Simple Tip #14

Simple Tip #14: Living Life to the Fullest

“Carpe diem! Rejoice while you are alive; enjoy the day; live life to the fullest; make the most of what you have. It is later than you think.” - Horace, Ancient Roman Poet

My simple tip for you today is to live life to the fullest.

This is very simple. There are many ways to do it, but the most basic things you can do is to live in the moment and enjoy the smallest moments.

Thursday Treats #8

Thursday Treats #8: Phillippe's

Phillipe's was found in 1908 in Downtown L.A. across the street from Union Station. Along with Cole's, it is one of the oldest and best known restaurants in Los Angeles and remains in competition with Cole's for the title of the creator of the French Dip Sandwich. Phillippe's serves breakfast to dinner, and is truly a dining experience.

Entering Phillippe's, you're greeted by at least ten picnic tables and benches on the rush covered floor. A long counter makes up a wall of the restaurant. Here, you get in one of ten lines until you get to the front to meet one of the ten "carvers," your servers, who cook up the sandwiches, soups, breakfast food and the rest of the good meals Phillippe's serves. Behind the counter are many signs that range over the decades, proudly displaying the restaurant's history along with photographs and model trains.

Once you get to the counter, you have your choice of a "hearty breakfast" from 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Afterwards, take your pick of any of the famous sandwiches made with roast beef, lamb, turkey or ham, and any variation of cheese. Add a side of cole slaw, potato and macaroni salads, or any other number of sides. And don't forget Phillippe's homemade hot mustard, with which you are advised to only take a little "because it truly is very hot French mustard." If you're not in the mood for a sandwich, there's the homemade beef stew, made daily. Of course, you can't forget drinks - all standard drinks are sold - and don't forget that coffee is still a nickel.

Now, sit back (be careful though, you are sitting on benches) and enjoy!

Website: www.phillippes.com
Address: 1001 N. Alameda St. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Lazy Fridays #7

Lazy Fridays #7: LAX

What? LAX? What? Why would I include this? Well, LAX is what most people first see when they enter into Los Angeles. The Airport is the entry point for any planes landing in the area, unless you're in a small plane landing at Santa Monica or in Long Beach. So let's say, the entry point for commercial airlines.

Located in Westchester, the Airport is a great place for plane and people watching. There's an In-N-Out just by the runway in Westchester with a small patch of grass that's great to lie down on and watch the planes fly in. If you prefer being inside the airport, having lunch in the international terminal and then sitting by the windows to watch planes go in and out is fun too. This also gives you the chance to see the international travelers pass through on their way in and out.

If you're really looking for something unique to do, have dinner in LAX's Theme Building, which opened in 1961 and was styled with the Jetsons in mind. Just keep in mind that it is expensive to dine here.

Enjoy

Thursday Treats #7

Thursday Treats #7: Islands

I'm sorry, I'm getting so lazy with these. I have far too much homework and rehearsal. Anyways.

Islands Burgers, the Hawaiian, surfer culture inspired restaurant that dots the Southern California and Arizona landscape. Founded in 1982 by Tony DeGrazier in an effort to recreate the times he had in 0ahu while serving in the Navy, the first Islands opened in West L.A.

The decor is very much inspired by Hawaii. Thatch roof, tiki bar style counters make up the welcome desk, open kitchen and bar. Tables are styled like wooden, glazed surfboards. Tiki faces and surfboards line the walls along with photographs of surfers showing off their moves in wave tunnels. TVs are tucked into corners and consistently play x-treme sports footage.

The food is the best part. Favorites include the lemonade, shakes, fries, tortilla soup, tiki tenders, fish tacos and the wide selection of hamburgers. All burgers have names associated with Hawaii from the Big Wave to Maui to Pipeline. The original burger is the Big Wave. If you don't want your own set of fries or if your friends and family are known to steal a few, the endless basket of fries is a great option when with a group. You'll especially want this since the regular menu doesn't generally come with fries (you'll be picking off your kids). Any of the burgers are worth getting; my favorite though is the Maui burger. Be warned, these burgers are stuffed to the max, and there will be sauce dripping down your fingers.

This restaurant can be on the pricey side (about 10 dollars a burger), but is a great choice for when you want to go out to eat and have your family or friends with you.

Enjoy!

Islands: www.islandsrestaurants.com
Nutritional Information: http://www.islandsrestaurants.com/menu/nutritional/facts.aspx

Thursday Treats #6

I'm just going to post a short Thursday Treats today because I'm really tired, having just come back from my senior retreat. Well, Cafe Crepe is located at the end of the 3rd Street Promenade, across the street from the new Santa Monica Place. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful. When you first walk in, there is a dark stained wood bar, where the crepes and sandwiches are made. A majority of the seating are in booths and the walls are lined with posters advertising Perrier and the Folies Bergere.

The food is just as good; the menu has a variety of sweet and savory crepes, sandwiches, and other appetizers. I especially love getting either dark chocolate or nutella sweet crepes with bananas or strawberries. The only caution however, is to go in less hungry because service does take a while.

Don't let that discourage you though, because if you are in the mood for a good crepe, the Cafe Crepe is an excellent choice!

Short (Week) Hiatus

I know, I know! I'm so behind on posts! And the only excuse I can give is that I've been tremendously busy and tired lately. That being said, I'm leaving for senior retreat tomorrow, so I won't be posting anything till Sunday at the latest. Until then, enjoy past posts!

Lazy Fridays #5

Lazy Friday's #5: Angel's Flight

Keeping with the Downtown L.A. theme this week, I wanted to introduce you to Angel's Flight.

Angels Flight was originally opened in 1901 by Colonel J.W. Eddy, and is known as the "Shortest Railway in the World." It connected Hill Street with Olive Street in the Bunker Hill neighborhood of Downtown L.A. The railway did not receive its name until 1912, when it was officially acknowledged as Angels Flight (a nod to the cities name Los Angeles, which translates from Spanish to The Angels, and as recognition to the name that hung over the Hill Street entrance).

The railway opened in 1901 and ran until 1969, when it was closed due to redevelopment in the area surrounding. The pieces of the railway were put into storage in hopes of a restoration and reopening. Angels Flight was reopened in 1996 half a block from the original site, but closed following a fatal accident in 2001. The Flight has now been opened for a third time as of March 2010, and has run safely since the reopening.

I remember taking the railway during a class field trip to Downtown in second grade about a year before it was closed. It's a cool ride to take and with the original 1901 tramcars being used, it feels a little like being a part of history. It certainly has a way of feeling like 1901, with the tram fare being twenty-five cents, probably making it the cheapest transportation you will ever take in Los Angeles.

So if you spend an afternoon in Downtown, take a time to see something that has seemingly made its way down the path of history: Angels Flight. Enjoy!