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.