Invisible L.A.

Guo Nian! which means to Celebrate The New Year in Chinese. Chuc Mung Nam Moi! means Happy New Years in Vietnamese

It is 2008 and the year of the rat. And the world is gearing up for this wonderful celebration of life and family. All the way from Los Angeles, to China, Vietnam, Korea, San Fransico. and to New York City.

Lately we have been going to the celebrations in Los Angeles due to travel and convience because of where we live. Chinatown businesses in Los Angeles pretty much closes down 1 – 3 days prior to the celebration to adhere to some of the New Years traditions. So roughly from Thursday and Friday of February 7th to the 8th many of the business will be closed. And the celebrations pick up on the morning of February 9th.

Chinatown in Los Angeles has a parade on February 9th, 2008. Get your seat early. There will be huge crowds. At times exceeding over 100,000 people plus. Be sure when the dragons pass you during the parade that they pass directly in front of you. You will be more blessed with luck during the year. And for the children, be mindful, and respect your parents and other adults and wish them a happy and prosperous New Year. There are many red envelopes to be had. The children will find money in the envelopes. Usually one will find anywhere between a nickel up to no more than $4.00. You are considered real lucky if you receive an envelope with $8.00(for its homophone for “wealth”). Sometimes they will find chocolate coins in the envelopes as well.

Prior to the parade you may want to enjoy some of the traditional Chinese and Vietnamese styled restaurants with more of the authentic foods. Not really much of the American-Asian fusion food one would eat outside such enclaved cities. All are wonderful in taste and variety. I always enjoy the traditional bowl of Vietnamese soup called Pho’. One of the many pho’ restaurants I frequent is on Broadway by the name of Pho’ 79. Order the simpliest soup called Pho’ Tai. It is pretty much a steak and noodle soup dish. One may top the soup with bean sprout, basil, hoisen sauce, nuc mum(fish sauce) and a green chile or two.

You may want to do a walking tour of the many shops that have great deals on textiles, art, clothing, toys and food at reasonable prices. You may also be surprised of the many Asian and American galleries spotted throughout Chinatown. It is also rumored that a few Hollywood stars have bought lofts in the area as well. I hear that Quentin Tarantino may be one of them. You know the producer/director/writer of such films as Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, and From Dusk to Dawn.

If you are unsure what Chinese Zodiac(Horoscope) you fall under, you may find out your animal sign here. Your sign will come every 12 years. If you would like to know more about the legend of the 12 signs, you may read more about it at Chinese Zodiac Page.

In the last few days news has broken out about the Westland group which is located in Chino. California providing some bad beef to the Los Angeles Unified School District(LAUSD). About 37 million pounds of beef have been recalled that had gone to the school lunch programs. There are 150 school districts across the nation that have stopped using the ground beef from the processing plant Hallmark Meat Co Continue reading

Many Angeleno’s consider Olvera Street as a center for Hispanic/Mexican history. Olvera Street boarders between downtown Los Angeles and the Los Angeles river(East Los). And South of the street is the historic Union Station, a major mass transit station for Los Angeles. North of Olver Street is Fort Moore. LA holds an annual July 4th celebration. Which includes antique cannons. To the North East is the historic Chinatown. And Continue reading

Have you made your 2009 New Year’s resolutions? How about improving your overall health? Los Angeles Chiropractor and Author Dr. Nicolas Campos offer you an “Unconventional Approach” to absolute pain relief. Dr. Nicolas Campos and his staff at the West Hollywood Healing Arts Center offer a truly unique approach of combining health education with treatment.

Also known as “The West Hollywood Chiropractor”, Dr. Campos is the author of The Continue reading

Yes indeed, I took another visit to Farmers Market the day after Christmas. I had some cash to use from a present I recieved. So I had the time and cash to splurge on myself. After browsing the stores like, Victorias Secret, Barnes and Noble, Bath & Body Works, Crate & Barrel, Bannana Republic, Apple Store and Table La Sur at The Grove. One could only imagine how hungry one Continue reading

Virgin’s Richard Branson put on a Wonder Woman custom and mooned reporters with the American flag stuck in his pantyhose to make a point. Virgin is offering tickets as low as $119 from New York to Los Angeles. Fares do not include all government fees & taxes and are per person in U.S. whole dollar amounts. With prices this low, you can’t afford not to take a vacation.

You Continue reading

“every year” (and I put that in quotes on purpose, because…well, you’ll see), we head downtown to Pershing Square where the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks creates a veritable winter wonderland in between the tall buildings in L.A.

The ice skating rink has been our destination for the last few years over the holidays. Usually, we’ve gone at night and during the week, so it hasn’t Continue reading

Kiefer Sutherland will soon take off his orange jumpsuit. He has spent the last 48 days locked up and will get out of Glendale City Jail Monday morning. “He’ll be let out the front door just like everyone else,” according to Officer John Balian.

Kiefer was in jail for his second DUI conviction and for violating probation, The 24 star spent his birthday, Christmas and New Year’s at the Continue reading

Now you may wonder why anyone would blog about a library. Well the Los Angeles Public Library isn’t just any ole library. Other than being a Los Angeles historical landmark that was built in 1926. It is the third largest library in the United States in terms of book and periodical holdings. It is also across the street from what was once known as Bunker Hill. The LAPL is Continue reading

You can reserve your Greyhound bus seat for an additional $5 per ticket

Reserved seating is sold one way and in select cities on specific schedules. The reserved seat upgrade must be purchased in person at the departure terminal, even if you bought your ticket online. Priority seating may be reserved from 30 days in advance to 45 minutes prior to departure, but you must be present at the Continue reading