Part of my daily routine is to flip through the LA Times (surprisingly, one of the nation's top newspapers) and check out the headlines, local stories, and anything moderately eye-catching. Most of the time, it's the everyman look through the front page, sports page, and perhaps the metropolitan page, but every now and then I'll see something somewhat inspirational, shocking, or intriguing (not in that particular order). Today, I read an article that figured prominently in my own experience, education-wise.
The front page ran a story about one girl's pathway from the barrios of South-Central Los Angeles to an acceptance at UC Berkeley . Not that this particular phenomenon is shocking in itself, but the statistics thrown around are disheartening. Of the 500 graduating senior class, 100 will be receiving a "certificate of completion" rather than a diploma and these 500 represent 30% of their entering freshman class. Coming from a world where my own graduating class was close to 500 (not sure what percentage of my entering class that is) and most people I knew were headed off for four years of collegiate study, I can't fully identify with this, but the message of the article itself is ponderous.
Initially, my reaction to her own activism in an attempt to show others that life doesn't end at a barrio high school is one of admiration. While her own story should be an inspiration to others, there's a certain sect of people within that same barrio who will deem her to be uppity and perhaps even "too good for her people." Maybe this is the same attitude that keeps me from having been a part of any available cultural groups; someone of my suburban upbringing is never "Mexican enough." Maybe I'm just limiting myself. It is a well-known Chicano neurosis to never feel like you belong to any ethnic group to begin with, why should it surprise me at all?
Thing is, none of this should bother me at all and the student of this article should be proud of her achievements, regardless of what others think. Even someone like myself, who can't fluently speak Spanish and never set foot into South-Central until after my high school years should be able to overlook their own insecurities and be proud. Stories like this are just reminders of what others go through to accomplish their own goals and should be inspirations to everyone anyway and not one specific group of individuals. So I better stop being so self-centered and just remember that I'm darn lucky to have been given as many opportunities as I have. Not many do, and no one should ever take that for granted.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Enneagram, Schmenneagram
Seems the Enneagram personality test is supposedly a good indicator of what type of person you are, where you excel, and where you supposedly lack. It may not be as clear-cut as the Myers-Briggs test, but it's always fascinating to see how psychologists like to break people down into personality types.
Here's mine:
free enneagram test
So I'm scatterbrained and spontaneous, eh? Apparently I'm self-serving too, there's some positive qualities in there somewhere. What type are you?
Here's mine:
free enneagram test
So I'm scatterbrained and spontaneous, eh? Apparently I'm self-serving too, there's some positive qualities in there somewhere. What type are you?
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Ol' Webhead FTW!!
Here is the latest trailer for me to obsess over, the teaser for Spider-man 3. Some items of note:
- Thomas Haden Church as Sandman is great casting.
- The new look for James Franco as the Hobgoblin (?) is very minimal, but maybe it's better than the Green Goblin look?
- No peeks at Venom, but there's a memorable scene from an actual comic book I own referenced in the trailer.
- Something tells me Topher Grace will make a good Ultimate Eddie Brock. Either that or he's a combination of the original and the Ultimate version.
- Didn't get to see a lot of Bryce Dallas Howard in her Gwen Stacy look, but her playing a blond to Kirsten Dunst's redhead plays as some strange irony.
Monday, June 26, 2006
12 Lemon Centerpiece
Since it doesn't fully qualify as a Summer movie in the strongest sense of the phrase, The Break-Up does qualify for a sort of mini review. I won't go into too many details as it wasn't one of my favorites, but there were certainly things about it to enjoy.
Directed by Bring It On's Peyton Reed, who we last saw directing Down With Love , and starring Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston, this film is probably not what most people expect. While it's been marketed as a romantic comedy of sorts, it's quite serious in its titled subject matter. If anyone has expectations of happy endings, romance, and light comedy, they will no doubt be disappointed. Perhaps this is why the movie itself while being a surprising hit in its first weekend, it failed to impress many critically. I attribute a lot of its success to the starpower, but I can also attribute it to the fact that even if it's not as advertised, it still is a true representation of what a failed relationship really means.
What it comes down to is just plain incompatibility and mis-communication. While Mr. Vaughn's and Ms. Aniston's characters seem happy at first, it becomes apparent that they suffer from many dysfunctions they will not soon be able to overcome. Both actors put their performances out there, very solidly to help you sympathize with them, but for some reason, I never really connected with either. While the job they put on screen was decent, there was a lack of depth for me.
Even so, I enjoyed the frankness of desperation and misunderstanding that prevailed in the film. At the end, you can truly tell how much things have changed. Not bad for a summer comedy, but I would most likely recommend it as a rental.
Overall Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars.
Directed by Bring It On's Peyton Reed, who we last saw directing Down With Love , and starring Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston, this film is probably not what most people expect. While it's been marketed as a romantic comedy of sorts, it's quite serious in its titled subject matter. If anyone has expectations of happy endings, romance, and light comedy, they will no doubt be disappointed. Perhaps this is why the movie itself while being a surprising hit in its first weekend, it failed to impress many critically. I attribute a lot of its success to the starpower, but I can also attribute it to the fact that even if it's not as advertised, it still is a true representation of what a failed relationship really means.
What it comes down to is just plain incompatibility and mis-communication. While Mr. Vaughn's and Ms. Aniston's characters seem happy at first, it becomes apparent that they suffer from many dysfunctions they will not soon be able to overcome. Both actors put their performances out there, very solidly to help you sympathize with them, but for some reason, I never really connected with either. While the job they put on screen was decent, there was a lack of depth for me.
Even so, I enjoyed the frankness of desperation and misunderstanding that prevailed in the film. At the end, you can truly tell how much things have changed. Not bad for a summer comedy, but I would most likely recommend it as a rental.
Overall Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
The Greatest Generation
Last year, the commencement at the illustrious institution from which I was chewed up and spit out was given by Mr. Steve Jobs. Hailed and commented upon for its impassioned advice for all graduates to pursue their dreams, it was most memorable. I, in fact, remember the address at my own ceremony. Delivered by the much disputed Carly Fiorina, it was an inspiring speech imploring us to remember where we came from and where we are going. I tend to think that while Harvard goes for someone popular like Seth McFarlane to deliver their commencement address, Stanford relies more on substance than anything.
This year was no different.
Tom Brokaw, the former NBC news anchor, graced the new graduates with a stirring reminder of what challenges we face in the new century before us. While we are blessed with new technological brilliance and high standards of living, we must remain aware of the human experience as a whole and carry our convictions strongly. Like the generation before us, we cannot turn a blind eye to the world around us.
This is where we stood on our initial foray into the real world. Where do we stand now? Where has our determination taken us? Although there are countless nodes of information before us, what do we do with it? Mr. Brokaw reminds us that we should be steadfast in our beliefs and remember the freedoms we have been granted not just from our country, but as human beings.
While it is most important to hold these beliefs close to one's heart perhaps it is more important to recognize this on a personal level, and what it means individually. How does this effect our world view and how are we supposed to live with these beliefs in our own home?
Mr. Brokaw's words are strong with the determination he no doubt wants the graduates to deliver to themselves. This is how he believes we should be inspired to proceed with our lives. I don't disagree with him and his final message really brings home his message of courage and compassion.
While serious on many points, I did find that Mr. Brokaw made some very humorous remarks about the world we live in and what the privilege of our new century brings us. We have been granted so many opportunities not just to explore the world around us, but to make life beautiful and exciting. It is not the technology that surrounds us, but our beliefs that power this opportunity. Maybe we could all use a little separation from that monitor in our lives. Or maybe we just need to remember what we hold closest to our hearts.
Read the whole transcript here.
This year was no different.
Tom Brokaw, the former NBC news anchor, graced the new graduates with a stirring reminder of what challenges we face in the new century before us. While we are blessed with new technological brilliance and high standards of living, we must remain aware of the human experience as a whole and carry our convictions strongly. Like the generation before us, we cannot turn a blind eye to the world around us.
They did not attach themselves simply to a virtual experience and find satisfaction in a search engine. They were boots on the ground, hands in the dirt, nights in scary places, healing and courageous. They stepped into the unknown and they made it more welcoming for the rest of us.
This is where we stood on our initial foray into the real world. Where do we stand now? Where has our determination taken us? Although there are countless nodes of information before us, what do we do with it? Mr. Brokaw reminds us that we should be steadfast in our beliefs and remember the freedoms we have been granted not just from our country, but as human beings.
Life away from the keyboard, the PDA and the cell phone is a life in which you connect to the websites of your personal convictions, and that is an obligation you must carry with you the rest of your days. And that role is never more satisfying when it is expressed robustly, especially when others are attempting to suppress your participation or belittle your beliefs.
While it is most important to hold these beliefs close to one's heart perhaps it is more important to recognize this on a personal level, and what it means individually. How does this effect our world view and how are we supposed to live with these beliefs in our own home?
If we portray ourselves as patrons of democracy abroad, we must be certain that we're stewards at home of a fundamental tenet of that governing principle.
Mr. Brokaw's words are strong with the determination he no doubt wants the graduates to deliver to themselves. This is how he believes we should be inspired to proceed with our lives. I don't disagree with him and his final message really brings home his message of courage and compassion.
So I invite you to go forth from here with your Stanford degree in hand with the conviction to carry on their legacy, to improve on it, to create your own legacy of greatness, to live your convictions not just at the keyboard but on the streets, in the arena and in the polling place, to arrive each morning determined to hate hate, to become colorblind, to take a chance, to love your mother, Mother Earth. In the past I have concluded these remarks by saying it's easy to make a buck; it's tough to make a difference. And then a father wrote to me and said, "I work on Wall Street. I have a rewriting of your phrase. It's tough to make a buck; but if you make a lot of bucks, you can make a helluva difference."
While serious on many points, I did find that Mr. Brokaw made some very humorous remarks about the world we live in and what the privilege of our new century brings us. We have been granted so many opportunities not just to explore the world around us, but to make life beautiful and exciting. It is not the technology that surrounds us, but our beliefs that power this opportunity. Maybe we could all use a little separation from that monitor in our lives. Or maybe we just need to remember what we hold closest to our hearts.
Read the whole transcript here.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
There's a Monster in My Closet
Music Post!
Since I last posted about the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, I've been able to pick up a few new releases (at least until I get The Futureheads new album today) and have been quite satisfied with the results. "What, pray tell, type of music might that be?" one might ask, but I may say that while two of them are easily categorized under the "Rock" section, the third is most likely very hard to pin down under an umbrella category. Shall we?
Up to bat, under suspicion of being yet another modern rock band, are the proud California/New York boys of We Are Scientists. The self-described "rock music of the thoughtful, sometimes epic, often loud, vaguely danceable, implicitly humanist variety" is actually just that. Just reading the song titles on the back of their CD, "With Love and Squalor," gives you and idea of what you can expect. From "Nobody move, Nobody gets hurt" to the first single "It's a hit," you expect something brutal and confident, that's basically what you get in both of them. Although relatively young, their sound is impressive in its expansiveness permeates on each song. While I wish I could have seen them at Coachella, I'm glad I was able to acquaint myself with their music outside a first listen under the tent. While the melodies aren't overtly complicated, there's something in the subtlety of the lyrics and rhythm that's outright compelling. Great stuff.
Second-off, we have the debut album of one Mr. Cee-lo Green and the booming Danger Mouse's collaboration in Gnarls Barkley. If anyone's heard the Gorillaz record "Demon Days" or even the controversial cacophony of "The Grey Album," you have an idea of how Danger Mouse produces. It's innovative and striking in its simplicity and blend. There are certain tones you may recognize, but no one track ever repeats itself. The same holds true, even more with "St. Elsewhere." This LP takes what you've heard from both of them, from the random Outkast track to the swirling apocalypse of "Days" and grinds the chemistry to a fine dust. There's no sense that either personality trumps the other, but a very enjoyable cohesion. One may have heard the first singe, "Crazy," all over the place and may have actually seen it performed, but one may not know what they have in store for them when they hear their cover of the Violent Femmes "Gone, Daddy, Gone." Check them out at the Orange County Fair, if you can, just to see what outfits they show up in next.
Last, but definitely more than least, is the dual-disc mania that is the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Stadium Arcadium." With enough material recorded to span a three-disc epic, the set itself is a return of sorts to the easy-going funkdefied sunset promise of "Blood Sugar Sex Magik." While you get the more mellow sound of "By the Way" on tracks like "Torture Me" and "Desecration Smile" there's still that buoyant energy of "Give it Away" in a song like "Tell Me Baby." While I'm not quite sure where to place it yet in their storied history, it ranks up there with "By the Way" as a solid piece in their discography. Perhaps even more impressive given that both discs function just as well separate of one another. Frusciante, Flea, Kiedis, and Smith are more comfortable than ever and it shows to great effect on "Arcadium."
Still up over the next couple of weeks, The Futureheads and Chris Carrabba crying all over the place again with Dashboard Confessional.
Since I last posted about the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, I've been able to pick up a few new releases (at least until I get The Futureheads new album today) and have been quite satisfied with the results. "What, pray tell, type of music might that be?" one might ask, but I may say that while two of them are easily categorized under the "Rock" section, the third is most likely very hard to pin down under an umbrella category. Shall we?
Up to bat, under suspicion of being yet another modern rock band, are the proud California/New York boys of We Are Scientists. The self-described "rock music of the thoughtful, sometimes epic, often loud, vaguely danceable, implicitly humanist variety" is actually just that. Just reading the song titles on the back of their CD, "With Love and Squalor," gives you and idea of what you can expect. From "Nobody move, Nobody gets hurt" to the first single "It's a hit," you expect something brutal and confident, that's basically what you get in both of them. Although relatively young, their sound is impressive in its expansiveness permeates on each song. While I wish I could have seen them at Coachella, I'm glad I was able to acquaint myself with their music outside a first listen under the tent. While the melodies aren't overtly complicated, there's something in the subtlety of the lyrics and rhythm that's outright compelling. Great stuff.
Second-off, we have the debut album of one Mr. Cee-lo Green and the booming Danger Mouse's collaboration in Gnarls Barkley. If anyone's heard the Gorillaz record "Demon Days" or even the controversial cacophony of "The Grey Album," you have an idea of how Danger Mouse produces. It's innovative and striking in its simplicity and blend. There are certain tones you may recognize, but no one track ever repeats itself. The same holds true, even more with "St. Elsewhere." This LP takes what you've heard from both of them, from the random Outkast track to the swirling apocalypse of "Days" and grinds the chemistry to a fine dust. There's no sense that either personality trumps the other, but a very enjoyable cohesion. One may have heard the first singe, "Crazy," all over the place and may have actually seen it performed, but one may not know what they have in store for them when they hear their cover of the Violent Femmes "Gone, Daddy, Gone." Check them out at the Orange County Fair, if you can, just to see what outfits they show up in next.
Last, but definitely more than least, is the dual-disc mania that is the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Stadium Arcadium." With enough material recorded to span a three-disc epic, the set itself is a return of sorts to the easy-going funkdefied sunset promise of "Blood Sugar Sex Magik." While you get the more mellow sound of "By the Way" on tracks like "Torture Me" and "Desecration Smile" there's still that buoyant energy of "Give it Away" in a song like "Tell Me Baby." While I'm not quite sure where to place it yet in their storied history, it ranks up there with "By the Way" as a solid piece in their discography. Perhaps even more impressive given that both discs function just as well separate of one another. Frusciante, Flea, Kiedis, and Smith are more comfortable than ever and it shows to great effect on "Arcadium."
Still up over the next couple of weeks, The Futureheads and Chris Carrabba crying all over the place again with Dashboard Confessional.
Monday, June 19, 2006
CFM Los Angeles
What does everyone think of the Farmers Market? Well, not the Los Angeles Farmers Market, but any fresh and local produce market in general? Some would like to think that it's a local phenomenon, but they're becoming more common now than they were in the past. A lot of it, I think, has to do with consumers wanting higher quality ingredients for reasonable prices, but a lot of it may also come with people being more willing to grow their own foods. While the convenience of a supermarket cannot be argued with, there's something to be said about the freshness and quality of a homegrown tomato. Thing is, not every Farmers Market is about the produce.
Case in point, the Calabasas Farmers Market, which like many other cities, has its own fair on the weekends. You do see the usual tomatoes, peaches, nectarines, grapes, and strawberries, but you also see other homemade goods, like the wasabi peanuts we grabbed (they pack a wallop) and the handmade tamales. You'll also find clothing, art, and jewelry among the piles of broccoli and cauliflower. I usually like to take a walk around and peek at each booth, especially because most of the times the food is delicious enough when just looking at it.
So, while it's pretty darn healthy to shop in the outer aisles of your local grocery, there's much more to shopping at your local Market than pretty apples. Here's a complete list of a few in the area one may want to frequent.
Case in point, the Calabasas Farmers Market, which like many other cities, has its own fair on the weekends. You do see the usual tomatoes, peaches, nectarines, grapes, and strawberries, but you also see other homemade goods, like the wasabi peanuts we grabbed (they pack a wallop) and the handmade tamales. You'll also find clothing, art, and jewelry among the piles of broccoli and cauliflower. I usually like to take a walk around and peek at each booth, especially because most of the times the food is delicious enough when just looking at it.
So, while it's pretty darn healthy to shop in the outer aisles of your local grocery, there's much more to shopping at your local Market than pretty apples. Here's a complete list of a few in the area one may want to frequent.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Bisteca!
Trust me when I say that Mastro's has one of the best steaks in Los Angeles.
That and I think I'm finally getting used to the harsh taste of a 12-year-old scotch.
Yesterday, after a long, traffic-filled ride through the west side, Grace and I made it to the previously mentioned Mastro's. Having heard about it briefly a while back, and having just read about it in a handy-dandy Orange County magazine, I decided we'd embark on a trip for a birthday dinner in honor of Gracie. I'll keep the review short, but I will dispense with some commentary. As in...
Whatever you read on Citysearch can never be taken as accurate. There are times they are correct, such as Marston's, and there are also times when the user reviews are decidedly wrong. In this case, we were met with the latter. While many of the user reviews were overwhelmingly positive, there were also a distinct number of negative blasts coming from several different folk. Many of them decried the awful service, sub par food, and horrid atmosphere of the Beverly Hills eatery as a pretentiously stuffy steakhouse to be avoided at all costs. What we found was anything but.
The service was excellent (we were practically waited on hand and foot) and the food was remarkably delicious. We always talk about ranking our steakhouse experiences (for the very few times we've been able to go) and this place is almost equivalent, if not better, to the experience we had at Morton's. While it is most definitely a special occasion type establishment, we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. If anyone is every wanting to sample their fare, I'd highly recommend it.
That and I think I'm finally getting used to the harsh taste of a 12-year-old scotch.
Yesterday, after a long, traffic-filled ride through the west side, Grace and I made it to the previously mentioned Mastro's. Having heard about it briefly a while back, and having just read about it in a handy-dandy Orange County magazine, I decided we'd embark on a trip for a birthday dinner in honor of Gracie. I'll keep the review short, but I will dispense with some commentary. As in...
Whatever you read on Citysearch can never be taken as accurate. There are times they are correct, such as Marston's, and there are also times when the user reviews are decidedly wrong. In this case, we were met with the latter. While many of the user reviews were overwhelmingly positive, there were also a distinct number of negative blasts coming from several different folk. Many of them decried the awful service, sub par food, and horrid atmosphere of the Beverly Hills eatery as a pretentiously stuffy steakhouse to be avoided at all costs. What we found was anything but.
The service was excellent (we were practically waited on hand and foot) and the food was remarkably delicious. We always talk about ranking our steakhouse experiences (for the very few times we've been able to go) and this place is almost equivalent, if not better, to the experience we had at Morton's. While it is most definitely a special occasion type establishment, we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. If anyone is every wanting to sample their fare, I'd highly recommend it.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
It's My Destiny...
This seems very fitting in light of recent news.
Your results:
You are Spider-Man
You are intelligent, witty,
a bit geeky and have great
power and responsibility.
Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test
Your results:
You are Spider-Man
You are intelligent, witty,
a bit geeky and have great
power and responsibility.
Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Feliz Cumpleaños
I'd like to take a break from the usual flavor of the posting and say a Happy Birthday to my girl, the love of my life, Grace. There's no one else who believes in me as much, puts up with me as often, or understands me so well. She's my best friend and confidante and I'm a much better person with her than I would ever be without her. Happy Birthday!
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
The Capistrano Vacation Extravaganza
I think all the wedding exhaustion has finally run its course. None of it can compare with the other members of my family, most likely. Part of that, I can attribute to the fact that we managed to spend the greater part of last week bumming about San Juan Capistrano before the big day. I have this to say about our trip: We never ate one bad meal while we were there.
Let's talk a bit about the area shall we? The San Juan Capistrano mission, established in 1776, is one of the oldest structures in Orange County. Being the 7th of 21 California missions, this historical landmark stands as a reminder of the early days of California's politics, diversity, and religion. Being that, it also stands next to a rarity amongst urban sprawl these days in the form of a train station. Needless to say, with the mission and the train, there are countless tourists.
While one may find themselves surrounded by gift shops, one is also surrounded by the most delicious restaurants within proximity to one another. The first of which we sampled (having already been to El Adobe) was the Ramos House Cafe along Los Rios street. What we found was nothing short of delectable. Our samplings included Apple-cinnamon beignets, sweet potato fries, an amazing Crab hash, and a blueberry pain perdu. I don't think I've had a better breakfast in the last 12 months, but this one takes the cake so far.
Let's talk a bit about the area shall we? The San Juan Capistrano mission, established in 1776, is one of the oldest structures in Orange County. Being the 7th of 21 California missions, this historical landmark stands as a reminder of the early days of California's politics, diversity, and religion. Being that, it also stands next to a rarity amongst urban sprawl these days in the form of a train station. Needless to say, with the mission and the train, there are countless tourists.
While one may find themselves surrounded by gift shops, one is also surrounded by the most delicious restaurants within proximity to one another. The first of which we sampled (having already been to El Adobe) was the Ramos House Cafe along Los Rios street. What we found was nothing short of delectable. Our samplings included Apple-cinnamon beignets, sweet potato fries, an amazing Crab hash, and a blueberry pain perdu. I don't think I've had a better breakfast in the last 12 months, but this one takes the cake so far.
Sundried Breakfast
The following day, we engorged ourselves on a favorite of ours, the Sundried Tomato Cafe. Boasting two locations in Orange County, this restaurant is unparalleled. Although I've heard tell that the Capistrano location is superior, I've yet to verify this as fact. It doesn't matter right now, because the food there is amazing.
While it was breakfast, we snagged ourselves the artichoke appetizer. This dish is served with toasted parmesan croutons on top and an awesome herb-infused aioli. We devoured the entire thing before the main courses of a decadent set of Eggs Benedict and a most unique avocado, provolone, and bacon omelette. Just writing about this is making my mouth water. Seriously.
While it was breakfast, we snagged ourselves the artichoke appetizer. This dish is served with toasted parmesan croutons on top and an awesome herb-infused aioli. We devoured the entire thing before the main courses of a decadent set of Eggs Benedict and a most unique avocado, provolone, and bacon omelette. Just writing about this is making my mouth water. Seriously.
The Mission
The trip itself wasn't all restaurants though. Even if our dinner at Chat Noir was remarkable and the Sunday after meal at El Adobe was consistently delicious, we got to visit the mission and take in some retail. Having never been to the mission, I insisted that we visit.
If you've never been, you have to visit. I tend to find ruins and such awful fascinating, for some reason or another, so I consider myself lucky for having seen it. Although I can take issue with some of the purpose of the mission, there is also evidence that a lot of good was accomplished by the priests. I'd like to learn a bit more if I could. One of the more fascinating aspects of the mission I discovered was its role in establishing some of the first vineyards along the coast. No doubt, these priests had their fare share of wine when harvesting season came about.
Check out the rest of the photos here and if you find yourself in south Orange County, stop by and eat some great food or maybe some history.
Now I'm hungry...
If you've never been, you have to visit. I tend to find ruins and such awful fascinating, for some reason or another, so I consider myself lucky for having seen it. Although I can take issue with some of the purpose of the mission, there is also evidence that a lot of good was accomplished by the priests. I'd like to learn a bit more if I could. One of the more fascinating aspects of the mission I discovered was its role in establishing some of the first vineyards along the coast. No doubt, these priests had their fare share of wine when harvesting season came about.
Check out the rest of the photos here and if you find yourself in south Orange County, stop by and eat some great food or maybe some history.
Now I'm hungry...
Monday, June 12, 2006
My Big Sister's Wedding...
Of all the weddings I've been to so far in the last few years, none could have been as joyous an occasion as seeing my sister get married this past weekend. Her and her new husband, Geoff, were joined by almost 200 of their closest friends and family at El Adobe in San Juan Capistrano for what was a very brief and tasteful ceremony, an incredible dinner, and a raucous reception. Having a front row seat for all of it, I was ecstatic.
Not having the forum to provide a speech of any sort at the wedding (thank goodness) I figured this would be an appropriate place to give a short summation. From the moment I first met Geoff, I felt he was a perfect addition to our family. His generous sense of humor, comfort around my parents, and willingness to tolerate our idiosyncrasies no doubt helped him fit in better than most other people would. Easily, it was their love and appreciation for each other that led them to this point, but there is no doubt in my mind that they are meant for each other. There are only a few couples out there with the ability to understand, respect, and meet the challenge of matrimony and with their love, I have no doubt they can meet it head-on. I wish them both all the best in the world for their life to come. (Now, if I had a champagne flute, I would raise it high to the sky).
Of course there are pictures that I've taken. When the actual wedding photos themselves are in my possession, I'll see what I can do about getting them posted to the blog. For now, everyone can be satisfied with my own photos of the ceremony and the reception that followed.
Good luck to my sister and new brother-in-law. They're out on their honeymoon as I type, so I know it's a great start indeed.
Not having the forum to provide a speech of any sort at the wedding (thank goodness) I figured this would be an appropriate place to give a short summation. From the moment I first met Geoff, I felt he was a perfect addition to our family. His generous sense of humor, comfort around my parents, and willingness to tolerate our idiosyncrasies no doubt helped him fit in better than most other people would. Easily, it was their love and appreciation for each other that led them to this point, but there is no doubt in my mind that they are meant for each other. There are only a few couples out there with the ability to understand, respect, and meet the challenge of matrimony and with their love, I have no doubt they can meet it head-on. I wish them both all the best in the world for their life to come. (Now, if I had a champagne flute, I would raise it high to the sky).
Of course there are pictures that I've taken. When the actual wedding photos themselves are in my possession, I'll see what I can do about getting them posted to the blog. For now, everyone can be satisfied with my own photos of the ceremony and the reception that followed.
Good luck to my sister and new brother-in-law. They're out on their honeymoon as I type, so I know it's a great start indeed.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Mini Vacation
Grace and I are out in San Juan Capistrano this weekend for the glorious occasion of my sister's wedding. There's high-speed internet, but mostly we'll be getting some rest before the big day. There will be a major wrap up next week, until then, it should be an awesome weekend!
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
He's A Real Doctor!!
For some reason, this never gets old for me. First saw this at Spike and Mike's Sick and Twisted Animation Festival a couple of years ago. Along with some great animation by Don Hertzfeldt, the guys at Lone Sausage Productions put together a great short, so much so that I'd love to see more.
When's the next Spike and Mike?
Monday, June 05, 2006
Pick Your Tiki
Are Polynesian drinks really meant to be this strong? I read somewhere that it is a rule that no man should drink anything with a tropical umbrella in the glass, but since when is a man not allowed to drink something much stronger than your standard well drink with soda? I tell you, I had a couple of the most powerful concoctions I've ever had this weekend at a couple most tropical locations. They may be a bit on the small side, bar-wise, but they packed a punch, nay, a wallop.
A very storied establishment, Bahooka is deemed a family restaurant on the sign outside, and it does play the part quite well. The tropical decor inside, punctuated by the wall-to-wall aquariums, surround a small bar behind which I could imagine a bubbling cauldron surrounded by cackling bartenders. There are two famous drinks there apparently, one being the Hand Grenade - a punch-flavored mixture highlighted with a very, very special secret ingredient - and the intense highlight of the Honey Bowl. The first of these is tasty indeed, but no man should leave the restaurant without sampling the flaming centerpiece of the Honey Bowl. It would be wise, however, to note that this Bowl should be shared by a few of your closest friends. Either that, or they'll be trucking you out of the restaurant in a wheelbarrow.
The second, and perhaps more famous, is the Los Angeles landmark, the Tiki Ti. Having been wanting to take in the two-drink maximum for some time, it was high time I made it for some spirits. What they have there is more than just drinks, this is almost industrial in its level of enjoyment. Very much on the small side, they serve up a few specialty tastes for everyone there. Having already taken in enough beforehand, the one item from the menu I managed to order was a sharp smack across the face. It wasn't just the drink talking, but the vibe there was so relaxing that I enjoyed it immensely.
Bottom line, if you're going to go tiki hunting anytime soon for some tropical liquids, these are the two best I've ever been experienced. Are there more in the fair city of Angels? Hard to say, but I can stick by these two with a hearty recommendation.
A very storied establishment, Bahooka is deemed a family restaurant on the sign outside, and it does play the part quite well. The tropical decor inside, punctuated by the wall-to-wall aquariums, surround a small bar behind which I could imagine a bubbling cauldron surrounded by cackling bartenders. There are two famous drinks there apparently, one being the Hand Grenade - a punch-flavored mixture highlighted with a very, very special secret ingredient - and the intense highlight of the Honey Bowl. The first of these is tasty indeed, but no man should leave the restaurant without sampling the flaming centerpiece of the Honey Bowl. It would be wise, however, to note that this Bowl should be shared by a few of your closest friends. Either that, or they'll be trucking you out of the restaurant in a wheelbarrow.
The second, and perhaps more famous, is the Los Angeles landmark, the Tiki Ti. Having been wanting to take in the two-drink maximum for some time, it was high time I made it for some spirits. What they have there is more than just drinks, this is almost industrial in its level of enjoyment. Very much on the small side, they serve up a few specialty tastes for everyone there. Having already taken in enough beforehand, the one item from the menu I managed to order was a sharp smack across the face. It wasn't just the drink talking, but the vibe there was so relaxing that I enjoyed it immensely.
Bottom line, if you're going to go tiki hunting anytime soon for some tropical liquids, these are the two best I've ever been experienced. Are there more in the fair city of Angels? Hard to say, but I can stick by these two with a hearty recommendation.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
More Than Just a Delicatessen
Best new place to eat for the week? Joan's on Third located just so closely to the Beverly Center. There you will find imported cheeses, local wines, and sandwiches so delicious, you will be compelled to lust after them for weeks. Grace heard about it a while back and being inspired by our original destination's Memorial Day closure, we felt it necessary to test if word-of-mouth rang true.
The crowded tables on the outside were a testament enough for us to venture inside. Once there, one finds shelves stocked with handmade marinara, aiolis, pickles, gelatos, and desserts. There are so many pastries that we almost forgot we had Sprinkles waiting for us in the car. The menu itself, while unpretentious, made our already hungry mouths water and when we were finally able to take a bite, we were satisfied. I went for the Turkey Meatloaf sandwich (excellent!) myself, but Grace's Ham and Brie concoction was just as good. Having saved a few sides for later - curried chicken salad and a block of their special macaroni and cheese - I was able to sample more later this week, and confirmed that it wasn't just hunger that made the food delicious. This place is the real deal.
It's a goal of ours to sample all sorts of local restaurants. Whether it's word of mouth, things we've read, or other televised features, many places make the list. There are a few that we can refer to with a, "We're definitely coming back here." and Joan's is yet another to add to that short (very short) list. If you're ever in the vicinity, you have to try it out.
The crowded tables on the outside were a testament enough for us to venture inside. Once there, one finds shelves stocked with handmade marinara, aiolis, pickles, gelatos, and desserts. There are so many pastries that we almost forgot we had Sprinkles waiting for us in the car. The menu itself, while unpretentious, made our already hungry mouths water and when we were finally able to take a bite, we were satisfied. I went for the Turkey Meatloaf sandwich (excellent!) myself, but Grace's Ham and Brie concoction was just as good. Having saved a few sides for later - curried chicken salad and a block of their special macaroni and cheese - I was able to sample more later this week, and confirmed that it wasn't just hunger that made the food delicious. This place is the real deal.
It's a goal of ours to sample all sorts of local restaurants. Whether it's word of mouth, things we've read, or other televised features, many places make the list. There are a few that we can refer to with a, "We're definitely coming back here." and Joan's is yet another to add to that short (very short) list. If you're ever in the vicinity, you have to try it out.
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