Leave your condo for Redondo!

Dear Readers, We apologize for the lapse in updates. It's just that we've been doing so much awesome research for the site, we haven't had time to convert our wonderful times into awesome posts. Enjoy this summertime beach outing, and we'll be back on our game in no time.

It’s summertime and the livin’ is easy in southern California. So ditch the Prius and jump in your Mini Cooper convertible for a roll down(or up) PCH to Redondo Beach.

Redondo is full of youth, but a young adult sort of youth as opposed to angsty teenager sort of youth(I’m looking at you Huntington Beach, with all your lower back tattooes and piercings). With it’s long stretch of beach, great surf, a large pier, and it’s myriad people make Redondo beach a great place to go on a date as there are so many options of fun and excitement. Don’t like too many options you say? I’ll help you narrow things down a bit to get the most out of your date with destiny.

I highly recommend traversing Redondo Beach on two wheels, as the whole length of the South Bay beaches are bike friendly. But whatever, parking isn’t too bad too.

In the morningtimes, you’ve got two excellent choices: CJs Pantry, across from the Redondo Beach Elks Lodge, is a quaint little café with great diner breakfasts and nice, fast service even when they are busy, which is usually. Just up the street, the Catalina Coffee Company, is a new favorite of mine as it’s a great place to park and begin/end your bike trek along the beach. Enjoy a morning cup and croissant, or a afternoon iced coffee and delicious gourmet sandwich.

The furthest south end of Catalina Ave, has a great many boutique fashion shoppes winding down to the Esplanade. But I’ll be honest, I’ver never been to any of them because I’m a dude, but they are there and I hear they are very nice.

Wooo! After all that shopping I bet you and your beau are hungry for lunch. Right along that southernmost strip of Catalina are a host of excellent options. The Redondo Beach Brewing Company, Zazou, and HT Grill/Hennesy’s Tavern. RedondoBrewCo and Hennesy’s serve up classic beers and sandwiches in a wonderfully bright and welcoming tavern setting, while Zazou is a bit “nicer” while they still welcome patrons in casual attire.

Your other option is to take Catalina down to the enormous Redondo Beach Pier, which I highly recommend. The pier has your standard stand-fare so take your pick of fresh fried fish or fresh fish tacos and walk the pier looking through the tchotchke shops and kite vendors.

Holy shit that was delicious. Let’s head back up to PCH and Ave I, to GoBoy Records, Redondo’s best used record store. It’s no Amoeba, but you’ll find vinyl here that you may not other places. Looking for that rare Ted Nugent LP you’re missing from your collection? Need a Big Sandy limited edition? Or just a Clash CD for the drive home, this is the place to be. My favorite Redondo crusing music: Sublime, The Kinks, Iggy and the Stooges.

It’s getting late…why not spend more money and have more fun! Fuck yes. We’re going back to the Redondo Beach pier, only this time, head to the north end, and go down the stairs to the Redondo Beach Fun Factory, a fucking HUGE arcade and carnival. Play some pinball, skee-ball, or video golf. I can’t recommend anything because it’s all awesome and it all smells like fish.

What’s that? You’re just coming down to Redondo for the evening? Why didn’t you say so! Up the street, the entrance tucked inside a parking garage, you’ll find the swank steak and seafood joint, the Chart House. GREAT VIEW, phenomenal fresh fish, great wine, good service. Fairly expensive, but that view!

You want to spend more money? At PCH and Palos Verdes Blvd, in the Palos Verdes Inn, is the long-established, five-star restaurant, Chez Melange. Eclectic cuisine with a daily changing menu and an every-couple-months-changing bar(sometimes Sushi, sometimes tapas, sometimes something you aren’t expecting). Managed by local favorite restauranteurs, Robert Bell and Michael Franks, Chez Melange is a great fancy dining room(some places near the beach don’t mind beach attire, and while you can probably stroll into Chez with jeans and a t-shirt, it’s frowned upon). Easy-ish to get a reservation, a great dining room outside of LA, always full, never overwhelmingly busy. And a full bar.

There you go. Too many things to do in Redondo Beach that you’ll need to come back again for more. Check local listings for festivals and volleyball competitions as in the summer there is always a bunch of things happening. I think at the end of summer is LobsterFest, festival of all things covered in drawn butter.

INFO!

Catalina Coffee Company
126 N Catalina Ave
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 318-2499

CJ's Pantry
324 S Catalina Ave
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 318-2411

GoBoy Records
1310 S Pacific Coast Hwy
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 316-1957

Chez Melange
1716 S Pacific Coast Hwy
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 540-1222
Reservations recommended, but fairly easy to acquire

The Chart House
231 Yacht Club Way
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 372-3464

Redondo Beach Pier - you don't need directions. It's pretty hard to miss.

A Koreally good time!

Seoul Food and More!

Sure, you love sushi, and your grandparents always took you out for Chinese on Sundays. You’ve even been known to gorge yourself on some Pad Thai or soothe a tummy ache with some cheap-ass ramen. You love Kung-Fu flicks and you college roommate was named Ronald Liu, though his Mom calls him Wen-Ya. You drive a Toyota. You are not unfamiliar with the delights that the continent of Asia has to offer us. But when was the last time you and your sweetheart had a date inspired by Korea?

Dinner, a movie and desert, brought to you by the divided nation that gave us John Cho (Harold, of Harlod & Kumar Fame! Thank You!)

DINNER
Korean BBQ is amazing. Flame grilled marinated meats and mind-boggling amounts of little side dishes or, banchan are served with rice and the ever-present Kimchi. Kimchi is fermented vegetables, usually Napa cabbage, seasoned with chili peppers and salt. Though it can be a little intimidating for us gringos, some Koreans don't consider what they ate as a meal without Kimchi so you gotta try it. Just take a little bite! Go ahead! Now grab some water. That shit can be spicy.

Galbi or Kalbi or Bool Kogi (seriously, every website seems to call it something different) is called by some the pinnacle of Korean cuisine. Beef short ribs marinated in the most beautiful balance of sweet and savory flavors. If you aren’t feeling like going out for dinner, Trader Joes makes some pre-marinated Bool Kogi that is pretty damn good, and only takes a few minutes to cook on your grill.

There are Korean resturaunts all over Los Angeles. So here are some of the best, according to the interweb.
Citysearch
LA Weekly
LAOkay (arranged by neighborhood!)

Fun fact about Korean food- Korea is the largest consumer of garlic, ahead of the rest of Asia (particularly China and Thailand, excluding Japan) and the Northern Mediterranean (mainly Spain, Italy, and Greece). So bring mints or even your toothbrush! I am not kidding!

MOVIE
After dinner head over to the theater to see THE HOST, Korea’s modern take on Godzilla/Jaws/Little Miss Sunshine/ Soilent Green. The Host offers everything you could want in a murderous sea-monster movie. At least, everything I wanted. The monster attack sequences were thrilling the comic relief was hilarious, and the heroes were heartbreaking. It also had that wonderful, dark Korean mistrust of the government that I can never get enough of in a good, scary movie. I don’t want to say too much, I just want you to go and enjoy it. In the screening we saw, people screamed out loud, gasped and cackled. Almost everyone there was on a date, and everyone had a blast.

Check your local listings for showtimes and locations.


DESSERT
When you’ve caught your post-monster movie breath, (you’re stinky, garlicky Korean bbq breath) take your date to the greatest Korean import to date. The unstoppable pinkberry frozen yogurt . Hyekyung Hwang (a.k.a. Shelly), the mastermind behind the “Soft swirls of chilly bliss with a distinct pouty peak”, started with a small shop in a residential area of West Hollywood and it took off faster than you can say “Korean Genius”. The LA times called it “ The taste that Launched 1,000 parking tickets” due to the original location’s overwhelming success and subsequent logistical problems. Don’t worry; there are several LA locations now. Business is booming.

It is plain yogurt. Frozen. Tart and airy and sweet and… well you just have to try it. I like Granola and strawberries on mine, but they have everything from Captain Crunch to Mochi, so really it is hard to go wrong. Warning: it looks like ice cream, but it isn’t. It is tart yogurt, Tart, delicious, addictive, fantastic yogurt.

11 LA locations.

DRINKS
If you are going to have a beverage, stick with the theme and go for the Soju. It is like Korean rice vodka, and can be found all over the place in LA. You can get very snockered with soju. Watch out!

Here are some possible soju destinations:
Soju Town
Johnny's Cocktail Lounge

So grab that special gal or guy and take them on a fantastic theme date! You’ll be koreally glad you did!

Here Comes the Grooming!

Don’t worry, no one’s getting married- it’s only been a couple of dates- but I would like to bring up something important and possibly long since forgotten in this pre-apocalyptic future: Male grooming.

Male grooming used to exist in every home in America, but these days it appears as if that number has decreased dramatically. We’ve become a society dominated by “casual.” From job interviews in jeans to tank-tops in French restaurants.

Here are some simple, straight-forward tips for guys that will make your special lady swoon.

Part 1 - Clean cut vs. stylishly disheveled

While it’s nice that popular culture is accepting of guys being a little messy, a little scruffy, if that is a risk you are willing to take, have at it. But clean cut and well groomed is ALWAYS impressive and you can’t go wrong.

Even if you’ve had your hair long for years, change is good, variety is exciting and in fact, you may find something that you didn’t know you liked. (Example: girls talking to you).

Part 2 – Save those pennies

A little more money for a haircut goes a long way and I speak from significant experience. I used to think there was no reason, as a guy, to get a haircut anywhere but Supercuts because I didn’t need to spend more than 12 bucks on a cut. That’s before Hawleywood’s Barber shop(gentleman only) opened up down the street from me. I didn’t know what to expect or how much it was going to be, but I brought about $70 bracing for the worst.

The cut took about an hour(!), cost $20(with a $10 tip), and I’ve never looked back.

Here’s the thing: You don’t take your ’56 Ford Mustang to a Honda performance garage to get the oil changed. As a male, why are you taking your hair to such a generic place as Supercuts? There’s no reason not to go to the guys that are only cutting men’s hair. Specialize!

Part 3 – Inspirational Imagery

If you’re tired of getting an OK haircut, one that’s not quite almost kind of what you wanted then you need to take matters into your own hands, and I don’t mean the clippers.

Do your research: figure out what you want and where you can find a good example of the style. Magazines, movies, books, the internet, anywhere.

The next time you go to get that “kind of almost” haircut, bring a picture. You’re going to get what you want and the barber’s going to give you what you want. Both are happy.

Part 4 – Gloop

Here is another place that I used to be a cranky, ol’ curmudgeon. I HATED goo in my hair. The only thing I hated more was the innocuous way it’s referred to as “product.” Which made it sound like soylent green or something sinister that they couldn’t refer to with a more specific noun.

While I still don’t prefer “goo” in my hair, I’d like to make it very clear: THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

If you’re the kind of guy that can’t imagine putting anything in your hair, even if you want a little more “hold” or a bit more spike, trust me, there are a gajillion other people that feel the same way and one of those people has invented something for you.

There are two hair products that I’ve found to be unexpectedly amazing.

1.) Sea Spray – From a company called Bumble Bumble, this is essentially salt water you can spritz on your hair. It creates that “I was ripping up some waves this morning” look. It’s water based and it washes right out, it doesn’t smell or feel weird, and it’s a little more natural (in name and in compound) than blue jelly called “LA Stylez.”

2.) LayRite – Created by male barbers for the discerning greasy hotrodder. When I got my cut at Hawleywood’s they didn’t even ask if I wanted anything in my hair, they just did it. After they gave me a sweet comb-job, Cesar explained it’s the only stuff they sell there, it’s water based wax and washes right out. When I left, my hair felt like an armadillo (and looked great), but I couldn’t imagine it was going to “wash right out.” I was never more wrong or amazed in my life. I got in the shower at the end of the day and it was just…gone. I didn’t have to really shampoo any more than normal.

So those are two options you might want to look into if you’ve always questioned the use of product.

Part 5 – The Legendary Hot Towel Shave

There’s a great scene in the movie “Rounders” where Ed Norton and Matt Damon have been playing poker all over New York for 20 hours straight to win money so they can pay John Malkovich, an ex-KGB agent. Matt Damon is exhausted and Ed Norton says, “I’ve got just the thing you need.” And they go get a hot towel shave.

I didn’t know people still got shaves at barbershops, but when I saw the Hot Towel Shave advertised at Hawleywood’s, I couldn’t resist.

Afterwards, I called Lady Date Maven and said the experience was “transcendent,” without a tone of sarcasm in my voice.

Gents, if you’ve never gotten a hot towel shave, you’re missing out on an amazing experience. It’s worth the money to get the closest, most relaxing shave of your entire life.

(IMPORTANT NOTE: I want to make it clear that this may not be for everyone. When they slap that aftershave on, it stings like a motherfucker, so if you’re lucky to have a barber that warns you about this, it’s worth the experience. Not to mention, when you’re stubble starts growing back, the next 48 hours may be the itchiest of your life. It’s up to you to decide if this makes it all worth it.)

Part 6 – Don’t be a dip, leave a nice tip

Tip your barber. They’ll be more inclined not to kill you next time.

Part 7 – Pro-Choice

In the end, this is all up to you: The barber shop you choose to patronize, the cut you want, and the style you do yourself everyday. If you don’t care about these things than you’re really just paying for an awkward conversation.

Here are my recs for barbershops across LA and Orange County.

Rudy’s Barbershop
www.RudysBarbershop.com
Five locations in Los Angeles
Hollywood/Standard hotel – 8300 W. Sunset blvd. (323) 650-5669
Silverlake – 4451 W. Sunset Blvd. (323) 661-6535
Melrose – 8019 Melrose Ave. (323) 653-6078
Downtown Standard – 550 S. Flower St. (213) 439-3058 (call first)
Santa Monica – 3101 Main St. (310)450-2930

Hawleywood’s Barbershop
www.hawleywoods.com
Long Beach – 2234 4th St. (562) 434-5405
Costa Mesa – 545 West 18th St. #C (949) 631-COMB
(call for hours and appointments)

Floyd’s
www.Floydsbarbershop.com
Hollywood – 7300 Melrose Ave. (323) 965-7600
Santa Monica – 11431 Santa Monica Blvd. (310) 231-7200
(new locations coming to Hermosa Beach and Studio City)

The Barbershop Club
6907 Melrose Ave.
(323) 939-4319
Go here if you’ve got an awards dinner to go to.
Bring lots of cash.
Famous clientele.

Picky, picky!

Tasty Treats without Terror

Hello, trusty readers. Lady Date Maven here. I have very little patience for a date who eats like a little kid(If he doesn’t eat vegetables, or try new things or enjoy things like flavors). I like my men to be adventurous, which is a very sexy quality in a guy. Unfortunately, my personal preference isn’t too important because I am not dating you. That being said, if you have a date that is a little coy in the culinary department, there are still ways to tempt their taste buds and enjoy an exciting and satisfying meal.

Here are three true-life problems people have come across, and my three scrumptious solutions.

I Love Japanese food, but my date refuses to try Sushi, where can we compromise?

At Fu Rai Bo, everybody will win. Japanese BBQ meats and tapas. Small plates allow for trying several new things, and there isn’t a slice of raw fish in sight. It doesn’t matter how many times I go there, or how much I order, I am always pleasantly surprised by how sensible the prices are. The kitchen is open late, it is in a great, walkable neighborhood and the service is always super friendly, even when it isn’t the speediest.

If your date doesn’t like the Teba-saki chicken wings (you get to choose how spicy you want them!), they might be an alien or a robot. You should dump them. Or kill them.
“Fu Rai Bo doesn’t just specialize in chicken, but in spicy skewered teba sake chicken wings; not a whole wing, but that spindly middle segment of wing in which a couple of bones form sort of a frame protecting a sweet, if minuscule, oblate ellipse of meat. They’re made for deep-frying the way a chicken breast is for grilling, deeply absorbing Fu Rai Bo’s tart, spicy marinade, greaseless and practically all brittle, crunchy skin. After the chef has dusted them with various white powders and heaped them on plates alongside scoops of shredded cabbage and mayo-intensive chicken salad, you could gnaw through a million of these wings, sucking out the meat, while your teeth seek out hidden crunchy bits.” (Jonathan Gold- LA Weekly)”

Besides the delectable chicken wings, some beer and an order of rice, which have been called by the Daily Breeze, “the best threesome around”, here are some other menu picks for the faint of heart through the stomach of steel.

Please excuse my spelling - I will revise this when I get my hands on an actual menu.

SCAREDY-CAT(seriously, this is pretty basic and delicious)
Korean B.B.Q. Short Ribs (So, so delicious)
Tonkatsu (Fried Pork Cutlet)
Asparagus Butter
Chita Dinner Box

BIG KID (things look unfamiliar, but tastes are still mild)
Kare Kareagi (Fried Fish in a bowl made out of a fried fish! Rad!)
Agedashi Tofu

EASY TO PLEASE (ready for a little adventure, spicy things or interesting textures)
Beef Moiashi (Super Spicy- and Awesome!)
Enoki Mushrooms and Scallop

BRAVE EATER (things I still haven’t tried, but have heard good things about)
Charbroiled Squid
Hanpen Cheese

The place tends to get pretty busy later on in the evening, but sometimes you can make reservations. Just know that if you are going, you will probably be there for a while (swamped kitchen, somewhat slow service), but it is worth the wait.

Fu Rai Bo is located in Little Tokyo West, surrounded by all sorts of interesting shops, so take a walk around if you have time. Get your arm candy a hipster gift at Giant Robot. They’ll love it. After dinner and drinks, if you want to continue your Japanese themed evening, There is a somewhat overpriced Karaoke bar attached to Fu Rai Bo. If you’d rather go home and cuddle than embarrass yourself singing Sweet Child of Mine to your date (or possibly the Yakuza), you are just a short walk to the incomparable Cinephile Video, where you can rent a Japanese flick to head home and cuddle up with. I recommend Happiness of the Katakuris, if you’re into Japanese oddball zombie musical family comedy mysteries films. Or if you are awesome. Which you are. Because you are reading this blog.

Fu Rai Bo
2068 Sawtelle Blvd.
Los Angeles 90025
West Los Angeles
(310)444-1342
(2 other locations in the USA! Gardena and Puente Hills! A boatload of locations in Japan!)

I want to go somewhere a little upscale, but my date’s idea of international food
is beef tacos.

On Sunset Boulevard, right where Los Feliz becomes Silverlake, is Malo. Fabulous, hipster, salty, savory, crispy Malo. For a word that means “bad”, their food is damn good. This bar and restaurant serves up “Chicano Cuisine” with the style kicked up a whole lot of notches, but the flavors remain authentico and sabroso. They also pour my favorite margarita in town. Kick ass bar. Malo includes relaxing outdoor seating (especially relaxing when you’ve had a few of those margaritas!) and is a great way to appease both the dater who wants a polished evening out and the dater who wants to get drunk and eat some classic, tasty grub. Dark red wallpaper and perfectly dim date lighting make Malo a great romantic hipster hideaway.

Oh yeah- parking. Street parking is scarce, so use the $1.50 valet. Don't use the McDonald's or the Kitchen's lot, unless you would enjoy a cross-town trip to a creepy impound lot thanks to the $200 valet service we like to call “a tow truck”.

If you want to supplement your date with a movie, the Vista Theater is a hop, skip and a jump away. It is a gorgeous ancient-Egypt meets Art-Deco single screen movie palace with a wonderful, lively vibe. The Vista fits right in with both Malo and the Kitchen (see below) looking and feeling like an upscale arts movie theater, but presenting first-run, mostly main-stream flicks. Another great compromise for the adventurous and the traditional. To sweeten the pot, take a look at those prices- $8 for regular tickets! You can afford to have another margarita!

Malo
4326 Sunset Blvd. (Cross Street: Bates)
Los Angeles, 90027
Silverlake
(323)664-1011

Vista Theater
4473 Sunset Drive
Los Angeles 90027
Silverlake
(323)660-6639

Seriously, my date really only wants to eat familiar foods. But they are really hot, so I still want to take them out. Is it possible to go gourmet and home-style simultaneously?

Just down the street from Malo is The Kitchen, serving up home-style classics in an urban artsy setting. You feel like you are sitting in some Brooklyn hole-in-the wall, with exposed-bulb lighting, murals decorating the walls and simple, no-frills seating. It is romantic in a starving artist sort of way, which is good, because the chow is always super-satisfying at the Kitchen. Dinner is hearty and flavorful, without being challenging at all. This is classic American food, but never boring. You’ll find steaks, burgers, sandwiches, seafood and the most decadent macaroni and cheese on earth. I mean- they serve meatloaf for Pete’s sake! It is good to feel at ease on a date, and comfort food is a great way to go about creating that mood.

Another way to feel at ease, of course, is to have some wine with dinner. The Kitchen doesn’t serve alcohol, but you are encouraged to bring your own bottle of wine for a small corkage fee. Or, if you want to go have some drinks beforehand (Malo?) take your time! Even if you were out at a movie (See the Vista Theater, above) or a show, fear not! The Kitchen is open late- Midnight on weeknights and 1am on the weekends!

The Kitchen
4348 Fountain Ave(Cross Street: Sunset Boulevard)
Los Angeles 90029-2226
Silverlake
(323) 664-3663

Other Links:
Chopsticks
Mexican Food
Japanese Food
other Silverlake drinks at :
Tiki Ti
Akbar

Next week: Worth more than 2 bits!

Go Fish!

GO FISH, GO!

Good for double dates, good for first dates, and certainly no  shortage of items for conversation,
the Aquarium of the Pacific offers a good time for everyone. Opened in 1998, The Aquarium grows
every year, always introducing new and exciting exhibits, like the shark petting pool; as well as
old standards like- otters(Note: if you’re date doesn’t like otters, you may be dating an alien).

The Aquarium offers indoor and outdoor exhibits as well as coolpresentations from scuba divers
in the two-story aquarium tank in the  front lobby. It’s different than a museum because
fish tend to be  less subjective than Magritte, and unlike a movie, you are encouraged
to engage your date in healthy communication(read: flirting).

The Aquarium of the Pacific is located next to The Pike megaplex, which offers numerous options to continue
your date, however, we  wouldn’t lead you astray(Chili’s) just yet, so we’re going to take a  short trip
south east to Fourth St. Nestled just west of a hip strip  of vintage clothing stores and tchotchklea shops
is our food stop-  The Pike Bar & Grill. Not to be confused with the Pike megaplex thing that we mentioned
a few sentences ago!

Rockabilly fish and chips, good food, full bar, great jukebox, nice staff, and  a kick back environment
covered in Long Beach nautical paraphernalia,  which is a perfect place to continue your date. You can enjoy
the atmosphere, a  cold beer and whatever entertainment is up that night.

It’s standard fish and chips fare(a good bet), with a few surprises (lobster tacos), but their fish
sandwiches aren’t too shabby either.  Make sure you have some money for the jukebox and feel free to call
ahead to find out the entertainment for that night. If you’re lucky,  you may end up there on “indie film night”
which, the night we attended involved two  projection screens and videos of topless women in hot tubs.

Here's some rock n'roll street cred for those of you who aren't yet convinced of the Pike's complete and total
awesomess. This is from their myspace page.

"DRUMMER CHRIS REECE OF SOCIAL DISTORTION FAME OWNS AND OPERATES THE
PIKE RESTAURANT AND BAR IN LONG BEACH, CA. A 50s DINER TURNED INTO A
NEIGHBOORHOOD FISH JOINT. NAMED AFTER THE ABANDONED LONG BEACH
AMUSEMENT PARK, "THE PIKE", IT IS A RESTURAUNT BY DAY AND A KICK ASS
LIVE MUSIC VENUE BY NIGHT. THE MENU HAS FOOD FAVORITES FROM YEARS
TOURING THE U.S. IN A PUNK ROCK BAND. COME CHECK IT OUT!!"

This date works great Summer or Winter, morning or evening; the shops on Fourth St. are fun to walk through,
or if they are closed the Long Beach Art movie theater is always showing something interesting
(bonus  theme points if it’s Creature From the Black Lagoon, The Little Mermaid, or A Fish Called Wanda).

What’s more romantic than enjoying a day at the aquarium, where you  admire the beauty of ocean life,
and then devouring it with delicious  tartar sauce? The answer, absolutely nothing.

Have fun! Be safe! Date well!

Long Beach Aquarium of Pacific
map

100 Aquarium Way
Long Beach, CA 90802

(562) 590-3100

Pike Bar & Fish Grill
map

1836 E 4th St
Long Beach, CA 90802

(562) 437-4453 close

Coming up: Little Tokyo West

Get Drunk!

AVPC: The Atwater Village Pub Crawl

Atwater Village, across the LA River from Los Feliz and Silverlake, on your way to Glendale, is awesome. That is why Lady Date maven calls it her home. In addition to the plentiful parking and adorable bungalows, Atwater is home to what we like to call the “cocktail quadrant”: four different bars each offering their own unique brand of debauchery. Each walking distance from the other- a rarity in LA proper. Ready for a liquid date? We always are.

TAM O’ SHANTER
If we’re going to be walking, we’ll need some fuel in our tanks. Meat Fuel. So let’s start our adventure at the Tam o’ Shanter- one of the greatest pubs in town. While you could order a five-course steak dinner at this expensive LA landmark, the real fun is at the somewhat less expensive heavenly Ale and Sandwich Bar.

Once inside the Tudor style storybook cottage, don’t get too distracted by all the crazy old Scottish memorabilia, you are on a mission. The smiling sandwich master is waiting for you to choose your meat and bread, and will hand it over to you hot, fresh and ready for you to slather as much mustard or horseradish as you could dream of. There is also a selection of delectable sides, include creamed corn or spinach, and some tasty-ass potato salad.

Don’t forget to get a drink! The drinking starts now!

A little History from the Tam’s Website “In 1922, you could crank up the engine of your Hupmobile, lurch through the dust and ruts of a country road, and arrive at a convivial old-world inn. Established by Lawrence Frank and Walter Van de Kamp, the restaurant offered hearty food and amiable service. Tom Mix, Fatty Arbuckle, Mary Pickford, John Wayne and Walt Disney and members of his studio were regulars in the early days of the "Tam." In fact, the Disney people had lunch here so often, some referred to it as the studio commissary. We are especially proud of our co-workers - some of whom have given us over four decades of service.”

Note: On Saturdays, the Sandwich bar closes early. Don’t set yourself up for hot beef related heartbreak. Call ahead and make sure they’re prepared to serve your needs.

980 Los Feliz Boulevard Los Angeles, California 90039
(323) 664-0228

Ale and Sandwich Bar:
Sun - Fri: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Saturday: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

CLUB TEE GEE
Heading south parallel to Los Feliz blvd. is Glendale Blvd is where you will find Club Tee Gee. Yes, we know the sign looks like “Club Tee Yee”. Yes, we know there are two entrances, and only on is the proper one. These are things that make a dive bar a dive bar. Add to this a glittered ceiling, dark, roomy booths and an almost exclusively local clientele and you have got yourself a sweet, simple place to get sloshed.

It isn’t the most unique bar on earth, but the fact that you feel like you could be anywhere makes Tee Gee a great escape.

The bar is cash only, but the jukebox takes plastic. Weird.

Drink Prices are very reasonable. Have a couple more drinks. That’s good, isn’t it? You’re starting to get flirty!

Club Tee Gee 3210 Glendale Blvd (Cross Street: Garden Avenue)
Los Angeles, CA 90039-1811 (323) 669-9631

THE BIGFOOT LODGE
Savor your newly found buzz as you stroll back towards Los Filez Boulevard. Enjoy the quiet, dark residential streets because your next stop could send you into sensory overload.

Welcome to the Bigfoot Lodge. A Hipster haven from the folks that brought you Cacao café in west LA, and Sinners and Saints in Culver City. As with all their bars, there is a theme- Bigfoot is decked out national park meets men’s lodge. It can feel delightfully Twin Peaksesque on a mellow night. Rockabilly kids and shaggy beck look-alikes intermingle amidst fantastic animatronic raccoons, authentic antler creations and adorable bear statues. You may go to Tee gee for the low budget beverages, but you go to Bigfoot for the atmosphere and the scene. Oh, and maybe to buy your gal a drink involving a flaming marshmallow. That’s tasty, right? You’re getting a little silly, but that’s ok. The Smokey the Bear statue won’t judge you. Neither will the friendly bartender and all his tattoos.

You can’t really go wrong with the entertainment at Bigfoot. DJs spin great eclectic mixes of vintage brit pop, punk and rockabilly, sometimes (I think Sundays) there’s a guy who projects old film reels on the wall. Monday is Rock N’ Roll Karaoke- this could be good or bad, depending on how many drinks you have had at this point. Check their website to see what you are getting yourself into.

This is not the best place to hit up later on a Friday or Saturday. If you get there early enough to get a booth, you should be fine, but the place is jam-packed with Betty Paige bangs and tattoo sleeves to the point of conversation stopping. Weekend =Not great for dates at the Bigfoot Lodge.

The Bigfoot Lodge
3172 Los Feliz Blvd (Cross Street: Glenfeliz Boulevard)
Los Angeles, CA 90039 (323) 662-9227

ROOST
The best. Free popcorn, dirt cheep drinks and the best jukebox in Atwater. Privacy if you want some back corner canoodeling, schmoozing possibilities, if you don’t. The atmosphere is a little rough-and-tumble, and the drinks are stiff, making the Roost a perfect place to end your night. Make yourself at home. Stay ‘till closing time. I mean, you’ve had a lot to drink, but the cocktails here are so ridiculously cheap. Have another. That’s right.

Cash Only!!

Roost
3100 Los Feliz Blvd (Cross Street: Edenhurst Avenue)
Los Angeles, CA 90039-1507 (323) 664-7272

REMEMBER:
• Bring plenty of cash so you aren’t tied down with a tab!
• Allow yourself plenty of time in case you discover other fun stops along the way, or decide to spend lots of time in one location.
• Wear comfy shoes!
•Pub-crawls make a great non-traditional double date!

other links:
Where it's Atwater!
Roost Reviews
Another fun Tam Fact
BIgfoot on Myspace
Aug. 30th- Happy Birthday, Tee Gee!
Get Home Safeley

Next Week: Something's Fishy!

Tips!

What makes this night different from all other nights?
or:
A date by any other name would just be another night of you not getting laid

We know you are itching for our first specific date recommendations. That will happen next week; one thing at a time, America. This week- Date Tips!

This is a date; an adventure that you and your main squeeze are taking together. Make it special. It doesn’t have to be extravagant or ooey-gooey romantic. It just has to feel separate from the rest of your week.


PREPARATION

Make a decision. “I don’t know, what do you want to do?” repeated more than once in any serious fashion, is the death quote of a date. Pick something fun. Go for it. Don’t be afraid your date isn’t going to like what you have planned. If you live in fear, you’ll never get to second base.

Do your homework. Cost, reservations, parking… the surprises you get on the date should be fun, not frustrating.

Have a plan. Mapquest/ Yahoo maps/ Google maps is your friend, ALWAYS KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING.

The Bankroll. Don’t spend too much, don’t spend too little; don’t pick a date that is going to make you anxious about spending money all night. Pick a date in your financial comfort zone.

Make it a sweet ride. Your car doesn’t have to be fancy. Any date that would care about the actual type of car that you drive is lame and not worthy of the awesome date you are about to take them on. However, take out the wax paper your hamburger came in. Make sure it doesn’t smell like a hangover. And pick some tunes that set up the mood for the date.

Look Good. Even if it is a casual date, even if you have been seeing each other for years. Smell good. Change your outfit. Trim/shave. You know.

Always have a plan B. The plan B includes a first aid kit, road flares and an epi-pen. For real, though, get yourself a Thomas Guide and a current LA Weekly- if you have those two things, you can save any date.



EXECUTION

Mind your manners. We’re not talking finishing school, but etiquette is critical. Opening car doors, saying “thank you” and making eye contact all seem totally obvious, but their power can never be underestimated.

Get your confidence on. Besides a Thomas Guide, confidence is one of the most important things to have, and while one of the most elusive, it can be the sexiest. A little bit goes a long way and will make the other person feel more at ease. You don’t want them to worry about you, just enjoy you.


Who pays? This is one of those things that has become more and more unclear. Times have changed, but in our experience, we tend to keep with the old-fashioned trend of the guy paying for the majority of the date. If the lady feels uncomfortable, or she just wants to do something nice for her fella, other arrangements can be made. Tips, parking, drinks, coffee, tickets, etc. are all things that can be split, shared, or deferred.

Same sex couples aren’t any different, but the person taking the other out is usually the captain of that ship.

Remember, wherever you are, make your own fun. Stuck in traffic, sold out of the concert or dealing with terrible service as you wait an eternity for an iced tea refill… no problem, you are with someone you like (hopefully) so have fun.

LUCKY-YOU-TION

Wanna’ come back to my place? Don’t get ahead of yourself, Cowboy.

Follow the barefoot rule. Always. Your pad should be clean enough that anyone would be comfortable being barefoot in there. That means no hair on the bathroom floor, and white socks should not be black after walking from the kitchen to the den(You have a den? Nice.). Hardwood floors? Get yourself a Swiffer. It is easy and takes two seconds.

The barefoot rule is important! While tonight may not be your lucky night, we all know where we want to end up, so keep in mind that you may want “barefoot” to become “bare.”

Can I offer you some…Have wine, coffee and tea at the ready, as well as some sort of treat. That is a good rule for any night, not just date night.



Dating shouldn’t be every blue moon, but you don’t have to go out for steak and lobster three times a week. Later on we’ll talk about big dates and little dates, and how the little dates matter just as much as the big fancy ones.

Just remember to be yourself, be comfortable and conscientious, and adventurous- you’re on the date too, right?