The Guide Abides
Posted: 09/30/2009 03:13:13 PM PDT

Amidst L.A.’s constant re-urbanization, there has been a subtle neglect, perhaps intentional, of one of entertainment’s finest mainstays — the bowling alley.

With strip malls popping up in freshly plowed lots, renovations galore on all variety of rickety buildings, and a constant urge to modernize out-dated facilities, we can still rely on our local bowls to preserve the vibe and character fit for a grandfather.

Beloved by both casual warriors and competitive lane jockeys, bowling is a game with attitude. After all, what other sport would look baseball in the face and tell it a ‘strike’ is a good thing?

With adjoining bars, abundant pool tables, retro arcades, inflatable bumpers, black light lasers, and all things Lebowski (RIP Hollywood Star Lanes!), bowling alleys mean business in the Greater Los Angeles area. Here’s the scoop on what’s kitschy and fresh in the land of The Dude. – LA.COM

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All-Star Lanes
Yes Eagle Rock’s got breakfast joints and taco trucks, but they’ve also got one of the best hidden-gems in recreation, the All Star Lanes. People come for the lanes and stay for the bar, or vice versa. A big free parking lot welcomes you to the Regal Beagle-ish vibe. Like the decor, the bowling prices also look like they haven’t changed since the early 80s (less than a Hamilton per lane, per hour; shoes on the house) and drink prices haven’t risen since Emilio Estevez was the Brat Pack king ($4 for import bottled beer, $2.50 for domestic). ASL also features live music, karaoke and DJ’s depending on the night. Warning: Don’t let the bathrooms catch you off guard. Unlike the gritty oldness of the rest of the venue, the bathrooms feel more like an MGM Signature hotel in Vegas. Perhaps it’s the start of an on-going remodel (nooooooooo!), or possibly just another fantastic quirk. Either way, be sure to get a slice of vintage pie while you can.

All Star Lanes
4459 Eagle Rock Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90041
(323) 254-2579

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Montrose Bowl
Where is Montrose? Is the community named for the seminal rock band of the 70s? So many questions. Montrose, in fact, is a cozy little town situated between La Canada and Pasadena, and if you’re looking to get lost somewhere, try Honolulu… Honolulu Street, that is, where this throwback alley is located. With a 50s exterior, vintage signage, and house rules that smack of retro restriction (“no gum, no confetti, popcorn, silly string, or pixi sticks”) you’ll be too busy keeping score on paper to be worried about the causing any old fashioned trouble. Perhaps a reflection of its city, the Montrose Bowl has a small and personable feel. The maximum capacity of the place is only 95 people, they feature no more than 6 lanes, and it’s booked almost exclusively for private parties. So while you may not be able to walk up and grab a lane on a whim, it makes for a much more intimate gathering spot for you next special occasion.

Montrose Bowl
2334 Honolulu Avenue
Montrose, CA 91020
(818) 249-3895

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Shatto 39 Lanes
What’s with the number, you ask? Is this the 39th Shatto Lanes in a series of bowling alleys that share the same name? No, its the number of sick, old school lanes this bowling monster has to offer. The huge architectural structure has above-ground ball returns, underground parking, retro decor (not on purpose), and a staff that was already old when you were a kid. Awesome. The no-frills bowling alley is located in the heart of Koreatown where you’ll find hipsters, regulars, locals and visitors throwing rocks under hand made, art-class banners that read “Bowl for Fun and Health,” while meandering through wall designs that look straight out of Romper Room. Prices are affordable, too. On Fridays and Saturday nights you can play a game (per person) for $5.50. It’s a couple of dollars cheaper during the day, and a dollar less on weekday evenings. If you have the sort of friends that don’t like to bowl all night, no need to worry — bring ’em here and let em’ loose in the adjoining hall of 19 billiard tables! Rad, old snack machines, and a host of arcade favorites will also keep them busy. All night night long. Well almost. Shatto 39 is open until 3 AM on Fridays and Saturdays, 2 AM Sunday through Thursday.

Shatto 39 Lanes
3255 W 4th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 385-9475

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Canoga Bowl
Located in Reseda, this place is as valley as its surroundings. However, of all the reasons to go to a bowling alley, perhaps the most important is that it stays open late. And Canoga Bowl is open 24 Hours! Game. Over. Lots of lanes, generous prices, Englebert Humperdink-era decor, and grumpy old men working behind the counter will all greet you day or night. It’s a popular destination and tends to be crowded since you and your friends aren’t the only fools who like to get active late at night. Best bet is to book lanes in advance, or prepare to hang out in free parking for a while.

Canoga Park Bowl
20122 Vanowen St.
Winnetka, CA 91371
(818) 340-5190

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Brunswick Matador Bowl
Near to Cal State Northridge, the Brunswick Matador Nordhoff Bowl is a popular haunt for locals and local college students alike. The uber-colorful decor is sure to strike a chord with any fan of Culture Club and/or the remaining members of the ’84 Olympic gymnast Mitch Gaylord fanclub. And this is after their remodel. Ultimately the venue feels more like a “hang out” that happens to be a bowling alley rather than a destination crammed with sport enthusiasts, but seems to serve both purposes well, either as a place for kid parties or a clubhouse for the future leaders graduating from the California State University system. Proud we are of all of them.

Brunswick Matador Bowl
9118 Balboa Blvd
Northridge, CA 91325
(818) 892-8677

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El Dorado Lanes
We believe the Road to El Dorado ultimately leads to El Dorado Lanes. Like the ruggedness the name suggests, this bowling alley retains much of the archaic charm that probably read as “modern” many decades ago. The place looks so old that we’re convinced that fossils are embedded in the flooring. Possibly the flooring is made of fossils. Some bowl-o-ramas offer great edible fare but this isn’t quite one of them. Eat some place else, then come here pronto to work off your carbs.

El Dorado Lanes
8731 Lincoln Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90045
(310) 670-0688

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Mission Hills Bowl
This is the sort of place that makes you feel all good inside. Mission Hills Bowl provides nostalgia by default as it’s simply seen modern times pass it by. Depicting exactly what Mission Hills is — grainy, partly run-down, not at all flashy, but full of character — it exists purely for bowling entertainment. It’s a bowler’s bowling alley; not the professional bowler, but for those who are bowlers at heart. It would seem that they have not realized that there are other bowling alleys boasting anything special — cosmic bowling, blacklight bowling. If you ain’t catchin’ the hints by their geriatric ward exterior, they may even look at you weird here if you were to bring your own ball. Ball meets lane. Ball crushes pins. Simple arithmetic for a simple bowling alley.

Mission Hills Bowl
10430 Sepulveda Blvd
Mission Hills, CA 91345
(818) 361-1221

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Santa Clarita Lanes
In the vast northern reaches of L.A. county, nestled above the San Fernando Valley, you’ll find a tumble weed or two, Magic Mountain, a secret society of soccer moms, some of the nation’s finest up-and-coming artists attending Cal Arts, and also this Santa Clarita hot spot. We’re going to be honest with you — this place has an arcade room; not a measly corner with a couple of arcade machines, but a room. Hallelujah! The bar is spacious and conducive to sporting event viewing, and they also boast some of the best pizza in Santa Clarita (from Vincenzo’s). You won’t find dinged up lines or out-dated equipment here. They’ve polished this place up for a fresh, un-vintage feel of the aforementioned bowling alleys. They often have lane specials and happy hour pricing on drinks and food. Parking is plentiful, but just the lanes, like the lot will fill up fast. Luckily, the adjacent Foster’s Freeze will help you out with a soft serve and a place to put your car.

Santa Clarita Lanes
21615 Soledad Canyon Rd.
Saugus, CA 91350
(661) 254-0540

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Oak Tree Lanes
Bordering just north of the O.C., Oak Tree Lanes is one of the few remaining locally owned, and independently operated bowling alleys in the region. Take all the great qualities of all the previously mentioned bowling alleys and you have Oak Tree Lanes. It’s branded as the ultimate family fun center — kids can take advantage of the gigantic arcade and air hockey, adults have billiards, bowling, and darts, and don’t forget the grandfolks, they have KENO too! While the place looks like a decades-old Dave & Buster’s rough draft, their bowling facilities are modern and they’ve joined the black-light, laser beam craze with some special sessions called THUNDER ALLEY at various times on Fridays and Saturdays. Add in an adjoining sports bar, and you have the best of both worlds — modern and vintage. 1 hour FREE with each hour paid when you bring a coupon.

Oak Tree Lanes Bowling Center
990 N. Diamond Bar Blvd.
Diamond Bar, CA 91765
(909) 860-3558

Where There’s A Margarita, There’s A Way!
Posted: 05/01/2009 03:16:10 PM PDT

We Angelenos know how to party. As fine citizens of these United States of America, we also know a thing or two about independence. So why not party with a purpose, and celebrate somebody else’s freedom?

Cinco de Mayo–marking the day Mexico fended off the highly revered French forces in the Battle of Puebla–may just be an excuse to get our drink on, but when has celebrating a monumentally great time in history ever been wrong?

Check out our guide to some of the best places to get sloshed on Tuesday. Arriba!

El Chavo Restaurant – Silverlake

Located in the hip Los Feliz/Silverlake area, drink specials are the big draw here for El Chavez’ Cinco de Mayo celebration. From 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., patrons will be able to take advantage of $3 Tecate & Dos Equis, $6 margaritas, and $5 well drinks. On top of that, you’ll be able to soak up the libations with dinner specials. Paying a visit on this special occasion are the “Tecate Girls,” helping to get the party started right. Music in the outdoor patio will be performed by Los Pochos, until 10 p.m. And, because your time is precious, there will be an “outdoor Tecate draft beer bar” to make sure you don’t have to walk in-and-out of the main bar while the band is performing.

Surfas’ “Five on the Fifth” – Culver City

It’s only for an hour, but for more high brow fare, beer and cheese tasting is on the agenda for Surfas’ “Five on the Fifth” celebration. For $25, you will be provided with five unique craft beers from around the world, with cheese that Surfas will pair for you. Ending at 6 p.m., you’ll still have time hightail it to another event.

Lucha VaVoom Presents Cinco de Mayan – Los Angeles

Why not make May 5th a sexy night? Lucha VaVoom is offering a Cinco de Mayo to remember! Taking their hit “sexo y violencia” show for a one night only affair on Cinco de Mayo, Lucha VaVoom offers entertainment in the form of Mexican wrestling (yes, like Nacho Libre-style), naughty burlesque-style stripteasing, and their trademark humor. Tonight’s celebration, however, will be a unique experience in that the fiesta will include Aztec, go-go, and salsa dancers, along with with a strolling mariachi band, culminating into an all-out dance party. You can even pose in the donkey photo booth (there’s a dirty joke here, but we’ll spare you) to chronicle your unique Cinco de Mayo experience. Tickets are $40, and are expected to sell out.

Los Toros Mexican Bar & Cantina: Cinco de Mayo Celebration – Chatsworth

Miller Girls, Tequila Girls, and mariachi bands, oh my! For the northern San Fernando Valley folks, there are drink specials, dinner specials and their renowned Papa Nick’s Margaritas are on hand to keep you company with the entertainment. Or is the entertainment on hand to keep you company while dining and drinking? Either way, Los Toros is a northern San Fernando Valley hot spot of good times. There will be give-aways all night, too.

Liquid Kitty’s Cinco de Mayo Party – West L.A.

Liquid Kitty provides that Westside attitude to Cinco de Mayo. With DJ Renato at the turntable, spinning funky soul, Latin and “explosive grooves,” you can revel in drink specials that include $3 Coronas, $3 Don Eduardo shots, $4 La Vida Bajas (Tecate & shot of Tequila), and $5 Margaritas. For those able to last through the night, there will be a pinata at the strike of 12.

El Puerto Escondido Restaurant’s Cinco de Mayo Dinner Celebration – El Sereno

In the heart of San Gabriel Valley, El Puerto Escondido–known for their delicious seafood entrees–is hosting a Cinco de Mayo fiesta, with a more low key outing. For a $25 donation, you get dinner and two drinks. The festivities last from 6 p.m. to midnight, with prizes and music slated for the affair.

Juanita’s Restaurant and Bar – Highland Park

Located in Highland Park, Juanita’s will be be providing a DJ, spinning 80s, house, and club music, all in the name of freedom. The party starts at 9 and won’t be stopping until 2 a.m. And, hey, if for whatever reason you need to bring your laptop here, they have free Wi-fi!

Sagebrush Cantina’s Cinco de Mayo Fun! – Calabasas

Is an almost all-day event, starting with their Cinco de Mayo buffet, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Their all-you-can-eat buffet features the standard Mexican dishes you’ve come to know and love, such as tamales, chile rellenos, albondigas, and even has a fajita bar. From 5 p.m. until closing, the drink specials on margaritas, top quality tequila, and Mexican beer, kick in. Accompanying you for the evening will be the Cazadores, Dos Equis, and Margaritaville Girls, giving away free swag all night. A live band will be taking the stage at 6 p.m.

El Carmen – West Hollywood / Mid-City West

As if you ever needed an excuse to go to El Carmen. Well, if you were looking for one, we couldn’t imagine a better time than on Cinco de Mayo to venture foot. Part posh, part quirky and kitsch, you will not have have to foresake authenticity dining here. El Carmen is known for their claims of stocking more than 100 different kinds of tequila, and you know what that means… a variety of margaritas. If you’re a margarita afficianado, as some people are, this is the draw that pulls people in. As a warning, El Carmen gets packed fairly quick, as people come out here in droves.

City Hall – Downtown L.A.

This is one of the occasions where you don’t fight City Hall; you embrace it. Every year, the streets of City Hall fill up in a raucous Cinco de Mayo affair. Congregating out on the streets by City Hall, are vendors, musicians, and dancers, for what turns out to be L.A.’s biggest outdoor Cinco de Mayo festival. Here is where you’ll find the scores of authentic Mexican food, mariachi music, and merchants fill the streets with Mexican spirit and pride.

Now that we consider you informed on what you can do on Cinco de Mayo, remember that… whatever doesn’t tequila you, does NOT make you stronger.

History Explored In Hidden Courtyards, Winding Alleys, Secret Temples & Bargain Treasures
Posted: 03/27/2009 02:45:36 PM PDT

2009 is the Year of the Ox, and since you don’t really know what that means, it’s time to get right with a little Chinese culture, my friend.

Explore your hidden dragon and venture to Downtown L.A to find the local pulse of Chinese and Chinese-American culture.

What do we know of Chinatown? Well, it’s where our parents would take us as a kid, trying to convince us and our easily impressed siblings that we were on “vacation.” We do remember, however, being amazed at the Eastern architecture, and in awe of the hustle-and-bustle amid all the shops. Now that we’re grown up, we see that despite Chinatown’s touristy facade, there is a microcosm of history and actual culture residing there, which adds to the diversity of LA.

The Chinatown we all know wasn’t always what–or where–it is today. Chinatown used to reside where downtown’s monument to Art Deco architecture and the golden age of railway travel, Union Station, now lives. For several years, Chinese-American owned businesses were displaced, having to be evicted to make room for this new city project. It wasn’t until seven years later that Chinatown would find a new home.

Present-day Chinatown has been a hub of Chinese culture since 1938, offering treasures such as markets, temples, Chinese herbal medicine shops, restaurants, businesses and, of course, the magnificent bazaars. While Downtown L.A. has recently experienced a boom in nightlife thanks to the bars of Cedd Moses (Seven Grand, Broadway Bar, Golden Gopher), Chinatown offers one of our personal favorite watering holes, The Mountain Bar. Located on Gin Ling Way, The Mountain Bar clearly cuts a swath of its own, with its ample-sized floorspace, swanky decor, and dimly-lit ambiance. As such, Chinatown has now broadened its appeal, so that there’s a reason to venture out there once the sun goes down.

If you’re thinking to yourself, “I know how to get there, but what do I do once I’m there?” Well, you’re in luck! The Chinatown Business Improvement District offers what they call The Undiscovered Chinatown Tour. For $20, you will be guided along paths and alleyways as a tour guide tells you the ins-and-outs of Chinatown.

Offered every first Saturday of the month, the tour goes from 10:30AM to 1PM. Make sure to RSVP, as group space is limited.

If the economy has got you down and you can’t afford to go anywhere, let alone take a “vacation,” why not explore what Downtown L.A., has to offer? It’s culture in your own backyard, y’all!

The Undiscovered Chinatown Tour
For Exact Location and Reservations
Call (213) 680-0243
10:30AM-1PM
$20

With A New Album Out, Morrissey Returns For This Year’s Coachella
Posted: 03/24/2009 03:40:32 PM PDT

Earlier this year, you may have heard a throng of self-brooding Morrissey fans rejoice. Well, for only a minute. After all, Morrissey fans can’t be explicitly joyous for too long.

With the release of his ninth solo album, Years of Refusal, the Moz dropped a mercurial batch of tunes filled with self-doubting, longing, angst, cynicism…and hope. Yep, pretty much brandishing the ol’ tried and true trademark Morrissey sound.

The Morrissey that’s digestible by everyone — moody modsters, jocks, Brit-pop aficionados, hipsters, casual pop fans, etc. — has never been more present than in the album’s first single, “I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris.” With this song he proclaims: “In the absence of your love, and in the absence of human touch, I have decided that I’m throwing my arms around; around Paris because only stone and steel accept my love.”

Years of Refusal, his first album in three years, also brings back a fuller band sound that had been missing from his last few efforts. The guitars are rich and the percussion packs power; The Pied Piper of Gloom and Doom, with his yearning vocals, shows that his voice is as strong as it has ever been. “Mama Lay Yourself on the Riverbed” reminds us that Morrissey is at his best when he’s most vulnerable (“Life is nothing much to lose. It’s just so lonely here without you.”).

Fans of the Moz will have a chance to hear his new melodramatic jams at this year’s Coachella on April 17th. Morrissey was around when Coachella first kicked off in 1999, playing along with Beck, The Chemical Brothers, Tool, Pavement, and Rage Against the Machine. There is no other place outside of England that Morrissey is more cherished and loved than he is in Southern California, where he has a burgeoning Latino fan base. You can catch a free documentary, showing at Space 15 Twenty tonight, that explains this curious phenomenon.

As Morrissey pines in “One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell” (“One day goodbye will be farewell. So wrap me while we still have the time.”), it’s best to catch him perform before he decides to hang up his Converse and let his pompadour down. Have no doubt, Years of Refusal shows that Morrissey is still relevant.

Where To Go, What To Do And What To Consume On Fat Tuesday
Posted: 02/23/2009 02:25:18 PM PST

In America, February 24th is a special day. It gives us an excuse to party, look foolish, and take part in what has become a global tradition. Mardi Gras literally means “Fat Tuesday.” While Mardi Gras celebrations – in the form of parades, masquerades, and communal drinking — are observed for many days, Fat Tuesday is the final day where the festivities are celebrated the most. It’s also the day before Ash Wednesday, which is a holy day observed by Catholics to mark the beginning of Lent. Customarily, people would do all that they can to enjoy the final day before Lent kicks off. All the foods that were prohibited during Lent, would be consumed in gluttonous fashion. As such, people would throw parties and enjoy themselves before having to settle down for the 40-day duration of Lent.

Of course, time has a way of refining things. You don’t need to be Catholic to partake in the festivities, nor do you have to observe the original intent for Mardi Gras. Nowadays, all you have to do is have fun?! Yes, that’s right! However, there’s a whole lot to Mardi Gras than taking off your shirt, getting drunk, and making memories you’ll soon forget (only to remember years later in a picture that resurfaces out of nowhere). If all of that debauchery isn’t a requirement for you, and you’re looking to stay in the greater Los Angeles area, then here’s a simple guide of places to check out.

1. Farmer’s Market Mardi Gras Celebration

What better than to pair a festive tradition with a Los Angeles icon? Farmer’s market has been putting on their Mardi Gras celebration for the past 19 years, thus celebrating it’s 20th this year. You get all the traditional fare that you would expect from Mardi Gras — Cajun food, beer, zydeco music playing, and you can even take part in the bead-tossing. Throw in a pet parade and a costume contest, and you won’t be short of anything to do.

http://www.farmersmarketla.com/newsandevents/index.asp

2. Amoeba Records Mardi Gras Madness

Amoeba Records has become a beacon of cool music culture in Los Angeles, so it’s fitting to have one of the coolest celebrations hitting up L.A’s hottest spot. Enjoy the whole vibe of New Orleans-style Mardi Gras by coming to Amoeba Records. They’ll be having a DJ spin some New Orleans flavored music, with entertainment in the store and spilling onto the street.

http://www.amoeba.com/content/mardi_grass_2009.html

3. The Hideout’s Mardi Gras Celebration

If you’d like to get sauced up on little money, come to The Hideout in Santa Monica. They’re offering a New Orleans-style bar, and will be featuring Bacardi Hurricanes for the spirit of the occasion. They’re also sporting 1/2 off the price of well drinks, and beers.

http://www.santamonicahideout.com

4. Mr. T’s Bowl Mardi Gras Potluck

That’s right, the folks at Mr. T’s has been at it for the past 5 years, with a Mardi Gras potluck. If you’re all about the food, and you’re looking to either stay or go to Northeast LA, this is the place to partake in Mardi Gras festivities. There’s live music to keep your booty shakin’, as well as shakin’ those calories off.

http://mrtsbowl.tripod.com
http://www.myspace.com/mrtsbowl

5. Club 705’s Mardi Gras Party

Mardi Gras comes to the South bay. $20 at the door (or $15 prepaid) will get you 1 free well drink, a free Mardi Gras mask, music and dancing, and free parking.

It’s all about the beads during Mardi Gras, in New Orleans. Whoever has the most beads around their neck is the star of the evening. So in true Mardi Gras fashion, at Club 705, the person with the most beads by the end of the night will win an iPod nano. If you’re not a winner, so what? The evening’s festivities also feature a piñata. Beat on it to win free drink tickets, and other treats.

Other contests include a Sexy Banana Eating contest, for the ladies, and a Sexy Pie Eating contest, for the fellas.

http://noflakesingles.homestead.com

6. Uncle Darrow’s Cajun Creole: 9th Annual Mardi Gras West (February 28th)

If Tuesday is a no-go for you, come celebrate Fat Saturday at Uncle Darrow’s. If you feel like mixing in a good deed with your night of debauchery, consider going to Uncle Darrow’s in Venice. Money spent on food and drinks will help towards sending care packages to Afghanistan. Your presence will be in the company of live zydeco, jazz, and blues music playing all night long. And, of course, being a Cajun Creole restaurant, expect all the typical Cajun delicacies – such as crawfish, po’ boys, gumbo, and jambalaya – to be at your disposal.

http://www.uncledarrows.com