Outdoor Ice Skating At Pershing Square

For most of the year, Pershing Square is a largely concrete, downtown plaza that plays host to a fountain, a bizarre purple sculpture tower, along with some homeless nappers. Calling it visually appealing would be a stretch. Yet, experiencing an LA winter would be incomplete without a visit here.



Get into the winter spirit by hitting (hopefully not too hard) Pershing Square's small, outdoor ice skating rink, open from November 15 to January 21.



Imagine skating outdoors, surrounded by people who have never touched a skate to ice before, with the sun beating down and palm trees in plain sight. Rockefeller Center it ain’t, but why skate in freezing weather when you don’t have to?



Here’s what I enjoyed this past Sunday:
Gleaming skyscrapers loomed over the rink. Friends and families, some chatting in Spanish and others in English, along with pockets of Korean and Italian, tried to stay upright with varying success. Kids laughingly fell into heaps as shutterbug parents snapped their wobbles from the sidelines. Meanwhile, a centipede-like line of skaters clung to the outside railing, pulling themselves around the ice. And once the sun went down, sparkly lights gave the rink a holiday glow.



Bonus for Sunday skaters: live music! This past weekend I heard fun redneck classics like “Wooly Bully” and “Margaritaville” from a stage right in front of the ice. The novelty of live music at an outdoor rink was cool – for the first hour.

If you’re hoping to show off your mad skating skills or want to uninterruptedly zoom around pristine ice, Pershing Square is not the place for you. For one, the ice on the small rink is kind of uneven and two, it can get as clogged as LA rush-hour traffic, at least on weekends. So if you fall into this category, try one of LA’s year-round skating rinks.

Skating sessions last an hour with 30 minutes in-between sessions to smooth the ice for the next crowd. Admission per session costs $6, plus $2 for skate rental. Parking is available at the garage under Pershing Square. Remember to get your ticket validated to reduce your parking payout. Click here for more information.

To get a feel for the square in its normal state, check out this post from a downtown LA resident.

A Day Without Plastic Bags

Plastic bags pop up in all sorts of places - beaches, hiking trails, wind-blown on the side of the highway, and ultimately landfills - and it's not a pretty sight.

Yes, it can be a hassle to remember to bring your own bags to the supermarket, but it's worth making the effort, especially on LA's first 'Day Without A Bag' - today, December 20.

According to Heal the Bay, LA County residents use six billion plastic bags each year and recycle only 5% of that amount. Cleaning up all those bags costs us, as taxpayers, millions annually.

So either bring your own stylin' bag or skip a bag altogether if it's a small purchase. The environment, your conscience, and your fellow Angelenos will all thank you!

LA Kings: Good ‘Ol Hockey Game at The Staples Center

Get into the winter spirit with a Kings game at The Staple Center – one of the few places with ice (ice cubes don’t count!) in sunny LA. So what if it lacks the cachet of the Lakers? Sticks clack, skates swoosh, ref whistles trill, bodies slam against the boards.



Last Monday, I was treated to a LA Kings v. Edmonton Oilers game. We were in the nosebleed seats in section 303, not necessarily a bad spot at The Staples Center. The air may be thinner in the section 300 sideline seats, but we had a full view of the ice and the tix were only $25/pp through Goldstar, a site specializing in discount event tix.



Better still, we were in the midst of true blue (ok, it's actually purple if you want to get all technical about the jersey color) Kings fans. They yelled out to their star players using affectionate monikers like “Cammy” for Michael Cammalleri and lovingly dissed their team: “That shot was as wide as my ex-girlfriend.”

Even if hockey is not your all-time favorite sport, everyone should experience the bizarro intermission entertainment at least once. Imagine three fans in clear giant beach balls scrambling back and forth across the ice in a race for an autographed jersey. Add in a Guitar Hero contest, fan rides on the Zamboni (the ice resurfacing machine), and the Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grade Hockey Fan? faceoff, and you start to get the idea. The brilliant thing about hockey is that there are three 20 minute periods, which means there are two intermissions – 2x the fun.



After the Kings came back in the 3rd period to tie it, the game went into a 5 minute OT. Still tied, the Edmonton Oilers emerged victorious after an exhilarating shootout. Add in a couple of good tussles and overall, it was an awesome night.

On the way out, I just couldn’t stop myself from humming that annoyingly catchy Stompin’ Tom Connors ode to the sport:

The good old hockey game,
Is the best game you can name;
And the best game you can name,
Is the good old Hockey game!



The area around the Staples Center has undergone a major facelift in the past few years. Check out the brightly-lit Nokia Theater across the street. Parking can be pricey in the lots around the Staples Center, around $15 to $20. So try looking for street parking or use the Metro Blue line, which stops nearby.

For another take on excitement that awaits you at a Kings game, check out this recent blog post from the Militant Angeleno.

Cruising LA Beaches By Bike

A post-Turkey Day bike ride seemed like the perfect way to shake off our tryptophan overdose. Instead of taking a car and burning ever-pricier gas, my husband and I got the satisfaction of burning calories and burning thighs.



We started the roughly 30-mile roundtrip ride from the Santa Monica Pier, but you can cut your biking time down by starting from Venice. No bike? No worries. There are rental shacks near both the Santa Monica and Venice piers, with a decent cruiser running about $15/day. Check out Spokes n’ Stuff at 1700 Ocean Front Walk (310) 310-395-4748 or click here for other options.

The beauty of this ride is that you’re on a bike path, free of cars, almost the entire time, which may eliminate the adrenaline rush of swerving to avoid oncoming four-wheelers. But for inexperienced riders like myself, dealing with the speedy bike racers decked out in sleek, spandex gear, who whiz by in packs, is enough of a rush. Just remember that yells of ‘On your left’ are code for move your bootie to the right fast if you don’t want to get mowed down.



Following the bike path is pretty self-explanatory until Washington Blvd, where you turn left, battling cars and oblivious bikers. Ease into the bike lane and head east for several blocks until you hit Mildred Ave. where the route morphs back into a bike-only path.



Believe it or not, LA area beaches are not created equal. It’s not all Baywatch, and each strand of sand offers something different. In Santa Monica, watch people – adults and kids alike – bust out gymnastic moves on the rings, or just take in the fab view of the bay and carnivalesque pier.



Funky shops and characters await you in Venice. Stop by to listen to the street musicians, see break dancers, have your fortune told, or pump iron at the infamous Muscle Beach. On the weekends, you may be lucky enough to catch a drum circle in progress. If you have time, make a side stop at the Venice Canals.



With its modern high-rises and yacht-filled harbor, the Marina breaks up any illusion of coastal monotony. As you go around the Marina’s harbor, you’ll pass by the Fisherman's Village – a Disneylandesque take on a New England seaport. Despite the contrived setting, this is a great place to grab a bite at one of the waterfront restaurants or at the very least, enjoy views of the Marina.



After skirting the Marina, you’ll pass Playa Del Rey followed by Dockweiler, a long sandy beach known for the planes roaring overhead. (LAX is directly inland.) Dockweiler may not have the restaurants or charm of nearby beaches, but it’s one of the only area beaches to allow bonfires and is LA’s only on-the-beach campground.



Besides numerous restroom facilities, the El Segundo beach boasts hang gliding, along with a couple power plant eyesores.

Keep pedaling because my favorite stretch of sand, Manhattan Beach – the quintessential Socal beach with great waves, sea-green water, and a picturesque pier - is just around the bend.



Take heart, 30 miles might seem like a lot (and it is), but the terrain is almost entirely flat and there’s tons of places to break along the way. If my husband and I can do it, almost anyone can.

Undersea Delights Under The Santa Monica Pier

“I saw an octopus,” said one little boy. “Look Daddy, there he goes to the bottom.”

At the small aquarium hidden under the Santa Monica pier, watching the kids’ reaction to the sea creatures is almost as enjoyable as the sea creatures themselves.



Sponsored by Heal the Bay, a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to protecting Santa Monica Bay, both kids and grown-up kids alike can get acquainted with sea life through tanks and exhibits.



Long snake-like eels greet you in a tank along the entryway. Swell sharks and horn sharks spurt water, if agitated, out of the open-top shark tank. And like any aquarium worth its (sea)salt, they have touch tanks - three! – where you can gently handle sea stars, crabs, sea urchins, snails, and other tidepool creatures.

The docents here aren’t afraid to get their hands wet in the name of learning. Tara, on-duty during our visit, happily dipped her hand in one ice-cold tank to point out some egg cases, housing unhatched swell sharks. As she shined a flashlight on the cases, we saw the shadow of the giddily-moving crab fetus inside.




Be sure to check out the ‘Sarcastic Fringehead’ in the Kelp Forest exhibit. Yes, that’s the fish’s actual name! Described as a ‘grumpy old man’ by Tara, the Fringehead is highly territorial and has creepy-looking bug eyes. Plus, I could’ve sworn he grinned sardonically a few times.



While it’s not out yet, they’re preparing a Jellyfish exhibit that should be on display in a couple of months. Described as “Living Art,” I reached a meditative state just watching the jellyfish float around and around.

Don’t forget your sticker on the way out. With sayings like ‘Waste ruins my taste’ or ‘Toxins tick off turtles,’ the stickers remind people how pollution is life-threatening to these ocean residents.



The aquarium is small and should take most people no more than an hour or so to peruse so it’s probably not worth making a special trip just to see it. But if you’re at the pier, the aquarium is a must-see, especially if you’re with little ones. Kids enter free, while adults pay $2.

Click here for specific information on hours and directions.

A Landmark Not To Be Missed: Landmark Theaters at the Westside Pavilion

Watching a movie at the Landmark Westside Pavilion is a whole new movie viewing experience. It was kind of like watching a movie in my living room, except the couches (that’s right couches!) were way comfier than mine and the screen was like 1000 times as big and the speakers were 1000 times better. Ok, so maybe it wasn't like watching a movie in my living room, but that’s a good thing.



Housed in the Westside Pavilion shopping center, the multiplex - just opened in June - plays a mix of mainstream and indie films. Most of the twelve theaters are relatively small, filled with cozy leather couches. Even a few stability balls are thrown in the front for people to sit on or perch their feet on. Parking is free and plentiful (almost unheard of on the Westside).



Unlike other theaters, you choose your exact seat when you buy the ticket so you can avoid those nasty front row seats that require an ostrich-like neck crane to watch the movie, leaving you in pain the next day. Did I mention there are ushers around to escort you to your seat?

So what's this experience going to cost? Amazingly, tickets run about the same as other theaters around town - $11 for an adult, $9 for a matinee. Besides the standard popcorn and soda on offer, the concession sells Yogurberry fro-yo (a Pinkberry rip-off), pizza from Pizza Rustica, and fancy imported chocolate like Toblerone.

Touted as the ultimate grown-up moviegoing experience, Landmark offers special 21+ nights on Fridays and Saturdays, when you can buy a glass of wine or a brewsky to enjoy with your flick.

To find out what's showing now, click here.

Westside Pavilion
10850 Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Cross Street: Westwood Blvd

The Huntington: World-Famous Roses, Cacti, and Rare Books

Spanning 120 acres in San Marino (next to Pasadena), The Huntington comprises a library, art collections, and themed botanical gardens.



Henry Huntington, a railroad magnate, founded the collection in 1919. Help came from his uncle Collis Huntington, who died in 1900, leaving Henry an inheritance and, as fate would have it, his widow Arabella (a great art collector who went on to marry Henry in 1913.)

A stroll through the gardens calms the soul. The gardens are all exceptional, but the Desert Garden - almost like a display of modern art - is not to be missed.

Picturing tumbleweed and parched earth, I was pleasantly surprised by the Desert Garden's variety.



Who knew cacti come in so many different shapes and sizes? Small, large, furry, barrel-shaped… Some even had red fruit growing on them. I learned the hard way to admire the fruit from a distance after getting sharply pricked.

I thought my knowledge of the desert was pretty limited until I heard one woman ask earnestly, “What do they do if it rains?” I was tempted to tell her they throw a massive tarp over the whole 1.5 acres of desert plants.



Next stop was the Japanese Gardens. The scene is zen-inducing, complete with a wooden bridge, perfectly-pruned bonsai, and a pond filled with brightly-colored Koi.



Stop and smell the roses in The Rose Garden, which houses row after row of these vibrantly colored, fragrant flowers. It’s also fun to check out the names of the different species on display like Christian Dior, Prima Ballerina, and Bewitched.



Let your inner botanist loose at the nearby Conservatory, which houses displays of tropical and bog plants and also has a room with interactive displays. Have fun measuring which flowers have enough sugar to attract bees. See the difference between moss and liverwort under a microscope. And last but not least, there’s a plant petting zoo where you can touch and smell a variety of flora.

Ready for a change of pace? Meander through the world-renowned library collection. The original books on display put history into context in a way that textbooks can’t. Friendly docents explain how the Gutenberg Bible - one of the earliest printed books from the 15th century – is only one of 47 left. Huntington bought it in 1911 for $50,000 – the highest price ever paid for a book at the time. Amongst the one-of-a-kind items on display are an original handwritten essay by Locke, a Shakespeare play, a Henry David Thoreau manuscript, and the last photo of Lincoln before his assassination.



In celebration of Jamestown’s 400th anniversary, there’s an exhibit on the colony’s history on now through mid-January 2008. Since playing Pocahontas in a 6th grade school play, I’ve been a bit obsessed with Jamestown. You might be familiar with the colony via Disney’s Pocahontas flick. This exhibit gives some non-fiction insight into the relationship between the colony’s founder Captain John Smith and the nearby Powhatan Indians.

Last but not least, don’t miss tea-time at the Rose Garden Tea Room, which overlooks three acres of roses. Limitless refills of tea and scones are served so come on an empty stomach. Reservations are required.

At $15 a pop for a ticket, entry to the Huntington seems steep, but when you consider that it includes admission to the gardens, library, and special exhibits, it becomes more justifiable.

Admission is free the first Thursday of every month, but you need to secure a reservation in advance. Click here for more info.

The Huntington
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
(626) 405-2100

Tues - Fri: Noon - 4:30 p.m.
Sat - Sun: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.