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Monday, October 20, 2008

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.

9 comments:

Hot Rocks said...

Sounds like a perfect day to me!!

allhorsestuff said...

Oh what a wonderful way to spend anyday...wish they were all Sundays!

Paige said...

I have done that same bike ride myself--but it was a pub crawl with the UCLA MBA school and I was sure I would be dead before it was over. It was topped off with watching a Lakers game at Sharky's, which made for a VERY LONG DAY

But it sure would be nice to have that available to me all the time

Anonymous said...

I am so jealous you are so close to Santa Monica! Was there for a wedding about 5 years ago and just LOVED it. I know exactly where you guys were when you mention the Promenade. Such a cool area and the food there is phenomenal. Will you be a tiny bit jealous if I say I spent the day at WIHS? Nah! I did have fun shopping, though!
Jana

Waterrose said...

What a wonderful day! I really like doing things like that...just the simple pleasures of riding a bike and enjoying great food.

Live, Love, Laugh, Write! said...

Your new beads look fun! And it sounds like you had a great day :)

K. Stahler said...

What a great beach!

I've tagged you on my blog http://kaysk9s.blogspot.com/ but there's no obligation =)

Meg said...

How cool...what a great day!

GMNL said...

i like ur beach photos and ur crafts.

thanks for dropping by and for the comment.yes it's snow time in here. though it will easily melt under the heat of the sun :). but it's cold.

Mabelle

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