February 12, 2010 - Nabankan & SLS Hotel

While having to drive over 450 miles across four states the following morning would normally preclude the average human being from going out the night before, it's just not how I roll!

Nanbankan (West Los Angeles, CA)

Nabankan is a yakitori restaurant located in West Los Angeles, CA. This restaurant is so close to where I live and work, that I'm actually a bit amazed I had never gone before. The setting it typical Japanese fare. Think sushi restaurant. However, the real fun comes from the dining option. Yakitori sticks of various sea life and land animals. Want a chicken tail? Check. How about yellowtail collar? Sure. A weird gelatinous seaweed thing that looks like something that should be coming out of you instead of ingesting? Double check! The thing I like most about yakitori is that it's like tapas. You get to try a little bit of everything! Combine it with some sake and good friends, and you'll be as happy of a camper as I was...

Highlights:

• Necks, tails, collars, tentacles, gizzards... Yes, we rocked them all!
  
• Foods on sticks rock. And when you're finished eating the food, just flip over the end and use as a tooth pick! Okay, maybe don't try this in a restaurant...
  
• Our server almost choked to death taking our order. Good thing this place has more than one!
  

Bar Centro @ SLS Hotel (Beverly Hills, CA)



I've been to the SLS Hotel previously, sat in the same bar, and felt the same way - it's bourgeois. That, of course, doesn't mean it's fun... But it's not the typical place where I can be all loud and obnoxious (i.e. Toyose in S.F.). Also, while a very upscale and classy hangout spot, I don't really enjoy forking over $16 for a drink that's half-filled with ice. But hey, we're in "Beverly Hills." This is probably why I spent most of my time at SLS in an actual hotel room suite. A friend had reserved the suite for her birthday, and it was awesome. I was most impressed by the television hidden behind a one-way mirror and the large bathroom with sliding walls/doors all over.

Highlights:

• Any drink which uses liquid nitrogen ups the cool factor for me!
  
• I didn't get a girly drink! I got a gin gimlet.
  
• I found metered street parking on La Cienega Blvd.
  

February 6, 2010 - Fountain Valley Skating Center, Z'Tejas, Elvis!? Karaoke Studios, Donut Star and all points south (The OC).

*shocked* I actually stayed in on Friday night and all day Sunday this weekend. However, I think I did enough on Saturday to make up for both days. Saturday was spent in good 'ol Orange County (my former home, twice over) to celebrate a friend's 31st birthday. So here's what went down...

Fountain Valley Skating Center (Fountain Valley, CA)



I don't do well in forward facing activities that involve my legs/feet moving independently of each other (no, running does not count!). This includes but is not limited to skiing, rollerblading, ice skating and... roller skating. Oh, what do you know, we're going roller skating! Now this isn't because I can't balance or I'm afraid, it's more due to the lack of practice. You see, I grew up on boards - skateboards and snowboards to be more precise. I am comfortable moving along on wheeled objects as long as I'm moving sideways.

This was probably the first time I had been to a roller skating rink since sometime during the 1980s. My first thought? What on God's green earth is that horrific smell? It was an aromatic mix of sweaty feel, high humidity, and vomit. Yikes! I was told this is how a roller skating rink normally smells? Aside from the stench, I had a lot of fun! Thanks to some practice ice skating this past December, I was able to pick up roller skating rather quickly. Yes, I still look retarded (but much much less so than ice skating). No, I didn't fall. Yes, I tried going somewhat fast.

Z'Tejas (Costa Mesa, CA)



Z'Tejas is a "Southwestern Grill" chain of restaurants. To me, it's Mexican food. It's akin to a nicer, more upscale El Torito. Now, that is in no ways a knock against Z'Tejas as I love the occasional El Torito night (taco Tuesdays anyone?!). I tried their frozen pomegranate margarita, and it just tasted like lime. We also shared their fresh guacamole and pork nachos as appetizers on route to my main course of seafood enchiladas. The pork nachos were probably the best tasting out of everything, so I'll just order those next time. That or fajitas!

Elvis!? Karaoke Studios (Fountain Valley, CA)



After dinner we drove back to Fountain Valley. This time to enjoy my favorite karaoke joint - Elvis!? We've been going to this place since our UCI days, so it's not only a great place to karaoke, but brings back the nostalgia of my youth (hey, it was 10+ years ago!). We even have our photos on the wall! This night we spent nearly 2.5 hours karaoking (is that how you spell that?), and I learned a valuable lesson - space out your songs! After singing four in a row, my throat was already becoming irritated. Nevertheless, we rocked a little bit of everything - Journey, Elton John, Young MC, Chris Brown, Smashing Pumpkins, Owl City, Notorious B.I.G., etc.

Donut Star (Irvine, CA)



Another famous collegiate locale is Donut Star. Located in the center right across from where I used to live (Alton and Jeffrey), this is the only 24-hour donut place I know of in existence in Irvine. They have this delectable ham and cheese croissant, but they usually run out of them by the time we get there since our donut runs are usually late at night. This night I was in for a treat as they actually had a few left. So I gobbled down a glazed twist and bought a ham and cheese croissant for the following day's breakfast. We should have gone on a TP run just to cap off a tour down memory lane!

Highlights:

• Skating rinks smell. Like, really bad.
  
• Yay for bringing an extra pair of clean socks!
  
• I have trouble at 20+ people dinners at restaurants, because I don't know who to engage in conversation with first.
  
• Don't spray AXE body fragrance in a car with the windows closed. We learned that the hard way.
  
• Of course we had to karaoke The Lonely Island's "I'm On A Boat." Now where did I put my flippy floppies?
  
• 2+ hours of karaoke is quite taxing on a mic whore such as myself.
  
• Late night donut runs are as awesome as I remember them to be!
  

February 2, 2010 - FIG Restaurant (Santa Monica, CA) & Zanzibar (Santa Monica, CA)

Excited to try DineLA restaurants, I called "dibs" on FIG Restaurant in Santa Monica weeks ago. Located in the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, FIG is billed as Mediterranean cuisine. The restaurant itself is tucked away up a small stair case, off to the side of the main lobby. The first thing I noticed was that tables weren't crammed together and the lighting was just right. There is just something I dislike about dark restaurants... Sure it's conducive to a romantic setting, but all it really does is make me sleepy!

So on to the important stuff... The bar is located straight ahead and to the right of the entrance. I grabbed a glass of Ceja Vino de Casa Red (2005), which is a mix of syrah and pinot noir, and chatted with friends while waiting for the rest of our party. After being seated we were given the DineLA menu and I quickly made my decision(s);

Starter: Blistered Romaine (salad)

Entrée: Short Rib and Pancetta Meatloaf

Dessert: Chocolate Pot Au Crème.

I'm just as surprised as you are that I ordered meatloaf! I am really not a big fan of meat in loaf form, but I tried it at the recommendation of the server. It was flavored nicely and wasn't all that bad. Perhaps I've been judging meatloaf a little too unfairly? Only time will tell... All of the dishes were tasty with sizable portions. The salad came with fillets of anchovies (yum!), and the chocolate dessert was double the size of a Jell-O pudding snack. Another option for dessert was FIG Bars with Greek yogurt ice cream. Think of a fresh, warm Fig Newton but with a crumbly cookie outside and, well, better tasting! Overall, I really enjoyed the food at FIG. One of these days I will return, and maybe for the next DineLA event!

The after event consisted of walking four blocks (to aid digestion?) to Zanzibar. Zanzibar is a club/lounge located in Santa Monica, which I think I've been to before... But that was years ago. The night we were there, a DJ was spinning mostly electronica. The inside has seating areas that center around a dance floor that faces the DJ booth/stage. My friend pointed out the "freaky looking" tribal masks hanging on the walls, but. After a quick google search, I have added "Zanzibar" as a must-see travel destination. I didn't stay long (it was a Tuesday night!), but as usual it was fun times with good people. I don't ask for much more than that out of life!

Highlights:

• They serve the bread at FIG in small emblazoned non-reusable paper bags. Then Marat, our server, explained the virtues of how the chef chooses locally grown and often times organic ingredients for their dishes. I found it ironic(al).
  
• Marat boisterously laughed upon hearing out discussion of all things mushroom stamp, dirty sanchez and cleveland steamer.
  
• We had a way too detailed conversation about, well, poo.
  
• I went to pee and half of my friends took off without me. Seriously, what the hell?!
  

January 29 - 31, 2010 - I left my ♥ (and part of my stomach) in San Francisco.

It has been nearly 2 years since I moved from San Francisco back to Los Angeles (and vicinity). Pretty much every time I go back to S.F. for a visit, I am reminded about how much I miss it. Don't get me wrong, I love the excitement and fun-filled times of my L.A. crew, but there's just something about the City that envelopes me like a warm fleece Snuggie. Perhaps it's the fact that I don't have to drive hours to places? Is it the slightly chilly weather with crisp clean air? How about the fun times I have with my friends? Or, more likely, it is a combination of all of the above.

January 29, 2010 - Toyose (San Francisco, CA)



Besides my affinity for Korean BBQ, I also find Korean fried chicken wings irresistible. Combined with tasty cocktail soju, and there is a party in my mouth and everyone's invited (okay, maybe not everyone). But I digress... Tucked away in a Sunset District enclave is a nifty little place where the magic happens. By "magic" I mean good drinks, good food, and of course, good conversation. From the outside, Toyose is simply unassuming. You would mistake it for the plethora of garages and other attached single family units that litter the Sunset. Once inside, however, it is a quaint restaurant that has some really tasty Korean food.

Our table of 8 quickly ballooned to 12+ by the end of the night. At least four plates of the spicy chicken wings were consumed along with a hot pot, pork cutlet, etc. The cocktail soju flavors we tried were strawberry, aloe, mango and yogurt. The aloe and the mango are my personal favorites. If you're ever in S.F., I highly recommend this place for a fun and relaxing night out with friends!

Highlights:

• Getting to the restaurant 20 minutes early because my friend who drove thought we were late.
  
• Seeing friends I had not seen in a very long time (over a year in some cases)!
  
• Seeing a friend buzzed for the first time... And I've known him for 8+ years.
  
• Explaining what a "mushroom stamp" is to a group of females.
  
• Cocktail soju tastes really good, making it that much more dangerous.
  
• Collectively finishing at least 15 bottles of said cocktail soju.
  
• Order the spicy chicken wings. Better yet, order two!
  
• Finally, I get to drink and not have to worry about driving.
  

January 30, 2010 - Guaymas (Tiburon, CA), Mingalaba (Burlingame, CA), Gokart Racer (Burlingame, CA) & Hooters (San Bruno, CA)



Okay, so for this trip it seemed like I did everything but stay in the city... And it all started Saturday. The plan was originally to try Absinthe Brasserie & Bar located in the heart of S.F. However, as our group grew larger, our reservation time became later. So, at the insistence of a friend, we went off to the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge to a Mexican restaurant called Guaymas. The food was decent, but nothing I would rave home about. I had beef fajitas, which were well seasoned and soft, but it took nearly 45 minutes just to get my Coke and my friend's shrimp dish was overly salted. But who cares! To me, food is only part of the reason you go to Tiburon. The real reason? The view. It is a sea (bay?) side community and the location of the restaurant faces directly back to S.F. The weather was very nice and we took a leisurely walk back to the car after our meal. People were sailing, walking their dogs or just walking in general. Bring a girl here, let her cuddle up next to you while walking, and pimp it.

Lately we have had this issue where we decide to eat around 2-3pm, all the while knowing we have a pre-planned dinner at 5-6pm. This evening proved to be the same, for shortly after concluding our stay at Guaymas, we quickly found ourselves at a table at Mingalaba (Burmese cuisine). I have no idea the names of 99% of the foods I ate, but all were tasty, especially the pumpkin/chicken dish. Oh, and I had a Thai Iced Tea that was way too watery. Overall, I am not a big Burmese food fan. I'll stick with Thai or Indian.

After the birthday dinner, the majority of us headed over to Gokart Racer for some racing. I had not been go karting in a long time (the last time was probably a friend's bachelor party a few years back). Needless to say, if I lived closer to a place, I'd go all the time!

Can you call it a night at 11pm? On a Saturday night no less? No, not in my book! The two lovely ladies I was staying with wanted to grab a quick bite to eat and a drink, so we headed to Hooters. Conveniently, this Hooters is directly across the street from their apartment complex. This location, although only open for one month, was typical Hooters fare. After being greeted by Melissa, our server Crystal took our order. Curly fries + libations = great way to wind down a night.

Highlights:

• Christopher Cross' "Sailing" song went through my head in Tiburon. I think I've been spending too much time listening to KOST (in L.A.).
  
• At Mingalaba, our table was loud. No, let me rephrase that - LOUD. Much better, and to the dismay of the patrons around us. But what do you expect when you put a group of 20+ in a room to celebrate three birthdays?
  
• Go kart racing is fun... Especially when I was hit from behind, blinked, and my right contact lens fell out into the helmet. This was on my third lap. I drove half-blind with no depth perception for the remainder of the time. "Nut up or shut up," as they say. And my friends thought I took the instructional videos' comment of, "no contact" a little too literally.
  
• Crystal at Hooters was an odd girl. She would come by our table and just stare at us. Of course I initiated conversation, but she's still weird.
  

January 31, 2010 - Stacks Restaurant (Burlingame, CA), hiking (San Bruno Mountains, CA), Eggettes (Daly City, CA) & BJ's (San Bruno, CA)



Do you like breakfast/brunch? I sure do. Stacks is probably my second favorite breakfast/brunch place in the Bay Area (Judy's Cafe off Chestnut is still my favorite). I had a crab crêpe that consisted of crab meat, avocado and jack cheese wrapped inside of a crêpe and topped off with hollandaise sauce. Talk about an artery clogger! We also shared a short stack of pancakes. I always think that one of these days I won't be able to eat like this anymore... I pray that doesn't happen any time soon.

After Stacks, we headed to the San Bruno Mountains for a picturesque hike. You start off facing the East Bay, and then the trail wraps around to the Pacific Ocean. While only 3.1 miles, it's the perfect easy hike after a meal. With frequent stops to take pictures, we completed the loop in approximately 1.5 hours.

What bout of exercising wouldn't be complete without eating after? I had not enjoyed Eggettes yet, a staple snack place during my S.F. visits, so I suggested we go to the one in Daly City. Let's just say that the Eggettes off of Noriega in the Sunset has a much bigger selection and better tasting original Eggettes. I was slightly disappointed, but it was still enjoyable. We'll go to the Noriega one instead next time...

My trip came to and end, but not without stopping at one final place - BJ's, which coincidentally is in the same center as the aforementioned Hooters. Sure, we have these back in L.A. But I needed a quick bite to eat before boarding my 9:30pm plane back home. Luckily, we quickly found a table in the bar area. We shared pulled pork sliders, a margherita flatbread pizza, and of course a pizookie. Nourished and content, I boarded my flight and thinking about how I can't wait to come back. March isn't too far off now is it?

Highlights:

• Say "hi" to Karen, a server at Stacks, for me.
  
• Don't hike wearing sneakers with no tread on them after a rain. I almost slipped/fell countless times.
  
• I slept like a baby on the plane ride back. I must have been trying to digest all of the food from the weekend!
  

January 26, 2010 - Lazy Ox Canteen (Los Angeles, CA)

Once again it is time for DineLA week (DineLA Restaurants). I have previously attended Dine About Town in San Francisco, CA (Dine About Town, S.F.) which is a similar program. Basically there is a long list of participating restaurants where you, the diner, chooses a place to try out. For the majority, there are select courses offered at both lunch and dinner with a set price. For example, here at the Lazy Ox their DineLA menu was a three course meal with a choice of appetizer, entree and a creme brulee tapioca dessert.

So on to the Lazy Ox Canteen. The restaurant has only been open for a month or so, and the only indication from the outside are number decals affixed above the door frame (241). This is a tapas place, so portions are somewhat small with the intent to order several dishes and share. My evening started off right with a Lost Coast Great White ale (similar to a Belgian white). I ordered off the DineLA special menu which included an appetizer of mussels, the choice of the beef neck ravioli and the aforementioned creme brulee tapioca dessert.

There were approximately 9 of us at dinner, so I don't recall what everyone else had, but the best bang-for-the-buck seemed to be the Lazy Ox burger and then just ordering regular-sized entrees off the main menu. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my food, but this is definitely not the place to get "filled up."

Next week we try Fig in Santa Monica, CA!

Highlights:

• The front door is heavy. Get a sure footing and then pull... Trust me!
  
• Talk to Eric, the bartender, about how he likes the weather here compared to his native Boston.
  
• The hostesses' name is "Yana."
  
• Sharing means caring! Our group does not cater to selfish/order-for-yourself-only diners.
  
• Friends, food, libations and laughter = awesome Tuesday night!
  
• A few of us ended up at a nearby Starbucks to chit-chat, not order any beverages, and scared off a table of nursing students.
  

January 25, 2010 - Guh Mok Korean BBQ & Max Karaoke (Torrance, CA)

Okay, for those of you who hang out with me often enough, two things seem to be a part of my monthly routine - 1. Korean BBQ, 2. karaoke. So imagine my excitement when I actually get to partake of both in one evening!

Guh Mok Korean BBQ

Our first stop was this restaurant in Torrance, CA. I had never been prior, but the reviews on Yelp! looked decent enough. Honestly, I thought the meats served here were pretty average. As a friend and I discussed, we could have gone to an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ joint in Koreatown for the same amount (we paid ~$25 per person). Live and learn, but the only way to know good eats out there are to keep trying new places!

Max Karaoke

Okay, so my ♥ belongs to Elvis!? (Fountain Valley, CA) when it comes to karaoke. However, Max is probably running a close second, not to mention that they have a locale relatively close to where I live/work! Still, I have to give it up to Japanese karaoke establishments for having the best variety of English songs amongst any of the other Asian places I've been. As usual, I had a blast singing, although I forgot to rock out to the I'm On A Boat song... Oh well, there is always next time!

Highlights:

• I have a t-shirt that says, "Meat is murder. Tasty, tasty murder." It's my Korean BBQ shirt and I completely forgot to bring it!
  
• Learning that selling previously-worn panties in Japan is not as lucrative as it once was. Due to the global recession, these young women must now resort to selling their bodies. What a sad sad world we live in.
  
• Otis Redding, Jay Sean, 'Nsync, John Legend, etc. were all rocked.
  

In the beginning - January 2010

January 23, 2010 - Empire (Hollywood, CA)

Tonight we decided to go to a newly reopened club in Hollywood called Empire off of Cahuenga. The $20 cover for guys (my female friends knew one of the promoters and was able to get the girls in free) was pretty typical for a Hollywood-esque club. The venue itself was quite small. There was nothing special about the ambiance from what I can recall, and the one downside was the lack of an outside/patio area. Seriously, smokers used a seemingly non-ventilated room in the back. A nice outdoors area has become a key attribute of some of my favorite clubs, as sometimes I just want to get away from loud music. Speaking of which, the music played on this Saturday night was mostly top 40s, and the crowd was surprisingly chill. I chatted up (and vice versa) guys/girls near the restroom, bar, etc.

Highlights:

• Wow, I'm actually going out in a group where there are an equal number of guys/girls. Usually it's me and the rest are girls, but the change of pace was nice.
  
• I met a promoter for Whisper named Sam. My female friend said she was a "bitch," but she seemed friendly to me. I guess it helps being a guy if the girl is straight!
  
• My friends are awesome because if I drive, they buy me drinks all night. Or wait, is that actually a bad thing?
  
• My friend losing her cell phone and spending at least 40 minutes with my LED keychain light looking for it. We did not find said cell.
  
• The first drink was spilled on me at 11:45pm.
  
• We did not get kicked out.
  

January 22, 2010 - The Highlands (Hollywood, CA)

Well here is a place I have not been to in at least 4-6 years... And this is all for good reason. The venue is still predominantly the same. Who knew they have a back room for techno/trance? Okay, I didn't! It's a large space with a nice sized dance floor. The last time I was here, I saw Nicholas Cage. However, the crowd this evening was a completely different vibe. It was, to put it succinctly, ghetto. There are the Blvd3's, Opera's and XS' of the world, and then there are the Florentine Gardens and The Highlands of, well, another. The crowds I enjoy myself the most with are slightly classy and fun, not flannel-wearing creepy people. I will not be going back.

Highlights:

• Fun time with friends. Oh, I did get fudge with walnuts downstairs too?
  
• Watching and listening intently to an attempted pick up of one of my friends.
  
• Free admission by saying you signed up on the guest list.
  
• Pho Citi week #2 was not as good. The broth for the Rare Steak Pho was really oily.
  

January 20, 2010 - Wokcano (Santa Monica, CA)

This event/evening was to celebrate the organization CPAF (Center for the Pacific Asian Family - CPAF.info) as they sought funding to help fight against domestic violence and abuse. It was also intertwined with an Asian American group that has networking events. Fun times indeed! I ran into old friends and met a lot of new people. What I like about Wokcano in Santa Monica is the upstairs patio/bar area. And for as many times I have been to a Wokcano, I still have yet to try their food!

Highlights:

• Friendly crowd.
  
• Telling a girl her stage name sounds like a porn star's name.
  
• Meeting not one, but two pastors (one male, one female).
  

January 16, 2010 - Opera (Hollywood, CA)

I have always heard about Opera night club in Hollywood, but I had never been. I even have friends that promote for it! All I can say is, "Wow, I should have gone sooner." It ranks right up there with Blvd3 for me. The ambiance is nice. There are two main areas, and you can pretty much dance wherever you want! There is also an outside area off to the side that is enclosed by walls, but lacking a roof. The music was top 40s, and if you're in before 11:30pm, the girl:guy ratio is like 7:1 (score!). My friends actually knew the bartender, but repeated attempts at "hook-ups" did not pan out.

Highlights:

• Myself with 3 girls plus guest list = we did not have to wait in line.
  
• I had at least 8 drinks spilled on me... All courtesy of my friends.
  
• My friend falling on the floor... repeatedly.
  
• Previously mentioned falling friend getting us kicked out of the club at 12:30am.
  
• Pho at Pho Citi in Westwood, CA for my first time. It was actually pretty good!
  

Introduction - Have you met Mike?

Hi, my name is Mike. I am a 31 year-old male that, for the first time in my life, is truly experiencing life on a grand social scale. Don't get me wrong, I have always been a sociable guy. However, for reasons I cannot and do not want to get into, I missed out on the large majority of the single lifestyle during my twenties. Over the past 9 months or so, I have taken this a whole new level.

Today, my friends make it a point to call me a "social butterfly," but I much prefer Malcolm Gladwell's idea of a "Connector." He discusses this person in his novel The Tipping Point. A Connector is described as "a handful of people with a truly extraordinary knack of making friends and acquaintances." I like interacting with people. I like engaging and understanding human behaviors. Most of all, I like to have fun! And how do I have fun? By going out, meeting new people and connecting my social networks.

Ultimately, I want this latest blog of mine to serve as a gateway to what I see through my eyes on a typical/atypical outing. While I cannot recall all of the things I have experienced in the past nine months, I will document the who/what/why/when/how from here on out. One day I hope to look back on all of these memories and shared experiences so I can say to myself, "I lived." Enjoy my journey!