LA's Finest Sporting Events

     LA is home to some of the best sports teams in the United States and in the world.  LA is home to the Los Angles Lakers, Clippers, Kings, Galaxy, Dodgers, Angels, and more.  The only team LA lacks is a football team.  All of these teams are fun to watch in person.
     The Lakers are always a fun team to watch.  The games are a great time and celebrity sightings are regular.  Although they are not looking like championship contenders this year the games are always fun to be apart of.  The Clippers organization has completed a huge turn around in comparison to past years.  The last three years have been great for the Clippers and they are often said to be the best basketball team in LA and even on the West Coast.  With all the talented players the Clippers have acquired the past couples years they are a very fun team to watch in person.  They are not called "Lob City" for no reason.
     I have not been a fan of Hockey for long but the LA Kings and hockey in general is one of the best sports to watch in person.  Kings' games are very exciting and with their success in recent years the games are very fun to watch.  I have been to so many Galaxy games and if you love soccer you should go to their games.  Galaxy have won the MLS Cup the past two years and the team have some of the MLS's best players.  I am not the biggest fan of baseball but the Dodgers had an amazing year this year so if you like baseball go watch them play!  Thanks for reading about another day in paradise!

-Jackson McCracken

Let's Party!

     Everybody enjoys getting dressed up and going out and having a good time with friends.  This week I will be featuring a few great places to have fun with friends on the weekends or whenever you choose to enjoy yourself.

     Hermosa Beach has many places to have a good time.  Hermosa has casual sports bars and crowded clubs so there are several places to choose depending on what kind of vibe you are looking for.  North End Bar is a great bar to watch a sporting event or hang with friends.  If you are lucky you may even spot some of the LA Kings players after their games, they go to North End often.  That should speak for the quality of the place for itself.  Another fun sports bar is called Underground Pub & Grill.  This is right by Pier Ave where all the major and popular bars/clubs are so if this place isn't your type then stroll down the street and choose from one of the many other spots.  

     I only touched on some places in Hermosa but there are great places all over LA.  Be sure to check out this page!  Thanks for reading about another day in paradise!

-Jackson McCracken

Acai?

     Something that is new to my knowledge is how popular acai bowls are these days.  I heard about them a while ago and now there lots of places that specialize in acai bowls all over LA.  Acai is a berry that is a grape-like fruit harvested from acai palm trees, which are native to the rainforests of South America.  There are many health benefits that nutritionists are advocating for regular consumption of this fruit.
     If you are in LA there are probably several places close by that you can check out and try this fairly new phenomenon.  I visited a place in Manhattan Beach today called Nekter.  It was my second time trying these bowls and it was delicious.  I highly recommend trying this place and acai in general.  Right down the street there is a place called Paradise Bowls.  I have yet to try this place but I have heard a lot of good things from friends.  There are also some good places in West LA like Amazebowls, which is supposed to really good as well.  If you are interested in trying this delicious trend then hop on the internet and find a place near you!  Thanks for reading about anther day in paradise!

-Jackson McCracken

Food From the Sea

     If you are not a lover of sushi then that is a shame because there are so many great sushi places in the LA area.  Today I am only going to mention a few but there are tons of great places in LA.  First place is called Fusion Sushi.  It is in downtown Manhattan Beach and it is a great place to have a casual dinner and have a couple drinks.  It is fairly inexpensive and the food is great!
     Next place is called Kanpai and is located on Lincoln Blvd.
This a pretty small place but if you can grab a table you must check it out!  The food is spectacular and is the best sushi spot around the Westchester/Playa Vista area.  This next place is in Manhattan Beach as well.  It is called The Izaka-ya By Katsu-ya.  This place is in an awesome location right off Manhattan Beach Blvd.  So after you finish your amazing meal you can walk around beautiful and lively downtown Manhattan Beach.  You can go get some ice cream to top off your night or walk down to the pier.  Thanks for reading about another day in paradise!

-Jackson McCracken

Santa Monica's Treasures

     Santa Monica is a destination that must be visited if you are in Los Angeles.  It has a little bit of everything, good food, the beach, tons of shopping, and fun things to do at night.  First off, if you come to LA looking to shop, you have to visit 3rd Street Promenade because it has so many stores that you are probably looking for.  It can get a little crowded down there but parking usually is not a big problem.  However, Santa Monica has much more than its shopping destinations.
     Santa Monica has some great places to eat.  The Apple Pan is a great small and local place to grab some food.  It is located right on Pico blvd. Another location that is well known for its burgers and high-end beers is Father's Office.  Not only does this place have potentially the best burger in LA but also it has some of the nicest beers in the world.  One in particularly is called the Pliny the Elder from the Russian River Brewery from Santa Rosa, CA.  This is an awesome pace to go on any night of the week.  It is very popular and is always a good time be sure to check it out!.  Thanks for reading about another day in paradise!

-Jackson McCracken

Everybody loves hiking

     This week is all about hiking in Los Angeles area.  Los Angeles is home to lots of great hiking destinations that include the Hollywood hills and amazing coastline trails with spectacular views.  First one that I enjoy is the infamous "Hollywood Sign" hike.  This hike is in Griffith Park, which is right next to the Griffith Observatory.  This hike has several different trails you can choose.  Every girl needs a photo of them next to the Hollywood sign.
     Runyon Canyon is another great hike.  It offers some really amazing views.  You have a choice of a 1.65 mile hike or a 2.65 mile hike.  Runyon canyon is a very popular hike and one of LA's best.
     Temescal Canyon is a great place to get a good workout in.  It has great canyon and ocean views and is located right near sunset blvd.  The basic loop is 2.6 miles.
This hike is my personal favorite because of the ocean views.
These are all great hikes and definitely worth checking out!
Thanks for reading about another day in paradise!

-Jackson McCracken

Hometown fair

     Just this passed weekend I went home to see my grandparents and family in Manhattan Beach, CA.  During my stay at home the historic Hometown Fair of Manhattan beach was going on.  The fair attracts people from all around southern california who come to buy or sell their product.  The fair has things for everyone to enjoy like great food, games, live music, beer garden, and lots of arts and crafts.  As a kid, I would go every year and I still try to go if I am in town.  I grew up working in the fair fundraising for my soccer team because many of my teammates could not afford the fees that come along with club soccer.  This goes to show that many of the booths are not just big companies making more money and there are plenty of small organizations that could use the support.  It is a great place to have a fun time and support some good causes.
     My Mother and her friends love the art and crafts section of the fair, which is very large.  The fair displays very nice jewelry and extremely cool photos and art.  However, some of these products can get a little pricy but the artwork is well deserving of its price.  The music at the fair is usually made up of local bands that have styles very characteristic of the south bay.  It is an awesome time and it is a great way to learn and experience the Manhattan Beach culture.  Thanks for reading about another day in paradise!

-Jackson McCracken

Learning in LA

Los Angeles is not all about beaches, beautiful people, Hollywood, and the "good life."  Los Angeles has lots of scholarly things to do as well.  There are lots of museums that are definitely worth checking out like the Getty, LACMA, and Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.  The Getty is an awesome museum and one of LA's best.  Not only are the exhibits amazing but also the architecture of the building is fascinating by itself.  Another great museum is the Natural History Museum which features lots of interesting exhibits at different times the year.  The ones I have been to are the "body" exhibit and a reptile and insects exhibit, which were both very cool in their own ways.  If you are really interested in contemporary art then LACMA is a place you need to visit.  It has all kinds of famous artwork that is not all contemporary.  Just last month I visited the Henry Matisse exhibit, which was great.  LACMA also includes a really cool light display right outside the museum that people seem to be intrigued with.  It is a place that can be visited more than once and I visit several times every year for new exhibits or even small concerts.  Thanks for reading about another day in paradise!

-Jackson McCracken

Fine Dining

     The "South Bay" of Los Angeles has so many amazing restaurants to choose from.  I am only going to mention a few that are in Manhattan and Marina del Rey.  These restaurants are some of my personal favorites.  If you love greek food, Manhattan Beach has an amazing restaurant called Petros.  I have been going to this place for years with my family and it is great.  My favorite is their hollow doughnut dessert.  Definitely worth trying!  Another great restaurant in Manhattan Beach is the MB Post.  This place is awesome and the food is served family style so you order lots of small plates that you can choose to eat individually or share amongst the table.  I think this si the best restaurant in Manhattan Beach and one of the best in Los Angeles.  People come from all over Los Angeles to eat there and you should look to set up a reservation several weeks in advance.
     One of my new favorite restaurants is in Marina Del Rey and its called Paiche.  This place is a fusion between Peruvian and Japanese cuisine.  The dishes are small and meant to be shared so it is suggested to get lots of dishes to share with the table.  Paiche is an amazonian fish and they actually hae several dishes of the fish.  It was one of my favorite dishes at the restaurant and dish deserves its title as the name of the restaurant.  Thanks for reading about another day in paradise!

-Jackson McCracken

Reasons to Pursue Palos Verdes

     A great place to visit or stay in Los Angeles is Palos Verdes.  Palos Verdes is a city just south of Redondo Beach.  It is the peninsula to the south that is easily visible from Malibu, Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach etc.  It is a very secluded and beautiful area that is not easily accessible from freeways.  However it is not a burden driving there because the ride is very scenic along the Pacific coastline.  In my opinion Palos Verdes hosts the nicest resort in Los Angeles called Terranea.  It is a beautiful ocean front resort that has magnificent views, dining, and golf.  The resort is 30 miles south of downtown Los Angeles.  There are several things worthy of checking out in Palos Verdes.  One of my personal favorites is a place called Abalone Cove, which is a great place to bring kids or people of any age.  It is only five dollars to park.  The cove property has great trails to hike and amazing tide pools to explore for sea life.  There is a wide range of sea life available to be seen including the rare abalone, which gives the spot its name.  It is a great place to check out and it is never crowded.

     When you are done hiking around abalone cove you should stop by Lunada Bay Cafe.  It is a small local cafe that has great coffee and hot chocolate.  This place has my favorite hot chocolate in all of Los Angeles.  There are several great golf courses in Palos Verdes including Trump National Golf Club (very expensive but beautiful), Los verdes, the links at Terranea, and more.  

     Palos Verdes is a place most people don't visit when they visit Los Angeles, but is a beautiful place that everyone should see.  Thanks for reading!

-Jackson McCracken

                                                                                        

Beach Life

            In the summertime, Los Angeles is the city where everyone should be visiting.  It is such a large, diverse and spread out place with so many things you can do.  When the weather is a little hotter in the summer I highly recommend checking out the lovely beaches in Los Angeles.  There are several good options that might make more sense to where you are staying like Malibu, Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach or Hermosa Beach.  My personal favorites are Manhattan and Hermosa because of the relaxation atmosphere, good-looking people, and good surf.

            Not only is the beach awesome in Manhattan and Hermosa but also there are great places to eat and explore when you are finished or need a break from the beach.  If it is a hot day and you need some ice cream to cool off I highly recommend the Manhattan Beach Creamery.  It has all kinds of unique flavors and chocolate covered snacks.  If you are hungry and want to grab something to eat I also recommend Simmzy’s Pub.  Simmzy’s is a really cool restaurant in a prime location right on Manhattan Beach Blvd.  It is on the small side but it has great sandwiches and burgers and an array of amazing beers to choose from. 

            If you are staying close by to Manhattan and Hermosa and are looking for something fun to do at night both towns have plenty of great bars and places to have fun with friends.  Hermosa has more of a younger crowd so if you want to check out some clubs go down to Pier Ave and see what is a popular spot for the night.  Thanks for reading!  Hope you enjoy!  Check out Joanna's advice too!

-Jackson McCracken