You have to reserve tickets in advance unless you go on a slow day like Monday. $20 + $10 for parking.
STEP OFF THE CORPORATE TREADMILL Read about one person's journey of what happens when you step off the corporate treadmill....
Monday, August 29, 2011
Tim Burton exhibit @ LA County Museum of Art
Went to LACMA today and checked out the Tim Burton exhibit. It was quite impressive and quite large. I'm shocked at how much stuff from his early years they were able to compile. It really shows how he started off doing a lot of things kids do that may not be considered by some adults as great, but that's what it turns out to be.
You have to reserve tickets in advance unless you go on a slow day like Monday. $20 + $10 for parking.
You have to reserve tickets in advance unless you go on a slow day like Monday. $20 + $10 for parking.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
American Farmhouse Tavern @ Manhattan Beach, CA
Went to this place for a second time, but this time for dinner. It is a much better dinner place, although I'm not sure how long this place will make it.
For a Saturday night, it wasn't busy. The place is huge so just getting the profit per square foot to a reasonable level will be hard. They had a band that started just after 8pm which I nicknamed the mumblers. You couldn't understand anything they were singing.
They do give you a lot of food. Their 'appetizer' is a combo of hearty vegetable soup, beans, and salsa, that they instruct you to mix together. It wasn't bad, but more reminiscent of something I throw together in the winter that you just eat -- whether or not it's any good. The dinners come with a good salad, a side dish, and either dessert or an after dinner drink. I had the lamb chops which were OK; my husband had the burger which he liked. Food is good, not fantastic, but the prices are reasonable.
All in all, I'll go back.
For a Saturday night, it wasn't busy. The place is huge so just getting the profit per square foot to a reasonable level will be hard. They had a band that started just after 8pm which I nicknamed the mumblers. You couldn't understand anything they were singing.
They do give you a lot of food. Their 'appetizer' is a combo of hearty vegetable soup, beans, and salsa, that they instruct you to mix together. It wasn't bad, but more reminiscent of something I throw together in the winter that you just eat -- whether or not it's any good. The dinners come with a good salad, a side dish, and either dessert or an after dinner drink. I had the lamb chops which were OK; my husband had the burger which he liked. Food is good, not fantastic, but the prices are reasonable.
All in all, I'll go back.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Obika Mozzarella Bar @ Beverly Center
Went to the Beverly Center today and had lunch at a Mozzarella Bar. I was intrigued as it sounded really good, but unfortunately that was not the case.
I had the Stracciatella di Burrata mozzarella with Prosciutto Cotto al Forno and the Panini Sampler. Bland is all I can say. There was little flavor. It needed salt and some sort of pesto or basil oil. Something. Yes mozzarella isn't suppose to have a punch of flavor but there should be some. Further, the panini sampler; I expected them all to be heated at least, yet only one had the bread at all warm. Very disappointing.
All in all, pass it up. The place is in the middle of the mall so you don't even feel like you are having a quiet meal, next to the Foot Locker that is.
I had the Stracciatella di Burrata mozzarella with Prosciutto Cotto al Forno and the Panini Sampler. Bland is all I can say. There was little flavor. It needed salt and some sort of pesto or basil oil. Something. Yes mozzarella isn't suppose to have a punch of flavor but there should be some. Further, the panini sampler; I expected them all to be heated at least, yet only one had the bread at all warm. Very disappointing.
All in all, pass it up. The place is in the middle of the mall so you don't even feel like you are having a quiet meal, next to the Foot Locker that is.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Sammy's Woodfired Pizza @ El Segundo, CA
Went to the new pizza place near Whole Foods today for lunch. The place is large with OK outdoor seating. The menu has lots of pizza options -- wheat crust, gluten free, thin crust, & Neapolitan styles. We had the Prosciutto & Artichoke and the Pepperoni pizzas. By far the Prosciutto was better, the Pepperoni was a bit greasy. While I had never heard of this place before, it is a chain in California & Nevada.
All in all, good pizza. I'll go back.
All in all, good pizza. I'll go back.
Friday, August 19, 2011
My new favorite thing -- truly fruit ice cream
So I saw this on Good Morning America and was very skeptical, but it is very good.
Put peeled bananas in the freezer. Then using a food processor, start to puree and add a bit of milk as needed. I used heavy whipping cream but I think regular milk would be fine . (A friend used water and said it was OK.) It took a while and lots of starting/stopping/scrapping but eventually you get ice cream consistency, pure banana. It was really sweet and low cal.
I also did strawberries (below) and they were good, but required a lot more liquid and were not as flavorful. Next up, Mangoes..
Put peeled bananas in the freezer. Then using a food processor, start to puree and add a bit of milk as needed. I used heavy whipping cream but I think regular milk would be fine . (A friend used water and said it was OK.) It took a while and lots of starting/stopping/scrapping but eventually you get ice cream consistency, pure banana. It was really sweet and low cal.
I also did strawberries (below) and they were good, but required a lot more liquid and were not as flavorful. Next up, Mangoes..
Friday, August 12, 2011
The Strand House @ Manhattan Beach, CA
Long awaited, finally open Thursday 8/10, The Strand House in Manhattan Beach at the site of the old Beaches is Fantastic! Went on opening night with a friend. This place is owned by same guy who owns Shade Hotel, Mucho's, Rock N Fish, and Brewco.
The view is amazing. At first, they had the shades down, but once open it was best view I've seen in Manhattan Beach. Finally someone got it right. We got there right at 5pm and still couldn't get into the small upstairs bar. Eventually they gave us a small table in the upstairs bar and given it was a raised floor, we had the best view. There are so many windows that the place is just very well lit and beachy feeling.
They were only offering half the menu during the opening weeks and there are several things I will definitely come back to order. We had the Heirloom Tomato Salad, Forest Mushroom Pizza, Lobster Cavatelli, Anaheim Chiles, Pate, and their signature Butterscotch Donuts. To me, the pizza and tomato salad were the highlights; although the pizza was burnt on the bottom. They were suppose to space out what we ordered and they did not at all. We felt very rushed and the table was just too small for more than one dish. I would have thought the lobster pasta would be a favorite, but it was not that flavorful and not that warm.
The donuts were good, but the chef is using Tapioca Flour to the extreme. Putting this powder with anything will essentially make the powder taste like the ingredient you want. So in this case, bacon powder, but I've seen peanut butter powder and browned butter powder. The donuts come with the bacon powder all around like powdered sugar. They were good but just overkill with the bacon.
The downstairs bar isn't serving a full menu for food or drinks. And on the entry floor there is a wine case where you can self pour -- you can buy your own card and then can buy 2 ounce shots of various wines that you can only get on that floor. A treat if you are waiting for a table.
They are still working out the kinks but all in all, very good. I will definitely be going here for many sunsets.
The view is amazing. At first, they had the shades down, but once open it was best view I've seen in Manhattan Beach. Finally someone got it right. We got there right at 5pm and still couldn't get into the small upstairs bar. Eventually they gave us a small table in the upstairs bar and given it was a raised floor, we had the best view. There are so many windows that the place is just very well lit and beachy feeling.
They were only offering half the menu during the opening weeks and there are several things I will definitely come back to order. We had the Heirloom Tomato Salad, Forest Mushroom Pizza, Lobster Cavatelli, Anaheim Chiles, Pate, and their signature Butterscotch Donuts. To me, the pizza and tomato salad were the highlights; although the pizza was burnt on the bottom. They were suppose to space out what we ordered and they did not at all. We felt very rushed and the table was just too small for more than one dish. I would have thought the lobster pasta would be a favorite, but it was not that flavorful and not that warm.
The donuts were good, but the chef is using Tapioca Flour to the extreme. Putting this powder with anything will essentially make the powder taste like the ingredient you want. So in this case, bacon powder, but I've seen peanut butter powder and browned butter powder. The donuts come with the bacon powder all around like powdered sugar. They were good but just overkill with the bacon.
The downstairs bar isn't serving a full menu for food or drinks. And on the entry floor there is a wine case where you can self pour -- you can buy your own card and then can buy 2 ounce shots of various wines that you can only get on that floor. A treat if you are waiting for a table.
They are still working out the kinks but all in all, very good. I will definitely be going here for many sunsets.
 |
| View at 5pm with shade down |
 |
| Upstairs bar |
 |
| View after shade is raised. To left is open deck |
 |
| Lobster Cavatelli |
 |
| Forest Mushroom Pizza |
 |
| Butterscotch Donuts |
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
American Farmhouse Tavern @ Manhattan Beach, CA
Went to this new place at 10th & Sepulveda for lunch with a friend today. Since I forgot my phone, I have no pictures. I'm not sure what was here before, but this is a large restaurant. Happy Hour looks good, although for lunch it was just too heavy. Entrees are mainly meat/fish and potatoes or heavy pasta dishes. They did have salads but the menu is poorly designed as they don't at all jump out. Not to mention there are no appetizers or starters on the menu. So you stuck with a heavy meal. Price points are good and for now, they have happy hour during lunch as well.
I had the Shrimp Pesto Pasta and it was very oily and creamy. Definitely not anywhere close to low cal. My friend had Flat Iron Steak & Fries and that looked good. Drinks are $4/per during happy hour so bill was $45 with tip. not bad.
On the way out, I saw them smoking/grilling the chicken wings for happy hour later.
All in all, I will definitely go back but only for dinner or happy hour. Meals are just too heavy for during the day.
I had the Shrimp Pesto Pasta and it was very oily and creamy. Definitely not anywhere close to low cal. My friend had Flat Iron Steak & Fries and that looked good. Drinks are $4/per during happy hour so bill was $45 with tip. not bad.
On the way out, I saw them smoking/grilling the chicken wings for happy hour later.
All in all, I will definitely go back but only for dinner or happy hour. Meals are just too heavy for during the day.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Unbelievable
So, the Congress & the Senate are not really in recess as you would think since all have left town. It is a requirement that both sides give each other permission to adjourn for recess and neither side did for the sole reason to prevent the Obama administration from doing any 'recess appointments' to any posts -- namely judicial courts or the new consumer protection agency.
To keep this legal, each side is having one member go into chambers every 3 days, call themselves in session for 1 minute, and then ending the session. This is a pathetic display of our government. Nothing is getting done; nothing is being compromised.
The only thing that will make this worse is if anyone is getting any sort of payment for these 'every 3 day 1 minute long sessions' of our supposed government in action. Please tell me they aren't getting paid and not claiming the transportation cost to do this fools' errand.
To keep this legal, each side is having one member go into chambers every 3 days, call themselves in session for 1 minute, and then ending the session. This is a pathetic display of our government. Nothing is getting done; nothing is being compromised.
The only thing that will make this worse is if anyone is getting any sort of payment for these 'every 3 day 1 minute long sessions' of our supposed government in action. Please tell me they aren't getting paid and not claiming the transportation cost to do this fools' errand.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
New Business Venture??
I think I have found my next business venture:
I was at a classic candy store in Omaha, Nebraska when I came across those oh-so-favorite candy cigarettes. Not all states allow them to be sold. I'm fearful that the youth of today does not have a similar 'practice' adult product.
So... I'm thinking the candy Meth lab or candy 8-balls. It only seems fair, how else will the youngsters cope in the real world?
I was at a classic candy store in Omaha, Nebraska when I came across those oh-so-favorite candy cigarettes. Not all states allow them to be sold. I'm fearful that the youth of today does not have a similar 'practice' adult product.
So... I'm thinking the candy Meth lab or candy 8-balls. It only seems fair, how else will the youngsters cope in the real world?
Help save my horse so he doesn't turn green....
The weekend Wall Street Journal had a crazy article essentially about people who have no life.....
There is a website called Second Life which is a virtual world that you can create your 'second life' complete with avatar and property. Other software companies sell avatar horses & bunnies to people who use the site. You can buy a horse and as you pay for the feed, the horse will change colors depending on how you take care of it. You can even sell the horse and breed it -- all for real money. There is a virtual currency, but it has an exchange rate into real dollars.
Now 2 software firms are engaged in a lawsuit over intellectual property issues and this could result in the horse creator being forced to stop selling feed to the horses; hence horses will return to their original color and eventually die. Online users are in a panic for fear their fake horses will die.
Yeah, get a life people.
There is a website called Second Life which is a virtual world that you can create your 'second life' complete with avatar and property. Other software companies sell avatar horses & bunnies to people who use the site. You can buy a horse and as you pay for the feed, the horse will change colors depending on how you take care of it. You can even sell the horse and breed it -- all for real money. There is a virtual currency, but it has an exchange rate into real dollars.
Now 2 software firms are engaged in a lawsuit over intellectual property issues and this could result in the horse creator being forced to stop selling feed to the horses; hence horses will return to their original color and eventually die. Online users are in a panic for fear their fake horses will die.
Yeah, get a life people.
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