LA LA Land

Real "Jeffersonian" from Bones

2010-05-18T22:01:00.000-07:00

Bones fans will recognize this as the establishing shot used for the Jeffersonian.

It is in fact the Wallis Annenberg Building for Science Learning and Innovation at Exposition Park right by the rose garden. I knew I recognized it!

Descanso Gardens: Rest in the City

2010-05-16T23:49:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to visit Descanso Gardens since I saw a co-worker's, sister's wedding photos.

That was over five years ago and I hadn't made it, until today. Debbie and I, taking advantage of my last weekend house sitting in LA, ventured over to La Canada to wander around.

Ironically it is just as far from Culver City, where I was staying, to La Canada, as it would have been from Orange County. But that is neither here nor there.

For only $8, and free parking, you are given access to over 150 acres of garden delights. We stopped first for a late lunch at the outdoor cafe, catered by Patina. Good sandwich and salad fare. What is killer is the outdoor seating, set beneath a lovely pergola and beside a serene water feature. It was very relaxing and the set the tone for our visit.

Since neither of us had ever been there we should have taken the 50 minute tram tour for $4, but we were late and impatient, so we didn't. We just started walking.

Our first stop was in the five-acre Rosarium. It is breath-taking. The informal garden has over 1,200 varieties of roses and over 3,000 plants. Strolling through the gardens you feel like you're in someone's backyard. It is not the formal experience you have at The Huntington but instead you feel like you can run and play. Everywhere you turn there is a bench to sit and view the gardens, take in its beauty and relax.

From the roses we meandered through the Camellia Forest and Oak Forest, which are lush and green. It provided amazing shade and a few breezes to help us cool off. It was hot! There are lots of trails in and through this area for those who want to explore more and have a more strenuous hike.

Since we got there late we didn't get to see everything. Next time I want to make it to the Lilac, Iris and Japanese Gardens. We got lost in the rose garden for a few hours. Couldn't stop taking photos. I will definitely be back!

If you go remember that La Canada is hot! Bring sunscreen, a hat, good walking shoes and lots of water.

(Non) Baseball Game at Angel Stadium - Cheap Entertainment

2010-05-12T23:22:00.000-07:00

DSC04757
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

Some friends of mine from Ohio were in CA this week. They were staying in San Diego but came up to the OC for a night.

One of them is a HUGE baseball fan. Since they're from Ohio her team is the Indians, as losery as they may be this year. So to please her we went to an Angel's game.

Not wanting to shell out serious cash we opted for the cheap $12 seats. I have never been in those seats before. I now know why they are called nose-bleeds. Those stairs are steep! My friend's daughter is a dancer, in really good shape and we were all lacking oxygen by the time we got up there. Yikes.

We all sat down caught our breath and decided that we could wait til the end to go to the bathroom.

Bad thing about those seats, vendors don't go up that high. We only saw one, the lone hot dog vendor willing to climb up there. So sad. Since the daughter is the young one we made her go get snacks. LOL. The food at Angel stadium is really pretty good - Carls Jr, Panda Express, CPK in addition to your usual baseball fare.

We were so busy yakking and catching up we really didn't watch any baseball. I guess that's what ya get when three girls go to a game. Didn't really matter, it was a blow out against the Angels, they lost like 6-0. Or at least that was the score when we left in the 7th inning.

I like baseball for the socializing, always fun to go with friends. Lots of great memories there. My favorite are give-away nites and when they show fireworks. That night we got a tin-cap Angel's hat, courtesy of Claim Jumper. That was worth the $12 and they threw in a little baseball too, nice.

Extreme Hamburger Customization at The Counter

2010-05-11T00:11:00.000-07:00

A friend asked me to meet them at some place called The Counter. I had no idea what they were talking about. All they would tell me is, it's hamburgers on crack.

Alright. I could not imagine what would constitute such amazingness. I mean there already was Red Robin that does a decent burger, but you can't really customize. I haven't been back since they had the audacity to eliminate my favorite burger, the Pizziola. But there is the issue of those fantastic thick steak fries that never end. That is a HUGE selling point. Have you had the garlic fries, so good.

Then there is Fuddruckers. Their burger is good. You can pretty much customize and they have an extreme condiment bar. You get your choice of size, etc but they're bankrupt and restructuring or something. That is bad hamburger mojo.

Don't get me started on In-N-Out that is just not in the running. There was once this great greasy joint in West LA called, "Mo Betta Meaty Meat Burgers." That place was slammin' and you can't say the name enough, it in and of itself inspires delight. The whole burger, steak fry, soda combo ROCKED!

So how good could The Counter be? What would they have to bring to the hamburger conversation? I was thinking it was going to be some shi-shi place that gave you a dinky burger with a wasabi-teriyaki sauce and called itself a new twist on burgers.

But I am here to testify that The Counter is this shiz. It is ultra modern and the burgers are big and juicy. You can choose a chicken, turkey, lamb, beef or veggie burger in your choice of size on your choice of bun, go old school with the sesame, healthy with whole wheat or get crazy with the market selection, the flavor of the month. This month its rustic ciabatta. Then you have your choice of 12 different cheeses (1 included), 21 different regular toppings (up to four included, more extra), 9 premium toppings and your choice of 21 different sauces (1 included, more extra). It is a choice overload. Kid you not.

I was dumb-founded. I had no idea what I wanted to taste. I thought about going with one of the pre-fixe burger choices, but that would be just silly.I had the beef burger with sharp provolone cheese, mixed organic greens, red onion and a delicious chimichurri sauce (market place selection) on rustic ciabatta bread. My friend got a beef burger with gruyere, carmelized onions and black bean/corn salsa on ciabatta. Each of our 1/3 burgers were about $10.00 given extra selections we requested. The ciabatta was a dollar up charge and fries are extra.

We split an order of 50/50 fries - skinny fries and sweet potato fries. The sweet fries were a bit bland but the zesty sauce that came with it made all the difference. I'm not a fan of the skinny fry but I'd get the sweet fries again, because of the sauce.

Total bill was about $30.00 with the drink. I loved it. It was a great treat! You could return a thousand times and never have your burger the same way twice. Think about the possibilities. I will be back!

Classic Movies on Big Screen in Anaheim

2010-05-09T22:07:00.000-07:00

I was driving past Cinema City Theatres today in Anaheim and in small print see the words, "My Fair Lady, May 12." What?!

Every second Wednesday, throughout the year, they present their Classic Cinema Series. Fabulous movies like Goldfinger (June), Casablanca (October), and White Christmas (December) will be brought to the big screen once again.

Cinema City also offers first run movies at only $5 before noon, $6 from 12-6 p.m., and general admission is $9.

Looks like I will be frequenting Cinema City a lot this year.

Pink Tacolicious

2010-05-07T23:48:00.000-07:00

After taking in JLO's comeback flick, The Back Up Plan at AMC Century City, we decided to walk around the outdoor mall to see what there was to see. Passing Coach, Tiffany, Kate Spade and The Container Store, our eyes were drawn to the outdoor deck of Pink Taco.

Seated up high in Los Angeles, among the skyscrapers, you are sippin' the drink of your choice and feasting on chips and salsa.

The chips were thick and crunchy. The salsa nice and spicy, chunky not runny and oh so flavorful. We shared a taco platter ($12.95), three tacos with rice and beans. We ordered two carne asada and one chicken. The flavoring was the same on both and it was gooood. The margaritas were not skimpy on the tequila and at $10/ea about average on the price. I must say it was all delicious and the service was quick and friendly.

The outdoor bar cleared out at about 10:30 p.m. but the music was so loud that you could not easily carry on a conversation. Still a fun place to go with friends before or after you see a movie and if you're young enough before you hit the clubs.

My friend and I both realized that about 10 years ago 11 p.m. is when the night got started but in our mid-30s it's time to go home.

Got my American Idol Moment

2010-05-04T21:05:00.000-07:00

After a year-long wait my friend finally got two tickets to see a taping of American Idol.

I usually only watch the beginning of the season and then the last few weeks. I'm fickle like that, I admit it. My favorite of this bunch was Siobhan and Lee. Siobhan was eliminated last week, but Lee's still going strong. I think he has gotten better since I saw him last, in the top 24.

Turns out she only got tickets for the dress rehearsal, but I was still in, why not. It's one of the great perks of living where we do.

We arrived at CBS studios at 12 p.m. dressed "trendy and hip with closed-toe shoes" per the guideliness she received with the tickets. The line at the Genosee gate was already about 50 deep, so we took our place to wait.

Waiting at another gate, not far from ours, were those going to see Dancing with the Stars. To attend that show you have to dress like you're going to prom. Wow. Lots of stilettos, glitter and hairspray happening!

We are set to wait an hour or more, in the sun, to just get into the next waiting area. Finally at about 1:30 p.m. we walk single-file through the metal detector, no phones or cameras. Then we wait another hour and a half on benches outside the set. However, they do have a water cooler and port-a-potties for us, it isn't all bad. We get acquainted with those around us and even run into someone my friend knows, it's a small world.

Finally at 3 p.m. we go inside. I'm surprised that I'm really quite excited. All of the waiting really builds anticipation. We file in, like good school kids, and are are seated right behind the judges table. If this were the live show we would have been on camera the entire time. This is usually where the family and friends of the contestants sit.

It is just magical to be there, to see in person what you only usually see on tv. I was instantly surprised at how very small the set is. It's amazing how much smaller it is in person. I could hear murmurs of the same thought echoing in those around us. Someone even said, "I could sing here, what's the big deal." But once the turn on the lights, wow! The set is transformed. Since most of it is metal and mirrors it becomes gigantic, foggy and scary. Now I can see why they're nervous.

The actual performance area this week is only about 15' x 12'. The majority of the stage space is taken up with the band. It is Sinatra week after all and we'll get to see Harry Connick, Jr, the mentor, who will be on hand to rehearse with Ryan. Harry is funny, charming and oh so hot in person. He doles out a few hugs and autographs to the pit. Very congenial and nice.

In total, rehearsal takes about an hour. Most of the taped segments of the show aren't ready. We hear lots of banter back and forth between Ryan and the staff. He's really quite funny. He interacts a bit with the audience and trade one-liners.

Each contestant goes through the songs and are given last minute instructions on where to sit and run through sample questions from Ryan. The judges were not there, we instead saw their stand-ins who always offer positive feedback to the contestants working out last minute kinks in their songs.

As a person who loves to see how it all happens, I was in my glory. We tried to get tickets to the real show, but we didn't get from the set to the next line in time. We did however return to On Camera Audiences to put on names on the waiting list again.

Flower Fields are in Full Bloom

2010-04-17T22:51:00.001-07:00

Flower Fields
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

The hills are alive with the site of ranuncula's in bloom. The Flower Field website is now reporting that everything is full swing for the season. Spring has officially arrived to Southern California

Every year, March through May, the Flower Fields of Carlsbad are open to the public to experience a spectacular display of flowers, featuring ranunculas but also including roses, sweet peas, poinsettias and gardens of many other kinds.

Every weekend there is a new activity from Canon photography workshops, to band, kids activities and arts/crafts. Check the event calendar and make your plans to go.

This year they are also displaying Santa's Playground that used to be at Lake Arrowhead's Santa's Village. Become a kid again as you go through the sweet pea maze or run around the giant mushrooms and Dollhouse.

I can't wait to go back and take some photos and eat the delicious strawberries for sale at the entrance! Yum. I have been several times and it never fails to amaze!

Tix for adults are $10, parking is free!

Beautiful Day in Laguna nearly ruined by yahoos.

2010-04-13T12:52:00.001-07:00

A little cove in Laguna
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

This was my view for most of the four hours I spent chillin' at the beach on Saturday. It was sunny, warm, peaceful, serene and ideal. I got to watch a toddler play in the sand with his father and grandfather. I saw high school boys, clearly not from CA, try and body surf and only hurt themselves in the process. I saw lovers stroll hand in hand down the beach. At one point we even saw dolphins follicking in the water. It was practically a spiritual moment.

Yes! It was awesome and picture perfect UNTIL two yahoos came and stood right in front of us. WHAT? The beach was nearly empty and these middle-aged men came and stood right in front of us blocking our entire view of everything including the ocean. I mean they were about 10 feet in front of us, that close. Isn't there a rule that if the place is empty you don't go sit or be by the only other person in the area? Isn't that a rule of thumb for being polite in public. It's an American custom. I'm pretty sure.

So WHY? I even asked them why, but they wouldn't turn around and wouldn't answer my question. If you have the entire beach to choose from, go stand elsewhere. Then they were talking so loud we could hear every word they said. Their conversation was inane and ridiculous. It wasn't like they were discussing life and death. The balding guy was upset that his girlfriend killed his buzz when they were bar-hopping by taking too long to decide where they were going next and when she finally decided the next place was too far. Then she had the audacity to keep talking and nearly ruin his night. So apparently that's why he had to ruin my view.

The ocean spoke back. The tide was coming back in and came right up to where they were. They shrieked like little girls and went running because heaven forbid you get wet at the beach. Seriously.

Gelato Paradiso - Taste of Italian Heaven in Laguna

2010-04-11T15:40:00.001-07:00

Gelato Paradiso
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

A trip to Laguna Beach is not complete until you traverse down the quaint alleyway to Gelato Paradiso.

That's right, there is an actual white-light strewn alley leading you to this sweet lovers paradise. Be transported to another place.

Coming in from the main sidewalk you pass a restaurant and chocolate shop to get to the sweet aroma of freshly-made waffles wafting from the small shop. But don't stop press on towards the gelato, it is worth it.

Made in a time-honored Sicilian way that maximizes flavor, with half the fat and calories of regular ice cream, their web site says! Can it be true? Perhaps, it's from the imported Italian ingredients, they lose calories on the flight over.

That's right, this italian ice-cream chain says that they actually import some of their ingredients straight from Italy to make sure it is done the same way it has been done for centuries. Does it make a difference? I have no idea but it's delicious and the line of people waiting for their tasty treat must agree. Their flavor list is relatively small but you're sure to find something to please you with flavors ranging from chocolate hazelnut, cookies & cream, espresso, dulce de leche, tiramisu to the sorbetos like limone, mango and strawberry.

Now this decadence comes at a price, the medium size (two scoops) will run you about $5. Not as cheap as frozen yogurt but a taste sensation definitely worth the trip. I had lemon sorbeto and italian cream gelato. The sweet and sour were a perfect pair in my mouth. My friend Gina got pistachio and chocolate almond. She was in gelato heaven.

So go tempt your taste buds at Gelato Paradiso.

Kaffa! Coffee - Free wifi few outlets!

2010-04-07T15:48:00.001-07:00

Kaffa!
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

Named the best coffee house in 2008 and 2009 by various OC publications and news outlets. This small coffee house has a lot of hype to live up to.

Located in a, primarily medical, strip mall, parking is ample. When I arrived at 3 p.m. the coffee house was nearly empty. Score. After my trip to Chapman Coffee House I was ready to get some work done. Decorated in black wood wainscoting and yellow walls, filled with local art for sale, Kaffa! feels intimate and cozy.

Employees are friendly and helpful. They are ready to suggest a drink, sandwich or dessert. By 3 p.m. their pastries are pretty picked over, so I opt for another iced coffee. It is steeped for 72 hours in cold water. Wow. That is some strong iced coffee. Good though.

Wifi is password protected, so be sure to ask for it. However, beware, there are few outlets.In fact there is only one they want you to use and it is up front. The one I found in the back is linked to the kitchen circuit and it could be tripped if you use it. Yikes. So if you go, be sure your battery is charged or don't plan on being there long to work.

Aahh happy to be at a place where I can settle in for a bit, or as long as my battery holds.

Too Old Chapman Coffee House?

2010-04-07T14:46:00.000-07:00

My coffee and free wifi search of the day takes me to Chapman Coffee House, which is practically on the Chapman University campus, on the corner of Glassell and Walnut. It is also in walking distance of the Orange Circle.

Parking, as is the case in downtown Orange, is a bit hairy. There is 20 minute parking behind the coffee house, but if you plan to do more than take your coffee to go you must fair with street parking. Be careful of the green curbs, which means only 1 hour parking. Usually you can find an empty spot on one of the side streets for longer stays.

With its proximity to the university expect lots of students, seems silly to say, but just be warned. This place is full. There was only one empty table in the place when I arrived at 2 p.m. and this table was no where near an outlet. Instead I opted for the very cute "outdoor living room." While it has no outlet, the wifi is still free, you can enjoy the outdoors, watch people pass by and soak up some sun. It is a perfect place to sit and relax and sip your coffee.

Ah yes, the coffee. They offer the usual coffee house variety but seem to have a special affinity for chai. They have it in every variety - milk shakes, soy, lemonade, strawberryade, etc. This was like Bubba's list of shrimp, but with chai. Insane. I did not try any of those, I went for the iced coffee, which is brewed for 24 hours in cold and purified water. ($2.72 for the large) All I can say is wow, rich. They also offer quite the selection of pastries, even one called the "Strawberry Pastry to die for." Wow. Impressive.

It is interesting to listen to the students talk around me. Some are studying for tests, others are frantically trying to find an internship, others desperate for a date. Aahh your early 20s, all the angst and ridiculousness, when you think you know everything and act accordingly. It was fun to sip my coffee and listen to them wax on about life, love and the pursuit of happiness.

Everything at Chapman Coffee House nice enough, but it doesn't feel like a place I will frequent very often to work. No real reason. Employees nice enough. Coffee decent. Maybe I'm just too old. But it doesn't fit my personality, somehow. Now, I would be back with a friend to share a pastry worth dying for.

Chapman Coffee House
714-602-6983
505 N Glassell St. Orange, CA 92867
Open Daily 7am to 10pm

Happily Unfound at The Lost Bean

2010-04-06T15:50:00.000-07:00

Since I am unemployed, I am perpetually on the look out for cool coffee shops with free wifi. If coffee or drink refills are free then so much the better.

I did a cursory search on Yelp and found several that I will be frequenting soon! The stop today is The Lost Bean. Located in a very cute plaza on Newport Blvd in Tustin. Beware that all parking spots in front of the cafe are 1 hour or less, some even just 10 minutes. Be sure to park in the back if you plan on partaking of the free wife.

Inside the cafe has a stamped, gray cement floor with warm, dark wood tables, chairs and bar. A bright predominantly yellow wall with the recessed lighting and dim over-table lighting is just right for reading, computer work and conversation. I arrived at 3 p.m. and it was about half full. The wifi is only free with a purchase. It is a secure network, so be sure to ask your barista for the code when you try one of the sandwiches, desserts or drinks.

I tried one of the ice teas on brew for the day, an organic black Hawaiian. It is was great. A black tea with subtle tropical flavors, mainly pineapple. A refreshing blend. I also treated myself to an amazing chocolate croissant. Oh my! The kind barista offered to heat it for me and all of the chocolate melted into the croissant. Heaven. So good. I have to say that the employees are super friendly and conversational unlike Panera or other shops where they just take your order and say next. I get the feeling that if you came here often they would remember what you like.

Other than the really loud conversations happening around me, I am pleased with my trip to The Lost Bean. Granted, it is loud in most coffee shops, but at some the noise all blends together to be a general clatter, here it's a smaller local and individual conversations assault your consciousness.

Regardless, I will be back and will recommend it to others. Also for sale are works from local artists, organic tea offerings and other coffee and tea accouterments.

The Lost Bean
13011 Newport Blvd, Tustin, CA

E Street Cafe a lucky find

2010-04-05T17:00:00.001-07:00

E Street Cafe
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

Wrapping up our whirlwind afternoon in Encinitas Nicole and I decided to stop and hydrate up at this cute cafe on the street where our cars were parked, aptly named E Street Cafe.

It is adorable! Warm and cozy with free wifi, Dell workstations for rent, live music at night, delicious pastries and coffee drinks galore. These aren't just your grandma's coffees instead its a specially selected organic, free trade coffee blended and mixed into your favorite drink. Also on hand are a variety of loose leaf teas.

We were there around 1:30 p.m. and the place was busy but not overly crowded. There was also a great mix of people, not just a bunch of loud teenagers. I know that comment makes me sound old, but you know what I'm talking about.

I had an iced coffee that was delicious. They had a bunch of syrups, even in sugar free, to choose from but I went with it straight. Nicole had a Pellegrino and we shared one of the plethora of desserts, a chocolate chip crumb cake. It was great! Prices were about average for a place of its kind.

I know I would definitely go back.

View of Laguna Beach

2010-03-27T01:32:00.001-07:00

Laguna
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

This is why it is worth dealing with smog, high cost of living, traffic, rude drivers, crazy laws, etc - the view. Spectacular. Oh how I love the ocean and beach!

Convenience at the Beach

2010-03-27T01:00:00.001-07:00

Meters that take credit.
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

I was cruising around Laguna yesterday hoping to find a spot by the beach.

I just wanted to pop in for a bit and soak up some sun and waves. All I could find were metered spots and I had ZERO change on me. I remembered that the meters by the beach in Laguna only take quarters and dimes, no pesky nickles or pennies for them. Your cash of those varieties is not wanted. But what caught my eye as I drive by was the mastercard logo.

I nearly stopped on a proverbial dime when I realized, these meters take credit cards. SWEET! Now I can charge my time at the beach. That is having your cake and eating it two if I ever heard it!

Not sure if all beach meters are like this, but those near Laguna, by Las Brisas Cafe are :)

Rutabagorz

2010-03-24T17:49:00.000-07:00

One of the great things about California is that there is a restaurant for every ethnicity, taste, creed, variety and style. From Thai to Ethiopian to French to Vegan to Raw to greasy Diner. You can find it all here. Every craze, fad, tradition and culture is represented. Now, not every one will be a favorite and today was one of those for me.

I'm saying up front that this restaurant is not one I would choose on a regular basis. Instead it was chosen by my friend, who is on a strange diet and can only eat like three things. I respect her dietary needs and we went. With that build up, where did we go, Rutabagorz.

Rutaz, as it is affectionately named, bills itself as a healthy alternative. It is mostly a vegetarian restaurant. Lots of sprouts, vegetables and dishes made with bean curd, soy proteins and sweet potatoes. However, I was surprised to note that most things are drenched in melted cheese, but I guess if you're not eating meat or anything fried, melted cheese is necessary for protein and to get it all down.

Now to say something good, the passion fruit ice tea is delicious. It is smooth with hints of fruit that do not overwhelm.

Rutaz is turning 40 this year so every month the three restaurants will be featuring a dip special for only .40. At the Fullerton location, where I was today, it was the black bean hummus. I must say it was AWESOME. I could eat a gallon of that, so good. They also have really amazing pastries and cookies. When you walk in, it's the first thing you see, a giant case of them taunting you and begging to be eaten. Each one is made on site, and you can taste the difference. The restaurant opened serving only homemade soups and cheesecakes in 1970. It was also among the first to capitalize on the coffee trend and serve espressos in a casual environment that wouldn't kick ya out.

I remember the coffee drinks being delicious, from college. Some are even of the alcohol variety and with those delicious pastries, how can you go wrong? You can't.

I had not been to Rutaz since the early 90s and I probably won't add it into heavy rotation. But if you're in for the healthy variety, want a variety of vegetarian cuisine, I highly recommend it. Their salads are ENORMOUS. They are practically served in a giant mixing bowl.

I think I would have been happier if I had gone with the bbq chicken salad instead of the enchiladas verdes. I don't know why I ordered them. There was hint o' chicken and LOTS of cheese. My friend had a highly customized salad of some variety that you couldn't replicate if you tried. But the great thing about Rutaz is that they will do it for you, occasionally with a small up charge.

There are three Orange County locations: Fullerton, Orange and Tustin. Each one is housed in a reconstituted, historic building. No new construction for Rutabagorz (a twist on the vegetable Rutabega). They believe in using what is already here and want you to feel good about what you eat.

Ode to Yogurtland

2010-03-20T14:36:00.000-07:00

I have found my new heaven and it is almost healthy.

The other day I met a friend for froyo. Frozen yogurt is the new cupcake. There are a million different places to get it, seriously. There is Pinkberry, Golden Spoon, Cherry on Top and now my new mecca, Yogurtland. It is that good.

To be honest I was hooked when I found out the featured flavor is Red Velvet Cake Batter. OMG! OMG!! Although every flavor is delicious from the Vanilla Cookie Wafer to Coconut, Strawberry, Yuzu Tart, Madagascar Vanilla or Peanut Butter. You can request little sample cups from the cashier and taste to your hearts content. Although they will only give you one or two cups at a time.

Since it is self-serve you can make your own creation unabashedly. I did a base of the vanilla cookie wafer, cheesecake, strawberry and coconut. AH-MAZING!

The other great factor is the topping bar, everything you can think of to put on your frozen yogurt from fresh fruit to candy to crushed graham crackers, oh my.

All of this for .30 an oz. Kid you not! Only .30/oz. This treat is healthier than coffee, I'm sure, and cheaper. I smell a new addiction for me. I have been twice already this week.

So far I have been to the one in Irvine at The Marketplace and the one in Tustin near State College. The one in Irvine is my favorite. Find your nearest location and go!

GPS Tour: Greystone Mansion

2008-04-02T17:44:00.000-07:00

DSC00450
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

Taking advantage of the beautiful Saturday and a chance to spend time with my friend Tina we decided to sitesee a la GPS. So we just randomly started looking for places we'd never been. It turned into a fabulous day that concluded at this mansion, after a trip to the Glendale Cemetery and the best view of the Hollywood Sign ever.

As we headed north on the 5 fwy our final stop was the Greystone Mansion. Originally home to the famous Angelinos, the Doheny's (as in Doheny Drive). The oil baron's son built the home (1926-1928) for over $3 million. It was their family home until 1955. AFI called it home from 1969-1982 then it was purchased by the city of Beverly Hills and designated a park.

It is now used for cultural events, weddings, photo shoots, and movie locations. Movies and tv shows to have filmed there include: Gilmore Girls, Spiderman, Spiderman 3, AirForce One, XMEN, Holiday, There Will Be Blood, Rules of Engagement and What Women Want, just to name a few.

The day we went there was a wedding, so we couldn't wander through the house, but the grounds were still spectacular and gardens were regal. You felt like you were on a movie set.

It would be a very fun place to see a concert or a play. Membership begins at just $50. It is a great way to spend the afternoon.

Greystone Mansion
905 Loma Vista Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

GPS Tour: The Hollywood Sign

2008-04-02T15:13:00.000-07:00

DSC00409
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

Second stop on the GPS Tour of April 2008 was the Hollywood Sign. Our first stop was the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale and the final stop is the Greystone Mansion. Followed by dinner at Versailles.

The Hollywood Sign was originally built in 1923 as a real estate beacon by LA Times Publisher Harry Chandler, the $21,000 Hollywoodland Sign was only supposed to last a year and a half. However, more than eight decades later it still represents all the magic of an industry that still draws millions of hopefuls every year.

It measures 450 feet long and each letter is 45 feet tall. It fell into disrepair in the 1960s and 70s as Hollywood lost its luster and its occupants and studios fled to the Valley. As the old theaters started to be restored, so was the sign. Overhauled in the 1990s, now with monument status, it made its world debut ringing in Y2K. In the early 00s state-of-the-art lights and surveillance brought this relic up to date and made it ready to last another 80+ years.

I have seen the sign from the 10 fwy, Hollywood and Highland and the Hollywood Bowl but the view from Beachwood Canyon Drive at Glen Holly is one of, if not the best. If you keep driving up Beachwood Canyon you'll find the entrance to the subdivision that started it all, Hollywoodland. Want to find other great places to see the sign? Click here

GPS Tour: Forest Lawn, Glendale

2008-04-02T00:48:00.000-07:00

Hall of The Crucifixion-Resurrection
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

When you think you've seen all there is to see in your area, consult your GPS to make sure. Wanting to take advantage of a beautiful Saturday my former roommate and dear friend Tina and I headed out in the great blue yonder with only our GPS as our guide. LOL. This is roughing it in LA.

The first stop on our random GPS led Tour was the Forest Lawn Cemetary in Glendale. Other stops on the tour were: the Hollywood Sign and Greystone Mansion.

Why stop at a cemetery? Let me tell you.

Forest Lawn in Glendale is more than a cemetery, it is a veritable cultural experience.

In addition to being the final resting place to over 250,000 people, including the largest number of celebrities, it also houses a museum, wedding chapel, art gallery, and an architectural showcase. Forest Lawn is founded on the belief that there is joy in the life after death.

During our trip we visited an amazing mural, The Crucifixion and Resurrection, a stained-glass replica of the Last Supper, and the Plaza of MesoAmerican Heritage - all part of Forest Lawn's permanent collection.

The Last Supper is one of Leonardo da Vinci's greatest works, and the original is now faded and damaged. Hubert Easton commissioned a stained glass artist from Italy to study da Vinci's sketches and recreate his masterpiece in stained glass for his gallery. It is spectacular. Amazing that it survived being shipped.

The Crucifixion and Resurrection murals are housed in the Hall of Crucifixion and Resurrection, built specifically for these amazing works of art.

The Crucifixion, painted by Polish artist Jan Styka, is the largest framed mounted to canvas painting in the world, standing 195' long by 45' high. It is hard to absorb it all, instead you have to break it down piece by piece, element by element to take it all in. Luckily the painting is narrated and important parts are iilluminated for easy finding.

What struck me most about this fantastic work of art was the story of how it came to Forest Lawn. Artist Jan Styka studied in the holy land and had his palette blessed by Pope Leo the XIII before he began his awesome effort to paint the moment of Christ's crucifixion from all perspectives.

However, when it came to America, in 1904, to be shown at an exhibition St. Louis it was lost. Jan was forced to return to Poland without his masterpiece, and he never saw it again. Dr. Huber Eaton, founder of Forest Lawn, decided to find it and get it a permanent home. In 1944 it was found in a warehouse in Chicago wrapped around a telephone pole.

The Resurrection was painted by American Artist, Robert Clark. With it's completion Forest Lawn created a sacred trilogy of the three most significant events in Christ's life - the Last Supper, Crucifixion, and Resurrection.

The Plaza of MesoAmerican Heritage has beautiful sculptures and amazing views.

Never fear, there are also a ton of celebrities to be found at Forest Lawn. In fact, it is the final resting place for the greatest number of celebrities in the world. Here is a small sample of those buried on site. Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Jimmy Stewart, Jean Harlow, Humphrey Bogart, Mary Pickford, Errol Flynn, and Spencer Tracy. George Burns & Gracie Allen, W.C. Fields, Sammy Davis Jr., Walt Disney, Red Skelton, Lon Chaney, Ethel Waters, Alan Ladd, Dick Powell, Ted Knight, Sam Cooke, Joe E. Brown, Nat King Cole, Norma Shearer, Chico Marx, Dorothy Dandridge, Sid Grauman, Casey Stengel, Larry Fine, Aimee Semple McPherson, Louis L'Amour and L. Frank Baum.

However, Forest Lawn employees will not help you find these graves on their expansive grounds. Rather they frown on it and have on occasion confiscated grave maps.

This is not your average cemetery.

Forest Lawn — Glendale
1712 S. Glendale Avenue
Glendale, CA 91205

Cupcake Tour of Los Angeles

2008-03-15T03:12:00.000-07:00

Vanilla Bake Shop
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

Cupcakes have made quite the comeback. They are no longer the cake's red-headed stepsister and nor are they relegated to birthday treats for elementary school kids. They are now the romantic lead for bakeries all over the southland.

Perhaps the most famous one is Sprinkles, but it is far from the best. I mean the red velvet are delicious, I can't lie, but I find the other flavors a little dry and lacking in deliciousness. I want to like them but they don't cause any mouthgasms for me.

So Erika consulted Yelp and created a tour schedule for us. Yelpers are very vocal about their cupcakes and that Sprinkles isn't the only sweet spot on the block.

We decided that each place we would try three flavors. The control cupcakes were red velvet and chocolate. The third would be our choice based on the variety offered at each establishment. We were taking our taste testing very seriously. The other essential element was milk.

Our first stop was at the Buttercake Bakery in West Los Angeles on Pico. It is an unassuming storefront along the busy street that you could miss if you weren't looking for it. This place is not suited for loitering, there is little room for sitting. Definitely for take out.

Buttercake has three standard flavors: chocolate, red velvet and buttercream. The variance is the frosting available in seven flavors from cream cheese to cookies-n-cream. Each cupcake is $2.25.

The cupcakes themselves are non-descript. They look like something I would make at home. Nothing special. Not grand. Not ostentacious at all.

On the red velvet the cream cheese frosting was great. Very creamy and flavorful. The cake however was dry as a bone. I went through a pint of milk to wash it all down. The buttercream was ok, frosting a bit too sweet. The chocolate was my least favorite frosting and cake just not that chocolatey or memorable. We decided this was a good baseline for our tour. Also to be fair I've heard that the lemon bars and carrot cake are their real forte.

Next stop was Yummy Cupcakes in Santa Monica on Wilshire. Now this place is obviously dedicated to cupcakes. They don't dabble in anything else. The menu is expansive with daily flavors (198 on the menu, though all not available everyday) and even 45 vegan offerings. Every cupcake comes in three sizes, the mini, classic and jumbo ranging in price from $1.35 to $2.75 and $4. The minis and jumbos are generally special order, but a few on hand everyday.

Cupcake flavors at Yummys are quite unique - apple martini, arnold palmer, buttered popcorn, chocolate chili, cosmopolitan and figgy pudding. We arrived late in the day and many of the fun flavors were sold out, so we stuck to the plan.

Knowing we had another stop we decided to cut the cupcakes in half this time and take some home. There are so many choices we stood and stared at the board for a while. The staff was helpful, made great suggestions and didn't mind that it took us a while to order. Great customer service. My third choice this time was an almond joy, my favorite candy bar.

I have to say, every cupcake was pretty good. The cake was moist. The frosting was creamy, rich and abundant. I think the frosting was at least 3/4" high on each cupcake. Even the classic size is quite generous. These cakes should be shared and eaten slowly over time. They are decadent indeed. I loved all of them. Be sure to check the web site to see what's available on the day you go. This is a perfect stop when you're in Santa Monica.

Our third and final stop was the Vanilla Bake Shop, down the street on Wilshire in Santa Monica. This is an upscale, classy bakery with really cute packaging and decor. You feel like you're in a French pastry shop. It's very cute.

At this point I was in a near sugar coma. I really should have eaten lunch before we started this venture. I was on serious overload. My sweet tastebuds were shorting out. We stopped to drink some water and milk to try and cleanse the palette. We also opted for minis to share.

The cupcakes were good. Not as rich as Yummy's but still good and the shop was so adorable it made for a great experience. We enjoyed sitting there tasting and talking. The eat-in area is small but not cramped. Each table has a flower and the shop is so cute you can't help but love it.

Overall I would say that Yummy's was my favorite but Vanilla Bake Shop ranks up there as well. Really three very different experiences, all depends on what you're in the mood for.

Huntington Gardens

2008-01-21T10:08:00.002-08:00

One of my favorite places to visit in all of Southern California is The Huntington Library and Gardens. I have been at least 100 times over the years, if not more, and am amazed every time.

Driving down Allen Ave from the 210 you enter the grounds through a massive black, elaborate gate, greeted by a friendly security guard and with a wave of his hand granted entrance to the massive 600-acre estate full of every kind of flower, climate, tree, and herb. It is a true urban escape. You forget that you're 30 minutes from LA. You can pretend you're an honored guest of the Huntington's as you wander over their expansive lawn, read in a secluded cluster of trees on a hidden bench or let your kids run free.

Incredibly beautiful, peaceful and serene this former estate of Henry and Isabella Huntington was built to focus on their massive art, books and landscaping passions. Gardens include: Rose, Japanese, Chinese, Camellia, Shakespeare, Childrens, Jungle and Palm. Click here to see what's in bloom.

There are continual exhibits, rotating collections and perennial favorites on display in one of the several on-site galleries including the Huntington Art Gallery, Virginia Steele Scott Gallery, and Boone Gallery. Favorite events every year is the Shakespeare Festival, Plant Sales, Flower Shows, and countless lectures to enrich your historical, horticultural brain.

One of my most favorite things is having tea in this beautiful setting. A buffet approach, this is a great way to start or cap off your trip to the gardens. It's a bit pricey, $24.95 plus the cost of admission. It is worth the treat! The tea is competitively price for tea in the Pasadena area.

You can visit the gardens for free on the first Thursday of the month, with prior reservation. Otherwise, as of 2010, it costs $15 M-Th and $20 on weekends. Members always get in for free. It is so worth it!

Lunch at Montage Resort

2008-01-20T00:36:00.000-08:00

montage
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

To celebrate my boss' birthday he treated us to lunch at The Montage in Laguna Beach.

I don't know how we score lunch by the beach for his birthday but I'll take it. He's a cool boss like that.

The Montage is a four star hotel and spa right on the water. The views are spectacular and the resort is luxurious and spendy. One night at the Montage averages about $400. A facial in the spa starts at like $250. Yea, not for the faint of heart.

We dined at the Mosaic Bar and Grille. Located outside, on a patio by the pool you are treated to majestic view of the grounds and ocean. The service is amazing. The menu is diverse and ranges from burgers to halibut tacos.

For appetizers we had the Romanesco Flatbread with Spanish Chorizo, Goat & Mozzarella Cheeses, Basil, and Romesco Sauce. It was AMAZING. It was also $20.

I tried the Mosaic “Prime” Burger on a Sesame Seed Bun with fries for lunch. The burger wasn't spectacular. Nothing you couldn't get at Red Robin for much cheaper than the $22 price tag. Other entrees at the table were the grilled salmon salad, blackened mahi mahi sandwich, and teriyaki chicken sandwich.

Everyone said their meal was good. I think the only one that raved was the boss who ordered the salmon salad. He said it was delicious.

Now desert on the other hand is worth ranting and raving about we had creme brulee with organic madagascar vanilla ice cream. So good. We couldn't get enough.

A trip to the Montage is an experience worth every penny. After lunch we strolled around the path that winds around the ocean cliff. It's relaxing, elegant and generally wonderful. You must go.

30801 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA. 949-715-6000.

El Gaucho Grill

2008-01-19T00:24:00.001-08:00

NOTE: El Gaucho Grill is now Carvao Grill focusing on Brazilian and Argentinian cuisine. I have not been to the new place.

Mouth-watering steaks, deliciously flavored chorizo and herbirific chimichurri sauce, oh yea, I'm talking Argentinian food.

El Gaucho Grill, located in downtown Brea, right across the street from theatres and surrounded by coffee houses, other restaurants this sleek little place stands out with bold yet classic flavor blends.

Every table is given a basket of sliced bread and a dish of chimichurri. It is so good! It is perfectly enhanced with empanadas or a taste of Argentinian chorizo sausage.

I am a creature of habit and generally order the garlic chicken. It is a butterflied chicken breast, bathed in roasted garlic cloves served with a rice pilaf and side salad. So good.

I have also tasted the steak and roasted chicken. I have never had anything I didn't enjoy.

210 W. Birch St., Unit 102
Brea, CA 92821
(714) 990-9140

Birthday at Lips Drag Club for Gospel Brunch

2008-01-15T00:57:00.000-08:00

Lips - Drag Show
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

Our very own diva Janine wanted to do something different for her birthday. So she decided what could be better than a drag show at Lips in San Diego for gospel brunch hosted by Sister Nun-of-the-Above.

It was a four hours of jaw-droppping, cleavage-showing, gender-bending interestingness. LOL. I had no idea what to expect. I have never been to a drag show before, but was game for anything.

The show is irreverent, sarcastic and occassionally amazing. Some of the drag queens are incredible performers. Just as some are incredibly beautiful. I was amazed. Make-up is flawless, everything is hidden and since they often shove your face in their cleavage or even rattle your head between their legs you get a close-up view. It's also very interactive as you are all invited to "beam a queen" with dollar bills when you love the performance.

We were a group of 12, including a couple of men. I felt bad for them they were hit on constantly but were good sports about it. The food was expensive, pretty bad and took forever to arrive, but you're not there for the food or the watered-down over-priced drinks.

Overall, I have to say, it was really long. I think I would have liked the show a lot better if it were only a couple of hours versus the entire afternoon or if I would have gotten drunk. Go for bitchy bingo, diva night (80s). But I didn't much get into the gospel brunch.

I don't really feel the need to go again.

Bahia Resort Hotel

2008-01-14T11:38:00.001-08:00

Imagine the finest hotel that San Diego had to offer, in 1960.

That would be the Bahia Resort Hotel and where we stayed to celebrate Nicole's elopement and Janine's birthday. Located on Mission Bay you can tell that this hotel used to be state of the art. It has the Dirty Dancing, all inclusive resort, feel. It was Miss Havisham's house, dressed for a party, one that was completely outdated.

Ok, you get the jist.

The hotel is painted a lovely shade of pinkish orange. The stairs and landings and patios are covered in green astro turf. Walking in we saw an exposed cement brick wall, art from the 70s, couches from the 50s and a very dated kitchen. It was retro unchic. LOL.

However we had a fantastic bay view, thanks to our birthday girl Janine. She's a beautiful diva who is unafraid to ask for what she wants. And we got it. All her efforts got us this upgraded suite. Oh yes, this was the suite. Sexy!

Who cares about accomodations when you're with two great friends, celebrating two great events in a great city like San Diego. We had a blast. I think going in the summer vs January the place might be really fun. They even have activities for families, can't beat that.

Olvera Street

2008-01-03T11:48:00.001-08:00

Want to visit Mexico without leaving LA? Go to the birthplace of Los Angeles, Olvera Street. Home to 27 historic buildings, countless stands selling Mexican souvenirs and many different restaurants serving taquitos and full traditional entrees. It is a fun place to wander around tasting churros, fresh fruit and tacos.

A great time to visit is during Cinco de Mayo festivals (May), Mexico's Independence Day (Sept) or Dia de Los Muertos (Nov) and Christmas (Dec). The public square is full of additional vendors, sponsors, decorations, and musicians. It is colorful, delicious and a taste of one of the predominant cultures in Los Angeles.

We wandered down to Olvera on a whim. What a treat! We felt like we were in Mexico. I can't wait to go back for one of the festivals.
Olvera Street El Pueblo De Los Angeles Historic Park, 845 N. Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Tea House Los Rios

2007-12-26T22:11:00.000-08:00

After our trip to Casa Romantica we decided to head down into downtown San Juan Capistrano and roam around the shops near The Mission. As we walking down near the railroad tracks we pass by the Tea House on Los Rios.

What better way to cap off my birthday than with tea in an idyllic, rustic, yet Victorian setting. I was so happy they were open and had space for the three of us without reservations. The great thing is that it was all dressed for Christmas - full of white lights and greenery.

However, my most favorite thing was that we all got to choose our own hat. There is an actual hallway full of hats. That's right you get to wear a hat. While Lisa wasn't that into it she complied. Thank you Lisa.

We were seated within 10 minutes. We all had The Mission Tea which included our choice of tea (there are 21 varieties), soup or salad, assorted finger sandwiches, scones, fresh fruit and desert. It was a lot of food. My favorite were the little sandwiches and scones. The soup was a little cold. But all in all delicious.

It was great. I highly recommend it. Happy Birthday to me.

Casa Romantica

2007-12-26T22:10:00.000-08:00

Today I grabbed two friends (Lisa and Debbie) and headed South. I didn't have a plan we were just driving along the magnificent coast, enjoying the sunshine and good conversation.

Then I remembered a really beautiful historic home in San Clemete called, Casa Romantica. It is the former home of San Clemente founder Ole Hanson.

From the front its an unassuming home, with a keyhole-shaped entry way. You are ushered into a beautiful grassy courtyard in classic Spanish hacienda style. However the money shot is the view of the ocean from the backyard. High above San Clemente Pier it has an unfettered view of the ocean. You can hear the waves crash but you're far removed from all the people and street noise.

The house has been restored as a cultural center and offers a glimpse into Southern California history, architecture, ecology and culture. Each room is beautifully restored and also houses a small library. It would be a great place to go read. They are also in the process of building an ampitheatre.

Casa Romantica's street address: 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, CA 92672
HOURS: Tuesday 1-4 p.m., Wednesday thru Sunday 11-4 p.m., Closed Mondays.

Hollywood Museum

2007-12-13T22:09:00.000-08:00

Sick of Britneygate Debbie and I were craving a little of the glamorous spirit of Hollywood past so we trekked up to the Hollywood Museum in the historic Max Factor Building.

There are four floors of Hollywood artifacts and memorabilia. Even walking into the building you can feel the history that lived there - the stars that were made there. It's amazing.

Standing at the door to the museum is a mafioso looking individual who appears to be the doorman. I don't know what his purpose is, perhaps to lure in tourists, make deals on the street, no idea. Inside we were greeted by a woman who I'm sure was alive when Max Factor walked the halls. She took our money and our cameras. That's right, no photos anywhere in the building and to make sure you don't, you're forced to check your camera at the door.

A little shaken at the thought of leaving our precious cameras with a total stranger we pressed on. Once you leave the beautiful art deco lobby, dressed in white and pink marble echoing the building's glory days, there are two floors above you to explore and one beneath you.

The second floor is mainly devoted to costumes by the stars in well-known films. It was so amazing how different the clothing looked in person versus on the screen. It was much smaller and the colors were odd, especially for early technicolor process. For example, a costume from White Christmas is white on screen but in person its actually gold. I guess the lights completely washed it out.

The third floor is an odd assortment of Hollywood memorabilia, ranging from the gold sheath Elizabeth Taylor wore in Cleopatra to an amazing collection of clothing and items belonging to Marilyn Monroe. There is no rhyme or reason to the display of the collection and in many instances there is no description or explation where it comes from. There was no one from the museum around to answer questions either.

A trip to the basement, though scary, is worth the fright. They have the cellblock from Silence of the Lambs and Red Dragon. The entire set is on hand including all original props. It was eerie. Next to it is an exhibit on Egypt and memorabilia from Elvira, quite the odd combination.

We spent about 45 to an hour on each floor. There is so much too look at and digest. It really is the glory of Hollywood past with a sprinkling of the present, just to make you feel like you're a part of it.

My favorite part of the tour were the famous Max Factor make-up rooms on the ground floor. Being the first to realize color theory Max painted rooms to flatter the complexion of women of a certain hair color. It's a cool blue for blondes, peach for brownettes, pink for brunettes, and mint green for redheads. It is said that it was Max Factor who made Lucille Ball a redhead and Marilyn Monroe a blonde.

It's amazing but I looked best in the pink and mint green rooms. So Max would have let me be a redhead or a brunette, but never a blonde or brownette (lighter shades of brown). All original props from these famous make-up rooms have been restored from original Max Factor make-up to mirrors, lights and the photos of the famous stars who got made up there.

Also on display on the ground floor is Cary Grant's Rolls Royce, the largest autograph collection in the world and a film about great Hollywood performances and actors.

There are so many artifacts in this museum its hard to digest the fact that you're looking at Bob Hope's golf clubs, next to the first editing machine, next to the body cast from Puffy the dog in There's Something About Mary. It's insane. (For a semi-complete list of artifacts on display click here.

If you're a fan of Hollywood glamour, this museum is a must see. It is extremely uncommercial. They don't even have a gift shop. But maybe that makes it more pure somehow. Who knows. I loved it.

Cost: $15
Hours: Open Thursday through Sunday, from 10 AM to 5 PM. Closed Monday through Wednesday.
Location: The Hollywood Museum: 1660 N. Highland Ave, Hollywood, CA 90028 (323) 464 7776

Pink's Hot Dog

2007-12-12T10:02:00.000-08:00

Pink's Restaurant
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

Ready to test our gatronomical fortitude Debbie and I headed to Pink's to taste Hollywood's famous hot dog.

Founded by Paul Pink in 1940, on the corner of LaBrea and Melrose when it was home to spacious fields not trendy stores Pink's hot dogs has become a celebrity and local hot spot.

Touted as the only hot dog stand with free valet parking it always has a line, doesn't matter if you're there at 2 p.m. or 2 a.m.

Debbie and I split a chili dog (mustard, chili and onions) and a planet hollywood dog (Polish Sausage, grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, bacon & cheese). Can you hear our arteries clogging. Yea. It's good like that.

I don't feel the need to go back, but one trip is required if you're going to be in LA. Come on if Bobby Flay, Celine Dion and Nicole Kidman have eaten one you gotta try it.

Ruby's Diner on PCH in Laguna

2007-12-11T19:00:00.000-08:00

Ruby's Diner on PCH in Laguna
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

After absorbing the sunset in Corona del Mar we headed down PCH towards Laguna to have dinner at Ruby's Auto Diner.

Ruby's was founded in Newport Beach, by a So-cal native who got a long-term lease from the city for an old, run-down bait shop at the end of the Balboa Pier. What started as nostalgia is a now multi-state chain restaurant appealing to our love of Americana in simplier times. In this quintesential 40s diner you will find red vinyl seats, chrome-lined tables and waitresses in little candy-striper uniforms. The fare is predominantly hamburgers, fries and milkshakes but they have also traditional diner food, ala southwest - salads, meatloaf, soups, tacos, and fish.

I had the kobe beef burger and fries. Tina had a BLTA (bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado) on toasted parmesan sourdough bread. We shared a birthday milkshake that tasted just like yellow cake batter, oh so sweet and delicious. My favorite is the 50/50 shake or the chocolate malt. They have also adopted the Red Robin approach to fries and your basket is bottomless.

Ruby's also serves breakfast.
30622 S. PCH, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
P: 949.497.7829F: 949.499.0314

Ruby's can be found in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington State.

Down to the Sea

2007-12-10T23:41:00.000-08:00

Corona del Mar Sunset
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

After nearly dying on skates Tina and I headed down towards the water to see the sunset at Corona del Mar.

The light was amazing and the sunset was spectacular. The sky and mountains started out purple and pink. Then as the sun set it started fading to orange and red. It was amazing. I mean look at those colors.

The sad thing is the lens can never capture the true brilliance of the light at sunset.

This is why we pay a ton of money to live in Southern California. Next we headed to Ruby's for dinner.

Birthday on Wheels

2007-12-09T17:30:00.000-08:00

skates
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

Today some of my favorite people joined me to celebrate my 33rd birthday on wheels.

We dusted off our skating skillz and took to the Holiday Skate in Orange. Since there were more than 10 of us we qualified for the group rate, only $5.50 for entry and skate rental. Not too shabby.

The rink had all of the glitz and glamour I remember from skating back in the 80s - the disco ball, funky lights mounted to the wall and cheesy paintings abound. It was fantastic.

While we didn't get the chance to do the hokey pokey we did manage to get around the rink a few times with minimal damage. It's amazing how many muscles you use to keep your balance on those four little wheels. Right now I hurt in places I didn't know I had.

It was so much fun. I felt like a kid again. It was a spectacular early birthday.

As we came out of the rink we decided to head south on the 55 towards Corona del Mar.

Craving Lomeli's

2007-12-05T10:22:00.000-08:00

One of the downfalls of living in South Orange County is that most of our restaurants are chain. They are owned by conglomerates. There are very few mom-n-pop restaurants to give us a hometown feel.

When I lived in North Orange County there were a few and one of my favorites was an italian place called Lomeli's. It is owned by a husband and wife team who can always be found in the restaurant. The customers are loyal and frequent, meaning there is always a wait.

Upon entering, you forget that you're in a strip mall near a grocery story and fast-food restaurants. The warmth and coziness exude to make you feel like comfortable and welcome. The walls are adorned in murals depicting the Italian countryside and overhead there is a trellis obliterating all memory of the nail salon next door.

Once seated a plate of carrots, peppercinis and ranch are promptly delivered to take the edge of the hunger yet help you save room for the pasta. The homestyle italian cooking is amazing and the generous portions make sure you're full. You can order your favorite pasta dish ala carte or as a complete dinner, which includes soup or salad, a glass of wine and a scoop of ice cream for dessert. Average complete dinner price is $9-12.

My favorite is the baked shells. I also love their pizza. But the chicken cacciatore or meatball casserole is delicious too. Honestly, I really have never had anything there I didn't like. You can tell the sauce is simmered on the stove all day. This is comfort food to the max.

I may have to make a trip up the 5 and indulge my craving.

1000 E Bastanchury Rd # B, Fullerton, CA 92835
Phone: (714) 255-9100

First Trip to In-N-Out in 15 years

2007-11-30T10:24:00.000-08:00

In-N-Out is a hamburger institution on the West Coast. People who leave the area crave it. The establishment inspires fierce loyalty among patrons who even have their own secret menu.

I however, don't really enjoy it all that much. This little known fact has caused much ridicule and shame from those to whom I dared reveal my dark secret.

The first time I went to In-N-Out was in college, probably 5 minutes after I moved here. My first impression was that the meat patties and fries were too thin. At 18 I didn't see anything spectacular about it. I was fine with McDonalds or Burger King for fast-food options. So I haven't been back in 15 years.

I recently got another lecture about the freshness and superiority of the food. The hamburgers are never frozen and only the finest cuts of beef are used. The lettuce is hand-leafed. The buns are made of old-fashioned sponge bread (whatever that means). The french-fries are hand-cut from real potatoes for heaven sakes. Ok. Ok. I'll go. So last night was the night.

The drive-thru line at In-N-Out is always long. I've driven by at all hours and there are at least 5 cars in line. So I queued up. Finally it was my turn to order. Even though I haven't been for 15 years the menu is easy to remember, how do I want my burger, fries or no fries and what kind of drink. I ordered a cheeseburger, no tomato, order of fries and a chocolate shake. Then she asked me if I would be eating the food in the car. Weird question. I said yes confused by why she cared.

When I pulled up to the window to pay the cashier handed me a lap mat. Then when I received my food it was in an open container not a bag. The sandwich was half-wrapped to make sure I had easy access to my burger. How clever.

From the age of 18 to now (32) I have made a few lifestyle changes and not eating at fast-food is one of them. I rarely go to McDonalds and Burger King is never an option. However, I can honestly say that the In-N-Out burger really does taste fresh. It is not a juicy burger. It isn't overwhelming in flavor, but it didn't taste processed. It was satisfying. The highlight of my trip was the thick, creamy milkshake. It was AWESOME. The fries, still not my favorite. But overall a great experience.

I don't feel like my life has been missing anything but perhaps my grown-up tastes can at least appreciate it more now.

In-N-Outs are located in CA, NV and AZ.

La Perlita in Foothill Ranch

2007-11-29T00:29:00.000-08:00

There are only two known Mexican restaurants in my town, and one is Taco Bell. So being a respectable Mexican I was compelled, dare I say required, to patronize the other Latin establishment called, La Perlita.

Actually, I've driven by it a million times and never visited until one of our vendors took us there for lunch. Apparently she'd been going for years and loves it.

The interior resembles Tijuana. It is very colorful with decorative paper strewn from the ceiling and inflatable Corona beer cans are prominently displayed. The booths are well worn and you sink into a butt imprint that millions before you have contributed to.

The story on the menu talks about the family, their dedication to tradition, love of quality Mexican food and desire to be the most hospitable. As evidenced by the quick delivery of chips and salsa and friendly waiter. The chips were decent, but the salsa lacked flavor. It was very runny and seemed like dressed up tomato sauce. There was nary a chunk of tomato, onion, or pepper in the mix.

The menu itself is a traditional one with tacos, enchiladas, burritos and a variety of meats all accompanied with rice and beans. Ty had a combo plate with an enchilada and a taco. Susan had a cheese enchilada plate. I had the red chili colorado - beef chunks in a red sauce. One huge downfall of this place is that the tortillas are not homemade. I selected corn and they were dry and tasteless.

Susan always orders the same thing and hasn't tried much else from the menu. So she was very happy. Ty said her meal was good, just a little bland. My chili colorado was ok. The chili sauce wasn't very savory, it lacked a depth of flavor. There were no hints of garlic, onion or chili. It was very tomatoey. The cuts of beef itself were poor and I found a lot of gristle and fat in my dish.

Overall I would say the food is kind of tastless. The rice while fluffy and red didn't taste much different than white rice. The beans, while not from a can, needed a lot of salt and were watery. I didn't have frijoles de olla so they weren't supposed to be.

I'm not in a big hurry to go back. If I did, I would probably go for something more generic like Ty. It isn't the taste of home I was hoping for. My quest continues to find real Mexican food anywhere nearby. Unfortunately I have to keep driving up to LA or down to San Diego. Although Avila's El Ranchito has delicious carnitas.

Switchfoot in Concert at the Bren Center

2007-11-28T10:56:00.001-08:00

Switchfoot
Originally uploaded by ErinsWorld

A night of rock-n-roll, screaming, and dancing at the Bren Center with Switchfoot, Relient K and Ruth, all benefitting Habitat for Humanity. What could be more fun or charitable that?

Lisa, Janine, Carole, Colleen and I trekked over to UCI for an evening to cut loose, scream and dance to one of our favorite bands. They did not disappoint. From the opening with Oh Gravity! to the closing Meant to Live the crowd was jumping, singing and cheering them on.

They perfomed Awakening, Dirty Second Hands, and My American Dream from the new album. Other fan favorites included Stars, On Fire, We are One Tonight, Gone, and This is Your Life.

Switchfoot is really all about the fans. Lead singer, Jon Foreman spent a lot of time out in the audience and even showed up at one point on the side, in the crowd so that they could sing with him.

Switchfoot is even encouraging bootleg versions of the concert songs so they can distribute them on CD to that nights attendees. They want to keep the concert magic going long after the finale. You can also visit their web site and request bootlegged version of concerts from other concert goers. How awesome is that!

I had no idea who Relient K or Ruth was but they were a good fit with Switchfoot. I learned Relient K is from Canton, OH, the town were my parents live. Cool.

Another interesting component of this concert was the age range of people there. It was literally from 10 to 50. There were moms and probably grandmas rocking out next to their kids and some came on their own. It was interesting to think that some of the kids in there weren't born until the 90s. Yikes, at 32 I'm old enough to be someone's mother. And it this point it wasn't even as a teenager but I would have been in my 20s. Yikes.

Still a great night. Lots of fun. Switchfoot and Co continue to roll through the West Coast through the beginning of Dec.

Disney Soda Fountain

2007-11-27T11:30:00.000-08:00

No trip to the El Capitan is complete without dessert at the Disney Soda Fountain and Studio Store located next door.

It was was an old-fashioned parlor experience with quintessential Disney friendliness. The menu has a plethora of sundaes, malts, shakes, freezes, floats, and cones served with a variety of syrups, sauces and toppings. All made with homemade ice cream brought in once a week from Dewars in Bakersfield. It is creamy, rich and delicious. It reminds me of what ice cream should be - no ice or skim milk.

I had the hot fudge sundae with walnuts. It was delicious. You know the ice cream was quality because it didn't melt under the weight and heat of the hot fudge. It stayed cold throughout.

Janine had the enchanted sundae. A mixture of strawberry ice cream and marshmellow creme. She loved it. Fernanda had a cookies-n-cream shake. The serving was gigantic. There was enough there for two. Colleen had a rootbeer float. They serve the ice cream on the handle of the frosty cold glass so that it gradually drips into your drink. She said it was fantastic.

The menu also includes sandwiches, salads and waffles if you need a light lunch or dinner. I would go for the ice cream though. It is soooo worth it.

6834 Hollywood Blvd.Hollywood, CA 90028 Phone: 323-939-9024 Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Enchanted at El Capitan

2007-11-26T15:32:00.001-08:00

Enchanted at El Capitan
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

After a late lunch at the French Crepe Company Janine, Colleen, Fernanda, Daniella and I acknowledged our inner princesses and went to LA to see Disney's newest fairy tale, Enchanted, at the El Capitan Theatre.

We sprung for the VIP admissions ($32.50) which included a reserved seat, popcorn, a drink and entrance to the special Enchanted Experience. It also saved us about an hour and a half in line.

The El Capitan Theatre is amazing. It originally opened in 1926 and was "Hollywood's First Home of Spoken Drama." Disney has restored it beautifully with all of the lavish decor and colors. I recommended getting to your seat early so you can listen to Rob Richards play all of your favorite Disney tunes on the theatre's pipe organ.

The movie was great, very romantic and pays homage to all other Disney stories. Afterwards we were treated to the Enchanted Experience. You walk into a recreated ballroom where Aurora, Belle and Cinderella are dancing on stage. Prince Charming is welcoming you into the fantasy and urges you to explore the entire area where all the Disney princesses are there waiting for you. It was like we were 6 years old again.

Inside a massive tent we got our pictures taken with Snow White, Jasmine, Ariel, Cinderella, Belle, Aurora and the newest Princess, Giselle. We got to see costumes and props from the movie and insert ourselves into "Enchanted" scenes with the help of a green screen.

Also included was a make-up station to make sure you look your royal best. A dress-up station where the littlest of princesses can try on their gowns and tiaras. An arcade and game station set up to resemble NY where the movie is filmed. Of course there was also a store to buy all of the latest movie paraphenalia, even your own take-home McDreamy doll.

We had the best time. I highly recommend going as a VIP.

Enchanted will be playing at the El Capitan through December 6.

French Crepe Company

2007-11-25T23:41:00.000-08:00

We began our LA adventure with a late lunch/early dinner at the French Crepe Company in the Hollywood and Highland complex.

I love crepes for dessert and breakfast. I wasn't sure how I was going to like one for dinner. Janine, Colleen and Fernanda had a La Normandie crepe. It is filled with free range chicken, button mushrooms, carrots & green beans in a white dijon sauce. Daniella had a La Poissoniere crepe. It has smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, sour cream, capers, and chives. I had a special of the day a beef stroganoff creme with sirloin, mushrooms in a cream sauce.

After samples all around we decided that the La Normandie was the best. It was delicious and light. The La Poissoniere was a little too fishy for our liking. The stroganoff filling was delicious I would have just preferred it with egg noodles instead of a crepe.

The best was the dessert crepe. We share a La Napoleon where we got to pick three incredients to fill our crepe. We choose - nutella, bananas and walnuts. It was topped with whipped creme and was PHENOMENAL. I highly recommend it! So delicious. I bet it would also be great with strawberries. Then again I like to eat nutella with just a spoon.

Average price is $8-10. I definitely think this place is worth visiting. Check it out if you're in the area.

The French Crepe Company is also located in the Farmer's Marketing at 3rd and Fairfax.

PARKING TIP: If you're looking for a place to park in that area you really can't beat the Hollywood and Highland structure. With validation from participating shops and restaurants you can park 4 hours for $2. We ended up being there for 8 hours and paid $9 for parking. In LA that is a deal.

Las Vegas

2007-11-20T12:11:00.001-08:00

Las Vegas Sign
Originally uploaded by Pirvy

In order to properly give thanks I'm going to Vegas!

I will be visiting a spa, eating food from famous chef's restaurants, shopping and taking lots of photos.

I'll be back this weekend.

Homemade Tortillas in the OC

2007-11-19T15:07:00.001-08:00

Making homemade tortillas is just a giant pain. My grandmother tried to teach me over and over again as a kid. I could never keep track of what she put in them, just a pinch of this, a splash of that and who knows what else. There was no recipe and no measuring. It was by feel and sight only. I didn't really care because I was only interested in eating them. In the end she'd get frustrated and just shoo me out of the kitchen.

Now that she's gone and I have a touch more patience I wish I had paid attention. Instead, I relish restaurants and stores that offer a taste of the homemade without all of the work.

Here are a list of places I have found in the OC that offer handmade tortillas.

1. El Torito Grill - we usually go to the one by the Orange County airport. As soon as you walk in you'll see all of the little ladies patting their dough balls getting ready to roll these out. These flour tortillas are to die for. They are served with butter and salsa. I also recommend the guacamole, which they make right in front of your eyes - all ingredients are ultra fresh. The rest of the food is a california-flavor fusion but the tortillas make it worth a visit. Located in Southern California and Indiana.

2. Miguel's - Their fajitas are amazing and what better way to top them off than with the delicious handmade flour tortillas. Miguel's has a diverse menu and is a nice treat. Located in Foothill Ranch and Corona.

3. Acapulcos - A step above tex-mex in terms of authenticity but dinner and Sunday brunch is worth it because of the homemade tortillas. So tasty. Located in California and Oregon.

Let me know if you find other restaurants that serve tasty, home-made tortillas.

Mamma Gina's Ristorante

2007-11-18T15:25:00.000-08:00

After Corteo, Lisa and I went for some italian on the Newport Harbor at Mamma Gina's Ristorante. I had never heard of it before but Lisa had and said it was good, she was right. It was the freshest, most delicious pasta I've had since I was in NY.

Lisa and I like to order two different entrees and share. We settled on:

Pappardelle Alle Contadina - House handmade wide egg noodle with our genuine hearty meat sauce, grilled mild italian sausage, sweet red and yellow pepper on super tuscan red wine sauce.
Mamma's Lasagna - savory meat sauce served over handmade sheets of pasta layered with ricotta, mozarella and other cheeses.

Lisa loved the lasagna and I loved the contadina. But it was all fantastic. So good. The flavors were rich, without being heavy. I've heard the Barefoot Contessa talk about how fresh pasta needs no sauce and now I can see why. It is is so delicious and these sauces didn't overwhelm it.

While the food was fantastic there was no ambience in the place. The harbor location would have been fun and visible during the day, at night the house lights were so bright we couldn't see anything. The lounge next door was so loud we could hardly hear each other either. I wouldn't go to Mamma Gina's expecting romance or the ability to carry on a conversation, but the food is worth a visit. I would go for lunch when the prices are less expensive. Dinner entrees range from $20-$30. Average lunch prices are $10-15.

One of my favorite parts of the dinner was when the table next to us was filled with six, typical, middle-aged, Orange County women. They wandered in dressed like their daughters with clothes just a little too tight, hair just so, perfectly manicured nails and slightly liquored up. They sat down and immediately ordered drinks. It took them 15 minutes to figure out what two entrees the six of them would share. Gotta love the O.C.

251 Pacific Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, CA 92660.
Phone: (949) 673-9500

Cirque du Soleil - Corteo

2007-11-16T23:15:00.000-08:00

A clown imagines his funeral in a joyful processional in a carnival-type atmosphere.

The show explores the sad and funny, the big and small, the successful and failures. This show is about life - moments of supreme joy and beauty followed by the odd and uncertain.

There were so many things and people flying through the air I wasn't sure where to look. I was mesmerized by women twisting through and flying on chandeleirs with ease and elegance. Amazing acrobatics performed on beds. High wire acts done in ballet toe shoes. A trapzee act where men and women are thrown through the air without the aid of swings. A beautiful dance performed in the air, jugglers, comedic acts and so much more. It was two hours of childlike wonder and delight. So much fun.

Having never been to a Cirque du Soleil show before, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I don't like the circus and I don't like clowns. It's ethereal, magical, breath-taking and amazing.

Unlike other shows I've heard about this storyline was easy to follow and the characters are actually human. The circular stage and constantly moving performers make sure there isn't a bad seat in the house, however I would avoid the ends. Pay for the Tier 1 or Tier 2 seats, they will put you dead center and give you the best view.

The Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) will be in Orange County at the Fairgrounds until Dec. 23rd.

'Corteo'
Where: Orange County Fair & Exposition Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa
When: Nov. 8-Dec. 23. 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 4 and 8 p.m. Sundays, 1 and 5 p.m.
How much: $38.50-$90
Tickets: 800-678-5440
Online: www.cirquedusoleil.com

Chipotle

2007-11-08T15:30:00.000-08:00

I'm so busy right now, I don't have much time to travel but I tend to eat out a lot, so here is one of my lunch favorites: Chipotle.

They are the freshest, tastiest tacos, burritos and salads. It's not authentic, it's just delicious. Don't question. Just eat.

I always order the same thing: burritos with white rice, black beans, barbacoa, corn salsa, guacamole, sour cream, cheese and lettuce. Amazing.

This is a two-handed burrito that leaves you wanting nothing else. It is "unprocessed, seasonal, family-farmed, sustainable, nutritious, naturally raised, added hormone free, organic, and artisanal" food. Meaning it doesn't sit in your stomach like cement and might actually be good for ya.

Other options for your burrito, taco or salad include pinto beans, steak, chicken, carnitas, hot/medium salsa, pico de gallo and sauteed veggies.

Chipotles all over the U.S. Find one near you.

The Original Tommy's Burger

2007-11-07T21:36:00.000-08:00

Today, after a staff training they arranged for the Tommy truck to feed us lunch.

I have never had an original Tommy burger but was told it is an LA institution and quite delicious. Apparently so, I actually saw a few guys run towards the truck and I swear a general yum swept through the crowd. So the expectations were high.

I was told the chili cheeseburger was the thing to order and many combined that with a side of chili-cheese fries. All that was missing was the milkshake to wash it all down.

With just one bite I wondered if I was eating what they described to me. It was the greasiest, drippiest, messiest burger I've ever had. I'm not a burger princess. It doesn't need to be neat and tidy. I'm all for a juicy burger packed with toppings, but I couldn't even taste any hamburger. The patty was really thin and small. I tasted the onions, chili and onions the most. So it was more like chili in a bread bowl than a hamburger. The chili itself didn't taste much different than anything you'd get from a can. It wasn't awful it just wasn't phenomenal.

The chili-cheese fries were tasty. I recommend those instead of the burger, which I don't feel the need to ever eat again.

Pot Pie Tour of 2007

2007-11-06T16:04:00.000-08:00

As the weather starts to turn a little chilly, which here in So. California means about 68, my thoughts turn to comfort food favorites. I start to crave food that warms you up like potatoes, stew and soups.

Lately my hearty fare of choice has been chicken pot pie, which I have now sampled at three different restaurants: Mimi's, (pictured left) Claim Jumper and The Lazy Dog Cafe.

Now Mimi's, founded in CA and located through the U.S., is a homestyle, family restuarant with a French/Mardi Gras twist. They serve the best, fresh-baked breads. So I was sure that their pot pie would be hard to beat. It was full of chicken, potatoes, peas, carrots and onions but the sauce was too runny. The crust was flaky and crunchy but the edges were over done. It reminded me of a Banquet frozen pot pie. You know the ones where the edges get brown and hard while the sauce is just a touch underdone. It was still ok, just not fantastic.

Next was the pot pie at Claim Jumper, located only on the West Coast. Known for large portions I was sure this would be a meal for days, and it was. The center was very rich and creamy. I liked the sauce better on this one although it was almost too rich and it sat very heavy with the dry, thick crust. Overall a decent pot pie but not my favorite dish at Claim Jumper.

Finally, The Lazy Dog Cafe. I had never even heard of this restaurant. But a friend recommended it and the food was delicious. It is brought to you by the founders of Mimi's and is currently only in Southern California. The menu is quite eclectic with italian, mexican and chinese inspired choices. But I knew what I wanted, the chicken pot pie.

What I received was the perfect example of all that is good and holy about a chicken pot pie. The crust was flaky, soft, moist, buttery deliciousness. The inside was creamy, packed with vegetables and yet not too heavy. It was a great blend with the crust. I will definitely be back to taste this bad boy again.

Any suggestions on where to eat a good pot pie in Southern California?

Cathedral of our Lady of Angels

2007-11-05T23:12:00.001-08:00

Church
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

A most unexpected elegance, serenity and peace.

That is what I experienced at the unique downtown cathedral. Built with warm tones to fit in with the tradition and history of the California Missions the church is welcoming, open, and beautiful. It is modern and fit in with the community of people that worship there.

We learned that there are no right angles in its construction to provide an era of mystery and majesty. It is built to withstand an 8.0 earthquake. It was the first Roman Catholic Cathedral to be built in the Western US in 30 years.

It's worth a visit, even if you're not Catholic.
555 W. Temple St, LA, CA 90012

Finding Nemo

2007-11-04T23:30:00.000-08:00

New Finding Nemo Ride
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

I finally stood in line to experience the new Finding Nemo ride at Disneyland.

When it first opened this summer the wait was over two hours. We only waited 40 minutes, not too shabby. But as a caveat the park was pretty empty yesterday.

I have to say the ride is MUCH better than it was, no longer do you have floating styrofoam fish. Instead you're swimming with Dorie and Nemo.

I think this is a must, if you like Nemo or want to see the next generation of the submarine ride.

Blue Bayou

2007-11-04T22:41:00.000-08:00

Tina, Janine, Lisa and I took advantage of our Disneyland passes and headed into the park to lunch at the Blue Bayou, inside the Pirates of the Carribean attraction in New Orleans Square.

I was afraid we were going to be distracted by those screamers, music and general noise from the ride but honestly I didn't hear anything. The ambiance was great. Dimly lit with overhanging lanterns it is cozy.

They are famous for their Monte Cristo sandwiches and au gratin potatoes. So that's what Tina and I ordered. Janine had the Jambalaya. Lisa ordered the pork chops. Average entree price for lunch is $21 - 32 dollars. Although many told us the food was just okay.

I hated my entree. It a deep-fried sandwich that had little to no meat on it. It was all dough and very dry. I guess that's why you're supposed to use the jelly, but I don't like ham and jelly. It was odd.

Janine didn't like hers either. The jambalaya had undercooked rice and was too spicy for her, even though she asked if it was mild when she ordered it. We were going to suffer through it until our waitress came to the table and asked us how our meal was. We all looked down at our plates. Should I say something? Should I not? So I eeked out, "the potatoes are great."

Everyone laughed. Then she asked, "Do you want something else? We're happy to exchange it for you." So we did. I ordered the tesoro chicken and Janine had the Mahi Mahi. We were much happier with our second choices.

Desserts on the other hand were extraordinary. We figured we were already spending a ridiculous amount of money to eat there we might as well have dessert. Lisa and I shared a Flying Dutchman Cookie Boat. Tina and Janine had the creme brulee trio. Our waitress kindly pointed out that both the treasure chest for the creme brulee and the mast on our ship were edible. But as Tina point out, "Just because its edible it doesn't make it good." Stick to the chocolate for sure.

Overall a delightful experience with very fun people. The service was excellent. I don't think I feel the need to go again, but if I did I'd just have an appetizer and some dessert. And if you have an annual pass don't forget to show it - you get a discount.

Walt Disney Concert Hall

2007-11-03T23:24:00.000-07:00

hall entry great
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

Debbie and I ventured to LA today for a photo day.

Our first stop was at the Disney Concert Hall. This is my favorite building, designed by Frank Gehry.

I learned today that the audio tour is now free. This 90-min tour of the hall, narrated by John Lithgow, gives an overview of the building's design, inspiration, materials, form and function.

We learned that the building was originally to have been made out of stone. That the warm douglas fir used on the interior is only for aesthetics it carries no acoutical value whatsoever. That Gehry designed the carpet specifically for Lillian Disney (still ugly). If you are interested in post-modern design this is a must see.

I was glad that it was slightly overcast today it made photographing the stainless streel structure somewhat easier.

From Santiago to Saddleback

2007-10-24T10:43:00.001-07:00

From Santiago to Saddleback
Originally uploaded by Chris Camargo

I found this photo on Flickr of the fires near where I live. It is spectacular. Chris Camargo, who took this shot, got some other amazing photos.

Orange County Fires

2007-10-24T10:21:00.001-07:00

I would be remiss if I did not post something on this blog about the Orange County fires. Although most of my posts are here: O.C. Fires, Fire Update, Voluntarily Evacuated, and Returning Home.

This picture was taken on the road leading to our house on Monday. The flames are coming from right behind our complex.

From my window at work I just saw 14 fire trucks from LA, Santa Monica and other cities pass by heading towards our parking lot, which is being used as a staging center for the local fire departments.

The air is thick. There is ash everywhere. Everyone's allergies are going haywire. We all have headaches, congestion, and are coughing.

I am just praying for those who have lost their homes and those who are under mandatory evacuation. We were evacuated for one night and its an odd feeling. You feel very lost and distracted as you try to make sense of everything.

It's amazing how you can't get enough information. We're glued to the internet and tv as we try to piece together what we need to know.

Disney Annual Pass

2007-10-17T00:12:00.000-07:00

After a two year break I decided it was time to have a Disney Annual Pass once again.

It's amazing how much prices have gone up. A one-day, park hopper ticket is now $91. WOW. A Southern California Annual Pass is $169. I only have to go twice to pay for the pass. How crazy is that.

So Lisa and I went and got a pass last week. Both of my roomies have a pass, as do a few of my co-workers. So there are lots of people to visit with. I've already been twice and paid for it. I remember in college (1993ish) they had southern california days and you could get in for like $36. I'm getting old, it's a sad day to remember when things were much cheaper.

But we've had a blast riding Tower of Terror, seeing the Halloween decorations, and people watching. I haven't had the energy to wait almost 2 hours for the new Nemo ride, but eventually I will.

Being there reminds me of how much fun I had last December with my nephews. I torture everyone with lots of stories about them at Disneyland, but I don't care, they're hilarious.

Girls Weekend in Laguna Beach

2007-10-15T10:45:00.000-07:00

My friend Nicole is getting married and to celebrate her pending nuptuals, six of her favorite people all headed to the beach.

The first stop was to Burke Williams in Mission Viejo. They got massages, spent time in the jacuzzi, relaxed in the quiet room and drank the very delicious orange water. I hear they even got reprimanded for being too loud. It's not possible for that many girls to be together and be quiet. I don't know what they were thinking.

Then it was off to the beach house, that a friend let us borrow. The front door opened right up to the sand. It was amazing! We had appetizers, opened presents and starting yakking.

Then around 9 p.m. we went into Laguna Beach to have dinner at K'ya. Located in the Casa del Camino hotel the restaurant has an amazing variety of "small plates" to sample from. I had the hearts of romaine salad and thai chicken wings. Other options included braised short ribs, ahi poke, chicken empanadas, and potstickers. So many great things to try. The service was great and we had a blast. Each small plate ranged in price from $4 - 14. There are also regular entrees and salads.

The next day we had a fabulous brunch overlooking the ocean. We lounged for the rest of the day, just listening to the ocean and enjoying the time to spend together. All in all very relaxing and wonderful.

Magdalene - The New Musical

2007-10-07T14:52:00.000-07:00

Mary Magdalene is oft written about and rarely understood. Broadway actress/playwright Allison Metcalf Allen brings her story to the stage in a new musical. Exploring themes of brokenness and redemption as a result of her rape at a young age by several Roman guards. How does she find freedom and healing?

Performed at the Three Trees Theatre in Costa Mesa, I've heard from many this show is phenomenal. My small group is going to go on October 27. So I won't have time to do a review, instead its a preview.

Another unique aspect of this show is that producers have partnered with the International Justice Mission to bring awareness to the fact that sex trafficing still happens today. There are things we can do to help girls like Magdalene now.

The show runs through October 27th. Performances are on Wednesday - Sunday, at 8 p.m. and a matinee on Satuday at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $20. This play is recommended for ages 13+.

Sunsets in Huntington Beach

2007-10-03T23:26:00.000-07:00

I did a random google search on the best places to see the sunset in southern california and came across a lists on BeachCalifornia for their top 8 places in huntington beach.

Here are their top two locations:

- Huntington City Beach south side of the pier near the shoreline is the number one choice. The way the sun filters through the famous Huntington Beach Pier pilings is awesome. The play of light and shadow is not only mesmerizing, the moist, evening air is intoxicating. It is guaranteed to relax your mind.
- Huntington City Beach Dog Beach parking lots between Seapoint and Golden West Streets is our number two choice People gather for the sunsets and stay just until it gets dark. At this location you can watch the interplay of people and pets on the beach with the darkening sky as the sun drops brilliantly into the ocean. It isn’t just a sunset, it’s an entire experience.

Visit their website for the other 6 locations. Some of them are hotels, so it seems slightly commercial, but overall the list seems solid.

I'm definitely going to have to check some of them out.

Dead Sea Scrolls and Mexican Food

2007-09-22T12:40:00.000-07:00

Lisa, Debbie and I hopped in the CRV and headed down to Balboa Park today to see the Dead Sea Scroll exhibit at the San Diego Museum of Natural History.

We left home at 10:15 and managed to take almost three hours to get there. It was bumper to bumper traffic all the way down. Not fun.

But, the great thing about driving down to San Diego is that the freeway parallels the ocean. The vistas are stunning. It was threatening to rain so the sky was full of beautiful clouds and was a brilliant shade of blue. Not exceeding 30 mph we had lots of time to look at the sky. We saw the collision of two storms noticed water spouts over the ocean. In my mind I call them ocean tornados. You could actually see the funnel clouds suck the water up out of the ocean into the sky. It was phenomenal.

When we got to Leucadia we had to pull over and get a photo. Of course my rechargeable batteries chose that moment to die, so luckily Debbie had her camera. It was stunningly beautiful. About 50 other people had the same idea, our little vista was jam packed.

But alas it was back to the traffic. We had visions of the Old Town Mexican Cafe in our heads and now only about two hours before our 3:15 p.m. entry time to the Dead Sea Scrolls. So our tortilla dreams had to be fulfilled pretty quickly.

Unfortunately, we picked the art festival weekend to visit Old Town and parking was out of the question. So we wandered over to Balboa Park and found St. Tropez Bakery & Bistro in Hillcrest. It is a beautiful cafe promising equally delicious crepes, panini's, and tasty baked treats. The food was ok, nothing spectacular. It sounds a lot better on the menu than it actually tastes. I don't think I'd go back.

Now its off to the Scrolls. The exhibit is divided into two sections. The first level is an introduction to the region where the Scrolls were found. You see beautiful photographs of the Dead Sea and surrounding areas. It's amazing how similar the biodiversity is to Southern California. Not exactly the images you have in mind of the middle East. I was picturing desert, war-ravaged areas and camels. So not true. We saw lush, rolling hills. Beautiful olive and date trees. And learned how the Dead Sea is receding because people keep drawing from it.

The introduction transitions to the archeological dig. You learn how the Bedouins discovered the scrolls in a a cave, untouched for thousands of years, through many different ruling parties from the Hittites to the Romans to the Mongols to 1948. The Scrolls were preserved by the dark, cry climate of the cave and many disintegrated simply by being removed. Unsure of their authenticity the scrolls were advertised for sale. Once scholars verified them they began the long process of preservation. Early techiniques had only proven to weaken them future.

In the second part of the exhibit you move down stars, grab your audio tour device and decend into a simulated cave. The lights are dimmed and the temperature is dropped to protect the documents. First we learned about Qumran the community near the caves where the Scrolls were found.

After 14 stops on the audio tour, through hair nets, shoes, coins and desks we finally we got to see the Scrolls. They are so small, frail, and fragmented. There are large reproductions above them so you can view them more clearly. It's amazing to see the different penmanships between the different documents. Each one bearing traces of its human connection. Some are clear and precise. Others are blurred, thick and hard to read. We saw scrolls of the biblical books of Leviticus, Job, Psalms and Deuteronomy.

It's hard to image a society where only a select few know how to read and write. Yet they were passing on sacred texts because they believed the veracity of it. The exhibits dismisses the Scrolls as little more than ideas. Ideas that have certainly shaped thousands of years of thoughts, philosophies and religion, but is still just one idea of many.

It was interesting to listen to the different theologies of those viewing the documents. There were many Christians there who were studying the timelines, tracing prophecies and discussing bible stories. Others saw them as just an interesting historical discovery having little importance to their life today.

One thing struck me is how the Bible did not change for thousands of years. It was passed from scroll to scroll by diligent scribes and nothing changed. The message, meaning and importance remain the same.

The museum was packed. It is shoulder-to-shoulder view of the photographs, exhibits, and films in the collection. It was frustrating to try and read while being bumped and pushing while listening to screaming babies. It was not a leisurely visit to one of the most important archaological discoveries of the 20th centuries. By the end I was exhausted.

We went back to Old Town for dinner and headed home. Overall a fantastic day with two of my favorite people.

Tall Ships Festival, Dana Point

2007-09-10T09:59:00.000-07:00

Tall Ships
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

I went to the Toshiba Tall Ships Festival in Dana Point. I don't know what I was expecting but this wasn't it. I think I was struck by my Southern California Festival curse.

There is very little parking in the Dana Point Harbor so you park in remote shuttle lots and are bused in. You're dropped off near the existing shops and restaurants in Dana Point so I wasn't sure where the festival started. Sure these shops had stuff on the sidewalk because of the festival, but it was just the usual wares.

So I kept walking and finally found some booths. There were about 30 ranging from information about marine life to paintings to face painters for kids. There were lots of kids and dogs.

It was nice to be down by the water but I was hoping to see the ships with sails up. I'll either have to time it better or just go back to San Diego.

San Diego: Reprieve from the Heat

2007-09-05T23:47:00.000-07:00

Today was our final day of site seeing and the end of our vacation together.

We decided to spend the night in San Diego since they have a morning flight out on Thursday. We got a great rate on Hotwire for a hotel in the downtown/harbor area of San Diego.

We've had such a good time. I think we all were a little mindful of the fact that it was our final outing.

We had a lazy morning. Mom and Dad finished packing, then an early lunch at the Corner Bakery. Home of the tastiest cinnamon creme coffee cake on the planet.

We didn't make it to San Diego until about 2 p.m. We checked into the hotel and then went to the harbor. My dad wanted to see the tall ships and we opted for a 2 hour harbor cruise on the Hornblower.

There are only two harbor cruise companies to choose from Harbor Excursions and Hornblower. They offer the exact same cruise, both in a one hour and two hour variety. We opted for the two hour tour of both the north and south bay on the Hornblower.

Why the Hornblower, we had a coupon from a tourist mag we found at the hotel, saving $2 a person. The tour itself was fine, but the narrator sucked. It didn't sound like he enjoyed his job all that much. But he was quick to ask for a tip. I hate that.

Our tour included: the navy ship yard, naval sub station, tall ships, coronado bridge, point loma, harbor and shelter islands, cabrillo national monument, and more. Being out on the water sure lowered our temperature. In our second hour I started to freeze. I was ready to be off the boat.

From there we opted for dinner in the Gaslamp district. Before heading back to the ethnic food wasteland known as Ohio my parents wanted one last Mexican dinner. They chose Fred's Mexican Cafe, voted best Mexican cuisine in San Diego.

The salsa is fantastic. With a hint of chipotle its the best I've had in a while. Mom had the enchiladas suizas, Dad had fajitas and I had chicken monterrey. All very good I would recommend it. As we were eating a friend of mine randomly walks by. It was great to see her and her new fiance. What a treat.

After dinner we walked around a little. Mom wanted to visit the Ghirardelli Store. Dad wanted to buy a Cuban cigar and I visited the ZGallerie. Everyone was happy.

I can't wait to get back to the Gaslamp area and explore some more. There are over 65 different restaurants, many museums, shops and clubs. So much to do.

Battling the Inland Heat

2007-09-04T20:14:00.000-07:00

We got a slow start today. It is still so flipping hot. This is not the Camelot weather we are supposed to have here in Southern California.

We made it worse by heading inland. Instead of the cool moving breeze off the ocean we headed northeast to San Gabriel, CA, near Pasadena to visit the San Gabriel Mission. I am on a quest to see all 21 missions and this is my 8th one.

San Gabriel Mission is the 4th Mission founded in 1771 by Father Junipero Serra. He hoped to turn over mission management to the local Shoshone indians (Gabrielenos) but due to secularization in 1833 it didn't happen. In the 1900s the Claretian missionaries restored the mission and church and continued to reach out into the community with compassion.

This mission, like all of them, is a small city. It contains its own wine press, candle-making, tannery and other provisions. The grounds themselves are a little undermaintained but the simple beauty of the mission shines through.

After soaking up all of the history of the mission we continued to brave the heat and travelled to the LA Arborteum in Arcadia. This 127 acre botanical garden was founded by EJ Baldwin. Who bought the desert land with visions of an oasis. He proceeded to hand plant much of the property and received many of the varieties of plants as gifts from around the world. One distinct feature of the property are the peacocks and peahens that roam freely throughout the park. I was hoping to see one display its feathers but they weren't having it. Perhaps they were too hot as well.

I knew we were in trouble when upon arrival we learned that they were not running a tram today, it seems the roads are under construction.

So we proceeded to start walking in 100+ degree weather around the grounds. Did I mention it's 127 acres of stuff to see. Yea. In triple digit weather with humidity. I think we're high on siteseeing and don't know when to stop. So our first tour was through was African garden. All I remember is desert hot.

20 minutes in and ours collective wagons were a draggin'. My mom soaked her shirt in the water fountain and it was dry in about 15 minutes. Yep. Hot.

So we persevered and went into the tropical garden. It was thick with foliage and a smidgen cooler. Unforunately it came to an end all to fast. We pressed on toward the Queen Anne Cottage, which was also home to Fantasy Island. It's a beautiful victorian home with a lush rose garden and pond nearby. Very beautiful. Still hot.

My mom gave up at this point, flagged down a maintenance man on a golf cart and headed back towards the entrance. Maybe we should have taken heed from the fact that the aboretum was virtually empty upon our arrival.

Dad and I tredged on to see the waterfall. Only we make it there to learn that due to high temperature there is no water. At this point we're parched and wondering if we're going to make it back to the entrance. I have visions of a search and rescue team having to come find us. We'll be on the news as the idiots that trapsed around the gardens in 120 degree weather. It didn't help that none of the water fountains worked. They turned them off. What the heck. We nearly died out there for heaven sakes.

We only ended up seeing about half of it before we gave up. But the grounds are stunning, even though a lot of the plants are dormant or dead in the weather. I can't wait to go back when more is in bloom and it isn't so flipping hot.

We haven't had enough heat we head towards Ontario to have dinner with my cousin Sammy. We're going to meet him at the Ontario Mills Mall. We opt for BJs Pizzeria and the air conditioning. Praise God for air conditioning and water.

Cars, Vegetables, and the Hollywood Sign

2007-09-01T23:00:00.000-07:00

Our adventure today was to LA to visit the Petersen Automotive Museum, The Grove and Hollywood and Highland.

I come from a family that loves cars. My dad used to be a mechanical engineer. We frequent dealerships just to see the new cars, even when we're not going to buy. We go to car shows and I used to work in the automotive aftermarket. Cars rock! So the Petersen Automotive Museum was a must see for us.

I have to say this was the best museum I've been to in a while. It does an amazing job of showcasing the cars in their context. It explores the world they lived in. You see cars from their inception up through the 60s in the permanent exhibition. You watch the gas pump and freeways in LA evolve.

What was amazing to me was that as early as 1917 they were exploring hybrids. They didn't have the technology they needed to make it work. What was also interesting was that those early cars got 50 miles to the gallon, even through the 40s. Those cars weighed significantly more than our cars do today and they got 50 mpg and we can't manage that with all of our technology, something is wrong with that picture.

Other exhibits on display now are Hollywood Cars, Convertibles and Microcars. If you like cars you really need to visit. Admission is $10 and parking is $6.

For lunch we headed over to the LA Farmer's Market on 3rd and Fairfax, just a few blocks from the museum. Established in 1934 the market has a long history of bring the community together around food. You can buy your vegetables, eat a crepe, taco or New Orleans gumbo. We opted for Du-Parrs a family-owned restaurant established in 1936. Their homemade food was delicious. They have a bakery onsite so the bread and desserts were fantastic.

Then we wandered down the block to The Grove to see the fountain show, shop at Crate & Barrell and we listened to a band on the grassy knoll. The band was called The Copycats and they were really good. Lots of celebrities like to shop there but we didn't see any.

Needing a fix of the weird and fanciful we decided to visit Hollywood and Highland. Out in full force were people dressed up like Shrek, Harry Potter, vampires, Spiderman, SpongeBob and other characters to make money taking pictures with tourists. It works.

We opted instead to have a cream puff at Beard Papa, see the Hollywood Sign (directly behind the shopping complex), and visit the Grauman's Chinese Theatre. I don't know what's so fascinating about seeing celebrity hand and shoe prints but it is. I think its because they're all so amazingly small.

Our last stop was at the Roosevelt Hotel, right across the street from Graumans. Knowing that is where the first Oscar's were held I wanted to check it out. The hotel was home away from home for many stars back when Hollywood was still glamorous.It has been completely restored the Spanish Colonial style and its luster. However I don't think its as beautiful as The Biltmore in downtown Los Angeles.

After three full days of siteseeing we're exhausted. Tomorrow we're going to sleep in and lay low.

Wine Tasting in Temecula

2007-08-31T21:48:00.000-07:00

Inspite of warnings that the heat would be in the triple digits we braved the weather and headed east to Temecula so that my mom could do a little wine tasting. It's her new hobby.

We just kept telling ourselves it would be a dry heat and cranked the AC in the car. OH MY GOODNESS! We had no idea how hot a dry heat can be. I got out of the car and felt like I couldn't breathe. Walking was like swimming.

We stopped to eat to make sure there was food in their stomachs before they started tasting and the clerk said it was 107. Oh yea, it was hot.

But we persevered and headed to our first winery - Churon. A winery bed and breakfast built to resemble a French Chateau. It has a picnic area and a great view. The staff is so friendly and informative. I remembered it from my last trip (5 years ago) and knew that they free poured. I gave my mom a crash course in pacing herself. Letting her know that its ok to spit.

Then we headed to Calloway for the free tour to see how they make wine. It's a great 25 minute overview of Calloway's philosophy and grounds. Even though they were in the middle of harvesting we didn't get to see any actually in process. Although they are having an old-fashioned wine stomping at the end of September.

Two things I learned from our guide Sergio was that most California wines expire in five years, if not sooner. They are not meant to be aged because of they way they use yeast to quicken the fermenting process. So essentially American wine is akin to fast food - sweet.

Our third stop was Maurice Car'rie. It is designed after a Victorian-style farmhouse. The grounds are quaint and they usually have a craft fair, but not today. Their wines are usually blends but they have the best baked brie in sourdough bread. That alone is worth stopping for.

Our final stop was at a winery I'd never been to, called South Coast Winery.

It is also a resort and spa. That aspect is definitely reflected in the grounds, which are stunning. The walkways are lined with a gorgeous pergola made of barn beams. It's a great place to take photos.

My mom said the wine at South Coast was great, especially a port wine called Black Jack. They also have tasty wine-related jams, dipping sauces and salsas.

Once we were wined out we went for a drive around the temecula valley, which is amazingly beautiful at this time of year.

Inspite of the heat it was a great day!

Lazy Summer afternoon on Balboa Island

2007-08-30T23:41:00.001-07:00

Today we headed up the 405 a bit to Balboa Island and Newport Beach via Lucille's BBQ in Lake Forest.

After a leisurely lunch at Lucille's, which has the tastiest BBQ, biscuits and banana pudding we ventured out to Balboa Island, a man-made island whose lots originally sold from $25 and are now worth millions.

We took the ferry over and I have to say I was shocked to learn that it cost $4 to get over there. I know I'm an old fogey by saying I remember when it was like .55 cents a person. How crazy is that. Now its a $2 for the car/driver and $1 per person.

Once landed we drove the six blocks to the beach to park. From there we walked around the shops and pier. We were going to rent a surrey bike for four but it cost $35/hour. The attendant generously threw in an extra hour for free and we just laughed. There is no way we were going to bike for two hours in this heat. So the extra hour did not make it more enticing.

Everyone else agreed. Normally the sidewalks are full of bikers, skaters, skateboarding and runners but today the Island was quiet. There were some people at the beach but it was not crowded at all. I'm sure you're there this weekend it will be another story.

We decided to beat the heat by taking a 90 minute bay cruise [$17] instead, to see how the other half live. So we boarded the Queen and cruised around the bay checking out the most expensive island home for $29 million and a home that was ordered from a Sears catalog for $1850. The land it sits on is worth $4 million.

We also learned that Nicholas Cage just bought a house there and so did the president of yahoo, whom we actually saw as we were cruising by. Other bay cruise vistas were sea lions, the site where they filmed the opening sequence to Gilligan's Island and the Newport Ghetto where the homes are only worth $3 million. It was a fantastic way to relax, stay cool and see the island.

No visit to Balboa is complete without stopping in the Fun Zone. While we didn't play in the arcade, take a ride on the ferris wheel or carrousel we did have a Balboa Bar in the fun zone. This is a must if you're ever near Balboa. It is ice cream hand dipped in chocolate rolled in your favorite topping. So good.

We ended our day with another trip to the beach where we watched the sunset over the water.

It was breathtaking.

Cooling Off in Laguna Beach

2007-08-29T22:51:00.000-07:00

I had to work half a day today so mom and dad lounged by the pool and in the jacuzzi. It was a scorcher outside so they were in search of cooler locations. Once I got home we headed down to Laguna in search of moving air.

Aaahh yes, the ocean breeze. That elusive wind that has the power to make you feel human once again. Anyway, once we finally found parking and headed west it was like you could actually feel your body temperature dropping. It was heaven.

So our first step in Laguna was Gelato Paradiso. I had pomegranate, lemon and coconut. It was so good and refreshing. Mom got various flavors of chocolate and dad had a mixture of most everything.

So we walked down through all of the stores and galleries on PCH. We even took a walk on the beach. The water was so cold. Our final stop of the day was at The Cliffs to have appetizers with an amazing view.

A fantastic afternoon.

Gelato Paradiso 448 South Coast Highway, Suite A Laguna Beach, California 92651
Phone: 949.464.9255

The Cliff Restaurant 577 South Coast Hwy.Laguna Beach, CA
Phone: (949) 494-1956

Will Stop for Homemade Tortillas

2007-08-28T22:11:00.000-07:00

My parents got in safe and sound today.

Our first stop was in Old Town San Diego. After living in Ohio for two years my parents crave real Mexican food. So every time they come to visit we make sure to have one authentic meal.

So we went straight to Old Town Mexican Cafe in the heart of Old Town San Diego, where the tortillas, both corn and flour, are homemade. That reason alone makes it worth stopping for. You can get them to go for only $3 a dozen.

My dad had their specialty, carnitas, and mom and I shared a taco and tostada combination plate. The rice was a little dry and over condimented but everything else was fantastic. I highly recommend it.

Old Town Mexican Cafe
2489 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110
Tel: (619) 297-4330 Fax: (619) 297-8002
Open Daily 7:00am- 2:00am

Multi-Cultural LA Day

2007-08-20T00:15:00.000-07:00

Finally after two months of busy schedules I got to spend the day with Erika. No big plans we decided to go with what sounded good.

We thought about the Getty or perhaps to the park in Culver City to see an outdoor play but in the end opted for the African Marketplace & Cultural Faire.

We'd heard it was the largest cultural fair in the US and in its 22nd year we had very high hopes for it. We expected a fair full of life, with non-stop music and entertainment, a wide variety of food, and a broad selection of vendors and art. It did not deliver.

It was more like a swapmeet combined with a school carnival. We arrived at 2 p.m. and it was deserted. There was one stage, with no chairs for seating. Didn't really matter since there was nothing scheduled for hours. Most of the vendors seemed to carry the same thing. The youth village, which was supposed to have a petting zoo, storytime and classes was one booth for face painting, a bounce house and a kid kareoke stage. When we walked through it was five kids singing along to a Beyonce song. Maybe we just went at the wrong time on the wrong weekend.

Reeling from our disappointing festival experience we decided to to Culver City to visit Grand Casino Cafe & Bakery, [3826 Main St Culver City, CA 90232 (310) 202-6969] a cute Argentinian cafe on Main Street for a desert snack. Erika says that their empanadas are tasty. They have lots of traditional treats to choose from and a wide selection of sandwiches as salads. I was just happy to find my favorite Argentine cookies, Alfajores. So good.

Culver City has really changed in the last five years. There are so many great restaurants in their redeveloped downtown. Erika said that Harrison Ford's son just opened a place there aptly named Ford's Filling Station. I may have to forego a few trips to Versailles and try out some of their culinary treats.

Besides you never know who you'll run into there. While we were stopped at a stop light a pedestrian almost ran into Erika's car while crossing the street. I looked up and it was none other than Tim Robbins. How funny is that.

I spent the rest of day learning how to make Mu Doi or steamed pork buns, one of my favorite Asian foods. So good. By far, my favorite part of the day was the impromptu dinner al fresco in the garden. So lovely. What a perfect way to cap the day.

Ocean Views

2007-08-10T10:21:00.000-07:00

ocean view 2
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

One thing I love about living in Southern California are the views.

I was driving home from a friends house rounded the corner and this is what I saw. How fantastic is that! Views like that are what make the crazy amounts of money we pay to live here worth it.

Luckily I had my camera so I pulled over and took a picture.

Empanada Man

2007-08-08T23:16:00.000-07:00

I love Argentine food. It is AMAZING. My most favorite is the chimichurri sauce - a delicate blend of herbs, spices and oil that makes any steak, empanada or piece of bread come alive. It is a veritable carnival of flavor in your mouth. I kid you not.

I was thrilled when a co-worker introduced me to Empanada Man. Only a mile or so from work in Lake Forest. It is a whole restaurant dedicated to the making of hand-made flaky pouches of deliciousness filled with all sorts of treats like spinach and cheese, shredded steak, chile verde pork or ricotta and mushroom. Soo tasty.

I don't however recommend you try to reheat these babies, no so good. They are best fresh and hot the first time around.

Empanada man also serves pizza, salads, sandwiches but I've never ventured beyond the empanada.

Empanada Man - 20761 Lake Forest Drive, Lake Forest, CA. (949) 855-9257. Visit their web site: http://www.empanadaman.com/ for a full menu and coupons.

Prepping for a Parental Visit to So Cal

2007-08-05T11:47:00.000-07:00

My parents will be visiting at the end of August and I'm trying to put together their itinerary.

A visit from the parentals is quite different than prepping for a visit from the nephews. But I do have to blend two very different approaches to vacations. My mom just wants to hang out and live life like I do. So she's ok with a light schedule. My dad on the other hand can't sit still. He likes to contantly be on the go. He wants a full schedule and to see everything.

Ooh and the other great part of all of this is that if I ask them what they want to do - they have no opinion. Yep all I get by way of help is, "whatever you want to do honey." So that means no help whatsoever. So I'll be stabbing in the dark trying to figure out what they want. Aahh yes, my childhood revisited.

I love my parents don't get me wrong we have a great time, but its just a tad stressful.

We've been to: Disneyland, Queen Mary, LA Conservancy Walking Tour, San Juan Capistrano Mission, Magic Mountain, Santa Monica (3rd Street, Pier), Old Town Pasadena,

So this time I think I'll take them to: Huntington Gardens, Old Town San Diego, La Jolla, Buena Adventura Mission, and maybe we'll go to Santa Barbara or Palm Springs.

We'll see.

OC Fair - Cowabunga

2007-08-04T22:34:00.001-07:00

Today Tina, Genny and I went to the OC Fair to eat deep-fried twinkies, visit the animals, see a bull-riding show and peruse gadgets we never knew we could live without. It was fun, but ooh so hot. We had to make strategic visits to the air conditioned buildings just to survive.

We took a divide and conquer approach to the food. First on our list was some lunch so we shared a sausage with pepper and onions and some deep fried zucchini.

After visiting a buck-toothed llama, 900 lb cow and baby animals we decided it was time for deep-fried twinkies and threw in a couple of deep-fried oreos to round out the junk food fest. They really were quite tasty. The twinkies were like a filled-doughnut. The oreos were quite chocolatey and very sweet. Of the two I enjoyed the twinkies more. It was ooey-gooey, calorie-filled deliciousness.

In the Main Hall we decided to have our handwriting analyzed with a giant machine with lots of blinking lights. My fear was that it was scanning my signature and going to apply for credit cards but they assured me it didn't. What we received for our $3 was a generic sign reading. I didn't even agree with half of what they said. Tina's and Genny's was right on.

Then we met up with Lena and Derek for a bull-riding show. I've never seen a bull-riding event. It was entertaining for about 30 minutes, then the seats got really hard, it was hot and I was done. Each ride is less than 8 seconds and it takes about 10 minutes to prep the bull and rider for their turn. So what they fill with is a bunch of lame horse shows. I don't think its funny for some guy to pretend to run into a horses' butt.

So we had dinner with Lena and Derek. Tina and Genny opted for chow mein, I had a bbq beef sandwich. Not as festive as the deep-fried twinkie. After six hours at the fair it was time to go.

Mayan Inn

2007-07-27T16:23:00.000-07:00

Contrary to popular belief there is ethnic food in South Orange County.

Today for lunch four co-workers and I ventured to the Mayan Inn, on the corner of Los Alisos and Jeronimo in Lake Forest. It has been owned and operated by the same family since 1986. Located in a strip mall I wasn't sure what to expect, but one step inside the restaurant and all hole-in-the-wall fears disappear. It is a very cute atmosphere with white stucco walls, black vinyl booths and Mexican flag colors everywhere.

They serve very traditional Mexican food. For lunch I had a cheese enchilada and beef taco plate, which included beans and rice. The beans were excellent, not from a can. The enchilada sauce was homemade and delicious. It had the right balance of tomato and chili spices.The rice wasn't fantastic, but I'd still be willing to give them another shot. I'm anxious to try the chile verde.

If you're in the SOC give it a shot.

Places to Bonfire in Orange County

2007-07-24T14:07:00.000-07:00

At the doctor's office last week I casually perused Orange Coast's July 2007 issue and discovered a list of beaches with firepits in the O.C.

The article points out several important keys to successful bonfires in the OC. The first is to arrive early in the day and stake out your spot, especially in the summer.

The second is to make sure you have the right kind of wood. The article says that the best for a long-lasting, smoke-free fire is pine and Eucalyptus. You can log onto http://www.rosenbaumranch.com/ to learn how to build your wood pile. Here are a list of O.C. beaches with fire pits to test your fire building skills.

Capistrano Beach - 35005 Beach Road.
Hours: 6 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Parking: $1/hr.
Phone: 949-923-2280.

Dana Point - Doheney State Beach, 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, at el Obispo.
Hours: 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. during DST and 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. PST.
Parking; $10.
Phone; 949-496-6172

Huntington Beach - Bolsa Chica State Beach, 17851 PCH, between Warner Ave and Seapoint.
Hours: 6 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Parking: $10
Phone: 714-846-3460

Huntington Beach - Huntington City Beach, 103 PCH, between First St and Beach Blvd
Hours: 6 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Parking: $10
Phone 714-536-5281

Huntington Beach - Huntington State Beach, on PCH between Beach Blvd and Magnolia Ave.
Hours 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Parking: $10
Phone: 714-536-1454

Newport Beach - Balboa Beach/Balboa Pier, on Ocean Front between Island Ave and Main St
Hours; 6 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Parking: Meters and street parking
Phone: 949-719-6100

Newport Beach - Corona del Mar State Beach, Ocean Ave and Iris Street
Hours; 6 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Parking: $10
Phone: 949-644-3151

Newport Beach - Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort and Marina, 1131 Back bay Drive, off Jamboree Road.
Hours 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Parking: $10
Phone: 949-729-3863

San Clemente - Calafia State Beach, Avenida Calafia and Avenida del Presidente
Hours: 6 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Parking: $10
Phone; 949-492-3156

San Clemente - Ole Hanson beach/North Beach, 1900 Avenida Estacion
Hours: 4 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Parking: Metered until 8 p.m.
Phone: 949-361-8265.

San Clemente - Pier, 620 Avenida del Mar, off El Camino Real.
Hours: 4 a.m. to midnight.
Parking: $1/hour.
Phone: 949-361-8219.

San Clemente - State Beach, 3030 Avenida del President at Avenida Calafia.
Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Parking: $10
Phone: 949-492-0802

The Drive-In is back in OC

2007-07-22T15:25:00.000-07:00

I was searching for info on the OC Fair and randomly ended up on a link to a new drive-in that shares the fairgrounds. A decade after the last one in OC closed Star-Vu opened its gates to a sell out crowd. It's closed now for the fair but opens again August 11, 2007.

The new drive-in experiences offers state of the art sound (on FM transmission) and first-run movies but still keeps all the traditions and nostalgia alive as well.

I can't wait to go. Growing up in a small Ohio town there was nothing to do on a summer night but go to the drive in. I loved going in my jammies, playing on the swingset up front and eating a ton of popcorn. The great thing about a drive-in here in CA is that there won't be any mosquitos to eat you alive on a hot summer night.

Location: Orange County Fairgrounds, Costa Mesa, 88 Fair Drive. The fairgrounds are located just off of the 55 Freeway South at the Del Mar/ Fair Drive exit. Cars arriving will be entering off of Fair Drive through Gate Two. Exit traffic will be directed out Gate 10 to Newport Boulevard.
Capacity: 300 cars
Price: General admission (13 years and older): $8.50, Children (5 to 12 years) $5 , and free for 4 years and under.
Public information: Phone number: 949-296-7002 , Website: www.star-vu.com or email: info@star-vu.com.

Mad Maps

2007-07-19T22:40:00.001-07:00

I just found a new source for day trip, scenic routes and off-the-beaten-path tours of Southern California, Mad Maps.

My trusty Real Simple listed it as a problem-solver under $6 in its August issue. These pocket-sized maps show seven scenic drives, out-of-the-way eateries, and other great places to stop and see the best that the area has to offer.

There are maps offered Los Angeles and San Diego. I'll have to check them out.

Getty Villa

2007-07-15T20:48:00.000-07:00

NOTE: I just went back to the Villa today and took the Orientation tour. There is no need to take both the Architecture and Garden tour and the Orientation tour. They overlap a lot. Instead I recommend getting in line early for the spotlight tour lead by the gallery teachers, not the docents. We showed up at 2:45 for the 3 p.m. tour and it was full. So sad.

June 24, 2007 - On Saturday Ty and I went north to Pacific
Palisades to visit J. Paul Getty's renovated Villa.

It is modeled after the ancient Villa dei Papiri, believed to have been the home of Julius Caesar's father-in-law, buried by the explosion of Mt. Vesuvius. Now the Getty Villa is dedicated to the study of the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome and Etruria.

The grounds are designed to resemble an archeological site. On the top level there are modern buildings and a cafe with outdoor tables. We travel down into the site the architects built layers of sedementary rock into the canyon walls to represent time as we descend upon the Roman home beautifully restored and alive to tell its story.

The Villa is dedicated to showing life as the romans lived. Built around a large courtyard with small galleries that would have been rooms for the family. The walkways are lined with busts of individuals known by the family, serving as conversation pieces for their guests as they toured the home.

The gardens are spectacular. They have gone to painstaking detail to plant only those flowers and herbs that would have been in existance in Roman times.

We watched a 12 min overview of the building and renovation of the Villa and also took the 40 minute Garden and Architecture Tour. I highly recommend it as a great introduction to the museum and its vision. There are also other tours available that go into greater depth about the collections.

One thing I loved was that every tour is given a receiver and headphones. You can wander up to 100 feet away from your group and still hear what the docent is saying. It gives greater opportunity to explore and not have to travel through the musueum in a clump straining to hear. Great feature.

The museum has 44,000k pieces of antiquity and 1,200 are on display, so no two visits to the Villa will be the same. Log onto getty.edu to request your free tickets. I would plan a few weeks in advance as tickets go quickly. But the great thing about a limited number of tickets per day is that the museum never feels too crowded. We arrived at 11 a.m. and wandered around, took a tour, leisurely strolled through exhibits and ate in the cafe and left around 4 p.m. We didn't feel rushed. It was actually a very relaxing experience.

Parking is $8.

Pavilion of Wings

2007-07-15T10:10:00.000-07:00

DSC00073
Originally uploaded by greenbeangirl74

This past weekend Erika and I ventured to Natural History Museum in Los Angeles to see the Pavilion of Wings. With her KCRW discount we got in for free, how sweet is that.

The Pavilion itself was amazing! Full of brightly colored bushes and flowers to attract and feed the butterflies there are literally hundreds and hundreds of butterflies flying all around. I felt like a kid again in complete wonder and awe. Most of the time you just stand there in stunned silence as you watch these beautiful creatures flutter around so delicately.

The exhibits shows the life cycle of the butterfly from caterpillar through its metamorphisis. Every week new species are released. The museum lets people in on the half hour but since we went on a weekend it was still really crowded.

The Pavilion is open through November 3rd. There is an extra $3 fee for the Pavilion of Wings in addition to the museum entrance fee of $9.
900 Exposition Blvd. (between Vermont and Figueroa.)
Los Angeles, CA 90007 Phone: (213) 763-DINO

List of Places I Have yet to see Southern California

2007-07-09T14:41:00.001-07:00

I've been to many places over the last 14 years that I've lived here in Southern California, but new things keep popping up on my radar. Here is a list of places I want to visit, categorized by their general vicinity. Of course I have the least for where I live (OC).

1. Palm Springs - Aerial Tram, Windmill Tour, Pioneer Town, Indian Canyon Tour

2. San Diego - Balboa Park Botanical Gardens, Point Loma, U.S.S. Midway, Heritage Park Victorian Village, Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park, Eat in the Gaslamp District, Old Town. Other tour options: All San Diego Tours, Old Town Trolley, Gaslamp Architectural Tour

3. Los Angeles - Cheesy star tour, Forest Lawn (architecture and celebrity cemetery), Venice Beach (driven by it, never stopped on the boardwalk), Museum of Tolerance, Buenaventura Mission, San Gabriel Mission Other tour options: LA Conservancy Walking Tours of Downtown, Sony Pictures Studio Tour (even though WB is the best),

4. Santa Barbara - Santa Barbara Mission, Santa Ynez Mission, Stearns Wharf, Galleria del Mar, Other Tour Options: Red Tile Tour, Santa Barbara Trolley Tours, Architectural Foundation Walking Tours

5. Orange County - Bowers Museum, Art Bar,

I hope to visit a lot of these this summer. We'll see.

Farecast.com

2007-07-09T12:22:00.000-07:00

Want to know the best time to book your flight for the lowest fare? I just discovered a web site that will help you do just that.

Farecast.com will help you determine the best time to buy your flight in the next 90 days. It will advise you to buy now cause fares are on the rise or wait because fares are dropping. You can set up an alert that will keep you posted on how your fare is doing.

Based on a third party audit they are 74.5% accurate in their predictions and offer fare history report as a comparison.

Only larger metropolian areas have the farecast option available. I was only able to set up my alerts from Los Angeles or Ontario but not Orange County.

Shakespeare By the Sea

2007-07-09T12:16:00.000-07:00

Since I've already concluded that Shakespeare is more easily understood and appreciated in an outdoor venue, this weekend we're planning to see Taming of the Shrew in Irvine's Turtle Rock park this Sunday.

It's a great experience with the Bard in an outdoor amphiteatre and the travelling company, Shakespeare by the Sea never disappoints.

Visit their web site to see if they're visiting an LA area park near you.

Live Music at the Irvine Spectrum.

2007-07-06T10:41:00.000-07:00

I said I loved the Irvine Spectrum and I wasn't kidding. We were back again tonight.

We went to see Evening, had dinner at Champs and then headed toward Barnes and Noble. We never made it to Barnes and Noble, we were sidetracked by Cold Stone Creamery and two twin violinists.

The Irvine Spectrum has several stages located through the complex dedicated to live performance. We were treated to Jason and Nolan, the electric violin playing identical twins. They were amazing. It was a great finish to our evening. So relaxing to sit and listen to their music ranging from celtic, to romantic and a hymn thrown in for good measure.

I went to the Spectrum web site but they do not have their live event page updated to include anything. If you'd like to see Jason and Noan they will be back July 28 and 29.

Night at Irvine Spectrum

2007-06-28T11:52:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite outdoor shopping spots in all of Southern California is the Irvine Spectrum. Debbie and I went to see Ocean's 13 and have dinner at PF Changs.

With the recent additions of Target, Nordstrom, Old Navy and more parking it's a great place to people watch, go to the movies, shop and eat. It is also a teenage hangout so you trip over the teens and tweens at every turn, but its still worth the effort to visit.

When my nephews were here in December we went to ride the ferris wheel, take a turn on the carrousel and skate on the ice rink they bring in for the holidays.

Other favorite restaurants there are: Johnny Rockets, Cheesecake Factory, California Pizza Kitchen, Javier's and Red Robin.

Mission Inn

2007-06-24T00:24:00.000-07:00

Sunday, desiring an afternoon drive and something to do we headed out to Riverside to see the famed Mission Inn.

A glorious relic of Spanish architecture the Mission Inn was originally built to be a single family home in 1880, the simple adobe home was soon used to generate extra income for its owners, the Miller family. As money permitted additions were made to make room for more guests.

We signed up for a Mission Inn Museum tour ($12), which is a 75 minute walking tour of the hotel. Be advised you are not allowed to take photos. I was highly disappointed. But we were escorted through the extensive grounds and into many areas that were for guests only. After the tour we got permission from staff to go back through and take photos.

The Inn felt a bit like the Winchester Mystery House as we saw steps and doors that no longer led anywhere and outside walls that were now inside and allies that became an indoor hallway. It is an odd dichotomy of grandeur and areas that seem a bit out of date. The latest owners are working hard to remodel and update the hotel. I imagine its a bit like keeping up with a castle.

The Inn is beautiful and is a character in and of itself. It has presidential connections, art collections from around the world and beautiful Tiffany stained glass in the chapel.

Unless you're an avid architecture fan or photoholic I can't imagine you'd make the trek out to Riverside to see the Mission Inn, but if you're in the area I highly recommend it. It has a great story.

We did not eat there but the hotel boasts of 5 different restaurants. There is a Sunday brunch for $32.

Mission Inn: 3649 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside, CA 92501

Wicked Good

2007-06-22T13:46:00.000-07:00

Last night Tina and I ventured to LA to see Wicked at the Pantages Theatre.

Tina heard from a co-worker that you can enter your name into a lottery to receive orchestra tickets for $25 (cash only). The deal is you have to be there two hours before your show to put your name in. Our show was at 8 p.m. and we got there at about 5:55 p.m. but still made it. Unfortunately we didn't get them. So sad. At least we still had tickets, albeit in the nosebleed.

But being there so early gave us time to head to Hollywood and Highland where we discovered a cute little desert store called Beard Papa. Specializing in cream puffs, the Japanese-based chain has some seriously delicious treats. I tried the eclair (cream puff topped in chocolate) and it was so packed-full of yummy custard filling that it was gushing out. I could hardly hold it. It's a great treat. Tina had a boba smoothie and she said it was delicious.

As we drove through various part of LA I was reacquainted with how ridiculous the movie promotions are up there. We actually saw a man dressed like Noah on the street corner with a poster board promoting the release of Evan Almighty. That's right, some poor schlep had to stand in 85 degree weather in full beard and burlap costume with what appears to be a hand-painted sign promoting the movie. I know there are freaks in LA but I'm sure this was some jr. VP's idea as a good way to remind people that the movie is opening. Odd.

But it was time to head back to the Pantages. I saw Wicked for the first time two years ago and must say that I liked it better the second time. Maybe it was because I knew the story and all the music. Or because unlike last time we got to see all of the leads including the amazing Carol Kane. Eden Espinoza (Elpheba) and Megan Hilty (Glinda) were simply fantastic. Their voices absolutely filled the theatre. However, the male leads in this particular production were a little underwhelming. Their voices simply could not match those of Hilty and Espinoza. The women definitely reign supreme in this cast!

It's also interesting to see the modifications they have made to the script and scenery now that it is in a longer run at the Pantages. A co-worker's daughter was in the traveling production and said that they also had to make changes because audiences weren't getting some of the material. I think they toned down some of the corrolations to the movie and had to make certain plot twists more obvious.

Still a great production and a great night.

John Mayer Rocks, Literally

2007-06-12T13:52:00.000-07:00

This photo belongs to Irishbrat_77

There is simply nothing better than a starless night in the Hollywood Hills listening to a fantastic musician like John Mayer. He is amazing!!

This is the second time I've seen him in concert and he never disappoints. Unfortunately his set went way too quickly. The really unfortunate thing is that the Rocco De Luca and Ben Folds sets didn't go faster. There were not that great in person. I liked it better in 2004 when Maroon 5 opened for him, that was a concert.

The show started at 6:35 p.m. and the opening acts dragged on forever. John Mayer didn't appear until 8:50ish and he was done by 10 p.m. It seemed like he was on stage for about five minutes.

He opened with Why, Georgia Why, a JM classic. Songes from the new included: I Don't Trust Myself, Gravity, Vultures, Belief, and Dreaming with a Broken Heart. He also played a lot of tried and true favorites like Real World, Bigger Than My Body, Neon, Good Love Is on the Way and The Wheel.

He of course came out for an encore of three songs including Your Body is a Wonderland, which he called his baby. He closed with Waiting on the World to Change.

Overall a very mellow, relaxing set. You don't see John Mayer expecting drama, fireworks or even a lot of banter. It's about the music most specifically his guitar. With my trusty binoculars I could see off to stage left that there were about 30 guitars ready for use. I think he changed for every song and one included the first guitar he bought with his own money. He's an excellent musician.

The night was great! It's always so much fun to people watch in LA. I forget what a plastic bubble we live in down here in So. OC. There are some real characters in LA. It was nice to visit and nice to come home.

Second Row Orchestra

2007-06-10T14:33:00.000-07:00

Last night Tina, Janine and I went to the Disney Concert Hall, my favorite Frank Gehry building.

We were given free tickets to the Bernstein Mass. They were fantastic seats, second row orchestra.

The mass was performed by a girl's choir, several celebrants and a partial orchestra. Only half of the participants that Bernstein's orginal score calls for. It is an interesting interpretation of a mass from a Jewish perspective.

In MASS, Bernstein looks at the issue dramatically; it is subtitled "A Theatre Piece for Singers, Players, and Dancers." Bernstein had always been intrigued and awed by the Roman Catholic Mass, finding it (in Latin) moving, mysterious, and eminently theatrical. The piece follows the liturgy exactly, but it is juxtaposed against frequent interruptions and commentaries by the Celebrant and the congregation, much like a running debate. There is stylistic juxtaposition as well, with the Latin text heard electronically through speakers or sung by the chorus, and the interruptions sung in various popular styles including blues and rock-and-roll. On the narrative level, the hour-and-a-half-long piece relates the drama of a Celebrant whose faith is simple and pure at first, but gradually becomes unsustainable under the weight of human misery, corruption, and the trappings of his own power.

The venue is perfect and the pipe organ is spectacular. One of the great things about the Disney Concert Hall is that it is a 360 degree sitting. You can see an experience the music from every vantage point. The acoustics are specifically engineered by Yasuhisa Toyota to be the best. Our seats couldn't have been better. Every time I get free tickets to the symphony they are always second row orchestra. Ok, so its only been two times but I see a pattern developing.

There is something about being that close to the music that is magical and it also stirs my inner onry child. Reminds me of being in catholic school as a kid. I always got in trouble in mass and had to sit next to the nun to make sure I behaved. I don't know what it is but mind goes into overdrive and I think of a million questions, comments and observations. I think its my natural born tendency to rebel.

But once I got my mind settled I was lulled by the beautiful music. There is something so relaxing about an orchestra. Your mind rests and your soul is inspired by the melodies. We had a great time.

Restaurant Tag

2007-06-04T15:17:00.000-07:00

Alright Doug has tagged me to promote my favorite local eateries. I can do that. So here's are my top ten picks in the chain and independent categories.

Chains:
Pick Up Stix - love the potstickers
Fuddruckers - great burgers
Chipotle - tastiest burrito I ever had
Wing Stop - who doesn't love a good buffalo wing
El Pollo Loco - how can you say no to the crazy chicken?

Independents/Local chains:
Versailles (LA) - this one is in LA, but worth the drive if you love great Cuban food.
Avila's El Ranchito (Lake Forest) - Killer carnitas
Cinnamon Productions(RSM) - tasty sandwiches and it reminds me of my dear friend Erika :)
Lucille's BBQ (Lake Forest) - the best banana pudding EVER!
Peppinos -(Foothill Ranch) good italian food and the bread is the best

Art and Ice Cream in San Diego

2007-06-02T15:45:00.000-07:00

I just went to San Diego to visit my friend Nicole. We surveyed our plethora of options and decided on the following:

1. Lunch at KC BBQ the bar used in Top Gun. It is a really small bar with bras, stickers and hats on the ceiling. Quite the interesting decor. The BBQ was tasty. Lots of tourists taking pictures with the official Top Gun Piano.

2. Ice Cream at the Hotel Del Coronado while searching for wedding locales. The hotel del, rumored to be haunted is beautiful. It always reminds me of that hotel from Somewhere in Time. I hadn't been in a few years and forget how it is in the middle of a busy little part of town. Very picturesque, full of fun shops and restaurants. The hotel itself is worth a spin.

3. Look at some Art around Adams - Nicole found this festival of sorts in the Normal Heights Neighborhood that features local artists displaying their work in local businesses. It is a win-win for both parties. The businesses offer wine, cheese, desserts and other snacks to entice you in. There was even a trolley that runs up and down the street to help you see everything. It is an interesting idea, but we found it a bit odd. A store selling mattresses doesn't seem like a good venure for pop art. It felt weird to wander into stores I'm not interested in to see art. It wasn't a cute little area but instead a functional one full of dry cleaners, laudromats, etc. Very bizarre. We didn't say very long.

Trip to See Ronnie and Nancy

2007-05-12T15:22:00.000-07:00

Today Debbie and I loaded up the CRV and went north to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA. We thought it would be nice to travel back to a time when our enemy was clearly defined and the US was more hopeful about the future as we achieved "peace through strength" in the Reagan era.

The library is out in the middle of no where, so it's peaceful and serene. It does a fantastic job of showcasing our 40th president's love of horses, the southwest and his beginnings in Hollywood.
However, there is an incredible lack of presidential memorabilia. Most of his story is told through a series of 5 minute film vignettes. There are few physical items from his presidency - letters, phone calls we can hear, treaties signed, etc. It felt like a giant political commercial for Ronald Reagan or better yet a movie trailer.

We do have the requisite cases of White House China, gowns Nancy wore and a booth from their favorite restaurant. The Air Force One pavilion is interesting as was the replica of the Oval office, but overall the place lacks depth and it wasn't very interactive.

For a man that orchestrated the end of the Cold War he is reduced to key sound bites and the number of miles he travelled on his plane meeting dignitaries. It isn't quite the picture of the man I expected.

Then again maybe that was the spirit of the age - progress and optimism. During his presidency our confidence as a nation soared, just fast as the interest rates and inflation plummeted. We were in a boom and felt secure as our military was strengthened. Maybe I couldn't connected to the laisse faire attitude of the 80s as we rested on our laurels of our longest recorded period of peacetime prosperity without recession or depression. Knowing what comes next the nostalgia just wasn't enough. So we left a little disappointed, but still glad we went.

To redeem the 90 mile drive to the Valley (from Orange County) we stopped at Olvera St on the way back to eat a churro and visit Union Station.

Then we topped the day off with a trip to Versailles, my favorite restaurant in Los Angeles, to have some Cuban food with Erika, another of my favorite things in Los Angeles.

All in all a fantastic day.

Angel Treat

2007-05-04T16:58:00.000-07:00

Last night Jaime invited Jonathan, Tina and I to partake in her vendor's season tickets to the Angel's. They played the Chicago White Sox (and won 5-1).

So we got free tickets, preferred parking, and a free Angel's visor what's more festive than that - oh wait fireworks. That's right for every Friday home game the Angels treat fans to a firework extravaganza. It was great!!

I didn't even mind staying through the whole thing. Normally I like to show up in the 4th inning eat my way through the 7th and go home. Last night I didn't even get a hot dog, so sad.
It was still fun. I enjoyed the company, a night outdoors and the chance to scream my head off. To those on the outside it looked like I was an Angel fan on the inside I knew it was the release of a very long week.

Frolicking in the Flower Fields

2007-04-24T21:21:00.000-07:00

From early March through mid May the hills of Carlsbad are alive with color.

50 acres of ranunculas, called The Flower Fields are in full bloom. It's rather spectacular. There is every color imaginable. Row after row of beautiful flowers in various stages of bloom.

I wish I could run through the fields and sing, but its all roped off and they do have security. There are activities for kids, a wagon ride around the fields, composting classes, art exhibits, live music and this year they added a flower maze.

It's worth the trip.

The Bard in the Gardens

2007-04-23T21:05:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I got see Erika and spend time at one of my favorite places on the planet, The Huntington Gardens. We went to their annual Shakespeare Festival. It was the Bard, on his birthday weekend, in beautiful surroundings.

Actors from Shakespeare at Play were performing scenes in various locations around the gardens. They were amazing. For some reason it's much easier to understand Elizabethan English when its performed outside.

My favorite player was one named Derek. He was talented and hot, what a combo. We just wandered around from performance to performance with no agenda just enjoying the scenery.

Other Elizabethan activities included a May Pole, minstrels, and lectures. It felt like we stepped back in time. I highly recommend it next year.

But the real fun was just hanging out with Erika. We sat for a long time in the Japanese garden and just talked. That was the treat of the day.

Sober Temecula

2007-01-20T21:38:00.000-08:00

My day trip buddy, Jenn, was in town from Florida for 10 days. We couldn’t let her go home without another adventure. So today we loaded up the rental car and headed for Temecula, CA about 50 miles south east from Rancho Santa Margarita.

Now Temecula is known as Southern California’s wine capital. But since I can’t drink, due to the diabetes and a covenant I signed at work, we didn’t do any tasting.

Although if you do partake I highly recommend it. Make sure you sample the Riesling at Baily Winery and the almond champagne, served in chocolate glasses at Wilson Creek Winery. Maurice Carrie is also great for the baked brie. Get your name on the list, it is so delicious and worth the wait. I think the Temecula Valley is best known for its whites, not the reds. But that's just my opinion.

But we went to Old Town to go shopping, get some lunch and see the historic sites. We wandered up and down Front Street checking out the antique stores, boutiques and eclectic shops. We settled on Sweet Lumpy’s for lunch. We had the most delicious pulled pork. Very tasty.

Also located on Front Street is The Temecula Olive Oil Company with a tasting bar. I got to try the most delicious vanilla and fig balsamic vinegar. It was a young vinegar so it was tart and tangy. Who knew you could taste vinegar and olive oil like wine. I learned that the longer a vinegar sits it becomes sweeter. So check the year on your bottle.

Ooh a perfect snack would be to get some gourmet dipping oil from the Olive Company and head to Maurice Carrie for the baked brie with your favorite vintage or sparkling water.

Now this is not the most scenic time to visit Temecula. In January it’s pretty brown. But the rolling hills dotted with working ranches are gorgeous. The whole valley is beautiful in March during bud break or in the fall for a wedding.

The great thing about Temecula is that it is both sophisticated and casual. You can find top-class chefs and mom-n-pop restaurants. It doesn’t seem to take itself too seriously. Very little snobbery to be found, just good food, shopping and wine.

It’s a fun half day trip. Next time we hope to go check out one of the new spas and then head to Palm Springs, only another 60 miles east.

Rose Parade

2007-01-01T13:42:00.000-08:00

I have lived in Southern California for 14 years and decided it was about time see the Rose Parade.

I wasn't however prepared to sleep on the street overnight. I am beyond the age where that is fun, and I'm not a camper. So Ty, Steve and I decided to get tickets to in November. The best seats were taken so we got seats for 1880 E. Colorado, which is about 2/3 of the way through the parade route.

We got there really early and were shocked to see all of the RVs, campers and trash. People had air mattresses, fire pits, tables and tables full of food and were very bundled up.

I was happy to have my ticket to the grandstands. We got to our seats at 6:30 a.m. The parade started at 8 a.m. and would not be by our area of the route until 9 a.m. It was freezing. We were shoe horned into our seats, bonded with the total strangers that were forced to invade our personal space bubble and had a fantastic time.

It is amazing, nothing like watching it on tv at all. The energy of the crowd. Seeing those beautiful floats up close is unreal. They are so much more colorful and beautiful in person.
One thing I did miss were the commentators, there were so many people on the floats and we had no clue who they were. I'm sure they were important but their presence went unnoticed.

To fill in the gap our very hilarious neighbor Dave read from the program and gave us the history on each float. Then we added our own color commentary making it very fun. However, we had no trouble recognizing George Lucas. The crowd went crazy when he went by.

Unfortunately, our seats were located right after the band performing area so we got them on the down beat. It was funny most of the people around us had been band geeks, including me, we were looking for solid marching skills since there weren't playing. Some bands were amazing but many others were out of step. As a member of the peanut gallery we were giving them scores. But we were at about mile 3 of 5.5 I'm sure they were very tired.

I had such a good time with Ty and Steve. We laughed a lot. Clapped a lot. Yelled a lot. If you decide to go I recommend that you buy your tickets early and get a seat close to the beginning or near the television cameras so you can see more of the performances.

SeaWorld San Diego

2006-12-24T13:50:00.000-08:00

My week with my brother's fam ended with a bang or should I say drop.

We went to San Diego on Saturday for our first sunny day. We basked in the warmth, shows, and a relative lack of people. The park was pretty empty, which was fine with us.

Our first show of the day was the dolphins. We were careful to sit out of the soak zone, figuring since it isn't the splash or sprinkle zone they must be serious. As we were leaving however, we noticed that we had instead been sitting in the poop zone. A seagull, we didn't know was part of the show, dropped a present in my hair and on Rocio's shirt.

Rocio had to wash part of my hair in the bathroom. Mike had to run and buy her a new shirt. At that point there is nothing you can do but laugh.

From there we saw the sharks, the reef, the manatees and the aquarium. We were disappointed the penguins and several other exhibits were closed. I think SeaWorld is best visited in the summer when its warmer. I've heard there are more shows and more things are open.

Regardless, the boys had a blast. Our final show of the day was a special 12 Days of Christmas with the Sea Lions. By this point we were freezing and $10 hot chocolate seemed like a bit much.

Seaword was a good way to end the trip. We then headed back to Ohio, for Christmas with my parents, on a redeye. I'm so glad they came. It was a fantastic week.

Bye Bye Disneyland

2006-12-19T14:08:00.000-08:00

The City Pass was so worth it. Three days at Disneyland and California Adventure was perfect. We got to see and do everything there that we wanted to. It was a great pace and thanks to the rain the first day we rode every ride in record time.

I love Disneyland at Christmas the park looks so amazing.

Today was our last day. I think Mikey was right, we killed it. We got to see everything we wanted to in both parks. Well how many things are worth seeing California Adventure, only two - Soarin' over California and Tower of Terror.

I made the mistake of riding the Ferris Wheel with Mike and Mikey. Have I mentioned lately I'm terrified of heights. I thought I conquered most of it when I went hot air ballooning and didn't die or hyperventilate. Well one of the distinctions about this particular ferris wheels is that some of the baskets on it swing and slide along the spoke. Oh yea! Guess which one we were in? You got it, the swinging ones.

I was not a good example for Mikey. The panic started to overtake me when we started to swing. I gripped my seat, closed my eyes and started praying for mercy on my soul. It was not a pretty site. My brother was laughing hysterically and lamenting that the didn't bring the camera. Mikey soon forgot his fear because he was laughing so hard at me. I'm glad my pain, fear and trauma brought much joy to them.

I loved seeing Jordy with the characters. He had so much love for them and wanted to hug every one, then take his picture. At one point he saw Chip and Dale and got to do his hug and pic routine. When we walked away he said, "Aunt Marti, those aren't the real Chip and Dale" Curious about why he thought that he continued, "Those are just people in a suit." At little of the magic is beginning to die, either that or he felt a kneecap or something when he hugged them, who knows.

My two favorite moments with Mikey were when we walked through Tomorrowland and he said, "I didn't know you could use technology to do this" Then as we were standing in line for Space Mountain he said, "I can feel the sonic energy in my ears." That's hilarious. He went on to contribute his supersonicness to all of the tv he watches.

We had a fantastic time. Overall the boys favorite land was Toon Town. They loved all of the gags.Their least favorite rides were It's a Small World and Snow White. When we exited both their exact words were, "that was dumb." The highlights of their favorite rides, because its pretty much all the rest, were Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Pirates of the Carribean, Tower of Terror, Space Mountain, and Astro Blasters.

Tomorrow we're off to Universal Studios or just "The Studios" as Jordy calls it.

Southern California City Pass

2006-12-15T13:58:00.000-08:00

My nephews are here! WHI-HOO! I can't wait to take them to all of the theme parks. We opted to buy a Southern California City Pass.

For one lower price we get three days at both Disney Parks (Disneyland and California Adventure), SeaWorld San Diego, Universal Studios and the Wild Animal Park or the San Diego Zoo.

The price for kids 3-9 is $159 and $210 for adults. It would cost about that much just for the Disney tickets.

Breakfast at Las Brisas

2006-12-08T14:11:00.000-08:00

We had our department's Christmas celebration today. Our boss took us to brunch at Las Brisas in Laguna Beach.

Las Brisas is a gorgeous restaurant set on the cliff right above the Pacific Ocean. One entire side of the restaurant is filled with windows over looking the ocean.

It is one of my favorite places for brunch. Served Monday - Saturday it is only $12.50, a real bargin in Laguna Beach. Brunch at Las Brisas features freshly baked croissants and muffins; omelettes and Belgian waffles prepared fresh to order; sausage, bacon, crepes, eggs Benedict, and potatoes. There is also a selection of cereals, melons, yogurt and cottage cheese. Breakfast includes choice of coffee, tea or milk.

We really suffer working only 20 minutes from the beach. It was a balmy 75 degrees and sunny, a gorgeous day to be down by the water. We didn't want to go back to work.

I am grateful today for the beach and the warm December weather. It is amazing to live in this climate. Not to rub it in with those in freezing cold, believe me we pay for it.

Las Brisas, 361 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach, CA.