A Weekend in LA [with an under-ager]

So, this past weekend (yes, I realize it's Friday already) I somehow rolled the lucky dice. An entire weekend off of work AND Denny was in town.

Friday: Errands, and lots of them. RKO let me have the afternoon off because they've been working me like a slave.

Then I went to the LACMA with Nora and Matty. Got to see some Warhol and Lichtenstein, so I was happy. The rest wasn't as good as I'd hoped- but it was nice.

Then, picked up Denny at union station. We got beer at Ralph's and chilled in (since under agers are NOT allowed to drink in fun public places, like bars.) Watched The Savages, which I recommend, if only to see Laura Linney say "Big. Red. Pillow." and see Philip Bosco smear shit on the wall.

Saturday: Met my parents for breakfast. They love Denny and would absolutely drive to LA to see him. Oh yeah, I'm here too. Where did we go? Where do you think... Griddle Cafe for giant ass pancakes. I'll never know another breakfast. Then we went to a Verizon store where my dad proceeded to yell at the employees for a good thirty minutes, but all ended well. I got my new baby. I'm like a grown up or something. Then we ventured over to Santa Monica. I hadn't been to the beach all summer. Changed that! It was fantastic. Santa Monica beach was followed by Santa Monica promenade. Good food. Spent too much money on clothes and food and movies. saw Away We Go again. Another recommendation, if only to see an uncomfortable oral sex scene and Allison Janney act crazy [crazier?] Night ends with a wandering up and down Hollywood Blvd. We got invited into a limo. We passed.

Sunday: Lacei joined us! We walked around the Farmer's Market and Hollywood Blvd. Ate amazing salads at Tender Greens, Stared at graffiti [art?] and went to the Grammy Museum.

It was a packed weekend, but definitely a break I needed.

Pancake Post

My life has been monopolized by the movie making industry lately, (a blog on RKO will come soon) but I was lucky enough to get today off... given the whole "nation's independence thing." At first thought I was going to sleep in and do nothing, but why waste the day?

I've started this day off right, with a trip to the BEST pancake (and waffle, and french toast) restaurant ever: The Griddle Cafe.

What makes this cafe so excellent, you ask? Two things.

Size. and Flavors.

Size doesn't matter, you say? Nonsense! When it comes to food, especially breakfast, I want as much as I can get my grubby little hands on. The size of these pancakes is amazing. They're bigger than the plate. They're bigger than my head. I dare you to finish them in one sitting. Hell, I dare you to finish HALF of them in one sitting.

More flavors of pancakes than you ever thought imaginable. Somewhere, a very brilliant young man (or woman) thought, "why limit ourselves to plain pancakes? or just chocolate chip, or just blueberry. "

And thus, this pancake menu was born.

Some favorites:

Banana Nana - Brown Sugar Baked Bananas in Buttermilk Batter (Delicious!)

Hear Me Roar - Frosted Flakes and Strawberry Hotcakes (Breakfast Cereal IN A PANCAKE!)

Teacher's Pet - is filled with Cinnamon and Baked Apples (Today's Treat)

Black Magic - Oreo pancakes

and the best

Eyes Wide Shut - Espresso AND Chocolate Chips AND Powdered Sugar. (TO DIE FOR)

You'll wait for at least 30 minutes no matter what time you get there on a weekend morning, parties of 5 or more - expect to be looking at an hour. And I'd wait everytime.

A quick shout out for Coffee! In addition to delicious griddle items, the coffee at The Griddle Cafe is amazing. I'd never order pancakes without it.

You get your own individual French Press and the coffee is strong, abundant and wonderful.

Griddle Cafe, I'll be back.