This past Halloween, thousands of Angelenos gathered at the beautiful Legendary Park Plaza near MacArthur Park for KCRW’s Masquerade: A Halloween Costume Ball & Dance Party.  With one look at the massive two-story venue (several large wings and two outdoor areas for lounging and dining at some of LA’s premier food trucks), the set list (DJ Shadow, Sea Wolf, Little Dragon, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, various KCRW DJs) and the full costume participation of the guests, we knew this was going to be a stellar night. 

»continue reading KCRW’s Masquerade: A Halloween Costume Ball & Dance Party, October 31, 2009

Downtown Culver City has really developed over the last year, especially in the food department. It has been sarcastically dubbed as “CuCi” for its semi-pricey lunch and dinner spots. But in the armpit of CuCi, behind Ugo, Fraiche, Bottle Rock and the BofA, there’s a little alleyway gem that still keeps it real. REAL CHEAP. Aesthetically, this place is a skidmark and sore thumb in an area of newer and trendier businesses. Introducing Tokyo 7-7 Coffee Shop, a place that has been run by old-school Japanese Americans since 1983. Maybe even 1883.

I stumbled across this place when I was super poor one day during lunch. I was sick of Honey’s Kettle Fried Chicken, Fraiche and that one rib joint that is so so. I parked in the structure and there it was. Sure, why not.

»continue reading Under $10: Tokyo 7-7 Coffee Shop, Culver City

People walk and drive by you, without giving you as much as a glance.  People make fun of you.  People do not take you seriously.  People consider you to be lonely and desolate inside.  And people only come to you when they absolutely need something.  Why do people treat you like this?!

That’s because you are a strip mall.

»continue reading Under $10 – Cafe Bravo, Silver Lake – Tasty Armenian Meal

If you’re driving through the Pico/Union area and suddenly see the red & blue lights of hell through your rear view mirror, you’d better hope that you have any of the following:

(1) Pink box of assorted donuts

(2) A stack of $100 bills

(3) A fresh new set of implants poking through a tight tanktop and a whiny girl voice.  (More points for you if you’re male.)

But cops nowadays can be pretty picky and less inclined to fall for your bullsh*tting or flirting.  I think there is one solution though… a styrofoam box filled with some tasty, orange-roasted chicken and freshly cut fries from Dino’s Burgers.  Never mind the burgers, this place has been serving some of my favorite chicken in Los Angeles for a long time.  Everytime I’m here, there are cops taking a break.  Dino’s please do not start selling donuts.

»continue reading Under $10 – Dino’s Burgers

In Los Angeles, taco trucks have become so commonplace, like graffiti on overpasses and the occasional hooker j-walking the street at 9 am.  It’s hard to give it anymore attention than it already gets.  But driving down on Adams Blvd, I noticed this one particular truck out the corner of my eye by the “R” Ranch Bodega market on Adams, just west of La Brea.  Besides the usual tacos, burritos and quesadillas offered by most trucks, I was attracted by the words painted on this truck: tortas ahogadas.  I asked my coworker RM, who’s also my human, Spanish-dictionary, what that meant… “drowned torta”.   Drowned in what though?  I had to find out.

»continue reading Under $10: Tortas Ahogadas Guadalajara Truck