Date #20: Year of the Tiger...RAARWWWR: Chinese New Year Date

This is the year of the Tiger, a strong year according to my stylist and a delicious opportunity for a date of any sort. In Los Angeles there are plenty of places to celebrate and brilliant things to do in our own China Town.

1. Head into Los Angeles China Town
You can do this either by car or by Metro (there is a stop in China Town). I recommend staying off the train at night but street parking is nonsense. China Town is good during the day.

2. Dim Sum Action
The best place in China town for some epic Dim Sum is Empress Pavillon. It's a good starting point at the most northern part of town. Watch what you grab because it can get pricey. You can decide what you're going to order in advance with Appetizers According to your Zodiac Sign. But don't limit yourself to eating like a rabbit when your tiger wants pork. Besides, it never hurts to know what you're getting in advance to look like a Dim Sum Genius. (How to Order Dim Sum).

3. Fly out the Door for Dessert
As you leave Dim Sum, go down the adjacent southern alley to Phoenix Bakery (be careful!). Phoenix Bakery is the go to for Dessert in China Town. When you arrive order a couple of pieces of the Strawberry Cake (for there or to go). It's heaven (my parents ate it at their wedding) so kiss a little off her lips for a fine dessert indeed.

4. It's not the Lay See Dao Loy, It's the Stuff
It is easy to bedazzle your beau/belle with inexpensive/traditional things around China Town. Head south to the gift stores (They're all good) for Parasols, Jade Bracelets and Tiger Things. Lots of Red. I adore my parasols (I have two) which I keep in my car for a sunny day or to appear smugger than usual. Men like Katanas and NumChucks (which are generally available regardless of Origin around town). Have fun and don't touch any of the little turtles.


Empress Pavillon
988 North Hill Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(323) 230-4522

Phoenix Bakery
969 N Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 628-4642

LOS ANGELES NEW YEARS EVE: Free Rides Home!!!

New Year's Eve revelers in Los Angeles County can party late and take the bus or train home for free The Metropolitan Transportation Authority says it will offer free rides on all its bus and light rail lines between 9 p.m. Thursday and 2 a.m. Friday!

A fare normally costs $1.25.

Metro says the free rides provide an option for those who want to party without worrying about driving.

DATE BY KATE #9: Getty Center Double Dates (Dec 6 & 20)

WHEN: Sundays, December 6 and 20, 2009 Time: 3:30–5:30 p.m. Location: Getty Center, Museum galleries COST: Free; space is limited. TO DO: Relax and engage with art at Getty Drawing Hour, a free guided drawing session for aspiring artists of all skill levels. The informal two-hour classes focus on works of art in the Museum's galleries. In July and August, the course moves outdoors to the Central Garden. How to Participate The Getty Drawing Hour is free and open to 45 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign up on the day of the session beginning at 2:30 p.m. at the Information Desk in the Museum Entrance Hall. Materials Bring a drawing pad up to 24" x 36" and pencils. How to Get Here The Getty Center is located at 1200 Getty Center Drive in Los Angeles, California, approximately 12 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. See Hours, Directions, Parking for maps and driving directions. Event Information by E-Mail Be the first to know about upcoming lectures, concerts, and exhibitions by signing up for e-Getty, our free monthly e-newsletter. Learn more and sign up now.

DATE BY KATE #5: San Antonio Winery

"So...when do we get to step on these grapes..."

The San Antonio Winery

• Los Angeles Winery since 1917
  
• Right in down town LA
  

Activities

• Three free wine samples
• Wine tasting of 8 or 9 wines for like $9:
  
• Tours by the hour: Stumble about in love
  
• Wine Classes: Learn how to taste wine like a true snob....together ($20-$55)
  

Contact Information
737 Lamar St.
Los Angeles CA 90031
(323) 223-1401

Site Information

• Wine Tasting
• Wine Classes
• Restaurant Reservations

DATE BY KATE #3: Wishing on Leonid's Falling Stars

Your Date Starts on Monday November 16 goes until the morning of November 17

WHEN CAN I SEE THE LEONID SHOWER
Monday November 16th at midnight
1230 AM-2:30 AM Pacfic Time

LEONID METEOR SHOWER
A shower of shooting stars. The shower happens each mid-November, when Earth passes through an area of space filled with debris from a comet. That debris burns up in our atmosphere, causing the “shower” of meteors. In Los Angeles you'll be able to see about one leonid every two or three minutes.

CHOOSING A LAZY STARGAZING HOTSPOT
Tough in LA because of the ambient light. A good litmus test is if you can see the little dipper where you are standing, you are in an area dark enough. We're talking beaches, tops of mountains, deserts and forests. PLEASE choose a safe destination where both you and your date can feel safe (no deserted dumps, middle of the highway romps)

HOW TO PROPERLY STARGAZE
Lying down and looking up. Lots of people use pillows and just lie there. Make lots of wishes.

PREDATE
Tell your date to dress warmly and exactly where you intend to go. You don't want to flip them out by taking them to deserted parts of the state. Also, make sure they are prepared for a night of wishes and giggly nonsense (whatever that may entail for you and your mate)

SUPPLIES
Aim for warmth: Warm jacket, Blanket/Sleeping bag
Comfort: Two pillows
Safety: Flashlight, Glowsticks
Fun: Get ready to tickle and hold tightly


YOUR DATE
9 pm

• Get your supplies together
• Think of some goofy wishes you can tell your date and can't tell your date :)
• Learn proper wish making protocol

10 pm

• Catch some late dinner
• Inform your date that the best way to watch a meteor shower is lying next to eachother and looking up

11 pm

• Dunkin Donuts: grab some hot cocoa and donuts for the road*
• Inform your date of proper making a wish on a star protocol
• Remind your date to make wishes on the shooting stars

12 am

• Arrive at your Lazy Stargazing Hotspot

12 am-2 am

• Spend the time talking about the wishes you want to make and the wishes you made as a child.
• Engage in again, whatever your definition of giggly nonsense may be.

*This is an inappropriate venue for spaghetti but do try if you insist.

Date By Kate #2: A Pie Contest Date, not Kobayashi style

The Food: Pie
The Price: Free
You and Your Homeboy: There.

Your Date
KCRW presents the first annual Pie Contest where 150 contestants will be submitting their pies for tasting...by you...for free. While I wouldn't necessarily suggest a pie/pizza/hotdog/kimchi eating contest for a date, everyone loves free food, and even more, everyone loves pie. Registration is closed but you can absolutely get your pie on if you show up!

Date: November 14
Place: Canyon Atrium at Westfield Topanga
Time: 2-4PM

Date By Kate #1: Proper Hollywood Bowl Date

The other night I saw a presentation of the music of Bernstein at the Hollywood Bowl! For those of you who dont know, the HB is a classic pain but its really evolved in terms of want-to-go-and-we-actually-can-go-ed-ness. For instance, instead of parking in the fire hazard of a maze they call the staggered parking lot, you can meet up a shuttle at a location near you. Another option is you can metro or drive for and park for $3 into the Hollywood and highland stop. As for the ungodly tickets, I just found out that you can get tix between $1 and $8. So
youre far from the bowl, but the acoustics aren't any better than the 10th row, you dont have to sit near snobs, you can cupcake like crazy, see the landscape above the bowl and move down when no one is looking. Over enormous sandwiches, diet cokes and milano cookies on a silver platter (were not heathens) we delighted in the sounds of Candide and On the waterfront. Be aware that it gets Hella cold but it's a wonderful Los Angeles delight that's more convenient and accessible than ever.