Happened upon Isaac Toast on what turned out to be their actual opening day this morning in Westwood. They’re on tucked away on Weyburn Ave, round the corner from Coffee Bean on the way to Trader Joe’s. Not sure what kind of foot traffic they’ll get down that way, but glad to see an occupied storefront for now at least. As the very first U.S. outpost of a Korean street food turned national chain, they plugged in a fully formed brand and design aesthetic from the get go–clean lines, futuristic retro decor, sans serif fonts, pretty much pitched in the same zone as Asian counterparts Famima!! and Pinkberry.

I was their eighth customer ever, which entitled me to a free coupon for a soda or coffee (WITH purchase). Went for the $5.45 Isaac Sandwich, Bacon edition, on wheat toast (a bagel is a ten-cent upgrade). Ingredients listed are: Isaac Sauce–not sure, something sweet apparently–Bacon and “Veggie+”, which apparently includes tomatoes, shredded cabbage slaw and a bit of corn sprinkled in. Their literature takes pains to plug the nutritional aspects of the ingredients (“Tomatoes are a good source of vitamin C, A, K and a very good source of molybdenum, potassium and manganese”). Unlisted, however, in the ingredients were the fried egg and slice of cheddar, which apparently are standard on everything across the full menu. Their slogan is “Tasty, Toasty & Healthy”–two out of three ain’t bad. I’ll report back as I work my way through the menu, including some interesting looking juice, tea & coffee offerings.

Read about Isaac Toast in South Korea here on sixthseal.com.

A couple more lousy shots of the sandwich wrapping and exterior below.

»continue reading Korea’s Isaac Toast Sandwich Shop–First U.S. Location Now Open in Westwood–First Impressions

Chris O’Donnell, LL Cool J bring the buddy cop show back with “NCIS: Los Angeles”

Now that it’s a bona fide hit and getting AP feature articles, let us say we have not overlooked this new stupefying, impossibly terrible Los Angeles based show. When they least expect it, we’ll be there to throw our rotten tomatoes at this turkey, count on it.

Chicago White Sox acquire Juan Pierre in trade with Los Angeles Dodgers

Going to miss J.P. in the Blue, looking like a kid, with his high socks and huge jersey top. Not the strongest arm in the outfield but never dogged it and always hustled. A reliable bat and solid overall offensive catalyst. The more Manny disappoints, the more J.P. will be missed.

Legendary ArcLight Cinemas’ Cinerama Dome and XpanD Team Up to Present Avatar, The Ultimate 3D Cinema Experience

Since its inception in 1963, the iconic Cinerama Dome has never played a movie in 3D format as it was considered technically impossible. XpanD, the world’s leading 3D technology provider, being the most efficient and technology suitable 3D cinema choice with the capability to accommodate a screen size of 32 x 86 feet and to project digital 3D on a giant curved dome, managed to bridge the historical technical 3D challenge.

OpenTable Announces 2009 Diners’ Choice Awards for Restaurants with the Most Vibrant Bar Scenes

Hal’s Bar & Grill (Venice), Mucho (Manhattan Beach), O-Bar Restaurant (West Hollywood) & Rush Street (Culver City) make the list. Haven’t been to a single one of these. Any good?

Another year. Another ton of food in my belly. Before I take part in my yearly New Year’s purging ritual – a pastrami sandwich every New Year’s Day whether it makes my gentle stomach upset or not – I thought I would share the eleven things I enjoyed most in 2009. There are two simple parameters. First, 2009 had to be the inaugural year in which I consumed the food item. And, secondly, the item needed to be priced low enough that former bankers could afford them.

BEST CHICKEN SANDWICH
Chicken Club
Westside Tavern (West L.A.)
As a noted chicken sandwich connoisseur amongst my friends and parents it is safe to say I know my shit. And the Westside Tavern, probably my favorite new restaurant of 2009 overall, does the chicken sandwich right. The bacon is awesome. The sourdough is awesome. The chicken club is awesome. [Photo from hungrykat.blogspot.com]
 

BEST PIZZA
Mushroom and Peppers Pizza
Nicky D’s (Silver Lake)
There’s a reason I’ve convinced multiple Westside buddies to venture to the outskirts of the desert (a.k.a. Silverlake) for Nicky D’s. Simply put, The Best Pie in Los Angeles. Try it with mushrooms and peppers – you won’t be disappointed. If you are, go back to Papa John’s, you fucking idiot.
 

BEST FOOD TRUCK
Border Grill
It also almost feels like cheating categorizing Border Grill amongst their fellow food truck pedestrians. That’s the way it goes though. Everything is good: the fish tacos, the carne asada quesadillas, the butternut squash soup. Tip: I once found a free coupon for a taco literally under the menu board. [Photo from Gastronomyblog.com]
 

Best Bread Pudding, Best Fish and Chips, Best Morning Muffin, Best Israeli Couscous, Best Drink, Best Garlic Bread, Best Cake and Best Breakfast Potatoes below.

»continue reading The 11 Best Things I Ate This Year in Los Angeles (In This Economy Edition)

Finally got around to the Californication season finale over here. This show was never really an immersive watch for me, usually I regarded it with a seemingly appropriate level of ironic detachment. I’ll watch it because nothing else is on, etc. They haven’t done themselves any favors by basically marketing it as low brow T&A fare, which, of course, it can be, but it does have a little bit more going on, now finishing up its third season.

In general, the plot scenarios can feel contrived, the characters drift into cartoony caricatures, the dialogue’s not particularly clever, and the acting by anyone other than Duchovny or Natasha McElhone is hit and miss. I don’t know that any of this improved markedly in this season, but somehow it snuck up on me. I can’t deny I felt something over this crazy Moody family not being able to live happily ever after, so the show must be doing something right. I give it respect for having the balls to close shop for the season on such a downbeat note (if not even close to the downer on which Dexter ended) even if flying in a lingering threat from seasons past is a bit deus ex machina.

Not to damn it with faint praise, but it’s become a far better “L.A. show” than Entourage these days, to make the inevitable (admittedly lazy common) comparison. It might not have the flashy high end brand name-checks and big time celeb cameos that the HBO vehicle does, but there is an overall mood (maybe dominated by Hank’s own ennui) and a tone (frustration, mostly this year) hovering about the show that is tapping in to something distinctly L.A. It’s hard to define, but it’s right there in any of several candlelit dinner party scenes or random Venice daytime exterior scene. It’s also more true to life on an interpersonal level than Entourage–the Hank/Karen relationship alone is as fraught with more recognizably real world difficulty than Vince’s, E’s, Turtle’s, Johnny Drama’s and Lloyd’s love lives combined–if not as accurate in the shiny surface details. Here’s to looking forward to season four.

Up In The Air comes out leading the Golden Globes pack with six nominations, including Best Picture, Drama. I liked this movie a lot. All three leads hit it out of the park–Anna Kendrick, Clooney, Vera Farmiga, maybe in that order. Somehow feel like I can’t quite love it, yet. Maybe on a second viewing love will blossom.

My take on The Hurt Locker, also nominated for Best Picture, is that it is a perfect, compact movie, but not a “Best Picture,” if makes any sense. It doesn’t really have the grand sweep or scope or post-viewing lingering effect, that signify Best Picture, for me at least.

Nice to see Joe Gordon-Levitt get the nod for (500) Days of Summer. While it’s a bit curious to see A Serious Man lumped into the comedy category to squeeze in a Best Actor nom for Michael Stuhlbarg.

Full list of nominations here.

HEADS UP

Weekend One, Thursday 4/22 – Sunday 4/25

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (Weekend One 4-day Thurs-Sun ticket) Thurs 4/22 – Sun 4/25/2010
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (Weekend One 3-day Fri-Sun ticket) Fri 4/23 – Sun 4/25/2010
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (Weekend One One day ticket) Fri 4/23, Sat 4/24 or Sun 4/25/2010

Weekend Two, Thursday 4/29 – Sunday 5/2

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (Weekend Two 4-day Thurs-Sun ticket) Thurs 4/29 – Sun 5/2/2010
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (Weekend Two 3-day Fri-Sun ticket) Fri 4/30 – Sun 5/2/2010
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (Weekend Two One day ticket) Fri 4/30 – Sun 5/2/2010

Pearl Jam photo by Lindsey. From their 9/30/09 Gibson show.

According to comments by his father to a Japanese television, the deal to bring “Godzilla” to Anaheim is done.

“I feel relieved,” said Masao Matsui. “I didn’t think it would be decided so quickly. I’m eager to see his play in a new environment and can’t wait to see the new Matsui.”

歓迎への Orange County, 松井 秀喜!

 
Above 2008 AP photo of Hideki showing the press what his then new wife looks like.

A Chanticleer Christmas
Deck the Hall Holiday Concerts
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Thursday, December 17, 8:00 p.m.
Tickets & Info
The Grammy-winning “orchestra of voices” returns for its wildly popular annual concert, bringing an eclectic program of Christmas music guaranteed to make your holiday season resonate with an exquisite glow. More about Chanticleer.

HEADS UP

Eagles @ Hollywood Bowl Fri 4/16
Eagles @ Hollywood Bowl Sat 4/17
Eagles @ Hollywood Bowl Tue 4/20

Two of the three nights going right up against Friday and Saturday nights of the Coachella Festival. Something tells us they’re OK with that. Those two demo groups probably don’t have much, if any, overlap.

Prologue. Marina Del Rey CourtYard Marriott, Sandalwood Conference Room. We start in the midst of a heated tete-a-tete between Losanjealous jefe LaVerne Casagrande and mercurial writer DF.

LC: Well, what if we sweetened the deal by offering you a coupon for thirty-five cents off a Tommy’s chiliburger?

Yea, Lords and Ladies of the merrie village of Los Angeles! Let the Bard DF tell you a tale! Tis a tale of brave wheeled damsels who wage battle at yon Doll Factory. Hardy of spirit and fleet of skate, these ladies circumnavigate ye olde banked track, laughing the face of Dame Fortune (and her irascible cousin, Lady Brokenleg, who DF found to be a real bitch) in search of glory, fame, and sweet, sweet victory. Read on, and you shall hear the story of a bout so scintillating that ‘twould cause even the stoutest knight to defecate in his suit of armor, and the veil of the daintiest maiden to burst into flames and reduce her to a naught but a heap of ash.

»continue reading DF Sells Out: LA Derby Dolls Championship Bout @ the Doll Factory, 12/5/09

Mika Miko @ The Smell New Year’s Eve, Thu 12/31/09
Mika Miko @ The Smell New Year’s Day Fri, 1/1/10 (Last show ever)

Rare advance tickets to The Smell at Ticketweb via above links–No tix at the door night of show.

Photo by Sung. Mika Miko at this year’s FYF Fest.

 
PREVIOUS MIKA MIKO

Mika Miko, FY Fest V, 8/30/2008
Mika Miko, Central Library Mark Taper Auditorium, 4/20/2008

HEADS UP

Coachella Music and Arts Festival @ Empire Polo Field, Indio Fri 4/16
Coachella Music and Arts Festival @ Empire Polo Field, Indio Sat 4/17
Coachella Music and Arts Festival @ Empire Polo Field, Indio Sun 4/18

Two different ticket layaway plans begin this morning at 10:00 am at the above links. New for 2010: camp out right next to your car (not under). Feel free to blast your car radio all night. Also new for 2010: festival Ins and Outs so you can come and go from the festival and do that trudge to the parking lot as many times as you please throughout the day.

PICK OF THE WEEK

Third Annual Christmas Sweater Festival
The Deadly Syndrome, The Pity Party, eskimohunter, Signals, 400 Blows & more
El Rey Theater
Saturday, December 19th
Info
[ENTER TO WIN]
 
 

Edward Sharpe
& the Magnetic Zeros
w/ Los Cafeteras
Mayan Theatre
Monday, December 14
Info
[ENTER TO WIN]
 
 
 

HEADS UP

Nouvelle Vague @ Henry Fonda Tue 2/9
Air @ Disney Concert Hall Sun 3/28
Princeton w/ Parson Red Heads @ Spaceland Sat 12/12
Steel Panther @ House of Blues Mon 12/21
Local Natives, Voxhaul Broadcast, Chief @ The Echo Tue 12/22
Bilal, Exile & DJ Day feat. Blu, Milosh, Om Mas Keith, Shafiq Husayn, DJ sets by Daedalus, J.Rocc, Kutmah; Surprise Guests (Plug Research 2010) Tue 12/22
Steel Panther @ House of Blues Mon 12/28
A.A. Bondy @ Center for the Arts Eagle Rock Sat 1/16
STS9 @ The Wiltern Fri 2/12
Rogue Wave @ El Rey Thu 4/29
RJD2 w/ Happy Chichester & Busdriver @ El Rey Tue 4/6
 

TUESDAY
4th Annual Aimee Mann Christmas Show @ Largo
Handel’s Messiah @ Disney Concert Hall
Melt Banana @ Glass House
Rural Alberta Advantage @ Bootleg Theater

»continue reading Losanjealous Concert Picks: December 14 – 20

»continue reading Tickets On Sale Tomorrow, Saturday 12/12–Air, BRMC, Editors, Norah Jones, Nouvelle Vague, RJD2