Burger Quest: Fatburger

Like a lot of chain burger joints, Fatburger is a SoCal original. Founded in 1952 in South LA by Lovie Yancey, it was originally called 'Mr. Fatburger'. Oh boy, we wish they'd bring that name back! Since '52 it's spread around the world. There's even one in Bahrain. Oh, but isn't everyone starting up franchises in Bahrain? Isn't that so passe?! I think they even have Pinkberry in Bahrain.

Any readers from Bahrain? Speak up!

As far as chain burgers go - McDonalds, Burger King, Jack in the Box, Carls Jr, In n Out, Wendys - for me Fatburger comes out top burger-wise. In n Out wins for the complete package, but Fatburger has the best burger. It's complete pleasure food - you take a bite of their burger and it puts a smile on your face. It might be very bad for you, but it feels good.

There's not much to say about the burger - it is what it is. Basic meat patty, decent bun, holds together well, fresh salad stuff, very tasty sauce. The joint is pretty cool for a chain. People welcome you as soon as you walk in the door, they shout at each other in the kitchen - they're definitely forcing it, but it's trying to live up to the old authentic character of an old fashioned burger shack.

We'll probably revisit Fatburger when we're getting closer to the end of the quest, when we're judging the high flyers. This could be the chain joint that sits among the big classy joints of Los Angeles in our Burger Quest List.

The Scores:

Meatiness - 3
Succulentiousness - 4
Bun - 3
Flavor - 5
Stay Togetherness - 4
Joint - 3

Fashion Friday: A Silk Sundress from Jigsaw

I feel like my personal style has been sort of changing lately.  But I think it's simply just evolving.  So many things effect the choices I make in regards to what I wear and I guess when life changes it's only natural that my clothes would change too.  And my life has been through a myriad of changes lately.  In any case, this is a dress from Jigsaw London that I wore during a recent photoshoot.  I wasn't one of the "models," but the photographer, Shani Barel still snapped a few shots of me in action and I think she did a marvelous job.  

In other news, I am taking a break from blogging next week.  But I'll be back with a new blog look and some great new posts the week after...You may notice, I've already been making some changes around here!  Until then, be good my lovely blog friends!  XOXO!

Lummis House - A Slice of LA History

Los Angeles is notorious for tearing down its buildings and pretty much ignoring its history.  So many sections of LA have been lost to our seeming obsession with modernization.  Even some of the most important building in film history have been lost to progress in this city...And none of it was even that old!

However, there are still a few architectural gems and relevant places preserved for the Los Angeles sight seer and local history enthusiast - One being the house of Charles Lummis, known as El Alisal.

Regarded as the first "literary salon" of the west, Charles Lummis was a well known writer and patron of the arts.  He had been the editor of a little publication called the Los Angeles Times.  He entertained musicians, philosophers, actors, writers and even presidents at his Mexican-styled home, renown for it's cement floors and perfect party-set-up.  He was passionate about preserving the Missions of California and had a real passion for life in this corner of the west!  

Here are a few photos of a recent visit the boy and I made to the house, which is now a museum open to the public!  If you're ever in the area I highly recommend a visit! 

Burger Quest: The Fix

Here we deal with a rare thing in this town: a burger joint that doesn't claim, nor does anyone real claim, is the best burger in town.

After eating it, we know why. It's not a terrible burger at all, but it's pretty unspectacular and seems to be designed, as its title might suggest, for people who are coming down from a pretty tough night of keeping it hardcore. This is Silverlake, so what passes for hardcore might be pretty tame to double-hard bar-stool jockeys like us in Beverly Hills. Too many green teas, perhaps?

Anyway, this burger had too much meat - 8oz (what is it with 8oz in this town? That's half a friggin' pound?!) - making the burger too fat and making it too hard to get a good bite. The Bun was an ok sesame seed variety, but everything else was so dry - lettuce, red onion, tomato, mayonnaise. It's just an unimpressive, flat, salty burger.

the fries were mediocre too!

Plus - we asked for medium and this thing was pretty well done. Not burned, but certainly no color in the middle, which is pretty hard to do with a burger as large as it was!

So here's a burger that's designed for people just needing a fix, and that's fine. We don't need a fix. We need the best burger in town. We are on a quest, not a bender! 

Don't you read my blog, people?! ;)

The Scores:

Meatiness - 4
Succulentiousness - 2
Bun - 2
Flavor - 1
Stay Togetherness - 2
Joint - 1

Strength & Beauty - A Ballet Documentary

Ballet seems to be having its "15 minutes," as we like to say in show biz.  That is to say, it's pretty hot right now, and I personally think that's great.  I also think it's interesting and a bit strange that people are drawn to it now.  Like, why now people?  How did Ballet become this year's Vampires?  But whatever the reason, I think it's terrific that ballet has been embraced by the masses through film and television.  

From Bunheads, to Breaking Pointe, First Position to Pina - There's plenty of ballet to be found on TV and at the movies these days.  If you want to low down on all the dancing on film, be sure to visit DIY Dancer.  Their new summer series "Dance on TV" is a great way to stay up to date on all the arabesques on the airwaves! 

But there is one ballet film I want to be sure to tell you about today and that's Strength & Beauty.  This lovely documentary, directed by Chelsea Wayant, follows a year in the life of three ballerinas with the North Carolina Dance Theater, each one at a different point in their career.  And what strikes me most about this film is it's honesty.  Rather than focusing on the drama, the stereotypes and all the theatrics associated with ballerinas, this film peels away all those trite portrayals and shows the real women behind the barre.  It gives them a voice and explores who they really are, in and away from the studio.  

I think it's sure to be a refreshing and enlightening view of the ballet world...Something that I think actual ballet dancers have been wanting for a long time!  Take a look at the trailer below and let me know what you think...If you think this film looks as good as I do, be a part of the process and donate to it's post production via Kickstarter!  Go here and make a pledge!  You'll be helping to bring this film to an audience and you'll be a part in giving ballerina's a voice!