Los Angeles Downtown Chick

Have you ever wondered why all Asian girls look the same?

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:29:18 PDT

Doesn't matter if they are Japanese, Korean, Chinese, whatever. Here's why: http://tt.mop.com/read_4432458_1_0.html

Pay attention to that this girl looks the same as her friend! Now you know why!

When two writers date and fight

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:41:32 PDT

I'm just trying to show you how sexy a guy who can write is when he argues with me about where to put commas and my bitch is bored to deep sleep.

--
sent from palm

Making a lube job cute

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:02:19 PDT

Is it legal if I keep the empty can at home?

Okay okay so they won...

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 22:53:36 PDT

...And people are just going nuts outside right now... They want to break things, burn things and celebrate, and police is firing rubber bullets. It's gonna be a long night.

I hope I don't suck to say this but these Asian children are creepy

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:42:26 PDT

The Korean folks, I'm Chinese. Would you mind telling me why Asian parents all love making us like little scary, nightmare-inducing monsters? They remind me of The Ring (movie)! This is borderline child abuse... ugh!

What makes China so afraid of Google?

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 12:26:32 PDT

Google means way more than just a search engine. There's far more than that. It puts people's memory together. Can you not be amazed how powerful it is when it comes to facilitating every user to contribute their own little pieces of history to the nation's? "Open collaboration" are the words in the red rectangle on this Google Map with locations of the tanks, students, journalists, fire, Deng Xiao-ping and so forth. For some people, openness and exchange are two extremely frightening concepts.

Original map is at http://goo.gl/siXk.

I'm actually not a Godard fan, but I can't help it

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:20:06 PDT

When on earth did this carton version of Breathless's poster exist? It's just so very cute! Aw...

BREATHLESS - 50th Anniversary Restoration

Writer / Director: Jean-Luc Godard
Cast: Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean Seberg
Technical Advisor: Claude Chabrol
Photographed by Raoul Coutard Laemmle Theatres and Rialto Pictures are proud to present the 50th anniversary restoration of Jean-Luc Godard’s 1960 nouvelle vague masterpiece BREATHLESS. The exclusive Los Angeles engagements began on Friday, May 28th at the Royal in West Los Angeles, the Playhouse 7 in Pasadena and the Town Center in Encino. For this 50th anniversary release, Rialto has made new 35mm prints from a restored negative supervised by the film’s director of photography, Raoul Coutard – the first restoration of BREATHLESS ever. Rialto has also added completely revised English subtitles by Lenny Borger, capturing Godard’s playful language like never before. Borger has just finished working with Godard on the subtitles for the director’s latest film, "Film Socialisme," shown in the Un Certain Regard section of this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Based on a treatment by François Truffaut and photographed by New Wave legend Raoul Coutard, with no less a crime specialist than Claude Chabrol as technical advisor, Godard’s jazzy riff on American Film Noir features iconic performances from Belmondo, as the on-the-run Bogart-inspired small-time hood, and Seberg as his American, Herald Tribune-hawking girlfriend, who ultimately betrays him. With a pace that’s non-stop, thanks to its startling new editing techniques, BREATHLESS reinvented the grammar of movies and almost instantly changed the course of international filmmaking. 90 minutes * unrated * black and white * 35 mm * France * 1960 Go to www.laemmle.com for showtimes and ticket information. For more information and view the trailer, go to: rialtopictures.com/breathless

I think I'm going to try to catch my favorite, Resnais's new film this Thursday night instead. Actually this month there are just too many good movies out, without even mentioning the L.A. Film Festival.

PREVIEW SCREENING: WILD GRASS

France, 2009, 104 min, Scope
Director: Alain Resnais
Writers: Alex Réval, Laurent Herbiet
Cast: Sabine Azéma, André Dussollier, Anne Consigny, Emmanuelle Devos, Mathieu Amalric

Widely acclaimed at its Cannes world premiere, the latest film from France’s master of space-time intrigue Alain Resnais may be his headiest concoction in decades. Racked by a mid-life crisis, George becomes obsessed with the owner of a mysterious purse that he chances upon: an aviatrix with a shocking red hair. As he tries to track her down, he becomes enveloped in a mystery of his own making. With its lush widescreen camerawork, playfully free-floating montage, and imaginative tonal shifts, Resnais’s latest mind-bending journey finds this 87-year-old filmmaker in peak form. “Sublime..Resnais’s finest work to date.”—The New York Times.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
www.lacma.org/film

TICKETS are $10; $7 for LACMA members, seniors (62+), and students with valid ID. To purchase tickets: (323) 857-6010

JUNE 10, 2010, 7:30 PM at LACMA
Opens in L.A on JUNE 25

Pink bling Gundam

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Sun, 02 May 2010 13:17:58 PDT

Who said only little girls' stationary and toys are pink? Or, who said only boys play Gundam?

Now Playing: Lazy In The Name Of Love

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 10:43:26 PDT

Do you guys like to radio on Itunes while working? I lately found this French lounge, jazz and instrumental channel which isn't bad. Have been listening to it everyday: http://pri.kts-af.net/redir/index.pls?esid=461db0b6eb49138115a3107a350e750c&url_no=1&client_id=7&uid=68efed4d03ec7e45fd3978262c107180&clicksrc=xml.

They have been selling this jazzy U2 cover album really hard these days. No bad:

"Slut, meet hung." "Hung, meet slut."

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 09:30:58 PDT

[photo copied from Gizmodo] Does anybody read Susan Sontag here? I'm deeply influenced by Sontag and therefore immediately think of her short comment on, Women, the photo book of Annie Leibovitz in terms of how women are subject to sexualization however they look. How is that possibly this blogger contributor whatever, Brian Barrett, think this is "stunning"? (Click on source of photo for original post) I mean, "stunning"?! If cables automatically mean "connected" instead of "restricted" to him, I firmly believe it is only because of this mannequin's highly sexualized posture as well as its perfectly proportioned female body (of course, according to society's standard).

Don't you think this what-so-called "self portrait of the female artist" is a narcissistic self-promotion of a desperate woman who happens to make art and aims to seduce her audience so badly with the idea that cables, as a symbol of connection, also imply sex with her? You think if this's still a self-portrayal but in a shape of a 300-lb lady standing up, Mr. Barrett will call it "connect"? Maybe not. Maybe he will call it "restrain" instead. What do we call a horny art consumer and a slutty artist? There is a saying in Chinese called "姣婆遇著脂粉客" which means something like the slut meets the hung.

But the real question is, why would cables imply sex? It's like saying why would chicken wings, clouds and bugs imply sex. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever until you sexualize all daily objects. The relationship between the signifier and signified is completely subject to society's consumption of the female body.

What's ironic is I actually think this would have made a good piece of art if there is no mentioning of "self sculpture", i.e., self-identification. I mean, women, come on, grow up. If you really are what you think you are, you don't have to say it out loud. Others can see it.

Wow, wow, free screening of Duras's India Song at LACMA

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:35:00 PDT

Free screening of Duras's India Song at LACMA for a perfect Saturday evening date. Can you believe it? Quick quick. Selling like hot cakes... http://www.lacma.org/programs/FilmListing.aspx

A little subjectivity seen on Bravo’s reality show Millionaire Matchmaker

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:40:47 PST

I have a mixed feeling about Patti Stanger so I feel compelled to blog about her. Yes, the fems, I get that gold digging is bullshit but I mean, when, in women’s history, has there been a time a successful matchmaker, with a look completely behind society’s expectation, giving advices to single women how to look attractive and score a powerful man? Regardless of what she advises, I must give some credit to the invincible attitude she proposes. She takes criticism against her appearance like presses a cigarette butt against an ash tray. To subject a woman to society’s expectation of how attractive she must look is as bad as to smoke. So what do you do with something so bad? You smoke a cigarette, put it off and move on, if you haven’t quit smoking yet. It’s the same situation women face nowadays in patriachal society, isn’t it?

I know I shouldn’t honor gold digging as much as I shouldn’t for smoking. But we are allowed to look at the complex nature of patriarchy and unhealthy lifestyle, don’t we?

Downtown Chick lost her pajamas in Florida

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:02:45 PST

So, your favorite, the coolest L.A. blogger, namely the Downtown Chick, found a job in an animal hospital company. For some reason, they sent me to this veterinary conference in Orlando, Florida, and put me in World Center Marriott. Do you know how much it costs to eat cereal for breakfast near Disneyland? Seventeen US dollars. Correct, I'm not talkin' about yen, darling. US dollars to be exact.

Actually the room rate isn't that bad. It's about $200 per night if you don't order anything. But the resort is bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbig. You can play golf in it. Yes, you can. It must be the highest-end hotel I have stayed in, and I don't know the beautiful hotel's laundry etiquette. I lost my pajamas!

How did I lose my pajamas in Disney Marriott? Well? I don't remember exactly where I put them. I think the phone rang, I procrastinated, then looked at the alarm clock, got up, undressed and took a quick shower. Now, where did I throw the pajamas to? I have no idea. The hangover had not been washed off until the hot shower commenced.

I actually spilt something on a white shirt and I didn't know how to put it as laundry but apparently the janitor, or someone, had a bigger problem with my pajamas than my shirt and removed them from my room. Tonight, I went to the outlet two mile away to get a pair of Aerosoles shoes because of the intolerable pain induced by continuous standing at my company's booth. Then I came back to the hotel and was about to cut off my feet. I sank myself in a tub of hot water and what not, then boom, my ethnic pajamas were gone when they're supposed to be on my body!

Why are they ethnic? Because I actually bought them when I was in college, for about HKD$19, which equals to about two bucks US, in Hong Kong. I love them. I've been wearing them for over ten years. They remember part of my past. They are made of thick cotten and look very Maoist. If I wear them and hold a big mug, you will think I'm a communist. Now, my intimate pajamas are on the hands of a Disney related corporation? Do you know how I feel? It's like you invade Iraq and Afgan. I don't like American consumerism. I like cereal, and very rarely, big resort, and extremely rarely, people playing golf, and almost impossibly, kids, but it's just wrong to take my pajamas away, or invade somewhere you have no idea what their life is all about. Stop it, Micky Mouse, or America. You are very fucking annoying.

My unfaithful crush

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:24:27 PST

Met this American Apparel dog in his little American Apparel shirt. I can't forget him.

Hungry and depressed late at night

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:32:37 PST

Chicken bowl on Beaudry and Sunset!

Sent from Palm Centro

10 things FOBs like

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:20:09 PDT

Hey guys, I know I'm such a celebrity in Downtown and you guys are probably dying to read my new blog entry after a brief disappearance. Well, the reason why I'd been busy for a while is because as some of you who have followed my blog for a while might know, I really am a celebrity in reality. I had a concert and was in and out of rehearsals for a few months. That's why. What kind of show was that? Well, it's a FOB show. What's FOB? Hm? Friends of Bert Green? No no... Well, if you drive to the East on the 10 Freeway, pass Downtown, pass City Terrace and enter San Gabriel Valley, you'll know what FOB is. It's about 15 minutes from our home which a lot of insular Western people who stop themselves at the boundary of the 110 Freeway never get to experience in their whole lives. A lot of them consider themselves cosmopolitan just because they live in L.A. but they have no idea about the world just 15 minutes away from home.

What did I do in the show? Well, the FOBs taught me to sing and dance to FOB music. I had a great time to get in touch with "my root". Here is a list of things you can imagine what a stereotypical FOB likes:

1) Bludgeoning little kids into playing classical music, usually piano or violin
2) Business names like “Nobel”, “Embassy”, “Forbes” and “Oxford”
3) Make peace sign with their fingers in front of the camera
4) Taking photographs incessantly, anywhere, in any circumstances, at any time, of anything
5) Instead of :-) their smiley is like this: ^_^ or this: ^^
6) (female FOBs only) Still dressing and acting like a “Princess” after the age of 16 on other days beside Halloween
7) 100% fresh orange juice with pulp
8) No shoes / sandals at home
9) Socially acceptable fat/appearance jokes about other Asian women
10) Eating chicken wing cartilage

Jaywalking tix, anyone?

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:04:10 PDT

Has anybody read this? This is so weird, on the LAPD blog:

September 09, 2009
A SKID ROW COP’S OPINION

THE BIG TO DO ABOUT JAYWALKING TICKETS

Hello everyone. Senior Lead Officer Joseph here. One of my many responsibilities is to educate the public about the realities of Skid Row, and the reasons for our focused enforcement in the area. After meeting with many people from near and far, many of them come away with a new, informed view of skid row as opposed to the many misconceptions they read about or hear from certain groups. Yet there are a few people with whom I have spoken with, who witness all of the positive changes happening in skid row before their very eyes, but cannot grasp the concept of enforcing laws for so called “innocuous” offenses in the Skid Row area.

When any law enforcement agency focuses its enforcement in a specific location, it is mainly due to the level of blatant lawlessness associated with particular area that has gone far beyond the norm. In Skid Row, many people were under the assumption that it was their “right” to break minor laws such as jaywalking, or standing in the middle of the street and so on because they were poor or homeless. They along with many of our detractors truly believe that we should just look the other way.

The scarcity of police resources prior to the Safer Cities Initiative helped further this perception, as these minor violations went unchallenged for the most part, resulting in more heinous forms of lawlessness over the years.

When we focus our efforts in a particular location, we are not doing so to harass someone based on their social status, race, or gender but to break the cycle of lawless behavioral patterns and practices of that particular community for their safety and the safety of those around them.

Also, we are not writing jaywalking tickets, as an answer to ending or reducing homelessness, but to reduce the high volume of jaywalking violations in a targeted area where the specific violation or violations have become chronic.

As it relates to people with severe cases of mental illness, I personally believe in the “spirit of the law” style of enforcement rather than “letter of the law” enforcement, whereupon I encounter someone who may not have the wherewithal to understand these basic laws.

Yet in skid row, I find that most people whom I personally know (and that’s a lot of people) with various forms, and degrees of mental illness clearly understand the law. As I drive my patrol vehicle down the block, violators are beginning to step back onto the sidewalk, instead of blatantly crossing the street illegally. Just four years ago I would have driven through a gauntlet of humanity standing in the street just to respond to an emergency call in Skid Row.

Hypathetically, If 19,000 tickets were written for jaywalking in skid row (referencing several articles printed about the Safer Cities Initiative, the latest from the Associated Press), then I can assure you that there were about 80,000 warnings given; unfortunately for us we do not document warnings.

One’s social status in life, does not give anyone a free pass to violate the law. Routine law breakers in Skid Row had a 30 year run of doing pretty much what they wanted, which is in part what made it so dangerous in the first place. The message we are trying to make clear to Skid Row and anywhere in Los Angeles where the overall level of lawlessness begins to erode the safety and civility of an area is that if you do not want a ticket, you must obey all laws like everyone else.

As a result of our efforts, improvement is beginning to happen in Skid Row as fewer tickets are being written. The basic concept of concentrated enforcement is to stay focused on a problem area until the problems stabilize, or stops, and we must continue our work until it becomes a true place of rehabilitation, safety and order for all who choose to live, work or visit there. As it stands now, for me at least, all it takes is a stern warning and high visibility to deter most illegal activity on Skid Row.

Though I am in full support of enforcing the laws of our state for the purpose of educating the public and increasing safety, I am equally in support of providing alternatives for people in Skid Row who may not have the means to pay the fines associated with receiving tickets.

Over the past few months the City Attorney’s office has been engaged in an effort which I am in favor of called the Homeless Alternative to Life on the Street also known as the “HALO” program. This program is mainly for low-income and homeless members of the skid row community, who receive tickets for minor violations. The program gives them a chance to work a few hours of community service, or check into a drug or alcohol program that suits their specific need, instead of paying the ticket, or missing court and having the ticket turn into a warrant. In the end, the benefactors of our enforcement and outreach is the Skid Row community, as we have fewer incidents of skid row residents being struck or nearly struck by vehicles, as well as a new sense of order that continues to improve daily.

I will keep you all posted on when the next HALO program will be in the Skid Row Area.

From Senior Lead Officer Deon Joseph
32511@lapd.lacity.org

Greenblatt's (Crescent Heights & Sunset, Hollywood)

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:51:08 PDT

Yum yum Jewish sit-in deli... So cute, so good... Heaven...

Sent from Palm Centro

Junior's (Westwood & Pico)

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:57:32 PDT

Don't you think it's always a mystery how here are so many Jews selling diamond in Downtown but never is here a fine Jewish restaurant? I'm not talking about bagels, matzah ball soup or anything you can just get from Ralph's. I'm talking about a real Jewish dinner, dude.

We had to go to Westwood for Juniors to celebrate for the successful Jewish humor in Whatever Works. That was the best turkey drumstick I've ever had in my whole life I think. So juicy, tender and tasty. The tuna sandwich, rye bread and fried potato pirogen were all good. Love that place. You all gotta go.

Babies anyone?

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:22:05 PDT

I won't go as far as wanting human parenting and motherhood ceased but I generally have a distaste in them. Instead, I like pet ownership. The only time I am forced to be around so many pregnant women, babies and kids is in this place which I hate going but couldn't skip... Argh... my gynecologist is really good because he sees mostly those crazy immigrant preggies from China and Mexico with only MediCal. Poor people with the least bodily maintenance and most medical problems = good doctor. This Hong Kong guy's office is always packed. Always. He's like the king of preggies in the entire San Gabriel Valley. I've been with him for many years. Honestly every time I come, I can smell many babies and kids stink. Ew!

Sent from Palm Centro

Fight for freedom on Broadway Street, Downtown

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Sun, 31 May 2009 15:12:05 PDT

Write to your congress representatives, tell your friends and families to support press, religious freedom in China.

I'm in the March in Chinatown now

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Sun, 31 May 2009 22:57:02 PDT

Anybody that values human rights and freedom of speech in China should never forget the June 4 Massacre. The government used tanks and guns to kill its intellectuals, university students and citizens who demanded democracy.

Blu LA Cafe sold rotten guacamole (6th and Los Angeles)

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Fri, 08 May 2009 11:16:33 PDT

Once upon a time, I had only one hour to do lunch here with Joe because we had things to do that day back-to-back. So we went to this cafe next to Cole's on 6th Street. There was a kid that waited all the tables. We went in at about 12:00PM. The kid gave us a breakfast menu. We asked for the lunch menus. He gave us one lunch menu. We thought the menu looked okay and decided to get seated. I immediately ordered an iced coffee to start since I really needed caffeine. I was on my period and going through some crazy job situation. You know how a psycho woman on her period is like, right? Okay good, let's go on.

Then after 5 minutes, we were still holding just the same lunch menu we brought over ourselves. We had 2 people. I had no idea what to order. Then, the kid gave me an iced tea. I ordered coffee.

After another 5 minutes and all the hassle of asking for breakfast and lunch menus back so we knew what to order, and returned the tea for coffee, we tried to place orders. Since there was only that kid there for all the tables, we had waited for another 10 minutes before he came to take our orders. By the way, there was no creamer for the coffee. I asked again. It seems like you had to ask for every fucking thing there or they just wouldn't give it to you.

So I ordered the Blu LA huevos. I wanted some over-easy fried eggs with salsa and beans. First, the eggs were too cooked, but I said, I didn't care, I was tired and hungry. Let's just get it over with. Then, I put some patches of hard fried egg-white, yolk, some black beans, salsa and guacamole in the tortilla and started digging. Um, wait a minute, I think I tasted germs.

What was it? Germs? I thought I must have not gotten enough sleep from the previous night. So I had a sip of my iced coffee to sober up. Then I ate again. Um, I think I smelt trash. Pretty sure. So I sniffed my tortilla and realized it was the guacamole. I still was not sure if it was my hormones because Joe had been telling me I was extra crazy during my period. So I asked him to confirm for me. As a protective boyfriend, he went to try some of that stinky thing himself. Yes, holy moly, that greenish brown stuff already went bad!

What happened? You got the idea. The manager came and apologized. He said the guacamole was just "too ripe". He was a really nice Asian guy so I was easy on him. He offered to get me something else and take the huevos off our check. But their guacamole had so successfully served as an appetite suppressant that I was no longer hungry. Argh.

Nickel (Main & 6th)

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:36:04 PDT

I think I heard the owner of Nickel was owned by the same grumpy lady in Banquet who was sometimes a little scary. Maybe she should close Banquet and focus on Nickel, because it is so obvious that Nickel is so much better as a food business. If Nickel is a work of passion as a diner, Banquet is probably a work of inertia as a wine bar. Jeez, finally there's somebody who can cook on this block!

Everybody has tried Nickel. I heard all the complaints about the notorious 1-hour wait and discriminatory services against single guests. But the crowd waiting outside of it at 11:45AM on sundays is obviously an impressive exception for this kind of economy. Can't beat that. I guess I got lucky. Everything during my visit was pretty good from what I remember. I loved the yummy cucumber soda in particular. It was very refreshing and not that sweet. Wanna find out where I can buy in bulk and stock up at home.

The vegan chili with avocado and soy cheese was awesome. The base was very thin, making it more like a soup than a paste. It was very favorful, not like any of the usual disgusting sweet, oily and sticky chili with cheddar at all. Order a large one at $6 if that's already your lunch / dinner. The $4 would be enough only as a starter if you order another entry.

The catfish with corn cakes underneath was a piece of art. The pecan sauce was so tasty! The fillets were a little crusty on the surface with herbs and pecan sprinkled all over. I am definitely going to experiment it at home. I love cooking catfish. It has a good rich, smooth and thick texture with enough fat but does not come with an overwhelming favor. I like making Chinese congee with catfish nuggets when I am sick or marinate them and bake them for an easy toaster oven meal. But my super picky pescatarian boyfriend never touched my catfish before. Guess what? He had a bite of Nickel's pecan catfish and sighed that if I could cook that well, he would marry me. Well, what about if he could cook that well, I would marry him? Huh?! I can't believe he ate some of the bacon brussel sprouts on the side. He would claim he didn't but I was pretty sure there was some bacon on his fork. Bleh.

The dish was pretty big. I suggest to eat all the fish and get the corn cake to go if you can't finish all of it. The fish becomes harder and dryer if you microwave it afterwards.

As for the crowd, honestly, I have no idea, and I really don't care. It's definitely not a place to meet people. That's for sure. The decor was okay-cool but all color-coordinated so I don't know how much of it is original of the building. I was just there for the food.

Takami Sushi (Wilshire and Figueroa)

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:10:59 PDT

This is actually located inside Elevate Lounge. I used to work around the corner for years before I became Downtown Chick. You know what I like the most about Takami Sushi? Their outdoor seating.

It's like eating sushi on the roof top of the Standard, but you can enjoy it in the middle of the day (with no alcohol), and come back to work feeling refreshed. Believe it or not, I love the rooftop atomosphere, but I hate having to drink in order to enjoy it. My building does not have an open rooftop. So instead of doing the Downtown-style rooftop party thing at night, having an affordable bento box at Takami every once in a while is actually an awesome idea. You park right behind the building on Figueroa for $5, cross the gate, then you're in Elevate's building. Easy, when you consider Downtown's parking situation.

The crowd is the same Financial District-corporate-slave types. Guys in suits, normal working people. No drama. Relaxed. Just the way it's supposed to be. Twenty-one floors above where you imagined all the troubles in life were (at least in that little lunch hour) you get some fresh air. Poof. Hell, yeah.

It's been tough these days. With a few gigs, studies, my little high-maintenance "owner" getting all sick and spending my money like a maniac again, am I the only crazy chick running around like a chicken with her head cut off ? I know I'm not, and a little cold food can certainly calm me down. See the picture of my master there? Yeah, that's kind of how I feel these days too.

The salad that came with the Sushi and Sashimi Bento lunch specials was very spring/summer-like. A little zesty Asian mango sauce over some apple worked like magic. Very refreshing. That was my favorite part of the meal. I've had nothing like that before. Lemme tell ya. It's definitely not traditional Japanese. It's what I call "Downtown-Japanese." I also got a green salad and some soba to go with the fish.

The only cooked fish we ordered was the seabass, and my only complaint was there was too little of it: the seabass was just perfect! Cooked in a creamy sauce just right, it was so fat and rich, but still on the healthy side. An amazing carnovore-friendly dish. I actually would also say their salmon and tuna were at least Sushi-Gen quality, if not Kappo (if you care about sashimi), which was a nice surprise. Spicy tuna rolls are for the ABC, Hispanic, African American and white girlfriends, you know that, but Takami's were actually fresh and respectable, unlike the usual vulgar frozen, overtly spiced Kabuki-style spicy tuna rolls for tourists in Hollywood. Forgive me if I'm judging this place as "a white place," cuz come on, this is not Little Tokyo. We're talking about almost the polar opposite of Sanwa Plaza. I normally wouldn't even dream of having Japanese food around here, unless I was splurgin at Sai Sai's. Haven't we all known how boring Kyoto is? With that kind of a budget, I'd go to Cardini any day, but I'd never think of Japanese food.

I really hope Takami hangs in there. It's a convenient stop. And at $17-25 per entry, it's a great place for meeting a client or just having lunch with a frugal guy when I know he's paying. How else are you gonna get a decent bento box overlooking Downtown without breaking the bank or driving all the way to Little Tokyo? You can't. Times are tough. When you really think about it, Takami is actually not a bad deal.