Hotdog Cart

As I’ve been stuck in Fashion Island, Newport Beach, non-stop for the past month (working at my mom’s gift-wrapping store), I thought I’d provide you with insider knowledge on the only geek-friendly area in the mall.

The hotdog cart.

It may look like just a regular old hotdog cart, but, notice, it’s mere feet away from… THE APPLE STORE.

That’s right, if you find yourself forced into Fashion Island, you, too can make this your little slice of geekdom.

The hotdogs are actually phenomenal and incredibly reasonable. They’re maybe the only thing one can buy for less than a 5er in the entire mall. Plus, they have tofu dogs!

"We'll keep you entertained for a moment!"

Fashion Island used to have little carts all over the place. However, a few months ago, Nordstrom rolled into the mall and insisted the carts skedaddle. What a diva. The only cart permitted to remain? Hotdogs. Yeah.

A few stores up and you’ll discover a lovely koi pond.

There you go, a geek’s guide to Fashion Island.

Enjoy.

Boba: The Quest for Perfection (Cha for Tea, Long Beach)

I visited Cha for Tea in Long Beach where I got blended Thai Tea because they didn’t have my favorite flavor: chocolate. It was way too sweet. And way too icy. The bobas were perfect, though.

The customer service is fantastic. All of the girls working were very helpful and friendly.

They had samples of tea at the register along with way too many things to read and look at.

There is no lounge area. Just wooden tables and chairs with a confusing number system.

1/5 bobas. 

P.S. The name of your business doesn’t make sense.

Natraj Cuisine of India

That guy might be a nerd...

Is Indian food considered geeky? I don’t know, but I had to write about this restaurant.

My friends Sean and Sam took me to Natraj Cuisine of India in Belmont Shore. I’ve only had Indian food maybe twice before, but this was AMAZING.

Sean and Sam are regulars at this restaurant and thus are treated like royalty. We were warmly greeted by the owner the moment we walked in. The warm ‘hello’s continue from every staff member we came across.

Natraj is a little bit of a hole-in-the-wall (my favorite kind of hole (I know)). The restaurant is quiet and dark and warm and fresh. The décor is not too cheesy: There is a wall mural of the Taj Mahal, but, c’mon, isn’t that standard practice?

We ordered a plethora of vegetarian dishes. As well as some rice and garlic naan. SO GOOD. And, because Sean and Sam are on 'the list', we got to share a complimentary frozen cheesy piece of heaven. Then the owner came back over to us and wanted to make sure I, specifically, was satisfied.

So, after your love interest agrees to a second date (since you took him/her to The Library for coffee on your first date), take him/her to Natraj Cuisine of India and relish in the, “You know all the good places,” compliments you are sure to receive.

The Library: A Coffee Shop

I don't know these people.

Do you like hot beverages? What about books?

I stumbled upon a way-cool geek-friendly coffee shop in Long Beach: The Library.

Think of the kind of coffee shop you see in movies and TV shows. Central Perk, anyone? Those sort of lounge-coffee shops don’t really exist, right? In the real world we have stark, always-the-same, Starbucks. Not so fast, Mr. Negative.

This place is so comfortable and cozy. I browsed through books, made 2 new friends, and enjoyed a delicious soy chai tea latte. If I had the foresight to have brought my laptop, I may have been inspired to write a novel – who knows. It’s just THAT awesome of a place.

If you’re a nerd without the courage to ask a someone on a real date and instead asks him or her to ‘coffee’. This is where you should take that person to get said coffee. Your guest will, for sure, agree to a second date to see what other amazing hidden places you know about.

One draw-back: parking. Isn’t that just Long Beach in general, though?

Update: Harry Potter Midnight Screening

We found a group of half-assed costumes.

Was it worth the wait? Of course!

Less people were dressed up this year. Maybe because it was cold? I don’t know.

I slept for the first half of the day. Yeah, just out – on the ground – whatevs. Then we met up with Bellatrix Lestrage and wandered all over the Spectrum taking pictures. It was great fun.

We were probably 20^th in line when we got to the theatre. By the time we went inside we were 60^th. Stupid kids holding spots for dozens of people.

We got good seats. However, we were sitting next to some OC Bro Douches who had clearly snuck in. They were loudly hating on all of the Harry Potter pride that was happening in the theatre. Finally someone stood up to them and said, “knock it off.”

A chorus of, “oh, tough guy, huh?” broke out.

THEN THE BEST LINE OF THE NIGHT was uttered by one of these a-holes. In a classic meat-head-bro drawl, “I’ll stupefy his bitch-ass.”

Then the movie started and they fell asleep.

Narcissa, Bellatrix, and Snape re-create the unbreakable vow from HP and the Half Blood Prince.

I’m not going to give you my review of the movie. It is your job to go see it and tell me what you thought!

Harry Potter Midnight Screening

Are you ready for what’s about to happen?

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is coming to a theatre near you on FRIDAY. THIS Friday.

If you’re truly a fan, you’ll be seeing this film on Thursday at midnight.

I’ll be getting in line for the 12:01am IMAX screening at the Irvine Spectrum at 9am. That’s right, I will be waiting in line for 15ish hours on Thursday.

That’s insane! No, not really. Midnight screenings are one of my all-time favorite events. One gets to spend the day with like-minded geeks, playing trivia, talking about the film, taking pictures in costume.

COSTUME? Oh yeah. I’ll be dressed as Luna Lovegood and I’ll be hanging out with Sirius Black.

Even if you’re not a fan. It’s gonna be worth visiting the Spectrum to see all the crazy.

At the Midnight Screening for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Update: OC Improv Cup

Laughs were heard, moneys were raised. 

Cherry Spitz Comedy did really well in the Cup. We had players finish 6^th, 4^th, and 2^nd. Hurray!

“You know who really won? Hole in the Wall Camps Charity.”

Thank you to everyone who came out. 

If you missed it, there's always next year!  

Sptiz at the cup: Kevin Stevenson, Blaire Byhower, Erik Wargo, Tim Gale, Kat Shea, Lars Hansen, James Stebick, Ify Nwadiwe