Catherine "poler-holic" C.'s Profile
DateWest Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 848-9760
Out of the Closet Thrift Store
Category:
Used, Vintage & Consignment
Neighborhood: West Hollywood
Our experience at the Fat Greek has to be the surprise of the century. I mean that as in, if Susan Boyle were a restaurant, she would be The Fat Greek. Realizing how bad that sounds, allow me to explain:
AMBIENCE:
It's almost 9 pm out in the country. Just about everything is closed. The boyfriend and I were desperately searching for an open place to eat and just about grudgingly settled on Del Taco when we saw a dark, unassuming, fast-food-looking joint that said "The Fat Greek". If it weren't for the bright neon "OPEN" sign we might have missed the restaurant completely. It sounded better than Del Taco, so we decided to go in. Finding out later that this is a former A & W, we were immediately surprised to be greeted with such a clean, open, space with sooo much Greek influences everywhere - from the bright sea-blue furniture to the olive branches painted all over the restaurant. The bigger surprise was that, we were promptly greeted by a tiny, adorable hipster Greek grannie (seriously, her glasses had bling on them)...and she ended up not just being one of the owners of the restaurant but the culinary genius behind The Fat Greek.
FOOD:
This cutie pie, Nita, smiled at me when I ordered the falafel plate but admonished my boyfriend when he ordered just the bean and cheese burrito. Now, he WANTED to order Greek food, but had bad experiences with Greek food from other restaurants as they often used canned broth loaded with MSG in their food. Nita, looking shocked that we even thought she would cheat with canned goods, proceeded to insist that she made everything - the broth, the seasonings, the sauces - from scratch. NO MSG, NO PRESERVATIVES, ALL FRESH PRODUCE. She swayed TC into ordering the Chicken Soulvaki, and let me tell you....
We're so glad she did.
Oh dear GOD!!!!!! Both of our plates were so beautifully presented to us that I had to conscientiously tell myself to take the picture first before tearing into our food. Nita's falafel are some of the best I've ever had, perfectly crispy without being greasy on the outside, and very flavorful and fluffy and light on the inside. Paired with her fresh made tabouli mint-parsley salad and some yogurt tzatziki sauce, it was nothing short of amazing. I couldn't have any of TC's chicken since I'm a vegetarian, but it sure looked and smelled good and let's just say...I didn't hear a word from him until his plate was licked clean. And the hummus...if you think you've had hummus, you've got to come here. You haven't had hummus until you try Nita's hummus. The food was so incredible that we both got mad for not finding the place earlier...and KNEW we had to go back the next day!
PRICES:
Would it have been cheaper to go to Del Taco? Sure. Would we have been even half as satisfied if we went to Del Taco? Not in a million years, HELL NO!!! We paid about $25 for the two of us to eat here, with portions big enough for leftovers if we weren't so famished, and could NOT have spent our money any better going anywhere else. An incredible value for true home cooking.
PEOPLE:
What I've said about Nita so far does not do her justice. This lady is just...amazing on every level. She's sweeter than the baklava she makes, has the energy of a whole kitchen staff, and truly brings some of Greece to her customers in her food. I really appreciated that she took the time to talk to us about her food and how she prepares it - it made me feel that she just had a genuine love for Greek food and sharing it with other cultures, and that she wasn't just running a restaurant to make money. I give MAD props to that. And she has the most L-O-V-E-A-B-L-E family - from her jovial husband Angelo to her son Chris (the other owner of the restaurant), I feel even better eating Nita's food knowing that I'm supporting a family business.
So, if you wanted a shorten version of why you need to come to the Fat Greek, let me sum up: OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD food. Incredibly warm people. Supporting a small business. GREAT value. What are you waiting for?
Burbank, CA 91505
(818) 846-2327
Bea Bea's
Categories:
Breakfast & Brunch,
Bakeries
Neighborhood: Burbank
FOOD: Their poor excuse for huevos rancheros left me WANTING. Seriously, it was so pathetic that I didn't even want to snap a photo of it. Granted, I ordered this as takeout, and when the lady handed me a big plastic bag filled to the brim I started getting a diner's equivalent of a hard-on for my much-anticipated huevos rancheros!!! So happily I trotted back to my office and tore open the bag and found....
Two baby corn tortillas - dried out with barely enough ranchero sauce to cover them. The sauce looked like it was dried and had been sitting on the tortillas for a while.
Two eggs that were barely cooked - I mean I love my runny eggs, but I don't love the potential risk of samonella. I had to nuke the dish before I felt safe eating it.
Barely a slice of avocado on top of the tortillas. *angry face*
A separate plastic container of black beans. It was nice that they separated the beans - maybe they also separated the seasonings, because the beans had absolutely no flavor to them.
NO RICE.
Wha...????? Who the hell serves huevos rancheros without rice? I mean what else is supposed to soak up the runny egg?
At this point I started sympathizing with drug addicts going through painful withdrawal symptoms. I felt sure that the lack of rice HAD to be a mistake, so I called the restaurant and...
AMBIENCE: ...they politely told me that it wasn't supposed to have rice. Ok, now I admit I should have read the item description on the menu more carefully, but the only reason why I didn't is because the idea of any Mexican-esque dish being served without rice is as absurd as a hamburger being served without the bun (unless specifically stated, of course). I couldn't believe it - this cute, homey little place with such nice staff could produce such cheap, sub-par food, really?
....DISCLAMER: admittedly, the food of people who dined in looked pretty tasty. And like other diners mentioned, there is a wealth of vegetarian and gluten-free choices, so it's nice that they cater to different eating styles. So it's very possible that I just ordered the wrong thing. That's still not an excuse to go cheap on ANY dish.
PRICES:...especially when you charge $12 for it. You're telling me I could have paid half that price at my local roach coach for the same dish and probably have been more satisfied? At least they would have given me rice. Not only did I still have a lingering huevos rancheros craving, I was $12 poorer. *kicks rocks*
PARKING: This is in a shopping complex. Parking shouldn't be a problem. I walked here. I wouldn't mind walking here again if I have a more positive experience next time - maybe I'll try dining in. But sorry Bea Bea, you DID NOT make this breakfast craving girl happy with your allegedly popular breakfast today.
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 656-1383
Eat Well
Category:
Diners
Neighborhood: West Hollywood
FOOD: I was greeted at the door with the intoxicatingly sweet and fragrant scent of freshly baked, FREE cinnamon cake wafting by the doorway. Mmmm....a bunch of BIG soft pieces just sitting seductively on a ceramic green plate for the taking. This could be dangerous...but luckily I limited myself to two pieces because I remembered what I was really there for: CHILAQUILES!!!! That's right...in-house, home-made fried tortilla chip goodness scrambled with eggs and a spicy tomato sauce, paired with black beans and Spanish rice, this totally hit the spot and made up for the huevos wannabe rancheros disappointment that I experienced at Bea Bea's earlier this week. Mmmm....I should mention this is not my first time eating at Eat Well. I've had their soy chorizo scramble, omelettes and pancakes before and they have never let me down. You won't find incredibly exotic food or haute cuisine here, but you will find homemade goodness and tons of health-conscious and vegetarian options...I'm a happy camper.
AMBIENCE: Ok let's be honest: this is a hole in the wall. Or rather, a hole in the corner. But I'll be damned if it's not the most adorable, homey-feeling cozy little hole in the corner that I've ever had the privilege of dining at. It's definitely a neighborhood spot patronized by the locals of West Hollywood, from the random flamboyantly red tablecloths (weird contrast with the baby blue walls) to the even more flamboyantly gay servers who NEVER stop smiling. And I love it!
PRICES: Ok, I'll admit it. Part of the reason why the food tastes so good is because it's so dang affordable...especially by West Hollywood standards. The aforementioned cinnamon cake is free...and c'mon, I'd be lying if I didn't say it was even sweeter because it was free. And my GIANT plate of chilaquiles (seriously, that motherloader lasted me beyond two meals) was all the more tasty at $7.95. Seriously, brunch in WeHo for under $10? I gotta give it up to Eat Well just for that.
PARKING: What parking? Oh, you mean the one you'll have to fight for on the street at least 5-6 blocks away? Leave the car at home and walk here - you'll burn more money in the gas spent circling around for parking than you will spend on your whole meal.
1 Previous Review:
-
11/24/2009
Yummy cheap breakfast! I'm sold!
FOOD: I've had their breakfast burrito and soyrizo scramble here, and both were LARGE portions that lasted me 2-3 meals. Pretty tasty too, though admittedly I like the cooking quality of brunch at Urth's and The Griddle better. One great thing about food though - free yummy cinnamon bread at the counter. I ate like three pieces, and I'm not even one for sweets.
AMBIENCE: Cute little diner-like setting, great for you to catch a quick breakfast/brunch with your friend or to reward yourself with breakfast after a long hard workout. Wouldn't recommend for a big group - keep it capped around 5. Definitely a local joint that catches the esoteric essence of West Hollywood.
PRICES: TREMENDOUS value. Great breakfast options from $5-$10 that will leave you absolutely stuffed and satisfied.
PARKING: Can be obnoxious. Fortunately for me, this place is pretty much walking distance from where I live. But for those who have to drive... just pay attention to the signs. Normally if you come here for an earlier breakfast (like 9-10 am on Sunday when everyone is still hung over) there's still plenty of parking left on Harper.
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 923-3155
California Pacific Medical Center
Category:
Medical Centers
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights
CPMC, however, is NOT a typical hospital. Whitewashed walls? Yes. Lab coats? Yes. Syringes and IV needles? Unfortunately, yes, EVERYWHERE. Yet in spite of all that, CPMC's incredible staff managed to ease my preconceived anxieties and made me and my family feel almost at home during a very uncertain, extremely unnerving time for all of us.
This is a hard review for me to write since much of my experience with CPMC was so recent, but I had to give the staff here recognition. Amongst the anguish and dread that comes with any hospital experience in the intensive care unit, they managed to be extremely coolheaded, professional and...FRIENDLY. More than friendly, actually. The nurses and doctors were not only extremely accomodating of my Mom's physical needs, but they were very sensitive to and understanding about all the emotional chaos she and the rest of us were experiencing. Everyone from the clerical staff to the oncologists were very patient with our onslaught of questions and never once rushed through their time with us. Mom didn't even dread hospital food because as it turns out, their menu is quite ethnically diverse. (Not that she needed it; at least one of her sisters were by everyday with something they cooked for her. Ahh, God bless busybody Asian aunties.) Obviously everyone who works here was thoroughly trained on bedside manner and even more impressive - common sense.
I hope to not review many hospitals in the future (for obvious reasons) but I would be remiss to not to recognize the outstanding service that my family and I experienced at CPMC. In a devastating time for us, they really did take care of everything so that we could just focus on being there for Mom and for each other. I'm not sure how expensive it is to be treated here versus other hospitals, but when it comes to having the peace of mind knowing that your loved ones are in good hands, really...can you put a price tag on it?
It really saddens me to know that, mostly because of affordability, not everyone receives the same quality care that my family and I have received. CPMC is surely a good role model for how hospitals should run and how medical staff should treat their patients and their patients' families, but the fact that it's a role model usually means it's more the exception than the rule, and it makes me all the more thankful that we were given exceptional care.
Keep up the great work, CPMC.
Listed in: Healing Hands
Van Nuys, CA 91401
(818) 374-9500
Los Angeles Police Department
Category:
Police Departments
Neighborhood: Van Nuys
LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT GETTING ANY. MORE. OF. MY. HARD-EARNED. MONEY.
So much for filling your quota, buddy.
Backstory...
I was busted for turning right from Van Nuys Blvd onto Moorpark Avenue between 7-9 AM in the morning. The sign telling you not to do that is hard to see if you're not familiar with the area and are just looking for the right street your GPS told you to turn on. No, actually, it's right at the intersection, right at the VERY corner where you're not supposed to turn. Nice little ticket trap there, City of Van Nuys. I missed the sign because, again, I was unfamiliar with the area, and there was a pickup truck tailgating my ass and no doubt would have hit me if I slowed down to read the sign.
About 15-20 feet after I turn, this lunatic officer jumps IN FRONT OF my SUV and starts waving his arms like a madman, and then berates ME for not watching where I was going. WTF?!! Last I checked, streets are for cars, sidewalks are for WALKING PEDESTRIANS. He goes through the motions asking for my license and paperwork. I comply and then he points out the sign to me. I quickly apologize, politely explain it was an honest mistake and offer to correct my error and turn back onto Van Nuys (there was plenty of clearance from a nearby sidestreet). He just says, (and I quote!), "Well you're already most of the way through the street (umm 15 feet past the stop sign?), so you might as well just keep going." Again...BIG FAT WTF?!!!! So first you bust my ass for breaking this preposterous law, then you tell me to continue to break the law?!!!
Anyway, I wasn't about to pay this ticket - even the officer admitted I wasn't doing anything dangerous or wreckless, but rather "inconveniencing the citizens of Van Nuys who petitioned for that sign". I ended up delaying my court date twice due to some emergency family issues so even though I was busted last November I just went to court last Tuesday and guess what...
THE F*CKER SHOWED UP.
OMFG. Wow. Don't you have a city to protect? Don't you have, oh I dunno, drug dealers and gang bangers to bust rather than trying to squeeze whatever money you can from someone who missed a sign that didn't even endanger anyone?
ANYWAY, as luck would have it, even though the judge agreed with my logic and agreed it was dumb for me to be penalized for what was really a harmless error, he still told me that the law is the law, and that yes, I should have put the convenience of the citizens of Van Nuys wanting their quiet little street over my safety and the safety of the driver tailgating me.
...ok, fine. But still, no way I was gonna pay that $280 ticket. That's more than your average speeding ticket. F*ck that.
I opted for community service instead. For all things, if I'm gonna have to give my time and money to ANYTHING, I'd MUCH RATHER give it to my local neighborhood than to some greedy assh*le cop's pension. And I will say it again...
So much for filling your quota, buddy. While you were trying to get me on a sign there were probably shops being robbed and people getting hurt. And you STILL didn't get any money from me. So you can run and tell that, HOMEBOY.
Listed in: The Bad Karma List
Well, except for the ones who regularly visit the Cerritos Public Library that is.
Let's talk about that name: Cerritos Public Library. I think this is one of the most deceptive, mismatched labels I've ever heard. My perception of public library (and more and more, with the State and Federal budget cuts, public ANYTHING) is: second-hand, ill-maintained, and probably run by a bunch of people who could care less about doing quality work as long as they still get their cushy government-paid benefits.
Well.. the CERRITOS Public Library is really anything but everything that I just mentioned. This place should be called The Cerritos Haven of Learning. Everything from the beautiful, prestine architecture to the overwhelming selection of near-mint condition books on every subject from quantum physics to Zimbabwean basket weaving to the several FREE educational programs that the library staff offers to kids and adults encourages and inspires learning. The 20+?? (maybe 30+??) wifi-equipped computer stations and the immaculate study rooms AND the gorgeous glass elevator that looks out to the dolphin fountain outside are just extras. Did I mention that there's a mini-museum of rotating artwork all around the library? Or that the kids' library has an aquarium -not the lame kind you see at your dentist's office, a real deal one where someone needs to get in a wetsuit and dives in to feed the fish daily?!! Or that there's a T-Rex skeleton replica?!!! I don't know about you, but the public libraries I grew up with didn't have no f*cking T-Rex in them!!!
And may I re-iterate: this is a PUBLIC SERVICE. That means it's FREE. Why don't I see more people in here?!! Please support this wonderful library with more than just your tax dollars - GO TO IT and/or send your kids!!!
I wish this sort of fabulous-ness would come out to West Hollywood (ironically, the public library in West Hollywood of all places is anything but fabulous...) but until then...I guess I'll have to find more excuses to check out books from The Cerritos Haven of Learning... I mean the Cerritos Public Library!
Listed in: You know you're a nerd…
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 664-5446
Primrose Organics Salon
Categories:
Hair Salons,
Hair Removal
Neighborhood: Hollywood
I've never been to an organic salon before so I didn't know what to expect, but c'mon...since when has the description "organic" been attached to something bad?
ZEE SHOP: Well...the instant I walked in I and took a huge whiff of the place I knew right away what made this place organic - absolutely NO stinging, eye-burning ammonia smells to be detected by my super sensitive nose ANYWHERE. YAY! Everything smelled either fruity or floral, so if you're a very scent-sensitive person this might bug ya (and you probably will have the same problem in every salon you visit, honestly...), but if you love getting high on this stuff you'll love it here!
Tucked away in the cross-section of Hollywood and Los Feliz/Silverlake, this is where you want to go to get a true Hollywood salon experience. They were filming an episode of Dexter right down the block of the salon!
The salon itself is a cute, vaguely vintage little shop that's part hair salon, part holistic apothecary, part merchant of all things cute and girly (jewelry, wellness books, essential oils). Anyone from a prim and proper Southern Belle to a wild child Bettie Page type would feel comfortable getting their hair, nails and waxable parts done here!
ZEE HAIRCUT: I would say Chelsea cut my hair, but that would be giving her way too little credit for what she really did. Mark my words... CHELSEA TAMED THE BEAST and that beast was my former hair!!! Constant travel on the road and overwashing left my hair dry, frizzy, and tangled and mangled beyond manageability. Well I don't know how she did it, but two hours later she domesticated that beast to be smooth, shiny, bouncy and a lovely deep burgundy red. And did I mention it smelled wonderful? It's the next morning and I'm still getting high off my own hair. And the bangs... I didn't think my facial shape allowed for them but she made it possible!!! GO CHELSEA GO!!
ZEE PRICES: Well unfortunately this is why I have to give this salon 4 versus 5 stars. I came here on a Living Social voucher. The regular prices are unfortunately a bit high for my budget considering how much maintenance my beastly hair requires (check website for price list). I will definitely be back, but unfortunately not as often as I would have liked to just based on an affordability standpoint.
ZEE PARKING: This is also why a 5-Star salon like Primrose gets an overall 4 star rating for me - parking here is almost as beastly as my former hair. I lucked out with the aforementioned Dexter filming so the meter maids left my car alone, but otherwise the only parking available are usually 1 hour zones on Hollywood Boulevard. Walk or get someone to take you here if you can.
Listed in: INSTANT MOJO!!!!
Los Angeles, CA 90016
(310) 963-3492
Secret Pole Dance Studio
Category:
Dance Studios
Now, usually people use Yelp as a means to promote and spread the word about outstanding local businesses like the Secret. Unfortunately, there are also people who occasionally abuse Yelp as a forum to complain about how LivingSocial won't let them do things their way.
I've been duped by the confusing wording and fine print in LivingSocial and other coupon sites before, so I feel for their frustrations. However, I also strongly feel that it is horribly unfair to punish that business with bad reviews just because LivingSocial oversold their inventory - especially if you've not even tried that business out yet!
LivingSocial and The Secret Pole Dance studio are TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES. If you've had issues with the LivingSocial voucher, take it up with LivingSocial. If you've had issues with an actual studio experience at the Secret, THEN take it to the Secret. However, I've been coming here for 4-5 times a week for over a year and have never experienced anything other than the addictive rush of female empowerment and the surreal high of a great, ass-kicking workout in all the time I've danced at the Secret.
And clearly, more than 40 other Yelpers who left great ratings and reviews for the studio and their friendly staff feel exactly as I do. Yes, I know classes are hard to get into. I practically live at the studio and I STILL have trouble getting into classes unless I make my reservation way in advance because guess what - the classes are JUST THAT AWESOME and WANTED. Beyond the classes, every event that the Secret has hosted, whether it be the bi-annual recitals or the occasional parties, is ALWAYS packed with wall-to-wall people - STANDING ROOM ONLY!!! Clearly, people who don't even dance at the studio love the Secret too!!! Space is limited because demand is high. It's just the law of economics, not necessarily a flaw in the business.
And the reason why demand is high is because the Secret's community of both staff and fellow students here is just unbelievably uplifting - I've never been so motivated to stay fit and love my body so much in my life!
Lastly, I know I've written a novella here, but it's really important to note that the Secret takes the safety of all of their students VERY seriously. That said, pole dancers from other studios who might feel like they are "experienced" or "not beginners" should realize that since each studio has different definitions of what "beginner", "intermediate" and "advanced" are, it's ALWAYS better to start off in a beginner class when you visit a new studio - you can always move up once the instructors have seen what you can do and feel it is safe! After all, it's better than being in a class that turns out to be way beyond your ability level and then having it result in an injury, right? And believe me, having been in just about all levels of the Secret's classes now, you'll be thankful for starting off slow - the advanced classes are VERY rigorous, acrobatic and NOT something to experiment with!
Bottom line is...Yelpers, you're smart people. You decide if you'll believe the 90+% of ladies who fell in love the studio or the less than 10% of ladies who didn't even give the studio a chance because they didn't want to do it on LivingSocial's terms.
Listed in: INSTANT MOJO!!!!
3 Previous Reviews:
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7/11/2011
Lots of people have been reviewing Rashida's studio as a pole dancing establishment, which is very much is, but let's not forget the other part of The Secret that makes it second to none.
Exotic dancing.
Yes, ladies, I know, trust me, the pole is SCARY the first time around (ahem... "That's what she said!!!!'...sorry couldn't resist). Some women just can't hack the pole right away. Or some just want to get a little bit more down and dirty and let their inner lioness not just come out to play, but come out and dominate the world for about an hour. That's where Dezi's A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Exotic Dance class comes in.
Dezi's class lets women get their sexy on without the pole, without even the shoes if you're not ready for the 6+ inch stilletos. All you need to bring is yourself and your desire to love yourself and love your body to class. And let's not forget that nothing makes us feel sexier than getting a damn good workout, which Dezi's exotic dance class ALWAYS brings - women be complaining about burning buns, sore thighs and wobbly arms post warm-up but believe me they come back EACH AND EVERY WEEK for class. The burn - and the sexy that comes with it - is addicting. You'll just have to see (and feel) it to believe it.
Oh, and the overwhelming wave of girl empowerment that comes with ALL of The Secret's classes is just an added bonus.
On a personal note, I KNOW that Dezi's class contributed to my recent 15 lb weight loss & 5% muscle mass gain. Why? Cuz I wanna be just like Dezi... she's just that inspirational.
Trust, ladies. -
8/9/2010
Ever been to a place where you feel a 5 star rating on Yelp! is JUST NOT ENOUGH?
For me, that place is The Secret Pole Dance Studio.
Apparently the ladies who know how to teach pole dancing like nobody's business can also throw a pole party like nobody's business.
I already know, from being a student at the Secret Pole, that Rashida, Shelley, Tamiaka and Dezi teach just as well as they dance. What I didn't know was that they can break it down and PAR-TAY like the fun fearless females they are while also making a group of 40+ women (of all different cultures, body types and walks of life) embrace their inner vixen and feminine beauty. Oh, and it didn't hurt that we also got a good workout to counter all the goodies and booze that the party-goers brought... aren't we Yelp!ers just some of the most generous souls?
Speaking of generosity, a special thanks to Rashida for her tremendously generous donation for our raffle prizes. Namaste.
I cannot give the staff at The Secret Pole enough praise for their passion for dancing and their mission to make EVERY woman who walks into the studio feel good about herself.
Since Yelp! only allows me 5 stars for your business, I'm going to put the extra ones here...
******************** ******************** *******!!!!!!!!!!!!! !! -
7/9/2010
I walked in to The Secret Pole feeling completely, utterly, UNSEXY - face all broken out from all the work-related stress last month, almost 30 minutes late from the idiotic directions that my GPS gave me (I'll try 511 next time instead), my hair a hot mess from changing in the car while driving... you get the picture...
Then came Rashida and Shelley to the rescue.
Oh my. These ladies should wear capes, they seriously have the supernatural ability to make an on-edge, PMSy woman who just untangled herself from rush hour traffic like myself feel serene, mystical and sizzlingly sexy after a mere one hour of class. If that's not a super power I don't know what is. I mean, here I was, late as hell and still welcomed more than warmly by instructors and students in the class. Other dance classes would have made me sit on the sidelines and watch.
Both of my lovely instructors walked us girls through, step by step, swing by swing, on how to work that pole, but more importantly, how to have FUN and feel good doing it, no matter what size, shape or age we are. I am truly inspired to see women, some shorter and more petite than I and some more bootyLUSCIOUS than Kim Kardashian could ever hope to be - be proud of their bodies, strut their stuff and let all of their inhibitions go once they walk into the studio.
Fun and fearless females that they are, the staff at Rashida's studio is also extremely professional. They take the safety and well being of their students VERY seriously - just you try to even get close to that pole without stretching and Rashida will knock your ass back into the back room to do your stretches before you even know it. They also take the privacy of their students very seriously - the curtains covering the windows outside of the classroom make it totally safe for all women to be as sexy as they want to be without the fear of the whole world seeing their wardrobe malfunction. Just make sure you save the stripping for when you're at home though, okay...
If there was anything that could be improved at all I'd just say that I wish the studio was a bit easier to find - my GPS kept telling me to go PAST the studio, then make a U turn back to it. Ummm yeah... way to confuse someone who already gets lost easily. So that you, my fellow Yelpettes, aren't horrifically late like me, I'll tell you the best thing to do is to try to make a U turn off Rodeo or turn the street before the complex the studio is in and try to go around the block. The studio is in the complex right next to Taco Bell and across the street from Target. And the good thing is, once you've had a hell of a time finding the studio, finding parking is a CINCH - there's a lot right there in the complex, usually with ample space.
Lastly, pricing, I know I normally mention that in my reviews, but I respect the ladies at this studio far too much to discuss numbers here. Besides, you can always go to the website to find out more if cost is *understandably* a concern for you. But I can assure it, it's definitely a bargain compared to other dance studios, especially when you consider the one-on-one attention you receive. And sheezus, I was raised by a penny-pinching Chinese Mom, I KNOW a bargain when I see one.
Rashida, you best make sure next Tuesday is open for me... I'll be back with those sex-ay little shoes I bought earlier tonight...and I'll try my bestest not to be late for our very important date this time...
DRINKAGE: To be fair, I did have a 24 oz Raging B*tch beer (from Colorado, who would've known?) AND a 16 oz Pinkus beer from...I believe it was Belgium. Possibly more stuff because I remember tasting a beer that reminded me of smoked almonds but I couldn't remember if it was my beer or not. Hmmm Raging B*tch and Pinkus... what can I say I must've been in angry lesbian mode that night. Luckily, the beers, from what I can remember of them, were crisp, delicious, AMAZING. These beers are just two of a "passport" list that I highly recommend everyone *tries* to complete over several visits to BC's. The passport is basically a list of all the beers on tap that they have available and the beer's country of origin. Can't travel internationally? Well at least you can drink internationally... from Fresno!!! Who'd have thought?
FOOD: What I can vaguely remember of my pesto vegetarian special pizza is that it was tasty. Fresh artichokes, mushrooms and...whatever the hell else was on there. It really hit the spot with the beer. By itself - the crust was a bit too chewy for my liking, with some of the really doughy parts being at the rim of the pizza. Even so, I'd eat here again, especially with an ice cold glass of Raging B*tch...
AMBIENCE: Kinda like a CenCal version of Cheers. There was definitely a Mexican Sam Malone in this bar, and our waitress was like a prettier version of Kirstie Alley without the horrific 80's hairdo. They let me shake my booty and curse in cockney British all over the place, so I think...they're ok in my book.
PRICES: I didn't lose my wallet even though I obviously lost my mind for that night. I consider that a win. I'll get back to you on this.
PARKING: If you have trouble finding parking in Fresno, you shouldn't be driving. Actually, you probably shouldn't even be on anything with wheels, including scooters. Seriously. There's parking lots everywhere with extra big parking spaces so that British-accented drunks like I was that night don't dent the doors of the car parked next to the one that took me there.
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Summer Fest In Venice Beach
Saturday, Jul 28, 10:00 am - Sunday, Jul 29, 7:00 pm
"Good girls go to heaven, but bad girls go EVERYWHERE ^_~"
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Review votes:
1368 Useful, 1125 Funny, and 1160 Cool
Los Angeles, CA
Yelping SinceFebruary 2008
Things I Lovepassion, compassion, intellect, and a perfect glass of sangria.
Find Me Intrying to pull a pole move on that stop sign.
My HometownWeHo, baby, WE-HO!!! Formerly it was San Francisco. DON'T call it "Frisco"!
When I'm Not Yelping...well it's pretty obvious in my profile pic.
Why You Should Read My ReviewsBecause you'll make baby Jeebus cry if you don't.
My Second Favorite Website The Last Great Book I ReadFood Revolution by John Robbins.
My First ConcertPumpkins... somewhere lost in the 90's...
My Favorite MovieDangerous Beauty...about a hooker gone famous in the renaissance
My Last Meal On EarthMom's Veggie Pho, Marco Polo's arcabaleno gelato, endless sweet potato fries
Don't Tell Anyone Else But......you'll have to ask me for this one. ^_~
Most Recent Discoverysalon pas are my best friends.
Current Crushthe man who made me homemade tamales. Mahal Kita.
I wish I could say that I, too, volunteer here out of the goodness of my heart. Unfortunately, unlike these people, I was first sent to this Out of the Closet location to fulfill my hours of community service that I elected in lieu of paying my bullsh*t traffic fine.
I'm so glad that I made that choice. I can't believe that I didn't discover this local gem earlier. Now, I know that as far as merchandise assortment goes, not all Out of the Closet locations are created equal - but that's only because their inventory depends entirely on the donations that the local neighborhood gives them. Well, seeing that this location is in the heart of West Hollywood, as in WeHo, as in the reigning capital of the gay, fabulous and incredibly fashionable, c'mon people...you KNOW the donations here are going to be just as gay, fabulous and incredibly fashionable. And I say that in the highest regard - I'm ashamed to say that it's been incredibly difficult for me not to buy at least one thing every time I volunteer here. Most things are in great condition when you buy them, because let's face it - gay people take care of their sh*t!!! This is a great place for guys to get "for work" shirts without paying an arm and a leg at a department store, and the ladies' pick is not bad either...I'll be posting pictures of my finds shortly.
I plan to donate to this wonderful store soon. They totally deserve it and I could not think of a better way to get a tax write-off!