about 10 minutes (and I think there were 3 or 4 pieces). I also ordered a strawberry banana smoothie that arrived chilled, in an aesthetically pleasing rounded glass, and with the perfect refreshing texture: icy and creamy.

I also dined at the pool deck on my last day there. I only ordered the mixed green salad and some french fries, but they managed to make them gourmet and delicious. The mixed green salad, was an array of multiple kinds of lettuce, and had a fresh, tasty dressing which seemed to consist of lemon juice, some type of vinagerette, and salt and pepper. The french fries almost had a crispy coating around the potato inside and were delicious by themselves or dipped in ketchup - Mmmm! I also had an iced tea, which was slightly fruit-tasting and while it wasn't sweet, it didn't need any added sugar.

30. Staycation at Petit L'Ermitage

This weekend my friend flew to LA and was staying at a hotel. This was the perfect chance for me to have a real staycation. Most of my staycations exist in my mind - I go to the nail salon and close my eyes during the two minute arm rub, and try to forget about the alcoholic smells, constant chatter, and the intermittent pandering: "only $5 more for...". Sometimes, I try to convince my friends to join in on a massage train (similar to what we did on the rug in Mrs. Klapper's third grade class), other times I savor a delectable dessert. But these moments of sanctuary are clearly not as relaxing as a full blown - get out of your house, sleep in a hotel, pretend you are somewhere else Staycation.

For the weekend, my friend chose to reside at the Petit L'Ermitage, a small hotel tucked away on a quiet street in West Hollywood. The building is surrounded by apartments and residences, nothing commercial - though it is walking distance from restaurants, coffee shops, and stores. The place is pretty much unnoticed unless you've done some internet research. The hotel's decor is very stimulating - boho chic, 40's hipster, mixed with a hint of foreign exotic flavor. The entrance smells of light incense, the room contains hardwood floors and furnishings, and an empty brown bird cage dangles from the ceiling. Old music resonates from a repurposed vitrola (using it's beautifully elegant, flower-like horn as a speaker to play tunes from modern equipment).

After checking in, we headed up the elevator. A man dressed in Sikh attire (turban and robe) greeted us and made sure we were guests of the hotel. I felt like little orphan Annie entering Daddy Warbuck's grand mansion, or the Little Princess after her cold attic room had been lavishly decorated by her kind Indian neighbor. We traveled up the elevator (which was not forgotten in the decoration process - wooden walls, ornate mirrors) to the third floor. The hotel has 4 floors, and on the rooftop there is a heated pool (which lights up at night), cabanas, interesting wicker chairs, a restaurant (outdoor and indoor seating), city view, and a fireplace. Pretty cool.

Our room was wonderful. The interior decoration was perfect - clean and simple, but colorful and memorable. The room had a queen sized bed, a bathroom with tub and shower (amazing water pressure), a little living area with couch, chair, dresser, fireplace, air conditioning, and a small patio/balcony. The bed was incredibly comfortable - the sheets were a ridiculously high thread count, and the hotel provided for quiet days and nights. The curtains were as good as my blackout curtains - they truly hid the light, allowing us to sleep in. Since we were on the third floor we heard a lot of footsteps and movements coming from the restaurant above us, but it was nothing to complain about. NOTE: Free wifi provided, as well as most cable channels (including HBO).

Some of my most staycation worthy moments:

1) Breakfast in bed - delectable, creamy french toast on brioche and a refreshing strawberry banana smoothie
2) A bath with lavender peppermint body wash
3) Robes and slippers - provided
4) Lounging and sipping iced tea at the rooftop pool on a large bed-type chair, with a warm, furry blanket given to me by the server when it got chilly.

I would highly highly recommend a staycation. I truly felt like I had escaped LA for a weekend. Because my car was in valet, I walked to restaurants - which I tend not to do too often here, lounged in a clutter-free room that wasn't full of dirty clothes and endless amounts of paper I have yet to file, and allowed myself to relax and be served. I would especially recommend staying at a hotel like Petit l'Ermitage. The staff was friendly, but not overly intrusive, and accommodating. The layout, services, and design have been thoroughly thought out to provide for a wonderful stay. And most importantly it's somewhat hidden from the outside world - a gem amidst the hustle and bustle of LA city life. I believe the dining is only for in-hotel customers, but you can give them a call and find out. If you are able to eat at the rooftop restaurant, I would recommend it - the food was very tasty and the view was sigh-worthy.

Learn more about it here: http://www.petitermitage.com/

29. Hollywood Farmer's Market

Every Sunday between 9AM-1PM, several main streets in Hollywood are blocked off for the weekly Farmer's Market.

We parked in the Arclight Parking lot (which is designated for this event), and then walked up to Sunset Boulevard where the market started - it was about 3 blocks in length.

Some of the booths included the typical farmer's market type fare (fresh fruit, vegetables, orchids/flowers, etc.), but there was also an assortment of less expected items. Fresh baked goods, an ice cream truck with gourmet ice cream (so good), a lobster stand, a bagel stand (I got an everything bagel with cream cheese for breakfast, and it was yummy!), a stand entirely comprised of different kinds of olives with fillings, hummus and pita, nuts and dried fruit, potted plants, herbs, and spices, jewelery, etc. The list goes on and on. One of the my favorite stands was owned by a woman who hand-crafted charming dolls out of fabric. On this particular day, many of the food trucks were also set up, as well as stands that served hot food.

The farmer's market was bustling, but not too crowded (we went around noon). The best part, to me, are the endless free samples of fresh goodies. Go! It's quite the pleasant Sunday activity.

SNEAKY TIP: We went into the Arclight and bought a couple things from the souvenir store, and then validated our parking, so it was only $2 or $3. But, it seemed easy enough to validate without having purchased anything.

Learn more about it here: http://www.hollywoodfarmersmarket.org/

28. Food Forward's Persimmon Pick in Sherman Oaks

I've been wanting to WWOOF for a while now. WWOOFING is essentially couch surfing but on a farm - for free room and food, volunteers help with daily maintenance (picking fruit, tilling soil, milking cows, etc.).

Because I am in enrolled in a full-time graduate program, it's hard to commit to a stay on a farm, especially since the closest to LA is about an hour away. So...instead, my friends and I volunteered through Food Forward's fruit picking service. On our specific day we picked persimmons in Sherman Oaks.

The organization goes to the backyards of private home owners who have abundant fruit trees. Then all of the fruit is donated to an organization that helps feed the less fortunate. My friends and I met in front of the Sherman Oaks house. The Persimmon tree was HUGE. We ended up filling 23 boxes, equalling over 900 pounds of persimmons and there were still a large amount hanging on the highest parts of the tree (where we couldn't reach).

There were seven of us total, including two people who worked for the program. Charles, the main organizer for the day, was very supportive and encouraging. We used ladders, fruit sacks, pickers (look kind of like lacrosse sticks), sheers: a whole array of gardening tools. It was a beautiful day so it was nice to be outside doing something good for humanity. It did get a bit tiring after a while, but we were only there for an hour and 1/2. After picking the fruit and boxing them, we raked the lawn of fallen leaves and split/rotten fruit, and carried the boxes to a large truck. This particular pick was going to a Jewish organization for those less fortunate, and some of the fruit was going towards a canning service through Food Forward, to help maintain freshness of the food.

I would definitely recommend volunteering with Food Forward. I might not do it again, because it is a bit strenuous (ha, I'm such a wimp), but apparently persimmons are a particularly stubborn pick (the fruits don't want to leave their mama tree!), but I definitely felt like I did a good deed for the week and it was really pleasant.

You can learn more about Food Forward here: http://foodforward.org/
I believe they have pickings once a week.

RESTAURANT REVIEW: The Apple Pan

The Apple Pan is a quaint old-timey diner that has even maintained its authentic, nostalgic architecture in the middle of bustling, always-under-construction Los Angeles. The little restaurant, hidden by the Westside Pavilion Shopping Center and the vast building and parking structure of The Guitar Center, is a true gem.

We were only stopping in for pie, but I've heard the burgers are excellent. We got some french fries and ketchup (delicious!), and banana cream pie. Oh wow was that pie delicious. The crust was a wonderful texture and taste, and the cream filling wasn't too sweet and was coupled with real banana slices. There were several other flavored pies I wanted to try, but was full from the 1/2 slice I'd just eaten.

I would definitely go back to try the other flavors and enjoy the general ambiance. The service was good too, and the man helping us was very friendly and attentive, especially with ensuring I get nut-free pie (due to my food allergy).

A+, Apple Pan, A+

You can learn more about The Apple Pan here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-apple-pan-los-angelesre

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Cacao Coffee House

I had a lovely Saturday night. Things were going quite well on my friend date. We ate a nice, large meal at Blue Plate on Montana, got dessert at Beachy Cream, spontaneously wandered over to the Santa Monica Pier where we played stupid carnival games (did not win) and took silly photos in a photo booth that smelled like urine. For a night cap, we decided to get tea. I knew Cacao is open til the wee hours and had past by it once before on my way to Cafe 50's. It was at this pit stop that the night got weird.

Upon entering, the guy at the front named Aaron (?) was extremely friendly. We chatted with him about who knows what. Shot the breeze, as they say. I ordered a "sleepytime" tea (typically a mixture of chamomile and peppermint - I drink a tea from trader joes with this name every night before bed, and it has more calming properties than sleep-inducing ones). He made a few comments, that at the time meant nothing, but looking back...could be interpreted differently. When I asked what the sleepytime tea had in it he said "Don't worry, it'll knock you out". The sleepytime tea box (which one would assume held the tea-bags) was the Celestial brand, not the best, but one I've had before. My friend asked to be surprised, but she didn't want something caffeinated. He said he'd make her a "red bowl" (not sure why it was named this) and told her it was "special".

Then I went to the bathroom. Big mistake. When I got back our teas were on the counter, waiting for us. Neither one of us had watched the preparation - why would we watch tea get made you ask? Keep reading, cowboy.

Upon first taste the red bowl was amazing, it was chamomile tea and soymilk infused with honey. We chatted some more, for about 15 minutes, allowing our drinks to cool, and then we started to drink our tea. At this point Aaron made his way outside to chat up some other customers, leaving us alone.

After about 20 minutes of drinking our tea, I felt very tired. Kind of like it just hit me. My friend told me that she felt weird, all of a sudden. We both started panicking. We felt stoned. We got up and left, leaving the tea where it was. I went up to Aaron and asked if he'd put anything in our tea and he angrily defended his product.

We sat in the car laughing at what was happening. Was our tea laced with some sort of marijuana honey? What the heck! Now, the logical side of me, says this can't be. Maybe we were just tired, run down from a long day, we both got hit with fatigue at the same time, and due to anxiety and adrenaline caused by the situation, we felt stoned (the power of suggestion - I was tired --> my friend tells me she feels drugged --> I freak out and convince myself I'm stoned too). However, I sincerely cannot deny that feeling I had - the laughter at things that aren't funny, the tingling hands and lips, and slow, heavy, confused, out of body feeling = all things I've experienced from marijuana...but also can be caused by plain and simple anxiety. Very hard to tell. My friend, however, is convinced our drinks were laced with something.

After we got into sweats, climbed into my bed, and watched old home videos of me, we started to feel better. I believe it took me about 30 to an hour to feel like myself, and my friend a little longer.

I don't want to rate this coffee place, because I can't do so accurately. The red bowl drink tasted amazing, but the side effects were very undesirable. The place is open late, but you will be judged by hipster coffee junkies that sit in grungy clothes at the tables on the sidewalk. I thought Aaron was a cool guy, but maybe he is too cool. I don't know. Very weird experience, and I will not be going back. If you go, you might have the same experience we did, or have a pleasant experience drinking tea that doesn't do anything aside sooth your aching throat or warm you up on a cold day.

Learn more about Cacao here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/cacao-coffee-house-los-angeles
(NOTE: I could not find any yelp reviews suggesting a similar experience).

27. Dodger Game + Friday Night Fireworks

Root, root, root for the DODGERS...if they don't win it's a shame....

Friday night I went to the Dodger game (Dodgers vs. Rockies) at the Dodger stadium in downtown Los Angeles. I'm not an avid baseball fan by any means. I wanted to go for the experience and mostly, for the Friday night Fireworks which are a legitimate firework show and hailed as one of the best.

The actual dodger game was mostly fun due to the company I was with. We got our tickets on goldstar for about $12 and boy were they bad seats. We were at the top of the rafters, but still, miraculously had a fairly decent view of the field. Some moments of the game were really fun to watch, but for the most part, we sat and talked and ate bad stadium food (wouldn't recommend the dodger dog, honestly). The Dodgers were killing the Rockies, so the suspense was pretty meager.

After the game (Dodgers won 7-1), the field became flooded with people (a literal sea of people) ready to watch the fireworks. Due to the potential hazards and claustrophobia of being surrounded on all sides by dozens of bodies, we elected to stay in the rafters - though we moved down several rows, as the stadium cleared.

The firework show was spectacular (and I rarely use that word). It lasted a long amount of time, and the fireworks were actually pretty invasive, as they were so huge. They also had some interesting shapes I hadn't seen before - flowers, hearts, and one that made the sky look as though it were filled with sparkling stars. The fireworks show was timed to Frank Sinatra songs (a dedication to a former famous dodger who loved Frank Sinatra), so the environment was fairly romantic and nostalgic. I'd never seen a firework show coupled with music, and I really liked it. The show lasted about 4 Sinatra songs and was the highlight of the evening and my weekend.

Friday Fireworks are over now, but if the stadium ever offers fireworks again, I would highly recommend going. It's a great addition to the night.

26. Hillel Rosh Hashanah Service

I'm Jewish. Not Jewish, but Jew-ish. Although I am born into a family of Jewish faith, my mom says we come from a line of atheists. I don't know what I am. I try not to think about why this earth was formed and created and what will happen after death, because I think this is something none of us truly know the answer to, and I'd, personally, rather not spend my life trying to answer or solve the mystery. I'd rather just live.

Aside from the religious aspects, I do feel tied to the Jewish culture and most Jewish people. When I find out someone is Jewish, I automatically feel some sort of connection to them due to many overarching values and general qualities most Jewish people have. I have recently decided that I'd like to learn more about religion, from a curiosity stand-point, and also to fuel a script I'm writing about a young Jewish girl in Brownsville during the 1950's.

USC's student body consists of a fairly large Jewish population, (not that many are in the film school, oddly enough...at least not in the MFA program) and thus has several Jewish clubs, etc. I decided to attend a Hillel Rosh Hashanah service with my friend, to see what it was all about. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, which is followed by Yom Kippur, a time to reflect and atone for one's sins and come up with resolutions (from what I know, anyway).

The service was on Tuesday afternoon (and most services were held Monday which was the first day of Rosh Hash). The Hillel was fairly empty and the Rabbi was young and affable. It almost felt more like a classroom setting, which I kind of enjoyed. The service consisted of readings from the Torah, audience participation (the Rabbi asked attendants questions about the Jewish faith, etc.), a small, inspirational speech by the head of the Jewish Studies at USC (a very endearing older gentleman), the passing around of the Torah, and the blowing of the Shofar (a ram's horn).

After the service was over, brunch was served - bagels and lox (of course), manichevitz, challah, fruit, etc. And people chatted.

I still felt like an outsider, while I was there. I hadn't gone to temple since I was 12 years old (and promptly stormed out b/c that was my disbelief in God phase, and besides what kid liked to go to temple anyway? I was already at the age where my main goal in life was to find a cute boy, and after diligently scanning the rows of seats to find there weren't any...what was really the point of being there? ha). As we were leaving Hillel, the Rabbi and Head of Jewish Studies both said "Happy New Year" to me in Hebrew, but I couldn't get myself to say it back. I felt like it wouldn't be authentic, like I'd be lying or pretending I was something I'm not.

Overall, it was an interesting experience. What I liked about the service were some of the inspirational quotes from the Torah and some inspirational things the Rabbi said. It made me feel renewed and as if I had an added sense of purpose in my own life - it felt like a new beginning. However, because religious practice is not something I was raised with or something that comes naturally to me, it did feel kind of like a class with subject matter that wasn't really my cup of tea. Would I go again? Probably not, unless it was more of a social gathering or a way to meet fellow students. A big part of my personal Jewish experience is the warmth and family-feel of the culture, so I would love to participate in activities or events more geared towards that and less towards tradition and religion.

In the service, I was struck by something that I often think about. There are many rituals, even down to the clothes you can wear (men must wear kippas and a shawl - I'm forgetting the Hebrew word for it now), and it makes me wonder why people still commit to these rituals. Is it for a sense of tradition? Is it due to something that's been ingrained since childhood? Is it something done without thinking? Or is there a specific purpose for the adherence of traditional rituals, and if so what is gained from it? These are all questions that came to me, while simply looking at the back of a man's head (specifically at his yarmulke).

It is these questions that keep me from a solid religious or faith-based practice. I don't like to do things or participate in things unless I truly know why I am committing specific actions. Religion goes so far back into history and is such a huge facet of society that is still very confusing to me. I might want to explore further, or maybe I'll just stick to eating bagels on my own time.

Learn more about Hillel USC here: uschillel.org/

25. Bootie LA

Bootie LA is a dance/theme party at the Echoplex in Echo Park. The event is known for its crazy mash-ups and DJ re-mixes.

My friend and I went for the "Back to School" theme party. The event called for naughty school girl and nerdy boy outfits, crazy mash-ups, battle of the vjs, photo booth, and a dance troupe. We didn't get there til after 11 PM so we might have missed some of the events.

If you arrive before 10, you get half off tickets, so $6 versus $12. I would highly recommend getting there early, because when we got there it was definitely full, so it would have been just as fun an hour earlier, and cheaper. Upon arrival we were greeted by the "photo booth," which in actuality is a man with a camera and a fish eye lens in front of a station. The station was school themed - there was a chalkboard, rulers, chalk, a desk, etc. I was a bit bashful, but the photographer was kind of nice and helped us make some cool poses. It was somewhat awkward because people kept walking by and staring (unlike what happens in a normal photobooth - privacy!)

There were a lot of people dancing, scantily clad dancers and a dj on the stage, disco-esque lights, the whole nine yards. I really liked that most of the dancers were men and women in outrageous, sparkly costumes. It was refreshing and in opposition to all the Hollywood bars which have women dancing sexually in lingerie (I've noticed that when this happens, most of the men in the bar/club just stand there and watch...and it's creepy. This was different because the dancers were hyping up the crowd and everyone else was dancing. There was no ogling, at least not to my knowledge). There were two bars, and an outdoor area (mostly for smoking, but also getting fresh(?) air). The bathroom attendants had candy stations, and my friend and I were given lollipops, which kind of played with the whole school/kid theme.

Overall the event was really fun. It was upbeat, had a non-hollywood crowd, which is a plus in my opinion (it was very diverse in terms of age/gender/sexual orientation/ethnicity, but was mostly heterosexual mid 20's peeps). There were two downsides, in my opinion. While the mash-ups were really fun and flowed together very naturally, I thought there would be more 90's songs due to the theme. Britney Spears was on the cover of the ad for the event, so I thought we'd be jamming to mash-ups of Britney, N'Sync, Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls, etc., but it was mostly current songs or songs from a few years ago, and some indie pop/rock songs I'd never heard before. It was also extremely hot - which most clubs are, I suppose. We found a huge fan located near one of the bars, and kind of danced in front of it and stationed ourselves there for most of the night.

I would highly recommend Bootie for a night out - they have events twice a month. Oh - and I would also recommend getting valet - that area can be a bit sketchy, and not particularly safe for walking multiple blocks just to save five bucks.

Learn more about Bootie here: http://bootiemashup.com/la/

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Sugarfish

Sugarfish is the perfect name for this Japanese gem of a restaurant. The fish is so fresh and delicious that the diner does not need to douse it in sauce for taste. Sugarfish is located throughout the city. I went to the one on San Vicente. They have free 2 hour parking in the lot just outside of the small restaurant.

Once inside, it was crowded, and we had a 20 minute wait. But it was definitely worth it. Sugarfish is a niche restaurant that caters to the authentic Japanese cuisine experience. The chef prepares mostly raw sushi and sashimi (a couple rolls which include crab, are cooked). The restaurant purposefully excludes any rolls that are Americanized such as tempura rolls, philadelphia rolls, etc. Similar to Father's Office, you are not allowed to ask for additional or different types of sauce. The chef prepares the food the way it should be eaten, coupled with the "correct" sauce and garnishes. 

When I went I ordered an iced green tea (it was the real stuff, it wasn't from a tea bag), edamame, which were boiled and salted, a cucumber roll (silly, I know - but it was THE BEST cucumber roll I'd ever had - the rice was sticky and somewhat sweet, and the ingredients were extremely fresh), Tuna sushi (so fresh and delicious!), and Yellowtail sushi (perfectly cut slices and melted in my mouth). My friend ordered a special (where you are presented with each roll/course right after the other, based on chef recommendations), and I tried some of her blue fin tuna handroll, which was also very tasty. 

I've gone back a couple times since then to get the sushi to go (they have a special to go menu, namely items that won't get soggy - so no handrolls). I ordered the blue fin cut roll to go, and all the same things I'd had before. I have to admit the fish didn't taste as good "to go" versus in the restaurant. The cucumber roll, was amazing and weirdly filling. 

The design and ambiance of the restaurant is cool, a bit trendy, but mostly traditional. The way they present the food is clean, sleek, and modern, as well as the way they package their to go orders. If you order "to go" the sushi comes in a paper bento box, separating each item with the appropriate sauce, ginger, and wasabi. It also comes with a small index card describing how to best eat the sushi and the sauce it comes with. 

This restaurant gets an A+ from me. I will certainly go back and try different dishes. Another added bonus for me personally: on the menu it says to alert your waiter or waitress of any food allergies. This added awareness provides for a comfortable dining experience for food allergy sufferers. 

You can learn more about Sugarfish here: http://www.sugarfishsushi.com/

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Fresh Juice: Pressed Juicery and Juice Crafters

So, I was super sick for most of August. It was, needless to say, a pretty miserable experience. In an attempt to get better, I tried to go the holistic, organic route and imbibe as many healthy remedies as possible. Naturally, I decided to get some fresh squeezed juice.

I tried two places, both located in Brentwood:

The first was Pressed Juicery in the shopping center off of 26th Street and San Vicente. It's literally a hole in the wall. Not a store. It looks kind of like a large closet. Two people work behind the counter, and there is a refrigerator with all their juices. They have a ton of different options, including a very expensive juice cleanse (lasts several days). I bought two juices: Pineapple/Pear/Ginger/Mint and the Alkalizer (apple, lemon, extra ginger, cayenne - meant to help you when you are sick). The first one was pretty delicious, but almost tasted alcoholic, the second one was super spicy and cleared my sinuses! The ingredients are literally just those ingredients...nothing else. They have many green options, as well. I know this isn't necessarily relevant, but I loved the way they package the bottles - it looks very simple and clean. The only downside is the price.

Juice Crafters was the second place I tried. It's also located on San Vicente, but more east. This place presses the juice while you are there in a huge machine. They also serve pre-bottled drinks. Here, I ordered beet, lemon, apple, ginger juice fresh squeezed. It was pretty piece-y and it wasn't cold, since it was fresh pressed. I also had about 3 hours to drink it in order to enjoy the benefits. I asked what the difference was between fresh pressed and pre-bottled, and the man who worked there almost made it seem that it was better to drink the pre-bottled, because they have a longer shelf-life. Kind of confusing. I also got a lemon ginger cayenne shot. The shot was not as spicy as I thought it'd be and they gave me a delicious fresh strawberry as my chaser. I was nervous that my throat would be on fire, so the woman who pressed the juices did the shot with me. This place was about the same price...expensive.

Overall, I preferred the taste and ease of the Pressed Juicery. I liked that Juice Crafters had interesting shots and more options. I'd go back to Pressed Juicery for juice and Juice Crafters for a pick-me-up shot. But since I've gotten healthy (note: I did not get better from the juice haha...it took many more weeks to improve, and an inhaler), I haven't felt the need to spend that much money on juice, though I could definitely see myself going back at some point to feel healthy :)

Learn more here: http://www.pressedjuicery.com/ and/or http://www.juicecrafters.com
You can buy your own juice presser here: SamsonGreen WELLESPRESS Welles or Peoples Juice Press (Google Affiliate Ad)

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Fresh Brothers

Fresh Brothers is a pizza joint, basically next to Mulberry Pizza...which seems odd. Fresh Brothers tries to compete by giving out small pizza samples outside and near their store to lure in potential customers. This tactic worked on my friend and we went inside to eat.

I ordered a "create your own salad" and a personal pepperoni pizza. The salad was tasty - not gourmet, but had a lot of ingredients and I liked the vinaigrette. The pizza, on the other hand, was mediocre. I got the thin crust style, and maybe if I'd gotten thick crust it would have been better.

You know how when you put a frozen pizza in the oven, the bottom of the pizza dough kind of tastes cardboardy? Just not softy and fluffy? That's kind of how this pizza tasted. The flavors were good, but the texture was not amazing.

I feel sort of ambivalent about this place. It's cheap, you order and then you get your food in a quick, easy way, and it's pretty good. Mulberry's was much better in terms of taste and ingredients, but either one should satisfy a pizza craving.

Learn more here: http://www.freshbrothers.com
Make your own pizza using "Pizzazz Pizza Maker Oven" (Google Affiliate Ad)