San Diego: The Drive

This past weekend, my friend/trainer and I drove to San Diego for my first ever half marathon (America’s Finest City Marathon). Since she has a more fuel efficient car (and is awesome) she was okay with driving. Within the first hour we hit severe traffic. I posited that everyone was going to San Diego for the marathon, but this was not the case. In actuality, a truck…blew up? Look closely at the picture and try to figure out what happened, because I have no idea. The label on the truck says Shivers which through internet research turns out to be “ice with a slice” (whatever that means). This accident slowed traffic down significantly, making a normal 2-2.5 hour drive a 3.5 hour drive. All I can say is thank goodness for classic rock and car-eoke.

We stayed at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, the flagship hotel for the race. The hotel was pretty packed with numerous events happening and thus a plethora of people. We were placed on the 5th floor of the Bay Tower, a five minute walk, or 2 minute shuttle drive, away from the main Sheraton tower. Our hotel room was as if we were staying on a cruise ship with a very nautical in theme. The colors of red, white, and blue were everywhere. Outside our window, we had a beautiful view of the Bay and the Sheraton parking lot. Note: The image of the room shown is not one that I took, but is a photo I found on the hotel website. It is pretty much an exact replica of the room that we stayed in, but our beds looked a lot more comfortable than they do in this picture.

Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina

1380 Harbor Island Drive
San Diego, CA 92101

Get Directions(866) 716-8130

Frogo Yogurt

If you don’t live in Los Angeles then you might not know, but frozen yogurt has become like the new Starbucks or the new cupcake. Ever since Pinkberry opened, frozen yogurt places are popping up all over the place. A lot of Pinkberry copycats have appeared throughout the city such as Red Mango, Kiwiberry, and Berri Good! All of which I have never been to before because I live within half a mile of 2 different Pinkberry locations (seriously, one to the north and one to the south). However, I am not as in love with Pinkberry or tart yogurt anymore. I find myself enjoying the more traditional style of frozen yogurt. My two favorite places to go are Bigg Chill and 21 Choices. Since 21 Choices is so far away, I go to Bigg Chill more often. However, it can be a pretty stressful experience at Bigg Chill because it is always packed with people.

As if the Jenny Craig location on Wilshire did not have it hard being next door to a Pizzeria and across the street from a Krispy Kreme. Now they are faced with more temptation, although a little healthier, by Frogo Yogurt on the corner of Wilshire and Euclid in Santa Monica. The yogurt shop is different than most yogurt places around because they also offer organic coffee drinks. The layout of the store is nice and simple. The modern orange chairs you see in the picture can be found throughout the whole establishment. Their menu is on TV screens behind glass on the walls, which made it a little inconvenient for me to read because the sun was causing a glare. They have about four flavors which rotate, but I do not know how regularly or consistently. The flavors they offered on my visit were: chocolate, white chocolate mousse, mango, and tart. I sampled the chocolate and tart. Frogo’s Tart is a sweeter and softer (as in probably melts faster) yogurt in comparison to Pinkberry’s distinctly tart taste and firmer consistency of yogurt. If I were in the mood for tart yogurt, I would probably choose Pinkberry over Frogo. I ordered a small chocolate with Reese’s Pieces. The chocolate tasted like traditional chocolate yogurt, but kind of got boring after a few bites. In the end, it was good, much better than the TCBY in the area, but not as tasty as Bigg Chill. It is definitely a more relaxed and refined place to go to if you’re on that side of town and want to eat traditional yogurt.

I thought about tasting the coffee, but I was hesitant. The coffee was staying warm in a pump pot, which in my mind means the coffee is most likely not at it’s freshest (unless of course the coffee is so popular that they are constantly making some, but this was not the case). It was also pretty late in the afternoon, so caffeine was the last stimulant my body needed. Maybe some other time.

Frogo Yogurt

1300 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90403

Get Directions(310) 395-6794

Bigg Chill

10850 W Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064

Get Directions(310) 475-107

The Counter

One of the perks of living on the west side of Los Angeles is that we have the best burgers in the city: Father’s Office and The Counter. Any foodie will agree that these establishments make some amazing burgers. Unfortunately, FO is not open for lunch during the weekdays. Fortunately, The Counter is! And this is where my boyfriend and I went for lunch on Friday. We arrived there at around 11:45am, a little earlier than the lunch rush (which is anywhere between 12-1:30 in Santa Monica, the worst time to arrive being at 1pm), because parking is not always ample, and it sucks to be there when it is crowded and you have to wait to be seated. As usual, it was a great and filling lunch (we had to take most of it home because there was so much food!

The way The Counter works is you can either sit at the counter and be waited on by the bartender/person behind the counter or you can order at the register and sit down and be seated (they might have implemented table service, but I’m not sure). I prefer to sit at the counter. The menu encourages you to make your own burger, but they also have a set menu that includes signature burgers, of which I have never tried. It is not strictly red meat, you can also order turkey, chicken, or a veggie burger. Also, anything can be put on a salad. On the create-your-own, four toppings of your choice are included (if you want to add more you get charged a little extra). Also you can choose one cheese, one dressing/condiment and the type of bun you want for your burger: white, wheat, or English muffin. For side snacks they have french fries, sweet potato fries, onion rings, and fried dill pickles!

This is an ideal restaurant for my boyfriend and I because we have very different palates. He is very simple in his tastes and does not like to try anything new. His order is consistently a turkey burger on a white bun with barbecue sauce on the side. No lettuce, no tomato, no cheese, nothing! My order is constantly changing. On this specific day, I ordered the vegetable burger. These are not pathetic boca/soy-esque burgers, but instead made from scratch with rice, beans, vegetables, and even some cranberries for sweetness. I ordered mine with onion, roasted chilies, roasted peppers, tomatoes, and a Tillamook cheddar (Oregonian cheese, not the Dog Artist). I also chose the spicy sour cream as my side condiment. It is was delightful.

For review purposes (heh, right) I had to order the fried dill pickle chips, and the fifty-fifty fries (regular and sweet potato). The fries are addictive and filling, so I advise moderation because they come out before the burgers and are easy to fill up on fast. The sweet potato fries come with an almost chipotle sour cream (different than the spicy sour cream that I ordered with my burger). It works well with both fries, but definitely pairs best with the sweet potato fries.

I find the fried dill pickle chips to be a clever idea. You can fry just about anything, and you can pickle just about anything, so combining fried and pickled just seems to make sense. At first bite, I was surprised to find that the integrity of the pickle’s crunch is not compromised during the frying process, making them delightfully special. I do not always enjoy or desire pickles, but I will admit that they are little buttons of happiness. They are paired with a sweet and sour sauce, which works well with the pickled taste of brine, vinegar, and dill.

Note: The only other veggie burger in Los Angeles that I’ve tried and compares to The Counter is the vegetable burger offered at Houston’s restaurant.

The Counter

2901 Ocean Park Blvd # 102
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 399-8383

“It’s called something like Bulgaria…”

This past Friday my boyfriend and I went to Friday Night Jazz at the LACMA. Every Friday LACMA showcases a leading southern California Jazz performance. Tickets are free with no reservations needed. The event starts at 6pm and ends at 8pm. We only made it to the last hour of the show, but it was awesome! We saw the legendary drummer, Peter Erskine play with pianist Alan Pasqua, saxophonist Bob Sheppard, and bassist Tom Warrington.

I don’t know much about jazz, but I do know that I liked what they were playing. The whole vibe of the event was relaxed, but the music was still upbeat and positive. There was a diverse selection of people there, both young and old. Alcohol was being sold on the premises, but I do not know what they were serving, just that people were willing to wait in relatively long lines. Through general observation I am assuming you can bring your own to the event too, or at least sneak some in unnoticed.

While the final songs were being played, I noticed there was an older couple rocking out by the stage. Their dancing made them stand out from the crowd not only because most people were sitting down on chairs or standing off to the side but because there was no method to their dance movements. Each arm flail was random and unique to the sporadic leg kick or swinging butt twist that may or may not have followed (Think Elaine from Seinfeld). They were so taken over by the music they did not care what other people thought of them. Or even better, maybe they were crazy homeless people that wandered into the event and thought they were fitting in. Either way, it was pretty uplifting to see people that in the end blatantly did not care what others were thinking of them and fully enjoyed their moment with the music.

I would highly recommend this event to anyone. I think it would be an awesome place to go to for a date. You could start your evening here and then go to a nice restaurant in the area afterwards. It would also be fun to go with a large group. But, it would still be enjoyable to go to solo. You cannot lose with this event. It will be no surprise to see me there at another performance before it ends in November.

I have no idea about this automobile. It was just there, in the middle of everything. So I took a picture. Looks Native American themed. Any ideas? Also, the name of this post is in regards to the name of the song they played last. Peter was like “and this last song is called something like Bulgaria.” I didn’t know if he meant the song was called “Bulgaria” or “Something like Bulgaria.” Crazy Jazz musicians!

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

5905 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Get Directions(323) 857-6000

Fire Trucks

Today, while eating my morning tub of cake frosting, I was interrupted by the sound of sirens. No big deal, this is Los Angeles, I hear them on almost a daily basis. I would be worried if I did not hear them regularly, that would probably mean that a zombie plague has finally invaded the city. And everyone knows zombies can’t drive fire trucks. I did not take too much time to worry about the noises from outside until I heard sirens stop right in front of the building. First thought: I hope our fire alarms work and our building is not burning down. I poke my head out on the balcony and see two firetrucks parked in front of the building. Second thought: I can’t smell smoke ever; I hope our fire alarms work and our building is not burning down. Then I notice that the firefighters are not moving with great alacrity and are entering a neighboring building. Third thought: This is not very exciting, but I will probably write about it.

Sips of Bird Pick

I wish I could be doing more restaurant reviews, especially ones involving alcohol. But, this Sunday I am doing that half marathon thing, which means I need to take extra special care of myself. In the treat-your-body-nicely-so-it-won’t-screw-me milieu, I figured it is a perfect time to review tea. In one of my recent trips to Pasadena, I accidentally stumbled upon a tea shop. I was headed to the parking garage to leave, but two birds caught my eye. Not real birds, but the two birds on the logo of a tea shop called Bird Pick. Looking less corporate than Teavana, but friendlier and more warm than Lupicia, I had to check it out. Immediately upon entering the store I realized how perfect of a store it is for Pasadena; the ambiance of the tea bar fits right in with the Old Town yuppy vibe. The location is also convenient because people will notice it when they are entering/leaving the popular parking garage across the street from the store.

While inside Bird Pick, a friendly soon-to-be freshman at UCLA helped me out. She offered to steep any type of tea I wanted to try along with giving me samples of teas she had steeped prior to my arrival. Everything I tried seemed very nice so I asked if they had any Tie Guan Yin. (My brother spent the greater part of the past year in Nanjing, but has finally returned to Pennsylvania. One notable difference about him from the trip is that he drinks tea more often than ever before. Apparently he became quite fond of a Chinese oolong, Tie Guan Yin.). Although the girl was quite knowledgeable, she was stumped as to whether or not they sold it at the store. She explained that Bird Pick changed the names of some of their teas to make it easier to pronounce and remember. She asked the manager/tea expert guy, who was just as friendly and helpful as the girl. He was able to point out three different grades of Tie Guan Yin, which at the store is going by a very similar sounding, although not much easier to pronounce or remember, name: Tikuanyin (literally translates to Iron Goddess of Oolong). He also explained why they were graded differently; tea grading is very interesting because it is not as much about flavor and quality as it is to do with location/region of origin, garden of estate, elevation, and how it was picked and manufactured after harvest. I found that the Stash Tea website gives a more thorough description of different grades here. I bought the lowest grade of the Tie Guan Yin/Tikuanyin because it was the cheapest. I figure that if my brother likes it, I will buy him a nicer grade the next time I am there.

I only bought tea for my brother, but was given free samples to try out. Two in particular I really enjoyed: Royal One & 1 Green Tea and an Organic Green tea. The former is said to have a bittersweet finish, but I did not taste as much bitter as I did sweet. It was very pleasant and distinct. I was very hesitant about trying the Organic Green tea, because sometimes the word organic is placed on a label just so people will buy it, regardless of quality of the product. In all honesty, I was expecting it to taste like crap, but was pleasantly surprised by a smooth cup of green tea. It is the type of tea I could drink all day. I will probably buy the Organic Green tea and hopefully receive more samples next time I am at Bird Pick.

In regards to the other tea stores I mentioned: I would choose Bird Pick over Teavana any day of the week. However, I will always have a place for Lupicia in my heart (try their Tokio green tea!). It is an excellent tea store, but not surprisingly, more focused on Japanese teas. The Lupicia store is also in close proximity to where I live, making it more convenient for me to visit. If Bird Pick was just as close I would probably choose it over Lupicia because of the cute tea bar ambiance and the welcoming warm feelings.

Does anyone else ever feel guilty for not drinking green tea? I like all kinds of teas, but research seems to make green tea sound like #1 all time best tea for a person. I feel guilty when I drink other teas, even when the other type of teas have their own health benefits. I always think that if I am going to drink tea it should probably be green. Is this unheard of and am I crazy for feeling like this?

Bird Pick

10 South De Lacey
Pasadena, CA 91105
(626) 773-4372

Lupicia

10250 Santa Monica Blvd
Century City, CA 90067

Teavana

14006 Riverside Dr
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Perfume

Some people think it is funny that I own perfume. I get a little annoyed at their logic. Just because I have no sense of smell means I should not bother trying to smell pleasant? As if I should head for the woods and stop bathing. Instead, I shower, use soap, and clean my clothes on a regular basis. I do not do it just because I love the feeling of being clean (and believe me I do!), but because I want people to at least be able to withstand and hopefully even enjoy my scent. It sounds a little silly, but obviously–evolutionarily, regulating and manipulating your scent to attract others is not a novel idea. Just because I cannot enjoy the world of scent does not mean it is useless to manage my own scent.

The process I go through for finding a perfume is different and complex (making it similar to how I purchase shoes). I have gone into stores with walls of perfume and colognes without a clue as to what any one of them smells like. I remember in middle school enjoying the smell of Clinique Happy and being disgusted by CK One. In order to achieve variety, and not wear Clinique Happy for the rest of my life, I have to trust descriptions and even more so, I have to trust people. This becomes complicated because scent is subjective. Not everyone agrees as to what smells good, what smells bad, and what smells like a cheap trick. I have gone into Sephora and jokingly asked, “what kind of scent looks like it would match me?” I find that people, not just retail workers, are unable to describe scents; “It smells like… uhh……. good!” Thanks, buddy, not helpful! Sometimes it feels like pulling teeth when I try to get someone to conjure up a couple of adjectives to describe a smell. I have theorized that maybe there is too much pressure in advising someone in scent, that it is too personal and intimate of a topic, as if they were telling me who I should choose to marry. Another theory that is more realistic is that maybe they just take advantage of their ability to smell and do not bother thinking about a scent further than a binary thought of good or bad. My favorite theory is that maybe they know they have bad taste and do not want it to spread. Regardless as to why, it makes me want to send a memo out to the whole world! In the end, what has proved to be most effective for me is to research perfumes and then go into the store explaining my situation, explaining what I like/don’t like, and hope that the person helping me is knowledgeable.

The perfume I use currently is Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb. People always compliment on how good it smells, or how good I smell when I wear it. I have found a blog, Now Smell This, that reviews perfume. Here is their review of Flowerbomb. The next complication I have with perfume is how to gauge what is enough. I do not want to put on too much, but I definitely do not want to little. Usually, the people closest to me will let me know when I am wearing too much. In the end, it is quite an involved process from start to finish, making running into the woods not seem so bad of an idea after all.