I accidentally skipped posting last week and so I’m going to do a combo post, weekend 3 and 4 all in one!

Work is continuously epic. I’m learning how to layout movie posters now and I’m getting to interact with the sketch artists who all have amazing illustration skills (that I am completely jealous of, but inspired by). What a gooood co-op. As always, I can’t say much about my job, but I can tell you where I went out to eat with my co-workers. Last week we went to 24 Kitchen, a restaurant just up the street from the CNN building. I eyed the mac and cheese like a ninja – Elbow Macaroni and a three Cheese Blend of Cheddar, Mascarpone and Gruyere with Peas and a Basil Herb Crust. While waiting, mouth salivating, I took notice of the mod interior with its silverware lamp shades and waiters dressed in pink pants. In the end, the mac and cheese needed some salting (a lot of salting) but the basil was just crunchy enough and the cheese just creamy enough for my picky sauce-loving palate.

While at work, we also did Chipotle (sweet sweet taste of home *sigh*) and then I went out with my supervisor and my new DAAP-departed full-time coworker. We went to Stout, a classy little burger place with a simultaneous outdoor, indoor setting. The weather has improved and it was the perfect environment for having some non-BLT related conversation. I had a “stout skinny style” veggie burger (meaning they put it on arugula with no bun – me likey). It was a patty made from a base of quinoa and beans with avocado, pepper jack cheese and chipotle mayo – very tasty. We also split some sweet potato cuts which were also soo good. Sorry for no personal pictures, I didn’t wanna whip out my camera and be a geeky foody while my boss was talking, but here’s an online photo of the sweet potato chips and the burger my coworker got  instead!

The weekend of July 10th was full of new friends and sushi. Friday night Brett and I went to a local bar in Westwood and met some French peoples along the way. We had a good time hanging out but I felt that my French was pathetically dying…all I could remember how to say was “oui, merci, desole, and Je m’appelle Amanda”. O well! Saturday at the pool we met some people from our building – someone from Oregon, Scotland, and some Cali natives – that was really nice and now we have a few more connections out here.

Saturday evening was our BIG night out. Meaning $$$. We wanted a true Hollywood experience and we were craving sushi. I made reservations at the Geisha House on Hollywood Blvd down the street from Grauman’s Chinese theater. Here is what their website details – ” Sensual…Ethereal…Mysterious… GEISHA HOUSE provides a sexy dining experience that titillates the senses, beginning with the palate and continuing from there…” The paragraph goes on…haha but I’ll let you visit the site to read more. Basically we paid for the environment at this place with its valet parking, two story dining, red lighting, two-level fireplaces, DJ, costumed Geisha, interesting seating decor, and might I add, most importantly, the best sushi I’ve ever had.

I’m limited in my sushi experience, but this stuff was succulent deity. We felt like stardom sitting there with our fancy cocktails and our Marilyn Monroll, Red Rocket and Ocean Dragon rolls.

Saturday night after our meal and photo with a Geisha, we were thinking of going out…but nah. We spent the rest of the weekend relaxing. Sunday was gloomy and our wallets felt beaten.

Now I will skip to this past Thursday. It was Allie’s birthday (she’s a classmate from DAAP co-oping out here as well) so we all went out to celebrate at Cheesecake Factory in the Grove and then to Improv, a comedy club in Beverly Hills. The Grove was really classy. It was Rookwood twenty times ritzier. It was a small happy village with beautiful storefronts, cobblestone, a train and glitzy things to buy around every corner. The only problem with this wonderful outdoor mall is that I must window shop and nothing more. Still, it’s fascinating to take it all in and thrilling to think…hmm who is that behind those sunglasses, could it be Brett and mine’s hero, Miley? HAHA.

Now for the food, I don’t think I need to describe the fabulousness of my favorite restaurant. Just know that we ordered an amazing Thai dish to split as well as the Stephanie’s Red Velvet and Tuxedo cheesecakes. I was beyond full.

As for the comedy club, it was neat except you HAD to buy two things (drink or food). I already wanted to explode, so this news was very unwelcome. The show itself was pretty funny. Our big group of DAAPers was seated front and center, prime spot for making eye contact that results in being made fun of. It was a good time, some of the comedians I enjoyed more than others…

-Dad, I had to get a picture of Seinfeld for you ^ :)

This weekend, due to all the running around during the week, was pretty laid back. We did go see Inception. I HIGHLY recommend. It was mind blowing and not hard to follow – just simply mind blowing and awesome. People clapped after one of the action scenes because it was so bizarre yet beautiful at the same time. O loved it. In fact, I want to go again – so many more details to catch you know? The theater we saw it in was packed and gigantic…it’s been used for premieres before (the picture below is of the theater at the twilight premiere). It was neat to sit there with the fancy red curtains and swirled carpets and gilded decorations knowing that a few stars had previously studded the place.

Last night was spent hanging out with our new friends in the building. It was a laid back, pizza ordering, tipsy kind of night. Today after I did some drawings, we attempted to go to Manhattan Beach. It was pretty. I saw it. That is all I have to say about it as well as I HATE YOU LA FOR YOUR LAME PARKING.

I miss the midwest. I’m homesick for autumn, grill outs, and grassy hills.

Overall in these past two weeks I have made huge progress with my website and I cannot wait to get it up! Once I get going on something like this I really buckle down. Seriously, right now, I can’t wait to get back to drawing the characters for it. On that note…goodbye! <3

(and I promise not to be late with my next post!)