The Pee-Wee Herman show at Club Nokia

Zen and the Art of Bowling

I took my first bowling lesson today with Nancy Kato and Rich Honda at Pinz in Studio City. It was awesome. I learned so much about oil patterns and the markers on the lanes. We got to walk the lanes and I looked into the end where the pins are set up. Did you realize each pin is 12 inches apart? I did not. The next step is to buy my own equipment; ball, shoes and a bag or "hook in a box" as Nancy calls it, because the spin comes from the ball (and spin is tough to do with the solid plastic house balls one borrows from the lanes).

If you are in the greater Los Angeles area and looking for a great bowling teach, call Nancy Kato, USA Certificed Coach at 818-640-6000. Her partners, Rich Honda, video tapes part of your lesson as well, which is a helpful learning tool.

8 ounces of Goodness

I just had a foodgasmic experience at 8 oz the Burger Bar on Melrose Ave. The Short Rib Grilled Cheese (pictured) was the best sandwiches I've had in a long time. My words can not do the place justice. You just have to go there or look at the menu. It tells of a story. Recently, I was discussing "go to" places for inexpensive good grub and how the burger thing is out of control in LA. There are literally dozens of choices in the City of Angles for gourmet burgs. But now when that subject comes up, I'll tell people 8 oz on Melrose is THE place to go for great eats in a laid back full service atmosphere. Disclaimer: I've yet to have their burgers, but I will soon, oh yes, soon my friends.
My colleuges and I were also saying that beer bars are the new wine bars (though 8oz has a great selection of both) and burgers and comfort foods are the new haute cuisine (some will say they never left). Known for their fancy beef patties and gourmet fixins, food dood Godwin Armstrong's spot is every thing you want in a joint and more, friendly servers, great loaction, provacative dishes. Some other menu items of note are the 3 sliders with beer pairings. One slider is made with Wild Boar. The biggest problem bar tender Brandon told me was that folks can't get a large size version of their favorite slider. But "off the menu" they will serve you a trio of your favorite. Also, get the Okinawan Sweet Potato chips. They're purple, crisp and perfectly salty. Florida peeps they have a location in Miami!

Free Pizza!!!

Met a friend at 1739 Public House in Los Feliz (check out this LA Times article). Besides having great beers on tap and Happy Hour Mon-Wed w/ $3 PBR drafts, they also offer a small free cheese pizza with the purchase of a beer weekdays before 7pm. This casual pub-style bar makes you order from the bartender, a la Father's Office style. Other dishes range from $3, $6, and $9. They also have wine and a full bar. So go there with your crew and chill at a booth for as long as you like.

EP Stands for Echo Park and El Prado

Thanks to Ed for the recommendation of El Prado for some fine micro brews, snacks and records (as they boast on their website). You'll find this relatively new beer only bar in the heart of Historic Echo Park, Los Angeles, California on the safer, cleaner than ever Sunset Boulevard. A hip joint that seems more at home in SoHo than East LA. The menu is written on the mirrored wall. Beer: I tried the Coronado Orange Ave Ale (Was it orange tasting or was that the cough drop I had before? Who cares! It was good.) Snacks: walnuts, still in the shell (You gotta really want to eat them, hipsters.), goat cheese and whatnot. Vinyl: Elvis, makes me wonder what "Jail House Rock" is really all about. All in all, cool spot!