February Break, pt. 3

And so, yes, I flew to Los Angeles. Grandma and I met with Cousin Jim at El Habañero, a taco shop across the street from the Boat I was curious about. And my curiosity was rewarded! Tacos were quite good, I’d be glad to go back sometime.

Driving through San Marino, past my alma mater, down to Alhambra for a haircut and a visit to the pet store…

And then I went over to Aunt Louise’s for a visit and a look at some old Condie family treasures. And Bunker treasures.

Never not bragging about my aunt the mayor

That night I went down to Korea Town for some great tacos from Tacos 1986 and a pretty good pattymelt from Cassell’s.

The next morning, a hike through Griffith Park with Cher followed by lunch at Dune and a little walking around of Atwater Village.

not convinced.

Most other mornings I’d take a walk to San Marino to see the Cal Tech turtles. Here’s a combination of all those walks:

A major thing that happened while I was in LA is I started eating at Burgers Must Die. These crispy smash burgers drove me nuts. A++, 10/10, So Good!

I should have obeyed!

Wednesday night? Bulldogs at Yaki’s with Collin

Thursday morning I put an egg on a tamal and went to the Santa Anita mall to watch Battle Angel Alita while Grandma hosted DUP. That mall doesn’t look anything like I remember.

Friday evening: Highland Park taco crawl with Lucas after a little Burgers Never Say Die pregame

Then Saturday I went to Disneyland. That’s probably it’s own post. Sunday, church with grandma and a flight back to New York.

February Break, pt. 2

Ok, remember what I said in that last post? About catching a plane to Los Angeles from Nashville? It’s true, that’s what I did…except the plane had a layover in Salt Lake and guess what? I got off in Salt Lake and stayed in Salt Lake! Jake and Natalie picked me up and took me down to a noodle place called One More Noodle Shop in the Chinatown plaza, which is like Salt Lake’s version of Mariachi Plaza, except Chinese. And I must add: Andrew and Sidney were among those who joined us for that noodle dinner. (and after dinner you know we had to visit the giant Chinese supermarket for treats and a look around)

I spent that night at Jake and Natalie’s and in the morning Andrew and Sidney picked me up for a couple of brunches (at my second brunch I had ice cream) before Andrew did me the kindness of a Highland drop off at Kristen and Cory’s basically completely remodeled home.

Here’s a funny thing. Usually when I’m in Utah I’m there for a family event and I think to myself “Man I wish I had time to see my friends and do what I want” but on this trip I was like “Eh, I think I’ll just stay here at Kristen’s house.” But I did sneak down to Salt Lake a couple times to see Cindy and Jared and their kids (they are seperate sets of kids).

When I was in Highland I’d find the nieces and nephews “working” before being rewarded with hot chocolate. Which they drank sitting in the snow.

Another afternoon in Salt Lake, more little visits with friends, and another visit to the Chinatown Plaza (this time to pick up some groceries). I cooked bacon and rice cakes as a side for dinner one night. Rachel’s reaction to me cooking it = just about all the kids reactions to eating it (little Chinese chocolate cheeseburgers were a much bigger hit). BUT the good news was I got to eat the leftovers for the rest of the visit.

On probably a Friday night we went and saw Free Solo, it was my third time. I just loved listening to the audience gasp at all the moments I gasped at my first time. Afters we went to Freddy’s.

The next morning, while everyone else, I don’t know, skiied? Cory and Ellie and I went and saw Into the Spider-Verse (it was my FOURTH time and I was still noticing things that slipped by me all the other times). Afters we ate at the new American Fork Don Joaquin, which was great, and then I had my first Waffle Love waffle. It was a big day!

That night we watched the Dawn Wall, another rock climbing movie. We couldn’t get enough climbing movies!

Ah, Sunday morning.

Sunday night we cooked up a whole lot of different tacos. Brisket tacos, broccoli tacos, Brisket & Broccoli tacos, and I made vegetable memelas. They were a bigger hit than the rice cakes.

Ah, Sunday night

Then, Monday morning, Cory drove me to the airport

And then I traded this

for this

So, yep, next: a California post