RESTAURANT REVIEW: Mulberry Street Pizza

Nom nom nom. Mulberry Street Pizza was delicioso! This review will be short and savory, just like Mulberry's food. My friend and I stopped into the little pizza shop in Beverly Hills (though there are multiple locations). I ordered a slice of mushroom pizza and we shared a chopped salad. Both were extremely fresh tasting and gourmet for a good price and a quaint spot. The salad wasn't the usual cheap salad you would expect: iceberg lettuce, a few onion strings, and some cucumber slices. Instead, it had a variety of lettuce and a multitude of other garnishes and veggies. Very tasty. The pizza slice was thin and generous and not too oily. Mmmm. I want to go back pronto!

Learn more about Mulberry Street Pizza here: http://mulberrypizzeria.com/

24. Show at Barre - For the Record: PT Anderson

Show at Barre is a dinner entertainment experience located in Los Feliz area at the Rockwell. The evening provided me with an amalgam of feelings. Let's start it off...

I purchased my tickets online. Since it's a spectacle/musical show, the tickets cost around $20, but through a Goldstar discount, I got my seat for $15. When I arrived, I had to pay $10 for valet, as well. I arrived to the table where my friends were seated. The layout of the restaurant is as follows...booths, stools, tall tables, dining tables, and a large square-shaped empty space in the middle for the actors (though they do weave in and out amongst the tables). We had a table situated right behind a large column, so sometimes it was hard to see, but all the tables had blind spots.

Once I got there, I was given a menu, and apparently there were specific items you had to purchase, which was not advertised clearly in the ticket sales. I understood that since it was a dinner show, that dinner would be available, but I didn't know that it was mandatory (and the selections were specific - for example, you couldn't get two appetizers, you had to get one entree ($20 each) and one other item). This was also true for drinks. Luckily and not so luckily, none of us at my table knew about this rule, and each asked the waiter individually to explain the rules. Because we are all outspoken independent females, I think he was frustrated and put off, and he even told me that I didn't have to get anything if I didn't want to...so I didn't. I ordered a sprite, and that was it. The whole show was a bit uncomfortable because he kept coming to the table to see if we wanted to order more, and I had to ignore him so as not to indulge in the discomfort. On the bright side, I didn't have to spend any money on food I wouldn't eat (I stupidly had dinner before the show!).

So that's a summation of the environment. As for the actual show, most of the performers had beautiful singing voices, some even awe-inspiring. My personal favorite was Von Smith, who was just on the TV Show Opening Act, opening for Lady Gaga. He also has a ton of other musical notches on his belt, as did the rest of the cast. This evening's show was a PT Anderson revue. The performers acted small scenes from Anderson's movies including There Will Be Blood, Magnolia, and mostly focusing on Boogie Nights. The show consisted of small scenes and many musical numbers from the soundtrack of these movies. It was very fun, lively, and well-performed. It was, however, extremely sexual (since it focused on Boogie Nights). The evening consisted of humping the air dance-moves, faux blow jobs, and fake sex...to name a few of the "interesting" stunts.

What disturbed me the most was discovering that one of the lead female performers was only 16 years old. As soon as I learned of this minor (pun intended) detail, I could not forget it. Juliette Goglia, though extremely talented, would be a sophomore or junior in high school, and yet she was dancing around in booty shorts and a bra, saying phrases like "don't cum in my mouth", and having fake sex in front of dozens of on-lookers. I scanned the crowd during some of her dance scenes, and noticed the older gentlemen in the crowd ogling her body. It was really disturbing. I just didn't think it was appropriate for someone that age to be involved in this kind of show. It seemed like poor judgement. When I was 16, I only cared about getting my driver's license, giggling and prank calling with my girlfriends, and the shy boy in class who I would pass notes too. It just seemed like this girl was going to grow up too soon and become the next Lindsay Lohan - downward spiral.

If I hadn't known her age, I would have been less distracted by my moral stances and more able to fully enjoy the show. I'd recommend it only if you have ample money (because it turned out to be an expensive night), and want to enjoy a different theatrical experience with talented performers. The downsides, in my opinion, include the price, the neck craning (around the columns, etc.), and the crudeness. Show at Barre presents other directors and I'm wondering if the cinematic subject matter would alter the performances, as well. Overall, I enjoyed the show, but the experience in totem was a little uncomfortable.

You can buy tickets here: http://showatbarre.inticketing.com/events and learn more about the venue here: http://www.rockwell-la.com/

23. Trivia Night at Casting Office

I'm pretty bad at trivia. I'm just not one for facts. There are certain people that'll pull out a random fact in awkward silences or certain situations to add to conversation...I am not one of those people. I can't even think of one random fact off the top of my head. I don't research biographies of people, watch or follow any sport teams, read blogs - you get the picture. When I was invited to Trivia Night on Tuesdays at The Casting Office, in Studio City, I thought it'd be fun regardless of my ineptitude.

I'd been to one trivia night before, but came late and just sort of watched. So this would be a new experience for me.

Trivia night started at 8 PM, but I arrived at 9 due to traffic (I was still able to participate despite my tardiness). The area of the bar where trivia was held was the size of a large room. People were scattered at tables and counters in groups ranging from 3 people to about 8. The teams each had their own selected team name (my personal favorite was "Ignorant Sluts"), and had about 5 pieces of paper for the answers.

One older gentleman ran the trivia questions, and asked them over a microphone. He also announced the scores after each round, so everyone knew who was at the top, and who was dangling at the bottom. The winners got a free round of drinks (I think...yeesh, shoulda paid closer attention...but it was about the game, not the prize!)

Some of the trivia themes included types of food, answers to random questions ranging from movie characters, sports teams, etc. all equalling one cohesive mystery theme, actors who have starred in biopics and the character they portray, and based on a series of facts - one famous person. I thought having a degree in Critical Studies in Cinema would make me an asset on the biopic trivia questions...but alas, I think I only knew one answer that my partners did not know.

What I liked most was the ability to talk over the answers with the rest of your team. I guess I assumed it'd be like Family Feud or something, where one person answers one question without help. I do wish I had known more facts so I could have contributed more, but I still had a good time. That competitive feeling you get as a child, playing monopoly or other inconsequential board games, still exists on Trivia Night!

Check out the yelp reviews here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-casting-office-bar-and-grill-universal-city#query:Trivia%20Night

There are other trivia nights scattered around town at bars, that I might want to try, as well. I've heard the one at Fox and Hounds is fun...

MOVIE REVIEW: Hope Springs

"Cut! Cut!" I said, as I watched Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones having cinema sex. I wanted that horrifying image to leave the screen ASAP. Maybe it's just me, maybe I'm an agist or unempathetic or in denial, but I don't want to see older people "making love" in the movies. Old women are meant to bake chocolate chip cookies and offer warm milk, and old men are meant to be crotchety and tell war stories. That's how I see the elder generation, and I'd like them to stay that way in the movies.

I understand the merit of Hope Springs. We live in a culture (of which I am obviously influenced) where youth and beauty are worshiped, while older people are left out to dry. The media is geared toward younger generations, and therefore make a subconscious or unconscious or maybe even conscious comparison between youth and sex. We never see older people having sex in the movies, and when we do it's something to be ridiculed.

Hope Springs attempts to show the real problems of an older married couple who are too comfortable and have lost that spark in their relationship. Unfortunately for me and my eyes, it was much more centered around the couple's lack of sex life...and not just problems in their everyday relationship. Essentially all their problems reduced to the fact that they were not physically intimate.

I think the casting is also a bit off. Steve Carell is known for his comedic roles, so I assumed the therapist (the character he played) would be comical. He wasn't. But it wasn't a serious dramatic role either. I kept thinking some gag or joke was about to happen, but Carell played the mediocre part with seriousness. It was just awkward. It was a dramedy, but there wasn't enough drama or enough comedy. It was just kind of there. In filmic genre purgatory. Blah.

Picture this: Steve Carell seriously asking Meryl Streep if she fantasizes about sex and what her darkest desires are. Then: a dolly shot into Meryl's face, a close up, as she giggles sheepishly and divulges...That's not supposed to be funny. Can you believe it? The lack of humor resulted in me and my friend squirming with discomfort in our theatre seats.

I kept wanting the scenes to be cut earlier (hence my screaming at the screen). It was just too much...and of course the ending was predictable. Maybe if Tommy Lee Jones left his wife, Meryl Streep, for his young secretary and Meryl Streep moved out and ended up on a bad online dating streak...then I'd believe it. But no...of course they end up having sex and being "in love" again...and we got to watch them masturbate, fantasize, and awkwardly date until they got to that predictable point. Lucky us! (sarcasm).

While we were in the theatre, I noticed that the older female crowd (50+) enjoyed the movie quite a bit. I heard a lot of laughing. While the story seemed unrealistic and unidentifiable to me, maybe I'm just an ignorant mid 20's gal who knows nothing of a long-lasting, committed relationship. It seemed like the portrayed relationship might have rang true to many of the women in the audience (and maybe the men?).

I wouldn't recommend Hope Springs either way. While I respect the attempt to make sex amongst older people less taboo, the movie wasn't really successful. I think if the sexual aspect of the relationship was more subtle it might have eased the younger audience into the idea, but instead the movie was ALL ABOUT SEX. And it was just uncomfortable.

I might recommend it to people in a similar situation to the protagonist, 50-70 year old women who are in a marriage rut. But then again, I can't be sure it rings true for that audience either...Meeehhh.

Learn more about Hope Springs here: http://www.hopesprings-movie.com/ You've been warned.

22. Flash Mob - Rehearsals and Performance

My friend sent me a video of his friend's marriage proposal. The groom-to-be did not just get down on one knee. Instead, dancers and a marching band broke out in song and dance around the oblivious gal, before her man popped the big question. A flash mob. Nice.

Apparently flash mobs are becoming more and more popular as a means of proposing and just for general merriment. The first time I'd really seen a flash mob was on the television show: Modern Family (great show, by the way). On the show, two of the characters are at the mall, and suddenly one of them breaks off into dance as part of a Flash Mob. He'd said he'd been working late, when really he'd been rehearsing.

I'd heard about flash mobs just here and there, but never seen one in real life. It kind of reminded me of high school, when my friend and I wanted so badly to live in a musical reality, that for one whole day, every time we saw each other we sang instead of spoke, and made up dances. It was super dorky but obviously super fun.

I decided to become part of a flash mob. After doing some internet research, I found Flash Mob West LA on Meetup.com. There were tons of mobs, almost one every weekend. I found the one that interested me the most...Mary Poppins themed!

First was the rehearsal (there are several, but they recommend you attend two). Well actually, first I watched the training video, and tried to familiarize myself with the steps. Then I drove to a park in Studio City where our first meeting was.

When I drove by the area, I thought "what have I got myself into". Literally. I thought that. I might have even said that out loud as I drove past the four or five scattered people dancing in the grass. I parked my car, and watched for a minute. There were about ten people at this point. According to Meetup, over 100 people had signed up to do the Flash Mob. I was confused, but I had driven all the way there, so I took a deep breath, and exited the car.

I was a bit trepidatious about doing a flash mob alone. It seemed like a really fun activity to do with friends. But once I joined the group and we got into the moves, I started to loosen up and giggle...because it is kind of silly...and it didn't matter that I was laughing with myself.

The choreography was basic, but it wasn't easy. There were some bossier/extroverted people in the group, enjoying themselves a little too much and stealing the thunder away from the instructor, but it was all in good fun.

What interested me the most was the diverse group of people that this kind of medium (?) grabs. In my particular group there was an older white couple, a young punky Mexican couple, four middle-aged women of varying ethnicities, a little six-year-old girl and her large mother, a 20-something actor guy from a theatre company that is putting on a performance of Mary Poppins, and...me. There were other people scattered throughout, but they were behind me in the formation so I couldn't focus my attention on them, but it was pretty vast, and very interesting. Who knew flash mobs could bring such different people together?

By the end of the rehearsal, I'd become one of the annoying people (counting aloud because I wanted  those not paying attention to get the beats right), which made me realize that I was really into it. It reminded me of musical theatre performances in high school, which was a real treat, since I so miss those days.

The next rehearsal I attended was the day of the performance. We met at a Roxbury Park, near the Century City Shopping Center. Parking was a hassle because it was a Saturday and lots of people were enjoying the beautiful day. Other than that, the rehearsal was a success. Paula, the organizer, brought donuts, and everyone was laughing and having fun, with nervous anticipation for our big show. I spoke to some interesting people, an actor and a older woman who'd done 12 flash mobs!

We rehearsed a few times, discussed the layout of the mall and where we'd be standing, and then left to go to our prime location. Once there, we had to pretend we were shopping or just perusing the shops, you know, hanging out. But, we all kind of gathered in the same area, and it might have looked a bit suspicious. I was a little nervous that I'd screw up, and some passerby would film it, and I'd become an overnight youtube sensation "Flash Mob Fail".

Paula tested the music on the loud speaker, so if shoppers were paying close attention they might have heard a bit of Mary Poppins "Step in Time" intertwined with the Top 40 music that typically wafts through the speakers.

Then the music started, for real, and thus the festivities began, and promptly at 2 PM, our set time. People gathered by the food court and looked over the balconies, filming our dance with their phones. Luckily, it wasn't nerve-racking once we started dancing. Just enjoyable.

I do think the mob was a bit underwelming, simply because there were only about 30 of us, and there were supposed to be 100, which would have been much more exciting. I also messed up a bunch of times, because this mob called for children, and they weren't sure where to stand, so I kept trying to avoid hitting into them.

Overall, it was a really fun experience. Luckily my friends were at the mall that day, so I felt like I had my own little, personalized audience.

I met people, danced (which was surprisingly a great form of exercise - we were all pretty sweaty after dancing in the heat), and felt part of an experience. I heard that Flash Mob America garners bigger groups, so I might try that organizer, but I think doing this was a one time thing for me. I got my experience, and I feel satisfied.

Watch a video of the mob here:

If you want to learn more about Flash Mobs go here: www.dancemobnation.com/

You can also learn more by joining a West LA  (or any location) Meet up group, which is how I found out about this particular mob.

21. Catalina Zip-lining Eco Tour

I have a fear of heights. Or at least I think I do. My knees get weak when I look over the side of tall balconies or press my face against a glass window of a high rise. I guess it's more a fear of falling, rather than heights.

For some reason, despite this knowledge, I've had this strong desire to go Ziplining. Because, while I hate drops on rollercoasters (can't even go on Splash Mountain), I adore going fast. If I get on a rollercoaster that's speeding or COASTing along, no drops or loops, etc. I am happy. I just laugh and laugh. I can't stop giggling.

Ziplining seemed to combine a lot of things I like: the great outdoors, beautiful views, speed, and adventure. Usually ziplining is well-known in exotic beautiful locations like Costa Rica and Hawaii. But I don't have funds to travel there! Harumph. But, after doing some research I came across Ziplining in Catalina. Just an hour boat ride away. Yay. We ordered the tickets (you need to do so at least 2 weeks in advance, because they get booked). Filled with excitement...I just had to wait...

...Cut to a couple days before the excursion. I was SO SCARED. How fast was I going to go? What would it feel like? I wasn't afraid of the safety, I had done a lot of research on the Catalina Zip-lining Eco Tour, and knew I wouldn't fall to my death...but I was daunted by the unknown.

After arriving on Catalina Island...I started to have some anxiety. Could I go through with this? We got to the Eco Tour Station, which is just past the Casino. We had to be weighed (even though the carabeeners can hold about 5,000 pounds there is a weight limit of 250, I believe). We then signed a bunch of waivers, got a locker for our belongings (you can't take anything with you on the tour, except a camera if it has a strap), and put on a good ol' helmet. My mate owns a GoPro and the helmets had special straps just for these kind of cameras - so he got to wear it around his head and film us.

The group of 10 began to accumulate. One girl was begging to go on with either her brother or her boyfriend (couldn't tell), and usually they don't let more than 10 people go, but they made an exception for her. So there were 11 of us. We were situated in a benched area under some tents. There, we met our 2 guides for the day, Jack and Collin. They were very funny and upbeat and played off of each other.

They demonstrated (on a short pre-rigged zip line), the certain ways to sit in the harness and what to do if you get stuck in the middle of the zipline. They have several ways of getting you back to the base, but if you keep tucked up in the "cannon ball" position, you shouldn't have to worry. They also showed us how to slow down in a position called the "star fish". I was worried that I wouldn't remember any of this very important information in the heat of a panicked moment, though it was pretty simple.

After that, they put us into our harnesses and introduced themselves and asked how we were feeling. I'm guessing (and was hoping) they were used to nervous peeps.

After we were all harnessed in, we took a bus really really high up, to the top of a mountainous canyon. My nerves were going crazy. I had read some yelp reviews before and people talk about how stepping off a platform into thin air is the scariest part. So I was trying to psych myself up.

We got to our first zipline, called the bunny slope. It looked so far away and long. And this one was supposed to be easy. Collin went first so he could catch us at the other end, and he zipped away like the roadrunner. I became afraid of the speed.

I was no longer nervous about stepping off, like the reviews had indicated, because if you actually fell off the platform, you'd only fall about 5-10 feet, not into some deep canyon 500 feet below you, which I thought might be the case.

In our group we had a mother/daughter foursome, a little boy and his grandparents, and the girl and her brother/bf. The mother/daughter foursome went first, which helped ease my anxieties a bit. If 50-60 year old women could do it...I could do it too, right? I did notice that I was the only neurotic Jewish person in the group...and was wondering how many Jewish people actually do things like this. My inner Woody Allen was qvelling and coming up with all sorts of crazy notions to frighten me.

Then it was my turn to go. My heart was racing. Jack hooked me up to the line and held me - the group counted down. I couldn't do it. I thought Jack could have been a little more understanding, but he wasn't mean at all, just a bit impatient. I probably stood, hovering on the platform, for 5 minutes (but it felt like decades). What helped me the most was the rest of the group. They were cheering me on, telling me it wasn't "that bad", etc. It was like being with a wonderfully supportive family, and it really touched me. After my encouragement tank had been filled, I took my leap of faith.

The first thing I did was start cursing. I couldn't help it - it was a sensation/feeling I had never had before. But after the initial few seconds of adjusting, I started enjoying the scenery and feeling a great sense of pride and accomplishment. And of course, it was fun!

By the second slope (the longest one - about 1,100 feet), I was still nervous, because this one was much longer. But I enjoyed myself and had nothing to worry about, after all.

By the third line, I was excited and ready to go, only the slightest bit nervous because each line is different. This one was my favorite. It was called the Roller Coaster, and we were told to scream as loud as we could while we were on it. I went the fastest I'd gone on this one (about 30 mph) and there were a few little bumps.

Watch us on the rollercoaster (note: no sound b/c I didn't want to ruin computer speakers or eardrums with our screaming):

The fourth line we got to practice poses for the final line (which has a camera), we could take one hand off the handle bars, twist, move our legs, etc. Just never take both hands off. This one was short, but it was cool to try something different than the normal position.

The last one was essentially the same as the one before - strike a pose when you get to the camera at the very end (I was silly and looked the wrong way!).

By the end I was just really happy. It was such an enjoyable experience on many levels. The people in the group were friendly and encouraging. The atmosphere was supportive, fun, and lively. I felt a sense of accomplishment, engaging with my fear and conquering it. I would 100% recommend this tour and go ziplining again, and maybe on an even more intense/faster course.

My only, tiny complaint was that the tour is supposed to include information about Catalina's eco system and the kinds of nature or animals we might see in the canyon below, etc. I would have probably been too nervous to obtain any information, but it still would have been nice to learn something. Jack and Collin told us one weird anecdote about buffalo...but that was pretty much the extent of our "eco-tour".

At the end of the day, you could buy your photo for $17. I thought that was a bit pricey, but we got them anyway, since we didn't know the next time we'd get to go ziplining. Ziplining, itself is quite expensive, but if you can save up the money or have it on hand, it's definitely worth it.

This was the best activity of my summer, by far. And I wish I could go back and re-live it all over again.

To learn more about the Catalina Zipline visit here: http://www.visitcatalinaisland.com/avalon/tour_zipline.php

20. Pixar in Concert - Hollywood Bowl

The Hollywood Bowl is a great LA spot. Numerous events, outdoor seating under the stars (well maybe one or two if you're lucky), picnic food - just general merriment. This particular Friday evening I was invited to see Pixar in Concert.

Because the Hollywood Bowl is notorious for their terrible parking situation (all the cars jam in a lot in front of and behind each other (tandem) so there is no way to escape), I looked into the "Park & Ride" option. Hollywood Bowl offers buses that take you from a parking lot where it is safe to leave your car for free, directly to the box office, and then takes you back - for only $10!

I took the Park & Ride by the Federal Building. If you check the Hollywood Bowl's website, you can see what times the buses come at each location (which are scattered around the city). You can buy pre-sale tickets (at least 2 weeks before) or right before you get on the bus. I'd never done this before, so I was nervous it might be sold out.

I rushed over to the Federal building, parked my car by following some clear signage, and then ran to the bus that was about to leave. They had room for me and a couple other stragglers. I mistakenly took a seat facing inward...I would not recommend this, especially if you get car sick. The ride was jerky and bumpy, and I was stuck watching the world fly by sideways...it was quite unnerving. However, on the way back, I made sure to get a good seat (facing forward), and it was much more pleasant. I would highly, highly recommend this form of travel. It's quick, easy, cheap, and best of all you don't have to wait! And I know what waiting can do to people...(hint: causes anger and self-entitlement).

Once I arrived at the bowl and met my Pixar partner, we stopped in the Market Cafe and bought some fruit and drinks. They have romantic options for those lovebirds out there - strawberries and whipped cream! We also got food at Staccato. We ordered some chicken tenders and french fries...off the kid's menu. Very classy. The food, overall, was good - but you are welcome to bring your own picnics into the Hollywood Bowl, so I'd probably recommend that instead. Their food options are convenient, if you don't want to carry a picnic basket around.

After we took our seats (note: very uncomfortable wooden benches) we got ready to watch the show. I had brought a big blanket, because I thought it would be cold. I was glad I brought the blanket so we could have some extra cushion, but no blankets necessary on a summer night.

The actual show was really fun. The orchestra played the music from each of the 12 Pixar movies: Toy Story 1,2,3, Monsters Inc., Wall-E, Up, Finding Nemo, Cars 1,2, Brave, The Incredibles, A Bug's Life, and Rattatouille. As the music was playing, certain scenes were projected on a large screen (sans sound effects and dialogue). It was interesting to see what a huge roll the music played.

This show was also interjected by speeches from the Conductor and the CEO of Pixar. They mostly were just patting Pixar on the back, saying how great it was, how groundbreaking, ya de ya de ya da...I wanna see Nemo! Basically, I could have done without the interludes, though it seemed like some people were quite excited that the head of Pixar was there.

What I liked most about the show was that I still felt so much emotion without any sound or dialogue, simply from the visuals and the music. I got weepy during Finding Nemo, Rattatouille, Monsters Inc., and UP (of course - who does not cry in UP?). I was a little dissappointed in the scenes they chose for Wall-E, because that movie is mostly non-dialogue to begin with, and so successful in visual storytelling, but they chose to highlight the scenes in which Wall-E and Eva soar through the sky, instead of the more tender moments.

Having this show outdoors provided a more casual, interactive experience. You can whisper to the person you are with and talk about what you are seeing, hearing, etc. without disturbing others. We ended up moving back to a bench that was fairly empty so we could have more room. It was nice to have this kind of flexibility.

After the show was over (why weren't there fireworks? Sad), I walked through the tunnel and took the bus back to my car.

It was a very successful, out of the ordinary, and fun evening, and I'd highly recommend it to Pixar lovers. It's also a great show for all ages, so it'd be a fun family event.

Buy your tickets or learn more here: http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/tickets/pixar-concert/2012-08-04