#241: Lots of Food Truck Lots!

I must confess, Gourmet Food Trucks exhaust me. Just the thought of following them on Twitter, driving to wherever they're located, standing in line, and then eating my food on a street corner... It's enough to make me want to get Thai food delivered to my house and veg out while watching The Voice. Who's with me?

Don Chow Tacos

If you're like me (i.e. lazy), then a Food Truck Lot might just make you want to give food trucks another chance. What's so great about a Food Truck Lot? Instead of one food truck, you get a handful, and you can graze to your stomach's desire while knowing that this event will always take place at a regularly scheduled time at the same location.


This past Tuesday, we headed out to Santa Monica to check out Santa Monica's Food Truck Lot as they celebrated their 2 year anniversary. The lot is located on the corner of Main St. and Ocean Park next to the California Heritage Museum and it's open every Tuesday from 5 - 10 pm.  Bonus points for the large lawn where you can relax and enjoy your meal.

Don Chow Bowl

The selection of trucks changes weekly and is posted on their calendar.  When we went, the most popular trucks seemed to be the Lobsta Truck (lobster rolls) and LudoTruck (fried chicken). There was also the Buttermilk Truck, Coolhaus, Komodo, India Jones, Slammin Sliders, Don Chow Tacos and Fry Smith. We went with some tacos and a bowl from Don Chow and a couple of tacos from Komodo.

Komodo Tacos

Here are some tips for your outing:

• If you go, you might want to bring your own drinks since the trucks don't sell beverages. Otherwise, there's a small booth in the middle of the lot that sells drinks. 
• Bring a blanket to sit on if you're going to eat on the lawn. 
• Even though the Lot is advertised as opening at 5 pm, some of the trucks didn't open until about 5:30 pm. 
• If you ride your bike there, they have free bike valet service starting from 5:30 pm. 

Don't live close to Santa Monica? Here are some other Food Truck Lots: Gateway to Go near LAX, Westside Food Truck Central (although somewhat unreliable. I would check their Twitter page to make sure they're open on the day you want to go), Culver City Food Truck Fest, and On the Lot in Los Feliz.

Can you recommend any other Food Truck Lots in L.A.? Leave me a comment below!

Santa Monica Food Truck Lot

 Subscribe to 365 LA

 Follow 365 LA on Facebook!

#237: The Santa Monica Traveling Rings

So you've done #28: Trapeze School and thought it was a piece of cake? I've got another challenge for you: show off your apelike swinging skills on the Santa Monica Traveling Rings.

The rings are located just south of the Santa Monica pier along the beachside cement path. According to this article, the rings were built after a lot of debate with the city's risk management team which feared the rings would be a liability. The equipment was originally built in the 1930's and was restored in 2000. You'll find all types of people using the rings, and even more spectators lounging on the cement wall. Around the rings are also ropes and bars that people do tricks on.

When we went on a weekend afternoon, the rings were busy with about ten guys waiting in line. Some of them listened to their ipods while they swung, and all of them had talent worthy of a Cirque du Soleil show. I found myself hypnotized as I watched guy after guy take his turn, twisting and flipping and gaining more and more momentum until his time was up. Ladies will especially like watching the rings because these athletes are buff and bronze! ;) Bring a lunch and some form of sun protection (there is no shade) and enjoy the show!

The Santa Monica Traveling Rings

#235: DIY Houses

The Gehry Residence

Hello stranger! I've got a good excuse for the lack of posts in the past few months -- my life has been taken over by a little baby girl! Our girl is 2 months old, and a feisty little creature. This was her first 365 L.A. adventure!

I love it when home owners take creative control over their houses and turn them into something avant garde. This weekend we went on a drive around Santa Monica and checked out two DIY houses in the area. The first is the Frank Gehry Residence which was built in the 70's. Gehry is the architect behind downtown's Disney Concert Hall. His house in Santa Monica is thought to be one of the catalysts of the Deconstructivism movement. 

Front of the Gehry Residence

Gehry gave the original house a makeover by keeping its exterior intact and building around it, adding chain link, plywood and metal. You can find the house on the corner of 22nd Street and Washington Ave.  It's pretty crazy looking, and supposedly some of the neighbors were not thrilled when they saw the finished product. 

The second house we visited was just a few blocks away. The Farnam Mosaic House is on the corner of 26th Street and California Ave. The owner of this house runs a mosaic business called Custom Mosaic Tile and has decorated the house's exterior, interior and back alley with beautiful mosaic. Thanks to Experiencing L.A. for letting me know about this house!

Want more DIY houses? Other notable homes in L.A. that were designed by their owners include the famous Watts Towers (#75), the Adamson Tile House (#22), and the Eames House (#86). Facebook follower Laura R. also suggested checking out the Garden of Oz in Hollywood. 

Do you know of any other unique houses in L.A.? Leave me a comment below!

 Subscribe to 365 LA

 Follow 365 LA on Facebook!

#221: California Heritage Museum

"No waves today. Guess I'm not surfing," sighed Brad.  I couldn't stand the sad look in his eyes any longer, so I suggested we drive out to Santa Monica to check out the Shortboard Revolution exhibit at the California Heritage Museum.

If you've ever been to Santa Monica's Farmers Market on Main Street (#91), you've probably sat on the Heritage Museum's front lawn to scarf down your market munchies. The house-turned-museum was built in 1894 for Roy Jones, the son of Senator John Percival Jones who founded the city of Santa Monica. In 1979 the Roy Jones House was named a City Landmark. Now the museum is dedicated to presenting displays of American art and promoting the passion of collecting.

I really enjoyed seeing the vintage surfboards on display and reading about how they evolved over time. It was a small exhibit though--not as big as the Shortboard exhibit at The California Surf Museum (#199). I also love the location of the museum--right on bustling Main Street. While there, we also checked out jAdis (#220) and ate a wonderful brunch at Amelia's.

 I do have a few gripes about the museum. The first is the admission cost. $8 per person feels a bit too steep for such a small museum; we were in and out in about 20 minutes. I also felt stalked by the docent there. I noticed there were no security cameras in the rooms, so a docent followed us into each room, keeping an eye on us. We were the only ones in the museum, so it was really obvious that we were being watched the entire time. Lastly, I was a little disappointed by the Aloha Spirit: Hawaii's Influence on California Lifestyle exhibit. It was basically a living and dining room decorated in a Hawaiian style with tiki mugs and Hawaiian dinner ware. I was hoping for more reading material or signs explaining the significance of things in the room, but there wasn't much.

Overall, though, I think this museum is a worthy stop if you're in the Santa Monica area, especially if you're a surfer or enjoy vintage surfboards.

Have you been to the California Heritage Museum? What did you think of it? Leave me a comment below!

The California Heritage Museum

#220: jAdis

Entry fee $100. 99% Off with Cash, reads the sign on the door. Good thing I had cash on me! Next to that sign read another one that said "Knock First." Brad and I followed the directions, and a man greeted us at the door. Welcoming us in, he exclaimed that since we knocked, we got half off our entry price. We happily paid the dollar admission and were instantly transported into an inventor's wonderland.

If the interior of jAdis on Santa Monica's Main Street seems familiar, you've likely seen its props in many movies (eg. Superman, Wonder Woman, Wild West, The Prestige, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus).  From the genuine Tesla generator sitting near the entryway to the large model rocket ship with a man moving inside, everything in jAdis brought out the wide eyed kid in me. If you're so inclined, you can even buy some of the items to take home.

jAdis is hard to define. It's part prop rental business, part museum, part curiosity shop. The owner of jAdis, Parke Meek, passed away in January 2010. His life story is one of the most unique and inspirational I have heard. Parke Meek left school with a 6th grade education, but his vision was way beyond anything that school could teach. He was always curious about how things worked, and by observing the world, he made mental connections that most people are blind to. Even at a young age, he was already thinking like an inventor. Meek wasn't afraid to speak his mind, yet he never made an enemy in his life. He became great friends with Charles and Ray Eames and worked at their firm for 25 years. He also befriended Frank Lloyd Wright, Howard Hughes, and other prominent figures of the time. 

To learn more about Parke Meek and see his collection for yourself, be sure to drop by jAdis on Friday-Sunday from noon to 5 pm.   Bring a dollar, and don't forget to knock ;)

jAdis 

#208: Third Street Promenade

The Third Street Promenade was one of the first places I visited when I moved to L.A.. The spouting dinosaur foliage, the street performers, the periwinkle lit trees... When I think of Santa Monica, these are the first things that come to mind. 

With the recent renovation of Santa Monica Place and the addition of The Market, Santa Monica Promenade has become even more of a destination. I especially love the outdoor food court seating area--tres chic! 

The Market at Santa Monica Place

Third Street has got it all--Dining (I like Cafe Crepe), Shopping (including Zara, H&M, a ginormous Forever 21, Urban Outfitters), 7 parking garages, 4 movie theaters, and bars and clubs galore. I suggest walking down 2nd and 4th streets as well, since there are some great finds like Border Grill, Crossroads Trading Company, and REI.  

chocolates at The Market

Cheese and Meat Sampler at The Market

Interior of the Market

You can spend an entire day on the Third Street Promenade. It's also a great place to take out-of-towners.  Have you been to the Third Street Promenade?  What is your favorite thing to do there? Leave me a comment below!


Third Street Promenade

 Subscribe to 365 LA

 Follow 365 LA on Facebook!

#197: Camera Obscura

If James Bond were to retire in L.A., you'd find him at Santa Monica's Senior Recreation Center. Located in this unassuming building is the Camera Obscura, a neat contraption that brings the game Eye Spy to a whole new level.

The Camera Obscura is indeed obscure; not many people know about this place. Even with its prime location on Ocean Avenue just a couple blocks from the Promenade, the Camera goes virtually unnoticed by all of the people walking past it. Little do they know that they're being watched!

Sitting high atop the building above is a 360 degree rotating turret. The turret has an opening in its side which observes the scenery outside. Inside the turret is a mirror which reflects the scenery down through a convex lens. The image is projected on a circular table screen below.

Aristotle first conceived of the idea of the Camera Obscura. Since the 1600's it has been used by artists and drafts people to sketch landscapes. In the 1800's, the technology of the Camera Obscura was used to produce the first photograph.

Brad and I checked out this place during lunch time. We got the key to the room at the Rec Center's front desk (to the right when you enter) and proceeded up the stairs to the viewing room. We rotated the viewing turret by turning a pirate ship wheel, and got to see everything from buses driving by on Ocean Avenue to people hanging out on the beach.

The Camera Obscura is located at 1450 Ocean Avenue and is open on Monday-Friday from 9 am to 2 pm and Saturdays from 11 am to 4 pm. It is free, but note that you must leave your ID at the office in exchange for the key. When you return the key, they give you back your ID.

Have you been to the Camera Obscura? What did you think of it? Leave me a comment below!

Camera Obscura

Subscribe to 365 LA

Follow 365 LA on Facebook!

Summer Fun! Things To Do and See in L.A. this Summer 2011

from teamplayevents

Whew, it sure is hot over here! Summertime has hit L.A. and I'm ready to bask in the sun and soak up that Vitamin D. To celebrate the dog days, here's my Summer 2011 list:

The Channel Islands

from digitalapoptosis

The Channel Islands are just a short boat ride away, but seem like another world. See eagles, lizards, foxes and sea lions at these island sanctuaries. You have your choice of five islands to visit and can either camp or do a day trip.

Pageant of the Masters

from thingstodoinorangecounty

This O.C. event runs from July to August and features "live art"--that's right, real people actually posing in the art. You've gotta see it to believe it!

Sky High (The Trampoline Place)

from jumpskyhigh

Don't know what to do with the kids this summer? Sky High in Costa Mesa is a tiny tot's dream come true; imagine wall to wall trampolines and a foam pit! Adults can enjoy this place too--they have dodgeball games and even "airobics" classes.

The Gibbon Conservation Center

photo from kidsclubzilla

The GCC is the only facility in the world dedicated solely to protecting Gibbons. Tours are by appointment only and are $7-$12 per person with a $100 group minimum, so grab a bunch of your friends and make a day of it!

Garden of the Gods

photo from hollywoodlegend

With thousands of rocky outcrops peeking out of the green hillside, this Chatsworth park makes for a great rock scrambling playground. This is where The Lone Ranger was filmed.

Nicholas Flat

photo from alltrails

This Malibu hike was featured as one of the L.A. Mag's Ten Great Walks. They have it as as a 6.8 mile roundtrip hike, but if that's too far for you, I found this site which makes it into a 4-mile figure 8 hike.

Saturdays off the 405

from Gettyblog

Saturdays off the 405 is a free summer concert series at the Getty. Get there early to see the art and avoid traffic getting into the parking lot.

McCabe's Concerts

from laist.com

This is for all you westsiders who complain about having to drive to the eastside for good music. McCabe's serves up your weekly dose of live folk, country and rock music in an intimate concert setting. Added bonus: McCabe's is a guitar shop and concert venue in one.

Also I Like to Rock

from buzzbandsla

Every Thursday evening of July, displaced westside indie hipsters converge on the Hammer Museum in Westwood for a free night of music and art.

Other Things To Do:

Culver City Music Festival: Eight free concerts on Thursday evenings starting July 7th

Santa Monica Pier Twilight Dance Series: Free summer concerts at the pier

Ride the Ferris Wheel on Santa Monica Pier (#42)

Grand Performances (#130): Free summer concert series in downtown

Ride a Tandem Bike on Santa Monica Beach (#14)

Take a stroll on the Venice Boardwalk

The Hollywood Museum: a must-see for Old Hollywood lovers

The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden: a zen garden in Long Beach

The Gamble House: take a tour of this National Historic Landmark, which was owned by David and Mary Gamble of the Procter and Gamble Company.

****Be sure to also check out last year's list of Things to Do and See in L.A. Summer 2010.****

Subscribe to 365 LA

Follow 365 LA on Facebook!