WHY A convenient location, comfy furniture and no-cell-phone policy make this a good spot for working or meeting someone, although parking can be tricky, and the WiFi’s not free. WHAT This longtime caffeination station is a relaxed, friendly and very quiet place, with respectable coffee drinks and good snacks—and it’s open until 1:30 a.m. WHO [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
Discoveries |
Read More »
WHY This vintage juice bar is a throwback to the days when fruit juices were considered exotic health foods. WHAT This venerable stand offers a large selection of juices, including tropical fruits, and smoothie combinations at reasonable prices. There’s ice cream, too. WHO Grand Central Market’s endless parade of Downtown office workers, Latino shoppers and [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
Discoveries |
Read More »
WHY Breakfast burritos are a favorite, and the wide selection of Sweet Lady Jane cakes makes a good accompaniment to coffee drinks. WHAT Chat or work in this Eagle Rock offshoot of the original Silver Lake screenwriter’s paradise. Thanks to the liquor license and adjacent bar and lounge, it’s easy to move from coffee to [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
Discoveries |
Read More »
WHY A fun, free street festival with local bands, kids’ amusements and lots of tamale making, tasting and gorging (during the tamale-eating contest). WHAT An upstart competitor to the big Indio tamale fest, this is a smaller, more personal one that’s centered around Mama’s Hot Tamales Café on the edge of MacArthur Park. Mama’s is [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
Discoveries |
Read More »
WHY Great buys on special wines (we’ve found swell Malbecs for $9), a small but thoughtful selection of French, Calfornian and Oregonian wines, and a terrific choice of port, sherry and dessert wine. WHAT It looks like your basic drive-up liquor store, but there’s a lot more to Gerlach’s than meets the eye. Brothers Lewy [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
Discoveries |
Read More »
WHY Really good, really homemade tamales from church groups, home-based tamale businesses and larger regional tamale makers. WHAT This free 18-year-old festival is devoted to the humble but heavenly tamale, held during the traditional tamale month, December, which also happens to be the most pleasant time of year in the desert. Tamale booths galore, a [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
Discoveries |
Read More »
WHY To see the world’s largest vat of guacamole, of course. WHAT Now one of the state’s largest food-focused events, the Avocado Festival is free and fun. Contests include largest avocado, best guacamole recipe and best-dressed avocado; music comes from lots of good local bands; and the kids’ area includes an avocado rock-climbing wall. Early [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
Discoveries |
Read More »
WHY To celebrate the Central Coast’s most cherished fruit. WHAT Going strong for more than a quarter of a century, this is a fine way to celebrate one of California’s greatest products. Music ranges from the Oxnard High Marching Band to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and there’s a strawberry-focused recipe contest, a strawberry tart toss, [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
Discoveries |
Read More »
WHY To wallow in the glory of bread, butter and cheese. WHAT Bread – Butter – Cheese – Victory! is the slogan of this fast-growing underground cheese-off that’s typically held in April (the 2009 one was chaos, but 2010 was better organized and much more fun). The location changes and is sometimes not announced until [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
Discoveries |
Read More »
WHY Simple and satisfying sandwiches on homemade bread. WHAT Part bakery, part coffeehouse, part lunch purveyor, these spacious, friendly, order-at-the-counter cafés are fine places for lunchtime sandwiches. Generous and made on an array of homemade breads, they are thoughtfully offered in three sizes: regular, large and half. WHO Office workers flock to both locations. 921 [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
Discoveries |
Read More »
RSS Feed
Become a Fan
Follow Us
