In clearing up space in my iPhone, I came across these… Friday, September 11, 2009

An Ode to Trader Joe’s Thursday, September 10, 2009

What better time to post this than when I’m wrapping the night up with TJ goodies?

The Week in Review – Photo Edition Sunday, August 9, 2009

Monday 8/3

Tuesday 8/4

Wednesday 8/5

Thursday 8/6

Friday 8/7

Saturday 8/8

Sunday 8/9

100 Things to Try in LA Before You Die Saturday, May 16, 2009

Caroline on Crack posted 100 Things to Try in LA Before You Die.   Let’s see how many more bullet points I’ll need to add on my lifetime’s To Do list…

1. Cocktail punch at the Radio Room in The Edison (been to The Edison though and it ranks high on my top 10 favorite bars)
2. Chili dog from Pink’s
3. Rattlesnake and rabbit with jalapeno at Wurstkuche
4. Korean short ribs taco from Kogi BBQ taco truck (consider this crossed out on May 28th)
5. Great Los Angeles Walk (lived in LA my whole life and have never heard of this)
6. Ajo Garlic Ramen at Ramenya (note to self: put this on Janet and John’s to do list)
7. Sour Kraut Cocktail from Copa d’Oro
8. Red velvet cupcake from Sprinkles
9. Singing Elvis at Palms Thai (again, been here; missed Elvis though)
10. Churro from churro cart at Disneyland (I can live without doing this in my lifetime)
11. Junk food dessert platter at Simon LA
12. Dessert tasting menu at Providence
13. Classic martini at Musso & Frank Grill (insane how I managed to not do this yet)
14. Roasted bone marrow at Church & State (note to self: bring Betsy)
15. Pedal boat at Echo Park Lake
16. Bowling and $4 cocktails at Shatto 39 Lanes
17. Kobe-style beef at Park’s BBQ
18. Mulholland Drive from 405 to 101
19. Medicina Latina at Malo (perhaps I’ve had everything at Malo except this)
20. Father’s Office burger
21. Maple bacon doughnut at Nickel Diner
22. Mashti Malone’s lavender ice cream
23. Red Line Metro barhop
24. Live music at Spaceland
25. Magic Mojito at Bar Centro at the Bazaar by Jose Andres
26. Wine tour through San Antonio Winery
27. Sample everything at Scoops ice cream (very much enjoying this work in progress)
28. Bike from Santa Monica to Hermosa Beach and back (only made it so far as Venice)
29. Mochi from Mikawaya Little Tokyo
30. Broiled San Francisco stuffed French toast at Starling Diner
31. Mojito sampler jelly shots at Bar Nineteen12
32. High Tea at Royal/T
33. Pimp your own burger at the Counter in Santa Monica
34. Carne asada burrito from Tacos Tumbras A Tomas at Grand Central Market
35. Diddy Riese Chocolate Chip Cookies
36. Ride the mechanical bull at Saddle Ranch and have a premium SR AMF
37. Greyhound Proper at Hungry Cat (love love LOVE this restaurant)
38. Blue cheese fries at Pete’s Cafe and Bar
39. L.A. Conservancy’s Historic Core walking tour
40. 21+ screenings at the ArcLight
41. Secret beef feast at Totoraku
42. Moonlight Rollerway
43. Bartender’s Choice at Comme Ca
44. Tomato, mozzarella, sausage, salami, bacon & guanciale pizza at Pizzeria Mozza
45. Ride the Pacific Ferris Wheel at Santa Monica Pier
46. Late-night Danger dogs
47. Bet on a horse at Santa Anita racetrack
48. Loco Moco (foie gras loco moco, quail egg, spam, hamburger) at Animal
49. Blood & Sand cocktail at Tiki Ti (again, been here but have yet to have that)
50. Tea and a stroll through Huntington Gardens
51. Drive Sunset Boulevard from Echo Park to PCH in a convertible (eh, this is touristy to me)
52. Double chocolate croissant pudding with Jack Daniels sauce at Milk
53. Hike from Fern Dell Drive to Mt. Hollywood, stopping at Griffith Observatory
54. Meatball sandwich from Bay Cities Deli
55. Scorpion cocktail at Hop Louie
56. Magic Castle
57. Scoe’s No. 2 at Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles (personally I’m a “Carol C. Special” girl myself)
58. L.A. Conservancy’s Last Remaining Seats
59. Philippe’s French Dip with hot mustard
60. Dim sum at Empress Pavilion in Chinatown
61. Remember the Maine at the Varnish
62. Omakase dinner at Urasawa (I’ll put this higher up on my list of priorities when I win the lottery)
63. LA Phil concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall
64. Pool party at Standard Rooftop Bar (see you this summer!)
65. Quarter chicken with side of garlic sauce at Zankou Chicken
66. Goddess spa treatment at Olympic Spa
67. Vodbox at Nic’s Martini Lounge
68. Turkey dinner at Clifton’s Cafeteria, don’t forget the green jello
69. Los Angeles Marathon (will it count when I bike in and around the marathon course later this month to cheer Gaby on as she runs?)
70. Marty & Elayne at Dresden Room
71. Coleslaw and sourdough toast at Original Pantry
72. Real Black Dahlia Tour by Esotouric
73. Ninotchka at Bar Lubitsch (oh, this bar and the flashbacks… =x)
74. Stay in a bungalow at Chateau Marmont
75. Auntie Em’s Market dinner
76. Sunday wine tastings at Silverlake Wine
77. Grilled cheese night at Campanile
78. Power lunch at the Polo Lounge
79. Cadillac Margarita at El Cholo
80. Courtside at a Lakers game (this is after I have dinner at Urasawa)
81. Angel City Derby Girls Tournament
82. Box seats at Hollywood Bowl summer concert
83. Dodger Dog at Dodger Stadium
84. Ride the Good Year blimp (note to self: bring Christina)
85. Sip mojitos poolside at the Hotel Roosevelt’s Tropicana Bar (you’d think after living behind the Roosevelt for 2 years I would’ve ventured over there at one point)
86. Ringside at Lucha VaVoom (someone take me on a date to this and I will find you amazing)
87. Summer movie at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery
88. History Walk from Mission San Gabriel to Olvera Street
89. Taro ice cream at Fosselman’s
90. Galco’s Soda Pop Shop
91. Apricot & Honey 75 at the Penthouse during sunset
92. Angel City Drive-In
93. Downtown Art Walk
94. Bonfire at Dockweiler Beach
95. Bingo at Hamburger Mary’s
96. Karaoke at Brass Monkey
97. Yee-Mee-Lu “blue drink” at Good Luck Bar
98. Sunset dinner and horseback riding with Sunset Ranch
99. American Food & Wine Festival
100. Hike to the top of Sandstone Peak and sign the register

Godsent Saturday, April 11, 2009

That’s what my godson is.  Or that’s what his hugs and kisses are.  They single-handedly brought me back to life last night.  I owe you, B.

And then there are my Js.  John pulled out all the stops with his special ramen using homemade broth he spent 8+ hours making the night before topped with chunks of fresh crab, jumbo shrimp, chicken and a fried egg.  Janet threw in the champers.

There really is no place like home. <3

Liquid Diet Friday, April 10, 2009

Last night was a blur.

But I managed to jumpstart this morning and stay alert and have lots of laughs throughout the day.

And with the weekend ahead, that is just one out of many reasons why today is (a) Good Friday. 

Status Quo: Delayed EWA Monday, March 23, 2009

And on this installment of Status Quo, Ritzel finally comes home after 3 consecutive days of wine “tasting” and experiences a delayed bit of EWA, otherwise known as End of the Weekend Anxiety.

That pretty much sums me and the current state of affairs to a tee.  But let me throw in some snapshots for color and good measure.

The Madonna Inn, an amazing hotel you have to see to believe.

Wine tasting at Barrel 27 puts a smile on your face as it delights your palate.

You don’t need to know how to swim to enjoy the pool.

99 bottles of beer (and wine) on the wall.

I really loved this winery.

I really love these girls.

And this sick bee is no exception.

MLK Monday, January 19, 2009

My Life: Kinder.

That’s truly what today is and has been thanks to these guys:

 

The Best Friday, August 29, 2008

I once admitted how when I type “Betsy” I usually type “Bets” only to mistype it as “Best.”  Well, here is “Best” magnified. Taken exactly one week ago (almost down to the minute), it captures some of the best things I find in life.  Good friends, like Betsy.  Being in New York!  Friday afternoons.  Friday afternoons not at work!  Gourmet cheeses.  Fine wine.  Easy conversation.  Laughs.

08.22.08 . The Jakewalk

What Time Is It? Thursday, August 7, 2008

Bahaha o’clock.

Flavor of Love (Season 2)

I quit drinking beer some time ago. I will keep this in mind in case of future temptation. Flavor Flav and those girls…*cringe*