Wednesday Date: Doughnut Shoppe at Grace

Grace Donuts: Made of Diamonds and Cookie Dough
Okay, for an exorbitant amount every Wednesday you can head over to Grace and grab a dozen of the best doughnuts apparently anyone has ever had. I'm talking chocolate chip cookie dough or butterscotch.

Krispy Kreme Donuts: Made of Hard Work and Cheap-Unnameable-ButWhoReallyCares-Ingredients
If this doesn't work for you, and it really shouldn't (cough, cough $18/dozen), I would hit up an old classic: Krispy Kreme. The Donuts are Divine. The Coffee is Decent. And you have a fabulous time without the fabulous price.

Grab a half dozen and sit on a rock somewhere and tell her how cute her butt is.

Girls love that stuff,
You're going down in History,
Kate

GRACE
323-934-4400
7360 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036-2501

KRISPY KREME LA
4034 Crenshaw Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90008-2533
(323) 291-4133

KRISPY KREME BURBANK
1521 North Victory Place
Burbank, CA 91502
(818) 955-9015

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

Valentines dates 2010

Here is a potential wine tour/selection of totally delightful restaurants for valentines dates in Pasadena. I know Many of you are looking for something in Los Angeles but Pasadena is romantic and delicious. Hit up Stats too for some adorable Christmas tree room make out time.

Bisoux!

Kate

VERTICAL WINE BAR

(626) 795-3999

Vertical Wine Bar is a gorgeous bar that has a slew of beautiful wine choices. It's a really sexy, oak and warm bistro. Grab a little appetizer, drink a nip and chat up your date .

CREME DE LA CREPE

36 W. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91105

I recommended this earlier, it's got a good wine bar and James is my hero. Have some fondue it's pretty cheap and gratifying. Warning: if you drop your bread in the cheese you got to kiss your date (I will probably be there to enforce this).

RED WHITE AND BLUEZ

(626) 792-4441

Good alternate for CDLC, make your own cheese plates which I think is really cool. The owner was sort of rude to me and my mom when I was there. This is your call, I feel stupid not recommending it.

POP

626) 795-1295

Dessert and Champagne bar. Finish the evening with some bubbly and chocolate strawberries.

Email me with last minute Valentines questions and I'll try to get back to you!

Kate

Daily Date Feb 13: Nude Scavenger Hunt at the Getty

WHAT: The Naked at the Getty Scavenger Hunt (Adults Only)
WHEN: Saturday, February 13 at 1:00, 4:30 pm
WHERE: The Getty Center Los Angeles
BUY TICKETS: Watson Adventures

ADDRESS
1200 Getty Center Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90049

My Sausage Story: Frog and Piggy

Sausages are an international delight that can contain a virtual zoo of animal bits. Although it's generally best not to ask, I'm always a little curious.

My favorite sausage story came from when I was travelling in Portugal.

Upon reaching this gorgeous meaty restaurant in Porto, my friend Kimi and I were curious as to what was in the sausages. Little did we know that the following exercise was an excellent way to learn the names of animals in a foreign language.
I would draw a chicken, he would say galinha and shake his head
I would draw a horse, he would say cavalo and shake his head.
I would draw a frog, he would look at me funny, say rã and shake his head
And then I drew an octopus.
He then asked something to the effect of, "What the F kind of Sausages have you been eating in France"
I then explained, in sort of this mangled French/Latin/English/Italian, that I didn't know anything about Portugal. And what the hell else could be in the sausage?

He said merely, "carne de porco idiota"*
And I thought it was weird that I hadn't guessed pork before frog.


*In my mind, he actually couldn't have been nicer

Paseo for sushi, Pasadena city hall, giggle abou at Pasadena library main branch

Pre valentines food truck festival date

Date: February 13th

Event: 30+ food trucks will gather for no reason other than to celebrate cheap food at the Street Food Fest

Location: LA Center Studios downtown.

Description: it's a street food festival. The organizers promise to showcase a close-to-complete picture of street food in Los Angeles, from NoHo's longstanding Antojitos de Abuelita truck to Thai street food from the Wat Thai Temple to the shiny new kids on the block like the Flying Pig. Because this is coming from the home of Unique LA, there also will be pop-up Unique LA-esque booths, with local artists and designers selling their pre-Valentine's Day wares, if you are into that sort of thing. It's about time everyone got together for a little street party.

EDIT: Shawna tells us in the comments that there will be a donation-based cash beer and wine bar, the proceeds of which will support the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank. The event also will go to 5pm, not 4pm as originally planned. Sweet!! More time, more food!

The First Annual Street Food Fest is Saturday, February 13th from 11am to 4pm 5pm at the LA Center Studios (500 S. Beaudry Ave.). Because there's all this open air food, no doggies allowed. I know, total bummer.

From metroblog.com

Date idea tonight: Independent Movies in 3D!

Last August, the L.A. 3-D Club participated in the Downtown Film Festival and presented an international program of 3-D shorts. Since then, the organization has worked on forming a partnership with the Downtown Independent Theater to provide a venue to show independent 3-D movies. Thanks to a generous silver screen donation from USC and the club's recent acquisition of a pair of large venue projectors, the theater is fully outfitted for 3-D.

Tonight, the L.A. 3-D Club's Movie Divisionis holding an "Open Screen 3-D Movie Night." Anyone is invited to bring their stereoscopic video content to add to the mix. The club will continue to curate monthly public screenings at the Downtown Independent. By the way, if you haven't checked out this theater yet, you are missing out. It's gorgeous and has a fun vibe.

LA3D Movie Division "Open Screen 3-D Movie Night" is TONIGHT!
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010, 8-11pm
Downtown Independent Theater
251 S. Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90012

Admission to the event is $10 at the theater box-office, free with USC Student ID. Paid parking is available at many lots in the area. The theater is about a 10 minute walk from the Pershing Square Red Line station.

See the event page on Facebook for details such as file formats if you'd like to submit material to screen.

Date #20: See Movies for $3

The Academy Six is a movie theater in Pasadena that shows movies that have recently left the mainstream. The theaters have only started filling up as the economy tanked. Great way to see that $14 movie you weren't sure about for nothing.

PRICES
Matinee: $2
Evening (After 6pm): $3

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS
See a Movie after 6pm. 2 admissions, 2 popcorns and 2 sodas for $10.00 total!

Outdoor Alternatives in Los Angeles

Caltech Campus
-Easy to park (watch time restraints)
-Beautiful gardens, romantic bridge
-Cannon (like a real cannon)
-Picnic Friendly

Lacy Park
-Stunning gardens
-Easyto park
-Roses and white trellises
-Picnic Friendly
-Go through the back entrance and it's free

Huntington Gardens
-Called the best place to kiss in LA
-Rainforest, JAPANESE tea garden
-Lame tea room
-No picnics homie.

Griffith Park
-Huge hiking
-Don't know about picnics

Date #19: Cooking for your date

Date #19: Cooking for your date
I have recently become interested in the concept of cooking for your date. I'm aware that the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Also, this is one of the finest ways to make a woman's knees buckle. There are many ways to go about this and this sort of date can serve as either an early or a later in dates date. The three major factors you have to account for: (1) The Capacity to Cook. (2) The Set Up (3) The Menu.

THE CAPACITY TO COOK
This is tricky. I am stupid enough to be the daughter of the woman who owns Old Town Cooking School without really knowing how to cook. Going to the cooking school is a great date in and of itself. That's a good way to learn how to cook. Another method would be to go to Noble Pig. Noble Pig is a great website with simple recipes. I would suggest cheaply going about this (canned soups, whipped cream, cheese, wines) but you're better than that.


THE SET UP
YOUR HOUSE
You can either start cooking before they arrive or invite them to cook with you. Before they arrive set up the table. Add tealight candles for ambience, grab some flowers from the yard (no carnations).

ALTERNATIVES
Make a picnic in a park. Or take your date to the campus of Caltech. Other outdoor alternatives for romance.

LIVE WITH YOUR PARENTS:
Go to a park with the food. Set up the table in the backyard, try mid-day when your parents are at work. Or just tell them you're trying to do something special for your date and it would be really great if they could go out for the evening. Or Old Reliable: Give 'em $20 to go see Avatar for 14 hours.

THE MENU
The menu at the least should have an entree and a dessert and wine. If you're trying to be equal have them make the dessert. See the above websites for recipes. Old Town Cooking School has the option of making you a menu, I recommend it.

Date seeking

Old school, 50's diner where you get served in your car. Johnny
rockets will suffice but they get pretty pissed everytime I drive
through. Considering it's located in the mall.

Date #18: Party with the Stars at the Griffith Observatory

The Griffith Observatory is a classic Los Angeles Date if you can figure out the logistics. And luckily, every month the Griffith Observatory has a "Public Star Party." At these parties you and your date share bunches of telescopes to gaze at the sun, moon, planets and the stars in eachother's eyes.The event is free and happens every month.

The Observatory has hours other than that, and generally, is a pretty romantic place to check out. What people usually do is go at night (where the hours are shifty), but going first thing in the morning for a dog run is pretty pleasant as well. I'm not certain how safe it is, so definitely bring your date along for donuts. Donuts, should always be paired with star watching...even in the morning.


UPCOMING DATES

January 23
February 20
March 20
April 24
May 22
June 19
July 17
August 14
September 18
October 16
November 13
December 11

ADDRESS
http://www.griffithobs.org/pstarparties.html
2800 East Observatory Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027-1299
(323) 660-7827

Date #17: Wine Bars in Pasadena

THE DATE BY KATE PASADENA WINE TOUR
Okay, I know I'm recommending a lot of Pasadena Joints but it's a really lovely town to hang out in and date around. So take your pretty bum and co. around to these wine bars for a slightly tossed night on the town.

VERTICAL WINE BAR
(626) 795-3999
But Vertical Wine Bar is a gorgeous bar that has a slew of beautiful wine choices. It's a really sexy, oak and warm bistro. Grab a little appetizer, drink a nip and chat up your date .

CREME DE LA CREPE
36 W. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91105
I recommended this earlier, it's got a good wine bar and James is my hero. Have some fondue it's pretty cheap and gratifying.

RED WHITE AND BLUEZ
(626) 792-4441
Good alternate for CDLC, make your own cheese plates which I think is really cool. The owner was sort of rude to me and my mom when I was there. This is your call, I feel stupid not recommending it.

POP
626) 795-1295
Dessert and Champagne bar. Finish the evening with some bubbly and chocolate strawberries.

MENAGE
Do not go into Menage. But by the time you're done drinking too much, you should take some time off.

Date #16: Mexican Restaurant Dates

1. EL METATE
For a lunch date in Pasadena, El Metate is one of the least expensive, best quality Mexican restaurants I know. The tacos always cost under $3 and the food is really delicious.

12 N Mentor Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 229-0706
http://www.yelp.com/biz/el-metate-pasadena


2. DONA ROSA
Taco tuesdays, great ambience, outside seating. The food isn't as good as El Metate and it's a little more expensive but it makes up for it with parking and physical appeal. This is a great late night spot in Pasadena.
577 South Arroyo Parkway
Pasadena, CA 91105-2519
(626) 449-2999