Griffith Observatory: Cheap Valentine Date, but Totally Hip

My daughter wanted to see a planetarium show with her girl friends at the Griffith Observatory. We haven't gone up to the Observatory in years, but thought it would be fun for the girls to go there. As we were driving her up to the planetarium on Vermont Ave., we noticed that traffic was horrendous. Next thing we knew, traffic cops placed cones on the street and blocked cars from going up to the observatory. They told us that we had to park in a parking lot close to the Greek Theatre and walk up. So we just dropped the girls off. My husband and I drove back to Los Feliz to have dinner. This is when we realized that it was Valentine's Day: Everyone was out dining, and many were heading up to the Observatory for some romantic star and vista gazing, hence that awful traffic.

Later in the evening after the traffic died down around 9:30 p.m., we went to pick up the girls from the observatory.  We walked around this  newly renovated jewel of an art deco building and enjoyed the night views up at the Griffith Observatory for the first time. No wonder this is a Valentine's Day destination. It costs nothing to park and walk around the observatory to enjoy the spectacular views. The building and its exhibits are free as well. At night, the Los Angeles basin city lights below Mount Hollywood glitter like jewels in the dark, competing with the stars above. The Samuel Oschin Planetarium show featuring a live narrator and awesome dome projection via a Zeiss star projector, costs only $5.00 for students and $7 for all others. My daughter, who saw the show "Centered in the Universe" declare that the show is mind blowingly spectacular, making her realize how small humans are in the universe. She now wants to learn about astronomy and work on animation for the Planetarium shows.

Griffith Observatory is an unconventional yet totally romantic place to celebrate Valentine's Day on the cheap. Is it hip enough for the hipsters? I'm not sure, but it sure is perfect. I'll make a note to come up here again soon. The Griffith Observatory at night should be on everyone's bucket list.

Griffith Observatory
2800 East Observatory Road
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(213) 473-0800

Unhipsters' Hangout: The Wonderful Food at Gonzalez Northgate Supermarket

Northgate Gonzalez Market used to be called Top Valu Market, 4700 Inglewood Blvd, Culver City. . Recently, the ownership changed and the price seems to be a tad more expensive than before, but the grocery selection here is amazing. It's a Mexican supermarket, so you can find plenty of ingredients I need to prepare Asian, Mexican, or other cuisines, as well as your typical American fare. Northgate carries a great selection of peppers, both fresh and dried. I love their jalapenos, poblanos, and bell peppers. 

All kinds of peppers.

  
There are also many interesting Latin American ingredients that I don't know how to use that I often wished someone at the market will start holding cooking classes to show shoppers like myself how to use the ingredients to prepare Mexican food. Every time I go to Gonzalez's I spend hours looking at the ingredients, and wondering if I dare prepare them without knowing how. Other times, I will just go up to a shopper who is looking at the same ingredient I'm looking at and ask her how she prepare those ingredients. Most of the time, I get some really helpful answers. Other times, the shopper can only speak to me in Spanish, and we'd look at each other and just laugh.

Tomatillows, Yucca, Carrots, Pinto Beans

Northgate has the freshest cilantros, scallions and radishes at reasonable prices. By reasonable, I mean at least 30% off the mainstream supermarket prices. Top Valu also sells a wide selection of prepared salsa, flan, guacamole, crema, and ceviche. It has a bakery with all kinds of bread. I receintly bought their corn bread. It's so moist inside that I can eat the whole thing by myself. I also always go for the four for a dollar bread rolls and use them to make subway style sandwiches. You simply can't beat the price and deliciousness.

Salsa, guacamole, and ceviche from Gonzalez' Northgate Market.