Take Me Out to the Ball Game

My grandmother would probably have rolled over in her grave if she saw me at the Dodgers game this past Saturday. But I like to think she’d cut me some slack since they were playing the Diamondbacks and not her beloved Giants.

And how could I resist? The Dodgers have been an LA institution since 1958.



I’d love to describe the excitement to you when the home team scored 4 runs in the 1st inning, but I wasn’t there. Like any honest-to-goodness LA fan, I arrived late. Why? Well, why else? Traffic, of course!

When we finally arrived, our visiting Canadian relatives used their Canuck charm and maple sugar friendliness to upgrade us to behind-home-plate seats without actually asking for special treatment. Persuasive? Telepathic? All I can say is never underestimate the power of our Northern neighbors.



I spent most of the time focused on everything but the game. I people-watched, gorged myself on junk food, and basked in the SoCal sunshine - ok, we were in the shade of the upper level above us, but that made it even better. I like enjoying the sun without burning to a crisp.



While some fans tossed around a beach ball, others waved their blue foam fingers frenetically as if trying to change the course of the game. Still others flaunted elaborate blue-and-white getups, making me think they were either crazily loyal or just plain crazy.



As for the food: Dodger dogs, beer, even fro-yo. This is the stuff dreams are made of. I still can’t shake the Gordon Biersch garlic fries out of my mind. Coated in garlic and drenched in enough oil to make them fantabulously, artery-cloggingly crisp, I couldn’t stop shoveling them into my mouth by the handful.

While I can’t pretend that I know much about baseball, I did get a few blood pressure surges when 3rd base was stolen or the bases were loaded. And when the crowd stood as one to cheer the 6th inning home run, I stood right along with it.


Regular season starts in April and lasts through September. Check out the official Dodgers site for tickets.

Single-game tix for the 2007 season range in price from around $10 for nosebleed seats up to $225 for Baseline VIP seats.

Grauman’s Chinese Theater: Tour a Relic from Hollywood’s Heyday

Off-the-beaten-path it is not. Among the 10 most visited tourist traps in SoCal, Grauman’s Chinese Theater is, nevertheless, a trap I didn’t mind being ensnared in.



That’s not to say that I enjoyed being accosted by the seemingly drug-addled freaks, adorned in Star Wars and Superman garb, who gathered out front to badger passersby into paying for their pictures. Nor did I appreciate the camcorder-touting supertourists, who stepped on my toes, as they jostled for that perfect shot.

But despite the freaks and crowds, the theater deserves a visit for its history alone. The backstage tour, which runs about $11 pp, is a great way to see more than the tourist-infested outside.



Completed in 1927 by Sid Grauman, one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Pictures, the Chinese Theater boasts the largest screen in the country – over 90 feet wide. The scene of countless movie premieres, Grauman’s opulently cheesy Chinese décor looks almost the same today as when it opened 80 years ago. Two original giant Heaven dogs imported from China still guard the theater’s imposing bronze entry doors.



Our tour guide Chris explained how it’s still tradition for actors and directors to touch the kitschy Chinese wax figure inside the entrance for good luck. Ok, I’ll admit it. I was superstitious enough to touch the darn thing myself when Chris wasn’t looking. I’ll let you know when my screenplay gets optioned:)



Besides the wax figure, there are oriental carpets, large vases and urns, red spider lights imported from Shanghai, and a beautifully-painted brick wall depicting a forest. The theater’s décor reminds me of Tinseltown’s ability to transport people out of the humdrum of daily life into an alternate fantasy world.



Famed for the hand- and footprints immortalized in its cement forecourt, Chris had some amusing anecdotes about the stars’ various cement ceremonies. Apparently, silent film star Norma Talmadge accidentally started the tradition when she stepped into a wet cement slab.

Jimmy Stewart defied superstition and stepped into his cement square while standing under a ladder with a black cat next to him. Meanwhile, Samuel L. Jackson wanted a purple-hued square, but the cement mixers failed to concoct it so he had to settle for plain gray.



Interested in checking out the VIP lounge, either take the tour or splurge for special access to the balcony and lounge area that boasts a full bar and checker tables. Did I mention the historic photos of Marilyn Monroe and Ronny Reagan on display? Tres cool!

Looking for something to do after the tour? There’s an over-the-top mall next door. While the stores are nothing special, it does feature elephant decorations and an oxygen bar.

6925 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028
Cross Street: Highland

Manhattan Beach: Sun, Surf, Sand, and Sweat

Imagine the quintessential SoCal beach with great waves, sea-green water, and clean sand that stretches for miles in both directions. Throw in a picturesque pier, beach volleyball, surfers and boogie boarders galore and you’ll start getting a feel for Manhattan Beach. (Did I mention that dolphins have been known to frolick near the shore here?)



As the first SoCal beach I ever laid eyes on, I have a special fondness for this yuppy, yet laid back South Bay enclave. But my fondness goes beyond mere nostalgia. While not far from the hustle and bustle of LAX, a visit to this laid-back city is like taking a mini-vacation.

Life here centers around the beach. Flip flops and swimwear are the unspoken uniform. Besides being relatively cleaner than Santa Monica, it also gets less of the camera-toting, super tourist crowd.



This is the playground of the toned, taut, and tan… almost makes me feel like I should take up beach volleyball or something – almost! Besides swimming and surfing, there are beachside paths for runners, rollerbladers, and bikers. So if you want to break a sweat, but don't want to be stuck indoors at a gym, this is the place to come. No wonder so many professional athletes call Manhattan Beach home.



If you want to try boogie boarding, surfing, rollerblading, etc. but don’t want to commit to buying the equipment, rent at FunBunn’s near the corner of Manhattan Beach Blvd and Manhattan Ave. Don’t forget to stop in at the Manhattan Beach Creamery next door to enjoy an ice cream snack in an old-fashioned, ice cream parlor ambiance.



For those into architecture, the stunning homes alongside the beach are almost as captivating as the ocean view (although don’t expect over-the-top Beverly Hills-style ostentation).



If you get worn out from all the physical exertion and want something to do besides building sand castles, check out the small, non-profit Roundhouse Aquarium at the pier’s end. You can see eels, sting rays, and even touch a starfish.



Be sure to take some time away from the beach to explore the boutiques and restaurants. Be forewarned, prices can be steep here. Notable exception: Wahoo’s, an inexpensive fish taco chain on Manhattan Ave. that won’t break the bank.

Parking's not easy, especially in summer. There are a number of metered parking lots with 2 hour limits. Don't forget to feed those hungry meters. A parking ticket can quickly change the "life's a beach" vibe into something similar sounding.

Directions:

• Take the I-405 north or south and exit on Manhattan Beach Blvd., heading west to the coast.
• Alternatively, you can take Rosecrans from the I-405, which takes you to the north end of town. From Rosecrans, turn left on Highland to go through town. The beach will be down the hill to the left, a couple of blocks away.

Above Standard Rooftop Bar Downtown

The rooftop bar at the Standard Hotel in Downtown LA is above standard, both literally and figuratively. This is the place to wow out-of-town visitors – the place to bring New Yorkers who claim LA’s not a real city and the place to bring friends from small towns craving an urban experience.



Surrounded by glittering skyscrapers, the amazing 360 degree views of downtown LA from the rooftop make you feel like you’re in a real metropolis – not a spot of suburban sprawl in sight.



Equally enjoyable are the multi-colored sunsets (yes, the smog is good for something).



A variety of suits, hipsters, and tourists mingle here. The décor is kitschy with Astroturf-like flooring and brightly-colored plastic furniture, but the infinity pool and modernistic red pods, enclosing water beds, lend a degree of sophistication.



The red pod-encased water beds are what keep me coming back. Lying in these quirky pods brings back fond memories of those bouncy houses at carnivals. I generally fight the urge to jump around and satisfy myself with lying down to enjoy a fabulous, upside-down view of the downtown skyline.

While passable, the food and drinks are not what make this place special. The wine and mixed drinks are generally so-so, but the $11 mojito was money well-spent. Basically, you’re paying for the view here.

Feeling a snack attack coming on? The $5 thinly-cut fries should do the trick. There’s also a kebab plate (good, but not very filling) and pita & hummus, amongst other sundry eats.



According to one bouncer, some patrons have tried to mount the decorative plant sculptures, trimmed into the shape of animals, that adorn the bar area. Apparently it’s a common occurrence, although I’m disappointed to report that no such fun happened during my visits.

Warm evenings are the best time to come. Don’t forget to bring a sweater in case it’s chillier up top.

Angelino Heights: Time-Warp Back to the Victorian Era

While historic preservation is not one of LA’s strong suits, this town does boast a few beautifully preserved neighborhoods. A prime example of LA circa 1900 is the off-the-beaten path Angelino Heights 'hood, northeast of downtown LA. Filled with stately Victorian homes, a walk down Carroll Ave. will make you feel like you've time-warped back a century.



As a native San Franciscan, I was skeptical that LA’s Victorians could hold a candle to those in the City by the Bay. No doubt my hometown has way more Victorians, but Angelino Heights still left me impressed.



Most of the district’s homes are designed in the Eastlake and Queen Anne styles of the late 19th Century. The exquisite Victorian architecture you’ll see here includes heavy adornments like sunbursts, gables, and colored glass, making the homes look like elaborate gingerbread houses.



Besides the architecture, the other pleasant thing about Angelino Heights is its tight community feel. A few days before our walking tour, a fire had sadly gutted one of the homes on East Edgeware Rd. and damaged several nearby. The inspiring thing about this tragic event was the way neighbors pulled together, helping each other repair the fire damage.



If you’re short on time, the 1300 block of Carroll Ave. is the can’t-be-missed, postcard-perfect heart of the neighborhood with the best preserved Victorians. But if you have a few extra minutes, check out the 800 block of E. Edgeware (around the corner from Carroll).



Better yet, sign up for the LA Conservancy’s 2-hour walking tour of the area and have a knowledgeable docent fill you in on historical details for only $10pp. The nice thing about the tour is that the area’s unofficial mayor – ‘Murray’ – who lives at 1320 Carroll Ave. kindly opens his home to tour participants, giving you a glimpse of life on the inside of one of these Victorian splendors.

For those who say Angelenos have no sense of history (like I used to), a visit to Angelino Heights might change your mind.

Star-Struck at Hollywood Forever Cemetery Movie Night

Besides seeing stars (both in person and on screen) at Saturday’s showing of Fast Times at Ridgemont High, I was also in the midst of stars (dead ones) at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

On Saturdays throughout the summer, the Hollywood Forever Cemetery hosts movie nights, from old horrors to 80s classics. Don't worry, this isn’t some goth clique that gets off on hanging amongst the dearly departed. Thousands turn out for this only-in-LA event. You can be among them…check out the website to see this summer’s calendar.



Reminiscent of a giant slumber party, people splay out across the lawn on blankets and pillows. The main lawn is tombstone-free, but with a turn of my head, I spotted Hitchcock’s grave in the area behind us.

The regulars, who know how to do it right, bring low chairs and tables and even candles. Most come with a picnic dinner and some sort of imbibement, generally wine or beer. And the freshly-cut stuff below you won’t be the only grass you smell.



For a mere $10, you will be treated to the movie and some pretty decent DJ mixes before and after the screening. Adding to the awesomeness is the entry stroll that winds among tombstones – some decorated with headshots (this is Tinseltown after all!). Dispel any desecration guilt pangs from your head – the movie proceeds go towards the upkeep of this Tinseltown resting place.

The key thing to remember is to get there early. Gates don’t open until 7:30p, but people start lining up around 6p or so, especially if they want a decent viewing spot on the lawn. Traffic can get gnarly so show up early to claim a parking spot.

If you’re into star sightings, this seems to be a top spot for it. I’m generally pretty oblivious, but Hillary Duff, her sis, and the weasly Talan Torriero of Laguna Beach fame were all in line together right behind us. As if this weren’t enough, Drew Barrymore - who claims this is one of her regular haunts (pun intended) - introduced the movie.

I can’t wait to come back!

Hollywood Forever Cemetery
6000 Santa Monica Blvd at Gower

Funnel Mill: Rare Coffee and Tea, Chinese-style

This isn’t the place to grab a latte on the go. The rare coffee and tea blends here at Funnel Mill in Santa Monica are meant to be savored. Green tea? Black tea? Smoky or grassy? Tell them your likes and they’ll find the right hot beverage to match.



At more than $5 a pop for a pot of tea, prices seem high. But this isn’t the type of place that just hands you a teabag and a cup of hot water. Instead, the ritual of the tea service is as enjoyable as the tea itself.

The friendly staff scoops fresh leaf tea into a glass container, lets you smell it, adds hot water, and then strains it into a dainty glass cup, all the while explaining the origins and history of the leaves in front of you.

They’ll keep bringing you hot water to your heart’s content and one pot’s enough for a group of four to enjoy. Added bonus, the teas come with pumpkin and watermelon seeds - salty accompaniments to bring out the teas’ flavor.

As for the coffee, baristas prepare it using glass siphons, making it look like an artistic chemistry lab. The result is a non-acidic, flavorful brew.



But does the café have atmosphere, you ask? Outside, not so much. Inside, however, relaxing music tinkles in the background as customers lounge in chairs and warm brown couches amidst wooden tables and minimalist décor. Did I mention the free wifi?!?



And for true aficionados, Funnel Mill offers tea ceremony classes. For about $10-$15 per person (depending on the size of your group), you and your buds can get personal instruction on proper Chinese tea ceremony etiquette.

Funnel Mill
930 Broadway (Cross Street: 10th Street)
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310)597-4395