Have you ever gone to Medieval Times or the Pirate dinner show? This is worse. Considering the cost is $45 for the show only, $60 for the Gold level (includes dinner and show) and $90 for the Platinum level (closer to the front show seating and dinner), I don't think this place will be in business for much longer. I usually like to support the local businesses, but this one needs a lot of work. Here are my thoughts on this:
*The principle dancers are pretty good, specifically the males. The chorus dancers need some work. They can be compared to high school level dancers at best. I can't totally blame it on the dancers, but more so on the choreographer and/or the director. They need to build up the dancing as the show goes on and maybe mix up the music a little.
*The best parts of the show were the shadow puppet guy and the ventriliquist. They were pretty entertaining.
*The dinner isn't worth it. The starter is a choice of soup or salad. The salad is advertised as a shrimp salad and only has one shrimp on it. Get the soup, although it is a salty vegetable soup. The entree choices were mahi mahi and chicken. I was cautious and ordered the chicken. Big mistake... it was so dry and was served with cooked carrots (that seemed like they were frozen ones) with potatoes that had no flavor. Dessert was the only good thing as it was a pin wheel cake of some sort.
*The theater felt like they started building it and ran out of money. The stage itself was nice and the lighting was good. The seating area was cheaply done and the waiters serve you on the same level you're siting on... meaning if they are serving, you can't see anything on the stage.
Bottom line is that you should save your money. No amount of alcohol will make you feel like this is worth it.
Have you been to see it? A penny for your thoughts?
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Rock of Ages - National Tour
I have been a musical theater junkie since I was little and my parents took me to see my very first show, Phantom of the Opera. Even though I was only in elementary school at that time, it really fascinated me and to this day I have spent more time and money on theater than concerts. Not that I don't enjoy an occasional concert every now and then, but there is something that the actors do on that stage when they reach you with both their talent and their emotions.
Rock of Ages was a show that David wanted to see since it came out. We didn't end of seeing it during our last trip to New York, so I wanted to make sure he had a chance to see it while they were on tour. They made it down our way and we drove down to the Pantages to see what it was all about. Not the best idea as it turns out.
If you're there to listen to some good rock and roll music, then the performance was fairly decent. They highlighted one of their star performers who happened to be a previous American Idol contestant. The costumes were very appropriate and themed to that time and the sets were pretty decent. Unfortunately that is where my praise ends.
Talk about trying to force a square peg in a round hole. Wait a minute... that doesn't sound right. ;) Let's just say they took a bunch of rock songs from the 70s and 80s and tried to force a storyline around them. It was very cheesy too, but not in the funny way... more of the I want to slap my hand on my forehead kind of cheese. The acting (when they weren't singing) was awful.
So if you're trying to pick a show to see, don't pick this one. Even if you can get the tickets at a discount, it's not really worth it and you'll walk out missing the few hours of your life that you'll never get back. If you're craving some of that good rock music, you're better off listening to your music device of choice.
Rock of Ages was a show that David wanted to see since it came out. We didn't end of seeing it during our last trip to New York, so I wanted to make sure he had a chance to see it while they were on tour. They made it down our way and we drove down to the Pantages to see what it was all about. Not the best idea as it turns out.
If you're there to listen to some good rock and roll music, then the performance was fairly decent. They highlighted one of their star performers who happened to be a previous American Idol contestant. The costumes were very appropriate and themed to that time and the sets were pretty decent. Unfortunately that is where my praise ends.
Talk about trying to force a square peg in a round hole. Wait a minute... that doesn't sound right. ;) Let's just say they took a bunch of rock songs from the 70s and 80s and tried to force a storyline around them. It was very cheesy too, but not in the funny way... more of the I want to slap my hand on my forehead kind of cheese. The acting (when they weren't singing) was awful.
So if you're trying to pick a show to see, don't pick this one. Even if you can get the tickets at a discount, it's not really worth it and you'll walk out missing the few hours of your life that you'll never get back. If you're craving some of that good rock music, you're better off listening to your music device of choice.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Paris Baguette - Cerritos, CA
The Cerritos Center (aka the Cerritos Mall) has really changed over the years. One of its newest additions is Paris Baguette which is located close to the Macy's side of the mall. It's very "clean" looking from the outside meaning it has a crisp feel to it with the windows all across the front and white lights everywhere. It definitely catches your attention compared to the other stores nearby.
It's all about serve yourself! Grab a tray and some tongs and go wild. As I learned, this can be dangerous because you find yourself grabbing anything and everything because it all looks so good. Picture the best Hawaiian or Portuguese sweet bread you've ever had... now put in some tasty fillings like chocolate or cream cheese and you've got Paris Baguette. Do they even make a bad sweet bread or pastry??
Now I haven't tried the sandwiches or the cakes yet... I figured I should save something for my next visit. There is also another location on Artesia Blvd., however I've heard if you order sandwiches there it's based on what they have already made. No bueno.
Have you been to Paris Baguette? A penny for your thoughts?
It's all about serve yourself! Grab a tray and some tongs and go wild. As I learned, this can be dangerous because you find yourself grabbing anything and everything because it all looks so good. Picture the best Hawaiian or Portuguese sweet bread you've ever had... now put in some tasty fillings like chocolate or cream cheese and you've got Paris Baguette. Do they even make a bad sweet bread or pastry??
Now I haven't tried the sandwiches or the cakes yet... I figured I should save something for my next visit. There is also another location on Artesia Blvd., however I've heard if you order sandwiches there it's based on what they have already made. No bueno.
Have you been to Paris Baguette? A penny for your thoughts?
Monday, March 21, 2011
Jimmy Loves - San Diego, CA
I just came back from a fabulous weekend in San Diego with some of my friends. We went down there for the weekend to celebrate my friend Dee Dee's bachelorette party and one thing she really wanted to do was go to Jimmy Loves in the Gaslamp District. I know now why she wanted to go there. Not only was it a pretty decent place for dinner, but it became a really fun place to be at night.
Now mind you, we decided to have a bunch of appetizers and not really pick things from the true dinner menu. I decided to get the shrimp quesadilla which was really yummy! It came with salsa fresca and salsa verde on the side... the verde being one of my favorites. Others in our group ordered the chicken quesadilla, sliders, artichoke dip, chicken lettuce wraps, coconut shrimp, etc. I would recommend trying to go during happy hour so you can order these appetizers at half price (ends at 7pm I believe).
The drinks were average. Expensive and small as usual when you are downtown. Specialty cocktails are around $12 each... not too surprising for me. Our waitress rocked though (her name was Cyn) and she kept the drinks flowing the entire night. At one point she even gave us free drinks since our order was taking so long! If she's working when you visit, make sure to sit in her serving area since she is so awesome!
Do you have a favorite bar you like to go to? A penny for your thoughts?
Now mind you, we decided to have a bunch of appetizers and not really pick things from the true dinner menu. I decided to get the shrimp quesadilla which was really yummy! It came with salsa fresca and salsa verde on the side... the verde being one of my favorites. Others in our group ordered the chicken quesadilla, sliders, artichoke dip, chicken lettuce wraps, coconut shrimp, etc. I would recommend trying to go during happy hour so you can order these appetizers at half price (ends at 7pm I believe).
The drinks were average. Expensive and small as usual when you are downtown. Specialty cocktails are around $12 each... not too surprising for me. Our waitress rocked though (her name was Cyn) and she kept the drinks flowing the entire night. At one point she even gave us free drinks since our order was taking so long! If she's working when you visit, make sure to sit in her serving area since she is so awesome!
Do you have a favorite bar you like to go to? A penny for your thoughts?
Monday, March 14, 2011
Gatten Sushi - Cerritos, CA
If you've ever been to newly renovated shopping center across from the Cerritos Mall, you've probably noticed Gatten Sushi. Let's just say it's hard to ignore sushi moving around a restaurant via conveyor belts... or maybe it's just me since I suffer from SOS... otherwise known as Shiny Object Syndrome. :) I have been to one other place similar to this one, located in Tustin where the 5 and 55 freeways meet, but it has been a while since I've been there. Here are my thoughts on Gatten Sushi:
*It's not the best quality sushi I've ever eaten. Does this mean I wouldn't go back? Actually, it was good enough and the prices were decent enough that I would go back again. Some of the sushi chefs are not even asian, but they do have a lot of spunk and spirit there. It's one of those places where every gets greeted when you enter and you get a friendly thank you and goodbye when you leave. And it's not that the food doesn't taste good, but part of good sushi making is presentation and how well the rolls or individual pieces stay together.
*Yellow plates are $2 each while red plates are $3 each. We didn't end up grabbing too many red plates... not because of price, but more because we didn't necessarily want what was on them. I think our red plates consisted of the edamame and another with shrimp tempura. Awesome pricing and of course we had to finish off the meal with some green tea ice cream. Note to all: I wouldn't recommend the green tea cheesecake. It sounds more exotic/appealing than it actually is. Not worth the $3.
*It's crowded on the weekends. Try eating here on a weekday if you can to avoid the waiting to be seated plus the parking is sometimes difficult due to the nearby Lucille's BBQ. There is parking in the back of this complex, but even then it can get a little hectic driving in this area.
Have you been to a good sushi place? A penny for your thoughts?
*It's not the best quality sushi I've ever eaten. Does this mean I wouldn't go back? Actually, it was good enough and the prices were decent enough that I would go back again. Some of the sushi chefs are not even asian, but they do have a lot of spunk and spirit there. It's one of those places where every gets greeted when you enter and you get a friendly thank you and goodbye when you leave. And it's not that the food doesn't taste good, but part of good sushi making is presentation and how well the rolls or individual pieces stay together.
*Yellow plates are $2 each while red plates are $3 each. We didn't end up grabbing too many red plates... not because of price, but more because we didn't necessarily want what was on them. I think our red plates consisted of the edamame and another with shrimp tempura. Awesome pricing and of course we had to finish off the meal with some green tea ice cream. Note to all: I wouldn't recommend the green tea cheesecake. It sounds more exotic/appealing than it actually is. Not worth the $3.
*It's crowded on the weekends. Try eating here on a weekday if you can to avoid the waiting to be seated plus the parking is sometimes difficult due to the nearby Lucille's BBQ. There is parking in the back of this complex, but even then it can get a little hectic driving in this area.
Have you been to a good sushi place? A penny for your thoughts?
King Kong Experience - Universal Studios in Hollywood, CA
The newly added King Kong experience has been part of the Tram Tour at Universal Studios in Hollywood since last summer and I must say that I have mixed reviews about it replacing the old Kong experience. I had the pleasure of experiencing it one day before it opened to the public and I had to ride it twice to make sure I was able to process everything that was going on during that portion of the tour. It also allowed me to figure out where the best seating is since we all know that seating totally matters when it comes to the tram tour. Here are some of my thoughts about this updated version on the famous giant gorilla:
*Try to sit in either the 2nd or 3rd tram car for the best seating possible. If you're in the 1st or 4th car you tend to see the curves in the screens and miss quite a bit of the action. I don't think I have a preference between the right side or the left side... they both have different experiences so try them both if you want to ride multiple times.
*I miss the old Kong. There was something nostalgic about having a huge animatronic with banana breath that you felt was real (well, at least as a kid he felt pretty real). I'm not trying to knock Peter Jackson's creation, but it just makes the experience feel so computerized that I guess I was expecting something completely different.
*Be prepared for those lovely pop out in your face 3D moments and of course some water effects. We seem to be living in a generation of those types of moments where sometimes it feels a little cheesy and not necessary. If you liked Jackson's version of the movie, you will most likely enjoy this.
If you haven't experienced this yet and want to take a look, check out my video on YouTube listed as "Universal Studios King Kong 360 3D Video"
If you have experienced it, what did you think? A penny for your thoughts?
*Try to sit in either the 2nd or 3rd tram car for the best seating possible. If you're in the 1st or 4th car you tend to see the curves in the screens and miss quite a bit of the action. I don't think I have a preference between the right side or the left side... they both have different experiences so try them both if you want to ride multiple times.
*I miss the old Kong. There was something nostalgic about having a huge animatronic with banana breath that you felt was real (well, at least as a kid he felt pretty real). I'm not trying to knock Peter Jackson's creation, but it just makes the experience feel so computerized that I guess I was expecting something completely different.
*Be prepared for those lovely pop out in your face 3D moments and of course some water effects. We seem to be living in a generation of those types of moments where sometimes it feels a little cheesy and not necessary. If you liked Jackson's version of the movie, you will most likely enjoy this.
If you haven't experienced this yet and want to take a look, check out my video on YouTube listed as "Universal Studios King Kong 360 3D Video"
If you have experienced it, what did you think? A penny for your thoughts?
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Body Basics - Lakewood, CA ($5 deals!)
Every now and then you come across a hidden treasure. Yesterday I came across one at the Lakewood Mall called Body Basics. Now at first I thought this store was going out of business, but after talking to the employees, it looks like they are just trying to clear out some old items to get ready for some new items. Ladies, this is a great place to find some bargains! Here are my thoughts:
*$5 bras... enough said. Yes, you heard me correctly... just $5 and there isn't anything weird or cheap (aside from the price) about them. They come in traditional and razor back in multiple colors. I would suggest trying them on to find out which ones fit you best. Some are more padded than others, so make sure to check for the ones you want.
*Panties are 5 for $10. Check them out in the front bin for a variety of types and colors.
*PJ pants and tank tops are reasonable too. They have a variety of sleep wear for those looking for that new comfy and cute outfit.
Have you come across some good shopping deals? A penny for your thoughts?
*$5 bras... enough said. Yes, you heard me correctly... just $5 and there isn't anything weird or cheap (aside from the price) about them. They come in traditional and razor back in multiple colors. I would suggest trying them on to find out which ones fit you best. Some are more padded than others, so make sure to check for the ones you want.
*Panties are 5 for $10. Check them out in the front bin for a variety of types and colors.
*PJ pants and tank tops are reasonable too. They have a variety of sleep wear for those looking for that new comfy and cute outfit.
Have you come across some good shopping deals? A penny for your thoughts?
Monday, January 3, 2011
OC Fair New Year's Eve Block Party - Orange County, CA
For me there is always the debate each New Year's Eve if I want to stay in for a more quiet night or go out to a party. This year David and I decided to go out (since he was working last NYE) and see how the OC Fair's Block Party would turn out. We had an awesome time and I'm so glad we did this! Here are my thoughts on the event:
*They cater to all ages. In each of the buildings they had a 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and millenium stages. There were different cover bands that were pretty good... well except for the one playing Journey music. The Beatles and U2 bands were pretty good.
*Gourmet food trucks were in full force. Nouka, a Greek food truck, had one of the best chicken kabobs with tzatziki sauce. Two thumbs up! The Shrimp Pimp truck was just ok. Their batter was more like funnel cake batter than tempura batter.
*Don't buy your tickets on Ticketmaster. If they do this event again next year (which I hope they will), check out some of the discount sites like Travelzoo to save yourself some money.
What have you done in the past to ring in the new year? What would you recommend or advise to avoid? A penny for your thoughts?
*They cater to all ages. In each of the buildings they had a 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and millenium stages. There were different cover bands that were pretty good... well except for the one playing Journey music. The Beatles and U2 bands were pretty good.
*Gourmet food trucks were in full force. Nouka, a Greek food truck, had one of the best chicken kabobs with tzatziki sauce. Two thumbs up! The Shrimp Pimp truck was just ok. Their batter was more like funnel cake batter than tempura batter.
*Don't buy your tickets on Ticketmaster. If they do this event again next year (which I hope they will), check out some of the discount sites like Travelzoo to save yourself some money.
What have you done in the past to ring in the new year? What would you recommend or advise to avoid? A penny for your thoughts?
The Farm House Restaurant - Beaumont, CA
During my first trip to Beaumont (to visit my friends Erin and Chuck), we visited a family run restaurant called the Farm House Restaurant. The outside looks like a barn and it's located right next to the 10 freeway. The inside decorations are very mismatched, but you can tell that both locals and visitors alike seem to enjoy the comfort food this place has to offer. Here are my thoughts on this eatery:
*If you're on a diet, this is not the place for you. Let's just say that there don't appear to be a lot of low calorie or low fat items on the menu. I say everything in moderation. Enjoy a monte cristo sandwich or breakfast (which they serve all day).
*Support our local businesses. Now I must admit that I do enjoy a lot of chain restaurants, but I would hate to see them gobble up the smaller places. To keep them in business, we need to make sure to eat at these types of places more often!
*Try the home fries (aka breakfast potatoes). You can have hash browns in most places, but not all offer breakfast potatoes. They were pretty good. However, if you don't like green onions, don't order these.
*Just about 10 minutes away are some apple farms too! So if you want to get some nutritious food to your diet after your unhealthy meal, go visit them for some apples and apple products. Apple butter is awesome!
Do you have a favorite mom and pop restaurant? A penny for your thoughts?
*If you're on a diet, this is not the place for you. Let's just say that there don't appear to be a lot of low calorie or low fat items on the menu. I say everything in moderation. Enjoy a monte cristo sandwich or breakfast (which they serve all day).
*Support our local businesses. Now I must admit that I do enjoy a lot of chain restaurants, but I would hate to see them gobble up the smaller places. To keep them in business, we need to make sure to eat at these types of places more often!
*Try the home fries (aka breakfast potatoes). You can have hash browns in most places, but not all offer breakfast potatoes. They were pretty good. However, if you don't like green onions, don't order these.
*Just about 10 minutes away are some apple farms too! So if you want to get some nutritious food to your diet after your unhealthy meal, go visit them for some apples and apple products. Apple butter is awesome!
Do you have a favorite mom and pop restaurant? A penny for your thoughts?
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Jersey Boys - Las Vegas, NV (Tip inside on free souvenir!)
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?
*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?
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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