Monthly Archives: August 2006

August 31, 2006

Restaurants That Make Me Go “Umm…”

Written by Caroline on Crack in Los Angeles
3 Comments

Flickr Shot by 'stpiduko'

Flickr Shot by ‘stpiduko’

The grossest thing I ever ate, and not on purpose? When I devoured half of a very organic nutrition bar I purchased from the convenience store in my office building, only to find out, as I was about to bite into the other half, that it was in fact infested with fruit flies. Blech! Ack! How did I not notice those before? What can I say? I was famished and in a hurry.

So imagine my delight when I happened on the Los Angeles County Department of Health’s very handy list which names restaurants that closed down for a short period of time due to things like vermin infestation or sewage. True, the offenders did what they had to do, passed inspection and reopened but still…it’s a good thing to be aware of.

Some notables that caught my eye (either because I’ve patronized them or was in danger of it):

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August 30, 2006

Banksy’s 3-Day Vandalized Warehouse Extravaganza

Written by Caroline on Crack in Art, Los Angeles
5 Comments

http://www.flickr.com/groups/banksy/discuss/72157594249998164/

No one knows where he will strike but prolific stencil graffiti artist Banksy (aka Robert Banks) from Bristol, England, will make a much anticipated ”Barely Legal” L.A. appearance (or at least his work will) on September 15-17 at a super secret location that won’t be disclosed until the day of the event. Check his site September 15 to find out where.

From Wikipedia:

Banksy uses different techniques to communicate a message, which is often political and/or humorous. His original street art form, which combines graffiti with a distinctive stencilling technique, has achieved a certain underground notoriety and widespread coverage in the mainstream media.

You may recognize his work around Los Angeles as of late; it’s speculated that he’s been spending time here with some of our local artists. But Banksy’s technique is an interesting take on graffiti, normally a free-form art. And who can resist that adorable stenciled rat or the humor of it all?

So what’s this mysterious event all about? One can only imagine, judging by the scale of the phenom’s past works where he stenciled the penguin enclosure of the London Zoo and even the Palestinian side of the Israeli West Bank barrier. If anything, Banksy fans have been told to expect “a warehouse full of mindless vandalism and pretty pictures.”

EVENT: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 – SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

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August 29, 2006

Escape From L.A.: Pacific Surfliner to San Diego

Written by Caroline on Crack in Los Angeles, Other, Quick Getaways
Say what?

Flickr Shot by Sosidesc

Flickr Shot by Sosidesc

The big weekend is coming up: Labor Day Weekend, the end of summer. Le sigh. Wanna get out of town without having to deal with airline hassles or freeway gridlock on your last beautiful weekend? Have you thought about taking a train?

The one time I took AmTrak (and I’ve been meaning to take it again) was on its Pacific Surfliner from Union Station to San Diego and, yes, it wasn’t a romantic private car for two but a rather public coach car for many. It was still all good. Because there’s nothing like traveling down the beautiful SoCal coast on rails.

Sitting on the rightside of the car traveling south you can skim the beaches and watch surfers, sunbathers and family picnics. On the leftside, you can point and snicker at all the people stuck in traffic on I-5.

It’s also kinda cool to walk up and down the cars and even visit the snack car for the simple selections. Grab a sandwich, a bag of chips and a soda and enjoy the ride. It’s all about that window, its scenery and the novelty of not having to worry about airline restrictions, gassing up your car or sitting in rush-hour traffic.

The trip takes under three hours, depending on which schedule you pick. And a roundtrip ticket costs $74. Take the train to San Diego not Old Town and catch a bus to the Gas Lamp District. It makes for a quickie, stress-free holiday. Enjoy Labor Day without the labor.

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August 28, 2006

Doing Up Vegas in L.A. Through Sick & Sin

Written by Caroline on Crack in Dining, Los Angeles, Nightlife
1 Comment

Black Jack table

I ain’t a gambler but I was still looking forward to Vegas in L.A. way back in April ever since Dan from CozmoCard told me about it. Wine and food tastings, a dj, and partyers hoping to evoke Sin City in Santa Monica — sounded like a blast.

My friend Dre, a foodie and wine conoisseur, was going to be my partner in crime in sampling wine and food from the best wineries and restaurants throughout the event. Unfortunately, days before the event we both got really sick. She got the flu and was incapacitated and I just got an annoyingly leaky cold.

So at the last minute I got my friend Scott to take her place. A Black Jack player and a fan of the vino, he was sure to enjoy himself there. Naturally, we got there a half hour early and just walked around the Barker Hangar watching everyone set up. There were the tables for the silent auction which offered the likes of bottles of wine and a weekend in Vegas to lucky bidders. Minimum bids were way out of my price range at $1,500 so forget that.

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August 26, 2006

2007 L.A. Marathon: I Think I Can, I Think I Can…

Written by Caroline on Crack in Los Angeles, Recreation
3 Comments

I think I can, I think I can...

I’m finally taking the plunge. I’m going to start training for next year’s L.A. Marathon, something as a 15-year Angeleno I’ve wanted to do but had always put off until “I got in better shape” or “could run farther than 5 miles.” My friend Jules motivated me to join her in registering with the L.A. Roadrunners, a training program that welcomes all levels of runners from beginner to advanced for 28 weeks of training.

The program started last week but Jules said it’s not too late for us to register so this morning at the Westminster Avenue School in Venice we’ll begin our path to fat (and knee) destruction and next year’s L.A. Marathon — a course that will take us through 26.2 miles of our lovely city.

To register with the training program and for the marathon you pay $85 for the race plus $60 for the training. Not too bad considering I will basically be starting from scratch. Currently I only manage to run 6 miles a week, if that, with a 13-minute/mile average. So we’ll just see if they can whip me into shape come race day.

The Roadrunners program has running, run/walk and walking pace groups who meet every Saturday for the next 27 weeks in Venice, Ventura and the Inland Empire. Training T-shirts, lectures on nutrition, a training manual and calendar, and even gait analysis and personal performance evaluation are provided for registered trainees.

  • LA Roadrunners meet at 7am in Venice at Westminster Avenue School
  • Ventura Roadrunners meet at 7:30am at San Buenaventura State Beach
  • Inland Empire Roadrunners meet at 7am in Chino Hills at Butterfield Park

But first I need to get me some kicky new running shoes.

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August 25, 2006

Katsuya Brentwood: See and Be Seen Eating Sushi

Written by Caroline on Crack in Cocktails, Dining, Los Angeles, Nightlife, Sweets
8 Comments

Katsuya's back bar scene

The too-hot-to-trot Hollywood scene seems to have found its way to Brentwood, with Katsuya taking over the old El Dorado restaurant on San Vicente. And I just had to see how Sam Nazarian’s newish venture, a Philippe Starck-designed sushi restaurant showcasing master sushi chef Katsuya Uechi’s talents, heats up an old, almost-forgotten space.

Gone are the warm colors of the El Dorado replaced by cold black and white hues and white lights. Starck’s floorplan makes use of the lower dining area and old dancefloor backroom and transforms the space into a giant bento box with sections for an outdoor terrace, a sushi bar, a Robata bar and a lounge area.

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August 24, 2006

Sunset Junction Street Fair: What’s Your Function?

Written by Caroline on Crack in Art, Beauty & Fashion, Dining, Los Angeles, Music, Recreation
8 Comments

http://www.sunsetjunction.org/streetfair_photos.html

Every year the Sunset Junction Street Fair comes around and every year I feel its pull of its music, food and people but then dismiss it. Too far, too crowded, too much stress. It’s easy for me to dismiss since I live in West L.A. but now that my friend Julie has opened up my eyes to the urban artsiness that is Echo Park and Silver Lake, I’m inclined to check this year’s street fair out. Plus she has her circle of friends and their hangouts and parties AND free, convenient parking, so how can I resist?

From AOL City Guide:

Sunset Boulevard, one of LA’s busiest arteries, is closed to traffic and transformed into a neighborhood playground for all ages and persuasions, from Latino families to Asian drag queens, from Silver Lake scenesters to nouveau bohos. 

This year’s two-day affair promises music from the likes of Ashford and Simpson and Hank Williams III. I know. Huh? I kid. There will also be the freaky stylings of the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Eels, The Cramps and The Elected.

It’s summertime and all of L.A. turns out for this shindig. Enjoy the food, enjoy the local vendors, get yourself some local art, ride the ferris wheel, and people watch to your heart’s content.

PS: Visit my friend at the Yelp! booth. Hi, Stephy S.! Apparently they’re giving out Yelp sticks, whatever THAT is. But it’s freeeeee!

EVENT: SATURDAY, AUGUST 26 to SUNDAY, AUGUST 27 from 10am to 11pm

Tickets: $12, $15 after 4pm

3600 – 4400 Sunset Boulevard
Silverlake, California 90027
(323) 661-7771

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