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About Jamie A

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In addition to writing and taking photos during her trips, Jamie loves to find hidden gems, cheap eats, and kitschy Americana attractions. She hails from Oil City, Pennsylvania, went to college in the Finger Lakes Region of New York, studied abroad in Norwich, England, and moved to Boston in May of 2007. She also enjoys writing poetry and lyric essays, reading lots of books, being a foodie, listening to girl group tunes from the 1960s, crafting, and dinner parties with her friends.

Blog posts written by Jamie A

Top Ten Hiking Trails

February 22nd, 2008 by jamie a

Elysian ParkElysian Park Photo uploaded by ericrichardson

For all you nature-lovers out there, a trove of great parks and trails lie beneath the glitzy exterior of Los Angeles. Elisa Jacobs of LA.com has put together a list of the Top 10 Hiking Trails in and around LA.

From the downtown splendor of Elysian Park to more than 100 acres of wildlife in Hollywood’s Runyan Canyon, there’s plenty of reasons to stay in the city to get your nature fix.

Happy trails to you!

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Exhibits at the Bowers Museum

February 20th, 2008 by jamie a

African DrumsAfrican Drums Photo uploaded by Ben Tubby

Head on over to the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art in Santa Ana for a myriad of fantastic exhibits and events happening in February!

Here’s just some of the highlights:

Thursday, February 21 (1 pm)
Lecture: “Timeless Melodies: African American Contributions to American Popular Music”

Saturday, February 23 (1:30 pm)
Lecture: “Pharaoh at the Bat: Sports & Games in Ancient Egypt”

Sunday, February 24 (11 am- 4 pm)
Celebrate Black History Month with the African Family Festival!

Thursday, February 28 (6 - 8:30 pm)
Jazz at Bowers: Music in the Moment with Bill Madison

For even more events, the full calendar can be seen here.

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Under 21 Nightlife in Los Angeles

February 11th, 2008 by jamie a

Troubadour in Los Angeles Mika at The Troubadour Photo uploaded by paper or plastic

LA.com has a fantastic guide for those who are under 21 in LA and are dying for some fabulous nightlife. This guide features 12 hotspots which are either all-ages or 18+ clubs or venues for a great night out on the town.

From indie shows at The Troubadour to Bang! which features DJs spinning electro, new wave, and other retro tunes, you’re sure to find something to suit your style.

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Sushi in Los Angeles

February 7th, 2008 by jamie a

Geisha House
Geisha House photo courtesy of Carrie T.

If you’re a sushi fan, Los Angeles is a fantastic city to find some of the best.

For a night out with drinks…
At the Geisha House in Hollywood, you can experience traditional Japanese customs in a hip, modern environment. It boasts of a sushi bar and a sake lounge for a perfect night out on the town. You can check out their amazing menu here.

For a casual date…
Head over to Restaurant Komasa for delightfully fresh fish and great service. Locals love the yellowtail, but also enjoy the tuna and the eel. Your little cup of green tea is constantly full, providing for a wonderfully relaxing night.

For cheap-eats…
Check out Sushi Q in Hollywood for a great place for a group of friends to have some tasty sushi without breaking the bank. They’ve got a gigantic menu, which is great for pleasing a crowd. Favorites include the baked salmon roll and the spicy tuna roll, along with the beef teriyaki.

For delivery…
Niko Niko is perfect if you just want to spend a night inside. They’re known for their larger-than-normal rolls, great service, and unique combinations. They even play Japanese pop music if you choose to eat-in, which makes for some great dinnertime fun.

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Attention Crafters

February 4th, 2008 by jamie a

heartsPainting Hearts Photo uploaded by Crystl

Craft something magical for the object of your affection this Valentine’s Day!

ReadyMade magazine and Anthropologie are sponsoring “The Art of Creating Personal Love Notes” on Thursday, February 7th at 6:30 PM at 1402 Third Street Promenade. The event will feature live demonstrations and free ‘love note kits’ so you can practice your new skills at home.

Space is limited, so be sure and reserve a spot by emailing rsvp@readymademag.com with ‘Los Angeles’ in the subject line.

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Literary History of Los Angeles

January 28th, 2008 by jamie a

typewriterA Typewriter on an Adventure Photo uploaded by avlxyz

With a city so rich in cinematic history, the great writers of LA tend to be overlooked. Beyond the glitz and glam, lie writers like Charles Bukowski, Joan Didion, and Raymond Chandler who bring the city to life through their words.

DiscoverLosAngeles.com provides a wonderful article on the literary history of the city of angels. As Bukowski said, “Since I was raised in LA, I’ve always had the geographical and spiritual feeling of being here…I’ve had time to learn this city. I can’t see any other place than LA.” If he’s your style, check out Esotouric’s tour of Bukowski’s favorite spots in the city. They also offer two Raymond Chandler tours, which help tourists discover how Los Angeles shaped not only his fiction, but the course of his life.

There’s no better way to discover the intricacies of a city than by reading first-hand accounts of calling it home. After you’ve learned the stories of these great writers of the past, be sure and take in a reading at a local coffee shop to appreciate LA’s thriving 21st century writers. You’ll most likely find a new author to love, as well as understand why LA is a city that still inspires great works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.

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Top January Events in Los Angeles

January 21st, 2008 by jamie a

Monterey Jazz FestivalMonterey Jazz Festival Photo uploaded by Cabrillo.HWY

Discover Los Angeles has put together a list of the top January events happening in the city. Forget about going through all the event guides and newspapers, they’ve got the best of the best all ready for you!

You can attend the Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary Tour, which is the world’s longest running jazz festival, featuring the modern jazz stars of today. There’s also the Chinese New Year Spectacular, featuring hundreds of performers, where you can help ring in the new year.

For something inspiring, you can head over to the Aquarium of the Pacific for the Festival of Human Abilities, which celebrates the talents of artists and musicians with disabilities. If a night out on the town is more your style, there’s DineLA, which we covered in a previous post.

Whatever your style, there’s bound to be something on the list to make your January a month to remember!

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Megabus Launched in Los Angeles

January 16th, 2008 by jamie a

Megabus
Taking a Trip with Megabus

Photo uploaded by Steve Deger

Recently introduced to the west coast, Megabus provides extremely affordable trips for students or those traveling on a budget. This low-cost daily bus service travels from Los Angeles to seven locations (so far), including Las Vegas, San Francisco, and San Diego.

Here’s an example of schedules and stops on the Los Angeles to San Francisco route. If you have questions or wish to make a reservation, reserve online or call 877-GO2-MEGA.

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New Nokia Theatre in Downtown LA

January 11th, 2008 by jamie a

L.A. Nokia Theater
Photo courtesy of Nokia Theatre

If you’re looking for a great place to see live concerts, nationally broadcast award shows, or hilarious comedians, the 7,100 seat Nokia Theatre is the latest addition to the L.A. scene.

Opened in October 2007, the first six concerts at the venue were completely sold out, but the theatre plans to host about 120 events per year. That certainly means that you’re sure to find something to fit your tastes and style, plus get your hands on some tickets!

After hosting the American Music Awards, their first venture in hosting award shows, the venue was a complete hit. They’ve got an awesome upcoming lineup including Willie Nelson, Aretha Franklin, Larry the Cable Guy, and the Moody Blues, so be sure and get your tickets early and enjoy the show.

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The Best Restaurants in Los Angeles

January 9th, 2008 by jamie a

LA’s Violet restaurant
Dining at LA’s Violet Restaurant
Photo uploaded by misocrazy, taken by Pengrin

Celebrate the culinary talent and a wide variety of cuisines during LA’S Restaurant Week. Dubbed dineLA, this event brings all restaurants together, from eclectic to home-style, to showcase all the great food this city has to offer.

From January 27- February 1st and February 3 - February 8, diners can make reservations for either “deluxe” or “premier” dining choices, with special discounted prices for a three course meal. They range from $15 for lunch and $25 for dinner at “deluxe” locations and $22 for lunch and $34 for dinner at “premier” restaurants.

If you’ve been itching to find a new place to dine, this week gives you the opportunity to quench your palate without breaking the bank! To help you plan your excursions, Budget Travel posted “Making the Most out of Restaurant Week,” which offers six pieces of advice on how to have a great time and get what you paid for.

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