Santa Monica - My Top 10 List

Since Kristina and I are coming up on our 3rd year in this seaside haven, I thought it appropriate to share 10 things about Santa Monica that we really enjoy. And what better way to do it than a top 10 list, countdown style of course. I came up with over 20, but for the sake of brevity and to keep some things to ourselves, 10 will do for now.

10. The Pier




I have a weird love/ hate relationship with the pier. First off, I would say at any given time the pier is half Euro and Asian tourists and half tourists from other cities. It is crowded, it doesn't always smell great, and the food sucks. But the they have cool events there like the outdoor movies and concert series and riding the Ferris wheel at night is awesome.


9. The Stairs




This place is like mecca for cardio freaks. And don't think you can just show up in your old sweats, it's exercise meets couture workout fashion here. It takes some getting used to but you actually smell perfume and cologne as you go past others on the ascent or descent. The stairs themselves seem innocent enough, but after 5 round trips if you are still standing, good for you. I am usually sore for a few days after just an hour there.


8. Main Street

I rarely cross over to the other side of SM, but when I do Main st. is a cool place to go. It is a bit more liberal for my tastes, i know that is ironic considering that all of Santa Monica is very liberal, but Main St. manages to take it up a notch. Why I like it: Enterprise Fish Co. has a great happy hour, Urth Cafe is great for lunch, there is a bowling alley, a bar with an insane beer selection (Library Alehouse), and Chaya Venice is a great joint for a good meal.

7. Ice at Santa Monica




A sure sign of the holidays around here is when the ice rink is up, we usually avoid going on weekends and in the first week since it is a madhouse and the rink really isn't that big. But for $10, to skate outdoors with Christmas lights and holiday music, well it's a rare SoCal treat. You have to get an obligatory Peppermint Mocha at the Coffee Bean (even better since it is sponsored by Starbucks) before you arrive to put you in the spirit and to avoid the $6 coffee they sell on the premises.


6. Montana Avenue

If you are wealthy, like most Santa Monican's are, this is where you shop. I am not wealthy, so this is where we walk around, do our laundry, get a coffee, go to blockbuster, get pizza, and buy our groceries. Most of the boutiques here very expensive and usually photographed in US weekly with a celebrity in it.

5. Bay Cities Deli




This is the best sandwich I have ever eaten. Period. It is an obscene disco of excess in my mouth... so many components that just come together and work. The bread is baked fresh on premises, the Italian meats and cheeses are great and the actual market is awesome, they have a huge selection of goods imported from Italy. This is not an uncovered gem though, you can wait a long time for your sandwich, I pulled the number 58 yesterday and they were on 12 or something. Order the Godmother with the works, tell em Jimmy Da Ape sent ya.


4. The Farmers Market




This place just makes my Saturday mornings filled with awesomeness. Nothing beats waking up, riding the bike over and picking up some of the best fresh produce in California. The great thing is that the selection changes with the season unlike your local grocery store, how fresh is that? Heirlooms, all types of fruits and veg, the fresh fish truck, my weekly wheatgrass shot, cheap flowers, etc. all add to the awesomeness of this Saturday morning delight.



3. The Promenade




Ahh the promenade... the jewel in Santa Monica's retail crown. Everyone's been there at least once and they can always expect to find cliche chain retail store, very talented street performers and musicians, unsurpassed people watching, and mediocre food. I dig the performers, the people watching, reading books for free at Barnes and Noble, but what I really dig about the promenade are the bars. Barneys Beanery for Sunday football, think a lot of chili meets about 200 flat screens with a fun hungover crowd that slowly shampoo effects itself into a drunk Sunday funday scene. You can easily get trapped here form the morning game kickoffs until you come out and the sun is down. Blame it on the beer, Daylight savings, whatever, but just know you had a good time watching every player on your fantasy football team while drinking on the promenade. Hit up Cabo Cantina after work for a better than average happy hour. Sometimes the shops are cool too.



2. Fathers Office




It has become a ritual for us to go to Fathers Office for the burger and to meet up. People will debate whether or not it's the best burger in LA and that its over-hyped but who gives a f'ck. The burger is insane, the sweet potato fries with Garlic Aioli border on the addictibility of crack, they have a ton of beers on tap, and it has a really cool vibe. The crowds suck, but to most, it's worth it. This is the place you come when you want to post up for a few hours with some good friends. Make sure you go with Kristina, she has an uncanny ability to secure a table within minutes. Seriously, it's unheard of.




1. The Palisade




In my opinion, this is SM's version of Central Park. Where else can you run on a trail on a 3 mile bluff that over looks the ocean? There are rose gardens, a huge variety of trees, tables where old people play chess and picnic, tons of spots to throw down a blanket and read, and above all... the best place to sneak a cup of good wine and watch the sunset.

There you have it, it's my list and I am sticking to it. If you can't make a similar list for where you live, consider moving. Just don't move here because the lines at Bay Cities and Fathers Office are long enough as it is.

Drew's Pulled Pork

Co-worker Drew has once again blessed us with another insight into the mind of a BBQ Enthusiast. Drew likes to BBQ, Drew is good at BBQ'ing, and Drew has some BBQ knowledge to drop on us. Below is his recipe for some good ol pulled pork, and I can attest that it was an instant hit in our office.



Drew's Smoked Pulled Pork - Inspired by a broken fridge and Maker's Mark

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Buy a pork shoulder. Make sure it is a shoulder cut. No other cuts of pork will pull.

I just use a salt and pepper rub (fairly generously), then just inject about a cup of water (water injection is not necessary if you keep moisture in the bbq).

Smoke the pork for 6-10 hours, depending on the weather outside. The goal is to maintain a temperature between 130-150 degrees. Make sure to use pre-soaked (then dried) wood chunks, adding them to the charcoal fire occasionally throughout the cooking. I use a water tray above the fire as well to keep moisture in the smoke. Keep checking the water tray to make sure it has water in it, which should be boiling... or at least steaming. In the last hour of cooking, keep the pork tender by pouring water on it occasionally while stabbing it with a bbq fork.

Remove the pork from the bbq once you think it is done. Note - it is very hard to overcook if you maintain a temperature around 140 degrees, so if you're not sure it's done, it doesn't hurt to leave it on the bbq another hour.

Pull the pork using whatever method you find is the easiest, or the most fun. If throwing it repeatedly against your table saw works for you... have at it. I use two forks and my hands. It's always more fun with more people. Place the pulled pork in a big pot or pan and add the following ingredients.

Rellish
Ketchup
Butter
Brown sugar
Worcestershire sauce
Steak sauce
Hot Sauce
Olive oil
Soy sauce
Italian dressing (small amount)
Apple Sauce (small amount)

Mix it in the pot over the fire in your bbq to keep a low heat on it.

Serving it on a lightly toasted Kaiser roll is best in my opinion.

There was no logic or science behind this. Just a general sense of what might taste good. Basically you just need your fridge crap out on you (like mine did), or just simply unplug it for a day. Then see what needs to be eaten so it won't go bad. It's a good thing I've made a lot of my own sauces, so I had a schmorgizborg of almost empty (and not so empty) bottles of the like. Nothing goes to waste in my fridge.

I'm sure I may have missed a few minor details and/or ingredients. But like I said, there's no science behind it. It was quick, sloppy, and the recipe was in the fate of my refrigerator.

Either way, pulled pork with almost any kind of sauce is going to be tasty. In fact, the messier it is, and the more things go wrong... the better it is.

Have fun.

Capitalism is dead

There should be riots on Wall Street. It is as if the U.S. Military has driven tanks right down into our financial center and has taken over our free markets, reeking chaos and havoc on corporations that have overleveraged themselves in mortgage backed securities. The government has become punch drunk in it’s efforts to rescue the financial system and it is and will continue to effect the way that our markets work.

Let’s recap what has happened over the last few weeks. The government nationalized Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and then it did the same with AIG. Uncle Sam further plans a $700 billion fund to buy, well, whatever types of assets it wants. Originally envisioned as a repository for soured mortgage bets, as late as Sunday night, the Treasury Department reportedly revised plans to include what it terms "troubled assets." Those could be student loans, credit-card debt, non-U.S. assets, or anything else that happens to strike Paulson's fancy. You couldn't design a more inherently corrupt and arbitrary policy if you tried (smartmoney.com). This is in addition to policy that wants to step in and aid “struggling homeowners” who bit off more than they can chew when purchasing home they can’t afford.

This coup d’etat by the Fed has rushed in so quick to bail everyone out that everyone’s heads are spinning. It is like going to bed in L.A. and waking up in Venezuela the next morning. In a span of a month it seems that we have abandoned all free market principles that this country was built upon. I have no words to express how bad this feels right now, it is as though we are shifting to a model of economic socialism where the free markets can not operate how they are supposed to except when they are doing well. It actually rewards risk by large corporations since they know that the Fed will be there to bail them out if they get into trouble.

I also was hoping to see home prices correct further so I could purchase a home in West LA by next year, I seriously can’t foresee that happening with all of this market manipulation on the economic and housing level.

Cabo Trip - Jakes Bachelor Party

So I ended my summer with 5 days in Cabo in the company of 11 good friends. We fished, we had too many mexican beers and tequila, and ate more taco's than I care to admit. Great way to end a summer and Jake's bachelorhood. The Dorado (Mahi Mahi) I caught was 40lbs! It was great to be back in Cabo.

Becoming 30... an amazing experience

I have to admit I felt extremely spoiled for an entire week. I turned 30 on 8/8/08 this year. Even the Chinese threw a huge celebration for me this year. Below is the recap with some pics. A very large and sincere thank you to all of my friends and family that made this my best birthday ever!

Angel Suite

My Mother booked cousin Andy's suite the Tuesday before my birthday and ordered us a great array of food and drink. It was great to have my cousins and a lrge group of friends join me in the suite for an awesome night watching my favorite team. They lost that night but that didn't seem to matter as we all had such a blast. Thanks Mom!!!!







8/8/08

My 30th birthday! Kristina planned such an awesome night. It was a downtown L.A. experience. We started out having dinner at Ciudad and brought some great wine (Sea Smoke Pinot for the red and Treana for the white). She picked out a great menu for everyone and brought some cupcakes for dessert. After Ciuudad we went over to The Edison and partied in our own reserved room (which was very important since the line to get in the place was insane). If you haven't been to the Edison, you should definitely make it a point to go, it is an old Edison power plant building converted to an upscale lounge. There was high ceilings, brick walls, and old power generators and boiler rooms. It had a very 1920's vibe to it. I took a lot of shots, and celebrated the company of my good friends all night. I felt very blessed thanks to my wonderful Fiancee.

Bali Trip

Sorry for the inactivity as of late, we just got back from a 10 day trip to Hong Kong (3 days) and Bali (7 days). We went with four of our good friends... Brandon, Cameron, Jaime and Tracy. Hong Kong was a great place to see, the city looks amazing at night and the consumerism is rampant. We had our fair share of noodles while in Hong Kong and Brandon was able to get us in to dinner at the members only China Club. The dinner was great and the ambience was even better, there was very high end Chinese art on the walls, great service, and it had a very elitist feel to it. Our hotel in Hong Kong was great, we had harborfront rooms that looked out at Hong Kong across the bay... such amazing views of the city. And of course we got in some shopping.




Bali was an amazing island to visit. In addition to the raw beauty of the island which we were already expecting, we were very pleased to find that the Balinese people were very outgoing and friendly, we stayed in villas while we were there and they really catered to us.

The first 2 nights were spent in Ubud which is inland and is also the spiritual and artistic center of Bali. Picture temples, rice paddies everywhere, rivers going through dense jungle, waterfalls, and bohemian cafes and Yoga centers and you will have a sense of what Ubud is like. Our Villa, Awang Awang, looked out over a river valley, had its own pool and staff, and was phenomenal. We went on a river rafting excursion one day and also visited a monkey forest. Those bastards mugged me when I bought some banana's to feed them. It was like being attacked by a gang. Ubud was a great place to visit and I really want to spend more time exploring the area next time I am in Bali. I am very glad we decided to spend a few days there instead of camping out at the beaches for our entire trip, I feel that we were much more immersed in the Balinese culture because of our visit to Ubud.

Seminyak was where we spent the remainder of out trip. Our villa again did not let us down, it was even more amazing than the pictures led us to believe. The area itself is the more trendy area of Bali, the boutiques and restaurants in our area were actually similar in cost to what you would find back here in LA. Probably my favorite day was Kristina's b-day; we went on a snorkel trip, visited turtle island, went to Dreamlands beach (amazing waves and an awesome beach), went to the four seasons and had a drink at their pool which looked out over Jimbaran Bay, and had dinner on Jimbaran beach at sunset, you actually pick out your fish (alive) and they grill it for you and bring it out to your table on the beach. We also ahd a birthday cake brought out and a Balinese band came over and sang for her. Such an awesome day and night. I would be typing a novel if I told you about all of the great meals we had, temples we visited, beaches we chilled at, and activities we did while we were in Seminyak/ South Bali so, if you are interested in suggestions, or just want to hear more, e-mail me and I will gladly share.







I truly hope that all of my future vacations are as rewarding and fulfilling as our trip to Bali was. As a side note, since the terrorist nightclub bombing in Bali in 2005 they have seen a huge drop in American tourism, we really hardly met any Americans while we were there, none in fact. Most of the westerners we met were Australian or Dutch (Bali was once a Dutch Colony). The Balinese were so excited to see us and really hope that Americans feel safe enough to come back and experience their island, I never for a second felt unsafe, how could you, the people are some of the friendliest and most inquisitive that I have met. Enjoy the pics.

Kristina and I are Engaged!

Kristina's fairytale proposal:

Where to begin...how do I begin the story of the most wonderful experience in my life!

It was Friday, June 6th...James had planned to take us to dinner at Mastro's Steakhouse, reservation at 9:30pm. With so much time to kill before dinner he suggested dropping by The Getty Museum and taking in the Impressionist wing - our favorite.

At that point he said he didn't feel well, and went to use the restroom. 10 minutes later he emerged dripping sweat. I thought, dear Lord, that was one crazy dump! (It all makes sense later - I promise). We concluded he felt much better so we grabbed a glass of wine and paraded through The Getty, taking pictures and absorbing the sunset.

From there we went into the gardens. (My favorite part!) After touring the gardens I suggested we sit at an open bench. We started talking and he mentioned he'd been working on writing poetry and had written something about us. And so it began, the most beautiful poem I've ever heard (he had the first two stanzas memorized!):

"Blessed am I to share a love without compare
I couldn't imagine going to sleep at night without looking into your beautiful stare
A claustrophobic man emerges to breathe the sweet air
I awake to the other half of my soul and run my fingers through her golden hair

As the velvety syrah fills our glasses, I can't help but to relish the journey that led us here
The night a rose bloomed out of the ashes
Was the night my gaze fell up on you one starry night, at one of Isla Vista's bashes
Since that night, thousands of sunsets we have watched fade over the Pacific
Our love is destined to be nothing short of prolific

Maybe the claustrophobic moments were of a fear
That I would let another get too near
Then your lips meet mine and my destiny has never been so clear

Never again shall I kiss another's lips
I see a beautiful life with you full of amazing trips
Your belief in me has made me the man I am today
I want to be by your side until we are old and gray"

...and so James got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. A soon as I said yes, following kisses, hugs and tears, he reached into the bush beside the bench for the bottle of champagne he had tucked away when he "went to the bathroom". No bathroom trip was ever involved people, just a guy hiding a bottle of champagne in the gardens!!! Yay!!!

He said he had another surprise so we were on our way...

Next thing I knew, we pulled up to the W Hotel in Westwood where he had reserved the most beautiful mega suite, decorated with the poem already framed, fresh rose petals, champagne, a stack of wedding magazines with a big pink bow, and he played a CD he made for us...the first song was "My Brown Eyed Girl". He had thought of everything, packed a bag for me and all! Needless to say, it was a beautiful night.

Thank you for letting me share this moment with you. Hopefully you've enjoyed the story (although long - I just couldn't bear to leave anything out!!!).

Please enjoy the picture collage too!!!

Government Aid for First-Time Home Buyers

This is one of the more informative articles on first time homebuyer programs that I have found. Source: smartmoney.com

GOVERNMENT-BACKED ASSISTANCE for first-time home buyers is back in vogue.

During the real estate boom, many first-time home buyers ignored government mortgage assistance, favoring instead the subprime, Alt-A and piggyback mortgages offered by private lenders who required little in the way of a credit score or, for that matter, money toward a down payment. But now, thanks to the subprime mortgage meltdown, the easy money is all dried up. Lenders have either significantly tightened their lending standards (see sidebar) or have exited the market altogether.

For first-time home buyers — who typically lack a long credit history or the cash to make a sizable down payment — landing a mortgage with a below-average credit score or with anything under 20% down is now a thing of the past. "We've gone back to the more traditional types of sources for assistance," says Keith Gumbinger, a vice president at HSH Associates, a Pompton Plains, N.J.-based mortgage-information firm."The traditional players are stepping up their roles and that includes the [federal government] and the states."

Now the best recourse for first-time home buyers is to look to government agencies like the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which offers loans to those with average credit or little money for a down payment, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which helps out with down payments and closing costs.


Here's a rundown of the federal, state and local assistance available to first-time home buyers.

FHA-Insured Mortgages

Don't have enough cash to make a 20% down payment on a home? That's where FHA mortgages come in. "FHA, by far and away, is the best option for first-time home buyers," says Steve Curnutte, a Nashville, Tenn.-based mortgage broker.

To qualify, prospective buyers need a minimum credit score that falls in the mid- to high-600 range (much lower than the 720 required by most private lenders), says Curnutte. The lower limits come at a slight cost, however. FHA mortgage borrowers must pay an upfront fee of 1.5% of the loan amount, as well as an annual insurance premium of 0.5%. Yet, even with these fees, FHA mortgages will often cost less than a conventional mortgage that requires private mortgage insurance, says Curnutte. With a conventional mortgage, a borrower who makes less than a 20% down payment is normally required to take out private mortgage insurance (PMI). The cost of this insurance varies depending on the type of loan, the size of the down payment and other factors.

FHA mortgages may get even more affordable in the near future. Earlier this month, the House Financial Services Committee passed a bill that, among other things, calls for changes to FHA mortgages. One of the most important, says Gumbinger, is the proposed new risk-based insurance premiums that will be attached to an FHA mortgage. For example, if your down payment is more than the 3% minimum, and you have a good credit profile, the total premium you pay could be less than what's typically required. The Senate is expected to vote on this bill in the next few weeks.

More than 10,000 banks and mortgage companies nationwide sell FHA loans, says Glavin. To find one in your area, visit the FHA web site. Also, just like private mortgages, FHA loans require buyers to show proof of income and other documentation, including a driver's license, bank statement, pay stubs from the last 30 days, and tax returns.

State & Municipal Assistance

First-time home buyers can also look closer to home for assistance.

Under the American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI), for example, each of the 50 states receives funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that's specifically tagged for helping first-time home buyers. State and local communities then use this money to provide financial assistance of up to $10,000, or 6% of the home's purchase price (whichever is greater), toward the down payment, closing costs or rehabilitation of the home. To qualify, the buyer's income must not exceed 80% of the area's median income. There are no official credit score or down payment requirements. For now, HUD is only authorized to fund the ADDI program through the end of fiscal 2008, which ends on Sept. 21. Any future funding will be determined by Congress.

In addition, most states, and even some counties, offer their own assistance programs. "There are a number of individualized initiatives for first-time home buyers...intended to address individual circumstances in the states," says Gumbinger. For example, some cities and towns in South Carolina assist homeowners with home repairs while New Mexico offers assistance to those purchasing a home in some rural communities. To find out about these programs, visit HUD's site or contact your state housing finance agency.

Once you choose a mortgage lender, ask if there are any locally-based first-time home buyer programs. "They widely and wildly vary by municipality and region," says Curnutte. Local trade groups may also offer assistance to employees in specific industries. The Chicago Public Schools Teacher Housing Resource Center, for example, offers qualified Chicago school teachers up to $7,500 in home-buyer assistance. While investigating such programs, be sure to ask about any added fees or premiums and weigh them against the terms of your other financing options "Be aware that it's a fractured market," says Curnutte. "If you get $500, [you have to ask] what's my payoff; if my interest rate is higher, then the assistance may not be worth it."

The Latest in Lending Requirements

Compared to conventional (or private) mortgages, government-backed FHA mortgages seem a lot more forgiving these days. As a result of the ongoing credit crunch and the growing number of homeowners defaulting on mortgages, private lenders tightened their lending requirements so severely that only those with the most pristine credit records and money on hand for a sizable down payment can qualify for a decent mortgage. Buyers, who just a year ago needed a minimum credit score of 620, for example, now must hit at least 720, explains Gumbinger. And you can kiss the days of 0% down payments goodbye. To score a conventional mortgage, homeowners now need to put at least 20% down.



Source: HSH Associates, Federal Housing Administration & Steve Curnutte (mortgage broker)
* The mortgage-to-income ratio is the percentage of the home buyer's monthly gross income that goes toward paying monthly mortgage payments.
** The debt-to-income ratio is the percentage of the home buyer's monthly gross income that goes toward paying down debt.

Keep it going...

Wow, stunning how sharp of a drop we have seen. Residential Real Estate has historically seen very gradual incline/ declines. On a side note, Kristina's sister Jessie and her husband Doug just put in an offer on a house. They had to offer $70k over asking price and placed one of 25 offers on the house. Even though foreclosures are high and prices are down, there is still an overwhelming amount of demand.

Digital Art

Thought I would share one of my favorite websites for Digital Arts... www.deviantart.com

You can find some very interesting art to use as your desktop wallpaper, definitely one of my most visited bookmarks, enjoy.

Trapeze Anyone?

The article below was in our latest Santa Monica community newsletter. May be worth a try...


New York Trapeze School will soon be introduced to the sunsets at the Pier.

Trapeze School New York (TSNY) is slated to open here in Santa Monica at the Pier in early to mid-May. This will be their fifth location, with other locations in New York City, Boston and Baltimore.

The School was co-founded in 2001 by Jonathon Conant and his partners Anne and Dave Brown. Jonathon, a native Californian, comes from a varied background that included stunt work, professional dance, and human developmental research. His interest in flying trapeze was piqued upon seeing that, facilitated properly, flying could serve as a powerful tool for people's reevaluation of what they are capable of doing. "We have simple goals here at Trapeze School New York," says Jonathon "Opening people's minds to new possibilities, keeping things safe and having a great time doing it."

The school will be nestled between Pacific Park and the Playland Arcade. The open-air school provides great visibility and allows passersby to watch the trapeze in action. The site once housed the historical Sinbad's building which closed in the early 1970s and was removed from the Pier in the early 1990s. The site has been vacant for over a decade.

Historically the art of trapeze was considered a circus performer act. Now trapeze falls into the category of a recreational sport such as yoga and aerobics. The trapeze provides a super cardio workout facilitating muscle toning and balancing. It's a fun activity to share with family and friends.

"The Santa Monica Pier is an incredibly beautiful place to be. We can not imagine a more wonderful home for this amazing activity" said Jonathon. "In addition to classes that are open to the public, we will have student recitals and professional shows that everyone will enjoy." But catching a great show isn't the best part says Jonathon. "The drama of someone flying for the first time, their triumphs and struggles are endlessly fascinating. Something uplifting you truly don't want to miss."

Flying classes are open to the public. TSNY offer classes for first time to advanced flyers, group classes, workshops, special and corporate events. Ask about bulk class package discounts and birthday parties. For more information, please visit their web site at www.trapezeschool.com.

By Anne Railsback

US Travel Alert - Northern Baja

We have heard some pretty bad stories lately of problems in northern Baja, I just found this travel alert on the US Government webpage. Luckily, we were just down with the family at the casa we rent in Puerto Nuevo without any problems. We did notice that it seemed very sparse with visiting American tourists and we seemed to draw a lot of attention everywhere we went. I don't think we will be going back for a while, we can get our own lobster and Corona's up here until the Mexican government gets their act together. Please read the advisory below and think twice before crossing the border anytime soon...

Travel Alert
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs

April 14, 2008


This Travel Alert updates information for U.S. citizens on security situations in Mexico that may affect their activities while in that country. This supersedes the Travel Alert for Mexico dated October 24, 2007, and expires on October 15, 2008.

Violence Along The U.S.-Mexico Border
-------------------------------------

Violent criminal activity fueled by a war between criminal organizations struggling for control of the lucrative narcotics trade continues along the U.S.-Mexico border. Attacks are aimed primarily at members of drug trafficking organizations, Mexican police forces, criminal justice officials, and journalists. However, foreign visitors and residents, including Americans, have been among the victims of homicides and kidnappings in the border region. In its effort to combat violence, the government of Mexico has deployed military troops in various parts of the country. U.S. citizens are urged to cooperate with official checkpoints when traveling on Mexican highways.

Recent Mexican army and police force conflicts with heavily-armed narcotics cartels have escalated to levels equivalent to military small-unit combat and have included use of machine guns and fragmentation grenades. Confrontations have taken place in numerous towns and cities in northern Mexico, including Tijuana in the Mexican state of Baja California, and Chihuahua City and Ciudad Juarez in the state of Chihuahua. The situation in northern Mexico remains very fluid; the location and timing of future armed engagements there cannot be predicted.

Armed robberies and carjackings, apparently unconnected to the narcotics-related violence, have increased in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez. Dozens of U.S. citizens were kidnapped and/or murdered in Tijuana in 2007. Public shootouts have occurred during daylight hours near shopping areas.

Criminals are armed with a wide array of sophisticated weapons. In some cases, assailants have worn full or partial police or military uniforms and have used vehicles that resemble police vehicles.

U.S. citizens are urged to be especially alert to safety and security concerns when visiting the border region. While Mexican citizens overwhelmingly are the victims of these crimes, this uncertain security situation poses risks for U.S. citizens as well. Thousands of U.S. citizens cross the border safely each day, exercising common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas of border towns during daylight hours. It is strongly recommended that travelers avoid areas where prostitution and drug dealing occur.
Criminals have followed and harassed U.S. citizens traveling in their vehicles, particularly in border areas including Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros, and Tijuana. There is no evidence, however, that U.S. citizens are targeted because of their nationality.

Santa Monica 5k this Sunday - Join Us

www.santamonicaclassic.com

LA Magazine's Top 75 Restaurants - 2008

Los Angeles magazine recently came out and rated LA restaurants based on their opinions, at first I was not a fan of their star rating system, but even the One Star restaurants are very good places to eat, we have dined at a few of the 3 star restaurants mentioned below and I defeinitely think Josie is worthy of the rating but Wilshire? it's okay, but not necessarily worthy of its peers or better than Mastro's (my favorite steakhouse). I was also a little upset that Rustic Canyon didn't make the list, maybe they are too new?? I think the 1st 4 star restaurant I intend to try will be Melisse... mmm can't wait.



****: "Remarkable and extraordinary"
***: "Bold and ambitious"
**: "Distinctive and assured"
*: "Pleasant and satisfying"

FOUR STAR
1. Lucques
2. Melisse
3. Providence
4. Bastide
5. Urasawa
6. Sona

THREE STAR
7. Vincenti
8. La Cachette
9. All'Angelo
10. Patina
11. Hatfield's
12. Osteria Mozza/Pizzeria Mozza
13. Mako
14. Wilshire
15. The Dining Room at the Langham
16. Valentino
17. Angelini Osteria
18. Spago
19. Campanile
20. Fraiche
21. Josie
22. Saddle Peak Lodge
23. Craft
24. Cut
25. Water Grill

TWO STAR
26. Ortolan
27. Joe's Restaurant
28. A.O.C.
29. The Grill on the Alley
30. Gardens
31. Xiomara
32. Jar
33. Nishimura
34. Mimosa
35. Comme Ca
36. Mastro's Steakhouse
37. Ciudad
38. Simon LA
39. The Foundry on Melrose
40. Grace
41. Bar Hayama
42. Michael's
43. Drago
44. Il Grano
45. Kiriko Sushi
46. Matsuhisa
47. Lawry's the Prime Rib
48. Blair's
49. Massimo
50. Madeo

ONE STAR
51. Sushi Katsu-ya
52. La Botte
53. The Hump
54. Sushi Dokoro Ki Ra La
55. Tanzore
56. The Buffalo Club
57. Mori Sushi
58. The Lobster
60. Chameau
61. Il Carpaccio
62. Trattoria Tre Venezie
63. Nanban-kan
64. Asanebo
65. The BLVD
66. Paperfish
67. Petros
68. Sam's by the Beach
69. Bashan
70. The Ivy
71. Cafe Pinot
72. Crustacean
73. Cafe Pierre
74. La Scala
75. Tasca Wine Bar

Out My Window NYC

I was looking at some other blogs last night and came across this NYC Photographers (Gail Halaban) blog that I thought was fascinating. Not only is the actual photographic talent by Halaban awe inspiring, but it is a very interesting subject. It is so intriguing to visit other peoples homes not only to see their views in NY but also to see how they set up their space. You can see more at http://outmywindownyc.blogspot.com/

Improv Everywhere hits Hermosa Beach

Improv everywhere is a large network of people that get together and make large elaborate random scenes, in a word... they are awesome. Recently they turned a little league game in Hermosa into the best day of these kids' lifes. Imagine you are playing a standard little league game and expecting the usual crowd of 20 or so parents to show up until these guys come in and turn it into a major league caliber game. If you have any semblance of a soul, you will enjoy this.

You can check out some of their other scenes here: http://improveverywhere.com

Vacation Where the Dollar is Still Strong

Nice Article I found. Tijuana didn't make the list?

Check out these 7 places where the greenback is worth a lot more than the paper it's printed on
Argentina
Why spend thousands in France when you can find the same vibe here? Buenos Aires (a.k.a. the Paris of South America) has embarked on a dramatic turnaround since the 2001 collapse of the Argentine peso — but the place is still amazingly cheap.

Chic hotel rooms, nights out dancing and fabulous food and wine cost half what they do across the Atlantic. A huge thick-cut steak dinner? Rarely more than $25.

Mendoza region where they make the Malbec wine is supposed to be awesome.

Bali
With the dollar holding steady against the Indonesian rupiah over the past year, Bali has become one of the best island values in Asia.


Luxury bungalows nestled in lush hillsides can be had for $100 to $200 a night. At countless stone temples you can often see shadow-puppet performances for free or a small donation. And half-hour massages typically cost less than $15.

Please see countdown clock to right. Yessss!

Costa Rica
Incredibly, Americans now have about a third more buying power in this natural wonderland than they did five years ago — a dollar equals around 500 Costa Rican colones today vs. 360 then.

You can explore beaches good for surfing, then go snorkeling in coral reef-filled bays.Don't miss the rainforests, which teem with wildlife — including rare quetzals with spectacular plumage.

We may try to go this fall and stay at the Paladin (My Work)compound.

Mexico
With the peso/dollar exchange rate steady over the past couple of years, Mexico remains a prime bargain destination.

The hottest area now is arguably Mexico City, booming with new museums, a historical architectural revival, and a vibrant music and arts scene. Entry to the city's huge Museum of Modern Art, where you can see works by Frieda Kahlo and Diego Rivera, costs just $2.

Aside from Cabo, which I have visited at least 5 times already and the rest of Baja, we really want to go to Xihuatanejo and Guadalajara.

Morocco
Though the Moroccan dirham has strengthened a bit against the dollar in the past year, in the ancient cities of Casablanca, Fez and Marrakech many café meals still cost less than $5.

Classic budget hotels in atmospheric narrow streets, such as the Hotel El Muniria in Tangier, where Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac stayed, cost around $30 a night. Plenty of luxury hotels are available too.

Just don't watch Babel before you go here.

Panama
This small country boasts mountains, rainforests, 1,500 miles of coast (your pick of the Caribbean or Pacific) and — of course — the magnificent canal, where you can gawk at giant supertankers being raised and lowered through the locks.

Forget exchange rates: Panama's currency, the balboa, is pegged at parity with the U.S. dollar, and the dollar itself is accepted virtually everywhere.

No thanks.

Vietnam
There's never been a better time to visit one of Asia's most fascinating countries, with pristine beaches and unique crafts: The dollar goes further against the Vietnamese dong than it did three years ago.

You may have enough left to splurge on a fivestar hotel, such as the new Park Hyatt in Ho Chi Minh City ($290 a night vs. up to $675 for a comparable room in Chicago).

I think Brandon set the Vietnamese record for most spring rolls consumed in a week, last I checked the record still stands... same same.

The Angels have descended upon us again...

The smell of fresh cut grass, hot dogs, and Coors light has overtaken the sinuses of all who enter Angel stadium once again. No single team has managed to bring nostalgia to me year after year as the Angels have managed to do, this year will mark my 25th year as a fan (my first game was at age 5 with Grandpa Gene). And an exciting year it promises to be, the Angels are on the heel of their 3rd consecutive AL West title and have brought some more talent in to make another solid run at the playoffs. Torii Hunter was the marquee addition to an already stacked outfield, he is great defensively and will put some more power in the lineup (as of this article he already leads the Angels with 4 HR's). Kotchman and Kendrick could have breakthrough seasons and the pitching lineup will be solid once Lackey and Escobar get healthy. Chone Figgins is on eof the best leadoff men in baseball, we will see if he can keep up his stellar on base percentage.



As far as the other teams in the AL West... they suck. Alright, I am sure Seattle will put up a decent fight this year and could very likely end up in the playoffs, they have a tight starting rotation and a lot of power potential in their lineup but lack depth, a few injuries will drop them out of contention. The A's are in a down cycle of their Moneyball philosophy and will be scrappy but ultimately lack overall talent, they should come in 3rd in Al West. The Rangers have a powerful lineup and solid bullpen but again have no pitching, they are my pick for cellar dweller this year. Obviously I am biased here, but I am also a realist... the West will be won in Anaheim again this year, after that it's anyones guess, but I will be damned if the Chowderheads go to the WS again. Go Angels!

Bell caught himself a Sailfish in Costa Rica!

Too bad you let that Dorado get away in La Paz during Bokow's bachelor party...

Guest Columnist - Cameron Verdi

Cameron is a good friend and financially astute observer of our weakening economy, please enjoy his perspective....

So with Bernanke( The Fed Chairman, who controls the Reserve, a position that can be herald as one of the world's most powerful positions) scheduled to talk tomorrow, the topic of conversation will undoubtably be about the state of our economy. Recession, inflation, you know, the normal stuff. Funny how the government is trying to act as a triage for all the pain our economy is currently in. Congress felt compelled to meet with some of the Oil big wigs this week, to determine exactly how did they make soo much money over the last few years. I have one number for you, $107. Price per barrel of oil, is a good start.

Enough about that, I find it funny how we can spend soo much time trying to understand why we are where we are, opposed to what we can do to fix it. This wont be fixed over night, and I dont intend on pulling my hair out trying to understand all of our global issues, including, but not limited to our devalued dollar, global dislike for the War, etc. From my perspective, it all starts with baby steps, 101 of spending and budgeting on the personal level.

A rule of thumb that I have always leaned on, is to take care of the pennies, and the dollars will take care of themselves.

What does that mean? Well, lets get analytical on it.

If you bring home $4,000:

Try to save 10% of that into an account you dont touch ( except for emergencies)( May I recommend: www.ingdirect.com)

So you now have $3600 left.
Roof over your head shouldn't cost you more than 30% of your take home ( 4,000 x 0.30)= $1,200
Car and gas----that is up to you....but for the record, you now have $2,400 to play with.
$2400 less car expenses, gas, utilities, phone, health insurance ( dont skip this one, it is important), food, dining out, entertainment etc.

This all seems basic, but you would be surprised how much better life could be without the pressures of not having any money saved. Down the road, we can talk about IRA etc, but I think this will be a good start. Since I finished rebuilding my house, I realized I was lighting a lot more money on fire than I needed to be, so I have implement my old school style of saving, just like in the old days, and feel like it is an important thing to always maintain.

The Mitchell State of the Union

There seems to be so much anxiety and fear over whether or not we are in a recession lately, a lot of friends and family are always asking me if we are in a recession and if we are, how long will it last? My first concern is that whatever we are in, it does not need a label. A recession isn't the flu, you can't just diagnose it, take some Nyquil and sleep it off. There are so many factors effecting our current economy that just dismissing it is a recession (which indicates a finite end) would be naive. It has also been alarming how much our government has been intervening, trying to resuscitate our economy. Free market capitalism does not work under a socialist government.



We have a moderate situation now... even with interest rates being cut so aggressively by the Fed, the ratio of interest and principal payments to the disposable income in the household sector is at an all-time high. Americans are more in debt than ever and since most of their income is going towards paying staying afloat in their debt it doesn't seem that we will "heal" anytime soon. Many Americans can also attribute their net worth to their housing values which have decresead sharply throughout the country. Baby boomers that were banking on their home value to fund their retirement are in for a rude awakening. Instead of vacationining in Europe, they may now be re-entering the workforce and taking jobs at Target and vacationing in Rosarito instead of Barcelona. Those that enlisted a financial advisor who utilized a long term balanced asset allocation approach are probably way better off.

My advice to family and friends... Do well and work hard at your career and continue to make connections in your industry so others know your worth should you lose your job and need a new one. Your career is your source of income and current income will ultimately fund your investments and retirement. Do not invest in what you think is hot, it seems people have taken more and more risk because they want higher returns because they don't want to save as much, it is a new form of greed. I have to admit, I had a guilty pleasure when I witnessed the house flippers eat crap. Which leads me to my nexct point, save your money and pay down your debt. Debt is what got our country into this mess, the average American owns 6 lines of credit. Carrying debt is like trying to swim with weights on your ankles. Establishing credit is important but try to keep your debt to credit ratio low and you will have even better credit. Increase your 401k contribution, even if you think you are investing enough, you are probably wrong, the good thing about a recession is that it is like a Nordstroms once a year sale, everything is going to be cheap, so buy a lot of it. As I have told Kristina, I think a recession was inevitable and is a necessary wake up call, and we should come out of it much healthier.

Fridays off the 405 - Coming Soon

Fridays Off the 405 is starting up again. The next event is Friday March 21st which happens to be the Friday before Easter, unfortunately we will be heading to Mexico for Easter but will try to make the following month's event on April 4th.


We were able to hit up a few of these last year. My reccomendation is to take off work a little early to catch the sunset while enjoying one of best Margaritas around from one of the cash bars that are set up around the Getty courtyard... not a bad way to end the work week. This is a monthly event that has free live music (usually pretty eclectic) and the aforementioned cash bar from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Oh yeah, the art is pretty sweet too.

Click here for more info.

Torrance?

Lately I have been gravitating to the idea of buying a house in Torrance. It isn't too far for K and I to commute to work and there have been some decent price reductions lately. See the heatmap below: http://www.trulia.com/home_prices/California/Torrance-heat_map/

Best 2008 Superbowl Commercial - My Pick

I still laugh when I think about this commercial. It almost sounds like the stain is yelling in Latin. I can almost relate to this commercial since those who know me seem to think I am prone to spilling on my shirt. Apes aren't known to be very graceful when drinking.

This one barely edged out the Carrier Pigeon commercial and the AMP commercial where the Mexican guy that jumpstarts a car with his nipples.

Drew's Smoked Salmon

My Co-worker Drew Flichtbeil just smoked some Salmon and it was pretty damn good. Through some trial and error, he came up with his foolproof way to Smoke Salmon to perfection:





Here's the magic:

First make the Brine:

1/3 cup brown sugar1/4 cup non-iodized salt2 cup soy sauce1 cup water1/2 tsp. onion powder1/2 tsp. pepper1/2 tsp. Tabasco sauce1 cup dry white wine

I was a little more generous with the pepper and tabasco. I didn't have any onion powder and didn't feel like going to the store, so I replaced it with garlic powder. Here's the site where I got the recipe.

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,161,151162-247206,00.html


OK, now for the real business:

DAY ONE:
-Make the brine. You'll need a large bowl or preferrably a large pan with a lid. Mix all ingredients well. To test if you have enough salt, use the egg trick. If it floats, you're good to go (Make sure you take the egg out).

-Cut the salmon into chunks or fillets, however you prefer. My fillets were each one pound. Leave the skin on. The skin stays on throughout the smoking process.

-Submerge the fillets in the brine. You'll need to put something (like a plate) in the pan to keep the fish from floating to the top of the brine. They must be fully submerged.

-Then cover the pan with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to cure for at least 8 hours. I let mine cure for almost 24 hrs. last time.

DAY TWO:
-Go to BBQ's Galore to get wood chunks for your fire. http://www.bbqgalore.com/ The reason I suggest this place is because it is the only place I have actually found wood chunks, NOT wood chips. If you know another place, more power to you, but most grocery stores and other places sell wood chips. DO NOT USE WOOD CHIPS!!! They are to small, do not hold enough water, and they burn up to quickly. Salmon suggests using Alder wood, but I used Mesquite last time.

-You'll want to soak the wood chunks in water for at least 8 hrs. Mine soaked for 48 hrs. only because I did not know this process would take so long and I had already put them in the water. Some people just store their wood chunks in a barrel of water until they need them. Note, you will want the wood chunks to sit and dry for at least 2 hrs before using them in the fire. If they are to wet, they will cool the fire to much.

-Take your fish and brine concoction out of the fridge.

-Remove the fillets from the brine and briefly rinse them with water to remove the salt. The fillets should be have a brown tint to them at this point.

-Place them onto a surface that you will use to put into the fridge for drying. Preferrably you'll want to use a wire oven rack to put them on. I used a large bowl shaped strainer that I put into a large pan that it could drip into.

-Cover with aluminum foil and place in the fridge overnight to dry. You'll want to allow at least overnight time to dry, preferrably 24 hrs.

DAY THREE:
-GET TOTALLY PSYCHED UP!!! The fun is near.

-Get your smoker ready. Here's the one I have: http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100327576

-Place enough coals in the firebox (lower offset area of the smoker) to burn for about 3-4 hrs. You can always add to the fire later if need be. Note, do not put the wood chunks in yet, but they should be out of the water and drying by now.

-I like to let the coals burn for about 20-30 minutes before I begin cooking allow the fire to stabilize and the fire is not too hot.

-You will also want to place a pan of water on the firebox grill above the fire. Just make sure it does not block to much heat from the fire. I used just a regular stove top cooking skillet/pan.

-Try to get the cooking area to about 140 degrees. This smoker does not come with a tempurature gauge, but it does have a cut-out for one. Generally the center of the grilling area is best. After the lid has been closed allowing it to heat-up, I place my hand on the lid. If I can hold it there for 2-3 seconds, the tempurature is about right. Note, the end near the smoke stack is usually cooler than the end near the firebox.

-Now you're ready to smoke. Put a sheet of aluminum foil large enough for your fillets on the cooking grill of the smoker (larger cooking area of smoker), then place the fillets on the foil. You want the placement to be in an area of the cooking area where you think the temp is around 140 degrees.

-Now after placing the salmon on the grill, close the lid and start adding the wood chunks directly into the fire. Note: Do this after you place the salmon on the grill. If you want smoke in your eyes, put the wood on the fire first, then the salmon on the grill... it's up to you. The only way to do this is by opening the door on the side of the fire box and using tongs to place them into the fire. Start out by only putting 2-3 chunks in. Smoke will start coming out of the smoke stack. When it starts to die down, add 1-2 more chunks at a time trying to keep the smoke coming out fo the stack consistant. You DO NOT too much smoke

-Smoke the salmon for about 2-3 hours periodically checking to make sure it is still soft. Periodically check the water pan above fire. It may boil completely out and you will need to add more water. Watch your eyes when openning any lids on the smoker.

-Note: It is impossible to under smoke salmon, as salmon can be eaten raw. Who knows, there may be others that prefer letting it smoke for only a minute. Just don't smoke it so long that the fish gets tough. It's hard to do, but it people still manage to mess it up, but not me. Mine is 100% perfect... 60% of the time.

-Once cooked, you can immediatly enjoy the magic straight from the grill. Smoked salmon needs little of no time at all to cool because it never gets that hot in the first place.

-Have an orgasm

Go Fish

I just got back from Santa Monica Seafood to pick up some oysters and halibut to have for dinner tonight, we will be pairing it with a Garretson Rousanne. The halibut was a nice size filet, but it cost $25. To me, this seems pretty high. Why is it that seafood has become so damn expensive? Has it always been this way? I looked around online to see what was going on with seafood prices and came across a pretty interesting article. Last week in Tokyo, a Hong Kong sushi restaurant owner paid a record $55,700 for a single bluefin tuna. They say the record price was caused by a sharp decline in world tuna supply and also go on to say that bluefin tuna will most likely be extinct sometime in the next fifty years. What a bleak picture for us sushi lovers! Could it be possible that our generation will be one of the last to enjoy fresh sushi from the ocean? I truly shudder at the thought of a world without sushi, it will inevitably be a an exlusive priveleged only food. I am also concerned that with globalization, countries like China and India will continue to develop and acquire a taste for sushi, seafood, and fine wine. Well, apparently supply is not going up, and as demand increases the prices will start to increase dramatically.

I can tell you one thing... I will happily pay $25 for that piece of Halibut and will eat as much damn sushi as I can this year. Hopefully I won't have to explain to my kids one day how delicious a filet of bluefin sashimi tasted with a splash of say sauce and a glass of sake.