Los Angeles, CA

Now here’s one way to alleviate road rage. Hot Air Adventures provides aerial experiences high above Temecula Valley Wine Country. Consider a balloon ride as a unique option for a wedding proposal, $650 night-into-morning journey or the aphrodesiac-inspired “Mile High” excursion, hovering 5280 feet in the sky…

And you thought you had airline bragging rights. But I bet Jet Blue never handed you complimentary His and Her “Mile High” pins with the pretzels.

What do you get when you squeeze the theory of 80,000 Bob Smiths within a workshop?

Analyzation.

Challenge your I.Q. at a screening of Neil Abramson’s film Bob Smith U.S.A., being held at Center For Inquiry West. Your thinking cap is required to rub elbows and wits with brainiacs in this discussion.

When: Sunday, August 19th
Where: 4773 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Time: 11AM
Cost: Price: $6 (or $3 for students)
323-666-9797

Author Jim Pascoe will be discussing and signing copies of his kid-appropriate, fantasy manga Undertown Volume 1 tomorrow. Kudos to all who are responsible in getting our youth’s eyes away from computer screens and onto the pages of creative expression.

Date: Saturday August 11, 2007
Where: Mystery Book Store
1036 C-Broxton Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90024
Time: 1:00 PM

Feeling the need to gallop? Dude’s Ranch is a non-profit, 501(c)3 horse rescue, situated on a private ranch in Los Angeles County (Malibu and Acton, CA). If you’ve been debating on the horsepower of that Mustang convertible, lease a Dude’s Ranch horse instead (full or co-lease programs), which I’m sure will be more gratifying.

Offering private and couple riding lessons (Loubies or low-rider Levis not recommended), Dude’s Ranch also has the, “Non Crash, Crash Course for Actors”, for the thespian who lands their first spurring role and is in need of saddle lessons.

Call 818-497-7468 or 661-269-2473 to book a Sunset Ride or other majestic tours. All proceeds from the non-profit organization are for the upkeep, medical expenses, retraining and placement of their rescue horses.

Ahh, drive-ins; vivid memories of my parents taking advantage of my small build by concealing me on the floor of the back seat. Now that I think of it, maybe that’s why I’m not keen on sitting in the back seat of cars…

In lieu of your diminuitive children, take advantage of balmy nights and stellar movie openings at Pacific Vineland Drive-in. One of the dinosaurs left to enjoy summer cinematic enjoyment, this drive-in is open year-round, has expanded to 4 screens, with an overall capacity for over 1500 cars. Part of the drive-in experience was the raggedy intercom, threaded thorugh the cracked car window that never stopped the mosquitoes from feasting. Fortunately, Vineland’s audio is provided by FM stereo radio broadcast.

Tomorrow, Best Friends Network wants you to bring your canine friend to the LA Riptide vs. San Diego Drago Lacrosse Game so you can get in for FREE!

Date: Saturday, July 28th
Location: Home Depot Center
18400 Avalon Blvd
Carson, CA 90746

The Dog Event starts at 5:30 pm, with the game following at 7:30 pm. But you have to register prior to the event. Each admission is priced at $5 per ticket with one owner per dog FREE. Dog ticket sales, optional donations and $5 of all dog owners’ guest’s sales for the East side of the Home Depot Stadium will be donated to Best Friends Animal Society.

Whether your musical tastes equate to cardio-impacted beats or lullaby-enhancing notes, today’s venues are ripe for the picking:

Fergie Verizon VIP Tour
Where: House of Blues Anaheim
1530 S. Disneyland Dr.
Anaheim , CA 92802
Info: (714)778.BLUE
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Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Classics Under the Stars
Where: Hollywood Bowl
2301 North Highland Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90068
Info: (323) 850-2000
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Boz Scaggs
Where: The Grove of Anaheim
2200 East Katella Avenue
Anaheim, CA 92806
Info: (714)712-2700

I once was an ice cream-aholic, going into cosmic brain freezes from a flavor which echoed my sentiment - Death By Chocolate. It was a weekly summer ritual, indulging in this textured scoop of nirvana perched atop a sugar cone. It was followed by the purchase of a clear cylinder containing Carvel’s chocolate & vanilla Flying Saucers (round ice cream sandwich cookies); the dairy version of a tea party for me and my grandmother. Her banana split was also ordered to go, for I knew she was waiting back home for the sugary soirée . Yeah, I had it bad…

About seven years ago, lactose intolerance entered my world, ending my enjoyment of all things relevant to dairy AND chocolate. I’m not crying any more, thanks to MILK. Located at 7290 Beverly Blvd. in West Hollywood, its homemade ice cream is reminiscent of the happy days when ice cream parlors were not associated with calories or shipped-in deliveries. Most importantly, they are showing love for the lactose-intolerant, with a selection of soy vanilla, chocolate and coffee toffee for our reactive bellies.

I know my grandmother is smiling down from heaven, knowing that we would still be able to sit and enjoy ice cream together at MILK; she enjoying her banana split, and I creating custom-built ice cream sandwiches from their soy milk ice cream.

It’s telling me that the Spider City at the Los Angeles Zoo opened a few days ago, and needs some arachnid lovers to come check it out. ^_~ That is, if you’re not arachnophobic, of course.

What better a time to open Spider City than when Spider-Man 3 is in theaters? Coincidence?

I think not.

But that’s not really the point here.

In Spider City, you’ll find at least 25 different species of spiders, including the Cobalt Blue Tarantula, Brown Recluse, Goliath Birdeater, and Chilean Rosehair. It’s a temporary exhibit, located in the old koala house. The exhibit will only be open for viewing until October 31st, so if you wanna check it out, be sure to mark your calendars so you won’t be too late.

The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens is home to well over 200 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and invertebrates. Amongst the many animal exhibits throughout the park, the zoo features a number of shows featuring trained animals, such as the Worlds Bird Show. The zoo is located at the northeast corner of Griffith Park, at the Junction of the I-5 and I-134 freeways. Open everyday but Christmas, the zoo hours are from 10AM-5PM. Ticket prices are $10 for Adults (13 and up), $7 for Senior (62 and up), and $5 for Kids (2-12 years old). Kids under 2 get in free.

Tired of going to the movies and hittin’ up the mall every weekend? Looking for a change of pace?

How about a scavenger hunt?

On May 19th, the Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunts will be coming to the Santa Monica Pier for some humorous historical and puzzle fun.

Rather than going about collecting random objects, you and your group of 2-6 people will be scavenging for answers to witty and tricky questions about the places you’ll be visiting and things you see during the hunt. You get a set of clues, sometimes a map, and off you go; no prior knowledge necessary. The scavenger hunts take about 90 minutes to 2 hours to complete, not including the meeting beforehand and distribution of materials.

There will be two different hunts on the 19th: An adult’s-only, and family hunt. The cost of each is $19.50 and $17.50 per person, respectively.

Sound like fun? If so, check out the Watson Adventure’s website here for more info.

For purchasing tickets, see here, or call OvationTix, at (866)811-4111

Happy Hunting!