My Weekend in the Desert: Coachella 2012

Posted on May 16, 2012 by admin

At last, three weeks after Coachella, one crazy Vegas trip, and one nasty little cold later, I have finally gone through my photos from the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival! The trip was awesome and very, very hot, but great times were had overall. I’ve been an avid anti-Coachella-goer since probably 2005 or 2006 when the event started to make hugely commercial leaps and bounds. The lineup featured more money-making “mainstream” acts and fewer interesting and creative artists, prices went up, and the single-day pass option was removed. This year I let bygones be bygones and I bought a ticket to the event. The lineup was just too good for me to pass up.

My friends Anique and Josh joined me on my Coachella adventure. We stayed in Palm Springs, about 20 minutes from the venue. The only word I can use to describe the heat that weekend is penetrating. Because it really was. It seeped into my every pore and baked me alive. The average temperature that weekend was 106 degrees. We saw so many great artists that weekend that I was practically on overload. Perhaps the crowning moment, though, was seeing Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg live for the first time ever. I also discovered a few new artists that I fell in love with including St. Vincent, Kasabian and Neon Indian.

Believe it or not, advance tickets for Coachella 2013 go on sale tomorrow (Thursday)! If you dare, tickets are $349 for the three-day pass, and if 2013 is anything like 2012, these tickets will sell out quickly! Anyway…

Here are my top 5 lessons learned from Coachella 2012:

1) Driving your car is still better than taking shuttles. Coachella event parking is free, and the walk to and from the lot is not that bad when you consider walking to the shuttle, traveling on the shuttle and then walking to your hotel or car from the shuttle stop. I saw far too many sad people walking to their hotels from the shuttle stops at 1 a.m. You can also visit your car during the festival for extra food, water or other goodies you may have on board. Which brings me to the next lesson…

2) Don’t rent a locker. When I realized that the lockers are located at the entrance to the event, not terribly far from the parking lot, the locker became useless. We rented one for the weekend at about $65 (including a $20 deposit). We literally loaded it up day 1 and returned day 3 to unload it. Returning during the festival was not worth the long walk. Complete waste of time and money.

3) Plan to sweat like you never have before. Ok, this was no news flash. We planned for the heat, but there seriously must be a better way to have a music and arts festival? On day one, we arrived around 4:30 p.m. to see Neon Indian’s set. Only a song or two in, I felt like I was melting/dying of heat stroke. All my just-applied sunscreen was dripping off my skin within minutes. On days two and three, we arrived around 6 p.m., when it “cooled” off to about 100 degrees. All in all, the heat was responsible for us missing at least four hours of awesome music each day. No bueno.

4) Invest in a hat. Like I said, with 106 degrees being the norm, you can run but you cannot hide from the treacherous sun rays of desert doom. And not even your cute Dior shades can save you. I purchased a simple, black sunhat from a Palm Springs boutique a couple hours before we arrived at the event. Best $30 I spent this year!

5) Plan your morning and late-night food stops. Any time you travel somewhere new you should always research and find great restaurants in your price range so you don’t end up somewhere like Applebees (gags). I had heard Coachella was going to have amazing cuisine vendors inside the event so I didn’t plan any food stops. My bad. All that hype about Ruth’s Chris and fancy food trucks was only for VIP ticketholders. The ones who paid $800. In the mornings, we ended up at Starbucks and a mediocre new restaurant that was recommended to us called Lulu. At night (sigh) we were left to the wolves and had to suffer through Jack in the Box, Del Taco and McDonalds. Shame, shame.

Check out some of my favorite shots from Coachella weekend below!

Just arrived!

Coachella=Best place to take skyline photos.

Pre-Coachella sippin' on some lemonade.

: Outdoor Theatre.

Lunch. We were dripping with sweat here!

Ferris wheel.

Shrine exhibit.

Flower exhibit. A person was sitting inside the flower.

Shiny metal exhibit.

Sticks exhibit.

My favorite shot.

Kasabian.

In the middle of stage-hopping.

Feist.

Colored palm trees.

Adventures in breakfast.

: Sad crepe.

: Buh bye, Palm Springs.

OC’s Anti-shopping-establishment: The Lab in Costa Mesa

Posted on April 23, 2012 by admin

Let me begin by saying I am usually not a fan of the Orange County shopping scene. The bombardment of huge, soulless shopping centers and dogs riding in strollers is not my scene. I have, however, discovered a distinct selection of shopping spots that dare to stray from the pack. The Lab in Costa Mesa is one of them.

The self-proclaimed “anti-mall” drew my attention years ago, and I’ve been a loyal visitor ever since. This humble abode only contains 16 stores, restaurants and salons, but it caters rather successfully to the un-masses of South Orange County. The open plaza with comfy couches, hip artwork, oversized planters, strings of bright lights and a fire pit embody the rebellious nature of the shopping spot’s name, as this environment speaks anything but cliché shopping mall.

The Lab is one of my regular go-to spots for lunch-and-shop meetings with girlfriends. First I always stop at Gypsy Den for one of their delicious sandwiches. The tuna sandwich is my favorite, and it’s always loaded with juicy apples and cucumbers. Gypsy Den’s wholesome and hearty menu includes breakfast, lunch and dinner selections. They even sell homemade baked goods that are always mouthwatering. The coconut cake is available occasionally, and it will leave you yearning for more every time. Coffee drinks are always a vital determinant when café-hopping, so don’t worry; they make a mean chai tea latte and ice-blended mocha.

I never leave the Lab without a mosey through the Urban Outfitter’s sale section, Popkiller and Buffalo Exchange. Popkiller is a little overpriced, but throughout the years I’ve uncovered some definite fashion treasures here so I keep going back. On my last trip, I found the most beautiful vintage silk turquoise dress with a black peacock feather design overlay. I also snagged a 70s maxi dress with the brightest shades of green, yellow and magenta I think I have ever worn! Buffalo Exchange has locations in Los Angeles and Orange County, but I must say that the Lab location has the best quality and brand selection of all the stores. I once found the most sinful Diane Von Furstenberg black cocktail dress at this location for only $50.

Sometimes You Just Need to Take a Moment to be an Oinker…at The Oinkster

Posted on April 3, 2012 by admin

Hi, everyone! I feel like a bad blogger lately…I’ve been so wrapped up with life that I haven’t had a minute to report on everything I’m doing. Talk about fun things to do in California! I just started an acting class at South Coast Repertory Theatre in Costa Mesa, I’m starting a volunteer opportunity at Orangewood Children and Family Center in Orange soon, and, oh, I bought a new car. Busy business. But it’s all good.

On a recent trip to the Valley (the area North of Los Angeles) to look at a potential car, my dad and I were looking for a late-night snack on our way home. It was about 9 p.m. on a Monday night in Glendale. Where to go? “Oh dang,” I said. The Oinkster was only about 10 minutes away.

It. Had. To. Be. Done.

You may have heard of The Oinkster because it was featured on the Food Network television show “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives” a few years ago. The restaurant’s slogan is “slow fast food” because they smoke all their pork overnight in house. All the dishes can be described as elevated fast food, because they’re original and made with high-quality ingredients. It’s no wonder the owner Andre Guerrero used to be a fine-dining chef.

My dad and I stayed OG and had the BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich and the Oinkster Pastrami. These sandwiches are awesome because rather than getting a huge mouth full of pork (yuck), you get sweet caramelized onions and coleslaw to compliment the pork. The Oinkster Pastrami also comes with Gruyere cheese. Pastrami typically makes me want to gag, but The Oinkster has managed to master the sandwich, elevating it to please even the pickiest pork eaters.

In addition to pork, The Oinkster has other delicious menu items with variations on beef burgers, chicken sandwiches and rotisserie chicken. Their sinful Belgian fries are fried twice, and they are best when served with their homemade garlic aioli. By the way, if you’re not into garlic, the ketchup and chipotle ketchup are also house-made and almost as yummy!

The Oinkster is located on Colorado Boulevard in Eagle Rock—a very hip little area with some cute cafes nearby. The place was filled with hipsters with stretched earlobes and tattoos when my dad and I arrived that night. Very out of my dad’s 60-year-old-family-man element. Nonetheless, he seemed to really enjoy himself and the food!

Burger Death Wish: Slater’s 50/50

Posted on March 14, 2012 by admin

There I was. Battling to get down one more bite. I was not going to let the Slater’s 50/50 signature burger with 50 percent beef and 50 percent bacon get the best of me. But no. I was defeated.

Congratulations, Slater’s 50/50. In all my life, no other burger has left me so nauseated before I was only one-quarter of the way done!

Rewind about 20 minutes.

Slater’s 50/50 is a young legend. I’ve heard lots of buzz about this restaurant, but surprisingly, it only has three locations (two in Orange County and one in San Diego) and has only been open since 2009. My first impression of the burger restaurant and bar was a little underwhelmed when I arrived, though. I guess I expected a tad more of an elevated aesthetic—but really, who was I kidding? It’s a burger place. I supposed that such an exciting menu would merit some distinct branding elements that you immediately notice when you enter the restaurant. The bottom line is Slater’s 50/50 is not about ambiance. It’s about food. Food insanity.

The Slater’s 50/50 menu is impressive, with creative signature burgers like the Peanut Butter and Jellousy (beef patty topped with thick cut bacon, creamy peanut butter and strawberry jelly served on a honey wheat bun), the Thanksgiving Burger (turkey patty topped with stuffing, turkey gravy, cranberry sauce and sage mayonnaise served on a honey wheat bun) and the Eat Your Veggies Burger (vegan patty topped asparagus spears, avocado mash, cucumber and garlic aioli served on a honey wheat bun).

Slater’s 50/50 also has a design-your-own burger menu, listing a variety of meat, cheese, bread, and every burger topping and sauce you can imagine. Oh, what’s that you say? You want a turkey patty on ciabatta bread with brie cheese, wasabi mayo, sun-dried tomatoes and holiday stuffing? Slater’s 50/50 has you covered. They have it all!

The flavors and textures of the foods described on the menu sound quite good, however, I think the 50/50 patty—which is the restaurant’s trademark—is where it all goes wrong.

The name of the game is bacon. Many of the dishes on the menu include it, and get this…they serve bacon-infused ketchup, mayonnaise and even country gravy. I decided to embrace the bacon love and order the 50/50 burger, which has the classic half-beef and half-bacon patty, an egg sunny side up, avocado mash, pepper jack cheese and chipotle mayo on a brioche bun. Like I said before, I barely made it through one-fourth of this burger! Probably a new record in my life. Yes, sometimes you can have too much of a good thing, people.

My friend Mahsa and I also shared the French fried potatoes, fried artichoke hearts and Panko fried mac n’ cheese. The fries and mac n’ cheese balls were pretty standard and forgettable over all. The fried artichokes had potential but they were so, so greasy, you could barely enjoy them. Each bite was like a mini grease explosion on your tongue.

My main critique with Slater’s 50/50 is even though I fully expected a greasy-and-delicious burger-and-fries experience, nobody wants to be gagged by grease. Indulgent and great-tasting food doesn’t always have to make you feel ill. I’d be willing to give Slater’s another try some day, but I will most definitely steer clear of the 50/50 patty!

Appetizer hell. Oh, and that's bacon ketchup in the middle.

Attention, Hipsters! Goldenvoice Announces Pre-Coachella Concert Series

Posted on March 7, 2012 by admin

Weren’t planning to shell out $300 to attend Coachella next month? Or were you one of the uber-furious people who attempted to purchase tickets when the show sold out in January? Either way, you’ll be happy to hear that Goldenvoice just announced an impressive series of shows featuring Coachella 2012 acts on April 11-12, 16-19 and 23.

Some of the Coachella bands playing this concert series are Refused, Madness, M83, Bon Iver, Pulp and more. Music fans are already salivating over the lineup on Facebook and Twitter, and many of the shows go on sale this week and next.

Oh PS I am now on Bloglovin, so make sure to follow me! Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Scope out the calendar below and plan your anti-Coachella show spree!

What to Eat? It’s OC Restaurant Week

Posted on March 2, 2012 by admin

Just when I was recovering from dineLA Restaurant Week, bam! Orange County Restaurant Week comes creeping up on me. OC Restaurant Week started last Sunday and goes until tomorrow, March 3. If you’re planning to be in the Orange County area today or tomorrow, you should check out some of the sweet lunch and dinner deals offered at 100 top Orange County restaurants.

If you’re not familiar with the Restaurant Week events in Southern California, read my dineLA entry from last October. It’s basically a chosen week when restaurants in the community—both casual- and fine-dining destinations—offer a range of discounted fixed-price menus. The idea is to turn on new clientele who normally would not have dined at these restaurants.

I was going to save my soul from overindulgence this weekend, however, my friend Mahsa and I planned to get together for lunch tomorrow—how convenient, huh? So I suppose I will be participating after all! Mahsa wants to try Slater’s 50/50, a gourmet burger restaurant that I’ve been meaning to try. Some dishes that sound amazing (and worry me at the same time) are the Panko Fried Mac N’ Cheese, Fried Chicken and Pancakes, and the Carbonara Burger. *Mary exits in shame and goes to the gym*.

There are quite a few forgettable restaurants on this list (Sorry, OC), but there are a selection of restaurants that bring back yummy memories to my mind. Read my picks for this round of OC Restaurant Week below.

Anaheim White House – This place is wow. I’ve been meaning to write a review on the White House, because the food is seriously tasty and exquisitely presented. Have the Rigatoni Carbonara, and you can thank me later.

Café Tu Tu Tango – Who doesn’t like tapas? This place has some creative and yummy dishes that are great for sharing with friends. If you’re going to be out in a group this weekend, you might want to stop by for this deal, the zany artwork and décor, and the fun bar atmosphere.

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament – First of all, if you live in Southern California and you’ve never been here, shame on you! Medieval Times is the only place in Cali where you can watch hot guys on horses save princesses while you gnaw on a chicken leg. I’m sold.

Memphis at the Santora – Get your soul food love on at this chic, retro-inspired diner in downtown Santa Ana. This area has some beautiful historic architecture, and it’s across the way from Gypsy Den, one of my favorite Orange County artsy coffee shops. Head over for coffee after your meal.

Mosaic Bar & Grille – I haven’t actually eaten here myself, but my very trusty sources tell me this place is a must-try. The Laguna Beach views and inspiring design of the Montage Hotel are enough of a reason to venture out here for lunch.

Tommy Bahama’s Island Grille – I’m still bewildered by the fact that this island-inspired clothing brand my dad wears has restaurants. My coworker and I ended up here randomly about a year ago, and the food was actually very delicious. The sliders were perfectly cooked and paired with flavor combinations that left us oohing and awing.

At the Anaheim White House. And that's their amazing chocolate souffle!

Rigatoni Carbonara

I told you Anaheim White House goes all out with presentation.

Celebrate Leap Year with Mickey Mouse…All Night Long!

Posted on February 27, 2012 by admin

For those of you who thought you were way too cool to participate in the all-nighter Grad Night Disneyland trip with your senior class in high school (like me), I have good news for you. You can finally do away with regret this Wednesday, Feb. 29—the day of Leap Year. To commemorate Leap Year (which is when we get an extra day in the month of February, an event that only occurs every four years), Disneyland in Anaheim will stay open for 24 hours straight. On this day, entitled “One More Disney Day,” the park will open at 6 a.m. on Feb. 29 and close March 1 at 6 a.m.

Finally you can ride Star Tours while the midnight stars shine. Finally you can spin in the Mad Tea Party teacups as you watch the sunrise. Well, for some diehard Disney disciples, this is a big deal. So big that Disneyland is letting guests line up at 10 p.m. the night before the event commences. The first 2,000 guests to enter the park will also receive limited-edition Mickey ears created especially for the celebration.

The OC Register has been reporting on the upcoming festivity since the news broke, so check in with them for the latest happenings on the big day. Hope all you Mickey-lovers can make it out to the party!

Oh, also, I only live about five minutes from Disneyland, so it would just be criminal if I didn’t post a few of my favorite photos at the happiest place on earth! Check them out below.

Causing some ruckus at Frontierland Shootin' Exposition! Actually I didn't really even hit any targets...

My friend Joseph and I on Space Mountain. This is how we do in Cali, ok?

On the King Arthur Carrousel. One of my childhood favorites! Magical.

I Left My Heart on Melrose Avenue

Posted on February 24, 2012 by admin

It’s finally the weekend, and for once, I am actually excited to hang around the house all weekend! The last few weekends have been rather busy. I was fortunate enough to spend the last couple Saturdays at my most favorite shopping/hanging-out spot in Los Angeles. Melrose Avenue, which runs parallel between Santa Monica Boulevard and Beverly Boulevard in Los Angeles, has it all—high-end, trendy shops; vintage stores; cheap boutiques; and bizarre stores selling the odd and rare. And what shopping excursion would be complete without a few yummy eateries along the way!

My friend Anique and I hit up Melrose the day before the Grammy Awards a couple weeks ago. There was a lot of traffic and plenty of pre-Grammy events happening in the area, so maybe it was a bad idea… Coincidentally it was also the day Whitney Houston passed away. Sadly, we were only about 10 minutes away from the Beverly Hilton where she was found dead that afternoon. Besides visiting a few of our favorite shops, we had lunch at The Village Idiot, an English-style pub serving some legit dishes.

Steak and potato pie (simply amazing!) and fish and chips.

I just couldn’t get enough of Melrose, so last weekend I went back with my friend Jacky. After we spent the morning getting massages in Pasadena at Happy Feet Massage (which was ok because I got a Google Offer for $22, but I’ve had much, much better massages), we spent the day shopping up and down Melrose. Later we had dinner at Pizzeria Mozza. Yum. You will see why soon. It was a long day, but it was so much fun!

We started off at some our favorite places ever: Tarina Tarantino and Betsey Johnson. Though you can find her merchandise in some boutiques and department stores, the glamorous and glitzy jewelry designer Tarina Tarantino only has one store in the U.S. and one in Italy. (Soon she will open one in New York and another in downtown Los Angeles). Betsey Johnson has quite a few stores in the U.S., but why skip an opportunity to shop in a beautifully girly store with pink walls? Plus, they always have some sort of sale going on so it’s worth a visit.

I love you, Tarina Tarantino.

Jewelry and cupcakes.

Yes, you could put out an eye with that crazy ring.

It's Betsey time!

Then we stumbled upon a small vintage store called LA Rose. The owner has a good eye for classic high-end brands and unique prints and color, but for some reason, most of the skirts and dresses were ankle length. Not usually my cup of tea. I did, however, find a beautiful silk, pleated navy blue skirt by Liz Claiborne. Oh, and some chic-as-hell navy-blue-and-white-polka-dot earrings for $5.

Everything is coming up LA Roses!

Next we took a gander at the goodies and toys in Kidrobot and Munky King. These stores have awesome artwork, toys and gifts. If you need a fun and unique gift or just want to browse cool stuff while you sip your latte, definitely check out these stores. Melrose—and LA in general—is filled with fun little shops like this, and that is why I love it so much. Of course, my favorite find in Munky King was “Everybody Dies,” a darkly comedic children’s book explaining death to adults. Good times.

Kidding around in Kidrobot.

Robert Smith of The Cure and me with my black heart. Do we see a theme here?

So after Jacky and I were nice and devastated by the death book, wasn’t it fitting that we rushed down to one of my all-time favorite Melrose stops… Necromance? This dark boutique is not for everyone, but I assure you it’s got some amazing finds. Butterfly-wing necklaces, taxidermy bride and groom mice, vintage Asian jewelry boxes, odd historical relics, and nature and science illustration prints are just some of the eclectic treasures in this store. This is another excellent place to pick up artwork and gifts that no one else will have.

Those are real taxidermy animals in the window.

We closed out the day and rested our tired feet at Pizzeria Mozza (the counterpart to the fine dining destination Osteria Mozza), located at Highland and Melrose Avenue. Let me start out by saying it’s a month-long wait to get a reservation here. Ok! The place was buzzing and steamy when we arrived for our 6:15 p.m. reservation. The smell of garlic and other delicious Italian delights filled the tiny, crowded restaurant. We started out with the Mozza Caprese. It was perfect—especially when you request a side of the deep-fried bread to dip in it! Please see ridiculously yummy photos below. We also shared the Margherita Pizza and—my favorite—the pizza featuring bacon, Yukon gold potato, Bermuda onions and a fried egg in the center! For dessert, we shared the Butterscotch budino, sea salt and rosemary pine-nut cookies. The richness of this decadent treat far exceeds its $10 price tag!

Fatty friend times.

I'm getting hungry just looking at this pic.

I knew you'd want to see this pizza love up close.

We didn’t get to visit all of my favorite stores and eateries, so check out a list of more must-see Melrose stops below. Happy travels!

That's all, folks!

More Melrose Avenue Gems

Antonio’s Restaurant

Chuck’s Vintage

Crossroads Trading Co.

Stir Crazy Coffee Shop

World of Vintage Tee Shirts

XTC on Melrose

dineLA Gluttony: Fogo de Chao

Posted on February 15, 2012 by admin

They just won’t stop bringing me food!

This was me last week when my friend Anique and I went to the last night of dineLA Restaurant Week at Fogo de Chao. It wasn’t until I did some research that I found out the restaurant is just one huge buffet.

The first course is access to the restaurant’s grand salad bar with smoked salmon, huge spears of asparagus, palm-sized balls of fresh mozzarella and much more. Then they brought us the pao de queijo. Translation: fresh, melted mozzarella baked inside puff pastry. Wow. I’m pretty sure this is what they eat in heaven.

Photo Credit: Fogo de Chao

Buffet yums

Next you receive a few Brazilian side dishes – crispy, hot polenta; garlic mashed potatoes; and caramelized bananas. (Gluttonous side note: when we were halfway through our sides, they brought out new ones and tossed the ones we were still working on!)

Sides

Then, since it’s a churrascaria, they start bringing around 15 different types of meat. Each guest receives a token with a green side and red side. Turn the token to green to have the chefs stop by and cut you a piece of meat—over and over again. When you cannot handle anymore, you turn the token to the red side.

I was crying before I even ate any of the meats. Sigh. This place is not good for my small stomach capacity. But the food was excellent. A beautiful dream that quickly turned into a nightmare! See for yourself.

Before

After?

Green means more meat, please!

The end.

This Just In…Tarina Tarantino Showroom Sample Sale Tomorrow!

Posted on January 26, 2012 by admin

I just wanted to share some last-minute sample sale news I found on Facebook today. Tomorrow, Friday, January 27, Tarina Tarantino will be having a showroom sample sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the New Mart building in Los Angeles. According to the post from the official Tarina Tarantino Facebook page, you can expect to find “super rare collectables and lots of hearts and sparkle.” Tarantino is one of my most favorite jewelry designers, and I own many of her unique pieces. Her jewelry is not only beautiful but also durable.

If you’re in the downtown LA area tomorrow, I highly recommend you stop by to score some deals! Happy shopping, friends!

Tarina Tarantino’s Sparkling Showroom Sample Sale

Friday, January 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

New Mart Building, 127 E. 9th St., #408, Los Angeles

Sporting my Tarina Tarantino Hello Kitty gothic necklace in Vegas.

Photo Credit: Tarina Tarantino

California Girl Diaries

What to do in Southern California