Weekend in LA

This past weekend I ventured to Los Angeles to visit my boyfriend and was there for less than 48 hours.  I did, however, manage to pack those 48 hours with a whole lot of stuff.  Visiting friends in Korea Town, seeing Mickey and Minnie at Disneyland and eating shrimp tacos in Venice Beach, to be exact.

As a child, I was a seasoned Disney World veteran.  I loved that place and everything about it from the futuristic monorail to the Mickey-shaped waffles to the overpriced autograph books.  This is why when my boyfriend asked me what I wanted to do on this trip out to see him, I knew instantly that I wanted to relive the glory days at Disneyland.  Aside from the hoards of children and over-sized strollers everywhere, it still was magical.  

The second and last day of my short trip, we woke up with our terribly sore feet and decided to go to Venice Beach before dropping me off at the airport.  Venice Beach is like Disneyland for bums.  It's a very eclectic place to say the least, but still very cool none the less.  We strolled down the promenade past all of the vendors and homeless people to the skate park on the beach, enjoying the fabulous 75 degree weather.  Before heading to LAX, we grabbed a bite at the Venice Ale House and had AH-mazing shrimp nachos and tangerine beer.  Needless to say, I wasn't at all ready to head back home to chilly Chicago.  If you ever find yourself in the area, be sure to check this restaurant out.  The food was great.

On a sidenote for Disney enthusiasts, I found out about a little-known secret club at Disneyland, called Club 33.  Located in the New Orleans Square section of the park, the entrance is a door next to the Blue Bayou restaurant with an engraved address plate saying "33".  Apparently guests must press a buzzer and insert their key in a panel that is hidden on the doorway.  The inside looks like a French hotel lobby complete with a dining room and full bar.  It was Walt Disney's idea for the club which opened in 1964, decorated with antiques and original Disney memorabilia.  Anyone who joins the club for a mere $10,000 in addition to the $3,500 in annual dues gets early admission, valet parking, access to the Presidential Car on the Disneyland Railroad and 6 immediate Fastpasses to cut the line for rides.  What a deal!  Oh and there's a 14 year wait list... so start saving.