Natural Grotto at Circle X Ranch

This weekend, my friend Amanda and I went to check out a natural grotto in the Santa Monica Mountains, north of Los Angeles.

It's a bit of a drive from LA, as it is north of Malibu (maybe halfway to Santa Barbara?), but it's not hard to get there. You can take the 101 North, then cut inland on Rt. 23 (which is Westlake Blvd near the 101). The road is winds through the mountains/canyons--it's full of switchbacks, so be aware of that if you get carsick. :) You'll continue on the road, to the right, when you encounter Decker Canyon Road (don't go left on that road--we made that mistake), then turn right on Little Sycamore Canyon Road, which then morphs into Yerba Buena Road. That will take you to Circle X Ranch. The road eventually leads out to PCH, too. If you want to come from PCH, you'd head north on it, through Malibu, and turn right on Yerba Buena Road (which is just past Neptune's Net restaurant). You can also take Yerba Buena out that way from Circle X--I think there's only one stop sign where the road splits, and you just go left (toward the ocean/downhill) to get to PCH.

Once you arrive at Circle X Ranch, you can park at the ranger/info station and follow the signs down to the campground, which is where the Grotto Trailhead starts. It's pretty clearly marked.




The trail itself is about 3.5 miles round trip. It is fairly easy on the way in--mostly downhill, with some uphill portions. It alternates shade and full sun. The trail itself is in pretty good shape, with some areas of erosion to watch out for, but it is clear and obvious all the way to the top of the grotto. I think there's only one real fork in the trail--you simply go to the right (downhill) when you reach it.


(Amanda walking on the path, past the head of a tiny waterfall that trickles down a cliff--you have to step over the stream that feeds it, and the path walks past it, but not to the base--there's not much to it.)


(Part of the path is through a field--the view heading in is neat.)

Eventually, you'll come across a rocky riverbed, which was dry when we found it. You'll cross that and continue on the path. I think there's a sign there to point the way. The trail then sort of follows along the riverbed, which starts to show signs of water as you go along. It comes out at the top of the grotto, which is made up of huge boulders.


(Amanda is all, "How are we getting down there?!")

We weren't sure where to go or how to get down the rocks to get to the grotto itself, but saw that there were other people down by the base, so we knew there was a way...and, sure enough, there was a narrow, rocky, steep path leading up the wall of the canyon that took us over. It is to the right, leading upward along the rock wall, then back down through some trees, around to the base of the grotto. That part isn't terribly easy to navigate--requires a fair amount of agility, balance and strength, but it is totally doable, as we saw two girls at the grotto who were maybe 12 years old (with their moms, of course).


(Grotto entrances from afar.)


(Grotto entrances, closer in--the waterfall is through the entrance to the left, which is larger and which has deeper water than the entrance to the right.)

The grotto itself is lovely. The water is cold and mostly clear. The bottom of the pool is rocky and does have some branches in it, so it's a little hard to walk in the water, but completely possible if you're careful. Water streams in along a rock face on one side and in a water fall on the other side.


(The waterfall.)



You can walk from one side to the other, from either of the entrances. The left side is deeper than the right--I swam out that end, even though one could probably just walk closer to the walls and find shallow ground (even at the deepest point, I probably could have stood up and been above water).


(Me, under the waterfall--natural light from above!)


(Amanda reaching into the waterfall.)


(Amanda walking over to the other water source, which comes down over some rocks)


(The view out of the grotto, from the right entrance, if you're looking at it from the outside.)

There are lots of places to sit around the grotto and just relax--shaded and sunny rocks, some ground and old tree areas, etc. It's quite remote, so while we saw people, I would say that we encountered less than 10 people while at the grotto itself. Most of the people we saw were on our hikes in and out of the area.


(Nice place to sit and relax!)

The hike out is challenging, much more so than the hike in. It's almost all uphill, and in the afternoon heat and sun, it is draining. It is beautiful, though--there's a stretch along the hillside of the canyon that is lovely.



I would highly recommend bringing plenty of water and snacks, and to carry them in a backpack, so that you can keep your hands free to scramble over the rocks, branches and ground (as is required to get up and down around the grotto). You will need your hands free, trust me. Sunscreen and a hat are also necessary! There are no dogs allowed on the end of the path to the grotto, and I would recommend it only for older children--we saw a couple with a young child and a baby headed toward it, and I have absolutely no idea how they would have navigated down the last portion of the path to the grotto.


(On the way out from the grotto...this doesn't even do it justice...that path is tricky!)

There is a bathroom at the ranger station, and there are water fountains at the campground and ranger station, but there are no other provisions nearby, so get any gas/snacks/etc before you come in. There are trail maps at the ranger station, which is wonderful! Malibu is not that far of a drive--in fact, the road out to PCH comes out right by Neptune's Net, just north of the Malibu city limits--so it's an easy trip down there to get some food or go to the beach if you're up to it.

Escondido Falls--update

I've gone back up to Escondido Falls a couple of times recently, and have some udpates for you:

The trail conditions have worsened once you leave the main path and head up the mountain to the upper sets of falls. There's one section that has eroded pretty badly, so some helpful person has tied on some ropes to help hikers get up and down that slope. A few weeks ago, there were three ropes, but it now appears there are only two--however, the two that are left are sturdier than the third one appeared to be.

There's been some general erosion on most of the upper trails, so you just have to take your time scrambling over stuff. One path to the upper falls is blocked by debris, but there are other routes around it, if you can scramble over the boulders (just above the middle falls).

The cave to the side of the upper falls has changed--the entrance has grown over a bit, like a stalactite, due to the water dripping from falls. It's a tight fit, and you can get into it if you are flexible and determined. :) When I went up a couple of weeks ago, the man-made ladder was MIA. This week, it was propped up inside the wading pool at the base of the upper falls. By climbing on the old tree trunk that hangs over the pool, I was able to reach over and drag it back with my friend. We carried it up to the cave, and I went on in to explore!

The cave wiggles upward (everything is sharp and wet) to an opening further up the mountain--it's not very far, but it's still kind of neat! It looks like you could go even further up, but it's dicey--looks steep and there's no protection if you slip, so I didn't try it. However, even just the little cave was cool! Kind of a bitch to get out of, though. :)

Below is a video of me leaving the cave, and some updated photos!





This one refuses to load the right way, so it's sideways...I'm too lazy to figure out how to fix it.

The Alcove Note Table

A few years ago, a friend of a friend brought me to The Alcove in Los Feliz, to have a hot cocoa and show me the Note Table. It's remained one of my favorite 'secrets' in LA. (fyi--most of the photos in this post will appear at the end)



The Alcove itself is a gorgeous eatery (now paired with Big Bar), boasting some truly awesome food (the desserts are insane) and a beautiful ambiance. It is known for the lovely brick patio out front, but my favorite place to sit is inside, at the Note Table.

The Note Table is really a table with a chess board on the top of it, and it is in the back room of the place. On each side of the table, there are three drawers. In those drawers are notes. Tons and tons of notes. From strangers. Some signed, most not, some poignant, other silly. Much of it is personal. Confessional. Happy. Sad. Lustful. Angry. Observational. I love it.



I love to pour through the notes and get a story from them. A glimpse into people's worlds, however brief. I have written notes for the table before, but not in years.

The last time I left a note, I was in a place of personal turmoil. My old notes are no longer there, but I did begin to think of what I would write today. I love the secrets that others leave in these drawers, the expressions of hope, of outrage, of thought, of heartbreak, of grief, of love. And I love what came to mind, for me. I love the idea of people leaving a part of themselves, no matter how small, on a slip of paper, in a tiny drawer, in a table that most people wouldn't look twice at. I love the idea that someone might not know what to say until given the chance to say it here. Sometimes, an opening is what is needed for the right words to come. Permission, given by the other anonymous writers, to be truthful, generates some pretty awesome responses. As you can see:














This is what I love.

The Search for Chicago Deep Dish Pizza: N.Y.&C. Pizzeria vs. the memory of Lou Malnati's

So, ya'll should know that I am originally from Chicago (despite my use of "ya'll"), and I take my pizza very, VERY seriously. You do not trifle with Deep Dish. Yes, I capitalize the words. Just like one would capitalize God, Barbie or The Flying Spaghetti Monster.

I have been on a search to find good Deep Dish Pizza in LA. I have my requirements, which are very specific. Many people believe that Chicago Deep Dish Pizza is like pan pizza. It is not. Not in my world. Don't get me wrong, I love me some pan pizza. I really do. But pan is not Deep Dish.

So, the other day, I went to N.Y.&C. Pizzeria & Bar in Santa Monica, to see a man about a pizza.


(Hey, a menu!)

The restaurant offers both NY and Chicago style pizzas. And, while I don't mind NY pizza now and then, I was there for my hometown pride.

Sad to say, this wasn't up to snuff.

While they do seem to get the right idea behind the crust--that it is more of a dough shell than a fluffy dough--the pizza failed to impress me on a few levels. First, the most grievous offense: it was seriously lacking in cheese...which made the excess of sauce seem even more excessive. It was also a little bland. Now, some places mess it up by adding in the wrong kind of flavors (i.e. making a sauce that is far too sweet--I'm looking at you, Masa of Echo Park), but this was just...forgettable. It also seemed weirdly soggy. Perhaps that's not the correct term for what it was, because I am honestly having a hard time remembering the specifics. That is not a good sign.

I tend to like my pizza a little on the salty/buttery side, with ample cheese and either easy sauce or at least sauce that complements the rest of the pizza well. There was simply way too much sauce on this pie. And, it wasn't even memorable.


(Hey, it's a pizza!)

I feel like a bit of an asshat for bitching about the pizza, but you must understand: Deep Dish Pizza is holy to me. I come from the city that spawned Lou Malnati's. You better bring your A Game if you're gonna try to sell Deep Dish to a Chicagoan.

So, N.Y.&C. might have some decent NY pie--haven't tried it--but the Chicago Deep Dish failed to impress me. My suggestion for true Deep Dish, since I can't seem to find it in LA, is to get it direct from the source. "But, That's Crazy Talk! Lou Malnati's is only in Chicago!" Oh, my dears, that is why The Flying Spaghetti Monster gave us the gift of Tastes of Chicago! Yes, that's right. You can have a Lou Malnati's pie shipped across the country, to your front door. Do it. It's worth it.

Also, it should be noted, that I am willing to take donations of Lou's Deep Dish Pizza in lieu of gifts this year. Or, really just for any reason whatsoever.

The Lardon Truck

It's BAAAAAAAAAAAAACON!!!!!!!!!!!


(Brian scoping out the truck--I wanted a shot from the street, but it was so bright out and traffic was heavy enough that I gave up.)

Today, my friend Brian and I checked out The Lardon Truck while it was parked in Sherman Oaks.

Upon arriving, there was no line, which boggled my mind--how was there not a line down the block for this tasty, tasty fare?!?!

The menu is chosen with care and packed with greatness. I opted to get two items so I could try more than one thing, since Brian had already eaten lunch (he missed out--and said so, once he saw what I had).


(On the left are the bacon pancakes...on the right, the breakfast sandwich...yum!)

The dish I was looking forward to the most was the "bacon pancakes with bacon bourbon maple syrup"--which, of course, I ordered! :) It was good beyond my wildest expectations. The right kind of sweet and salty, with just enough of a hint of maple, as opposed to being overwhelmed by the taste of it. The serving is perfect for one person--not too much, not too little, and leaves enough that you could easily sample another item and not feel stuffed. I also liked that the pancakes were not overdone--sometimes, that happens with a lot of pancakes, and you end up with a sort of chewy/tough texture. Not so with these puppies. I can't wait to have them again!

I also ordered the breakfast sandwich ("smoked bacon, eggs over easy (although I had mine over medium) & cheddar"), which was also good. The roll it comes on is just chewy enough to add something interesting to the sandwich without making it difficult to eat. The cheddar was a good compliment to everything, and the bacon was wonderful--I swear, it had a little bit of sweetness to it. I also caught what I thought was black pepper in the sandwich, too. Overall, it'd be a solid choice for someone looking for a breakfast-at-any-time sort of meal.

We spent a lot of time hanging out in front of the truck, in the shade of their canopy (to hide from the 90+ degree Valley sun!). They provided a handful of small stools, which made for a great little place to sit down and eat. :) I have to say, everyone working on the truck was incredibly cool--very nice, gracious folks! Really made the visit even better! They were so nice that I even donated some change to the parking meter for the truck's spot. :) Just before we took off, we were offered some free bottles of water and a Lark brownie with bacon/Nutella spread on the house. So kind of them!


(So tasty...ignore the bite mark on the right side of it...)

I had one bite of the brownie and sent it home with Brian, since he was full from his earlier lunch when he stopped by to meet me and hadn't had a chance to eat anything from the truck (even though I offered tasters of my dishes, like a good friend). It was awesome. The brownie itself is intense, and the combination of the Nutella and the bacon mixes well--very sweet and salty mix, which adds to the richness of everything and gives it almost a liqueur taste. Super decadent!

I'm looking forward to a going again and trying the baco (sans horseradish, if possible, because I am a total wuss). :)

You can follow the Lardon Truck on Twitter and Facebook to find out their schedule and check out their website at http://getyourlardon.com. We were told that they mostly hit up the Valley, Hollywood/Silverlake, with some stops on the west side. They are totally worth the drive!

Jones Apple Pie

So...I'm no fan of Jones...but their apple pie? Yum.





Their apple pie is redonkulicious. It is served in a hot skillet, with some kind of sexy buttery cinnamony goodness melted around it. The pie itself is exploding with apples. They pour out of the crust, and that crust...pretty tasty. The recipe changed at some point the last two years, and the current crust is, well, crusted with sugar. I think the old crust was maybe a bit better, but this one is pretty good as well. After all, I'm not gonna bitch about some added sugar. :) I think the pie itself as a little rosemary in it, but I could be wrong. It is also served with some tasty vanilla ice cream, which always melts too quickly because it's on the skillet (albeit, in a little dish), but still...absolutely tasty.

I don't really love any of the food at Jones, except for this. This pie...totally worth the trip.

The Comme Ca Burger

And on the eighth day, the Flying Spaghetti Monster created the Comme Ca burger.




Comme Ca is a French place on Melrose, near La Cienega, and it has various French dishes and whatnot. But the only thing I bother to order while there is the burger.

This is a burger that can make me drool on command. One thought of it...and I'm salivating.

It's very simple. There is some kind of slaw that comes on it, but I always have them hold it. The fries are perfect--some crispy, some crunchy, right amount of salt, good width/length. The burger itself is large, with just the right amount of seasoning (which is to say, not so much that you wonder what they're trying to cover up). It's juicy. It's topped with yummy cheddar cheese. It's on a brioche bun.

One of the things I love about this burger is that it isn't junked up with a bunch of shit like a lot of other designer burgers (i.e. The Father's Office Burger, which everyone raves about, but which I find just okay). It relies on the quality of the meat, the cheese, the bun...which means that it doesn't have the luxury of sucking.

I will say that you should order it closer to medium rare, just for the juiciness factor. I ordered mine medium today, and it came out more well-done than I'd have liked (like medium-well), especially compared to previous visits.

The only other items I've had on the menu are the creme brulee (good--but it's hard to fuck that up, and I love it anyway) and these little, fresh baguettes that they used to give out as pre-meal bread. I didn't get a baguette today, which bummed me out--not sure if they stopped that practice or not, since it's been a while since I've eaten there.

So, having eaten this ridiculously filling burger, I am now going to sit on my couch like Jabba the Hutt and enjoy my AC on this insanely hot LA day. Because I won't be hungry again for the rest of the day, kind of like how a boa constrictor can eat a small child and live off of it for a week.

(Oh, and price? Around $15.)

(Oh, and my computer doesn't have a way to use the actual French letters needed for the actual name of the restaurant, or if it does, I don't know how to do it. And don't care enough to learn.)