St. Patrick’s Day Street Festival by Golda

The team at Surviving LA has been rather busy this month! We apologize for the lack of posts! Luckily there is still plenty going on in Los Angeles to occupy your time. Last month, the Surviving LA team celebrated St. Patrick’s Day right with the street festival at Casey’s Irish Pub in Downtown! We had a great day eating, drinking and listening to tribute music in a sea of green.

Grand Avenue was closed around Wilshire Boulevard and the restaurant to make room for the Festival. You had to arrive before 1PM to get in for free. After 1PM, the admission fee was $8.  A VIP pass was also sold for $20, but that’s not very budget friendly! There was a long line so unfortunately we ended up having to pay. All day long there were games and giveaways supporting the Arthur Guinness Firefighter Foundation. We played toss the bean sack for a clover necklace and won! We also wrote our names on the large chalkboard and took pictures with costumed people and cut-outs.

In the morning, the restaurant served Lucky Charms, eggs, bacon and toast. We got there later in the day and sampled bratwurst, potatoes and corned beef sandwiches. Drink of choice was iced Irish coffee, green beer, or black Guinness! Over 500 kegs of beer was available to all guests, so there was no chance of it running out!

Sets from tribute bands The Potentials, Hollywood U2, Police Experience and Fan Halen played all day. We found the music a bit on the slow side and difficult to dance to. But overall we still had a great day at the street festival. Highly recommended for your St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans!

Be sure to take a look at all of our pictures from the festival on our Facebook page. Don’t forget to follow our Twitter account @SurvivingLA for all of the inexpensive events coming up each week. Next up we have a post on the Melrose Trading Post in West Hollywood! Stay tuned!

Special San Francisco Post: North Beach First Fridays

Thank you to all our loyal readers for supporting “Surviving LA on a Budget” and reading our previous 100 posts. While our other staff member Golda prepares her reviews on Casey’s St. Patrick’s Day Street Festival in Downtown Los Angeles and the Melrose Trading Post, this 101st post will be a special one-time post on an event that occurs outside of Los Angeles. Occasionally our staff visit our home in the Bay Area for the holidays. On one of these visits, I had the chance to attend an event in the heart of San Francisco. Since our first post for the blog was on First Fridays at Abbot Kinney near Venice Beach, I would like to dedicate our 101st post on First Fridays at North Beach in San Francisco.

Similar to Abbot Kinney First Fridays, North Beach First Fridays is an event that happens on the first Friday night of each month. It aims to promote local art galleries, restaurants, and various businesses in North Beach. One of the venues that is a part of North Beach First Fridays is Macchiarini Creative Design on 1544 Grant Avenue. This family-run neo-modernist jewelry store and gallery was founded by married couple Peter and Virginia Macchiarini in 1948. Their son Daniel Macchiarini and granddaughter Emma Macchiarini Mankin now continue on the family tradition. When I visited the studio, I was amazed by how inviting and passionate the owners were as they spent time explaining the history of their business and the story behind each particular sculpture and jewelry. Afterwards they led us to their workshop behind the store that they use to create their beautiful handcrafted jewelry and hold their workshops for anyone interested in learning metal arts. While Macchiarini Creative Design has been around for over sixty years, Art Attack SF opened last Winter.

Located on 2722A Hyde Street near the Hyde Street Cable Car terminal, Art Attack SF is a new art studio that exhibit and sell artworks from local artists. Some artwork to look for include Helen Keys’ ceramic fortune cookies, which together represent the Occupy Wall Street movement’s attempt to change fate, and Aguirre Amber’s ceramic skeletons on rotisserie skewers, which symbolize her status as the child of a Holocaust survivor. Some of the artworks on display are also interactive, allowing visitors to move individual pieces around. In addition, Art Attack SF occasionally hold parties and other engaging events for the public to get the community more involved in the art scene.

Another art gallery that opened recently is Modern Eden Gallery on 403 Francisco Street. Modern Eden Gallery is a venue I’m familiar with due to my involvement on an Academy of Arts film shoot that utilized this location two years ago. When I revisited this gallery during First Fridays, they were showcasing an Edgar Allan Poe themed gallery with paintings, statues, and of course, lots of ravens. They feature monthly exhibition so your experience at Modern Eden Gallery will always be a new one.

Of course, one can get really hungry visiting so many local businesses during North Beach First Fridays so make sure to visit HRD Smokin’ Grill on 532 Green Street. Featured on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” HRD Smokin’ Grill specializes in delicious Asian fusion food. They offer a cheesesteak sandwich with Mongolian beef drizzled in sweet hoisin sauce and a side of french fries. My favorite is their featured dish, fried sweet chili pork chops. These tender pork chops are encased in a thin, crispy sweet chili crust. With fries and tangy wasabi coleslaw included, these pork chops are a meal good for two people.

These are just some of the various charming businesses you will find in North Beach First Fridays. Over time, I can only assume that more venues in the community will participate in this monthly event. The next North Beach First Fridays will be held tonight from 6 to 9pm so be sure to visit if you’re in San Francisco! You can take the 8BX, 8X, 30, 41, and 45 Muni buses. Be sure to visit our Facebook page for more photos, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @SurvivingLA.

If anyone is interested in working on a “Surviving SF on a Budget” page, please e-mail us at survivinglaonabudget@gmail.com.

Until next time,
Steven

Bacon Social by Steven

Move over Downtown Art Walk because we have a new monthly art event in town! Located on the eastern edge of the Art District, the Bacon Social boasts local art, live music, and tons of delicious bacon!

While the Bacon Social was held inside a warehouse on the outskirts of Downtown Los Angeles, a bustling crowd guaranteed that the venue was anything but abandoned! Colorful, diverse artworks from over twenty local artists filled the walls. Some of my favorite pieces included an abstract brushwork by four-year-old Cash Sartorio, vibrant skulls painted by Lisa Betournay, and beautiful portrait photographs by first-time Bacon Social participant Jeremias Corona. Live music by Lyn Saga, The Furious Seasons, The Barrelhousers, and The Riverside kept attendees pumped up throughout the evening. However, art and music aren’t the only things available.

An interesting aspect of the Bacon Social that sets it apart from other monthly art events is the inclusion of a retro arcade room on the left. For one to two quarters, you will be able to play classics like “Mortal Kombat,” “Street Fighter,” “Time Crisis,” “Galaga,” “Ms. Pac-Man,” and even “The Simpsons!”

Of course, it wouldn’t be called the Bacon Social without bacon! Someone was apparently handing out 100 pounds of free bacon throughout the night, but we were unable to locate him. Their kitchen also offered food and drinks, including BLTs, bacon mac-n-cheese, bacon-wrapped hot dogs, bacon cupcakes, bacon caramel corn, bacon shots, and bacon Bloody Mary. Those who don’t eat meat, fret not! According to their website, the Bacon Social offers veggie bacon as well! The food were a bit expensive with the BLT costing $12 and the bacon mac-n-cheese costing $8, but that could be due to the price of the premium bacon strips used. Compared to other bacons I’ve eaten, the ones here were thick and chewy. Unfortunately, they ran out of BLTs early on so many patrons who purchased discounted BLT vouchers on their website were given the option to substitute their orders. The BLT that we ordered also came out burnt. On the other hand, the mac-n-cheese was delicious with four layers of cheese, bread crumbs, and bacon bits. My favorite item has to be the bacon caramel corn for $5. Unlike prepackaged caramel corn, these were smothered in fresh, thick flowing caramel. In addition, there were plenty of tables, chairs, and couches for people to relax with their food while they listen to their favorite bands performing onstage. Overall the food and drinks were popular with the crowd with the line to the kitchen twisting left and right through the art exhibit.

With only a $7 cover, the Bacon Social is a monthly event that keeps people entertained throughout the night with art, music, food, and games. I do hope that they end up expanding the size of the venue because it was packed, making it difficult for me to view the artworks without people blocking me. It also didn’t help that the line to the kitchen was in the same area as the art and music stage. Having a small venue also meant that the music was louder than usual. I also wish that they increase their supply of food in order to meet the demands of those who purchased BLT vouchers. The Bacon Social is held every month at The Factory on 654 S Myers St just east of the Los Angeles River with plenty of free street parking. You can also take bus #62. You will be able to see the beautiful Sixth Street Bridge lit up in the distance. For more photos of the Bacon Social, please go to our Facebook page. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @SurvivingLA for more updates! Join us next time as Golda reviews Casey’s St. Patrick’s Day Street Festival!

And that concludes our 100th post!! So what were some of your favorite posts?

Until next time,

Steven

Los Angeles Art Show by Steven

Downtown Los Angeles is known for hosting many art events such as Art Walk, Pancakes and Booze Art Show, Autumn Lights Festival, and the upcoming Bacon Social. One of the largest annual events to be held in Downtown is the Los Angeles Art Show located in the LA Convention Center.

Created in 1995 by the Fine Art Dealers Association, the LA Art Show takes place for four days in January as part of Los Angeles Arts Month. $20 ($15 online) allows you to attend the event for a day, but as Holly from “The Social Bug” and I found out, one day is simply not enough to view over 100 galleries. There are a large variety of artwork, including paintings, photographs, sculptures, and mixed media. Luckily those in charge of the LA Art Show do categorize the galleries into sections for the convenience of guests even though many galleries do not fit under certain themes. While the main purpose of attending the exhibition is to either look at art or to purchase them, there are other events for patrons to attend in the LA Art Show such as free sketching demonstrations.

For this year’s LA Art Show, there were a few pieces that made a long-lasting impression on me. Yu Nancheng’s abstract oil canvases and brush strokes showcase hundreds of Chinese soldiers and dancers dancing brilliantly in unison. Dorian Vallejo’s realistic painting, “Dream Freefall No. 1,” portray a different type of movement with a girl’s white gown flowing gracefully as she falls underwater. Seth Casteel’s series of photos also occur underwater but with adorable canines diving in. His photos are intriguing because they have initially gained a lot of Internet exposure, therefore showing the importance of social media in marketing today’s art. Artist Li Guanglin captures the presence of his subjects (i.e. children, elders, monks) so perfectly in his oil paintings that they seem to pop out of the canvas. Peter Kellett also captures the same feeling with his anographics of landscapes. His usage of anographics (a type of aluminum) help capture the color and brilliance of sunsets in his works. However, art inside the LA Art Show aren’t just limited to materials as Hiroko Tsuchida turns herself into a performance art about identity by sitting idly in front of bystanders, chained to a large mirror.

Whatever your preference may be, there is something for everyone at the Los Angeles Art Show. The LA Art Show is held at the Los Angeles Convention Center at 1201 S Figueroa St. off the 110 and 10 freeway. There are numerous parking lots inside and outside, but they tend to be over $15. There are also metered street parking (which are free on Sundays) on Flower St, Hope St, and Venice Blvd and some free street parking west of the 110 freeway. You can also take buses #33 and #733. Daily tickets are $20 with $5 discount when purchased online here. The next show dates are from January 16, 2014 to January 19, 2014.

For more photos, be sure to go to our Facebook page. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @SurvivingLA for future updates like the Bacon Social. Also be sure to check out The Social Bug’s post on our visit to the Indiana Jones Exhibition in the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana.

Until next time,

Steven

Trivia in Los Angeles by Golda

Many bars host a trivia night weekly to challenge LA locals like you and me with food, drinks, and friends. In Los Angeles, there are two specific overall brands: Action and King Trivia. The process is simple, you form a team and play for a few hours weekly to see who knows the most! Trivia bar nights are a great way to get out, discover a new bar, meet new people and drink!

Most of the trivia nights I’ve been to last 5-7 rounds. The round themes vary, but some common ones are handouts with pictures, matching, answers with a common word/theme and guess that famous person/fictional character based on clues. Trivia is usually free, food and drinks are not unless you’re a winner!

I’ve been to several different trivia nights so far, so I’ll list the venues and some of my observations about each one. You can find a full list of trivia locations at the links above.

1) 1793 Public House: Probably the best trivia venue I’ve been to so far. Located in Los Feliz, this restaurant was recently renovated to include a pool area upstairs with a lot of tables for trivia. The space is huge, but unfortunately that also means there is a lot of competition. Last time I went there were over 20 teams. Trivia starts at 8pm on Wednesday nights.

2) Ye Olde Rustic Inn: This is a small pub in Los Feliz. It’s rather dark inside so I found it very hard to write answers down. There are not too many teams competing since the place is so small, but I also found the trivia more challenging than other venues I’ve been to. Trivia starts at 9pm on Sunday nights.

3) Barney’s Beanery: I’ve been to the Burbank location but I’m sure the other locations have their own trivia nights. The food is all right and can be pricey, but the trivia is not all that difficult.Trivia here starts at 9pm on Wednesdays and I believe there is also a different one on Mondays.

4)  Backstage Bar and Grill: This is an interesting dive bar in Culver City. It’s the most unique one I’ve been to so far, with social media integration (at times), matching shapes/logos and much more. Most of the bar food I’ve had here is also quite amazing, especially the mac and cheese. If you live on the Westside, this is definitely a good place to try! Trivia starts at 9pm on Sundays.

Why not go out and try your own hand at trivia? Let me know some other cool places in Los Angeles in the comments below!

Stand-Up Comedy at Cinefile by Steven

Valentine’s Day just came and went, and whether you’re with a loved one or not, there’s never a bad time to go to a show that makes you laugh and cheers you up. In addition to the Little Tokyo Comedy Brunch that Golda recently wrote, I attended Stand-Up Comedy at Cinefile on Valentine’s Day, a new, free comedy show that occurs every other Thursday night.

Stand-Up Comedy at Cinefile is created and hosted by Josh Fadem, a hilarious comedian and actor who also works at Cinefile Video. The event features three to four recognized comedians such as Taylor Williamson (who was featured on “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”), Kate Berlant (who performed at the Los Angeles’ Riot Alternative Comedy Festival and Bridgetown Comedy Festival), and Baron Vaughn (who performed on “Conan” and “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon). Every performer have their own distinct personalities and charm so you will get fresh jokes covering a large variety of topics. As with most comedy shows, there will be raunchy jokes inappropriate for young children, but it is fun to watch with your adult friends and family.

The show is free for the public to attend, and free beer is usually provided as well. Those who are new to Cinefile Video will be ecstatic to find a great deal of rare foreign films to rent that they will not be able to find on Netflix and the like. It is also located next to Nuart Theatre, which plays many classic movies. Cinefile is the perfect locale for all cinephiles.

So get your laugh on at the Stand-Up Comedy at Cinefile Video on 11280 Santa Monica Boulevard right off the 405 Freeway. There is free parking located behind the store as well as metered parking on the street. You can also take buses #1, 4, 11, and 704. The next show will be held on February 28! Please check out our Facebook page for more photos, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @SurvivingLA!

Until next time,

Steven

The Little Tokyo Comedy Brunch at Far Bar by Golda

Last year I wrote a post about budget comedy venues in Los Angeles. Here’s a new place to see some of your favorite comics and some complete newbies! The 2nd Saturday of every month, The Far Bar in Downtown Los Angeles will host “The Little Tokyo Comedy Brunch” from 1pm to 3pm. Two featured comics open the show followed by 10 to 15 other comics in on open-mic fashion.

 I attended the show last Saturday. It is important to note that the comedy show is completely free, but there is a $12 brunch special, with an additional $3 for bottomless mimosas. This is a great deal for your money, as the brunch comes with one entree and two sides. There are a variety of options available, as there is a great number of entrees and sides. One of the most unique sides was the pancakes and wasabi sauce. A full bar is also available, perhaps to get you through the comedy? You can see a picture of the full menu here.

One of the things I love about these types of shows is the mixed bag of comics you can get in one show. The headliners of this particular show were David Ury from “American Horror Story” and “Breaking Bad” and Nina Manni but there were plenty of amateur comedians as well. Everyone performed for five minutes to a welcoming crowd.  The show is produced by writer and comedians Atsuko Okatsuka and Jenny Yang of Disoriented Comedy Tour.

Be sure to make it out to Little Tokyo for the next comedy show, you’re sure to see a great show and if you don’t like it, well, there’s always the bottomless mimosas.

“Guinness Believer” Private Tasting by Steven

Those of you who kept in touch with our blog since the beginning may recall our whiskey tasting accounts with the “House of Walker Experience” and “Raise the Macallan” last year. This week, I had the wonderful opportunity to compare and contrast whiskey tastings with beer tastings after I got invited to attend “Guinness Believer.”

You may ask yourself, “A Guinness tasting? There are more than one kind of Guinness?” There are actually more than a dozen variations as I learned from the speaker throughout the night. He also informed us that Guinness has less calories than most beer and that the logo for Guinness is a mirror image of the logo for the Trinity College harp in Ireland as a patriotic homage. In addition, he taught us how to pour Guinness draft into glasses properly. He invited two tasters to the stage to do the task in a friendly competition where the winner received a free Guinness t-shirt. Furthermore, everyone received a small booklet containing food recipes that complement each particular Guinness, which you can use to impress house guests and increase their awareness of Guinness.

Speaking of awareness, “Guinness Believer” also advocated social media like the “House of Walker Experience” and “Raise the Macallan.” Attendees could take photos in front of the St. James’s Gate Brewery backdrop and share via e-mail or Facebook. People were also encouraged to take photos of the event and upload them to Instagram with the hash tag #GuinnessBeliever for a chance to win a Guinness t-shirt.

During the event, we tasted three different kinds of Guinness. Initially I was given a regular glass of Guinness Draught. Afterwards, I tried the Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, which tasted stronger than the Draught but was also more crisp and refreshing. According to the speaker, the Foreign Extra Stout tasted like roasted barley. Finally I drank a sample of the Guinness Black Lager, which tasted lighter than the Guinness Draught in my opinion. As a pleasant surprise, we were able to keep the Guinness BLack Lager glass as a souvenir. Drinks were also not the only thing on the menu that night.

We did not go home with empty stomachs thanks to the amazing free catering “Guinness Believer” provided. cumin spice granola bits were mixed into sweet caramel popcorn to give an extra kick to our palate. The chocolate brownie bars were crunchy and nutty. The shortbread had the perfect hint of lime without being sour. Other snacks offered included chips with guacamole dip, pecan bars, and onion bread rolls. While I enjoyed the food, my opinion of the locale is mixed.

Unlike the tastings I’ve attended in the past, “Guinness Believer” was not held in Downtown Los Angeles. Instead it was held in the heart of Culver City’s art district in the BookBindery and Brick Buildings. As you can imagine from the name of the venue, brick walls were prominent, allowing a more historic, traditional appearance in contrast to modern buildings with dull cement walls. There were two bars inside with several bartenders serving beer quickly to attendees. However due to limited seating and lack of tables, most people were required to stand for the tasting. In order to receive different samples, you had to raise your hand high, hoping the servers would come and hand you one in good faith. If you were a slow drinker, you would eventually find it difficult to hold onto all your glasses without a table as more samples came your way.

Despite the inconvenience that resulted from limited seating, “Guinness Believer” was a good event to increase one’s awareness of the different variations of Guinness. I was required to pay $5, but it’s worth it for the tasting, food, and free Guinness glass. Furthermore, all of the money went to donations to firefighters. For information on future tastings, be sure to check out the “Guinness Believer” website! You can view more photos of the event on our Facebook page. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @SurvivingLA for all the latest news!

So what is your favorite type of Guinness?

Until next time,

Steven

Pasadena Community Orchestra by Steven

Previously we mentioned how you can attend the Los Angeles Opera and various outdoor concerts for free. However, those free performances are usually restricted to a specific season. I enjoy seeing the Pasadena Community Orchestra because their performances are also free to attend, and they occur frequently throughout the year.

The Pasadena Community Orchestra is a non-profit organization founded in 1983. Even though it is non-profit, their quality can match those of more prominent orchestras. For instance, they have a full orchestra comprising of 60 to 70 members playing strings, woodwind, brass, and percussion. Occasionally they have guest soloists such as the cellist Christopher Ahn. Even though performances are held in a church, the venue looks and feels like a symphonic hall. The church is extremely spacious, and the acoustics are splendid. When I attended the concert on January 25, the Pasadena Community Orchestra played a wide range of music from classical, romantic works by Robert Schumann to more modern interpretations by Henry Cowell. Cowell’s “Hymn and Fuguing Tune No. 3″ definitely revealed his exposure to world music since the piece sounded like a fusion of Asian and Native American music. The night was also educational with the composer providing a short historical introduction to each composer. As a result, attending their performances is a terrific way to spend time with kids and adults.

The Pasadena Community Orchestra is located in the First Church of the Nazarene on 3700 E. Sierra Madre Boulevard with plenty of parking around the church. You can also take Metro bus #487/489. The next concert will be held on February 24 from 2PM to 5PM. Please visit their website for the complete concert schedule. For more photos, please visit our Facebook page. Please remember to follow us on Twitter @SurvivingLA for more entertainment!

Until next time,

Steven

dineLA: Gordon Ramsay’s Boxwood Café by Steven

Are you a fan of “Hell’s Kitchen?” Have you always wanted to savor meals inspired by internationally renowned Chef Gordon Ramsay? Founded by Chef Ramsay and now overseen by Chef Anthony Keene, the Michelin-starred restaurant, “Gordon Ramsay at the London,” and its sister bistro, “Boxwood Café,” provide just that in the heart of the Sunset Strip. Thanks to dineLA Restaurant Week, patrons can now enjoy a reasonably priced three-course lunch at “Boxwood Café” for $25 or three-course dinner at “Gordon Ramsay at the London” for $45 for a limited time. Both establishments offer the same dessert choices, and both offer mushroom risotto as an option for appetizer. The main differences lie in their entrees. While “Gordon Ramsay at the London” offers dinner entrees such as tai snapper and short ribs within their dineLA set, “Boxwood Café” provides brunch items like lobster benedict and The London Burger. Holly Winn from The Social Bug and I opted for the more affordable “Boxwood Café.”

Even though it is a bistro, “Boxwood Café” is extravagant with a simple yet classy white decor, golden chandeliers, and a breathtaking view of Downtown Los Angeles. Servers were extremely attentive to our needs, and they made us feel relaxed and welcome.

The menu is a fusion of California and Asian cuisine. I enjoyed the slight sweetness that the red onion peels provided to the creamy mushroom risotto. Even though they had a texture similar to meatballs, the crispy chicken dumpling appetizer were delicious, especially when mixed in with the sweetness of the hoisin sauce and the tanginess of the sriracha. For the main course, Holly ordered the braised pork and lobster benedict while I ordered the chicken paillard. A large chunk of lobster, not mashed or diced, sat on top of toasted brioche smothered in hollandaise sauce and served with a side of tender pork. Compared to Holly’s dish, I was slightly disappointed by the blend taste of the chicken paillard. While we both did not order The London Burger, it was a popular choice for many due to the portion. For dessert, we treated ourselves to the meyer lemon tart and coconut panna cotta. Interestingly enough, the lemon filling was not wrapped within the crust; it lied on top of it instead. The flavor of the lemon was impactful, but the combination of berries and lemon might prove too sour for those with sensitive taste buds. The coconut panna cotta had the opposite issue. I was forced to mix in the mango sorbet with the panna cotta because I could hardly taste the coconut.

I would definitely try “Boxwood Café” for the experience. For those of you who are indecisive in choosing an appetizer and entree, I would recommend the crispy chicken dumpling and lobster benedict with braised pork. “Boxwood Café” is located inside The London West Hollywood on 1020 N San Vicente Blvd for breakfast and lunch. Buses #2, 30, 105, 302, and 330 pass by the hotel. There is also metered parking available right on N San Vicente Blvd. dineLA Restaurant Week ends this Friday so be sure to visit within these two days!! For more photos, please go to our Facebook page. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @SurvivingLA.

Until next time,

Steven