Joannaline C. Young: As well as a mother, Joannaline is a freelance travel journalist and commercial writer. She currently resides in Los Angeles, where she was born and raised. She has moved about 10 times and have decorated all of her homes in Hawaiian-like fashion. She is also quick to admit she has an AFO (Asian Food Obsession). Visit her web site/blog at http://luna-ink.com and follow her on Twitter @ lunaofluxury

Review: Fuji’s Unique Dining

My Plate at Fuji Restaurant Remember when you discovered the unique dining of a cruise? The waiter hands you a menu and it’s yours for the taking. Dishes are freshly prepared, coming straight from the kitchen to your table. At the end of the cruise, you find that you aren’t charged per item but more like prixe-fix dinners, a dining option you can find in many of your other favorite restaurants. The Japanese/Korean restaurant Fuji in Pasadena is similar to these cruise dinners. You will...

June 27th, 2010 | Los Angeles | Read More

Largest Mummy Collection in the World at California Science Center

Don’t miss out on the largest collection of mummies from all over the world at the exciting new exhibit, The Mummies of the World. The exhibition will premiere on Thursday, July 1, 2010 at the California Science Center, showing 70 mummies not just from Egypt but also Asia, South America, and Europe. Some of the specimens date back 6,500 years. These mummies have been preserved both intentionally and accidentally — by natural environmental conditions such as ice, desert, and bogs. You can...

June 24th, 2010 | Los Angeles | Read More

Yes, Now You Can EATLACMA

When food and art merge together, it’s exciting to see how people from different walks of life interpret what they eat. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is hosting a yearlong celebration devoted to these two subjects called EATLACMA. The project begins with the Fruit of LACMA exhibition curated by Fallen Fruit and ends with a one-day event, “Let Us Eat LACMA”. The Fruit of LACMA and Gardens of LACMA will open to the public on Sunday, June 27, 2010. Here the members of Fallen Fruit...

June 18th, 2010 | Los Angeles | Read More

Painting With Ease at the Paint Lab

Let the inner artist in you out and paint whatever inspires you. Visit the Paint Lab art studio in Santa Monica and admission grants you access to their paints, brushes, and easels. Just purchase the artboard/canvas and you’re good to go. Best of all, they deal with all the cleanup afterwards. There are two ways to enjoy painting at the Paint Lab. The first way is to have “Open Lab Time” without instruction so you can freely paint all day. The second option is to reserve an art workshop...

June 16th, 2010 | Los Angeles | Read More

Ticket Angels On Vespas to the Rescue

If you have a car, most likely you’ve received a parking ticket. Especially in Los Angeles, many prefer to travel in cars instead of public transportation. However, the parking signs are often so complicated that people misinterpret them or forget their details. That’s where the Ticket Angels come in. They are a two “dudes”, Matthew Parker and Chistopher Harati, who saw Santa Monica’s population getting the highest priced parking citation, street sweeping, so they decided to get in...

June 16th, 2010 | Los Angeles | Read More

Santa Monica’s First Historical Museum

Santa Monica Pier A new museum about one of LA’s finest beach cities is coming this summer, the Santa Monica Historical Society Museum. The Santa Monica Historical Society has been collecting, preserving, and promoting the history of Santa Monica for over 30 years. Now they wish to display their findings to the public in a new 5,000-square-foot museum. This will be Santa Monica’s first museum that will discuss various topics such as art and culture with historical images and artifacts. The new...

June 16th, 2010 | Los Angeles | Read More

La Canada Flintridge’s First Green Gallery

Descanso Gardens Something other than flowers is blooming in the Descanso Gardens, the Sturt Haaga Gallery of Art. Lots of excitement surrounds the 2,800 square foot “green” gallery’s opening, set for later this summer, because it will be the city’s first museum-type art exhibition open to the public. Visitors will see state-of-the-art and environmentally friendly features of the gallery, in addition to the works of art it houses. The new Sturt Haaga Gallery of Art is being changed from a...

June 15th, 2010 | Los Angeles | Read More

Viewing the Modern at the Getty

one of two trams leading to The Getty Take a trip to Brentwood for one of LA’s most famous modern art museums, the Getty Center. To get to the museum, walk or take one of two sleek and white trams up the windy hill. Don’t forget to look out the window and marvel at the busy city life of LA. A few minutes more is all it takes to get the museum, which is made up of architecturally modern buildings. People usually just like to have picnics with their family or lounge around on the grass...

June 10th, 2010 | Los Angeles, Photo Highlights | Read More

The Entertainment Capital’s Much Anticipated Film Festival

Another long-awaited arts festival is coming to the entertainment capital of the world, the LA Times’ 16th annual LA Film Festival. In recent years, the LA Film Festival has been held in Westwood, however, this year the festival will be held in downtown to celebrate the city’s roots and the location’s arts community. Even with this move, the LA Film Festival will not lose any of its variety with over 200 features, shorts, and music videos from over 30 countries. With these presentations,...

June 10th, 2010 | Los Angeles | Read More

Coolhaus: Not Your Ordinary Ice Cream Truck

Originally a postal van, the pink-topped Coolhaus Truck still delivers tasty messages — but now it’s a message on how to cool down from the summer heat with their custom made ice cream sandwiches. To place your order step up to window and follow the instructions on the picture how-to sign. The process is simple: select your choice of cookie + the ice cream flavor + an optional edible wrapper. Now comes the hard part — making your choices. You can select from the basic cookie...

June 7th, 2010 | Los Angeles | Read More

Save Time & Money with Hollywood’s CityPass

There are plenty of sites to see in Hollywood, and it can often be difficult deciding on which attractions you might want to see. With the Hollywood CityPass you can see several of the major attractions in this famous city while still saving time and money. With the CityPass, you won’t have to purchase tickets at every venue and you’ll be able to skip most ticket lines through special CityPass entrances. If you use all the admission tickets that come with the booklet you’ll...

June 6th, 2010 | Los Angeles | Read More

Taste of the Nation: Great Food & Cause

Popular LA chefs and restaurants unite at Taste of the Nation to present their best food and drinks-all in an effort to end LA’s childhood hunger. Meet chefs and mixologists from 40 restaurants who will be giving out samples of their creations. You can try Chef Eric Greenspan’s award-winning grilled cheese sandwiches or Chef Shigefume’s tuna tartare, and for something sweet, have a treat from the Gelato Bar or Sprinkles cupcakes. Other famous chefs will be in attendance, including Top Chef...

June 3rd, 2010 | Los Angeles | Read More

Don’t Call Me a Churro

The popular Xooro (pronounced “sure-oh”) Premium Spanish Fritters takes regular dessert to an entirely different level with a variety of fillings, coatings, and toppings. When biting into one of their special creations, you’ll experience many dimensions of textures and tastes. Even though it’s similarities to the Spanish doughnut, churros, there is much more to these treats. One of the great things about this shop is that you can watch the assembly process. Each Xooro dessert starts...

May 30th, 2010 | Los Angeles | Read More

4 Great LA Gift Ideas for Father’s Day

Father’s day is still awhile away but if you want that perfect gift, it’s good to think about that special someone early. Here are five gift ideas to make anyone have a special Father’s Day: Sporting Events: For this idea, you’ll definitely want to plan early to get good seats. If your father loves major league baseball, you’re in luck because the Dodgers will be playing throughout the year. However, if your father likes other teams and/or sports that are not in season, you can always...

May 29th, 2010 | Los Angeles | Read More

Palate Exhibit: A New Twist on Food

In honor of National Hamburger Month, take a new perspective on America’s favorite sandwich, among other “foods”, at the Palate Exhibit in Culver City. Near the entrance of the exhibit, are tons of fast-food hamburger photographs taken by artist Jeff Vespa. You get to see every part of each burger in all of its glorious goodness. You’ll see the chili flowing out of Tommy’s Triple and Double burger. The smaller photos are priced at $750 a piece while the larger ones are...

May 28th, 2010 | Los Angeles | Read More

King Kong 3D 360 is Coming This Summer

The classic film King Kong is even bigger than before, in the upcoming Universal Studios ride sure to impact viewers on a “colossal” scale. With the Universal Studios fire in 2008, makers had to come up with something grand to replace major missing elements of the Studio Tour. Therefore, they brought the filmmaker of the 2005 version of King Kong, Peter Jackson, aboard to create a ride unlike any other. The collaboration between Jackson and Universal Studios resulted in an attraction...

May 27th, 2010 | Los Angeles | Read More

Two Metro Extensions Developing in LA

With LA being notorious for its congested traffic, new Metro extension developments are good news for those traveling throughout the county. The first of the new developments is the two-phase Metro Expo Line Downtown Extension Project operated by the LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Phase 1 will connect Downtown LA with Culver City (Phase 2 with Santa Monica) on an east-west route primarily along Exposition Boulevard. When it opens in the summer of 2010 it will be part of the Metro...

May 26th, 2010 | Los Angeles | Read More

UCLA Attractions Not Just for Students

As Summer approaches, enjoy the sunny weather by visiting a university known both for their athletics and academics. You don’t have to be a student to experience UCLA’s beautiful campus — the campus is open to visitors who may want to stroll around or take their children to play on grassy hills. Lots of visitors come for special events, including concerts and sporting events. Here are four events designed to tempt you to the campus: 1. Jazz Reggae Festival This annual outdoor event...

May 23rd, 2010 | Los Angeles | Read More

LOST Finale Party at Coffee Table Bistro

Naveen Andrews (center) who plays "Sayid" from Lost Watch the Series Finale of the hit TV show LOST on a 60″ high-definition screen amongst other fans at the Coffee Table Bistro. Because their Lounge has sold out for the event, they recently decided to open up a 25-seat room in back of the restaurant for viewing. You will also be able to see the Jimmy Kimmel Live After Show entitled “Aloha to Lost”. Many “Lost Parties” have sold out, including the Orpheum Theatre,...

May 22nd, 2010 | Los Angeles | Read More

Fun and Tradition at Garden Grove’s Strawberry Festival

Prepare for a day filled with tastes of the popular berry and fun activities at the 52nd annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival. Have your selection of rides like the Mardi Gras Funhouse for adults and teens or the Wacky Worm Coaster for kids. Also, get your chance to see celebrities from favorite television shows such as Days of Our Lives, The Young and the Restless, and Hannah Montana. The Garden Grove Strawberry Festival is a community tradition rich with history. The Garden Grove Chamber of...

May 21st, 2010 | Los Angeles | Read More