So Cal Life

July 19, 2016

Restaurant Review: Poppy and Rose

Falon Restaurant Review, So Cal Life 8 Comments

A couple of months ago I coordinated a wedding at one of my favorite venues, Smog Shoppe. One of the things I love about Smog Shoppe is that they let you bring in any caterer you want to work with, which means every time I work there, I get to try something new. At this past wedding, a local food truck, Peaches, catered and the food was so freakin delicious I could hardly stand it. The catering manager let me know that they also have a storefront downtown near the flower market and that I should check it out if I were ever in the area. Well, I happened to recently be in the area, and decided to swing by and see it for myself. Poppy and Rose is literally right next door to the flower market, which makes it convenient if you are already shopping for flowers, but a pain in the ass if you are not (parking in the area sucks…shocker). But I have to say, I want Matt to try their pulled pork so badly that we will probably make a special trip there one day just for that. It’s that good.

In addition to serving ridiculously good food, Poppy and Rose is also adorable. I mean, how can you not love the striped awning? Poppy and Rose is known for their pulled pork and their fried chicken (the wedding served both sandwiches; I had the chicken at the wedding and it was bomb). Since I had already tasted the fried chicken, I ordered the grilled cheese. It was yummy, but I wish I would have gotten the fried chicken sandwich instead since that is not something I’m going to order anywhere else (and I’m twelve so I eat grilled cheese all the time).

My friend Lisa opted for breakfast and got the ground beef patty with eggs and brick hash (the potato kind, not the marijuana kind). All of their breakfast items looked really yummy so my next trip might be a morning one.

My friend Kristen was the smartest of us all and got the pulled pork breakfast. She was nice enough to let us all sample the pork and it was amazeballs. Seriously, it like melted in my mouth. Matt loves pulled pork, so he is definitely going to have to come to Poppy and Rose to try some of this magic.

We all really enjoyed our meals at Poppy and Rose, and I was totally digging the vibe and ambiance. Farm fresh and rustic chic, with a bit of hipster edge thrown in for good measure.

Here’s a quick look at the Poppy and Rose menu…

If you are ever in the downtown area and are looking for a delicious bite to eat, I would totally check out Poppy and Rose! So cute inside and out, plus amazing food options. I’m basically going to be making excuses to go down to the flower market, just so I can eat here!

Thank you for sharing!

July 14, 2016

Tips for LA’s Shakespeare in the Park

Falon So Cal Life, Theater 0 Comments

As a (former) theater teacher and long time Shakespeare lover, I always look forward to the Independent Shakespeare Company’s summer Shakespeare in the Park series. Last year the ISC produced one of my all-time favorite versions of Romeo and Juliet, which is saying a lot because it one of my favorites, and the one I have worked on the most. But they did such a brilliant job, I loved everything about it. So I was super pumped for this year to see what they had in store for us. But I was less than thrilled when I saw the two shows on the docket were two of my least favorite: Richard III and The Tempest. No real offense to The Tempest, it’s just not my fave, and I spent four months of our spring semester working with a group of junior high kids on a scene from The Tempest that needed to be both funny and age appropriate (which is like not a real thing since the real comedy comes from the characters who are wasted the entire show). But I digress (shocker). Anyway. Being so recently scarred by The Tempest, I decided to go see Richard III, and I dragged Matt along with me.

Some basics about ISC and some tips for having an awesome experience:

The shows are staged at the Old LA Zoo in Griffith Park, which is one of the coolest outdoor locations for a show ever. When you get to the park, follow the signs that lead you to the site.
Be aware that you have to walk through the dirt to get to the performance. Real shoes are recommended.
It gets chilly when the sun goes down, so bring a sweatshirt.
Also bring a picnic. Also bring wine (though this is not technically allowed, everyone does it).
If you are going to bring chairs, bring low ones. Don’t be that guy with the huge chairs blocking everyone else’s view.
Get there early. These productions are becoming more popular every year so it is getting harder and harder to get good seats. Plus, there are several nights in the series where there are pre-show performances and activities.
Bring some cash. The show itself is free, but definitely bring some cash for donations and/or concessions. They do take cards, but cash is a little easier to work with.
With any Shakespeare play, make sure you read a summary before you go. Even when I am going to see a play I know well, I still read a summary to refresh my memory and make sure I can understand what is actually happening during the production.

Some quick background on Richard III: Richard III is a history play, which means it is based on real people and actual events from British history. Richard is the youngest of three brothers, his eldest brother Edward being the King of England. Richard decides to subtly usurp the throne (at least it is subtle in the beginning) by first killing his middle brother George. Then he blames Edward for killing George, which combined with Edward’s already frail health, kills him (Edward). Richard then becomes the regent for Edward’s young son and pretty much becomes the king for all intents and purposes. That’s not enough though. He begins to pick off the young king’s supporters one by one, including his mother’s brothers and plenty of dukes and lords. Finally, Richard has both of his brother’s sons locked in the Tower of London and kills them both. Richard then takes the crown and sets his sights on marrying his niece Elizabeth, having already disposed of his first wife. Elizabeth’s mother (also Elizabeth) instead conspires with Richmond, who gathers his forces and battles Richard for the crown (this is where the famous “A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse” line comes from). Richmond is victorious, becomes Henry VII and marries the young Elizabeth. That’s it in a nutshell.

For my part, I really enjoy the story of Richard III because I love British history. I have read pretty much all of Phillipa Gregory’s novels (author of The Other Boleyn Girl) and she has done a whole series about the War of the Roses (of which Richard III is the culmination). So I like the story, which is probably more than most people can say. Three years ago I saw a production of Richard III on Broadway, starring Tony Award winner Mark Rylance and a company of actors from England, most of whom had worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company before. And I hated it. I fell asleep. I have never fallen asleep during a show before (I was pregnant, but I think I would have anyway). My main problem with the production was the choice to make Richard a comedian. Yes, there are lines in the play that can be delivered in a way that makes Richard seem funny, but he’s not funny. His entire life is devoted to getting the crown by any means necessary. I mean, he kills two young boys, his own nephews, and shows no remorse for his actions. This is not a nice guy, and certainly not someone who should be the comedic relief in a show.

I was hoping for something super evil with the ISC’s production of Richard III, but I felt they took the same direction as the Broadway production (which I would think would be a compliment). So it must be me! I want to see an evil Richard, I want to hate his guts, not be indifferent to him. I get the direction-as Matt told me, this is not a play designed to appeal only to people like me, who know and understand Shakespeare. It is a production designed for the masses, and hence needs to have some popular appeal. Because of that, I do understand the choice. It’s just not my favorite choice. I will say that the women in the show were spectacular. And this play and this production are a great representation of a sometimes debated theory: Shakespeare wrote some kick ass parts for women. They were the highlight for me, especially Margaret (whose family is killed by Edward on his way to the throne) and Anne (Richard’s wife who he ends up having killed, oh and he also killed her first husband).

Bottom line: I will continue to see and support ISC shows because I truly believe in their mission of bringing free Shakespeare to the public of LA. Even though Richard III was not my favorite production, I will continue to look forward to their future productions. I would 100% recommend seeing any ISC production if you are in the LA area and at all a Shakespeare fan.

Thank you for sharing!

July 13, 2016

Dodger Stadium Tips and Tricks

Falon Family, Family Travel, So Cal Life 4 Comments

As you probably know, I am one of those super special unicorns that was legitimately born and raised in the Los Angeles area. That means that I am a diehard LA Dodgers fan (as all LA people should be, hint hint Husband!). I have been going to Dodger games for as long as I can remember, and there was a stretch of my childhood when my mom’s boss had season tickets and we went a couple of times a month. Before we had a kid (in other words, when we had extra income) we had a small group of friends who bought Dodger mini plans and went to about twenty games a season. We have been going much less since Squirt came along (though he went to his first games last year), but we are definitely looking forward to taking him to baseball games throughout his childhood. Since I have such a strong connection to Dodger Stadium, and to baseball in general (it is on our couple bucket list to visit all of the MLB stadiums, so far we have been to ten!) I thought I would share some tips with you.

Dodger Stadium is one of the oldest in the country, which means it is steeped in history, but also lacking some modern amenities you can find at other stadiums. A recent renovation brought about some of the original 1960’s flair (which thanks to Mad Men became popular again) and the stadium itself is clean and beautiful. The views from the stadium seats are gorgeous, especially at sunset. While I have enjoyed visiting the other ballparks we have been to so far, Dodger Stadium is one of my favorites (though I might be a bit biased). Here are some things you should know before you go to a Dodger game:

Parking: One of the major downfalls of Dodger Stadium (and LA in general) is the lack of public transportation options. Unless you are prepared to hike at least a mile, you need to plan on parking at the stadium. There are buses that travel to the park, but your life is going to be easier if you drive yourself. If you do drive, make sure you go online and prepay for parking, as you will save about $10 on the cost of parking if you do. This also means you need to get there early. I typically try to arrive at least 45 minutes before game time to leave plenty of time to park and walk in.

Food: Dodger Stadium has some of the best food that I have eaten at a ballpark. My personal favorites are the Extreme Loaded Dogs, which have several different options for toppings. This one is the Doyer Dog, which has chili, nacho cheese, pico de gallo, and jalapenos on it…

And this is the LA Bacon Wrapped Dog, which is a hot dog wrapped in bacon with onions, mayo and mustard on top.

Dodger Stadium also has a lot of diverse food options, including pretty tasty Brooklyn style pizza and Mexican food. My other favorite treat is fro yo in a mini Dodger helmet. Not only is the fro yo a great treat, but the helmet is the perfect souvenir. I have a mini helmet from all of the stadiums we have been to so far and I love them. The other tip to keep in mind when it comes to food is that you can (and should) bring in your own bottled water and non-alcoholic drinks. Just make sure they are in plastic bottles and stay sealed until you enter the park. You can also bring in snacks (like peanuts) and even entrees if you are so inclined (we have brought in Subway or other sandwiches in the past).

Bring the Kids: Dodger Stadium is a great place for families. On the Reserve level, there is a kids play space where they can run around and get some energy out. There are also lots of family restrooms all around the ballpark, which are super helpful as both parents can take the kids into the bathroom if needed. Also, make sure you visit Guest Services to pick up a first timers certificate for your kid’s first baseball game (or first time at Dodger Stadium).

Friday Night Fireworks: If you can swing it, go to a Dodger game on a Friday night. Every Friday night (weather permitting), there are fireworks after the game. You can see the fireworks great from most seats in the stadium, but you are also allowed to go down on the field after the game if you want to watch from there. In addition to being a great view, it is also really cool to be down on the field so I would definitely recommend watching from the field at least once.

If you are in LA during baseball season, I would highly recommend checking out a Dodger game. There is so much history at Dodger Stadium, and it is certainly a Los Angeles landmark. If you are a fan of another stadium, leave me some tips so I know the scoop when I check that stadium off my list!

Thank you for sharing!

July 8, 2016

Hollywood Pantages Theatre 2016-17 Season Overview

Falon So Cal Life, Theater 0 Comments

One of my greatest goals in life was always to be “rich” enough to afford season tickets to the Hollywood Pantages. I have been seeing shows at the Pantages since I was a little kid, and I have had a love affair with the theater ever since. For the past three years, I have been lucky enough to be a season ticket holder (though let’s be clear, it has nothing to do with being rich!). My mom and I have been able to find some good holiday deals and we have found a way to make it work. For the upcoming season, there are no deals (and there won’t be, you’ll see why in a minute), but when I purchased my season tickets for the 2016-17 season, I was able to set up a payment plan so that I didn’t have to pay for them all at once. To be honest, they were out of my budget and probably an unnecessary expense, especially given the fact that I no longer have steady income, but I just had to do it. One, because there is a truly awesome line up of shows coming to the Pantages, and two, because one of those shows is Hamilton.

If you have been living under a rock, Hamilton is the Broadway musical that has literally taken the world by storm. So far the show has won the Pulitzer, a Grammy and 11 Tonys. I was so so so lucky enough to see the show on Broadway in New York in January and I am not exaggerating when I say it was a life-changing moment (I mean, six months after seeing it, I am now self-employed and free from a job that made me miserable). Whether you are a fan of theater or not, this is a show that everyone should see. And yes, the music and the story are both fantastic, but the staging and the choreography are what really blew me away. I cannot say enough good things about Hamilton, and if you live in LA and you want to see the show, the best way to do that is by becoming a season ticket holder. Individual tickets are going to be hard to get, and once ticket brokers get a hold of them, prices are going to skyrocket. Plus, in addition to Hamilton, you are going to get some other really great shows as well, and here are my unsolicited thoughts on all of them:

Hedwig and the Angry Inch: The movie Hedwig and the Angry Inch was something of a cult favorite when I was in college, the kind of movie that had Rocky Horror style live performances where people dressed up and did crazy things along with the film. I was a fan of it when it came out, but Matt is the one who is really excited for this one as he was a bigger fan of the movie than I was. Darren Criss is going to be headlining this one (the role was originated by NPH…and if you don’t know who that is, you should just leave now) and I am hoping he redeems himself from his so-so performance at The Little Mermaid Live in Concert.

The King and I: I’m a sucker for a classic musical, and while this one was never one of my favorite musical movies as a kid, you really can’t go wrong with Rodgers and Hammerstein. Plus, that dress yo.

Finding Neverland: Sad that I didn’t get to see Matthew Morrison in this role, but I am super excited to see how the backstory of Peter Pan comes together in a musical. I actually have never seen the movie it is based off of, and I think I will hold off until after I see the show. I’m really looking forward to the sets and costumes for this one.

An American in Paris: This one is going to be all about the dancing for me. I was actually surprised when Matt told me he was excited for this one since it seemed like one of the more girly shows in the season, but apparently from a musician’s point of view, this is a pretty stellar show, so it should be a fun one.

The Bodyguard: This is the one eh spot in the season for me. Honestly, I’ll probably sell our tickets to this one.

The Book of Mormon: Aside from Hamilton, this is the only show I’ve seen before, so if we are super broke, we might sell these tickets too, but I hope we don’t have to. I loved Book of Mormon the first time I saw it, and I would love to see it again. Not just because it is hilarious (which it is), but because the music and the choreography is so fun. It really is an incredibly clever and well done show.

Hamilton: I’ll say it again, this show is life-changing. I would not be surprised if individual tickets for this show were selling in the $500 per ticket range, so really, it makes sense to just get the season ticket package. I CANNOT wait to see this show again, and I am really excited for Matt to see it for the first time. We have our fingers crossed that Lin-Manual Miranda (the writer/creator/star) is going to do some of the performances here in LA, but even without him, the show is going to be stellar. If you take nothing else away from me and this blog, let it be this: Hamilton is amazing and you need to see it.

I still have one more show to see in the current season at the Pantages, but I am already so excited for the next one. So much good theater to see, plus a really wide range of shows. According to the Pantages website, season ticket packages are limited and going quickly, so if you think you are interested, I would get yours now! Maybe I’ll run into you at the theater!

Thank you for sharing!

June 16, 2016

My Los Angeles Summer Bucket List

Falon Family, Family Travel, My Life, So Cal Life 0 Comments

As I’m sure you have realized, summer is upon us. In the past, summer meant a lot of sleeping until noon, day drinking, and doing all kinds of cool shit that you just can’t do during the school year. Now summer means finding activities to keep Squirt happy and occupied, preferably with air conditioning. (You know what I just realized? My whole life is now like summer! No school ever again!) Lucky for us, we live in one of the most entertaining cities on the planet, and despite the fact that I have lived here my whole life, there are tons of LA things I have never done. So I put together a bucket list of items for us to do this summer. Most of them will involve Squirt, but some will be just for Mom and Dad, because sanity is important y’all. Some of these things I have done before, but a lot of them will be new experiences (some it’s been so long it might as well be new). I’m sure I will be blogging about most, if not all of them, so stay tuned to see how they go!

Attend a comedy show: There’s about a billion comedy clubs in LA, and while I have seen improv shows, I have never seen stand up, so that’s what I would aim for.
Take Squirt to a Dodger game: He did make it to two last year, but he is much more aware now so I think he would have more fun. Also, I must do everything in my power to make sure he doesn’t turn out to be a stinky Giants fan like his dad.
Go to the LA Zoo: I haven’t been in forever, and Squirt has never been, so that should be a fun first time experience.
Go see Shakespeare in the Park: The Independent Shakespeare Co. does some really stellar Shakespeare productions at one of the coolest parks around, can’t wait to see what they do this summer.
Go to a concert in the park at Descanso Gardens: We love Descanso during the day, so I’m sure their evening concerts will be great!
Read four new books: This one actually seems daunting, to be honest.
Have a picnic at the Griffith Observatory: Some of the best views in LA!
Go to a concert at the Hollywood Bowl: We did just see The Little Mermaid there, but I would also like to attend a concert that is part of the Bowl season.
Try three new restaurants: In LA that should be easy, but I don’t like change, so we’ll see how it goes.
Eat lunch at the LA Farmer’s Market: Eating is involved, so it must be a good one.
Go shopping at the Melrose Trading Post: I’m not sure how I haven’t already done this, but this one will be new for me.
Go to the Last Bookstore: Again, not sure how I have not been to this place, but I’m looking forward to it!
Take Squirt to the LA Children’s Museum: This one was a fave of mine as a kid, but I haven’t been in years.
Take a walk along the Venice Boardwalk: The site of my first tattoo….we’ll leave it at that.
Go wine tasting in Malibu: No explanation needed.
Rent a paddleboat at Echo Park Lake: I’ll leave the actual paddling to Matt, obvs.

Boom. Summer planned! Let’s see how many of these bad boys we can check off the list! If you live in LA, or are visiting this summer, feel free to print out the checklist and join me on my quest!

Thank you for sharing!

June 10, 2016

The Little Mermaid Live in Concert at the Hollywood Bowl

Falon Disney Broadway, So Cal Life 0 Comments

Hello merfriends! Because my husband is very wise (and knows how to take a hint), I was gifted tickets to see The Little Mermaid Live in Concert at the Hollywood Bowl for my Mother’s Day present. The show was all over Facebook and as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to go. The Little Mermaid is one of my favorite Disney movies, and one that I literally watched every day after school when it came out on VHS. It is still one of my go to’s, in fact I have it saved on our DVR and I tend to watch it every time the husband is out of town overnight. Because I’m eight (though I do also drink while watching it so that makes me a grown up).

Anyway, the concert was amazing. Seriously, one of the coolest performances I have been to and I loved every minute of it. Even my non-Disney loving, musically trained and employed husband was impressed. It was effin awesome. Here’s my recap, which will not do it justice, so apologies for that in advance. I am really, really hoping that the success of this performance means they will tackle other classic Disney movies (Aladdin! Beauty and the Beast!) in upcoming concert seasons. But for now, here’s a look at The Little Mermaid!

I will be doing a blog post later this summer about my tips for the Hollywood Bowl, but since this was a lease event (meaning not part of the Bowl’s regular season) there were some restrictions as to what could be brought in, namely no outside booze. So we left ample time to make sure we could grab a glass of wine before the show, and luckily the guy at the concessions stand hooked us up.

Also, the hand holding the white wine is Matt’s, not mine! The pre-show for our concert night (we went on Monday, which was the final performance) was just as good as the movie performance. We got to see Brad Kane, who was the singing voice of Aladdin, and Susan Egan, the original Belle on Broadway and voice of Meg in Hercules. Both performed individual numbers and then they dueted on “A Whole New World”. They were both amazing and I was thrilled that they were a part of the show.

I had never been to the Bowl for a movie/concert, though I know they have done them in the past. The concept is super cool: there is a live orchestra onstage playing all of the music from the film and then performers come out and sing the songs live, like a concert (minus the obnoxious singing from the audience). They played The Little Mermaid in its entirety, pausing to introduce the singers and allow for applause at the end of each song. They also added in four songs from the Broadway production of The Little Mermaid since there are quite a few characters (namely Prince Eric) who don’t actually sing in the film.

The highlight of our performance was getting to see the original voice of Ariel, Jodi Benson, sing live. It’s been almost thirty years since The Little Mermaid was released (WTF?) and Jodi is obviously not a sixteen year old girl anymore, but she still killed it.

We also got to see Rebel Wilson sing “Poor Unfortunate Souls” as Ursula and she was hilarious. As I said to Matt, what she lacked in grace and timing, she sure as hell made up for with enthusiasm. And her evil laugh was ridic.

Prince Eric was played by the darling Darren Criss, whom I first fell in love with on Glee. We are going to be seeing him as Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch in a couple of months, so I was excited to see him live. His voice left me a little underwhelmed, to be honest, but I’m hoping that’s because the Bowl is a notoriously bad venue for singers. But if nothing else, he was adorable, so there’s that.

Another notable performer was John Stamos, who came out with a fake mustache and beret to sing “Les Poissons”. He was so good I didn’t remember to take a picture during his performance. During the credits, the orchestra played what I would think of as an overture, highlights from all the songs, and we were treated to a fireworks show.

The Hollywood Bowl is an iconic landmark in Los Angeles and a venue we try to visit at least once each summer. If you are visiting So Cal in the summer, definitely put it on your must see list. And if you are a Disney fan, keep an eye out for additional film concerts in the future. Given how popular The Little Mermaid was, I am sure there will be more coming our way soon, and I for one, will be at every. single. one of them. We had an amazing night watching The Little Mermaid, there were truly some unforgettable moments. Can’t wait to do it again!

Thank you for sharing!

June 1, 2016

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Take Two

Falon Harry Potter, So Cal Life, Universal Studios 0 Comments

Before the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Hollywood officially opened, I took Squirt over to Universal Studios during the week to check it out while they were having their soft openings. And as a huge Harry Potter nerd, I fell in love with Hogsmeade and Hogwarts, much like I expected I would. However, the one bummer was discovering how un-toddler friendly WWHP (and Universal in general) was. So for my second trip, I grabbed an adult friend (that sounds super creepy, but it’s not, we’re just friends who happen to be adults who happen to love Harry Potter) and we headed back to Universal. My main goal for this trip was to ride the rides, since neither one in WWHP is toddler friendly. Plus, it was my friend Kristen’s first time at WWHP, so she wanted to do everything.

(more…)

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