Last "Last Adventurer" A.'s Profile

One night I want some BBQ. Who doesn't right? So, I think things over - I'm in North County, and at the time, there weren't any stupendous options for BBQ. I consider driving down to Phil's - but then I realize I don't want to wait in an hour long line after driving twenty minutes, and if I get my food to go, it will be cold by the time I get home. While these were all whiny first world problems, they still bothered me. At the time, someone had mentioned Brett's to me, so I figured I'd give it a try. I got in, placed my order, and while I was waiting, some guy came to my table and started talking to me. Now, after a few minutes, I began to feel the creeper vibe and was about to find away to make him leave me alone...but then he introduced himself as the Brett. Pretty rad. And the food? Super rad.

Today, the food is still the bomb. I just was here the other day, and the BBQ and location is still top notch. I guarantee that whatever you order, you will be satisfied. And if you're eating in? There's sinks by the door so you don't have to fear being sticky!

There's mystery everywhere, and this place is a mystery - until you stop and go in it. Once inside, you'll realize that this a quiet, pristine place for everyone to stop, reflect, and enjoy the world.

If you're curious to know more, check out what I wrote here: http://lastadventurer....

One stop judicial shopping - the place you'll report to if you have jury duty in North County, the place you'll be detained if you commit a crime in North County (at the detention facility behind the Court), the place you'll handle your traffic offenses if you're in North County, and if you're suing someone in civil court, yep, you'll be here too. And, if you have a small claims issue, you'll be here too - sadly, Judge Judy/Wapner will not. Other than that, it's always busy, and it's good to arrive early to find out where you're going.

Let's be honest - the economy's bad and has been bad for a while. If you need to go here, that's no reflection on you, or your circumstances, and no one's going to judge you - welllllll, maybe the Judges will, but only in the context of applying the law to your case! Don't be nervous though, justice is blind, and there's some great resources to help you, including a free legal clinic downstairs, and some very able clerks. May the bankruptcy force be with you, and remember to take off your shoes when going through security!

Hundreds of years ago, this place was a bustling metropolis...and then it wasn't. If that's not a mystery for you, ponder this: after the city was abandoned, nature took over, largely obscuring the site in dirt and plants, making it look nothing like a ruin, but merely a small hill. Who knows what other sites lie beneath the ground in the area, and in other locations?

The Park Service has done a great job with the area, first excavating the ruins, so that you have an idea of the scope of the city/area, and providing a great interpretive museum that has exhibits regarding the site and the area. Just don't touch the pots! If you do need to touch a pot like me - because I need to touch things - the rangers will produce a pot shard you you can place your clean or grubby hands allllll over it. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

So, you're in Yosemite and you want a good meal because you've been eating freeze dried food, nuts, and the occasional accidental grub for weeks. While Degnan's has good pizza, and the bar has decent sandwiches, you realize you want an actual meal. In this respect, you need do the following: sneak into Housekeeping or Curry Village for a shower so you don't scare the other diners with your bear-like smell; and then head on over to the Ahwahnee. If you're really smart, you pre-planned and made a reservation, but if you didn't, you may get lucky like I did last time, and they'll find you a table anyways.

Once you're there, you can marvel at the great dining room, and the amazing views from within. As for the food, I've always been satisfied - the only downside being that I usually eat too much, but hey - if you've been hiking, climbing, or whatever, you need to carbo load, right? The staff is attentive and helpful; and the only dish I can think of that's always there that's a "must try" is the bosenberry/wild berry pie - delish! While the dress code has been relaxed in recent years, this is a "fancy" restaurant, so be prepared for it to put the hurt on your wallet - but all in all, its an experience of a lifetime, so its worth it!

shhhhhhh....hear that sound?

Wait for it....duh-dun.....duh-dun..........duh-DUNNNNNNNNN NNNNN.

That's the sound of hungry office workers swimming on down to Urban Plates at lunchtime to feed on salads, sandwiches and whatever else they can find like the hungry sharks they are. While the staff does a good job of keeping the line moving, I guarantee that if you arrive at 12:01 pm, you will be in a line, and you will likely get hangry while you wait for them to make your food, or your fellow patrons food. So - plan ahead. Either arrive before 12:00 or after 12:45 - that's my tip.

The food? Good! They make everything there, great salads, and some sort of great ginseng green tea drink that slakes your thirst. Not to mention cookies and other things sure to leave even the pickest eater happy.

In my opinion, California has the best highway in the United States - the Highway 1 up through Big Sur, and the worst highway in the United States - the 99 through the Central Valley. Sorry Central Valley people, there's just nothing to see whatsoever off the 99, and there's some areas that have endemic foul smells. All of this is to say nothing about the heaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat.

It's precisely because of these conditions that you NEED places to stop on the 99. Places to break the monotony, and places that aren't so freaking creepy that once you stop you immediately want to get going again. From the outside, this looks like your normal gas station type deal. But on the inside? There's a petting zoo. An arcade. Decent food. Cheese tasting, and yeah, sure, there's kitsch. But you know what? You can take a certain amount of kitsch when there's free cheese involved. And the cheese is good!

Just watch out for the turkey. He bites!

Stopped here the other night because I needed a little pick me up so as not to fall asleep on the straight hypnotic white line road called the 99. I ordered a bog-standard carmel machiato. You know, one of those drinks that should taste the same anywhere within the confines of the corporate world. I didn't taste it in store, because, hey, it should taste the same anywhere. Five miles up the 99, I take a sip and spit it out in disgust. I don't know what was going on, but it was mostly water and tasted like crap. On the plus side, I was awake, because I had a foul taste in my mouth. On the downside, I had no coffee. Oh, and their bathroom had no TP - which is kind of gross.

Holy coffee BATMAN!

This place is amazing. That's all I really can say. First off, it has a drive through, so lazy people like me do not need to get out of my car to obtain an amazing cold drink of goodness. Yes! Second, about those drinks - WOW are they good. The drinks are so good that its suspicious. Yes, I think that they are surreptitiously putting something addicting in those very drinks because they are such sugary sugary treats. They are so good that you almost would sneak into a back alley and buy them illegally, if you had that option. Fortunately though, they are legal, and you don't need that option.

This little shack is my favorite place in Bakersfield, hands down.