First Stop: Union Station

I rode the Gold Line from Azusa to Union Station and when I arrived I chose to look around instead of immediately transferring to the Red or Purple line. Union Station is a busy place. Over 100,000 passengers pass through on a daily basis. The architecture is beautiful it is a mix of Art Deco and Mission Revival and there are some restaurants and bars in case you want to hang out and people watch.

Second Stop: Bottega Louie

My next stop on my walking tour of DTLA was Bottega Louie. Bottega Louie is a gourmet market, patisserie & café. The patisserie part of Bottega Louie has delectable treats. The restaurant portion is large and they don’t take reservations. I stood in line at the counter to order my cappuccino and pain au chocolat. After paying I received a number and I picked a small table for two in the section that has open seating. A waiter brought out my drink and croissant and for a few minutes, I was able to pretend I was back in Paris.

Third Stop: The Biltmore Hotel

My third stop on my walking tour of DTLA was the Biltmore Hotel. I was curious to take a peek inside because the popular Disney ride Tower of Terror is modeled after the Biltmore. Stepping inside definitely reminds me of the Tower of Terror. I wandered around the lobby and hallways checking out the photographs of all the dignitaries and celebrities that have all stayed at the Biltmore.

Fourth Stop: Los Angeles Central Library

The Los Angeles Central Library was my fourth stop on my walking tour of DTLA. Saturday was my lucky day because I was able to join a free docent lead Art and Architecture Tour and I learned that the library was built in 1926 and its theme is the light of learning. The inside walls of the library are covered in murals and the ceilings are painted to resemble wood, although they are actually made of concrete. A fun fact about the library is that the entire building is made of concrete and that is what kept the library from burning to the ground in 1986 in the most epic fire in Los Angeles history. On my way out of the library, I ran into a machine that prints out either a 1-minute, 3-minute, or children’s story for you to take with you.

Fifth Stop: Grand Central Market

If you are walking around DTLA, do yourself a favor and stop at Grand Central Market. The market is a Foodies dream. You can get every possible type of food there. Grand Central Market is perfect if you are with a group of friends because everyone can pick out what they want to eat and then you can all meet back at one table and enjoy your food. Today I tried Egg Slut for a late lunch and McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream for Dessert. Egg Slut is having a moment and the line is usually long. I waited 30 minutes to order. I ordered a regular breakfast sandwich without the bacon and I was lucky to find a barstool at the counter and I was able to watch them make my sandwich, which was an over-medium egg with cheese sandwiched between a brioche bun that is toasted with butter. Delicious!

Sixth Stop: The Bradbury Building

The Bradbury Building is across the street from the Grand Central Market. In 1971 the Bradbury Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Currently, the building is used as an office, and tourists are allowed only in the lobby. The Bradbury Building is famous for its ornate ironwork and atrium and it has been the location for several movies including the original Blade Runner.

Stop Seven: Angel’s Flight

The entrance to Angel’s Flight is across the street from the Grand Central Market. Angel’s Flight originally opened in 1901 and is the shortest operational railroad. It is possible to board the cars at either the bottom or the top of Bunker Hill. I rode it both ways and it was free with an unlimited TAP card without a Tap card it is $1 to ride each way.

Stop Eight: Little Tokyo

I walked to Japanse Village Plaza at 335 E. 2nd St. The plaza is busy and there are many shops and restaurants. In the plaza, there is usually some sort of entertainment going on such as karaoke or a performer. I watched a woman through a window making little cakes and I went inside to ask what they were. The man at the counter told me they were Red Bean cakes and he assured me they are delicious. I bought one for $2 and took it to go. I was too full this trip, but my favorite Ramen restaurant Daikokuya is across the street from Japanse Village Plaza and I highly recommend stopping in there for some amazing ramen.

Heading Home

After Little Tokyo, I decided it was getting cold and I was tired so I walked to the corner of First and Alameda and I waited for the Gold Line. There is lots more to explore in the area, but it will have to wait for another day.

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We set out for a morning of hiking and tacos in Riverside. Riverside, California is located in the Inland Empire about 55 miles East of Los Angeles. Downtown Riverside is home to the University of Riverside, the famous Mission Inn, and Mount Rubidoux. There is plenty of street parking and parking garages or there is a Metro Stop that offers shuttles to local downtown areas.

Mount Rubidoux

Mount Rubidoux is a park and a landmark. Years ago the land was purchased by the owners of the Mission Inn, however, it is now owned by the city of Riverside. Mountain Rubidoux is most famous for its Easter Sunday services. In 1909 the first non-denominational outdoor Easter Sunrise Service in the United States was held at the top of Mount Rubidoux.

Parking at Mount Rubidoux

It is easiest to park your car at Ryan Bonaminio Park. The address is 5000 Tequesquite Ave, Riverside, CA 92506. Ryan Bonaminio is a sports park and it has a lot of parking spaces. From the park, there is easy access to the mountain. Head up the street about a quarter-mile from the parking lot, and you will reach the start of the trail. There are no bathrooms at Mount Rubidoux, however, there is one at Ryan Bonaminio Park. At the beginning of the trail at Mount Rubidoux, there is a place to fill your water bottles and there are trash cans along the trail.

Hiking in the City

Mount Rubidoux boasts over 3 miles of hiking trails. There is a 2.7-mile round-trip trail and it is paved which makes it a great choice for days when your normal trails are covered with mud. Furthermore, the trail only gains about 350 feet in incline, so it is rated as easy. I have seen numerous people pushing baby strollers up to the top. At the top, there are a few areas to explore and one of my favorites is the World Peace Bridge. The location looks like it belongs in a castle and it is a beautiful place to stop for a photo.

The Top of Mount Rubidoux

Once you reach the top of Mount Rubidoux there are plenty of places to stop and take in the view. There is built-in seating in the rocks for the sunrise services. We climbed up the stairs to the base of the cross. The cross is dedicated to Father Serra. According to some old newspaper articles, there was some controversy about the separation of church and state and now the small plot of land that holds the cross is owned by a conservancy that is responsible for its upkeep.

Lunch at Tio’s Tacos in Riverside

After hiking back to our car we decided to drive over to Tio’s Tacos. I had driven past Tios when I was on the way to The Mission Inn and the large art out in front of the restaurant piqued my interest. The restaurant is located at 3948 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501

Eclectic Art in Riverside

We found street parking across the street from Tio’s Tacos. We wandered around the entire outside before we ordered our lunch. The art is all made from upcycled materials. One of my favorite pieces of art at Tio’s is the Christmas tree that is all recycled Dos Equis beer bottles. There is a little chapel complete with an altar and pews. I could have spent hours wandering around looking at all the little details.

Lunch at Tio’s Tacos

After hiking and walking around Tio’s looking at the art we were hungry. There is both seating inside and outside at Tio’s and the day we were there it was chilly and extremely windy so we opted for inside.

We went to the counter to order and although it was after 1 pm, I asked if I could order breakfast. The good news is they serve breakfast all day. I ordered Chilaquiles with green sauce. Chilaquiles is a traditional Mexican dish with fried corn tortillas that are simmered in green or red sauce and then topped with an over-easy egg, sour cream, and cheese. They have an Aqua Fresca Bar at the front counter and I ordered a Mango Agua Fresca and it was very sweet but tasty. After ordering they give you a number and you seat yourself. I am a Chilaquiles connoisseur and my lunch was good, but definitely not the best Chilaquiles I’ve eaten. I would go back to Tio’s again just to see the art and maybe I’ll try a taco next time.

Exploring Riverside

We had a good morning exploring Riverside. Mount Rubidoux was a scenic place for a hike and we all enjoyed the art and our lunch at Tio’s Tacos. We will have to plan another day to see some of the other things Riverside has to offer.

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Paris Food Tour

On our first full day in Paris, we took a food tour in the Montmartre area. Our tour guide was fun and knowledgeable. On our tour, we walked around Montremarte collecting items for a large feast that we eventually ate in the wine cellar of their building. Along the way, we learned how to pick out chocolates, cheese, meats, bread, and wine. We used Secret Food Tour and I highly recommend them. We tasted things we might not have found on our own (like the truffle cheese that I’m still dreaming about) and we had an enjoyable family-style meal with wine and lively conversation.  

The next day with our new knowledge from the food tour we decided to collect items and have a picnic on the banks of the Seine looking at Notre Dame. I brought a small packable blanket with me from the United States just for such an occasion. 

Butter, Butter, Oh Salted French Butter….

We learned on the food tour that most Parisians buy their butter from the local cheese shop. The magic occurs from the addition of salt crystals. Parisians use butter in recipes for both savory and sweet dishes. They also use it for slathering onto bread. 

French butter with salt crystals is delicious. I never appreciated butter until I visited Paris. On our first morning in Paris, we walked up the street to the neighborhood bakery. We went inside and the sweetest guy took our order. Our French was rusty and he did not speak English, but we were able to order two croissants. The first bite was pure heaven, light and flaky and we could taste the butter. We stopped in every morning that we were in Paris and tried all of their different croissants and pastries. He became one of our favorite people we encountered in Paris.

Boulangerie

Bread is baked fresh every morning. Ask any Parisian and they will tell you their favorite boulangerie to buy a fresh baguette. We bought two baguettes. One traditional and one La Rustique. The Le Rustique has multiple seeds and grains mixed in and is darker than the traditional baguette. 

We of course had to buy some salted butter to slather on our baguette and we also bought some spreadable cheese. It was good, but it did not come close to the truffle cheese we had on our food tour. 

Farmer’s Market

We passed by a farmer’s market. We bought a basket of strawberries. They were so sweet and ripe that the bees were hovering above the fruit like a cloud. I am allergic to bees so I had to stand back and have Nicole pick out and purchase our berries. 

Boucher

We stopped by the Boucher and bought some sliced prosciutto. We figured that would be okay to carry it around in our bag without being refrigerated. 

Wine & Utensils

In Paris like, in the United States, there are little convenience stores mixed in between the adorable shops. We stop at a Franprix. They sell a little bit of everything. We picked out a bottle of wine. We did not have a wine opener with us. I asked the lady at the register if she could open our wine and she did without a problem. I was also able to purchase from her plastic utensils and two plastic cups. The price was equivalent to 10 cents each. I have heard that you can also ask waiters on the sidewalk to open your wine for you. There is not a law about drinking in public in Paris.  

The Ultimate Picnic Locations

Our first day of picnicking was on the banks of the Seine overlooking Notre Dame. We spread out our blanket and sat down with our legs hanging over the edge of the wall. We watched the passing boats. We had multiple conversations with people in our broken French. People were either strolling by or having picnics or cocktails along the banks as well.  

Another evening we had a picnic in front of Notre Dame. We had everything spread out and we were enjoying our wine when a one-eyed rat jumped out of the bushes and tried to ambush us. He was too much for us and we had to pack up and relocate. 

A Picnic in Luxemburg Gardens

On our last night in Paris, we had a picnic in Luxemburg Gardens and it was beautiful. We were sitting in chairs looking at the garden and the fountain. We watched a man wrangle his ponies from the pony ride and countless couples on dates. We had been at Versaille the day before and this was 1,000 times more peaceful and it was so pretty. I’m sure we would have stayed in the gardens longer, but at sunset, guards came around and rounded everybody up. The garden is closed at night. This was the perfect way to end our trip to Paris. I am so glad that we took the time to do the small things in Paris because those are the memories I am going to cherish.

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Bread and Croissants

We found the perfect way to start our morning was with a croissant and an Espresso from Alexine. This amazing bakery is down the street from the hotel we stayed in and it quickly became one of our favorite places. The staff was extremely kind, patient, and welcoming to us. Their croissants are fabulous. My favorite was the chocolate croissant and Nicole’s favorite was the almond croissant. Throughout our 10-day stay, we tried many different pastries and they were all amazing. For lunch, we loved to have a picnic with a baguette, butter or cheese, fruit, and a bottle of wine. Viva la France.

Croque Madame

If you love regular grilled cheese sandwiches, then you need to try a Croque Madame while you are in Paris. It is really just a delicious, fancy grilled cheese. It is the perfect remedy after a late night of drinking lots of French wine. Nicole and I stopped in Le Vrai Paris. It is an adorable French bistro in Montmarte. We were able to sit outside on the sidewalk. I ordered the Croque Madame and a Cappucino. The cappuccino had a perfect froth of foam and a dusting of powdered chocolate.

We had been drinking Esspresso on the run while we were in Paris, so this was a nice treat. A Croque Madame is a large slice of bread covered with gruyere and parmesan cheese, and a slice of ham. The whole sandwich is then put under the broiler. After the broiler, a cooked egg is added to the top. The Croque Madame lived up to the hype and Le Vrai is a lovely place to spend the morning in Montmarte.

Macarons

Macarons are one of the most decadent and delicious desserts in Paris. Nicole and I sampled our fair share of Macarons during our trip, but we found the perfect Macarons at Christophe Roussel in Monmarte. French macarons are meringue-based cookies that is surrounding a sweet filling. Each Macaron cost 1.60 euros. Nicole’s favorite flavor is the Passion-Fruit Tarragon. This is a special combination of bold and sweet. My favorite is Lemon because of the combination of sweet and tart. I don’t think they have a flavor that we didn’t like and we tried most of them.

Christophe Roussel was one of our last stops in Paris. We popped in to buy macarons to take home to our family before we left. Service at Roussel is on point. The ladies that work at Roussel are sweet and understanding about our choppy French. They spoke English and they packed up our macarons to survive the long flight home.

French Onion Soup

I was sure that I couldn’t visit France without trying French Onion Soup, but there was one big problem with that plan. We visited Paris in August, not the best month for soup. On the last day of our trip, the weather cooperated with our quest and we set out to find some soup. Nicole and I chose Le Consulat in Montmartre. Le Consult is historic – and there is something so magical about dining in this tiny restaurant where some of the world’s greatest artists found themselves often. Some of the greats hung out at Le Consult like Van Gough, Monet, and Picasso.

Our french onion soup arrived at the table piping hot and gooey cheese covered the handmade croutons. The broth was rich and delicious and didn’t taste like the french onion soup I have eaten in the United States. We sat in front of the restaurant and had a perfect view of everything that was happening in Montmarte.

Escargot, Rosé, Risotto & Créme Brulée

I was lucky enough to celebrate my birthday while we were in Paris and I chose to dine at Les Antiquaires for an early dinner. For an appetizer, because we were in Paris we tried Escargot and the shells arrived at the table on a slice of bread. I have tried Escargot before, but this was Nicole’s first time. Escargot is really just an excuse to eat butter and garlic on bread. The waiter brought us a basket of bread that we used to dip and scoop the Escargot. Each bite was a perfect combination of butter and garlic. I wouldn’t want to eat Escargot every day, but it really was delicious.

At Les Antiquaires we were able to eat outside at a bistro table. Nicole and I had found out that we like the dark red wines of France, but we looked around and all the other tables were drinking Rosé so we ordered a bottle. The Rosé is lighter and fruiter and I see why it is considered the summer wine in France. For my main course, I ordered mushroom risotto and it was amazing! The risotto was creamy with large mushrooms and freshly shaved parmesan. We shared a Créme Brulée for dessert and the top was a layer of hardened caramelized sugar. Underneath was a rich custard base. We loved this dessert and highly recommend Les Antiquaires.

Chocolat Chaud

Chocolat Chaud is Parisian hot chocolate and Angelina is the place to try it. Angelina is a beautiful Parisian tea parlor and it is extremely popular, however, they do take reservations. We arrived early and were able to get a table for two without waiting too long. Nicole and I both ordered Le Petite Déjeuner. Our breakfast came with Chocolat Chaud, a mini croissant, a roll with jams, and fresh juice. The Chocolat Chaud was thick and rich. It was not overly sweet and it came with freshly whipped cream. This hot chocolate is the best, hands down. What can be said about this rich, thick, intensely chocolate sip of heaven that has not already been said? Words do not do it justice and the hype is justified this is one stop you won’t want to miss on your next trip to Paris!

Charcuterie

On our first night in Paris, we stopped at Au Rendez-Vous des Amis. We sat outside and ordered beers, a Charcuterie board, and French Fries. Nicole ordered a Picon Biére and she loved the way it tastes. A few days later we found out that Picon Biére is the French version of a German Shandy. Picon is a French bitter orange liquor and it is added to the beer.

The Charcuterie board arrived at our table with a variety of shaved and cured meats and pickles and it was served with a basket of fresh bread and butter. Our fries were thick and similar to steak fries in the United States. Au Rendez-vous des Amis translates as a place for friends to gather and it is located down the hill from Sacre Coeur. Furthermore, it is a little less touristy than eating in the square by the Sacre Coeur. Our dinner was simple and not fussy and it was perfect after a long day of traveling.

Crepes

Nicole and I wanted to try both sweet and savory crepes while we were in Paris. French crepes are made without leveling powder, this makes them light and delicate. In Montmartre, we went on a food tour and one of our stops was a crepe stand. I tried butter and lemon and the crepe was served folded and wrapped in a waxed paper square. In between the folds were butter, sugar, and fresh lemon juice. Nicole had butter and fresh raspberry jam crepe and she loved hers too. After tasting a regular crepe our food tour guide suggested that before we leave Paris that we should try a buckwheat crepe as well.

Savory Crepes

One night while walking around in the 4th arrondissement we stopped at La Ciderie du Marais for crepes and Cidre. I ordered La Bergere. It is a buckwheat crepe with warmed goat cheese, nuts, honey, greens, and balsamic vinegar. Le Bergere is served on a plate with everything piled on top and unlike, the street crepe I needed to use a fork and knife to eat it. This crepe was large enough that it was a whole meal. The buckwheat flavor stood up to the strong flavors of goat cheese and balsamic vinegar. It was tasty and in addition to the crepe, the Cidre we had was great, unlike the cider I have tried in the United States this Cidre wasn’t sweet it tasted crisp and clean and paired perfectly with the crepe.

Final Thoughts

When I think of France, I think of fussy and complicated food, however, after my visit, I now know I was wrong. I’m sure there is plenty of fussy food in France, but everything we ate was uncomplicated and fresh with an emphasis on fresh. The fruits and vegetables were in seasons and amazing. Paris and the food we ate there lived up to all the hype and I can’t wait for my next visit to the city of lights.

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Some restaurants are worth the wait and Momofuku Noodle Bar falls into that category. During my many trips to New York City, I have passed by Momofuku Noodle Bar. I always wanted to try it, but the line was always out the door. The East Village location does not take reservations. Momofuku was started by David Chang in 2004. The New York Times credits him with the rise of Asian-American. Bon Appetit Magazine named Momofuku the most important restaurant in the United States. Momofuku means lucky peach.

Avoid The Crowd, Get There When They Open.

One summer evening, my daughter Nicole and I were in the area. It was before the dinner rush and we were able to grab two seats at the bar top for dinner without waiting in line. We started with drinks. Nicole had a Hibiscus Yuzu Iced Tea and I had a Tiger Lager from Singapore. It was a typical hot and humid evening in NYC, so both drinks were refreshing. We decided that we had to try the famous buns. As an appetizer, we shared an order of pork belly buns. It comes with hoisin sauce, scallions, and cucumbers. The buns were light and airy and the meat was a nice mix of sweet and savory.

Ramen Noodles

For dinner, Nicole ordered the Ginger Scallion Noodles. It comes with Momofuku barley noodles, pickled shiitake, cucumber, and wakame. I ordered the Spicy Hozon Ramen. This ramen also comes with the Momofuku barley noodles and instead of meat, it has chickpeas, scallion, and bok choy. I wasn’t sure if it would be too spicy, but it had a nice level of heat. The combination of the chickpeas and the ramen made this a very filling dish. Both ramen tasted fresh, they had a depth of flavor and they didn’t taste overly salty.

Go Ahead And Try Dessert

Although we were both stuffed from dinner we decided to split a dessert. We ordered the soft serve with puffed rice. The puffed rice added a pop to the creaminess of the soft serve and it was a good way to end our meal. Overall, the service was amazing. Our water was continuously refilled and the wait staff was very attentive. Momofuku is a small restaurant so you will be in tight quarters. It doesn’t look like they can accommodate parties larger than 6. After walking past this restaurant so many times, I’m happy that we finally got a chance to try it and I wouldn’t hesitate to eat there again.

Momofuku Noodle Bar, NYC

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Choose Your Airline Carefully.

We first booked our airline tickets. I was traveling from Los Angeles to New York first. After a week in New York, Nicole and I both flew to Paris. Nicole’s round trip from JFK to CDG on Virgin Atlantic was a $400 round trip. My ticket cost a little more because my flights were considered one-way tickets because I flew from JFK to CDG to LAX. I paid $470 on XL Airlines. The old saying, you get what you pay for is very true with XL Airlines.

Nicole had a great flight on Virgin with food and drink service and plenty of movies to choose from. I on the other hand had a flight that was delayed for 6 hours and did not depart JFK until 3:00 a.m. Not only did my plane not have movies to watch, but it also did not even have individual screens in the seats. It had the old drop-down from the ceiling screen that was impossible to see. That being said, I will still fly on XL Airlines, because they have great deals. Because we flew different airlines and my flight was delayed we landed in Paris at different times. We each made our way to the hotel using the Metro. It cost 10.30€ and only took about 40 minutes.

The 18th Arrondissement is Magical

We chose to stay in the 18th Arrondissement, Montmarte. Looking online I found a great deal at Hotel de Flore. We stayed for 8 nights and our room was $650.00. The room was small but comfortable. We had 2 twin beds and our own bathroom. The hotel was extremely clean and every staff member we talked to was nice and welcoming. They offer breakfast downstairs each day for an additional charge, but we choose to grab croissants at the local boulangerie. The hotel offered restaurant recommendations and Paris maps. The hotel is a very short walk to the Lamarck Metro Stop. It is about a 10-minute walk to all of the major sites in Montmarte.

A Parisian Breakfast

For breakfast each morning we went to Alexine the boulangerie down the street. The man working the counter did not speak English and he was very patient with our basic French. We each ordered a croissant and one extra pastry to try. Croissants were 1.25 euros. They were heavenly, flaky, buttery, and delicious. We tried regular, chocolate, and almond. At the end of our trip after stopping in every morning we were treated like regulars. On our way out the door, he always wished us, “Passez une bonne journee.”

Using The Metro Is The Easiest Way To Navigate Around Paris.

To get around Paris either walked or took the Metro. We had a 5-day unlimited pass that came with our Paris Pass. The Metro was quick and easy to figure out. Like in most big cities after you figure out your stop, you look to see the end of the line on the train you are taking and then you head in that direction. We were able to change trains and get around with no problems. The one big to remember about the Metro in Paris is that it does not run 24 hours, so be sure to check the hours if you plan to ride it after 1:00 a.m. Paris is a very walkable city. Some of the best parts of our days were just wandering around neighborhoods.

Should You Buy A Paris Pass?

Because it was our first time in Paris and we were staying for over a week, we bought the 7 day Paris Pass. It gave us entrance to the museums that we wanted to visit. One of the huge benefits of the pass is it allows you to skip the lines at most museums. Most being the keyword, not at the Palace of Versailles (where we stood in line for two hours.) 

The pass also includes a 5 day Metro Pass, a one-day hop-on hop-off bus tour, and wine tasting at the Les Caves du Louvre. We rode on the bus and listened to the guided narration for one loop around the city. It was a nice break from all the walking. We made reservations for the wine tasting. We did not have high hopes, but we were wrong. The sommelier was extremely knowledgeable. We learned a lot about French wines, tasted some excellent wines, and had a good time.

Picnicking In Paris.

Our favorite activity in Paris was picnicking. We brought a little blanket from home. We would buy a loaf of bread from the boulangerie, fruit from the farmer’s market, and cheese or salted butter from the Magasin de Fromage (the cheese store.) In Paris, you can buy wine and Champagne from little convenience stores such as Franprix. If you ask them nicely they will even uncork your bottle for you. We were also able to buy cups and knives from them for 10 cents each. With our picnic supplies ready we would scout out a perfect location. One of our favorite locations was on the bank of the Seine looking at Notre Dame.

We met a variety of Parisians picnicking and it is a popular summertime activity. Another beautiful location to picnic in was Luxembourg Gardens. The grounds are beautiful and there are plenty of chairs and tables to sit around.

Save Money And Visit Paris In August.

Paris is a very expensive city, but if you are on a budget there are plenty of ways to enjoy the city and not feel as though you are missing out. We were worried that it would be too hot in August, but the weather was actually very nice. There were a few small stores that we wanted to visit that were closed for their August vacation, but all in all August is a very budget-friendly time to visit the City of Lights.

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The show runs through December 23, 2018, and is free to the public. Invader has reproductions of his pixelated art hanging on the walls along with photos of his art in cities across the world. In addition to the art, there is a continuous video that was playing about how Invader sent a “space invader” to space in Florida in 2012. FYI: It was a success. I took pictures of my favorites like the invader with the avocado and I Love L.A. There is a storefront next door that sells kitschy and very expensive knickknacks.

The Invader APP

Invader also has his own app that you can download from the Apple Store. It is called Flash Invaders. Basically, you take a picture of an invader that you find in the wild, and if it is one that has been authenticated you receive points as if you were playing the video game. The app has a leader board and you can see other people’s pictures and what city they found the invader in. It is in the same vein as Pokemon GO. I am pretty bummed that I did not know about this app when I was in Paris because we saw lots of Invaders while we were walking around there.

The Best Ramen in Town at Daikokuya Little Toyko

After visiting the gallery we walked to Little Tokyo to get some Ramen. Dylan knew of a place that he had been to with his friends, Daikokuya Little Toyko. When we turned down the street we knew it must be really good because there was a long line waiting for a table. There was an iPad to add your name to the waitlist. This system is genius because it allows you to use your phone to check back in and see how many people are ahead of you in line. There were 29 tables ahead of us, so we went across the street to Tokyo Plaza and went shopping.

Ramen That’s Worth the Wait

It took a little over an hour for our table to be ready. The inside of the restaurant is small and has no thrills. We were starving. We ordered iced Oolong Tea and a Spicy Tuna Roll as an appetizer. Nicole and I both ordered their #1 best seller the Daikokuya Ramen with tonkatsu soup base infused with their secret blended soy sauce. Dylan ordered a teriyaki chicken bowl. The broth in the ramen tasted rich and full-bodied. The ramen was delicious and definitely worth the wait. I googled Daikokuya after we ate there and found that they have won a ton of awards and we all agreed they deserve the accolades.

Shopping at Tokyo Plaza

After dinner, we went back to Tokyo plaza for a little more shopping. We stopped to take a picture by the Christmas Tree and got sucked into watching karaoke. We watched a guy that was so bad, he was good. He was having such a good time it was contagious.

Ice Cream at Bae

We decided that we would get some ice cream before heading back home. We settled on bae. bae is a new soft serve ice cream shop on 2nd street. The inside is swanky, with chandeliers, leather seating, and a black wall with a cute saying that is Instagram-ready. They are known for their activated charcoal pineapple flavor which is pure black.

With Love, From Bae

I had Earl Coco, a swirl of Earl Grey & Cocoa Puffs. Dylan had the Matcha Chocolate, a swirl of Matcha & Chocolate. Nicole had the Heartbreak which is the Activated Charcoal Pineapple with a charcoal sugar cone. The heartbreak tastes very similar to the Dole Whipped at Disneyland. The Matcha was not sweet and paired nicely with the chocolate. Earl Coco was a nice combination because the tea flavor kept the coco puff flavor from being too sweet. Ice cream is $6.00 in a cup or for $1.50 extra you can get it in a cone. They have a red sugar cone, a black activated charcoal cone, and a green Matcha cone.  Street parking is available or you can find a parking garage attached to the Tokyo Plaza. Both the art district and Little Tokyo are accessible to the Gold Line as well.

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