Mambos

A few days ago, I enjoyed my first "Cuban sandwich."
Okay, to say that I enjoyed it was a bit of an understatement.
I revelled in it.

I have found another amazing spot for some good grinds: Mambos in Glendale.

Located in an out-of-the-way nook where Glendale meets Burbank, Mambos is serving up some pretty hot stuff. Their service staff is personable, friendly, and knowledgable about the menu-Ask them to offer up a suggestion and they will take care of you.

I had their delectable Cuban sandwich, a hot-pressed original loaded with roasted pork, ham, pickles, swiss cheese, and coated with mustard. It was phenomenal.

For desert, I sampled thier home-made flan, which was hands-down the best flan I have ever relished. I asked the owner how they made it creamy, not slimy; he told me that they make it in smaller batches, so that the texture of the ingredients remain dense, not loose.

If you have not been to this little gem of a place, you need to drop what you are doing now and make arrangements with your favourite pals to get yourselves down there-tonight. They are open from 11am-8pm Monday-Thursday, 11am-9pm Friday, Noon-9pm Saturday, closed Sundays.

If you have already sampled their delicious menu, well, then you need to get youself down there anyway!

Forth & Towne

I cannot stop talking about this company.
I have already taken two of my best girlfriends to check out their hot new line!

Forth & Towne is not so much a retailer as it is a clothier and salon.

A newly-formed sister company to Gap INC., Forth & Towne is growing up-and fast! There are currently over 13 locations to serve the Los Angeles and Santa Barbara shopping palate.

Here's the thing: This company, this vision, this ideal has stolen my heart. They have completely re-invented the discerning woman's shopping experience! Not only do they have 4 unique lines of clothing within the line itself, but they have given the modern shopper a special new treat in the form of personal attention.
According to one of their amazingly friendly managers, they have hand-picked each staff member according to what she can bring to the company through her own sense of style, the passion she has toward dressing well, and helping others to do the same.

As soon as you walk through their door, you are greeted by an enthusiastic, and yet not in-your-face kind of gal, who has all kinds of creative ideas for dressing you up. Each gal knows their clothing line personally, and is able to walk you through what is the Forth & Towne line.

They have 4 signature styles to suit any facet of your personal taste, and they carry sizes 2-20. You can mix pieces from all 4 styles (Allegory, Vocabulary, Edition, and Prize) from their chic collection. These digs are awesomely sleek and undeniably classic-in a word, I describe the look as "intelli-chic."

The style itself is based loosely on the inspirational look of Jackie Onassis Kennedy, bringing back a sense of femininity and flair that I have only found rooting through my favourite vintage clothiers. They also have an entire collection of baubles and bags, along with beautifully crafted shoes, socks, and hosiery.

Forth & Towne encourages their clients to schedule a personalized shopping experience with one of their fashion-savvy associates, who will offer you a refreshing beverage, and then walk you through their collection, highlighting pieces that are at once flattering and suitable for your personal style and taste.

Their "salon" replaces those awfully sequestered fitting rooms that are always located in a dark corner of those other retailers. Each dressing room is decorated like a vanity area boudoir, and uniquely decorated to match the look and feel of their diverse collection. They are there every step of the way, changing out sizes for you-you don't have to lift a finger. It is truly a pampering experience.

If you are like me, you are most likely foaming at the mouth, and calling up your girls to arrange for your first Forth & Towne experience-as well you should be. Oh, and don't worry: you can afford to shop here. Even if your wallet is close-to-empty, the girls will help maximize your budget by helping you choose pieces from their chic sale area.

So, go on! Have at it!

Elephants and Heffalumps in LA

The debate is on...still.
Should they stay or should they go?

An article written by Perry Crowe in this week's Citybeat lays out the basics of this still-hot debate.

If you have been, before now, unaware that there was a debate about the elephants of the LA Zoo in Griffith Park, consider yourself "in the loop."

The local elephants 'round these parts have not been happy. They have developed various health problems and some have even died. The solution, some say, is to permanently remove the regal creatures from the LA Zoo and send them off to retire at PAWS (Performing Animal Welfare Society), a sanctuary that specializes in taking animals that have formerly been the object of entertainment in national circus tours and the like.
According to Crowe, "Animal rights activists have long advocated sending L.A.'s elephants to the PAWS sanctuary, complaining the L.A. Zoo's elephant exhibit is woefully inadequate, especially after the death of two of L.A.'s elephants in as many years."

So where do we, the average Zoo visitor stand in this debate?

Personally, the majestic elephant is, by far, my favourite exotic creature; many times I have been quoted to have a fantasy of having one as a companion-jokingly. I used to love going to visit the resident L.A. elephants, but that was years ago. Now when I go to the zoo, a spot I happen to visit when I need to clear my head during a busy semester, I cannot enjoy visiting these creatures because they fill my head with worry and concern.

Going to see the elephants now, is a painful excursion because you can clearly see how depressed and unhappy they are. Oh, and if you are one of those people who will accuse me of anthropomorphising,read this, and see how your views may change on the subject.

Nevertheless, the elephant exhibit is still under fire, and may never win the ownership of these delicate and lofty giants. Especially since, according to Crowe, even after they do all they can to "pimp out" the habitat for them at the zoo, it will not meet basic legal standards of decency.

If you want more information on this debate, check out the article in Citybeat here.

Alpha Dog-Film

Okay, I was not prepared for how good this movie was.
It was not only "good," but vicious and derailing all at once. I have not seen so much debauchery in a film about teens since "Kids." That was not meant to entice, but to warn.

Nick Cassavetes has taken familiar teen-angst themes and put them on fast-forward to the point of sending most of us reeling. This film has more sex, drugs, and violence in it than any movie I have seen in a few years, save your average Tarrantino or Scorsese picture.
The first two minutes of this movie alone spat out more F-bombs than I could deal with, but I pressed on. I am glad I did.

The acting was phenomenal thanks to veterans like Sharon Stone and Bruce Willis and promising newcomers like Justin Timberlake & Co. I was pleased to see familiar faces such as the endearing Six Feet Under cast member, Ben Foster, who has shown us his best work through this film. The cast is also peppered with grown-up kid actors from popular 80's/90's movies, i.e. Emile Hirsh, Shawn Hatosy, and a brief appearance by Lukas Haas.

To give a nod to Justin Timberlake's performance, he was more funny than fierce, but there is one scene in particular where his acting touches your heart. His was the most diversified character in the film, never ceasing to surprise the audience with his versatility as a fledgling actor. I look forward to seeing more from him.

As equally plot-driven as it was a study in character development, Alpha Dog had me in a state of suspense all the way through. The core of the film lies in the audience's witnessing of the corruption and ultimate destruction of innocence; it was, at times,a heart-breaking display.

All in all, my hope is that this film is only a warning to, not a reflection of the current generation of teens who find themselves immersed in an MTV-saturated culture and party-lifestyle. I do know that the film was based on a real story and investigation that took place in Los Angeles in the 1990's; the movie made that clear. Whether you choose to see this film or not, is your call, but be warned; it is not for the sensitive at heart.