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?
Monday, March 21, 2011
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?
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