March 2011
1 post
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Back. And Better.
My love has been tested. Los Angeles, meet your match: New freakin’ Zealand.
En Route to Rob Roy Glacier, Wanaka
I’ve returned to the cold, cruel arms of my homeland and post-partum vacation depression doesn’t begin to describe the emptiness that echoes through my heart. Three weeks in Aotearoa has left me forever changed, and now, in the dry desert of Los Angeles, my...
February 2011
2 posts
For Musings, Ramblings and Awesome Updates...
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Getting Out of LA: Devil's Punchbowl
When it comes to weekday routines and adventures around the city, I’m a staunch westside homebody. I scoff when someone mentions a drive to Downtown and snarl at the thought of a Friday night in Hollywood. Yet when the weekend comes and traffic subsides ever so slightly, my perspective does a 180 and my bones ache to get the hell out of my comfort zone. As I continue to hike my ass off...
January 2011
10 posts
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Great Outdoors: The Only Real Workout
23 days…552 hours…33,120 minutes. In little more than 3 weeks, I’ll be on my way to the land of the long white cloud: New Zealand. With such a serious trip on my hands, I’ve been kicking my life into high gear, shaping up for 20 days of adventure on the other side of the world.
On the scarier side of things, I’ve joined a gym for the first time in my life. Even...
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The City Looks Small from Echo Mountain
This past Saturday I abandoned my normal weekend habits and was up at 7am, preparing myself for a long overdue trek through the mountains of Altadena.
For the last couple of years I’ve been a huge fan of the LA-based outdoorsy website Modern Hiker. Along with an incredibly comprehensive list of local hikes, the author includes a special page with a very spot-on lineup, “The Best...
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Weekending: Hit the Beach!
What a whirlwind of weather we’ve had here in Los Angeles. Just two days ago I was chugging hot tea and piling on blankets, and now they’re predicting a summery weekend in the 70’s. Let’s cherish this brief respite from cold, because for all I know it’ll be hailing by Monday.
In the wee days of 2011, my sister and I took a weekend adventure down the PCH to Malibu....
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Adventures in Arcadia: Din Tai Fung
I’m not afraid to go to great lengths when it comes to scoring an awesome meal. Hour-long wait times, even longer drives, sketchy neighborhoods, you name it. When it comes to a delicious meal I’m ready to conquer all. And with the onslaught of coughing and congestion, it wasn’t difficult to decide which restaurant to try next. Arcadia, here I come!
A good friend with great...
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Farewell Desert: The Final Frontier
I’m back to the daily grind after a weekend filled with tissues, cough drops and classic movie marathons. Yep, I finally caught my yearly winter cold. While I pass the next few hours swaddled in my Snuggie, personal heater ablaze, join me as I muse over better days. Vacation days.
We’ll have to backpedal a bit here, because I’ve been blogging about my New Years weekend in the...
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Sin and Salvation by the Salton Sea
We drove through an endless expanse of brown and barren before reaching the quiet town of Niland. There’s a rugged diner here, and a Mexican restaurant across the highway. That’s about it. In the distance, a band of green glows against an otherwise monochromatic landscape - fertile farms that keep this neighborhood alive. So what the hell am I doing here, far from home in the middle of...
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Funny People, Awesome Art
Don’t let your Friday fall flat. Spice things up tonight with a little bit of culture and comedy, thanks to Gallery 1988. Their latest show, “Is This Thing On?” opens tonight and features works by dozen of local artists, with each paying tribute to a different comedian. And a painting I’m especially excited to see? My sister’s homage to Pee-wee Herman. Go on, get...
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Adventures of Epic Epicness: The Salton Sea
Standing in muck on the edge of California’s largest lake, it takes some convincing to believe this eerie expanse of blue was once a destination for tourists and desert dwellers alike. In it’s present state the resorts, vacation homes and pleasure seekers of the Salton Sea are long gone, with little more than death and decay remaining on the shore.
The town of Bombay Beach looks like...
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Adventures of Epic Epicness: San Jacinto Snow Day
Normally if you ask me how I’d spent my New Years day, after a late night of celebratory boozing…my answer would include marathon slumber, lots of aspirin and a greasy cheeseburger or two. But this year I found myself out of bed at 9am, bundling up against a frigid Palm Springs morning…to see some snow.
Rising 8,500 feet above the desert floor, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway...
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Adventures of Epic Epicness: Cabazon Dinosaurs
So the New Year is finally here, and I wanna get things started right. As always, I’ve got my list of the old standbys - the typical resolutions that usually get me to buckle down on good habits for all of…oh, a week. But for once in my life the most important goal is one I intend to keep - to up the ante for some seriously amazing adventures in 2011. And unlike dieting or ditching bad...
December 2010
5 posts
A Year in Awesome: Top 10 Adventures of 2010, Part...
Though I’ve already hung my 2011 “Kittens” calendar, the memories of the past year will live on forever. So our countdown continues…
5. Winery Weekend in Santa Ynez
How could a maiden voyage into wine country not make a top 10 list? My weekend in Santa Ynez was nothing short of bliss. From the picture-perfect pastoral landscapes to the epic Peter Gabriel ...
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A Year in Awesome: Top 10 Adventures of 2010, Part...
With little more than a blink of an eye, we find ourselves yet again on the precipice of another year’s end, this time 2010. January 1st looms ever so close, and around this time it’s an annual tradition to look back on the last twelve months and reflect.
Thanks to the start of a certain blog, the Year of the Tiger has been a jam, full of fond memories, weird wanderings and plenty of...
It's Trivia Night.
My skills in random knowledge may be slightly lacking, but it’s always a good time when the evening ends in a Hall & Oates dance party. A big drunken thanks to King Trivia and Ye Olde King’s Head for hosting an excellent evening.
Find the nearest trivia night near you.
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And it Begins. Holidays!
Mistletoe, sleigh bells and all that good shit. While at times I may snub so many of our greeting card holidays, Christmas is my favorite time of year. Whether it’s the CVS aisle bedecked in red and green, or 25 days of broken-record seasonal ballads, I could get drunk on this kind of spirit. Pour me another glass of cheer.
2010 marks Let’s Do Something Awesome’s first...
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Weekending To Do's: AKC Eukanuba National...
Why am I the only person interested in attending an awesome day dedicated to the dogs?? PUPPIES, PEOPLE!!
This weekend Long Beach plays host to one of the biggest dog shows in the nation, and you can attend! In addition to the crowning of a “Best in Show” beast, there will be agility competitions, breed judging, and tons of crazy dog owners! Christopher Guest, eat your heart out.
...
November 2010
22 posts
Los Angeles Love
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Weekending Part 2: Giant Rock & Joshua Tree
It’s not a real road trip ‘till the check engine light comes on.
After a soul-soothing sound bath at the Integratron, we piled back in our semi-trustworthy vehicle and hit some dirt roads for a trip to Giant Rock, the largest freestanding boulder in the world. It was indeed epic, but humankind has left it worse for wear, and it stands pockmarked with graffiti and broken bottles....
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Weird Weekending: The Integratron
At long last a worthy post for the new website. After last weeks laziness, and a with a few added days of Thanksgiving recovery, I knew it was time to up my adventure game. So when I alighted from bed yesterday in the wee hours of the morn, and found myself embarking on a three-hour journey into the middle of the fuckin’ desert…it meant good (bloggable) things were ahead.
The...
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Return to Pink Slab, or, Earning our Turkey Dinner
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays for creating new traditions. Maybe it’s the food, or more likely the family, but there’s a certain spirit present on this day that makes special moments worth repeating. For my sister and I, that custom is Pink Slab.
More…
Los Angeles Love
From a PlushYou! exhibit at MunkyKing back in September. Oh, and recommend me!
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Lunch is Served.
I love my job.
HP7 @ Midnight!
Don’t judge me.
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Sunday @ the Getty Villa
The past weekend brought another spell of confused weather, filled with blazing sun and summer-like heat, only to be followed by mean cold nights and skirt-raising gales. Not knowing what mother nature might throw next, I donned a sweater and threw on the stockings for a classy day of culture at the Getty Villa in Malibu. At a balmy 75 degrees. Great.
Gardens, architecture and colorful marble...
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Tomorrow in Art: Roa @ New Puppy Gallery
This one is worth the trek to Mount Washington. Tomorrow’s opening will feature newest works and installations from Roa, the Belgian-based street artist made famous for his massive black and white fauna scrawled on walls across the globe.
New Puppy Gallery
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Tonight @ New Beverly: Scott Pilgrim vs. The...
A sold out show!! Luckily I scored my tickets over a month ago. Any openings that do become available for the special midnight screening will be sold on a first come-first serve basis. With surprise special guests and a Q&A hosted by comedian Doug Benson, it may be worth waiting around the theater.
And a nearby treat that I’m definitely not missing? The Milk ice cream shop!
New...
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Worth the Hype
A-Frame Restaurant is amazing. Get the beer-butt chicken. And everything else on the menu.
Happy International Pocky Day!
Cuz it’s 11-11…and that looks like 4 sticks of Pocky.
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LudoTruck: The Verdict
Call it sacrilege, but until today I had never dined from a food truck. Clarification: I’ve spent many a drunken night wavering in front of the originators of the mobile food craze: your usual Mexican taco truck. But these fancy gourmet eateries that litter the sidewalks of trendy neighborhoods, with their witty names and flashy chrome? I’ve resisted. Till now.
What was it that...
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Los Angeles Love
Love your city, love my blog. Follow me and give LDSA your vote for Tumblr Tuesday!
4 tags
The Eastside Fix: Downtown Day, Part 2
After trotting around Grand Central Market, we didn’t have to venture far to hit more local landmarks. Just across the street stands the beautiful Bradbury Building, and we went in for a peek just before about 50 kids were ushered in for a tour. We snapped a few pics before making our way around the block to yet another historic spot, Angel’s Flight.
It costs only a quarter to...
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The Eastside Fix: Downtown Day, Part 1
For all my 24 years I’ve been a resident of West Los Angeles. Slightly pathetic? Possibly. But while I have those special days where I seek escape, and long for a neighborhood filled with tight jeans and trendy coffeehouses, I usually talk myself off the ledge and come to remember that it’s quite nice living by the beach’s salty breath.
Yesterday I had one of those “what...
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Around Town: Palms
Ahh, the neighborhood.
A chicken…advertising fish. Brilliant.
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Saturday: Thinkspace Five Year Anniversary Show
It’s art! It’s an opening! And along with the loads of culture, if you make it early you’re bound to score a free glass of wine or two. Is it wrong of me to consider this a main selling point of attendance? Anyway….the group show is on Culver City’s art-heavy Washington Blvd, so there will probably be more than a few galleries opening their doors tomorrow night.
...
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Weekending...
Winter and summer seasons are still fighting for supremacy, so before they butt heads and decide to throw down a tornado or something, you better enjoy the heat while you can.
Saturday I’m gonna sweat it out in downtown, playing around with a new camera lens. But Sundays are for relaxing (and getting pleasantly tanked on mimosas). Before I hit the bottle? A bike ride through the city.
...
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Happy National Sandwich Day!
And where to get your fix? How about…
Langers The ONLY pastrami sandwich. EVER.
Bay Cities Italian sammies at their best.
Porto’s Bakery One giant magical baking machine, with epic Cubanos.
Los Angeles Love.
And it’s Tumblr Tuesday. Recommend Me!
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Top of the World at Sandstone Peak
When I awoke on Saturday with sun streaming through my window, I shook off a minor Halloween hangover and packed up my gear for some reaquaintance with nature. It’s been nearly a month since I last hit the trails, and with a brilliant blue sky and white puffy clouds, the day called for something special.
Nearly an hour’s drive from the city at the top of winding Yerba Buena Road,...
October 2010
28 posts
8 tags
Halloween Weekend Rundown
It’s nearly All Hallow’s Eve and my mind could not be further from the holiday. My “Dia de los Muertos” costume remains unfinished, and the lack of productivity at work can’t even be attributed to blog love.
The distraction? 111 days. Until I’m on my way to New Zealand.
Now that I’ve exhausted every travel blog and website, made 10 versions of travel...
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Tonight @ Aero Theater: Donnie Darko
As October 31st quickly approaches, don’t forget to fill up on a healthy dose of fright. Aero Theater has got you covered tonight for a screening of Donnie Darko. Features a live commentary by director Richard Kelly. Film screens at 7:30pm.
Donnie Darko @ Aero
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Los Angeles Love, eBoy Style
So what if I’m broke. Finally bought me an LA poster, about 3 years late. Prideeeee.
Buy @ eBoy Shop
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Wednesday @ Royal/T: Ramen Night & Tampopo...
Holy crap. Royal/T in Culver City has taken two of my favorite things and made them into a FREE event on Wednesday! This is sure to make up for my relatively un-awesome weekend (too much time spent watching Deadwood and eating soup).
The perfect excuse to dip out early from work! The event begins at 6pm and features a special ramen menu to go along with Juzo Itami’s noodle-homage,...
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Halloweentime
Celebrate the haunted holiday with heavy drinking and sharp knives. Pumpkin carving!
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Tonight @ Downtown Independent: Tim & Eric...
Tim & Eric, truly a duo of weirdness and awesome the likes of which I will never fully comprehend. They’ve created their own special holiday that says fuck it to charity and selflessness, Chrimbus. December 5th honors gift receiving, going back to the days of yore when Winter Man made his rounds handing out presents to those who kept their Chrimbus Bushes trimmed and wet.
Riiiiiight.
...
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Take That, NYC. Los Angeles Declared Best City on...
10 Reasons Why LA is the Coolest City on the Planet
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Weekendness: Los Angeles Gets Schmancy
You’ve probably seen this all over the blogosphere, but a weekened recommendation really means nothing until it’s featured on LDSA. Behold:
I’m thinking this could be pretty cool, though definitely more worth it at the pre-sale $10 fare. The ticket does grant entry for both Saturday and Sunday, which is a nice bonus, especially if you’re a downtown resident. I’d...
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Party On: Culver City's Oktoberfest
Everyone’s getting on the fall festival bandwagon, and it seems that no city or suburb in Los Angeles County is content without cutting themselves a slice of the Oktoberfest funcake. Think you’ve had enough sausage, sauerkraut and spice-laden brewskis? Think not, friends. Strap on the lederhosen cuz tomorrow Culver City is taking their turn too.
And when did the quiet City of Culver...