it's the great pumpkin(s)!

Sure, I may be too old to go trick or treat, but you're never too old to carve a pumpkin - or two! Last year, with crazy work weeks and everything else, I didn't have time for any pumpkin carving, so this year I vowed, come hell, high water, or a devil boss, I was going to carve some punkins, dammit!

Beer and I made a last minute trip yesterday to one of my favorite pumpkin patches - The Lopez Family, that used to be on Wilshire and is now adjacent to The Grove - to pick up a couple of orange beauties. After a near altercation with a very odd woman who kept sending her six or seven year old daughter over to snatch the good pumpkins we were literally bent over to pick up - I wish I was exaggerating here! - we finally got our hands on a couple of fresh off the truck, glorious gourds.

Today, armed with some Martha Stewart worthy tools and It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown I went to town to get those babies carved up in time for our lone two trick-or-treaters before heading out to Yelpoween.

You may ask, is all that effort worth it for a couple of hours and two neighbor kids? Absolutely!

joan's on third

If you like Dean & Deluca, you'll love Joan's on Third. The space is small (but in the process of expanding!) and jam packed with delectable goodies to delight the palate.

The charcuterie selection is amazing, particularly if you're a fan of cheese. The selection packed into the cold cases will make your head (and your wallet) spin. The sandwiches, salads, sides and condiments are all a little taste of heaven and the cupcakes are not be missed. The peanut butter filled chocolate and the coconut are a couple of my faves and they beat the pants off of Sprinkles any day. The cake is perfectly moist and the icing is never piled too high or sickly sweet - unless you like it that way, in which case you should try the clouds.


Despite the inviting and always busy street side seating, I've never felt compelled to sit and have a meal here, but I can't seem to leave without less than two calorie packed bags, including at least one of their amazing sandwiches.


To state the obvious, yes, the street is crowded, yes, the place is often overrun by beautiful people and their beautiful pets, and yes, parking's guaranteed to be a bitch. So, what? If you can't deal with that, why are you living in LA in the first place? Pack up your purse pup, get off your beautiful duff and head to Joan's!


8346 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 655-2285


Photo courtesy of Joan S.

universal horror nights

Halloween is one of our favorite holidays, (second only to the consumer extravaganza that is Christmas), but the older you get, the less there seems to be to do short of the odd costume parties here and there. Knott's Scary has been disappointing the last couple of times I went, so we rounded up some friends and headed to Universal for their Halloween Horror Nights.

Considering this is a working studio you'd expect some amazing sets and effects - and that's just what you get. The usual smoke machines and noise-making, chainsaw wielding suspects are out in force around the main entrance, but once past that, every themed area, actor, ride and maze was impressive - and scary. Friday the 13th: Camp Blood and Freddy's Nightmare on Elm Street, were a couple of our favorites.

Don't miss the back lot tour which is decked out to include a creepy killer clown zone, a walk through the War of the Worlds set - complete with plane wreckage - and a jaunt past the Bates Motel, with a very convincing Anthony waiting to greet you.

Buy your tickets in advance online (there are numerous discount deals to be had from Coke and AAA), get there early right when they open (you can do all of the mazes and rides at opening in the time it would take you later to do one or two), and if pressed for time, skip the shows (they were the least interesting of everything there).

If you work up an appetite with all that screaming, they mark down all of the theme park food to entice you to eat affordably without going outside the park.

village pizzeria

If you love Larchmont and you love a thin crust slice as much as I do, you owe yourself a trip to Village Pizzeria.

I've only been in at lunch for pizza and garlic rolls, but both are worth the extremely reasonable price of admission - 3 huge slices, 2 garlic rolls, 2 sodas - 12 bucks! The space is small which can make evening dining a pain in the ass, but at lunch with the outdoor patio, it's perfect.


Try the sausage or the clam and garlic - both were deelish. The veg pizza was just as yum, but a little oily for my taste. They all have the perfect thin crust.

The owner just bought a building in Hollywood near my office. I hear he's a dick, but hey, it's great pizza none the less. Look for a second location to open up on Yucca across from Joseph's as soon as he's done kicking out the rest of the old time tenants...

And PS, if you're local, the pizza will come to you. They deliver.


131 N Larchmont Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323) 465-5566


Photo courtesy of Joan S.

govinda international imports

This little gem of a store is hidden upstairs in the Hari Krishna Temple (yes, I said Temple) off of Venice in Mar Vista. If you happen to be in the market for a great tunic, sari, pashmina, stacks and stacks of bangle bracelets or that hard to find Krishna prayer candle and incense burner - cheap - this is the one-stop-shop for you. The smell of incense burning will herald you upstairs where they sell clothing and accessories, mostly imported from India, for men, women and children. The quality of the embroidery and the variety of sizes and colors is amazing.

This store really is a find. The jewelry alone makes it worth the trip. All proceeds benefit the Temple. Expect to rub elbows with an interesting mix of devout Hari Krishnas, celebrities, stylists, hipsters and yoga Mommy's.

Tip: Grab some yummy Indian veggie hippy grub at Govinda's, the cafeteria downstairs attached to the Temple. Good stuff even for a flesh loving carnivore, like myself. There's a buffet and a salad bar, and you can pay by the pound or opt for the all you can eat. Wrap it all up with a piece of the surprisingly tasty Buckwheat Codicy Cake.

Hours can be sketchy, so when in doubt, call ahead.

3764 Watseka Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 204-3263

the bean

I'm not generally one to write reviews for chains, but after a string of positive experiences at one of my local CBTL's, this one's in order.

We all know the menu at The Bean inside out, so I won't belabor the options here except to say this year's "seasonal" addition, the Pecan Praline - latte or ice blended - is definitely worth the price of admission... And by price, I mean, the calories it will cost you since they don't have a no-sugar-added option for this one.

This corner Bean location at Beverly & Alta Vista is a bit smaller than average, but still manages to offer a full menu, wi-fi access, and some nice street side patio seating complete with fire pit for chilly evening yid-watching. That said, the crux of this review lies with the service. I've been in here plenty of times and have always been pleased, which, of itself, speaks volumes. Yesterday, I popped in for a quickie caffeine fix. The front gate seemed to be shut, so I walked around to the back to sneak in. (This is one of the few CBTL's that actually has its own private parking lot for customers.) Once inside, I was informed they'd closed early for Yom Kippur almost twenty minutes prior, but the kippa-clad gent at the counter let me know he could still manage an ice blended if that would do. I accepted the kind offer, still a bit surprised they'd offered to serve me at all. In a flash, I had my ice blended and before I could even reach for my wallet he said it was his Rosh Hashanah gift to me. Now that's the kind of thing that'll keep you coming back to a mom and pop, but you don't expect to find at a chain.

If you need your CB fix, I'd suggest supporting this local franchise. Remember, it's a mitzvah to give good people your business!


7235 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 934-1449

paintball usa

How does an Angelino spend a sweltering hot summer day? Hiding out and cranking the a/c? Donning a barely there pair of sample sale Juicy short-shorts? Headed towards the coast with the masses in search of relief? Or gathering up their pals to drive an hour inland to Simi Valley where it's at least a dozen degrees steamier to gear up in layers of heavy combat gear, trekking up and down hills to hunt each other down with stinging, stinky paintballs?

Well, if you're a glutton for punishment and happen to have a friend with an August birthday who's always wanted to try paintball, that's exactly what you do.

Once you find this place - it's, quite literally, off the beaten path on a dirt road - be ready to throw on some old kicks or boots, slip into a pair of military issue oversized overalls, toss a bandanna and smelly helmet on your head, rip the fingers off some old gloves, (unlike most outings in LA, this is one that doesn't call for any exposed skin), and get a quick lesson in how to use and reload a paintball air rifle. After that, they take you out for a little shooting test, (you don't want to find out on the field your rifle is jammed), then, you're on your own.

Once you get your bearings wearing the crazy get up and get past the smell (part of the base used in the paintballs is fish oil), you're ready for action. If you've never played before, you're probably thinking, that looks like it hurts. Well, the truth is, it does. I took my first hit in the upper thigh, and after screaming out "shiiiiit!! that huuuurt!" the adrenaline took over and the killer instinct was unleashed. Yes, you're going to get hit - most likely multiple times, and yes, it's going to sting a lot like getting whipped with a wet towel - but as soon as you get into it, you're having so much fun, you won't really care, or even notice. Just imagine having free reign to chase down and shoot the ones you love! And then there's the end of the day when you get home and strip down. You'll have earned bragging rights for weeks to come! (It took about three for the photo worthy welts and multi-colored bruises on my upper arm and thighs to disappear).

This is a great place for newbs to the sport - they have packages for about $50 that include all of your gear, rental equipment, plenty of paintballs, instruction, lots of time on multiple playing fields with varying degrees of difficulty, and a spinning, stinking, splattering mess that is the paint grenade.

Between the adrenaline pumping, running up and down dirt hills, slithering across the ground on your belly, and sweatin' like a pig, an afternoon here will kill a good thousand calories. You can bring a picnic to enjoy at one of their picnic tables, grab a hot dog and soda at the roach coach on site, even order some local bbq to be delivered. Or, you could easily pile them all back on at one of the many area chain restaurants like Chilis and Applebees on your way home ;)

This is a great outing with a group. Grab your pals, leave your inhibitions in the car, and be prepared to get down and dirty for some clean, old fashioned commando style fun.

Random Trivia - If you watch the making of the movie "The Kingdom" on HBO, you'll recognize this paintball field. This is where they brought the cast to train before filming.


26413 Kalb Ct
Newhall, CA 91321
(661) 255-5332

larchmont hardware

I love this place! I suppose I should add that I love Larchmont - it reminds me that there's a city within the city, and without the trek up to Montrose for my other favorite "small town" vibe main street.

Anytime I'm in the area, I stop by to see what's new. This place carries the basics we all need - cleaning supplies, pest control, basic tools, housewares (including random brik-a-brack like tea cups and sink strainers), batteries, glues and the like. My personal favorite - the huge selection of Mrs. Meyer's cleaning products displayed right next to the door in all three scents - Lavender, Geranium and Lemon Verbena. Pick up some of the dish soap or the scrubbing powder, which gives Comet a run for the money without the harsh chemicals. You'll be glad you did.

If you're in the market for some lumber or a new toilet, you'll still need to make your way over to the Home Despot to line up with the rest of the plumber crack crowd, but for everything else, give this little mom and pop shop a try.

Tip - If there's no street parking, don't waste your time driving around the block. You can park for free in the structure located off the Rite Aid lot just a couple of doors down.


152 N. Larchmont Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323) 463-5783


Photo courtesy of Joan S.

citizen smith

The majority of the reviews I've seen have focused on Citizen Smith as a dinner destination, but what a great place to grab lunch in Hollywood. They open at 11am Mon-Thurs, there's virtually no crowd giving you the choice of any booth (inside or out) you fancy, and they have a very nice, seasonal lunch menu ranging from $10 (Jalapeno Mac & Cheese) to $21 (NY Strip Steak). The seared Ahi Tuna Nicoise ($16) was perfect in every way.. and the bartender makes a mean Arnold Palmer too.

As for the dinner crowds, if you don't want to be treated like second class cattle by the doormen, make a reservation - even if it means calling in your name last minute from the valet line. The difference is vast and absolutely worthwhile.

1600 N. Cahuenga Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 461-5001


Photo courtesy of Kate D.

summer nights at the arboretum

If an evening at the Hollywood Bowl is part of your summertime ritual, then you'll love the Festival on the Green at the LA Arboretum in Arcadia.

During the summer months, the Cal Phil puts on a series of three to five themed performances here which start early evening and continue under the stars. You have the option of getting a table (and even a pre-catered meal), reserving lawn chairs, or purchasing the very inexpensive lawn seats where you can bring your own blanket and picnic and find a shady place under one of the beautiful old trees to lounge and enjoy. (Unlike the Bowl, you can have a lawn spot in the back and not feel like you're a million miles away from the action). The events are very well organized and staffed, and many also feature food vendor booths under white tents to tempt you with local treats.

This is one of the few places you can truly feel like you've escaped the city and can enjoy the outdoors. If you're lucky, the resident peacocks - amongst hundreds of other native birds - will join the chorus too :)

Tip: Check out Goldstar Events. They usually have some discounted tix for the series online.

301 N Baldwin Ave
Arcadia, CA 91007

(626) 821-4623

bodega de cordova

After running, walking and driving by this small, dim local wine bar sandwiched between long standing retailers on Fairfax, and often wondering what lurked behind the mysterious exterior, we finally had opportunity to give it a try last night (thanks Stephy!).

Having just come from dinner, we didn't go crazy ordering food from the tapas menu, but did enjoy a few glasses of well chosen Espana vino with some friends and the very affable owner, Kenny. The olives he brought out were delicious (enough to rival my favorites from Lucques - the French city, not the restaurant) and the Spanish charcuterie platter was generous - overflowing with cured meats, manchego cheese and toasted bread.

The interior is dark and dimly awash in red light with just a small street facing window giving a glimpse of the world outside. Small wooden benches and tables dot the areas around the bar and give the space a rustic feel.

Parking on this block of Fairfax is marginally better than the surround, but should your parking karma run out, there's a few spaces to sneak into off the alley in the rear.

And don't forget your green. I didn't pick up the tab, but got the impression that cash reigned supreme from the little atm tucked away in the back.


361 S Fairfax Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 951-1169

attention target shoppers

As thrilled as I was to see the new Tarzhay (can you hear me dragging that one out?), open up on La Brea, the parking nightmare and lack of stock has driven me back to the og location on La Cienega time, and time again.

Of course I prefer having a shiny, clean, safe, more luxury experience at the newer store, but if they don't have what I'm looking for and I still have to pay for parking - talk about adding insult to injury - what's the point?

This location feels a lot like Target's red-headed step sister, but let me tell ya, she delivers. Time and time again, I've been able to find exactly what I was in the store for (including advertised specials and sales items) when they've been sold out all over town at the other locations. Another plus is the ample garden shop area - something you won't find at the "other" location either. And of course, there's parking. Easy, free, ample parking. Just as it was meant to be.

A point off to the ghetto factor that seems to pervade virtually every element of your experience here. Once you're prepared for it and over it (which, you generally will be after getting screwed some way or another at that "other" location), it's smooth sailin'.

Oh, and there's a Micky D's at the far corner of the parking lot. What better way to wrap up a g-h-e-t-t-o afternoon than with a Big Mac, fries and a shake?

3535 S La Cienega Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90016

(310) 895-1131

chalet

Deja vu sets in for me here since this used to be the location of the old Tophat - a serious dive bar where I was able to get away with a little underage drinking way back in the day.

The exterior hasn't changed much - dark and nondescript - but the interior has been beautifully reinterpreted. It's a well sized (not too big, not too small) space with a long bar and couple of tables on one side, and comfy dark leather booths and banquettes along the other. The walls are stacked masonry (reminiscent of the redo at The Lodge), decked with some vintage flea shop-esque paintings of woodland scenery. Arts and crafts style light fixtures dotting the surround dimly light everything to that perfect, 'don't we all look lovely', hue. In short, it's modern cabin cozy.

Another plus is the alt-eclectic jukebox. Def worth the price of admission. While the bartender was easy on the eyes, and the drinks are easy on the wallet, they weren't so easy on the palette. She could use a few more lessons in mixology, so one star off to that.

All in all, great bar - and in such a random locale, Eagle Rock - I'll be back.

Somehow, The Chalet has yet to be overrun by west side wankers or insufferable east side hipsters, so hurry up and get there before they do!

1630 Colorado Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90041
(323) 258-8800

Photo courtesy of Kevin K.

nike women at the grove

Update 10/07 - Sadly, this is no longer exclusively a women's shop. They've redesigned the location to be a mini Nike carrying all of their wares. From the look on the sales associate's face, I was only one of many disappointed customers.
...



Time to train for another marathon means time to start burning money at the Nike Women's store!

Right off the bat, I love this location because I can easily walk (or run) to it, and what better way to justify spending more money on workout gear than a good workout!? Even though I can get many of the same items at the mega NikeTown down the road in BH, the intimate 'all women, for women' vibe at this shop makes it well worth a visit.

Aside from all of the great fitness wear - from running apparel to dance clothes and lifestyle sportswear, and an entire floor of shoes and socks upstairs - they've literally got you covered. Surprisingly most of the clothes are not only fashionable, but flattering (even on a curvy girl like myself) and they perform even better.

Though you may come here for workout wear, you'd be surprised with what you leave with. Aside from their sport watches (which I own and love), they've got some great ones for everyday you could even wear with a suit to work. And don't miss the sportswear. I've found some great everyday skirts and pants here too.

Being that they're a major store, there's ALWAYS something on sale, both on the side racks and in the back near the dressing rooms. Another plus is the 10% discount they'll generally offer to anyone doing Team in Training.

And if that wasn't enough ... they also do Nike Club Run here every Wednesday night. All you have to do is show up ready to run at 6:30 to meet up with a great group. Everyone splits up based on pace and distance (they offer both a 3k and a 5k every week), and then set off to run from The Grove into Pan Pacific Park. Can't really think of a better way to meet your neighbors.

All that AND the staff are great. Super friendly and helpful, which, sadly, isn't all that easy to come by these days.

Tip: Nike Women doesn't validate, but the Barnes & Noble across the way does. No purchase necessary, and no questions asked.

189 The Grove Drive, Ste G-60
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 954-0450

grace

If you don't want to read past this sentence, one word could sum up my culinary experience here ... underwhelming.

We ended up here the other night after a tequila tasting in serious need of nourishment. The first thing that struck me was the crowd. The restaurant had a surprising number of tables available and it seemed as if the last of the hollywoodites had long since departed giving way to a bizarre mix of out of towner's and grandparents. I'll start off with saying, the space is beautiful - clean design in a palette of natural earth tones with beautiful shell light fixtures that dot the space like chandelier earrings. Simple, chic and inviting.

Another positive was the stellar service. It was prompt, attentive, pleasant, and we had nary a complaint about our waitress. Non sequitor side note - there are two restrooms; one for women and one that's unisex. As bizarre as it is to have a waz while staring at a urinal, it was remarkably clean.

The fact that I'm more compelled to write about the loo than the food speaks for itself, so without further ado.. the review.

We started off with oysters and the trio of seafood. The oysters were beautifully presented but on the small side. Out of a dozen, a few were gritty. The accompaniments were creative, but more cloying than complimentary. The trio of seafood consisted of three tiny bowls of minced fish. Literally, about 1/8c of each. I appreciate having a taste of this and that, but with a price tag upwards of $20, come on.

After being torn between the scallops and the rabbit, our server convinced me the rabbit was the better choice. Other dishes at our table included the salmon and the wild boar. Aside from from being beautifully plated, each of our mains had one thing in common - someone seriously heavy handed with the salt. After a few bites it went from 'gee, this tastes awfully salty' to 'the roof of my mouth is stinging and I need more water'. Beyond the salt, the rabbit was well thought out and a solid dish. The salmon was dry, dreadful and nearly inedible. Hands down, the best entree of the bunch was the boar. The roasted Brussels sprouts were perfect, but it would have been better with a simple mash in lieu of the dry spaetzle, which again, was unnecessarily fussy. When our server came by to check on our hardly eaten entrees we were honest about the salt, and she offered immediately to bring something else, but at that point, we were both over it and declined.

Moving on, it seemed something sweet was in order. We went with the butterscotch donuts and the meringue topped lemon granita. The donuts were perfect, not overly sweet, and the lemon was light and refreshing.

Even with the sweet finish, overall it was a disappointment and we all agreed, we likely wouldn't be back. When our (nearly $300) tab arrived, we noticed not even our desserts had been comped (which, at a restaurant like this, I would have expected), after two of our entrees returning to the kitchen hardly touched. C'est la vie. Given the price of admission, I'd probably take my dining dollars elsewhere next time - unless it was donut night!

7360 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 934-4400