Upside Down Couches
Some couches can't keep it together. They've tried, working hard and holding on to the lazy butts of their owners, only to be chucked at the first sign of a persistent stain, a lose spring or good financing. It can be too much for our puffy, comfort oriented friends. To serve the human being is to be subject to the whims of a perfidious and mercenary master. Some couches, on such abandonment, simply give up, falling upside down, they give up, letting the swirly currents of the street take them where they will.
Got balls?
If you read kuaptic on a regular basis (We know who you are. All five of you!) you know that we're all for progress, if there's a good reason for it, but contend that today we tend to just ditch things, things that have meaning and wonder, with no justification at all. Such is the case with the 76 Ball. If you're like us, you grew up with these spinning, orange UFOs bobbing over streets and freeways all over Southern California. Now that 76 has merged with Conoco Phillips, they are taking our balls and replacing them with a flat sign, with a representation of the 76 ball, now in red.
No one can forget the festive 76 balls, decorated as Jack'o'Lanterns for Halloween. Or being used as antennae toppers. There was something silly and toy like about them, even if we didn't often go to 76 because their gas is more expensive.
Don't let them take your balls. Visit Save the 76 Ball, sign the petition and see what else you can do.
Cafe Brasil
Do you like Gulden's Mustard? Then you'll like Cafe Brasil. You might like it there anyway. But it seems many of the roasted meats and fish they have there have a Guldens mustard sauce. No, we're not kidding. It's even in the salsa.Cafe Brasil is clearly someone's dream. A tiny place, almost a stand, it has a lovely patio with cushioned seats. You're protected from the traffic on Venice by plants and the tables are decorated with large bowls of ripe fruit. The rice and black beans are excellent, and everything is fresh and delicious. Especially if you like Gulden's mustard.Cafe Brasil 10831 Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles
Cute!
You can't be mad at us when we post a whole bucketful of cute puppies!We've been suffering from computer/health/ennui/work problems and we're sorry. We'll do better next week. We promise!Puppies! You can't hate us. Puppies!
Photo courtesy of cuteoverload.com.
Dead Bird Couch
Who would think that a couch would be the mausaleum of some poor bird, doubtless dragged hither (hither?) by some triumphant cat and discarded, like so much garbage. Now both bird and couch are awaiting their fate in the face of indifferent traffic on the corner of Palms.
Love Seats
There comes a time in each young couch's life when his thoughts turn to love, and romping free one day, these two leathertte love seats found each other. It's just a shame that they don't have enough sense to get off the curb where they'll quickly be nabbed. We all know love is blind, but stupid too?
Bosch's City
Anyone familiar with Los Angeles or mystery novels knows Hieronymus Bosch, Dutch painter of the 15th and 16th centuries(one of his paintings is pictured at the left), but also an LAPD detective in a series of books by Michael Connelly. Los Angeles-centric modern noir stories, his website has a section of pictures of LA Landmarks, many of them quite old, along with the corresponding quotes from his books.
The Hotel Game
Oh Holiday Inn! We never particularly liked you. You and your twin down in Carson look like twin hair rollers. Distinctive, yet somehow uninviting, we drove passed you so many times. Now the Holiday Inn at the Sunset Boulevard exit at the 405 is becoming the Hotel Angeleno.
The rooms look nice, modern, but not ridiculous, and opening prices (at $139!!) look really reasonable. If we were coming from out of town, that would be really great.Hotel Angeleno, 170 North Church Lane, Los Angeles
Season of Chocolate
We're not much on Valentine's day here at kuaptic. Whether we're with someone or not, it always feels forced and tense -- you have to go out and buy gifts, or stay home and feel bummed. No matter what your doing though, you could probably always use a little chocolate, so here are a few places to indulge your sweetooth with something worth all those calories.
See's Candies Find Locations
An old west coast standby. Great lollipops, chocolates and lovely packaging.
Leonidas Find Locations
Newcomer from Belgium. Dark, bitter chocolates as rich as chocolate mousse.
K Chocolatier/Diane Kron 9606 Little Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills
Actually make chocolates for "women" that are supposed help with...you know... Jin Patisserie 1202 Abbott Kinney Boulevard, Venice
Known for its unusual flavors (Red Caramel Clove, Lemon Grass) You can go to the store or buy online. Compartes 912 South Barrington, Brentwood
Handmade specialty chocolates include flavors like Jasmine, Earl Grey and Champagne.
Valley of the Smokes
Here's your factoid of the day. The original people who lived in Los Angeles, the Tongvas (not the factoid) called the San Fernando Valley, the Valley of the Smokes, because the topography of the area captured the smoke from their bonfires and kept it there. Now you can look smart!
Coachella break down
Don't get us wrong. We *heart* Coachella. Coachella is our center of gooey chocolate goodness. But...we're less than impressed this year. Everyone's already posted the line-up, so we won't be redundant. We realize that there are some good bands -- Sleater-Kinney, Ladytron, Bloc Party. But is there really something to get us out there? And what's up with these headliners? Depeche Mode? Tool? Tool?
There are good things about Coachella -- the breeze, the sun, the good times. But there are bad things too -- the heat, the impossible parking situation, the crowds and the price. There has to be a certain...we don't know what (Pixies) to get us out there (Underworld) though we realize that Coachella is one of those "gifts that keeps on giving" in terms of bands that you've never heard of that become huge in the next six months (Death Cab for Cutie, The Arcade Fire, Fischerspooner -- all have been that band), there still has to be something that gets you to want to see bands out there, instead of here, in a club, playing a kickass set.
Where is that Coachella? Where are the acts that are going to strike us like lightning and make us levitate with the prospect of that crazy Coachella vibe?
Fine Dining in...Palms?
Palms is not a neighborhood known for its food (and perhaps it should be, cause there's some good stuff here -- Hu's Szechwan, The Coop Pizzaria, Kristina's.) But now there's a new kid in town, Cucina Paradiso has moved into the old D.B. Cooper's space and classed up the joint (Not hard to do if you ever went to D.B.'s).
They seem to be making a successful go at an upscale Italian spot. There are a few beginning mistakes -- we'd advise them to lighten up on the truffle oil and maybe not call it "essence" (as that puts bad pictures in our heads.) But we had a shockingly good meal there-- starting out with a great grilled couscous with mushrooms and cheese fondue (also some of that "essence" but to good effect) and the special salmon puttenesca.
Cucina Paradiso 3387 Motor Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
A Comprehensive Guide to Cupcakes
Union, Shmoonion. Oscars, Shmascars. The real news is cupcakes. They're taking this town by storm. And what are you, the average consumer, to do? How will you know which cupcake is for you? Well, kuaptic has undertaken the arduous task of going all over this town and trying cupcakes. It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it.
Where to start? Perhaps with the place that got us on our new obsession.Joan's on Third 8350 West Third Street, Los Angeles, CA
Joan's is a gourmet haven, if you don't mind crowds. We started with the maple spice cupcake. While not particularly maple-y, it was wonderful. The texture of both icing and cake was moist, smooth and delicious, and it was such fun to have a little cake, small enough so that you could eat all of it and not feel so bad. On a repeat trip, we tried the chocolate with homemade marshmallow inside and found it even more delicious. Rich, and so chocolately.
Sprinkles 9635 South Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA
With a line going out the door, Sprinkles serves only cupcakes. The large eponymous sprinkles on top of the cupcakes are not particularly appealing, the cupcakes themselves are delicious. Again, these are cupcakes that look homemade. Lemon, red velvet and dark chocolate are all stars. This is definitely a most stylish locale -- and it has the taste to back it up.
Sweetcake 5825 West Sunset Boulevard, Suite 112, Hollywood, CA By Appointment Only
You can't talk desserts in this town without mentioning Sweetcake. Though famous for their tiny bites desserts, their cupcakes are nothing to sneeze at. There's a fabulous vanilla cake with lemony cream frosting that has berries in it. There's a Key Lime cupcake -- a sort of a different lemon taste, that incorporates sauteed pineapple. And the chocolate. Oh...the chocolate, it has crunchiness, mousse-y-ness and cake all in one.
Yummy Cupcakes 2918 Magnolia, Burbank, CA
Yummy Cupcakes is new to the scene, but not to be ignored. We were a little worried at first, as some of the cupcakes appeared to have the puffy (and tasteless) buttercream frosting of our youths. We were pleasantly surprised that we could get the kind of cupcakes we've grown more fond of, with the smaller amount of icing. The red velvet wasn't a particular favorite, we thought the icing too sour, but we know people who liked it. They also had a homemade marshmallow one (decorated like a hostess cupcake) which was quite good. This place has decorate your own option, which would be fun for kids.
Cookie Casa www.cookiecasa.com
Cupcakes delivered to your door? Heck yeah! We think these are the best straight up, no frills cupcakes for sure. Offered with chocolate and vanilla icing.
Leda's Bake Shop 13722 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, CA
You'll be happy to know that though Leda's is nestled next to the craptacular Senor Fred, it's uneffected by the tasteless vibe. A small mod shop, the creations Leda serves can hardly be called cupcakes. They're too delicate and too small (they claim one serving is one and a half cupcakes.) Each cake has a hidden delight of ganache or jam under the puffy swirly icing. Each one is made different by an exuberant sprinkle (pictured). The only flaw is the white chocolate icing, which is chalky, but the chocolate is wonderful, and the lemon is amazing. A particular favorite was the pumpkin with a touch of orange. Definitely out of this world!
Some couches can't keep it together. They've tried, working hard and holding on to the lazy butts of their owners, only to be chucked at the first sign of a persistent stain, a lose spring or good financing. It can be too much for our puffy, comfort oriented friends. To serve the human being is to be subject to the whims of a perfidious and mercenary master. Some couches, on such abandonment, simply give up, falling upside down, they give up, letting the swirly currents of the street take them where they will.
