For when you just have to play Ms. Pac-Man in a dive bar in Koreatown, Miss T's Barcade is your best bet.
We went to Barcade for a friend's birthday with no idea what to expect. Armed with nothing more than an address, we ventured from the familiarity of Hollywood down Western Ave into Koreatown. Watching the street numbers decrease the farther south we drove, we came across Barcade's address, or rather where it should have been. Barcade was there, but hard to spot. The small bar front was black: black paint, blacked out window and door. One lone sign aptly told us we were in the right place: a blue, neon, Pac-Man ghost.
Entering Barcade, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little sketched out, but the sketch factor added to Barcade's charm. The place was a tight cave with three rooms. I started the night off with a beer. The only choices were beer or wine, as Barcade didn't have a full liquor license. That didn't bother me though. A martini and Donkey Kong just don't go together like a Bud and Donkey Kong. Check out the bar top when you're ordering your can of PBR, it's lined with quarters.
Just over a dozen games from the '80s lined the walls. They had all the classics: Ms. Pac-Man, Paperboy, Donkey Kong, Galaga. Unfortunately, neither of the two pinball machines was working that night. We had a great time feeding the machines quarters, and I even made the high score list on Galaga. And I learned one very important lesson that night: I'm terrible at Donkey Kong.
To really cinch that aura of "WTF is this place really?" the DJ was spinning some post pre-modern, new old school, techno-esque music. But to his credit, the DJ was spinning actual vinyl.
The clientele was much more eclectic than I had expected. With arcade games and cheap beer; I expected the clientele to be mostly guys in their twenties or thirties that still acted like they're twelve. You know the kind. In sitcoms he always lives in his mom's basement. But to my surprise, there was a good mix of people. I even saw a few cute girls. Unbelievable.
With it's hidden location and offbeat vibe, Barcade feels like a secret that you've been let in on; a speakeasy for children of the '80s (and early '90s). It's not a hangout for the trendy or elite, unless off-beat is in right now. I never can keep track.
Miss T's Barcade
371 N. Western Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90189
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
TOI on Sunset
The story of my discovery of the wonders that are TOI, a Thai restaurant on Sunset, began last Friday night. A friend and I decided to grab dinner on Sunset for convenience sake, since I live only a few blocks away. It seemed to me that there was a Thai place, but I had never tried it, so we decided to be a bit adventurous. We walked down and peered through the front window of a Thai place and saw one single person eating by himself. Aside from him and the employees, the place was vacant. Not a good sign. I knew that there was a Thai restaurant there, but the store front of this place wasn't how I remembered it. That's when my friend chimed in, "hey, what about that place?" She pointed at TOI practically next door. That's the place I remembered.
We took the five extra steps to TOI and peered inside. This place was full. That's the stuff. A man in a Jack Daniels t-shirt and a black leather jacket lounged on a stool on the sidewalk. "Two?" He asked. Apparently he was the host.
I've never seen so much awesome crap squeezed into one room. Imagine an Applebee's half the size, with twice as much stuff on the walls, and it's all rocker themed. That begins to describe the decor of TOI. Our table was lit by the kind of light you would typically find in a garden. You know the kind, it's dim and has a stake to hold it in the ground. I'm pretty sure the other lamps were stolen from my Grandparents' den. The walls were plastered with posters, album covers, and a flaming cello. A full sized bicycle rickshaw sat in the front window and a steel dragon weaved across the ceiling. It's the most bad-ass Thai restaurant I've ever been to.
So you're probably wondering, "was the food any good?" I can't say. I decided to try something new, green curry chicken. And then I decided that I don't care for green curry. My friend had the Pad Thai and said it was good. The menu has a fantastic variety, especially vegetarian options. I'll have to go back to try some other food, and I definitely intend to.
TOI
7505 1/2 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 874-8062
http://www.toirockinthaifood.com/sunset/index.html
The prices are good and they deliver.
We took the five extra steps to TOI and peered inside. This place was full. That's the stuff. A man in a Jack Daniels t-shirt and a black leather jacket lounged on a stool on the sidewalk. "Two?" He asked. Apparently he was the host.
I've never seen so much awesome crap squeezed into one room. Imagine an Applebee's half the size, with twice as much stuff on the walls, and it's all rocker themed. That begins to describe the decor of TOI. Our table was lit by the kind of light you would typically find in a garden. You know the kind, it's dim and has a stake to hold it in the ground. I'm pretty sure the other lamps were stolen from my Grandparents' den. The walls were plastered with posters, album covers, and a flaming cello. A full sized bicycle rickshaw sat in the front window and a steel dragon weaved across the ceiling. It's the most bad-ass Thai restaurant I've ever been to.
So you're probably wondering, "was the food any good?" I can't say. I decided to try something new, green curry chicken. And then I decided that I don't care for green curry. My friend had the Pad Thai and said it was good. The menu has a fantastic variety, especially vegetarian options. I'll have to go back to try some other food, and I definitely intend to.
TOI
7505 1/2 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 874-8062
http://www.toirockinthaifood.com/sunset/index.html
The prices are good and they deliver.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
The La Brea Tar Pits
By popular demand (and by "popular" I mean two people), I present to you The La Brea Tar Pits...
Did you know that "La Brea" means "tar" in Spanish? You probably did. I think I might be the only person left in LA that doesn't speak a word of Spanish. I take that back, I do remember most of the Spanish I learned from Luis and Maria on Sesame Street.
Just like the Museum of Jurassic Technology, sadly there are no dinosaurs at The La Brea Tar Pits. Again, you're probably thinking, "this guy is an idiot! Of course there aren't any dinosaurs at The La Brea Tar Pits!" For those of you who aren't amature paleontologists, The La Brea Tar Pits are a famous cluster of tar pits that have yeilded a pleathera of fossilized organisms from the last ice age. Most recognizable are the fossils of mammals from the ice age, meaning mastodons, dire wolves, and sabor tooth cats among others (and they are sabor tooth cats, not tigers. The museum makes it very clear that sabor tooth cats are not tigers. And now you know).
I visited the tar pits and the accompanying Page Museum with a friend from out of town. It's no Museum of Natural History in NY, but it's still pretty cool if you're looking for something different. The small Page Museum has an extensive collection of fossils on display, and there's a fantastic animated short film that screams, "I was made in the early 90s!"
After visiting the museum, we walked around the grounds. You would expect that these mastodons came out of giant holes in the ground, but alas no. Most of the pits are no longer being excavated at all, and look like puddles of mud about the size of a king sized bed. Fortunately, they are much cooler than mud because gases bubble up to the surface, making them look like boiling puddles of mud. As an extra special bonus, they smell awful. And no, you can't jump in them...unless you jump the fence.
One of the pits, Pit 91, is still under excavation, but only a few month out of the year due to funding constraints. Pit 91 really is a big hole in the ground. Unfortunately, we weren't there during excavation, but it was still cool to see an active excavatoin site. Where else am I going to see an excavation site?
While you're there, be sure to check out the statues of the mamoth family at the edge of the pond. The mother is struggling to escape from the tar while the others stand by helplessly. It's probably the best visual of the tar pits as they were in the Ice Age. I believe it's the same pond featured in the film Volcano that births the title geological phenomenon.
The tar pits are a great way to spend an afternoon feeling like you're on a third grade field trip. And field trips are the best part of third grade!
Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits
5801 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 934-PAGE (7243)
www.tarpits.org
Hours:
Monday through Friday, 9:30 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Admission:
Adults: $7.00
Seniors 62 and older and Students with I.D.: $4.50
Youths 13-17 years old: $4.50
Children 5-12 years old: $2.00
Members and Children under 5: Free
Did you know that "La Brea" means "tar" in Spanish? You probably did. I think I might be the only person left in LA that doesn't speak a word of Spanish. I take that back, I do remember most of the Spanish I learned from Luis and Maria on Sesame Street.
Just like the Museum of Jurassic Technology, sadly there are no dinosaurs at The La Brea Tar Pits. Again, you're probably thinking, "this guy is an idiot! Of course there aren't any dinosaurs at The La Brea Tar Pits!" For those of you who aren't amature paleontologists, The La Brea Tar Pits are a famous cluster of tar pits that have yeilded a pleathera of fossilized organisms from the last ice age. Most recognizable are the fossils of mammals from the ice age, meaning mastodons, dire wolves, and sabor tooth cats among others (and they are sabor tooth cats, not tigers. The museum makes it very clear that sabor tooth cats are not tigers. And now you know).
I visited the tar pits and the accompanying Page Museum with a friend from out of town. It's no Museum of Natural History in NY, but it's still pretty cool if you're looking for something different. The small Page Museum has an extensive collection of fossils on display, and there's a fantastic animated short film that screams, "I was made in the early 90s!"
After visiting the museum, we walked around the grounds. You would expect that these mastodons came out of giant holes in the ground, but alas no. Most of the pits are no longer being excavated at all, and look like puddles of mud about the size of a king sized bed. Fortunately, they are much cooler than mud because gases bubble up to the surface, making them look like boiling puddles of mud. As an extra special bonus, they smell awful. And no, you can't jump in them...unless you jump the fence.
One of the pits, Pit 91, is still under excavation, but only a few month out of the year due to funding constraints. Pit 91 really is a big hole in the ground. Unfortunately, we weren't there during excavation, but it was still cool to see an active excavatoin site. Where else am I going to see an excavation site?
While you're there, be sure to check out the statues of the mamoth family at the edge of the pond. The mother is struggling to escape from the tar while the others stand by helplessly. It's probably the best visual of the tar pits as they were in the Ice Age. I believe it's the same pond featured in the film Volcano that births the title geological phenomenon.
The tar pits are a great way to spend an afternoon feeling like you're on a third grade field trip. And field trips are the best part of third grade!
Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits
5801 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 934-PAGE (7243)
www.tarpits.org
Hours:
Monday through Friday, 9:30 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Admission:
Adults: $7.00
Seniors 62 and older and Students with I.D.: $4.50
Youths 13-17 years old: $4.50
Children 5-12 years old: $2.00
Members and Children under 5: Free
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
The Museum of Jurassic Technology
There aren't any dinosaurs at The Museum of Jurassic Technology. In fact, it has nothing to do with the Jurassic period at all. And as for technology, I wouldn't use the word "technology" to describe anything I saw there.
The Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City is by far the most random place I've yet to visit in Los Angeles. The museum's official website describes the museum as "an educational institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and the public appreciation of the Lower Jurassic." That would be a perfectly legitimate description if the museum had anything to do with the geological Jurassic Period, but it doesn't. If anyone can tell me what "Lower Jurassic" this refers to, I'm all ears. Honestly, I have the sneaking suspicion that the whole place is one big inside joke. If it is not, I apologize to the museum's founders and employees, and I am clearly missing something. Please do explain.
Some of the museum's eclectic displays include a collection of items from American trailer parks, microscopic mosaics made from butterfly wing scales, a tribute to the dogs of the Soviet Space Program, and a carving of Pope John Paul II that sits in the eye of a needle (my personal favorite).
My usual companion for random adventures accompanied me to the museum on a Saturday afternoon. The museum nearly disappears amongst the storefronts of Venice Blvd. I don't think we would have even noticed it had we not been looking it. It was a rare overcast day, adding to the drama of this fictional like menagerie of curiosities. The front door was locked and had a button with a simple sign that read, "ring for admittance." We did so, expecting Lurch to answer. Rather, we were greeted by a small, soft spoken young man that I can best describe as "emo." He welcomed us into a small, dimly lit foyer.
After signing into the guest book, we entered the belly of the whale. The whole place was dark, winding, and claustrophobic. The biggest mood setter of all was the sounds; in the distance we could hear eerie chiming bells. In the first small chamber stood a taxidermy fox in a spotlight, and from the fox emanated sounds of cackling. If this wasn't creepy enough, when I looked through the special viewer, it looked as if there was a tiny laughing man inside the fox's head.
We spent just over an hour exploring the nooks and crannies of the museum, but I would suggest giving yourself more time to enjoy a cup of tea in the Tula Tea Room and a short film in the Borzoi Kabinet Theater.
I may not entirely understand the purpose behind The Museum of Jurassic Technology, but that's not to say I don't appreciate it. The place strikes me as one big art installation in that it evokes emotion. You have to experience it for yourself.
The Museum of Jurassic Technology
9341 Venice Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
310-836-6131
www.mjt.org
Hours:
Thur 2pm-8pm
Fri-Sun 12pm-6pm
Suggested donation of $5
Some of the museum's eclectic displays include a collection of items from American trailer parks, microscopic mosaics made from butterfly wing scales, a tribute to the dogs of the Soviet Space Program, and a carving of Pope John Paul II that sits in the eye of a needle (my personal favorite).
My usual companion for random adventures accompanied me to the museum on a Saturday afternoon. The museum nearly disappears amongst the storefronts of Venice Blvd. I don't think we would have even noticed it had we not been looking it. It was a rare overcast day, adding to the drama of this fictional like menagerie of curiosities. The front door was locked and had a button with a simple sign that read, "ring for admittance." We did so, expecting Lurch to answer. Rather, we were greeted by a small, soft spoken young man that I can best describe as "emo." He welcomed us into a small, dimly lit foyer.
After signing into the guest book, we entered the belly of the whale. The whole place was dark, winding, and claustrophobic. The biggest mood setter of all was the sounds; in the distance we could hear eerie chiming bells. In the first small chamber stood a taxidermy fox in a spotlight, and from the fox emanated sounds of cackling. If this wasn't creepy enough, when I looked through the special viewer, it looked as if there was a tiny laughing man inside the fox's head.
We spent just over an hour exploring the nooks and crannies of the museum, but I would suggest giving yourself more time to enjoy a cup of tea in the Tula Tea Room and a short film in the Borzoi Kabinet Theater.
I may not entirely understand the purpose behind The Museum of Jurassic Technology, but that's not to say I don't appreciate it. The place strikes me as one big art installation in that it evokes emotion. You have to experience it for yourself.
The Museum of Jurassic Technology
9341 Venice Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
310-836-6131
www.mjt.org
Hours:
Thur 2pm-8pm
Fri-Sun 12pm-6pm
Suggested donation of $5
Friday, November 2, 2007
Craft Night
I came across this little gem known as Craft Night on the Not for Tourists website. (If you don't have the Not for Tourists' guide for LA, I highly recommend it. It's an indispensable supplement to the Thomas Guide. The NFT has maps by neighborhood and lists the locations of tons of grocery stores, banks, shops, restaurants, etc.) Anyway, while browsing the site, I came across a review for Craft Night and was intrigued.
We went to Craft Night not sure what to expect. All we had to go on was that blurb on the NFT website and the description on the official Craft Night website: adults doing crafts (yes, like crafts that you did in elementary school art class or in Cub Scouts) in the back room of a bar at night. We reluctantly entered the back room of Akbar and were promptly greeted by the self proclaimed "Craft Captain," Julianna "JP" Parr. Just over a dozen people (all in their 20s or 30s I would guess) sat at tables chatting, drinking, and most importantly crafting. The craft of the night was paint your own fashion rings. I can't say that my ring gets any use, but I did have a fun time painting that bulbous piece of plastic. My friend had so much fun, she painted not one, but two rings. As we sat there painting and gluing an excessive number of googly eyes to our rings, we chatted with JP and some fellow crafters. We learned that Craft Night goes back a number of years and has had several homes through its history.
Things like Craft Night are what make LA truly unique. Anywhere else in the country people spend their Wednesday nights watching "Are you Smarter than a Fifth Grader," or whatever the hot show of the moment is. But not me. I go crafting.
Craft Night held Wednesday nights 9pm-midnight at Akbar
4356 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90029
visit www.crafthead.com for schedule
We went to Craft Night not sure what to expect. All we had to go on was that blurb on the NFT website and the description on the official Craft Night website: adults doing crafts (yes, like crafts that you did in elementary school art class or in Cub Scouts) in the back room of a bar at night. We reluctantly entered the back room of Akbar and were promptly greeted by the self proclaimed "Craft Captain," Julianna "JP" Parr. Just over a dozen people (all in their 20s or 30s I would guess) sat at tables chatting, drinking, and most importantly crafting. The craft of the night was paint your own fashion rings. I can't say that my ring gets any use, but I did have a fun time painting that bulbous piece of plastic. My friend had so much fun, she painted not one, but two rings. As we sat there painting and gluing an excessive number of googly eyes to our rings, we chatted with JP and some fellow crafters. We learned that Craft Night goes back a number of years and has had several homes through its history.
Things like Craft Night are what make LA truly unique. Anywhere else in the country people spend their Wednesday nights watching "Are you Smarter than a Fifth Grader," or whatever the hot show of the moment is. But not me. I go crafting.
Craft Night held Wednesday nights 9pm-midnight at Akbar
4356 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90029
visit www.crafthead.com for schedule
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Farmer John Pig Mural
A few months ago a friend called me and said, "let's do something random.""Okay," I said as I picked up my trusty Lonely Planet Guide (the best travel guide series I've yet to find) to Los Angeles. I flipped aimlessly through the pages and landed on the Farmer John Pig Mural. Of course that caught my eye. What exactly was a "pig mural?" Turns out that it's exactly what it sounds like: a mural of pigs. If that isn't random enough, said mural is painted across the entirety of a factory for the Farmer John company which makes....pork products.
A pig mural was random enough to satisfy my friend's need for randomness, so we set out that afternoon for picturesque Vernon, CA. If you've never been to Vernon, you haven't missed anything (except, of course, for the Farmer John Pig Mural). Vernon is just south of downtown LA and consists of nothing but warehouses and factories. It honestly is one of the ugliest places I've ever seen. And to add to its charm, it sits on the scenic LA River.
Although there was no shortage of factories, finding the Farmer John factory was no problem, on account of the giant mural. The factory was probably about 100 by 150 yards, or in other words: big, and the mural covered the entire wall that wrapped around the complex and every exterior wall of every building. The whole mural came across as an exercise in contradiction; the grassy countryside depicted in industrial Vernon and pigs happily frolicking on the walls of a meat processing plant.
We must have spent at least half an hour exploring every inch of that mural. I've seen murals before and I've seen factories, but that was my first time seeing both together. The experience had just the right amount of weird to make an afternoon on a sidewalk outside a factory fun. You really should go check it out.
And the best part: the whole place smelled like bacon.
Farmer John Pig Mural
3049 E. Vernon Ave.
Vernon, CA 90058
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Welcome to "Going Hollywood: Adventures in Los Angeles!"
This blog is dedicated to that age old question, "what do you want to do today?" As a relatively new resident of LA and Southern California, I don't yet know everything that LA has to offer. However, I have begun to discover a few unique things to do in LA that even many natives are probably oblivious to. On this blog I plan to chronicle all the adventures I have in hopes of helping others escape the monster of boredom.
Sure we all know about Disneyland, Grauman's Chinese Theater, and the hottest club of the hour. Those are the sorts of things you can find in just about any travel guide to LA. Some of that will find its way into Going Hollywood, but my goal is to uncover all the adventures that LA has to offer, no matter how large or small. Going Hollywood is about really experiencing everything (and I mean everything) that LA has to offer.
I hope that this blog will inspire others to go out there and do something random and new. And if you come up with your own adventures in LA, I encourage you to post your experience, whether it be a fantastically unique restaurant you tried on Friday night or where you found the best Michael Jackson impersonator in town.
Whatever you do, stop asking "what should we do today," and just go out there and do something. Enjoy!
Sure we all know about Disneyland, Grauman's Chinese Theater, and the hottest club of the hour. Those are the sorts of things you can find in just about any travel guide to LA. Some of that will find its way into Going Hollywood, but my goal is to uncover all the adventures that LA has to offer, no matter how large or small. Going Hollywood is about really experiencing everything (and I mean everything) that LA has to offer.
I hope that this blog will inspire others to go out there and do something random and new. And if you come up with your own adventures in LA, I encourage you to post your experience, whether it be a fantastically unique restaurant you tried on Friday night or where you found the best Michael Jackson impersonator in town.
Whatever you do, stop asking "what should we do today," and just go out there and do something. Enjoy!
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