Sin City has truly revolutionized and has become a destination for more than just gambling. I'm not a big gambler, so one of my favorite things to do in Vegas is to check out the shows. I've seen almost every Cirque du Soleil show, most of the musicals and even some of the off the wall variety shows. During this holiday visit, we decided to go see Jersey Boys. This show was very entertaining and I would recommend going to see it! Here are some of my thoughts on the show:
*Want to get a free souvenir? Yes, I said free. Now I can't guarantee that this will happen forever, but when we went to go see the show, I wanted one of the posters so I asked how much they were. Apparently they are $15 a piece, but if you take a short survey (and by short I mean like 5 questions) you can get one for free. Try this out at the inside souvenir stand on the main floor. I would recommend waiting until it's a little less crowded (after the show when most people have walked out). Plus, if you wait until then you have a good chance of meeting the performers since they walk out and park at the structure that everyone else parks at. We rode the elevator with one of them and he was very nice!
*Inside this theater, I think the better views would be in one of the front and center Loge seats. Yes orchestra is nice, but this way you won't have to worry about anyone tall sitting in front of you. The theater is not terribly huge so almost any seat is probably going to be a good seat.
*Check out the Tix 4 Today booths. They have multiple locations and often offer tickets to this show there. Be advised that if you get the tickets there that you will want to head straight to the theater box office afterwards since you have to redeem the voucher to select your seats.
Have you seen this show? Have you seen other shows in Vegas? A penny for your thoughts?
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Black Swan - Movie
I can see why they are predicting that Natalie Portman might win some awards for her performance in Black Swan. I'll admit that I was hesitant to watch this movie, but after reading some of the reviews I decided to go ahead and check it out. After coming out of the theater, I wasn't sure how I was feeling. Now that I've had some time to think about it, I think it was very well done even though it was a little darker than I usually like. Here are some of my thoughts on this film:
*Don't go see this with your family. By this, I mean you might feel slightly uncomfortable watching some of the more adult scenes if you're there with your parents. Consider yourself warned. :)
*Consider this somewhat of a psychological thriller. It's not the type of film where you're sitting on the edge of your seat, but it does mess with your mind a little. In fact, I think some scenes were developed to make you question what really happened.
*The dancing is pretty amazing. Kudos to Natalie for spending almost a year preparing for this role and learning ballet. I know some of the scenes they had a double step in, but the majority of it appears to be her. Not an easy task especially for this type of movie.
Did you see this film? Would you recommend it to others? A penny for your thoughts?
*Don't go see this with your family. By this, I mean you might feel slightly uncomfortable watching some of the more adult scenes if you're there with your parents. Consider yourself warned. :)
*Consider this somewhat of a psychological thriller. It's not the type of film where you're sitting on the edge of your seat, but it does mess with your mind a little. In fact, I think some scenes were developed to make you question what really happened.
*The dancing is pretty amazing. Kudos to Natalie for spending almost a year preparing for this role and learning ballet. I know some of the scenes they had a double step in, but the majority of it appears to be her. Not an easy task especially for this type of movie.
Did you see this film? Would you recommend it to others? A penny for your thoughts?
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Christmas Lights - Southern California
One of my favorite things to do during the holiday season is to go see Christmas lights. It's festive, it's fun and best of all it's free (usually)! The challenge is knowing where to go which I've found it's not that easy to figure out which areas have something to offer that's not just your basic few strands of lights. Here are some of my favorites if you're in the Southern California area:
*See the boat parade! The great thing about this is that it goes to multiple beach cities. I've personally witnessed it in Long Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and San Diego. If you've gone to one city during the year, you don't necessarily need to go to another city because it's pretty much the same thing repeated. Go early and claim your viewing area because most of the routes are first come, first serve. Dress warm (well, unless it's 80 degrees like it was for a few days this December), bring a blanket to sit on, and bring some food to enjoy.
*Balboa Island has some really nice houses that put out a lot of effort to decorate. One of the houses even has a snowman made out of real snow! Grab some food at one of the local restaurants and then take a walking tour around the island.
*There is a neighborhood in Fountain Valley off of Brookhurst right across from Mile Square Park that has a lot of decorated houses. Park at the lot in front of the park and then cross the street. I think you'll enjoy the many houses in this area since quite a few of them get involved.
*Apparently you can choreograph your lights to music now. There are a handful of houses out there that do this and it's pretty cool. If you look it up online, I know there is at least one in Cypress, Buena Park and Brea.
Where do you like to go see Christmas lights? A penny for your thoughts?
*See the boat parade! The great thing about this is that it goes to multiple beach cities. I've personally witnessed it in Long Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and San Diego. If you've gone to one city during the year, you don't necessarily need to go to another city because it's pretty much the same thing repeated. Go early and claim your viewing area because most of the routes are first come, first serve. Dress warm (well, unless it's 80 degrees like it was for a few days this December), bring a blanket to sit on, and bring some food to enjoy.
*Balboa Island has some really nice houses that put out a lot of effort to decorate. One of the houses even has a snowman made out of real snow! Grab some food at one of the local restaurants and then take a walking tour around the island.
*There is a neighborhood in Fountain Valley off of Brookhurst right across from Mile Square Park that has a lot of decorated houses. Park at the lot in front of the park and then cross the street. I think you'll enjoy the many houses in this area since quite a few of them get involved.
*Apparently you can choreograph your lights to music now. There are a handful of houses out there that do this and it's pretty cool. If you look it up online, I know there is at least one in Cypress, Buena Park and Brea.
Where do you like to go see Christmas lights? A penny for your thoughts?
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Porto's Bakery and Cafe - Downey, CA
My parents have been talking about Porto's for a long time (the one in Burbank I believe) and have brought me a sweet treat from there every now and then. I have enjoyed the desserts, but it wasn't until recently that I actually decided I needed to see what this place was all about. If I could sum it up in one word... ahhmaaazziiinnggg! Yes, that's a real word. ;)
Here are my thoughts on this treasure of an eatery:
*You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Now I didn't eat every single sandwich on the menu, but everything my parents ordered (and we ordered a lot of things) was delicious.
*I would recommend the Cubano sandwich. It's very yummy and I couldn't get enough of the fried plantain chips. I'd go there again just to buy more chips! Surprisingly not very sweet with just a touch of salt... yummy goodness.
*Save room for dessert. If you're ordering food from the cafe side, you only get to pick from a smaller selection of their desserts. There's a reason that the bakery side has its own line... there are so many to choose from and they are equally tasty as they are beautiful. I love the tiramasu and the cheesecake. Yes, I ordered multiple desserts during this visit... don't judge me. :)
*It's always busy. A good sign of a good place to eat is when it's busy during all operating hours. Porto's is always busy, but very worth the wait.
Go eat at Porto's and do it now... this is one of the best eateries I've ever been to. Have you been there before? Have any advice or opinions? A penny for your thoughts?
Here are my thoughts on this treasure of an eatery:
*You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Now I didn't eat every single sandwich on the menu, but everything my parents ordered (and we ordered a lot of things) was delicious.
*I would recommend the Cubano sandwich. It's very yummy and I couldn't get enough of the fried plantain chips. I'd go there again just to buy more chips! Surprisingly not very sweet with just a touch of salt... yummy goodness.
*Save room for dessert. If you're ordering food from the cafe side, you only get to pick from a smaller selection of their desserts. There's a reason that the bakery side has its own line... there are so many to choose from and they are equally tasty as they are beautiful. I love the tiramasu and the cheesecake. Yes, I ordered multiple desserts during this visit... don't judge me. :)
*It's always busy. A good sign of a good place to eat is when it's busy during all operating hours. Porto's is always busy, but very worth the wait.
Go eat at Porto's and do it now... this is one of the best eateries I've ever been to. Have you been there before? Have any advice or opinions? A penny for your thoughts?
Monday, November 29, 2010
The Smoke House - Burbank, CA
A good friend of mine, Drew Hayashida, took me to the Smoke House in Burbank the week of Thanksgiving. Not only did this restaurant have delicious food, but a little bit of history resides there since it was a place that Walt Disney had dined at before. It's not anything fancy to look at from the outside, but the food is great and the service is delightful. Here are my thoughts on it:
*You must order the garlic cheese bread. Now it's not like American cheese melted on bread, but more of a powder that makes it really yummy. Drew and I ordered only half a loaf and to be honest we probably could have finished a whole loaf. :)
*I ordered the chicken and avocado sandwich and it was huge! Very delicious with the chipotle sauce on it... in fact I could have used more of it. Drew had the prime rib sandwich which was equally as large.
*They take reservations. So, if you might want to give them a call in advance if you're planning on going down there just in case.
Has anyone else been there before? If so, what did you think? A penny for your thoughts?
*You must order the garlic cheese bread. Now it's not like American cheese melted on bread, but more of a powder that makes it really yummy. Drew and I ordered only half a loaf and to be honest we probably could have finished a whole loaf. :)
*I ordered the chicken and avocado sandwich and it was huge! Very delicious with the chipotle sauce on it... in fact I could have used more of it. Drew had the prime rib sandwich which was equally as large.
*They take reservations. So, if you might want to give them a call in advance if you're planning on going down there just in case.
Has anyone else been there before? If so, what did you think? A penny for your thoughts?
Monday, November 22, 2010
Sanrio Small Gift Event - Santa Monica, CA
What can I say... I love Hello Kitty! When I was younger, my mom used to reward me with Sanrio merchandise for good grades. I loved picking out all the school supplies... the pencils, pens, notebooks, etc. Decades later and this kitty still has a special place in my heart. Here are my thoughts on the Small Gift Event that is touring the nation:
*The line for merchandise was the longest line at the event! When we finally got inside, I found out why there was still so much stuff left to buy... it was very expensive. By very expensive I mean that a backpack cost $180. And no, it wasn't made of diamonds. There were a few less expensive items so I was able to buy a couple of souvenirs. The catch was that they weren't selling any of these things on their website or in their stores.
*The Smart Cars were adorable! If I had some extra money lying around, I would definitely be buying one and driving it around everywhere! At around $17,000 a car, I think I'll have to pass on this... for now.
*The mini art gallery was cool to look at. I don't know if I would have bought any of the art, but I did enjoy it. The few things the gallery had for sale (small random items) were way overpriced and not worth it in my opinion... things such as shaped soap and a few fashion jewelry pieces.
*The fair booth prizes were not that great. There were geared towards young children which would have been fine except there were more adults there than children. They needed to cater to an older crowd.
*Here is my favorite info that I learned at the event... Sephora will be launching a Hello Kitty line of products in January 2011. Yes, I will probably be lining up for this debut. ;)
Hello Kitty is still the most popular cat in the world. What Hello Kitty events or info would you like to share? A penny for your thoughts?
*The line for merchandise was the longest line at the event! When we finally got inside, I found out why there was still so much stuff left to buy... it was very expensive. By very expensive I mean that a backpack cost $180. And no, it wasn't made of diamonds. There were a few less expensive items so I was able to buy a couple of souvenirs. The catch was that they weren't selling any of these things on their website or in their stores.
*The Smart Cars were adorable! If I had some extra money lying around, I would definitely be buying one and driving it around everywhere! At around $17,000 a car, I think I'll have to pass on this... for now.
*The mini art gallery was cool to look at. I don't know if I would have bought any of the art, but I did enjoy it. The few things the gallery had for sale (small random items) were way overpriced and not worth it in my opinion... things such as shaped soap and a few fashion jewelry pieces.
*The fair booth prizes were not that great. There were geared towards young children which would have been fine except there were more adults there than children. They needed to cater to an older crowd.
*Here is my favorite info that I learned at the event... Sephora will be launching a Hello Kitty line of products in January 2011. Yes, I will probably be lining up for this debut. ;)
Hello Kitty is still the most popular cat in the world. What Hello Kitty events or info would you like to share? A penny for your thoughts?
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Slaters 50/50 - Anaheim Hills, CA
Wow. Now I have had people tell me that they know of the best burger joint in town, but this was ridiculous! If you want an amazing burger (and other types of food also), visit Slaters 50/50 in Anaheim Hills. I liked bacon before this visit, but now I think I just might be a bacon lover. Thank you Allison for introducing me to this amazing place! Here are my thoughts on what you should order when visiting this place:
*You need to try the 50/50 patty. What is that you ask? It's a patty made of half of ground beef and half bacon. Yes, you heard me correctly... half bacon! I know it may sound a little too greasy, but it is delicious. Be prepared for it to be well done (because of the bacon), however I noticed my meat was still a little pink the middle.
*If you're gonna do it, do it all the way. Put the bacon flavored mayo on it. They don't put it on very heavy, so you might want to ask for a little extra on the side.
*Order the half and half fries... half regular french fries and half sweet potato fries. They were yummy, but my attention was mostly on the pumpkin flavored dipping sauce on the side. I know it sounds strange, but sweet potato fries + pumpkin sauce = wow! Just don't put on the bacon flavored salt. That's a bad flavor you just can't get away from fast enough.
*Try one of their already styled burgers or make your own. I decided to make my own: 1/3 pound patty, honey wheat bun, bacon flavored mayo, grilled onions, pesto goat cheese, baby greens, tomato and pickles. I must say I did a good job with the toppings because my mouth was watering the whole time.
*I recommend the tangerine wheat beer. If you like Hef or Blue Moon, this will appeal to your palate.
Needless to say, I will be visiting again! For more information, visit http://www.slaters5050.com/.
Have you been there before? A penny for your thoughts?
*You need to try the 50/50 patty. What is that you ask? It's a patty made of half of ground beef and half bacon. Yes, you heard me correctly... half bacon! I know it may sound a little too greasy, but it is delicious. Be prepared for it to be well done (because of the bacon), however I noticed my meat was still a little pink the middle.
*If you're gonna do it, do it all the way. Put the bacon flavored mayo on it. They don't put it on very heavy, so you might want to ask for a little extra on the side.
*Order the half and half fries... half regular french fries and half sweet potato fries. They were yummy, but my attention was mostly on the pumpkin flavored dipping sauce on the side. I know it sounds strange, but sweet potato fries + pumpkin sauce = wow! Just don't put on the bacon flavored salt. That's a bad flavor you just can't get away from fast enough.
*Try one of their already styled burgers or make your own. I decided to make my own: 1/3 pound patty, honey wheat bun, bacon flavored mayo, grilled onions, pesto goat cheese, baby greens, tomato and pickles. I must say I did a good job with the toppings because my mouth was watering the whole time.
*I recommend the tangerine wheat beer. If you like Hef or Blue Moon, this will appeal to your palate.
Needless to say, I will be visiting again! For more information, visit http://www.slaters5050.com/.
Have you been there before? A penny for your thoughts?
Monday, November 15, 2010
Aquarium of the Pacific - Long Beach, CA
There is something tranquil about watching sea life in an aquarium. Although it's not very large in size, the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach has a quaint feeling to it which I actually like. Their exhibits are easy to navigate and the presentations are not just for show, but are quite educational. It really showcases the more local sea life and offers suggestions on how we can better protect it. Here are some fun facts about this location:
*Feeding the lorakeets is pretty fun. Nectar costs $3 for a small cup, but it will guarantee some good pictures with the birds. Disclaimer here... be prepared to possibly be pooped on. What can you expect after they spend most of their day drinking nectar? :) Also, be careful when trying to handle the birds. They can get a bit agressive if you are trying to hold them and you have no food.
*Check out the sea lion/seal feeding which is a cute presentation. Don't expect a show like you would see at Sea World, however it's great to see them doing different behaviors and learning how these behaviors help when the staff are trying to do medical checks.
*Don't bother with the shark feeding. You can't really see a lot from either view of the tank. It's pretty much just some employees giving the sharks pieces of fish and squid via trash pickers and tongs. However, check out the huge sting ray in the shark tank. Can you say holy cow that's an over 200 pound sting ray?
*Fun activity for the kids... or in my case for me being a really big kid - visit each of the stations labeled in the map. They aren't stamps, but stations where you can get the map embossed. Just remember to put in only one page or you'll end up with your whole booklet embossed... trust me, I know. :)
For more information visit http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/.
A penny for your thoughts?
*Feeding the lorakeets is pretty fun. Nectar costs $3 for a small cup, but it will guarantee some good pictures with the birds. Disclaimer here... be prepared to possibly be pooped on. What can you expect after they spend most of their day drinking nectar? :) Also, be careful when trying to handle the birds. They can get a bit agressive if you are trying to hold them and you have no food.
*Check out the sea lion/seal feeding which is a cute presentation. Don't expect a show like you would see at Sea World, however it's great to see them doing different behaviors and learning how these behaviors help when the staff are trying to do medical checks.
*Don't bother with the shark feeding. You can't really see a lot from either view of the tank. It's pretty much just some employees giving the sharks pieces of fish and squid via trash pickers and tongs. However, check out the huge sting ray in the shark tank. Can you say holy cow that's an over 200 pound sting ray?
*Fun activity for the kids... or in my case for me being a really big kid - visit each of the stations labeled in the map. They aren't stamps, but stations where you can get the map embossed. Just remember to put in only one page or you'll end up with your whole booklet embossed... trust me, I know. :)
For more information visit http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/.
A penny for your thoughts?
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Affordable Treasures - Bellflower, CA
When it comes to shopping, sometimes it's about the hunt and finding that hidden treasure that you didn't even know you were looking for. That is what brought me to Affordable Treasures in Bellflower... that and the fact that David wanted to finally check this place out since he had driven past it many times. They consider themselves to be "the quality thrift store" (as says on their flyer) and I must admit that they do carry a wide variety of items that are very reasonable in price. Here are a few things I learned about this shop:
*They have different specials each month that give you additional savings. While we were there, they had a clothing deal where you could get 20 items for $5.50. That's insane even by thrift store standards!
*The people working are very friendly and helpful. They make extra efforts to keep as organized as possible and they know their merchandise. Now that may not sound that amazing, but believe me when I say it has to be hard to have any type of organization with that much random stuff.
*The proceeds from the store go towards Christian organizations including a school. Help the community by making some purchases.
For more information, please visit their website at http://www.affordabletreasures.org/.
A penny for your thoughts?
*They have different specials each month that give you additional savings. While we were there, they had a clothing deal where you could get 20 items for $5.50. That's insane even by thrift store standards!
*The people working are very friendly and helpful. They make extra efforts to keep as organized as possible and they know their merchandise. Now that may not sound that amazing, but believe me when I say it has to be hard to have any type of organization with that much random stuff.
*The proceeds from the store go towards Christian organizations including a school. Help the community by making some purchases.
For more information, please visit their website at http://www.affordabletreasures.org/.
A penny for your thoughts?
The Original Pancake House - Anaheim, CA
Pancakes aren't just for breakfast anymore. I have found this restaurant to be one of my favorite lunch spots where I walk away feeling completely satisfied. They have quite the variety of pancakes as well as syrup flavors. Just keep in mind that their hours are a little more limited compared to the average place (I believe they close around 2pm), but it's definitely worth the visit. Here are some tips:
*You can always order a half order of any of their pancakes. Trust me when I say that a half order is plenty to eat. However, if you want left overs by all means get the full order and take some home.
*I'm not a huge fan of the flavored syrups, but I would recommend experimenting beyond the regular buttermilk pancakes. Pumpkin, blueberry, banana... you name it, they are all amazing!
*Be prepared for a little bit of a wait if you go during the traditional breakfast hours, especially if it's on the weekend. For less of a wait, visit on a weekday during lunch time.
There is also an Original Pancake House in Aliso Viejo which is equally as good. I'm not 100% sure if they're part of the same chain, but it seems like it. Bon appetit!
*You can always order a half order of any of their pancakes. Trust me when I say that a half order is plenty to eat. However, if you want left overs by all means get the full order and take some home.
*I'm not a huge fan of the flavored syrups, but I would recommend experimenting beyond the regular buttermilk pancakes. Pumpkin, blueberry, banana... you name it, they are all amazing!
*Be prepared for a little bit of a wait if you go during the traditional breakfast hours, especially if it's on the weekend. For less of a wait, visit on a weekday during lunch time.
There is also an Original Pancake House in Aliso Viejo which is equally as good. I'm not 100% sure if they're part of the same chain, but it seems like it. Bon appetit!
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