Restaurant Review: Umami Burgers

The Umami Burger branded with
the letter 'U.'

My good friends, Brad and Mike from Washington D.C., were in town for a visit and wanted to eat at this place called Umami Burger in the valley (they spell it 'valli'). It's located where the old Out-take Cafe use to be on Ventura Boulevard, literally next door to Mexicali.

I had never heard of Umami Burger, but apparently, it's all the rage. In December of 2010, GQ Magazine dubbed it Burger of the Year – the reviewer, Alan Richman, loved it. In fact, Mr. Richman said he thought the owner's face 'belongs on the Mount Rushmore of the burger world.'

After reading such a rave review, I did a little research and found that Umami Burger has been reviewed a lot, lately. According to a two-part review on LA Weekly's blog, the owner Adam Fleishman – wine connoisseur, entrepreneur and cooking enthusiast – opened his first Umami Burger in February 2009 on La Brea, between Wilshire and Olympic.

The concept, umami, is the fifth element in Japanese culture of food flavors (besides sweet, sour, salt and bitter), corresponding to the flavor of glutamates, especially monosodium glutamate.

In the LA Weekly interview, Mr. Fleischman was quoted as saying that he 'wasn't even interested in burgers, [he] was just trying to play around with umami and get those flavors right.' Naturally, after all the hoopla, I had to try it, right?

This is Umami SoCal Burger – complete with
roasted tomato, home made american cheese and
home made sauce with butter lettuce.

So, we met at their newest location in the 'valli' and I had the So. Cal Burger with butter lettuce (my favorite on a burger), slow-roasted tomato, house spread, home-made american cheese and carmelized onions. When it arrived at the table, it arrived covered with the letter 'U' branded on top of the bun. From a designers point of view, kudos. It drives the brand home at that most important moment – consumption. In fact, I think the 'U' should replace the ugly buns logo that look like poorly drawn lips...I'm just sayin'. On to the taste.

The flavors were amazing, I have to say. And, I like the idea of knowing where your meat is coming from, local vendors and all green philosophies when it comes to my food. It was the perfect 'little' burger on the perfect white plate and the decor in the 'valli' location is urban-chic with big, red leather wing-back chairs and white chandeliers.  A big hit.

I ordered a side of skinny fries, which were great, and their ketsup is home made, too. It was delicious. We didn't have any dessert, but I'll be sure to go again and try some.

The service was great and the experience was terrific. The place was crowded and we had to wait for a table, but it wasn't too long. All in all, I would say it is definitely worth the visit. They have so many different types of umami burgers on the menu to try.

My only gripe is with the size of the burger. I wish it was a tad bigger and the ten-dollar price tag wouldn't seem so high. In short, you get something slightly larger than a slider but definitely smaller than what you might expect.  The SoCal Burger was the least expensive on the menu, btw, so make sure you go expecting to pay a little more for a burger, cause that's the way it is. But, you won't be short-changed on the flavors or overall experience.

Please visit their web site at www.UmamiBurger.com for locations and more information.

Time Long Past

Like the ghost of a dear friend dead

Is Time long past.

A tone which is now forever fled,

A hope which is now forever past,

A love so sweet it could not last,

Was Time long past.

There were dreams in the night

Of Time long past.

And, was it sadness or delight,

Each day a shadow onward cast

Which made us wish it yet might last,

That Time long past.

There is regret, almost remorse,

For Time long past.

'Tis like a child's beloved corse

A father watches, till at last

Beauty is like remembrance, cast

From Time long past.

by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Celebrity Apprentice – Bad ads

Why you should always hire a professional, seasoned Art Director

Did you happen to watch Sunday night's 'Celebrity Apprentice'? I couldn't stop laughing. The two celebrity teams had to conceptualize and create a 4-page ad for the Trump collection of hotels for a luxury brand publication. Needless to say, it did not go well. There was no winner.

The latest episode of 'Celebrity Apprentice' was an hour-long commercial that detailed why you should always hire a professional, seasoned Art Director for any advertising, marketing or design job you may have.  Even the smart, educated and world-travelled Star Jones couldn't pull off this task. Why not? Because she's not a professional Art Director!

I've said it before and I will keep on saying it until the world gets it – just because you have a Mac, or even a graphic designer at your disposal, that doesn't mean you can design anything, let alone a luxury brand.

The key element missing from the 4/24 episode of 'Celebrity Apprentice' was an Art Director for each team. A seasoned A.D. would have had the vision and creative resources to take both teams ads and turn them into gold. I mean, platinum. I'm just sayin'.

Film Works L.A. – Reel jobs create real impact for Los Angeles

One of the things we should all be doing as a community, is putting our hard-working dollars to work back in the communities where we live. Especially, Los Angeles. When a person thinks of Los Angeles, they think Hollywood. The entertainment community is huge in Los Angeles and we should keep the filming, and revenues from filming, here in our city, whenever possible. 

With support from local unions, the City of Los Angeles, the Screen Actors Guild and many more, Film Works L.A. is an outreach campaign whose main goal is to help keep film productions here in our state, and in our city, to help local businesses and organizations gain revenue from the filming process.

Did you know?

• Did you know that in 2008, the entertainment industry wages and salaries payroll in L.A. County was $15.37 billion? 
• Did you know that there are more than 6,600 business establishments in the State of California that service film, television, and commercial production industries. 
• Did you know that in 2008, the entertainment industry directly employed 141,00 workers in Los Angeles County? 
• Did you know that the entertainment industry is the third largest industry in L.A. County (just behind international trade and tourism)? 

Take Action

It’s important to show your Los Angeles pride, especially when it comes to keeping billions of dollars in payroll in our city. Please take a moment to visit the Film Works L.A. site at www.FilmWorksLA.com and show your support by completing the Campaign Support Form. When your on the site, download a sign and/or logo to display on your website, vehicle or business. And, please share this story.

Shame on us - hateful adjectives

It was reported that Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers
uttered a 'homophobic slur' at a referee Tuesday night
out of anger.

In my opinion, there are certain words in the English language that should be barred from general conversation, forever. They are offensive, degrading and stem from a hateful place and history.

It has been reported that Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers uttered a 'homophobic slur' when a technical foul was called on him by referee, Bennie Adams, in the third quarter of a game with San Antonio Spurs Tuesday night with millions of people watching. On video, it appears that Mr. Bryant says 'f***ing f*gg*t.'

The LA Daily News reported that NBA commissioner David Stern said, 'Kobe and everyone associated with the NBA know that insensitive or derogatory comments are not acceptable and have no place in our game or society.'

They also reported that Mr. Bryant apologized in a statement released by the Lakers:
'What I said last night should not be taken literally. My actions were out of frustration during the heat of the game, period. The words expressed do NOT reflect my feelings toward the gay and lesbian communities and were NOT meant to offend anyone.'

When people use certain words – in this case, the 'F' word used by many to describe a gay man – it always stems from an angry, hateful place. I can think of other words in the English language that should never be used in general conversation to describe anyone. Unless you are in a learning or theatrical environment, there is no reason to use certain words.  There are plenty of words that mean the same thing but don't arouse hatred.

Which brings me to my point:  Mr. Bryant is now appealing his fine of $100,000 that was imposed on him by commissioner, David Stern, due to player 'protocol' or something stupid, when he should be paying it plus donating a million dollars to the LA Gay & Lesbian Service Center. This teachable moment could be held at a press conference where Mr. Bryant could let people know, young and old, that these adjectives are no longer acceptable in general conversation. His donation would go a long way at the center in the city that holds him in such high regard.

At a time when we should be banding together, hatred against our fellow man is something that should no longer be tolerated anywhere on earth (or anywhere else there might be humans). With all of the natural disasters that have been happening around the world, you could be depending on your fellow neighbor for your life one day. Wouldn't it be sad if the last thing they remember hearing you say is a hateful slur? I'm just saying.

CA Advertising and Design Competitions

The coveted Communication Arts Design + Advertising Competition deadlines are upon us, once again. Any design project printed, published or aired for the first time within the last twelve months prior to the deadline is eligible.

Since 1959, Communication Arts has published the best in visual communications from around the world and awards won are placed at the top of many creative lists.  As usual, the juries will consist of some of the top professionals in our field, including, but not limited to: Matteo Bologna of Mucca Design, New York; Tim Larson of Larsen, Minneapolis; Margaret Johnson of Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco; Helen Pak of Saatchi & Saatchi, Toronto; and, Mark Wenneker of Mullen, Boston.

DESIGN

Deadline: May 13, 2011

Costs: $40 most single entries: $80-$300 for series entries

ADVERTISING

Deadline: May 13, 2011

Costs: $40 most single entries: $80-$300 for series entries

As an artist, designer, photographer, illustrator or motion designer, you know to expect the best inspiration and design from much of the work produced in the Communication Arts annuals. Every agency or studio has copies of the annuals for inspiration in their libraries and as artists, I'm sure you've browsed through at least a few of them. If chosen, your work will be part of design history. If selected, your work becomes part of the best of the best, then printed in an annual you will cherish for years to follow.

To enter, register online at www.commarts.com. Good luck!

Restaurant Review: The Happy Ending

'Happy Ending' in Hollywood has terrific food and a huge bar.
But, be sure you have time to wait for the food to be served – it can take a while.

I recently had lunch at an almost invisible restaurant on Sunset Boulevard located where the old 'El Torito' use to be, just east of La Brea, called 'The Happy Ending' bar and restaurant. I went with my friend Nicole for lunch though she warned me that while the food was good, the service was slow for some reason. Despite her warning, I insisted on trying it for this review.

The first thing you should know is that it was a rainy day and the place was practically empty. The service was okay but the food was good. It just took a long time to come out and we didn't order anything too complicated.

For lunch, I had the 'Pulled Pork Po' Boy' for $12 topped with delicious homemade coleslaw, pickles and mustard on the side. I added ex tra BBQ sauce, as well as mustard...YUM!  Nicole loves their 'Damn Good Grilled Cheese Sandwich' with a bowl of tomato soup. One of her favorites! The food was very good.

The restaurant and bar area are large (remember the old 'El Torito'?) and I can't imagine that they could fill it even close to capacity in today's economy. But, they do have lots of specials so make sure you check out their web site. Everything from drink specials to Karaoke to game night and more! Overall, my experience at 'Happy Ending' was just 'okay.' Thank goodness my friend Nicole was with me – we have fun no matter where we go for lunch.

I will try 'Happy Ending' again because it's close to home, the food was good, the prices are cometitive and the bar area looks like it could be 'happening' on a good night. I'll be sure and let you know when I do. In the meantime, if you've been there or try it, let us know what you think.

'Happy Ending' Restaurant and Bar is located at 7038 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Lathe of Heaven

'The Lathe of Heaven' is a science fiction fantasy
about a man whose dreams change the world.

I recently spent 104 minutes watching the once acclaimed, original PBS version of, 'The Lathe of Heaven,' which was adapted from a science fiction novel written by Ursula K. Le Guin in 1971. The plot revolves around a character whose dreams alter reality and the doctor who discovers his abilities and uses them to change the world.

Played well for the time by Bruce Davidson, the story revolves around George Orr, the man who dreams and his 'Oneirologist,' William Haber – a doctor who studies the science of dreams.

Originally, Orr begins seeing the doctor for his drug abuse of pills to keep himself awake and to not dream. You see, Orr has a problem with his dreams – they change reality. He has known about his condition since he was 17 years old and fears its effects. When he first tells his condition to Dr. Haber, the doctor is skeptical and thinks George is possibly an 'intelligent schizophrenic.' But, once he learns that George is telling the truth about his dreams, the doctor realizes he can use Orr's dreams to change the world.

There were two versions of this film online, and for whatever reason, I chose to watch the 1980 version. The remake from 2002 stars James Caan, Lukas Haas and Lisa Bonet. Needless to say, the book is probably way better than either of these adaptations.

 

May 03, 2011 – World Press Freedom Day

Did you know that May 3rd is World Press Freedom Day? This year, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) theme is '21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers.' With everything that happened in Egypt and with what is going on in Libya, it is important that the real news gets out.


An international conference will be held in Washington D.C. from May 1-3 on the theme for the Day, organized by UNESCO, the U.S. State Department and over 20 civil society partners. It will be held at the Newseum – a museum devoted to the history of the press and to freedom of expression worldwide. Discussing will focus on the increasing role of the internet, the emergence of new media and the dramatic rise in social networking.

A special event is planed for May 4 at United Nations headquarters in New York to mark the 20th Anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration. Adopted in 1991 after a conference held in Windhoek (Namibia) on the development  of a free African press, this declaration emphasizes the importance and preservation of democracy and economic development. Two years later, the UN General Assembly established World Press Freedom Day.

In the Arab States, UNESCO and the satellite network Al Jazeera will work together to host a series of events to mark the Day.

UNESCO is also encouraging all those who are celebrating World Press Freedom Day to observe a minute of silence in memory of the journalists who have given their lives for our right to be informed.

For a complete list of the organizations welcoming this dialogue and volunteering to support the cohosts in organization of the event, visit PRWeb.com.

As an American, does it feel like you're 'winning?'

America – does it feel like you're winning?

We've all heard Charlie Sheen say that he is 'winning' and that life, for him, is grande. But, what about life for the average American? Do you feel like you're winning?

It's hard not to take a political stance on this topic, especially at a time when unemployment is reported as close to 9% (but we know it's really more like 14%), jobs are scarce and it feels like things are getting harder and harder. How many talented, educated out-of-work artists do you know?

With all the budget cuts in education, healthcare, services for the elderly and the poor, infrastructure, and more to follow, it is vital to know and understand what it is we are, and have, forfeited in exchange for defense, medicare and social security.

First, there were the protests in Wisconsin and Ohio that focused on cutbacks in the Public Workers sector and the unions. Our teachers are already underpaid and cutbacks have had a huge effect in the overall quality of education in this country.

Next, there's the effect from lost jobs or cuts in salaries on most of the country (those of us not over the $250,000 a year tax bracket) and our families. People have kids and parents that they are taking care of, and with all the cutbacks, how will they make ends meet? How is increasing the gap between the very few wealthy and the lower class good for the country?

It's no secret that I am a fan of Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO, and this season Mr. Maher pulls no punches with his deciphering of conservative agendas. Especially, when it comes to cut backs for the poor, children's education, the national budget, and so on. Bill Maher cited an excellent quote from John Steinbeck on one of his latest episodes. It was:

“Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.” - John Steinbeck

The panel was discussing how the right can plant an idea that makes the left argue for what they don't want – and get it. They also discussed a 'tax holiday' – when corporations pay no tax on profits made overseas. The Democrats are proposing a 5% business tax rate (as opposed to the normal  35%) as a way of getting corporations to keep their businesses in America. Why would the Democrats aim so low when negotiating?

In the last month, 60 minutes did stories on kids in our public school education systems in different parts of the country: (1) Hard Times Generation - a story that focuses on the number of children in this country growing up below the poverty level and attending public schools;

and, (2) TEP (The Equity Project) - a public charter school in a low-income neighborhood whose focus is the quality of education. And, both of these stories focus on the effects of low-income children at schools across our nation. They are both heart breaking and inspiring at the same time.

Finally, we learn that large corporations like GE – after posting profits of $14 billion dollars – paid no taxes at a time when America has such a large deficit and people are losing their jobs, their homes and their dignity.  Instead, we are willing to give up programs that should matter to all of us – as a modern society – instead of standing up for what we know is right.

All I am trying to say is that even if you are currently employed with a good job at a stable company, things can change in an instant and you and your family could be the ones that are in need of help. Before we let our government take away things that are important to our society, make sure you understand what that means for future generations. Perhaps to someone you know and love.

The fabric of America is changing as type this post. What was once a place of hopes and dreams is now becoming a place where you must work hard, get paid less and have little to no vacation time, or anything, to show for it. Our public school students are falling behind in the world and our infrastructure is literally 'cracked up.'

Instead of the parties looking for blame, it's time they start working for the people. It's time for the people to band together, take care of each other and start thinking about your neighbors a little more.

Get informed. Be compassionate. We're all in this together.

Added on 4/9/2011:


Bill Maher's New Rules from Friday night, 4/8/11, simply state that while Charlie Sheen is 'banging the porn stars, the rest of us are getting crabs.'
Real Time With Bill Maher: New Rules 4/8/11
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Audit of Pentagon Spending Finds $70 Billion in Waste – Christopher Drew, The New York Times
Obama's 2011 Budget Proposal: How It's Spent – The New York Times
TEP Charter School – www.tepcharter.org
Bill Gates: How state budgets are breaking US schools - TED conference, February 2011