Fun day of bike riding, shopping, and eating

What a fun day Chad and I had on Sunday. We loaded up our beach cruiser bikes and headed down to Santa Monica for a ride along the beach bike path. We rode from Santa Monica to Venice a few miles down, and a few back. There is so much going on down there...boardwalk shops, artists and performers, lots of transients, tarot card readers, it is a virtual carnival on the beach running year round with free admission. (Interesting fact: Venice was the birthplace of the Doors. Before their fame and fortune as one of the top rock bands of their time, the Doors played for the Venice locals.)We then headed up the bluffs to the 3rd Street Promenade for some retail therapy. After a little shopping we took the recommendation of a friend to try Anisette, a new french brasserie. The food was phenomenal, really exceptional, melt-in-your-mouth good, but expensive. The atmosphere was very cool. You instantly feel transported to a place where you are chic just the way you are. I love the shelves of liquor and champagne that soar to the two story ceiling. We had the Pate Maison, which was whipped and served in a jar with gelled currants to top it off and then had Duck Confit, which was amazing. I had the Farmer's Market Bloody Mary, which might very well have been the best bloody mary I've ever had! Chad had Paulaner Oktoberfest and loved it.On the way home we stopped at the bead shop Semi Precious. I bought a bunch a beautiful stones that I cannot wait to use. It is a tiny little shop on Montana in Santa Monica, with a nice selection of high quality stones. The stones I bought ranged from about $6-$12 each which is pretty pricey, but I couldn't resist them. I got some beautiful firey labradorite, moonstone, pink amethyst, citrine, smoky quartz.

(me, Chad, Ave & Tony)

For dinner we met up with the Bagan's and went to Mike & Anne's in South Pasadena. We sat outside on the patio, it is a quaint restaurant in a quaint town. Chad and I shared the romaine hearts, and I had the Miso-Sake Braised Black Cod (Edamame, Asparagus, Basil, Scallions), it was light and tasty. Chad had the Free Range Chicken Breast (Fingerling Potatoes, Green Beans, Nueske Bacon, And Red Wine Chicken Jus) and loved it. The food was good, the service was attentive and prompt. I would go back.

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