#125: Wilacre Park in Fryman Canyon

This past Saturday we battled a gang of bees, dodged desiccated dog poop, and conquered a semi-steep descent off the side of a hill... All in a day's work at Wilacre Park in Studio City!

We took the Betty Dearing loop trail, which takes about an hour to hike and connects to other trails in the area. The trail offers pretty good views of the Valley, but the day we went visibility was low.

The Tree People Building

We hiked past the Betty Dearing trail to The Tree People Conservation Center and then turned back. While we were there, we saw a sign for Once Upon A Canyon Night which is a concert/film/stage reading/educational series starting in July and going through September at the park. Click here for more information.

To park, you can pay $3 in the Wilacre lot, which starts you at the trail head. There's also a free lot a little more north near The Tree People building and greenhouse. If you do park there, you will have the option of going on a few trails in the area. All these trails can be a bit confusing, so be sure to print out a map!

Wilacre Park

The Trail Head

Free the rocks! An educational exhibit by The Tree People.

At the one clear lookout on the trail

#124: Road Trip to Vegas 2

Last weekend our friends got married in Vegas! This was my first Vegas ceremony, and it was so much fun. They rode into the chapel in a pink Cadillac driven by Elvis! What followed was an amazing weekend of food, friends and family.

Some of the highlights of this last trip:

The Jabbawockeez at the MGM Grand: The Jabbawockeez were the first winners of MTV's America's Best Dance Crew. Now they've got their own show in Vegas! They were accompanied by four members of the break dancing group Super Cr3w. The show only runs sporadically in Vegas, and we were fortunate that it was showing when we were there. It is in the Hollywood Theater, which is pretty small, so no seat is really bad.

The Aria Hotel: This hotel is new to the strip! When we drove up to it, it looks like a pimped out LAX. If you plan on visiting Vegas this summer, check out their deals--it's pretty cheap (~120 a night) for what you get! There's a spa and buffet and a great bake shop on the lower level... Which brings me to the next highlight...

Jean Philipe Patisserie at the Aria: I had the best pan au chocolate of my life here! There are so many beautiful macarons, chocolate desserts and sandwiches in this shop that I want to try everything they have to offer.

Downtown Vegas: It is so surreal to walk downtown Vegas on a weekend night. The band playing YMCA, the spandex suits, the inebriated crowd, and the odd guys playing air guitar all add up to a weird and funny experience.

Japonais at the MGM Grand: Check out my food blog for pics

Ichiza: Check out my food blog for pics

The Wynn's Lake of Dreams: Following dinner one night we came here to rest and digest. This is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a free lake show every 30 minutes.

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

Point Dume beach, photo from flickr

Happy June everyone! I haven't blogged in a while because I've been really busy, but I got a recent inquiry from a reader (Thanks John!) about things to do in L.A. this summer, and it inspired me to share with you my summer list. Click on the titles to be directed to their websites.

Grand Performances

Grand Performances, photo by downtownLA

Grand Performances offers free musical performances and films in Downtown throughout the summer.

Cinespia Hollywood Forever Screenings

Photo from MadeUpDisease

All summer long, Cinespia hosts weekend movie screenings on the lawn of the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. You can bring a picnic and blankets too, but no tall lawn chairs. It's a $10 donation at the gate. They just showed Purple Rain (ah, I really wanted to go to that one!) and Beetlejuice. Coming up is Blow Up, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Midnight Cowboy. Get on their mailing list to learn about the upcoming screenings.

Free Hot Air Balloon Ride

Photo from GreatOC

The Orange County Great Park offers free hot air balloon rides Thursday to Sunday. It's first come first served, and it flies up to 400 feet up in the air. The balloon doesn't go anywhere (it's tethered to the ground).

i-Fly

Photo from LAstheplace

Ever wondered what it's like to sky dive? Universal Studios lets you experience the sensation of free falling without the risk. You take a safety course and then get a few minutes in the see-through wind tunnel.

k1 Speed Go Karting

Photo from K1Speed

One of my friends told me about this (thanks Jason!). They have locations in Anaheim and Torrance. For $20, you can experience a 14 lap race in an electric go kart. No experience necessary--just drive and go! They also host birthday parties.

Lucha VaVoom

Photo from luchavavoom

Mexican wrestling, ring girls, little people, burlesque dancers and drag queens come together for one crazy theatrical night... Or so I hear... They have upcoming shows on June 23rd and 24th. Get ring side seats ($55) for the most fun.

Bob Baker Marionettes

Photo from L.A. Times

Bob Baker has created an amazing institution here. Admission is $20, and children under 2 are free. The current show is "Musical World" and shows are offered Tuesday-Sunday.

Downtown Art Walk

Photo from Laist

On the second Thursday of every month, art galleries throughout downtown open their doors to the public. The event is free. This is one of those things you must do if you live in L.A... and I can't believe I haven't done it yet!

Annenberg Beach House, Santa Monica

Photo from LAGoodtimes

I hear this place gets really busy and noisy with youngsters, but if you have time in an off-hour (maybe really early in the morning?) then take advantage of this beautiful free beach house in Santa Monica. They also offer yoga, concerts, beach volleyball and other "beach culture" events.

Tuesday Night Project, Little Tokyo

From TuesdayNightProject

Featuring multi-disciplinary artists in downtown's Little Tokyo, the Tuesday Night Project is held on the first and third Tuesday of the month for free.

The Old Town Music Hall, El Segundo

Photo from nswest

The Old Town Music Hall offers silent movies accompanied by the Mighty WurliTzer. Shows are Friday-Sunday, $8.

Other Things To Do:

The M*A*S*H Hike in Malibu Creek State Park: Where they filmed the popular t.v. show

Wilacre Hike in Studio City

El Matador State Beach in Malibu: Lots of wildlife here

Pasadena Museum of California Art

Descanso Gardens in Glendale

Glendale Community College Planetarium: Ah, I'm a sucker for planetariums. This is supposed to rival the one at Griffith Observatory.

Drive Mulholland Drive

Geffen Playhouse: Lots of plays here featuring famous actors and actresses.

Point Dume, Malibu: Tide pools!

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#123: The Wooden Floor Dance Company

There are few performances which are so amazing that they leave me at a loss for words. This weekend's was one of them. I'll just let you watch the videos.

This was my third year attending The Wooden Floor's annual performance at UC

Irvine's Barclay Theater. I left inspired, awe-struck and wishing that there were

more programs like this available to our youths. I highly recommend checking

out their next show.

Taken from The Wooden Floor website...

Since 1983, The Wooden Floor has been changing lives. By integrating year-round dance training with academic assistance and family services, The Wooden Floor offers a creative alternative to youth who might otherwise fall victim to destructive behaviors such as taking drugs or joining a gang. Youth who participate in programs at The Wooden Floor gain self-confidence, improve their grades and acquire skills that help them graduate from high school and attend college at a significantly higher rate than their peers nationally.

The Results:
Since 2005, 100% of students at The Wooden Floor have graduated high school and enrolled in college - far exceeding the national average of their peers.

Click here to view The Wooden Floor's Youtube channel

#122: NASA's JPL Open House

Mission Control

Mission Control, We have lift off!

Yesterday was a scorcher in Pasadena... Enough to make a west sider wilt and cry for her coconut water. We got to NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab at around 2:30 pm (first mistake) for their much acclaimed Open House. JPL only opens its doors to the public for two days of the year, and we had some burning questions that needed answered (i.e. "What should we do to prepare for the sun exploding in six years?" "What happened to the city on the dark side of the moon?" and "Which studio in Burbank did they film Neil Armstrong's first step on the moon?")

At 2:30, parking was abundant, but required a 5 minute uphill trek to the laboratories. It was unbelievably hot, I had no hat (mistake #2), and I only brought half a cup of water (mistake #3).

We headed into the first exhibit we saw--the microtechnology lab--mainly because it was too hot to stay outside. Here, we got to see the labs where they made small microscopic things. (Can you tell I didn't really read the informative signs they posted?) We then met up with a friend who was in line at Deep Space Operations--aka mission control.

After waiting in line for 45 minutes, we got into the building (yay!) only to wait in another line (aw) for another 20 minutes.

Line outside

Line inside

Then we finally got to see mission control, which was the coolest part of our visit. I took a picture of a guy down there working on something... important... Zoom and enhance!

To sum it all up, long lines + heat = not so much fun.

So why did I include the JPL Open House on my list of "amazing unforgettable things to do in L.A.?" One man's misery is another man's pleasure. Take, for example, the four college guys in line in front of us at Deep Space whose enthusiasm (read: nerdiness) for space even surprised the JPL workers. One guy's "This is Awwwwsome!!!!" trembled with such excitement and anticipation, like a little kid waiting in line at Disney Land. The guy in line behind us decked out in a gray JPL t-shirt and JPL hat was, I'm sure, just as thrilled.

So if you are a science nerd, or if you don't mind long lines (it actually looks like a cooler day today), then head out to JPL now!

JPL

#121: Mother's Day Shopping at Handmade

Photo from yelp.com

Handmade in Sherman Oaks is a mother's dream: A craft fair in a store! As its name suggests, everything in this massive store is made by hand by craftsmen and women around L.A.. Handmade is a work of love, and you can feel it the second you step in its doors.

Its easy to get overwhelmed here, but just take your time and enjoy. There's something for everyone, which makes it a perfect place for gift shopping.

Things I've gotten/received as presents from Handmade:

-Old fashioned wrapping paper kit complete with matching stickers and ribbons

-Glass spider ornament for an arachnid loving friend

-Modern looking ethnic wooden bracelet

-Floral art stationery set for my mom that came with 50 tear out cards, each with a unique floral drawn design

-Necklace with little leaves embedded in glass

Other gift ideas for Mother's Day:

-Etsy: An online handmade shop where you can purchase items from thousands of sellers worldwide

-A Magazine Subscription: O, Real Simple, Bon Appetit?

-Abbot Kinney Shopping : Lots of cute mom-friendly stores here

#120: Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve

It is the peak of poppy season, and if you haven't had the opportunity to visit the millions of orange poppies in bloom at the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve in Lancaster, now is the time!

Six of us made the 1.5 hour trek to the reserve this past Saturday. Supposedly, last weekend was the peak of the poppy season, but I think it will still look nice for another week. If you do go, don't forget to pack a lunch (there are not many places to eat up there), sunscreen, plenty of water, and to dress in layers. It's usually very windy there, but we got lucky this past weekend and there was just a gently breeze.

When you start getting near the reserve, you will see fields of poppies on either side of the road. You can stop the car and wander into the fields (there were a lot of people doing this), but most people's end destination was the actual reserve. It cost $8 per vehicle to park in the parking lot, but if you don't feel like paying this, there are some spots along the main road where you can park for free (if you don't mind a .5 mile walk). When we got there, they weren't letting people into the parking lot because it was full, so we stopped by the side of the main road and had lunch on the trunk of Brad's car. By the time we finished our lunch, they started letting people back in, so we ended up parking in the lot. The line into the lot, while it looked daunting, was actually not too bad--we got through it in about 10-15 minutes.

The reserve has many dirt paths that all connect in a loop. Since it's a reserve, you don't want to wander off the dirt paths or pick any flowers. (Also, there are rattle snakes in the area, so you REALLY don't want to wander off the paths!) Near the entrance is a visitor's center with restrooms. There are also a few picnic tables and plenty of porta-potties.

The Antelope Valley poppies were one of the most amazing and memorable sights I have seen in or around L.A.. I would encourage everyone to check it out this year, especially since it is one of the better blooming years in recent past!

Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve

Poppy buds

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