Posts by Ron

Nestled along a narrow street right off of the Venice Beach Boardwalk, Piccolo Ristorante is a cozy little Italian restaurant that’s only a stones throw away from the water. With only about a dozen tables in total, 10 inside and 2 outside, the atmosphere at this neighborhood spot is awfully romantic.

Piccolo Ristorante opens its doors at 5pm and doesn’t accept reservations, so you’ll have to either come in early or be prepared for about an hour wait (depending on how busy it is of course). If you find yourself on the waiting list then you have a few options. There is a neighborhood bar right around the corner where you can enjoy some drinks and live music. You can also hang out inside the restaurant, but you’ll have to settle for sitting on the steps (with a bottle of wine of course).

All of its dishes are prepared using only the freshest ingredients and accentuate the flavors of Northern Italy. Their wine list isn’t particularly amazing, but they do have a pretty good selection of Italian wines. The food at Piccolo Ristorante has always been consistent, but I wasn’t crazy about it the last time I visited. Their signature dish – the Potatoes and Fig Tortellini was excellent, but the rest of the food came out a little too salty (something everyone in my party noticed). I’m not one of those people who complain and send the food back, so I did end up eating it all. Since this wasn’t my first time at the restaurant and I was happy in the past, I’ll just treat this as an isolated incident.

The food is not cheap; a bottle of wine, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, and dessert will run you about $150 (with tip).

Getting Here

Parking in Venice Beach can be a little tricky, so your best bet is to park at the lot on Rose Ave & Speedway for $4. After parking your car, take the Boardwalk a few blocks south and then make a left on Dudley Street; Piccolo Ristorante will be on your left.

Shopping at a Farmers’ Market allows you to purchase the freshest produce directly from the farmer. And since you’re dealing directly with the farmer, the produce is actually cheaper because the farmer is able to pass on the savings to you (as opposed to dealing with a distributor and/or store which cuts into their profits).

Here is a schedule of Farmers’ Market locations around Los Angeles County on any given day of the week:

MONDAY

Bellflower
When: 9am to 1pm
Where: Oak St and Clark Ave

South Gate
When: 9am to 1pm
Where: Tweedy Blvd & Pinehurst Ave

West Hollywood
When: 9am to 2pm
Where: Plummer Park

 

TUESDAY

Baldwin Park
When: 4pm to 9pm
Where: Ramona Blvd & Cesar E Chavez Dr

Culver City
When: 2pm to 7pm
Where: Culver Blvd & Main St

Highland Park
When: 3pm to 7pm
Where: Marmion Way & N Avenue 58

La Verne - University of La Verne
When: 5:30pm to 9pm (May through August)
Where: Bonita Avenue & D Street

Lynwood
When: 12pm to 5pm
Where: Martin Luther King Jr Blvd & Cesar E Chavez Ln

Manhattan Beach
When: 12pm to 4pm
Where: Morningside Dr & 13th St

Norwalk
When: 9am to 1pm
Where: Pioneer Blvd & Alondra Blvd

Pasadena - Villa Park
When: 9am to 1pm
Where: E Villa St & N Garfield Ave

Torrance
When: 8am to 1pm
Where: Charles Wilson Park

 

WEDNESDAY

Gardena
When: 7:30am to 12pm
Where: W 162nd St & La Salle Ave

Huntington Park
When: 9:30am to 1pm
Where: Florence Ave & Bissell St (At Salt Lake Park)

San Dimas
When: 4:30pm to 8:30pm (April through September)
Where: 245 E. Bonita Ave

Santa Monica - 3rd St Promenade
When: 9am to 2pm
Where: Arizona Ave & 3rd St Prom

Westchester
When: 8:30am to 1pm
Where: Truxton Ave & W 87th St

 

THURSDAY

Carson
When: 9am to 1pm
Where: E Carson St & Bonita St

Century City
When: 11:30am to 3pm
Where: Constellation Blvd & Ave of the Stars

El Segundo
When: 3pm to 7pm
Where: Pine Ave & Main St

Glendale
When: 9:30am to 1pm
Where: N Brand Blvd & E Wilson Ave

Los Angeles - Chinatown
When: 4pm to 8pm
Where: N Hill St & Alpine St

Los Angeles - Figueroa & 7th
When: 10am to 4pm
Where: S Figueroa St & W 7th St

Redondo Beach
When: 8am to 1pm
Where: Harbor Dr - W Veterans Park

Signal Hill
When: 2pm to 7pm
Where: Walnut Ave & E 27th St

South Pasadena
When: 4pm to 8pm
Where: Mission St & Meridian Ave

Westwood
When: 1pm to 7pm
Where: Constitution Ave & Davis Ave

 

FRIDAY

Covina
When: 5pm to 9pm (April through December)
Where: N Citrus Ave & E San Bernardino Rd

Echo Park
When: 3pm to 7pm
Where: Logan St Parking Lot (South of Sunset Blvd)

Hermosa Beach
When: 12pm to 4pm
Where: N Valley Dr & 10th St

Los Angeles - Eagle Rock
When: 5pm to 8:30pm
Where: 2100 Merton Ave

Los Angeles - Figueroa & 7th
When: 10am to 4pm
Where: S Figueroa St & W 7th St

Los Angeles - Wilshire Center
When: 11:30am to 3pm
Where: Wilshire Blvd & S Mariposa Ave

Lawndale
When: 8am to 1pm
Where: Hawthorne Blvd & W 147th St

Long Beach - Downtown
When: 10am to 4pm
Where: E Broadway & The Promenade N

Monrovia
When: 5pm to 9pm (March through December); 4pm to 8pm (September through May)
Where: E Olive Ave & S Myrtle Ave

San Pedro - Old Town
When: 9am to 2pm
Where: W 7th St & S Mesa St

Venice
When: 7am to 11am
Where: N Venice Blvd & Venice Way

Whittier
When: 8:30am to 1pm
Where: Greenleaf Ave & Bailey St

 

SATURDAY

Burbank
When: 8am to 12:30pm
Where: E Olive Ave & N Glenoaks Blvd

Calabasas Old Town
When: 8am to 1pm
Where: Calabasas Rd & Mulholland Dr

Central Avenue
When: 9am to 1pm
Where: 43rd St & Central Ave

Cerritos
When: 8am to 12pm
Where: Park Plaza Drive & Towne Center Drive

Chatsworth
When: 8am to 1pm
Where: Canoga Ave & Devonshire St

Diamond Bar
When: 9am to 2pm
Where: 1920 S. Brea Canyon Cutoff Rd

Gardena
When: 6:30am to 12pm
Where: Van Ness Ave & West El Segundo Blvd

Los Angeles - Harambee
When: 10am to 4pm
Where: Crenshaw Blvd & W Slauson Ave

Los Angeles - Figueroa & 7th
When: 10am to 4pm
Where: S Figueroa St & W 7th St

Los Angeles - Silverlake
When: 8am to 1pm
Where: W Sunset Blvd & Edgecliffe Dr

La Canada Flintridge
When: 8am to 12pm
Where: Foothill Blvd & Beulah Dr

La Verne - University of La Verne
When: 9am to 1pm
Where: Bonita Avenue & D Street

Leimert Park Village
When: 9am to 2pm
Where: W 43rd St & Degnan Blvd

Little Tokyo
When: 10am to 3pm
Where: S San Pedro St & E 2nd St (Weller Court)

Pasadena - Victory Park
When: 8:30am to 1pm
Where: N Sierra Madre Blvd & Paloma St

Pamona
When: 7:30am to 11:30am
Where: N Garey Ave & E Pearl St

Santa Monica - Pico
When: 8am to 1pm
Where: Pico Blvd & Cloverfield Blvd

Santa Monica - 3rd St Promenade
When: 8:30am to 1pm
Where: Arizona Ave & 3rd St Prom

Torrance
When: 8am to 1pm
Where: Charles Wilson Park

 

SUNDAY

Alhambra
When: 8:30am to 1pm
Where: S Monterey St & E Bay State St

Atwater Village
When: 10am to 2pm
Where: 3250 Glendale Blvd

Beverly Hills
When: 9am to 1pm
Where: Civic Center Dr

Brentwood
When: 9am to 1pm
Where: Gretna Green Way & San Vicente Blvd

Encino
When: 8am to 1pm
Where: Victory Blvd & White Oak Ave

Hollywood
When: 8am to 1pm
Where: Ivar Ave & Selma Ave

Larchmont Village
When: 10am to 2pm
Where: Larchmont Blvd

Long Beach - Marina
When: 8am to 1pm
Where: E 2nd St & E Pacific Coast Hwy

Mar Vista
When: 9am to 2pm
Where: Venice Blvd & Grandview Ave

Melrose Place
When: 9am to 2pm
Where: N Croft Ave & Melrose Pl

Pacific Palisades
When: 8am to 1:30pm
Where: W Sunset Blvd & Swarthmore Ave

Palos Verdes
When: 9am to 1pm
Where: Peninsula Shopping Center

Santa Monica - Ocean Park
When: 9:30am to 1pm
Where: Ocean Park Blvd & Main St

Studio City
When: 8am to 1pm
Where: Ventura Blvd & Ventura Pl

West Los Angeles
When: 9am to 2pm
Where: 1645 Corinth Ave

Gone are the days of purchasing a 12’’ sub, fries and a drink for $4 plus tax. Roll Inn Sandwich used to be one of my favorite spots to visit after a night at the bar or club…it was open late, cheap, and the food hit the spot. I haven’t eaten at Roll In for years and last night a friend called me and said, “Ron, lets get that $4 sub in Westwood”. Hungry and a little short on cash, I gladly obliged.

The first thing I noticed on their window was a sign that read something along the lines of, “We Now Serve Very Expensive Bread”. I was never really a fan of the old bread so I was thrilled that they changed it up…but how much of that cost would be passed on to me? I ordered my usual foot-long steak sub and diet cola…I decided to skip the fries this time. The cashier punched in my order and the total came to $7.25. Wow, that must really be expensive bread.

Turns out that the management recently changed; that’s probably one of the reasons for the the price increase. The quality of the meat hasn’t changed (it’s still chewy and fatty), but the bread was surprisingly good. My friend went with the Chicken Kabob sandwich which I found to be a little dry. The best part of my experience was trying to get enough napkins…they only hand them out to you one at a time.

In the past, I would’ve been willing to deal with the parking in Westwood for $4, but with the price increase…it’s no longer worth the effort.

With one of the best locations in the city, Gladstone’s of Malibu is situated only feet away from the water. In fact, if there’s anything worth coming to Gladstone’s for…it’s the ambiance. Whether you’re sitting indoors or out on the patio, you’ll be able to enjoy a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean and Coastline. After you eat, or while you’re waiting for a table, walk down to the sand and take a stroll along the beach. It gets a little cool in the evening so make sure to bring along an extra jacket.

The Food

I have frequented this Gladstone’s location on a number of occasions, and while the food is good, I don’t think it’s worth the price. On my last visit, I decided to go with their catch of the day; it runs about $25 and is accompanied by two sides. Although the fish was fresh, it was a little too bland for my palate and the taste reminded me of hospital food; that’s a pretty extreme comparison, but it was the first thing that came to mind. The corn-on-the-cob was served cold and undercooked, while the side of steamed vegetables resembled the frozen Birdseye variety available at your local supermarket.

Reservations

This Gladstone’s location can get really busy during the weekends, so unless you’re prepared to wait a few hours, I strongly recommend that you make reservation ahead of time.

Final Thoughts

If you’re in the area and want to enjoy a sunset by the beach, Gladstone’s is the perfect spot. Add a few drinks and an appetizer, and you’ve got the perfect Sunday afternoon. As far as the food goes, you’ll probably be better off a few miles north along PCH.

When: Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Where: Sugar,1716 Cahuenga Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028

Music: DJ Coolwhip

Cost: Cover is usually $20

Additional Info: Opening a few weeks back, Sugar replaces Club Xes (21 and over)

Are you an avid sushi lover? If so, head over to Isshin Sushi. Isshin Sushi serves fresh sashimi and sushi with a whole lot of taste. Their spicy tuna is especially flavorful, yum! Though some of its items are a bit on the pricier side, compared to other sushi restaurants nearby, its quality cooking does all the talking. With that said, it’s pretty reasonable. This sushi restaurant has more of a family and group friends feel to it. Sports fans will appreciate the big screen TV.

As a family owned and operated restaurant, Isshin Sushi offers friendly service. Did I forget to mention prompt service as well?

If you’re looking for a chill place to get some drinks, head on over to Temple Bar. This eclectic Asian and urban themed bar sets the perfect chill mood for a fun (but not too wild and crazy) night out. The great thing about Temple Bar is that you have options to set your own tone and feel for the night. The main bar room is where you can just chill and sip on some apple martinis. There are booth tables lined up all against the wall where you can sit and relax. Get comfy, no worries because there are friendly waiters who will be glad to take your order at the table.

After a few drinks, you might get the feel to boogie down on the dance floor. That’s where the second room comes into the play, the dance room. This floor offers live music and performances by in-house / local DJs and other artists. Monday is jazz and electronica, Tuesday is more for the Indie Rock crowd, Wednesday is Hip Hop, Thursday is Latin, Reggae, and African beats, and the weekends are Hip Hop and soul.

If you build up an appetite after dancing, order some food. Their menu consists of delicious finger foods, salads, pasta, skewers, burgers, and desserts.

The cover charge is about $10 and drinks will run around $10 each as well. If you get there early enough, you might get lucky and win a free parking spot in the back.

With summer right around the corner, nothing beats spending a day at the beach. Although Los Angeles is home to a plethora of wonderful beaches, I have always been particularly fond of Venice.

This strip of beach is about 1.5 miles in length (north to south) and it’s bordered by Navy St and Washington Blvd. Besides the typical beach activities like playing frisbee, flying kites, swimming, and laying out on the sand...there are plenty of other things to see and do at Venice Beach.

The Boardwalk

Lined with souvenir shops, artists, musicians, and street performers – the Boardwalk at Venice Beach is a great spot for an afternoon stroll. If you’re looking for a little more activity, rent a pair of rollerblades or a bike for about $20 and then head off in any direction. The Boardwalk is part of the South Bay Bicycle Trail which spans 22 miles from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance County...so make sure you have enough energy for the trip back

Bars & Cafes

There are plenty of cafes along the boardwalk where you can sit down and enjoy the view; it’s also great for people watching. For something quick and affordable, grab a slice of pizza and then find a bench facing the ocean. On a hot day, why not grab a cold beer (or cola) at a neighborhood bar to cool down.

Souvenirs & Art

If you’re looking for some cheap souvenirs or pieces of art for the house, you’ve come to the right place. Venice Beach is home to tons of vendors who will sell you everything from fake designer sunglasses to hand carved trinkets.

Tarot Card Readings

Another thing you’ll find abundant at Venice Beach are the Palm and Tarot Card Readers…about 2-3 per block. Some have their own shops while others are nestled along the boardwalk between the street performers and the animal rights activists.

Parking

Parking in Venice is no picnic and you’ll be really lucky to find an available space along the street. Make sure you read the signs carefully because you don’t want to get a ticket, or worse, have your car towed away. If you don’t find parking along the street, there’s a lot on Rose Ave and Speedway that charges $4. Interestingly enough, there is another parking lot a few blocks south that charges $14.

Following along the ridge of the Santa Monica Mountains, Mulholland Drive offers breathtaking views of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. As you make your way along the windy road, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to park your car and take it all in. Depending on where you access Mulholland Dr, there are 2 fantastic spots that I would recommend.

From Laurel Canyon

If you’re headed up Laurel Canyon from West Hollywood, make a left at Mulholland Dr and head west for about 1 mile (make a right on Mulholland if you’re coming up from the Valley). You’ll pass a street called Skyline Dr and the lookout spot will be on your right hand side. Don’t get it confused with the overlook at the bend which resembles a sand dune. Once you arrive at the lookout spot, pull off the road and park your car on the dirt area designated for the overlook. Although the views are excellent in the day, my favorite time to go there is in the evening. Unfortunately, there’s a sign that says “Overlook Closed - 9pm to 6am”. If you don’t mind bending the rules once in a while, you can come by after 9pm at your own risk; there are people living nearby so I suggest keeping the noise at a respectable level.

From Beverly Glen

If you arrive via Beverly Glen (or Benedict Canyon) from West Los Angeles or Beverly Hills, make sure to stop by the Charles and Lotte Melhorn Overlook on the 13800 block of Mulholland Dr. If you’re headed eastbound, you’ll pass Deep Canyon Dr and the overlook will be on your left. Unlike the lookout on Skyline, there is no designated area to park your car (unless you’re handicapped)…so you’ll have to park and then walk over. There are a few benches at the overlook so you can just sit down and enjoy the spectacular view. This overlook is probably best enjoyed in the day because it can get a little cold in the evening…and you won’t have the comfort of turning on the heater in the car.

Mulholland Scenic Overlook
On Mulholland Dr (nearest cross street: Skyline Dr)
Los Angeles, CA 90046

Charles and Lotte Melhorn Overlook
On Mulholland Dr (nearest cross street: Deep Canyon Dr)
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Located in Santa Monica, the Pier offers a plethora of activities that will keep you busy for hours.

Aquarium

The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is located right below the Carousel. There are a total of 8 different exhibits to enjoy, including 3 touch tanks that will allow you to get up close and personal with over 30 different species of marine life.

Arcade

The Playland Arcade features over 200 different arcade games, from the newer titles to traditional favorites, such as Pac Man, Air Hockey and Pinball.

Fishing

If you’re looking for a relaxing activity, grab your fishing supplies and head out to the Pier. It’s also a great activity to enjoy on a date, especially the first. While you probably won’t catch anything, you’ll have plenty of time to talk and get to know each other better. The best spots for fishing can be found towards the end of the Pier.

Theme Park

Located on the Pier, Pacific Park is a small amusement park with something for everyone. There are about a dozen rides in total, including a steel rollercoaster and the iconic ferris wheel – both providing a spectacular view of the Pacific Coast.

Getting There

The main entrance to the Santa Monica Pier is on Colorado Ave and Ocean Ave. You can park your car at the Pier lot, but if you want to save a little money and don’t mind the walk, park your car at the Santa Monica Mall structure (located 2 blocks away on Colorado & 2nd). If you arrive in the day (8am to 5pm), you can park for 3 hours at no cost; in the evening (5pm to 2am), there’s a $3 flat rate.