Southern California is filled with gorgeous Buddhist temples, meditation gardens, churches and synagogues that inspire awe. Here are some worth a visit. Get ready to be wowed. Source link
Ever since Don the Beachcomber debuted in Hollywood in the 1930s, tiki has ingrained itself in American bar culture. Nearly a century later, we still delight in drinking a Mai Tai from an elaborately carved mug beneath a palapa, all without stepping foot on a plane. No wonder tiki bars are enjoying a contemporary revival. Maybe it’s our nostalgia for midcentury Americana, or simply a desire to retreat to a world where we can sip umbrella-adorned cocktails without a care in sight. The latter explains why Don the Beachcomber, offering a cheerful distraction during the Great Depression, was so popular in its heyday. The tropical-themed cafe laid the foundation for modern-day tiki bars like Belles Beach House in Venice. “Tiki culture was brought to Southern California as a way to create an escape for people,” said Belles general manager Chris Newcomer. “You walk into a room and have a drink that makes you feel like you’re somewhere else.” With the recent tiki resurgence comes increased scrutiny of its not-so-sunny aspects, mainly the fact that the …
Since the filming of the 1978 multiple-sequel-spawning horror classic “Halloween,” the boyhood home of serial killer Michael Myers has been relocated from its original South Pasadena location (709 Meridian Ave.) a block and a half away to the intersection of Meridian Avenue and Mission Street (and barely a rubber mask’s toss away from the old Foothill Gold Line’s Mission Station, now called the A Line South Pasadena Station). It’s still worth seeking out, though, first because this home turned office building (a historical landmark that may be the oldest wood-frame building in South Pasadena) is where Meyers’ four-decade, 11-movie (we’re not going to count the totally-Meyers-free “Halloween III: Season of the Witch”) murder spree got underway. The second reason is the building directly behind that building at 810 Meridian Ave. That’s where you’ll find SugarMynt Gallery (slogan: “Where every day is Halloween”), an art gallery that’s made a literal cottage industry out of Haddonfield’s best-known bad guy. It features props, photo ops and purchasable “Halloween”-themed art. The gallery, which costs $20 to enter, also stages …
If you’ve ever gone bar-hopping in Echo Park, then you know it makes sense to go to Bar Flores after hitting up Lowboy (or vice versa) because they are literally neighbors. Bar Flores sits on top of Lowboy, but to get there, you have to walk outside of Lowboy, turn to your left, then walk up a flight of tiled stairs. In the film, we’re given only a quick montage of a man devouring slices of Jane’s cake while sitting in front of Bar Flores’ picturesque bar area, which is adorned with palm plants and vibrant flowers, ceramic bowls filled with citrus fruits and fragrant burning candles — all of which could easily trick you into thinking that you’re in Mexico City rather than L.A. Also, in the film, there’s also a shot of another man eating the dessert on Bar Flores’ stunning patio, which is covered by umbrellas and draped bright-colored papel picado (a traditional Mexican craft). Whether it’s an early Monday evening or a buzzy Saturday night, the lively cocktail bar is one …
