Lessons From Los Angeles

1.   There is always a closer parking garage them the one you park in.

                We drove around LA (Rodeo Drive, Sunset Blvd, etc.) open to adventure and found The Laugh Factory.  We got tickets (after much debate about the 10p or midnight show because our dinner reservations were for 845p) for the 10p show with the knowledge of the comedian we wanted to see (Tom Papa from The Marriage Ref) started at 1040p.  We called the restaurant to change the reservation to an earlier time…the best they could do was 830p.  An hour and half for dinner?  No problem – and we could probably be on time to the show.

                Realizing that the drive never takes as long as the GPS says, I found a $5 flat rate parking garage not far from the restaurant.  $5 is an amazing price per hour and this was for all night!  Didn’t realize it was ½ mile from the restaurant (I thought the GPS said 0.3 miles) and we walked by 2 other parking garages with $5 flat rates…one in the same building as the restaurant.

                Everything happens for a reason.  The restaurant was Wolfgang Puck’s Spago.  We were told it was the best Italian in LA, but it was nowhere near Italian.  I saw about 6 things on the menu I would have loved, but then saw the look on Nic’s face.  She was none too pleased.  We ended up leaving and on the walk back to the far away parking garage found an amazing Italian restaurant and made it to the show on time (well, we were late, but so were they – we didn’t miss a thing!)

2.   Although the restaurant looks full, always ask for a table.

The Italian restaurant we found, Via Allora (http://www.viaalloro.com).  It was completely full on the patio.  There was no one waiting in line, so I thought I would take a chance and see if they had an open table.  Sure enough, on the inside it was nearly empty.  It was the BEST Italian and we had a great time.

3.   If you can fit your dog inside your purse you can take it in restaurants and pretty much anywhere.

We saw more dogs in restaurants and other public places where dogs don’t normally frequent.  But in LA – hey, if it’s small, it is accepted.

4.   Always follow the GPS. Even if you are familiar with street names.

Century Blvd is apparently MANY miles long.  I was on the interstate and saw the exit for Century Blvd – the street my hotel is on.  I didn’t realize I was over 10 miles away.  What would have taken 10 minutes by interstate actually took me almost an hour.  Follow the lady-in-the-box people.

5.   Call ahead to the restaurant to make sure it's a. Not closed for the holiday, b. Not in the airport, c. Not closed forever, d. The cuisine you were expecting (see #1 above), or e. Not the warehouse location

While looking for specific places to eat (“B” and “C” were Chili’s within 15 miles – the 3^rd was 35 miles away and we gave up) we really needed to call ahead.  We didn’t figure this out until it happened 4 times in one day.  “A” was a Brazillian BBQ place, and “E”was the warehouse for Sprinkles Cupcakes, not the actual store where you could get a cupcake to eat.  Even after all of the driving, time and disappointment we still had awesome food, saw neat parts of the city, and found the best cupcake I have ever had in my life.

6.   Tell your credit card company you are traveling before making a large purchase or two purchases at same store.

Nic and I found purses on Rodeo Drive at the Coach store.  SOOO fun and exciting.  Nic didn’t even start carrying a purse until a few months ago.  Well, she went to pay for hers and her card was declined.  While she was on the phone with her bank, I bought mine.  She found out that the hotel put a CRAZY hold amount on her card so she couldn’t use it.  She only brought the one with her so I said, “I’ll just get it and you can pay me back.”  And then my card was declined.  And I only brought the one card.  Nic & I and the sweet lady helping us were like “What?!” since I JUST bought mine.  And mine wasn’t due to travel protection hold because I’d been in LA for a week already.  By this time (since I hemmed & hahhed on whether I wanted a new purse, and spent lots of time with our nice sales lady) we were in just fits of laughter.  I decided just to go get another card for us and walked back to the car – which was hella far because we went quite a ways on Rodeo drive window shopping.  On the way there I called my bank and found out that it had been on a hold for fraudulent charges because it was for two large purchases at the same place right in a row.  I appreciate the gesture, but gosh.  It’s a smidge inconvenient.  Lesson learned.  Side lesson:  Take more than one form of payment.  HAHA

7.   Concert seat hopping is highly frowned upon.

When Candice and I went to see NKOTB a few years ago, we got there late (during the opening act) and when we got to our seats, we found the front row of our section was practically empty.  We, along with 5 other girls, moved to the front row with the thought, “What’s the worst that will happen?  We have to go back to our original really good seat?” Yep, worth it.  We saw the whole concert with those awesome seats with no one claiming them.  Same opportunity again!  When the opening acts were performing, our section was pretty empty.  We had the same logic and moved to awesome seats.  Saw the first two acts and just when the opening song for NKOTBSB started, this guy says, “Those are our seats.”  Crap.  While headed back to our seats, we saw two empty seats on the aisle and just slid in to see the opening song.  A ticket lady came over like a vulture and said, “I’m going to need to see your tickets.” I just pretended that I couldn’t hear her.  I thought we were going to get escorted out, but we just went to the concession area and waited a minute.  She didn’t follow us like we thought so we went to our seat and had A BLAST.  All that took only one song and a little heart racing.

       8.   Always keep your cell phone with you.

Nic & I would divide and conquer.  And inevitably we would need to call the other.  Or, in the case of #5 above, having both phones would have been really handy.

9.   It's unnecessary to alter menu items.

Nicole ate a burger WITHOUT ketchup.  Yep.  In-N-Out Burger is THAT good.

10. If you bring your own towel to a hotel, make sure it’s not white.

You guessed it.  Nic brought a white towel and it was taken with all of the other white towels.  She was pretty grumpy about it because they couldn’t find it.  How can you not find a towel that is twice the size as your normal towel?

11. Pay extra for best/VIP tickets

See #6 above.  Also, for the NKOTB after party (at the Conga Room at LA Live) we could have been in the front row at the stage.  Donnie would have had a drink out of my drink, taken a picture using my camera, and kissed me square on the lips (I would have said “Travis, who?”)

12.  Flip flops are the only shoes needed in LA.

13. It's okay to keep talking at 3am. You're exhaling anyway.

One of the comedians was going on and on about women and their incessant talking.  Which is a common comic topic.  He had a great perspective about it, which from my efficiency lens, was just hilarious.  Where he said, “…do you all just think you have to talk since you’re exhaling anyway?”  We were at the Laugh Factory for over 4 hours.  When we were finally in bed, my sister was just gabbing away.  Then she said, “I just can’t stop talking!”  I said, “Well.  You’re exhaling anyway.”  And that just sent us into teenage-girl-sleepover giggles.

14. Don't be afraid to challenge the server at a restaurant. They can make a flaming turtle dessert and take your photo at the same time.

We were at the Melting Pot in Pasadena (beautiful drive – in a rental with unlimited miles, who cares how far you go for dinner?) and we found the dessert we wanted instantly!  Flaming turtle dessert?  Yes please!  We asked our server to take a photo of us with our dessert.  He got visibly uncomfortable and said, “Oh, I can either take the picture of you, or make the dessert.  It’s lighting the bowl on fire.  You get one or the other!”  We were fine, and said taking the picture after would be a-okay, but gosh, wouldn’t it be cool?  Later, when he brought our dessert, he said, “Okay.  I think I figured out how to do it.”  He positioned us with the bowl and took a few pics to practice.  Then he lit the chocolate on fire, and took a picture.

Voila!

15. Not all Woody Allen movies are bad.

There were a few times where Nic would “just trust me” (see #8 above) and once when she didn’t (see #1 above) and I REALLY wanted to see the new Woody Allen movie, “Midnight in Paris”.  Based on the trailer and actors, I knew it would be good.  As we left the theater (I felt like I spent 2 hours in Paris – a little taste of what it will be like when I go) Nic said “Wow.  Not all Woody Allen movies are bad!”  I asked if she saw “Match Point” which before this one was my favorite, or “Vicky Christina Barcelona”, or “Everyone Says I Love You”.  Come to find out, she hadn’t seen any that she could name.  Goes to show ya – don’t judge until you try it!  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1605783/

16. No one knows where Montana is.

This happened at nearly every restaurant:

Waiter:  “Would you like a to-go box?”

La or Nic:  “No thank you, we’re traveling and don’t have anywhere to keep it.” 

Waiter:  “Oh fun!  Where are you from?”
La or Nic:  “Montana”

Waiter:  Blank stare – thinking intently.

Waiter:   “Oh, uh, cool.  Well, have a good time!”

OR

Waiter, after blank stare: “Oh, right.  That’s uh, wait, where is that?”

OR

Waiter, after blank stare:  “Oh cool!   I drove thru Montana to get to Yellowstone.

La or Nic:  “Cool.”  Thinking – “No you didn’t.  But close!”

17. You don't need 5 half full bottles of water in the car.

I think this is the most we had at one time.  Such nonsense.  One is plenty – then refill it, duh!  But no.  We had several.  The recycling people loved us that weekend.

18. When going to a world renowned designer cupcake bakery, don't get the vanilla cupcake. You will be underwhelmed.

One of the items on my bucket list was to have a Sprinkles Cupcake.  I’ve been to LA a few times but haven’t had time to take an adventure to Beverly Hills, the closest one to me, or any of my normal travels.  The day we got our divine cupcakes, we decided to get a dozen and take some to our friend, V’s 4^th of July brunch.  Nic picked half, and I picked half.  I picked flavors like Lemon Blueberry, Carrot Cake, Red Velvet (though upon eating them, there were no Red Velvet *sob*).  Nic picked Vanilla.  Chocolate.  Boring McBoring.  Her first witness of these special desserts was Vanilla.  And she goes, “I’m not that impressed.  I thought they would be better.”  Um.  You.got.vanilla.  In her defense, we had a ton of chocolate-y sweets that day.  I knew we had, but I anticipated my taste buds for the next day.  Thinking ahead pays off sometimes! J  LOL

19. When stalking the stars, always look in the back seats.  Because anyone who is anyone will have a driver.

20. The Urban Light Display REALLY is better at night.

We stumbled upon this art display at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, while driving around looking for a place to eat (one of the many benefits of being lost!)  We got out and got a few pictures and then Nic begged to go back once it was dark.  It was about 20 miles out of the way, but well worth it (don’t tell her I admitted that! LOL)  Here is some information about the exhibit:

Chris Burden (United States, Massachusetts, Boston, born 1946)
Urban Light, 2008Sculpture, (Two-hundred and two) restored cast iron antique street lamps, 320 1/2 x 686 1/2 x 704 1/2 in. (814.07 x 1743.71 x 1789.43 cm)  The Gordon Family Foundation's gift to "Transformation: The LACMA Campaign" (M.2007.147.1-.202)  Contemporary Art Department.

This forest of city street lights, called “Urban Light” was created by artist Chris Burden. Despite initial appearances, the arrangement is not a perfect grid. Depending on where the viewer stands, the lamps arrange themselves in different angles and arrays.

These 202 cast iron lamps once lit the streets of Los Angeles. Burden bought one at the Rose Bowl flea market, and soon collecting and restoring street lights became an obsession. He painted them all the same neutral gray, in order to draw the eye to all the different varieties of cast iron decoration.

Burden says that street lamps like these were symbols of a civilized and sophisticated city—safe after dark and beautiful to behold. The lights all still work, and they are now powered by solar energy. They are switched on every night at dusk, until 10pm. At night, Burden says his sculpture becomes transformed into “a building with a roof of light.”

And what trip of mine isn't complete without great visits with family or friends?  We got a lot of V time, here, we're at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants.

We had a great brunch at her place on 4th of July where we got to see Pete & her beautiful mom.  We really enjoyed meeting her friends, too! 

I seriously can NOT wait until our next adventure.  Such wonderful memories.  A big thanks to my fabulous sister for helping remember all of the fun lessons.  And here are all of the photos if you want to peruse.  In all of their tourist-y, blurry, concert loving glory!  Love, La