Tuesday, July 30, 2002
City Delicatessen (535 University Av, 415-295-2747) with Patrick for breakfast. I think this place was a Jewish-American deli. Tasteful decor, efficient wait staff. Drive to Los Angeles. Met Tina and Domenica at the Ramada Inn (also known as The Gay Hotel)—they drove up about 5 minutes after we did! Tried to check in, but our room wasn't ready yet. Lunch at Barney's Beanery: Tina had a California chopped salad. Domenica had a Philly cheese steak sandwich. Patrick had the British Reuben. I had the cold roast beef sandwich with cheese. Two lemonades, 1 iced tea, 1 vodka drink. Our bill for 4 people came to $49.93 before tip, and overall Patrick and I felt this meal was not one of the best. Patrick: "Blah!" Checked in. Toured Santa Monica Boulevard on foot. Snacked at The Abbey (692 North Robertson Blvd, West Hollywood, 310-289-8410), which Patrick decided was his favorite place we saw in Los Angeles. Good food. Sexy people. It's a restaurant, cafe, and bar all rolled into a church-themed, elegantly decorated space. In the front, wrought iron gates open onto an outdoor bar facing a fountained courtyard with round patio tables and umbrellas. In the back, another bar indoors lets out onto generously sized cubbyholes with giant pillows and fine curtains lit by skylights and ventilated by rotating southeast Asian bamboo fans overhead. Such a unique space for congregation we have probably never seen before, and we basked from simply being there. Stopped in at a soap goods store called Splash. Back in our room, we watched Tina dye Domenica's hair. She also gave me and Patrick nail treatments while we all watched The Simpsons and American Idol. Dinner at Thailand Plaza (5311 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, 323-993-9000): chicken satay with peanut sauce, cucumber chili salad, pad thai with prawns and pork, "morning glory" vegetables, mussaman chicken curry, crying tiger beef. Our waiter was very friendly, engaging us in idle chatter in which he learned where we all were from and we learned he was from Thailand. Turns out he was also the live music act for the evening, singing solos and duets with a small live band. His first song was Fly Me to the Moon—one of our favorite songs, and one which Tina asked Patrick to sing karaoke 3 days ago. After that, he and a woman sang Endless Love, again another of our karaoke songs. A Thai love song we didn't know followed. And he continued throughout the evening with old favorites: Memories, Close To You, Love Is In The Air, Mystery Thai Song #2, Masquerade, I Will Survive, I Will Always Love You, My Girl. Thailand Plaza was a highlight of our L.A. trip. Free parking, great food, live music—a fun time, highly recommended.—Toured Santa Monica Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard and Hollywood Boulevard by car.