Piyo's Adventure Part One: Los Angeles Farmers Market and The Grove
Despite the fact that my life has consisted of nothing but work and school these last few days, er, rather weeks really, I somehow managed to have a few little "adventures". One I took on my own, braving one of southern California's evil, almost always stopped with traffic freeway to just have some time to myself and have fun. The second I took with friends, where we (and I once again) braved the same evil freeway, got lost, ate good food and have a marvelous time at an outdoor movie (which I will go into more detail in Piyo's Adventure Part Two).
Piyo's Adventure Part One: A Day in Los Angeles
I had debated on whether or not I wanted to make the trip out to LA, and if I wanted company. Only one friend of mine had the day off, and I was genuine when I extended an invitation out to her, but in the end I was a little...relieved when she passed. It was a good opportunity for me to just get out of the house and have some alone time, something I had been in desperate need of. So, after a later than I wanted start, I filled up my gas tank, made sure I had a few good cds and then hit the road. Now, I'm not sure what freeways are like where many of you are, but to get to LA/Hollywood from my house I have to take four, and there are numerous overpasses, splits, connectors, you name it it's there. The evil one I mention above is the Interstate 5 Freeway, which is pretty bad no matter if you are taking it north (ie going to LA, San Francisco, and anything else up north) or taking it south (ie to San Diego and further to Mexico).
Okay, enough of the geography lesson, lol. Traffic wasn't as bad as I thought it would be be, so I got to Hollywood in decent time (being about 45-60 min.). And thus, my pictures begin...
It was around noon and I hadn't eaten anything yet, so I decided to have lunch at the El Capitan theater, at the Soda Fountain.
Lunch consisted of a Mickey shaped Belgian waffle and a chocolate shake. And no, I did not feel guilty about eating it.
The El Capitan itself was playing Snow White, which I am a little disappointed for not just sticking around to see. I arrived right after one showing had started, but since I had made other plans I decided not to stay.
The Soda Fountain's display from the outside...
...from the inside, along with Belle's dress making an appearance...
...and a table of Snow White goodies.
When I head out to Hollywood I always head to the El Capitan and the Hollywood and Highland Shopping Center. The latter is the Kodak Theater where the Oscars are held, which is where I park, underground. This is what I guess you could call the "main lobby". If you continue taking the stairs all the way up you reach the theater. The pillars of light you side on the left hand side are also on the right, and list the Oscar winning movie of each year.
From there I set out for the Farmer's Market.
Fruits! Watermelon, mango, oranges, pineapple, kiwis, cantalope...
...regular and champange grapes, star fruit, raspberries, lemons...you name it and they've got...well, they have a lot. I'm sure there are some fruits and veggies that we don't get out there, but they do have quite the selection.
I bought myself one of these fruit bowls before I left. Soooo good!!!
My lunch at a crept place. I didn't care for the dressing on the salad, but the panini was AMAZING.
One of the guys making crepes. This stand is actually the first place I ever had a crepe about seven years ago. I had gone to this market place before, but it was one trip with a friend of mine that we stopped here and had lunch when she discovered I had no idea what a crepe was. Sad, I know. But now I love them.
At the far end of the Farmers Market there is a shopping center called The Grove. I had come with friends about a week or so before this particular trip and we believe Kim Kardashian was there at the Coffee Bean. Quite a few celebrities head out this way, but seeing as how it's not exactly close, I don't go often.
They have a three story Barnes & Noble! Seriously, it makes my heart melt. For those of you who don't know, B&N is a bookstore. I partically live in there. To the left is The Cheesecake Factory. It has to be one of my favorite places to eat, and I go all the time with my sister.
The angels on the tower.
They had a mini little "park" in the center, with very cute statues.
It was pretty hot out there, and I had half a mind to just jump on the fountain, though I don't think they would have liked that.
Hm, I wonder if she ever gets tired of fishing?
And that is the end of my little Hollywood/LA adventure. At The Grove the only store I went into was the American Girl place, which made me thing of you,
filthy_bonnet. I keep forgetting we have one of those stores here, and I saw it when we made out little trip up the night of the John Williams concert we went to a few weeks before. I think I just about died when I walked in and went upstairs where all the historical dolls were, and was very sad that they no longer had Samantha, who was my favorite (although I know about her being placed int he vault). I walked into every shop at the market, bought my sister some Italian wine at a French store, and saw they had truffles for $380/lb, and left after buying my bowl of fruit and a cherry dessert for later. Traffic was about the same on my way home as it was up there, but I had my music (the new MUSE cd) to help pass the time.
So, Part One is now complete. Part Two is on its way, full of more Hollywood Adventures, because apparently I live out there now, haha.
Piyo's Adventure Part One: A Day in Los Angeles
I had debated on whether or not I wanted to make the trip out to LA, and if I wanted company. Only one friend of mine had the day off, and I was genuine when I extended an invitation out to her, but in the end I was a little...relieved when she passed. It was a good opportunity for me to just get out of the house and have some alone time, something I had been in desperate need of. So, after a later than I wanted start, I filled up my gas tank, made sure I had a few good cds and then hit the road. Now, I'm not sure what freeways are like where many of you are, but to get to LA/Hollywood from my house I have to take four, and there are numerous overpasses, splits, connectors, you name it it's there. The evil one I mention above is the Interstate 5 Freeway, which is pretty bad no matter if you are taking it north (ie going to LA, San Francisco, and anything else up north) or taking it south (ie to San Diego and further to Mexico).
Okay, enough of the geography lesson, lol. Traffic wasn't as bad as I thought it would be be, so I got to Hollywood in decent time (being about 45-60 min.). And thus, my pictures begin...
It was around noon and I hadn't eaten anything yet, so I decided to have lunch at the El Capitan theater, at the Soda Fountain.
Lunch consisted of a Mickey shaped Belgian waffle and a chocolate shake. And no, I did not feel guilty about eating it.
The El Capitan itself was playing Snow White, which I am a little disappointed for not just sticking around to see. I arrived right after one showing had started, but since I had made other plans I decided not to stay.
The Soda Fountain's display from the outside...
...from the inside, along with Belle's dress making an appearance...
...and a table of Snow White goodies.
When I head out to Hollywood I always head to the El Capitan and the Hollywood and Highland Shopping Center. The latter is the Kodak Theater where the Oscars are held, which is where I park, underground. This is what I guess you could call the "main lobby". If you continue taking the stairs all the way up you reach the theater. The pillars of light you side on the left hand side are also on the right, and list the Oscar winning movie of each year.
From there I set out for the Farmer's Market.
Fruits! Watermelon, mango, oranges, pineapple, kiwis, cantalope...
...regular and champange grapes, star fruit, raspberries, lemons...you name it and they've got...well, they have a lot. I'm sure there are some fruits and veggies that we don't get out there, but they do have quite the selection.
I bought myself one of these fruit bowls before I left. Soooo good!!!
My lunch at a crept place. I didn't care for the dressing on the salad, but the panini was AMAZING.
One of the guys making crepes. This stand is actually the first place I ever had a crepe about seven years ago. I had gone to this market place before, but it was one trip with a friend of mine that we stopped here and had lunch when she discovered I had no idea what a crepe was. Sad, I know. But now I love them.
At the far end of the Farmers Market there is a shopping center called The Grove. I had come with friends about a week or so before this particular trip and we believe Kim Kardashian was there at the Coffee Bean. Quite a few celebrities head out this way, but seeing as how it's not exactly close, I don't go often.
They have a three story Barnes & Noble! Seriously, it makes my heart melt. For those of you who don't know, B&N is a bookstore. I partically live in there. To the left is The Cheesecake Factory. It has to be one of my favorite places to eat, and I go all the time with my sister.
The angels on the tower.
They had a mini little "park" in the center, with very cute statues.
It was pretty hot out there, and I had half a mind to just jump on the fountain, though I don't think they would have liked that.
Hm, I wonder if she ever gets tired of fishing?
And that is the end of my little Hollywood/LA adventure. At The Grove the only store I went into was the American Girl place, which made me thing of you,
filthy_bonnet. I keep forgetting we have one of those stores here, and I saw it when we made out little trip up the night of the John Williams concert we went to a few weeks before. I think I just about died when I walked in and went upstairs where all the historical dolls were, and was very sad that they no longer had Samantha, who was my favorite (although I know about her being placed int he vault). I walked into every shop at the market, bought my sister some Italian wine at a French store, and saw they had truffles for $380/lb, and left after buying my bowl of fruit and a cherry dessert for later. Traffic was about the same on my way home as it was up there, but I had my music (the new MUSE cd) to help pass the time.
So, Part One is now complete. Part Two is on its way, full of more Hollywood Adventures, because apparently I live out there now, haha.