LA RECOMMENDATIONS PART I

Have you heard of Yelp?  Well, I'm a member and I get so offended when people trash my favorite restaurants. It's pretty ridiculous how angry I get. And funny.

As mentioned in a previous post, a good friend from the UK came for a visit en route to Costa Rica last weekend. We only had Saturday night, all day Sunday, and Monday night together. It was her first time ever in LA, so I really wanted to show her the best of the best, but at the same time, I didn't want to overwhelm her.

Being borderline OCD when it comes to organizing things, I made a list (and organized it by area):

Downtown/Silverlake/Melrose/Hollywood

Sushi Gen - My all time favorite. I actually went to Sushi Gen (pronounced like the g in gun) the day my boyfriend took these pictures. While doing research for my friend's visit, I looked up Sushi Gen on Yelp to see how everyone else liked it. Every negative comment was like a stab to the heart. It hurts guys. It's fine and I understand if you don't like it because the service or the quality of food was poor the one time you went. I get it, I've had a couple of bad experiences there too. A rude waitress, a not so fresh slab of maguro, or even a long wait. Trust me, I've been there. But just like a relationship, you shouldn't write it off so easily. It's delicious, filling, authentic, and great value for your money. Is there a better sushi restaurant in LA? Absolutely, if you want to spend a lot more. But, Sushi Gen is definitely the top of the line for its price range. It's damn good.

The Standard Rooftop Bar - Pretentious? A little. It's got a good view of the city though and in a strange European-ish way, it's very LA.

American Apparel (The Warehouse) - Only open from Monday through Friday, but more fun than your typical American Apparel shop. Made in Downtown LA.

Pho Siam - Best Thai massage place in the city! $40 for a full hour. Remember to turn off your cell phone!

Edison - This venue is so badass. Used to be the old Edison power plant, but has now been transformed into a lounge. Watch the steps.

Seven Grand - "There is definitely a bookish, masculine vibe to the place...the kind of joint you'd find in a Fitzgerald, Hemingway, or Miller (Henry, not Arthur)...a great place to drink boubon, puff on a cigar and pretend to be in an imaginary boys club. Even if you're a girl." - LA Weekly, June 2007

Intelligentsia - Cute cafe with seasonal coffees.

The Village Idiot - Chill and unpretentious restaurant/bar with very HIGH ceilings.

The Kitchen - Good ol' no frills homestyle American food. The drinks are huge and there are free refills! Wee!

Amoeba - I love Amoeba. Though the LA store doesn't have a good $4 section like its Haight St. counterpart and (from what my boyfriend claims) the general selection is better up north, I still love it. My Jazz, Hip Hop and World sections are always stocked with what I want. Plus, they have some pretty neat acts from time to time. I could spend hours in there.

Alright, this is to be continued. It's getting too long and I haven't even started on the Westside, the beaches, or the best thing about travel (besides learning and experiencing other cultures), shopping.

Top: Purchased in HK
Shorts: Forever
Shoes: Gap

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

It is a rare occurrence, for an event to be so amazing that words or pictures, simply, do not do it justice.

Such is the case for the Hollywood Bowl. Excuse me, the Hollywood Bowl and Stevie Wonder.

Have you ever been to a restaurant, park, or classroom more than five times? The first time you walk in, it's fresh right? You take in all the sights (how the furniture is arranged, special architectural features, the crowd), smells (aromas of the food, the people, the facility), and sounds (background music, etc.).

For the most part, after going to the same place half a dozen times, you feel comfortable and know what to expect. It becomes familiar.

With that said, my experience at the Hollywood Bowl, my every experience at the Bowl is always consistently fresh, invigorating, and even a touch uncanny.

I mean, I'm used to walking up the hill, going on the escalators, and setting up shop with dinner and drinks.

But the moment I enter the actual amphitheater, I feel the thrill and excitment rush through my body, as if it were my first time all over again. My guess on what it is exactly? It's the people. The crazy synergy from the very eclectic crowd.

Everyone's there to have a good time, to enjoy the music, and to bask in the lovely summer weather in LA. People from all walks of life and all corners of LA come to Hollywood for the Bowl.

Some of the songs he performed:

Superstition
Isn't She Lovely (With his daughter, Aisha Morris right next to him, it was really sweet)
I Just Called To Say I Love You
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
For Once In My Life
My Cherie Amour

He introduced his children at the start of the show and was incredibly funny and personable with the audience.  The 2.5 hour+ performance was pure entertainment.

All under the cool breeze of a warm summer evening.

So if you live in LA or even SF, with all due respect, what in the world are you waiting for?