Yogurtland vs Pinkberry

Have a sweet tooth craving? Frozen yogurt is the answer. At yogurtland, You get so much more selection of flavors and toppings by creating your own. The yogurtland prices are much cheaper (they charge according to weight) than pinkberry but I do prefer pinkberry's yogurt which seems a little less chalkier tasting. You get more bang for your buck at Yogurtland. It seems pinkberry has closed shop at a bunch of locations. Too bad because I try to support pinkberry whenever I see them. They are the best. Side note- frozen yogurt seems to have a lot of sugar which is not great for your waistline regardless of any healthy marketing they claim. Just don't overdo it.

Vito's pizza on la cienaga (near Santa Monica)

Have been going here for years. I think they were the same pizza place across from lacc but not ompletely sure. I always get the white pizza (not white pesto) for $23.50. Huge pie. So good and great crust just heats perfectly the next day in my toaster oven. Try it.

Cirque du soleil's Iris at the Dolby theatre

Iris was amazing- saw it on 6/24/2012 and 11/23/2012. Playing at the dolby theatre in hollywood, formerly kodak theatre. Great production and amazing acrobatics. Chinese acrobats were the best! This cirque du soleil's was probably my favorite along with Mystere at treasure island in las Vegas. Other cirque du soleil shows seen are love/Beatles last year, o and ka which in my opinion were not as good. Side note-Bob barker also was there at the show in June. Too bad they are closing early next year. I think seats farther away from the stage are better so you can get a full view of the whole show. Lots of things are going on at the same time during some parts of the show so I think you get a better perspective. Go see it before it is gone! Totally worth it.

Cgv cinemas and Ma dang on western ( between 6th and wilshire)

Formerly the old k-town woolae oak, this shop and dine 'mall' is conveniently located. The restaurant madang is aesthetically pleasing and has good food at a reasonable price (although BBQ at the table is quite expensive at around $30 which seems to be average nowadays.) However, if you want a korean stew such as tofu soup, hot stone bibimbap or or cold noodles such as nang Myun, it will oat $10-15. They also have delicious banchans (side dishes)- the sweet potato salad is my favorite although they do not have it all the time. I even went to the cgv cinemas upstairs and saw a Korean movie titled ' all about my wife'. All Korean movies playing have english subtitles and all English movies have Korean subtitles. TicketS were $11.50. The movie theatre has stadium seating, a large screen and state of the art sound. The seats were comfortable as well. It seems most movie theatres in l.a. Are switching to assigned seating including this one. They only have 3 screens. I would definitely go there again. Get coffee at a Tom-n-toms near by or your hair done at the salon. Free parking with no time limit.

Sprinkles cupcake at the grove

Went to the grove on black Friday, the same day sprinkles cupcakes opened. I had never been to sprinkles but had tried it when someone brought a few home from the Beverly hills location last year. I remember it was more delicious compared to some other cupcake stores and not as sweet. Never knew the price until I bought one at the grove for $3.50. Super expensive. Their ordering system is strange and takes a while. They seemed to have the cupcakes in the window already but one person takes the order, then you have to wait 5 minutes for them to call your name to get the cupcake and then you pay. Not efficient at all. Why don't they just get the cupcake you order when you order it like a donut shop? Oh well, I'm sure they have a reason. Their cupcakes are probably pricey due to overhead rather than the price of the ingredients, but I'm sure they are making lots of $$$$. I got the coconut cupcake. It was good but pretty sweet.

Wonderful zankou chicken ( sunset and fairfax)

Shawerma beef sandwich is the best! $7. Tender shawerma beef wrapped in pita with tahini And/or garlic sauce so perfect tasting. Not sure which sauce or both. So glad we don't have to drive to east Hollywood anymore. I used to get the chicken but the beef is way better!

Mendocino farms at 3rd and fairfax- so delicious!

I was so happy when this location opened since it is right it my neighborhood. I used to go to the downtown location often downstairs at the California plaza when I worked there but took a long hiatus from them once I stopped working in there in 2008. My favorites now at this location are the beef or tofu Vietnamese grilled panini sandwich for $9. Not sure if this location has the same menu as the others. I tried a few other sandwiches here such as the Korean short rib ($11.50 and just so so) and kimchee sandwich but I keep on going back to my favorites. Potato salad here is good as well and made with their own bread and butter pickles and slightly spicy. So glad they are doing well and expanding. Parking is free for 1 hr with validation and I have never had a problem finding a space.

I love Tatsu Ramen on Sawtelle

When I first tried this place when it first opened, I had one of the hot soup broth ramens which I did not like at all. The broth was too salty and the noodles too doughy while my friend had the no broth naked ramen and raved about it. The next time I went back, I got the naked ramen that my friend raved about which were not the same doughy noodles. From the seasoned egg which they now charge $1 for and seasoned tofu, to the free sweet corn and seeweed and breadcrumbs added, it has kept me coming back and wanting more. Sesame sauce was equally balancing to all the different flavors. The raw garlic is a must add-on. They give you a few garlic cloves and a garlic press. I try to go back there when I can. Since it has a bar setting, I've even eaten there alone when passing thru the area. $9 for ramen with nothing added. Definitely add the seasoned egg. Maybe get 2 or three bc they are so good. Yum.

Easy, Delicious Ponzu Sauce

3 T Mirin
2 T Rice Vinegar
1 T Soy Sauce
2 T Bonito Flakes
4 T Lemon Juice

Bring all ingredients to a boil, then turn off heat and cool. Lasts several weeks in refrigerator.

More cooking in the pressure cooker

braised korean short ribs - short ribs marinated with a little sugar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger and mirin (and some water) cooked in the pressure cooker for 30 minutes. yum.

ox tail soup - just ox tail and water cooked in the pressure cooker for 60 minutes naturally released. add green onions, salt and pepper to taste. i also added glass noodles. i had recently started purchasing oxtail from costco (in the refrigerated section) - i don't know if it's new or if i've never noticed it before. sold there for about $3.99 per pound for 4 pounds in a double pack.

both oxtail soup and short ribs came out so tender and last for a couple of days.

Best BBQ Pork Ribs Ever

we had a bbq over the weekend (9/20) and the food was a success. I made the best bbq pork ribs ever which started off in my cuisinart pressure cooker. it is now at costco for only $69.99. they were so tender. i used lorna sass' pressure cookbook recipe, but adjusted it a little by using less beer and more water. the first time i followed her recipe with mostly all beer was not quite as good only because the beer flavor was overwhelming. i cooked the bbq ribs in the pressure cooker with 1/4 cup beer and 3/4 cup water for 30 minutes. i let the pressure cooker naturally release (meaning don't touch the knob and force the pressure to release on the pressure cooker) for 15 minutes more. while waiting for the natural release, i set up the bbq with coals in the weber starter. after the natural release of the ribs were done, i brushed the ribs with bulls eye bbq sauce and a little ketchup, then cooked the ribs on the bbq grill for 5 minutes on each side. if you don't have a grill, you can bake the ribs at 400 degrees in your oven on each side instead. one of our guest said that 'it was the best ribs she ever tasted'. it was one of the best ribs i ever tasted myself. so easy and so tasty.

we also bbq some new york steak (also perfectly cooked on the grill)which were marinated in bbq sauce, sweet white corn and rustic la brea bakery bread brushed with extra virgin olive oil and some garlic. i had boiled the corn for 15 minutes and brushed it with butter prior to placing it on the grill for a minute on each side. i had also made easy side dishes - classic coleslaw (using betty crocker's recipe), classic potato salad and pesto potato salad (by just adding pesto i made earlier to the classic potato salad) as side dishes. for dessert - i made moist carrot-pineapple cake mini muffins with cream cheese frosting.

i purchased most of the food (ribs, steak, corn and bread) from costco. the only thing i had to purchase at the grocery was the bulls eye bbq sauce. btw- i'll be making pork ribs again today for dinner.

Linen's and Things - Store Closing Sale

Linen's and Things filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy a couple of months ago and is closing most of their stores. i had gone to the one in west l.a. (olympic and sawtelle) when they did the first mark down on the entire store (probably approx. 2 months ago), but it was only 10% off. i actually go to sawtelle to eat a lot and was there again recently when i noticed a guy holding a sign noting that the whole store was now 30-50% off. a good selection was still available. the markdown was mostly 30% off (kitchen electrics was what i mostly was interested in), rather than 50%. don't even think about purchasing an iron at this store - they were all gone except for the rowenta iron/steamer combo ($169). i did not purchase anything since the 30% off did not seem like much me (i still have a 20% off bed, bath and beyond coupon for any one item) and everything is final sale. also, lnt does not except any coupons.

The Dark Night Movie

i saw the 'dark night' opening day at the vista theatre in los feliz. i couldn't wait to see it only because i like christian bale a lot, especially from the first batman which i had not seen since its release. i barely got in after waiting in a line for 20 minutes and had the worst seat in the movie theatre in the front row right side. the story and special effects were good, but i did not like the fact that christian bale had this weird fake voice when he converted from bruce wayne to batman - he sounded like he was mumbling to me and i couldn't tell if it was because of the seats we were sitting in or if it was intentionally supposed to be like that. i had a hard time understanding what little lines he did have in the movie. i certainly did not remember this effect from the first batman. also, some scenes in the movie were not so smooth and cut over too fast to the next scene in which the audience was supposed to pick up what happened. overall, i was disappointed in the movie, especially since it had been hyped up so much. i do have to say that heath ledgers performance was very good. it was also very long, 2.5 hours. geez.

i am so glad that katie holmes was replaced by maggie gyllenhaal. katie holmes was the only part in the first batman movie that was terrible. maggie gyllenhaal actually looked similar to katie holmes in some scenes.

Pay more to park in City of Los Angeles ? - According to KTLA

LA city council voted tuesday to increase parking meter rates and extend hours of operations (previously meters were in operation until 6 pm; new ordinance will be until 8 pm)

hourly rates
up to $1.oo/hour
up to $4.00/hour for high usage areas

ordinances will be effective late august and city wide implementation will take about 90 days.

Easy Bread and Butter Pickle Recipe (sweet pickles)

I think i've finally found a recipe good enough to substitute joan's pickles, through trial and error. it tastes slightly different but very good and it's so easy to make. i don't think i need to buy joan's pickles again because these pickles will be just as good for my macaroni, potato and tuna salads. i think i just have to find something to keep the pickles crisp.

bread and butter pickle recipe
6 sliced pickling cucumbers sliced thin
1 white onion sliced thin
2 tbsp of kosher salt
Fill large bowl with water to top of bowl. Add salt, cucumbers and onions. Refrigerate overnight.

Drain and rinse cucumbers and onions.
______________________________
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
1 cup white vinegar
2 tsp dill (i used mccormick's 'it's a dilly' spice)
1 tsp whole black peppercorns
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp celery seeds

heat above ingredients above together and bring to a simmer. pour sauce over cucumbers and onions. then refrigerate. i waited 2 days before i tasted the cucumbers. obviously the longer you wait, the more flavor the cucumbers absorb.

i think this process of pouring the sauce while it's hot over the cucumbers slightly cooked the cucumbers and wilted them, so i'm going to wait until the sauce cools before i pour the sauce over the cucumbers the next time i make this recipe.

i have read that young grape leaves or pickle crisp (calcium chloride) keep the pickles crunchy, but i have no idea where to buy these items.

i know these pickles will last more than 1 week but i'm going to see if it last longer.

The Gap Sale and Incredible Hulk - The Movie

Saw Incredible Hulk yesterday at the grove. it was an entertaining movie. lou ferrigno had a small cameo as a security guard in the movie. iron man and hulk together in one movie in the next sequel?

as i left the movie theatre, i could not help notice other shoppers holding large shopping bags from 'the gap' store. decided to investigate - apparently, a very large summer sale was underway. the whole store was practically on sale (except for a few new arrivals) with an additional 25% off already reduced clearance prices. unfortunately, the store was a mess by the time the movie let out but i couldn't help myself from looking for some good deals. i got a light purple scoop neck tshirt for $3.74 (orig $16.50, pleated white wrap around skirt for $15.73 (orig $49.50), purple lightweight sweater for $12.74 (orig $44.50) and a pleated tank shirt for $8.23 (orig $44.40) prices including the additional 25% off. over 75% off from original prices.

Devendra Banhart at Hollywood Bowl

Saw Devendra Banhart, who opened for Gilberto Gil, yesterday at the Hollywood Bowl. First time at the bowl since the remodel of the shell. i really don't enjoy watching a concert there because of the uphill walk to the bowl. of course, i had to walk even more of an uphill since i sneaked in the residential area and park there. i was sweaty and tired by the time i got to my seat. it wasn't even that hot of a day. i'm glad i wasn't carrying food or wine. i like the prepared food at pinot (marketplace) cafe, but it can be pricey. i purchased 2 small bottles of beers for $6 each. i sat in the bench section (section F) behind the box section. it was hard to see anything from there so i just watched the 2 large screens near our seats. binoculars are necessary at the bowl if you are sitting in any bench seating and don't want to watch the large side screens.

Nintendo Wii Fit Refunded

i only used the wii fit once to try it out and never used it again. for me, it was one of those products that would probably just end up collecting dust somewhere in your home. i put all parts back in the packaging the same way it came in as best i could. since i had purchased my wii fit at target, i had assumed the return policy was the same as everything else (90 days). not so. the target employees' gave me a hard time since it was considered an electronic item. it was practically unreturnable since i had used it once (how else was i suppose to know if i liked it or not?) the large sign the employee pointed to stated "some items cannot be returned if opened...". some items? of course, the wii fit was not explicitly stated on their return policy. the employee said that they would not be able to resell it (which i did not believe since it was in practically new condition and a very in demand product). the employee called the manager who he said would be able to make the final decision. a manager came and asked the employee if all parts were inside and if so, to give me a refund. thank goodness. i really didn't see them having a problem reselling it. whew!

EBay to Strengthen PayPal’s Anti-Fraud Provisions - NY Times article

hmmmm... very interesting. especially after what happened to me earlier this week with paypal. ebay/paypal supposedly offers buyers coverage currently but apparently it does not apply to me since paypal cannot recover funds from the seller account. i certainly did not get the item i paid for and it has been nearly 4 weeks since the auction ended, but apparently there's nothing i nor paypal can do about it since the seller withdrew all her funds before the dispute ended.

NY Times article

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- EBay Inc. hopes to attract more online traders by expanding the protections available to people who use its PayPal payment service for transactions on eBay's Internet marketplaces.

EBay executives said Thursday at the company's annual user conference that buyers who pay for items with PayPal will be eligible for full refunds, with no cap, if a seller fails to deliver an item as promised. Previously a buyer's coverage was capped at $200, or $2,000 if the item's seller enjoyed a particularly good reputation on eBay.

EBay sellers who accept PayPal as a payment method -- as nearly all of them do -- will also get unlimited protection against a charge being reversed. Such reversals can happen if a buyer claims not to get an item, or if a payment is fraudulently made. Previously sellers' coverage had an annual limit of $5,000, and applied only for shipments to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

PayPal spokeswoman Sara Gorman said the changes, due to take effect this fall, reflect the service's increasing confidence in its ability to spot and block many fraudulent transactions before they occur.

The steps come as eBay is trying several measures aimed at making its auctions and fixed-price listings easier and safer to use. Recently eBay revamped its feedback mechanisms and introduced new incentives for frequent sellers.

However, an earlier attempt to drive use of PayPal has encountered friction. The company recently postponed plans to require PayPal on all transactions in Australia after that nation's antitrust regulator raised objections.

Ebay / Paypal Dispute System Sucks

so i bid on a pair of new jeans which ended on memorial day, 5/26 for $57 ($51 plus $6 shipping). on the auction description, the seller stated that the item would be mailed via priority mail which takes 2-3 days. paid via paypal immediately after auction ended. paypal withdrew the money from my bank account. i didn't hear from the seller after 3 emails to her in over a week and assumed she might have sent the item already. i did not receive the item the following week either and no response from her, so my only option was to file a dispute with paypal. ebay/paypal make you wait 10 days to file a dispute and then you have to wait another 10 days for them to resolve the issue after they notify the seller to respond. what a drag. i just wanted my money back. she finally contacted me on 6/13 (almost 3 weeks later) stating that she sent the item on 5/30 and she hadn't had time to respond because she was busy with school. it was a sorry, unbelievable excuse. whatever. i told her i would wait one more week and she agreed that she would give me a refund if i didn't receive the item by then. she told me that paypal's dispute system only allows her, the seller to either refund the money or submit tracking info, which she did not have, and asked me to cancel the dispute because they were going to automatically withdraw money out of her account and refund it to me. she didn't want to refund the money because she claims she sent them and i would be receiving it any day now. i told her i was not going to cancel the claim because i wanted to protect myself and if money was withdrawn from her account, i would mail her a check if i ever did receive the jeans. apparently, she withdrew all her money from the account before the paypal dispute ended so paypal would not be able to withdraw money. here is paypal's email response i got:
_____________________________________________________________
After careful review, we have concluded our investigation of the Buyer
Complaint described below.

We have decided in your favor, however, we were unable to recover any funds
from the seller's account. As stated in the PayPal User Agreement, recovery
of funds associated with a Buyer Complaint cannot be guaranteed.

Please know that we will make our best effort to recover the funds in
question if they become available in the seller's account in the future and
will take appropriate action against the seller. Such action may include
issuing a warning, a temporary restriction, or terminating the account.
Keep in mind that PayPal uses a number of factors to determine when to take
action, including member complaints. Due to privacy laws, we cannot discuss
the details of any action taken. We hope you understand our policy and that
it assures you that you are safe using PayPal.
________________________________________________________
So basically, i may never get my money back. thank goodness this wasn't a more expensive item. lesson learned here: always pay with your credit card and let paypal charge your credit card instead of withdraw from your bank account.
at least you have some protection with your credit card. i also don't think paypal's punishment of issuing a warning, temporary restriction, or terminating the account is harsh enough.