PRIME: THE HOW TO ISSUE

prime

the how-to issue

by the daily bruin

fall 2009

ucla student media publication

prime by the daily bruin

06

DJ masters

10

looking to be seen

16

trendy, not spendy

19

guide to the rose bowl

24

hoods | culver city

28

36

style | couture costumes

38

holiday shopping guide

42

how to be internet famous

46

rooms | french countryside

48

how to avoid awkward family dinners

51

chew | late-night eats

54

fall destinations

58

thursdays in westwood

60

cooking | fresh fall ingredients

63

column | urban sprawl

table of contents fall 2009

This issue is a manual of sorts, a guide to the world of UCLA. Make sure to follow all the steps, or it won’t work.

06

how to avoid holiday weight gain

cover photo christophe wu model angela hsu creative direction courtney kan styling tiffany liu

28 46 60 prime | fall 2009 | 3

letter from the editor I thought by now, I would know it all.

As a fourth-year student, it was only natural to assume that I would have figured out all the ins and outs of life as a Bruin at this point in my college career.

To be fair, I have learned a thing or two. For example: Making a new magazine is very, very hard. Also, always say yes to opportunities for international travel, avoid walking or driving on Strathmore Avenue as much as possible, and never make eye contact with people who are fliering on Bruin Walk.

Most of my big life lessons while an undergraduate, though, were learned the hard way; that is, through the grand tradition of failure.

A majority of my college experience has been comprised of horrifying mistakes and poor decisions. For example, a class called “The Brain Made Simple” is, quite frankly, a misnomer.

Craigslist is only useful for buying used bikes or adopting cats – nothing else. It’s amazing how many awkward moments, uncomfortable situations and poor displays of judgment have taken place since I enrolled here. In my defense, stupidity is probably not uncommon in college – ironic, right? Plus, at least I have some self-awareness.

I think that’s what inspired the theme for this issue: how-to.

Acting a fool for so long, all I want is for posterity to learn and avoid the same pitfalls and perils of college.

In theory, if I knew then what I know now, I would do it all differently. If I just got one, tiny little do-over, I would carpe as many diems as possible and live, laugh, love until the cows come home.

Yeah, no – that’s kind of not true. The reality is that I’m here now because of what happened then; sometimes learning the hard way is the only way. There is only so much warning and heeding that can be done and, like a freshman’s long-distance relationship with their high school sweetheart, things are inevitably bound to end badly.

We could write the best manual on surviving college ever and it wouldn’t really matter. We tried, too, covering everything from Thursday nights in Westwood to the holiday season to achieving digital popularity. With the educational spirit in mind, the staff whipped up a storm of informative and useful instructions, which readers will likely skim over and probably forget.

As awful as it is, messing up is natural, inevitable and core to what it means to grow up.

Maybe I do know it all after all.

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prime by the daily bruin

Edward Truong [prime editor] Courtney Kan [prime art director] Shelley Brown, Saba Mohtasham, Maryia Krivoruchko [prime assistant editors] Tiffany Liu [prime assistant art director] Farzad Mashhood, Devon McReynolds, Salima Koroma, Paige Parker [senior staff writers] Katie Meschke [staff writers] Connie Phu, John Anzelc [design senior staff] Maya Sugarman [photo editor] Tiffany Cheng, Max Chang [assistant photo editors] Christophe Wu [photo staff] Kendall Lynes [copy chief] Carol Fan, Christina Robinette, Will Weiss, Susan Kim, Laura Belyavski, Elaine Lee, Raymond Moy [slot editors] Machiko Yasuda [director of new media] Kimberly Lajcik, Adria Tinnin [assistant directors of new media]

Alene Tchekmedyian [daily bruin editor in chief] Maggie Shine [daily bruin managing editor] Jacqueline Brabyn, Tiffany Thompson, Aaron Manji, Justin Wedell, Katie Everds, Mary Caroline Pruitt, Taylor O’Kelly, Erik Batres, Carl Betzler, Matt Stevens, Adrienne Nguyen [account executives] Jeremy Wildman [business manager] Lauren Lucido [assistant manager] Amber Le, Zenia Wei, Jennifer So [production] Liz Magallanes-Layug [advertising production manager] Michael O’Connor [general operations manager] Gabriela Cox, Charlotte Purcell, Arie Wong [staff] Amy Emmert [media adviser] Arvli Ward [media director] The Daily Bruin (ISSN 1080-5060) is published and copyrighted by the ASUCLA Communications Board. All rights are reserved. Reprinting of any material in this publication without the written permission of the Communications Board is strictly prohibited. The ASUCLA Communications Board fully supports the University of California’s policy on non-discrimination. The student media reserve the right to reject or modify advertising whose content discriminates on the basis of ancestry, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, age, sex or sexual orientation. The ASUCLA Communications Board has a media grievance procedure for resolving complaints against any of its publications. For a copy of the complete procedure, contact the publications office at 118 Kerckhoff Hall. All inserts that are printed in the Daily Bruin are independently paid publications and do not reflect the views of the Editorial Board or the staff.

To request a reprint of any photo appearing in the Daily Bruin, contact the photo desk at 310-825-2828 or e-mail photo@media.ucla.edu.

masters of spin katie meschke photos mantas zvinas, christopher shane & max chang

If you’re willing to throw down a funky beat along with a couple thousand dollars, then perhaps a set of turntables should be the next charge on the credit card.

At parties, people are usually drinking, dancing and having a good time. At the heart of the party lies the DJ, who has the ability to set the mood and keep everyone energized enough to make it through that 4 a.m. walk home.

Buying the appropriate equipment is the most costly part about becoming a DJ. A normal setup includes two turntables (around $1,000 each) and a mixer (around $400). Speakers, computer programs and, of course, music add to the expense. When choosing turntables, it’s important to decide whether you want to go with CDs or vinyl.

Fourth-year ethnomusicology student Marlon Fuentes has DJ’d for events such as JazzReggae Festival and Bruin Bash, as well as at some of Hollywood’s most elite clubs.

“I think vinyl sounds a lot better because there’s an analogue signal.

It’s not confined to the parameters of an MP3. It’s actually bigger. It has a bigger sound,” Fuentes said.

H o w e v e r, c a r r y i n g a v i n y l collection around from club to club can be cumbersome in an era where

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MP3s can be pulled up instantaneously on a laptop. Computer programs such as Serato and Ableton provide quick access to entire libraries of music, even allowing the DJ to “scratch” the MP3s with blank vinyls or CDs on their turntables.

“Now it’s a lot different. You can find the songs online as opposed to old school where you’d have to find them in the record store. Now there are different sites that I can go to to find really new remixes of songs so there’s a lot of good stuff to choose from,” said Josh Walker, a fourth-year Design | Media Arts student, who is also known as DJ Mirth.

Serato sorts music by beats per minute, and many DJs who are just starting out use that convenience as a springboard for choosing which songs to mix.

“You can either learn to mix with your ears or with your eyes,” Fuentes said. “Don’t stare at the computer screen and match the two waves. That leads to a lot of bad selections. I’ve seen a lot of people try to mix two songs that are the same tempo but have no relationship, and it’s just a bad mix.”

Fuentes prefers using vinyl over MP3s because it forces him to really focus on what he wants to bring with him for a gig.

“It’s a more manual selection process as opposed to, ‘Oh, I have a gig, I’m going to take my computer.’ Songs get lost

when they’re just lines of text on a screen.

Honestly, it takes Music gets lost. It loses its identity. That’s why an ear. If you can’t I love vinyl. ... There’s listen to music more care involved.” and tap your foot, B u y i n g t h e appropriate equipment you’re not going to also depends on what be a DJ. type of DJ one aspires to be. According to JOSH WALKER | DJ Ed di e D a n i e l ya n, a t h i r d -ye a r p o l i t i c a l science and Russian studies student known as DJ Eklectiq, there are at least three types of DJs: battle DJs, who show off their skill with crazy spins and scratches; club DJs, who don’t do as much scratching but focus on keeping the crowd energized; and mash-up artists, who blend songs much in the style of Girl Talk.

Even though genres can blur and exceptions can be found, DJs who play house music don’t scratch as much, so MP3s

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DJ lingo

bpm spectrum Hip-Hop 60-90 bpm

To sound like you’ve been DJing your whole life, throw these terms out at the turntables.

• Train wreck: when a DJ messes up a transition between two songs. It could be because the songs don’t match in tempo or key, but they could also just be a bad combination.

Train wrecks usually cause the crowd to stop dancing.

• Scratching: moving the needle back and forth across a record. There are many different types of scratches (crabbing, baby scratch, tweak scratch, etc.) that involve utilizing different effects on the mixer and applying different types of pressure to the record.

• Digging in the crates: searching for music on the shelves of music stores • Twelves: 12-inch record; a single • Blend: playing two songs at the same time, one on top of the other • Backspin: when the record is spun backward, then released compiled by Katie Meschke

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House 115-135 bpm

Rap 90-100 bpm

50

Techno/Trance Jungle 130-150 bpm 160-190 bpm

100

150

200

Trip-Hop Disco House 90-115 bpm 90-115 bpm Breakbeat 135-160 bpm sources Eddie Danielyan, Marlon Fuentes, Josh Walker compiled by Katie Meschke

or CDs may be more useful, whereas DJs who play a lot of hip-hop and rap will scratch more, so vinyl is preferable.

The next step is experimenting with the equipment. Walker said he believes the most essential part of learning to DJ is learning to beat match.

“You can have songs that are the same tempo, but they won’t line up. You set a cue point on the bass drum of the first song. It’s not that technical,” Walker said.

“You’re hearing this one and you start the next one (on the same beat), and at that point you can fade back and forth and the beat’s still going.”

Don’t expect mad DJ skill to come instantaneously, though.

“It was difficult because I knew I wasn’t good at first, so the biggest dilemma was deciding to either stop so (the crowd’s) ears won’t bleed or continue and get better so they’d enjoy it,” Danielyan said.

After becoming comfortable playing for a crowd and learning from feedback, a DJ can develop his or her own taste more thoroughly, and with that, his or her image.

“You start branding yourself. You get pictures at some of your gigs, or you might even do your own little photo shoot. You become a personality,” Fuentes said.

Trevor McFedries, DJ Skeet Skeet, has spun for Warped Tour, Katy Perry, Boys Like Girls and this year’s Bruin Bash.

“All of a sudden everyone’s a DJ, so you really got to spend time making yourself stand out,” McFedries said. “Do it your way, don’t just copy big DJ’s sets. It’s important to create your own identity.”

Having an online presence is crucial to becoming known.

Putting mixes on MySpace, gathering fans on Facebook, and e-mailing club owners are all good ways to get a foot in the door. Even volunteering to spin for free has its benefits.

In some senses, DJing is a type of mind control. In the hands of the DJ rest not only the turntables, but the crowd’s moods as well.

“Us humans, we love power. Everyone loves power,” Danielyan said. “It’s a responsibility you take, but most of the time you’re willing to take it because the payoff is a greater reward.”

Even with all the glamour associated with being a DJ, flashing lights and a lot of attention can’t be the only motivation when it comes to success.

“For people who don’t really like music and want to DJ as

a job, but they’re not really that into music ... that could be annoying when you don’t really know what to play and you don’t know where to find music. Real fiends know where to get their fix,” Fuentes said.

“Honestly, it takes an ear,” Walker said. “If you can’t listen to music and tap your foot, you’re not going to be a DJ. You have to love music essentially, and then it will come.”

Even though DJs are often required to be “yes” people and play what the crowd wants to hear, it still requires more creativity than just plugging in an MP3 player into a set of speakers.

“That three seconds between songs (on an iPod) makes the biggest difference in the atmosphere, the environment and the moods of the people attending the party. It seems like three seconds is nothing, but if you provide an environment where the music practically doesn’t stop, that just energizes people completely. (It’s) cool to play new songs, but that doesn’t show off the DJ’s skill. An iPod can do that,” Danielyan said. “Don’t be an iPod. Be a DJ.”

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looking to be seen

aly holmes photos christina liu

Brandon DeVine

alumnus “I mostly wear shorts and cardigans. They get the most use in my closet.�

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Alexandra Grabarchuk

graduate student in musicology “I was born in the former Soviet Union, and I grew up around women who were constantly dressed up. That really influenced my style.�

Anna Roberts

Fourth-year English student “I try to wear things that have been stuck in the back of my closet for a while. I haven’t worn this shirt for a year. I wore it higher on my waist and used a belt to make it more trendy.

I would say my style is A nthr opolog ie esque. I love florals a n d t e x t u r e s .”

Katie Ayres

First-year undeclared student “I would describe my look as classic with an edge. ( My) r e d p e a c o a t i s th e ite m I us e m o st.� prime | fall 2009 | 13

Lauren Van Arsdall graduate student in French and francophone studies “French new wave influences my style.�

prime | month year | XX 14 | fall 2009 | prime

stay current with trends tricia ro & ashley honma photos christophe wu models dionna chambers & allen secretov

Want to keep up with the newest fall trends without exceeding your collegestudent budget? Here’s a savvy way to look good without feeling bad: Buy a staple piece that you can mix and match to transition it from day to night.

ladies: the splurge-worthy blazer style guide Tip: Splurge on a quality blazer.

Keep it casual in the morning. Wear it over a plaid shirtdress and throw on a pair of boots.

Go glamorous at night.

Dress it up with an animalprint mini over tights and peep-toe booties.

budget Plaid shirtdress (Heritage): $22.90 Animal-print mini (Forever 21): $22.90

Total:

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$45.80

without having to spend gentlemen: the leather jacket

style guide Tip: Invest in a leather jacket.

During the day, stay cool.

Put it over a henley and jeans with a pair of Chucks.

For the evening, put an edge on sophistication.

Pair the jacket with a button-up shirt, dark jeans and boat shoes.

budget Imitation leather jacket (Heritage): Henley (H&M):

Total:

$39.90 $10.90

$50.80

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Ahh, the Rose Bowl – that shimmering diamond in the rough. (Literally. The Rose Bowl is right next to a golf course.)

From the two-hour drive through game-day rush hour to the $5 lemonade, the stadium hosts not only the granddaddy of all college football games, but the UCLA Bruins. The arena has its flaws, but players and fans will agree that there’s plenty of character and history in the 87-year-old stadium.

the bowl e s o r

o t e t a g l i a t n w o d h touc prime | fall 2009 | 19

home of champions

a typical seating section at the Rose Bowl Row 77

compiled by maxwell henderson sources rosebowlstadium.com; charles thompson, jr., rose bowl corporate communications HR manager

The home turf of UCLA football is the Rose Bowl, a massive eliptical stadium with the capacity to seat more than 90,000 spectators.

The arena’s unusual elliptical shape and sloping seat configuration allow for excellent viewing from anywhere in the bowl. The stacked seating common at many newer stadiums forces fans to peer down at the field, but the storied Rose Bowl has excellent sight lines from any vantage point in the stands.

101 up

1 up

Row 42 Row 30

Row 25 Numbered rows 77-1

Row 1

Row A At 131 feet above the ground, the press box is the highest point in the stadium.

Lettered rows A-K

Row K

Tunnels at Row 30 lead out of the stadium.

695 feet wide

The fence around the Rose Bowl is 1 mile in circumference

Gate D

Gate E 13

Bathrooms

11

12

10

14

Food

9

15

8

16

Ticket booths

7

17

Gate F

Legend

North Gate

6

18

Gates

5

Gate C

cross-section

19

4

20

3

21

28 1

Section numbers Section tunnel

2

22

1 23

Lettered seating

28 24 25

26

27

Section seating There are more than 100 breeds of roses planted within the stadium fence.

Gate A The scoreboard and video board display information and advertisements at the north end of the stadium.

Gate B

“

There is not another stadium in the world that has these sight lines.

“

CHARLES THOMPSON, JR. | Rose Bowl Corporate Communications HR Manager

60 feet high

Gate G

secrets of the rose bowl farzad mashhood

Cost of the stadium in 1922: $272,198 Cost to renovate the press box in 1992: $11.5 million

First college football game in the Rose Bowl a f te r it was dedicated on Jan. 1, 1923: USC defeated Penn State 14-2

Since 1982, the Rose Bowl has been the of ficial venue of UCLA football.

Last time UCLA played in the Rose Bowl Game: 1999 source: the Rose Bowl’s Web site; UCLA Athletics

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Before UCLA’s Westwood campus even broke ground, the Tournament of Roses Association in Pasadena built a stadium in the Arroyo Seco area in 1922. The organization needed a football stadium where it could hold a game at the conclusion of the association’s annual parade down Colorado and Orange Grove Boulevards.

Originally constructed in the shape of a horseshoe, leaving the south end open and seating just 57,000 fans, the south end was closed off in 1929, adding 19,000 more seats.

The seating capacity of the stadium today is listed at 92,542.

The stadium’s wooden seats were replaced with reinforced concrete in 1931. The change allowed approximately 10,000 more seats, but the high sound absorption of concrete makes the Rose Bowl one of the quietest college football stadiums in the country.

Today, the Rose Bowl remains the home of the Bruins. UCLA football players Rahim Moore and Taylor Embree talked about their experiences in their home on Saturdays.

“The Rose Bowl, definitely, because it’s our home stadium. It has a little special place for us, you know just because of the fact of all the great games that have taken place there,” Embree said.

Moore agreed: “It’s like, man, better than money can buy, man. It’s the best feeling there. When you’re there, you’re reborn. It’s a whole new life, a whole new aspect of what you’re seeing.”

For Moore, Saturdays just are not long enough.

“But the Rose Bowl, it’s the best thing I’ve ever played in. It’s just fun, so much going on. I don’t ever want to leave it when I play,” he said.

Favorite moments: Moore’s came during halftime of a UCLA game where he had – surprise, surprise – an interception ... in 1999. The safety has been dominating the secondary averaging about a pick per game this season.

“A lot of people don’t know my story, but at a young age I played for the Baldwin Hills Bruins and I wore No. 3,” he said.

The real Bruins were hosting the Washington Huskies and Moore played during the halftime show for his Pop Warner squad.

“I went in there, and I made some hits and had a pick,” Moore said. “Some fan told me ‘You’re going to be a Bruin one day, you’re going to be a Bruin one day!’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah, whatever.’ Come to find now that I’m here.”

Embree’s best memory comes at the expense of UCLA’s crosstown rival, USC. “One of my favorite all-time games ever took place there: the Texas ‘SC game when they beat USC,” said Embree, referring to the 2006 Rose Bowl game in which Texas quarterback Vince Young led the Longhorns to a 41-38, denying USC a three-peat national title.

That moment and many other history-making occasions make the Rose Bowl a special place for Embree.

“Just knowing that you played in the stadium that some of the greats have played in some of the great games that have happened there, it’s unique to know that you get to call that home your home stadium,” he said.

Turn up the volume Built mainly of concrete, the Rose Bowl is known to absorb sound more and be one of the quieter stadiums in the conference.

“There’s a special kind of noise to it. It’s not loud but it’s kind of like the perfect noise level,” Embree said.

“When you score the touchdown, it’s just loud enough that you can celebrate and everything, but it’s not overwhelming or anything.”

before the game

Parking/Tailgating map Arroyo Blvd

Lot 8

compiled by maxwell henderson

sources: shanon bertea, jackson english, google maps, rosebowlstadium.com Lot 4

nA ve

tai un Mo r. tD Fre

em

on

lvd

Ave

Lot I

ct B

ont

em

spe

JW

The game itself may last anywhare from 2 to 3 hours

Pro

Depart from UCLA with enough time for tailgating

H K

Ros

Lines begin to form at gates

Li nc ol n

E

Rose Bowl Gates open (no re-entry)

B

L

3hr

2hr

iew

1hr

rkv

Kickoff

r.

-1hr

Blvd

Pa

D

M

gton

Bowl D

Lot 5

e

-2hr

Time to tailgate, break out the drinks and BBQ!

Rose

Lot 1 Lot 1A

v Vista A

-3hr

Lot 2

Lot 6 Linda

-4hr

shin

Lot 3

Timing the trip -5hr

W. W a

Lot 7

Blvd.

Aroya

Before the action begins inside the stadium, many spectators at the Rose Bowl partake in pre-game tailgate parties. Most of the parking happens to be on the manicured greens of Brookside Golf Course, an ideal space for relaxing and amping up before the football game. Golf course tailgating is one thing that separates the Rose Bowl from lesser stadiums. Some essentials to remember: drinks, hot dogs and plenty of sunscreen!

Routes to the Rose Bowl

Take the San Rafael Avenue exit toward Linda Vista Avenue

Keep right at the fork, follow signs for Los Angeles/US-101 S and merge onto US-101 S

Slight left at CA-134 E

Take the US-101 N exit toward Ventura

405

Turn right at N San Rafael Ave

Koreatown

Merge onto I-10 E

Merge onto I-110 N

10

Chinatown

Downtown

Slight right at N Linda Vista Ave

Slight right to stay on Seco Street Turn left at N Arroyo Blvd

110

101

Westwood

Take the exit toward Los Angeles/I-10 E

2

Hollywood

UCLA

Turn left at W Colorado Blvd

Turn right at Seco Street

Eagle Rock 5

Turn right at Wilshire Blvd

Rose Bowl

Glendale

Head south on Westwood Plaza toward Strathmore Pl

Turn left at Gayley Ave

Take the ramp onto I-405 S

5

Universal City

Take the 1st right onto Strathmore Plaza

Merge onto I-405 N via the ramp to Sacramento

Gold Route 1 hour 30 mins in traffic (35 mins with no traffic)

Blue Route 1 hour 10 mins in traffic (30 mins with no traffic)

Take the 1st right to stay on N Arroyo Blvd Turn left at Rose Bowl Drive

Take the Marmion Way exit toward S Ave 64 Keep left at the fork to continue toward Marmion Way

Take the State 110 N exit on the left toward Pasadena

Turn left at Marmion Way Continue on S Ave 64

culver city’s

best-kept secrets stories and photos Machiko Yasuda

Nestled among historical film studios and the 405 Freeway is the revitalized and bustling downtown Culver City district. With easily accessible bus stops and public parking lots, the area in between Washington Boulevard and Venice Boulevard is a center for cheap food and an artistic and historical destination.

Sure, you will still find the street corner chain staples like Starbucks and the Pacific Theatres, but Culver City offers thriving galleries, cultural cuisine, public art and natural space. Home to a popular farmers market, a block of high-end bars, and the meeting place of weekly Critical Mass bike rides, the district attracts both those looking for a buzzing nightlife or a weekend day trip.

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Museum of Jurassic Technology, The Center for Land Use Interpretation

9341 Venice Blvd.

Culver City, CA 90232-2621 310-836-6131 www.mjt.org This quirky destination neighbors a separate museum next door, the Center for Land Use Interpretation. At the Museum of Jurassic Technology, artifacts from the lower Jurassic period are on display. Unique events celebrate and highlight historical oddities and curiosities, including an exhibit on trailer park culture and a collection of microminiature sculptures and paintings. Come on, when was the last time you saw Pope John Paul II carved on hair?

Conservatory for Coffee, Tea & Cocoa

10117 Washington Blvd.

Culver City, CA 90232 310-558-0436 Monday-Sunday, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Wi th i t s u n d e r s t ate d c h a r m a n d r e l a xe d a t m o s p h e r e, t h e C o n s e r va to r y fo r C of fe e, Te a & Cocoa satisfies the caf feine cravings of not only avid brew connoisseurs but also the casual drinker. Don’t expect to find wireless Internet or electrical outlets here, this coffeehouse is for enjoying the organic coffee and latte art roasted right in front of you.

From the wide selection of beans and teas from around the world to their favorite Mexican hot chocolate, the baristas are dedicated to their craft – but neither pretentious nor unfriendly. Unwind with classical music and an Ice Blend free of corn syrup at the Conservatory at Washington Boulevard and Jasmine Avenue.

Gregg Fleishman Studio

3850 Main St. Culver City, CA 90232 310-202-6108 greggfleishman.com At the busy corner of Main Street and Washington Boulevard, a Lego set invites even the youngest of art aficionados into an unconventional gallery and studio space. Rather than your typical gallery space with strict rules, the owner, artist and architect, Gregg Fleishman, encourages patrons to touch, rearrange, sit on and test out his ergonomic furniture and playground installations. Relaxing and chatting with the Culver City resident artist, all while enjoying the views outside of the weekly farmers market or the paintings on the walls and flooring, will let you experience art in a casual but enlightening way.

Grand Casino Bakery

3826 Main St. Culver City, CA 90232 310-202-6969 Music on Saturdays and Sundays Happy Hour 4 - 7 p.m. - $3.50 wine and beer At this Argentinean bakery and bar, you can do it all: Dine outside on the sunny patio, pick up dulce de leche to take home or enjoy a happy hour at the bar. Either way, the Grand Casino offers sweet pastries, savory empanadas and cheap drinks to fit the college budget.

The authentic Argentinean bakery and cafe offers both baked chicken and beef empanadas for a little more than $1, with eggplant or spinach vegetarian options as well. Happy hour in the bar is from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays with glasses of South American wines for $3.50, but the weekend music hours and Sunday brunch bands are your best bet. With milanesa sandwiches with fresh mangos and melons, or a cafe con leche with a croissant, Grand Casino is perfect for a lazy Sunday brunch.

Akasha Restaurant

9543 Culver Blvd.

Culver City, CA 90232 310-204-1771 Bakery/Cafe 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Happy Hour 2:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Restaurant Monday - Thursday: 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Friday: 11:30 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Saturday: 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.

The intersection of Culver Boulevard and Washington Street is flanked with high-end culinary trend spots, but if you’re looking for somewhere to splurge that has it all look no further than Akasha. Bakery and cafe by day, and restaurant and bar by lunchtime, Akasha is a haven for vegetarian options and local and sustainable ingredients all day.

Located on the first floor of the 1925 Hull Building, Akasha offers Sunday brunch, ginger beer, vegan pastries, fair trade “hempuccino” and not to mention an endless cocktail list.

On weeknights, happy hour starts at 2:30 p.m. and goes until 7 p.m. for half-off organic wines, tap beer and specialty drinks. Although the high prices may make you feel guilty, the carbon footprint of your meal definitely won’t.

India Sweets & Spices

9509 Venice Blvd.

Culver City, CA, 90232 310-837-5286 10 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Across the street from a Hare Krishna temple and the Museum of Jurassic Technology is an Indian deli and market. For less than $5, you can grab home-cooked vegetarian curry and chapatis – Indian flatbread – for a very filling and flavorful lunch. The assortment of drinks includes everything from mango lassi, chai tea and various root beers. The market also has Indian and Sri Lankan groceries, frozen curries, incense, Middle Eastern ice cream and things you just can’t find at Ralphs. There’s an outdoor eating area, but the place would also be perfect for a cheap, late, take-out dinner and picking up some Indian grocery goods.

The 89 cent samosas are especially a steal.

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C

e r u out

ostumes

styling stephanie kajohn photos maya sugarman model michelle tulac makeup jessica beers dunn of juxta makeup

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art collides with functionality in these avant-garde pieces

by L.A. designer

yotam solomon

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GEOMETRIC CHIC razor dress cocktail dress with paneled bodice and leather contrast [$1,080.00] geo boot sandal boot with geometric, strapped panels [$600]

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ROMEO, WHERE ART THOU the edie dress fitted cocktail dress with contrasting upper bodice and sleeves [$750] rhodes stiletto leather stiletto with a wrapping panel and toe ring [$450]

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PEEK A BOO mondrian jacket oversized contoured silk jacket with sliced sleeves [$700] pacifica dress cocktail dress with side contrast panels and low back opening [$360] awaji stiletto leather stiletto with an oversized top and toe ring [$400].

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WOUNDED reveal mini dress strapless mini dress filled with stone cutouts [$1,950]

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holiday paige reinsel illustration by catherine le

weight

There are many reasons why we love holidays: spending time with family, religious significance, the crisp weather. ... Oh, OK, let’s be honest. For some of us it’s all about the food.

Unfortunately, however, while the actual eating of our favorite festive treats is undeniably enjoyable, the repercussions of such indulgence can be unpleasant.

Going back to classes after a holiday break is depressing enough – finding out that your favorite jeans won’t button just adds insult to injury.

But foodies need not fear – there’s hope for getting through the holidays without gaining unwanted pounds. By implementing these few simple tricks, you can have your cake (or pumpkin pie) and eat it, too.

• Eat breakfast

Perhaps the most common mantra of the nutrition world, this little bit of wisdom really does apply when it comes to holiday celebrations. Though it may seem logical to “save up calories” when you know you will be eating a large amount later in the day, depriving yourself of breakfast can actually make you overeat when mealtime comes. Your best bet is to eat a light breakfast the morning of a holiday feast, which will give you energy, get your metabolism running and prevent you from approaching the buffet in a ravenous state.

• Be the chef

A great way to keep your waistline in check is to prepare and bring a healthy food dish of your own.

A salad full of colorful vegetables and topped with low-fat dressing is a great option. You can also find many recipes for lower-calorie versions of your favorite dishes, such as green bean casserole or even stuffing.

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• Stay hydrated

Many of us cannot accurately read our bodies’ internal signals, namely the difference between hunger and thirst. Sometimes what we think are hunger pangs are really an indication of dehydration.

The best way to gauge hunger, therefore, is to drink plenty of water throughout the day, and especially before a meal. That way, if your stomach is growling, you’ll know it’s time to eat!

• Get moving

The most obvious way to combat an influx of calories is by burning calories, and there are a variety of ways to do so. Rather than filling up on turkey and immediately passing out on the couch (I know it’s tempting – tryptophan is a killer), organize a group walk around the neighborhood or a casual game of soccer or football. Not only will this activity burn off some excess calories, but exercise is proven to help digestion as well.

• Pick and choose

Though it may be easier said than done, a key to eating sensibly during the holidays is to decide which food items you absolutely have to have and which you could do without. If a cheesy potato dish is calling your name, have it, but then pass on the sugary yam dish. Also, be sure to eat adequate amounts of protein and vegetables, which will help you to feel full and not overindulge in other fattening side dishes.

• Don’t forget drinks count

People often fail to realize the calories in beverages, but they can stack up fast. An average cup of eggnog, for example, has around 450 calories, which is more than most slices of pie. Again, it’s all about picking and choosing, so if you love eggnog, drink it, but let that be your dessert. Other sneaky beverage offenders that are often high in calories include hot chocolate, cocktails, and seasonal lattes and coffee drinks.

These slight alterations to holiday food habits can really make a difference when it comes to keeping your figure in check. Don’t be yet another person with the all-too-common “lose weight” New Year’s resolution. Making smart dining choices is in your power and will help you enjoy the holidays while still feeling good about your body.

Tips from SNAC Student Nutrition Awareness Campaign Jill DeJager, UCLA’s nutrition education coordinator, offers advice on how to stay healthy during the holidays.

On avoiding holiday treats “I actually wouldn’t recommend (avoiding any) traditional holiday foods. What I would recommend is to choose small portions and only sample the desserts that you really enjoy. This way you are not feeling deprived.”

On other health concerns besides weight gain “Taking in adequate nutrients is always important. If you have a choice between trying a slice of lemon meringue pie or pumpkin pie for example, choose the pumpkin because it is so rich in beta carotene and other nutrients. Sweet potatoes are also very nutritious, so they would be a good choice.”

On where students can go for nutritional guidance “The Student Nutrition Awareness Campaign is still active. We provide the table tents in residential restaurants and host the SNAC Web site.

The Web site is undergoing construction, and we hope to have the new SNAC site up this school year.

If students have questions about nutrition, they can e-mail nutrition@saonet.ucla.edu, and a nutrition expert will answer their questions. If students are struggling with disordered eating or an eating disorder they can visit the Counseling and Psychiatry Services office.” source Jill DeJager

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holiday shopping guide

the perfect gifts for everyone on your list

dad Going on a road trip with the family during winter break? Get Dad the Garmin Nuvi 265WT GPS for the long journey. Known as the leader of GPS systems, Garmin packs a lot of features into this model, such as automatic rerouting, an FM traffic receiver, and a “Where Am I?” emergency locator that detects the closest landmarks to your surroundings.

Circuit City, $169.99

mom Instead of tr ying to help out with the cooking and completely burning the Christmas roast, make your mom’s experience a bit more enjoyable by making it cuter. Among Anthropologie’s adorable selection of cooking supplies is the Measuring Gaggle – a set of compactible measuring cups shaped like geese – which may not reduce her time spent in the kitchen, but it’ll at least get her to crack a smile while baking a pie.

Anthropologie, $28

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No matter what winter holiday you celebrate, chances are you have to buy presents for friends and family. In addition to the stress of going to mob-infused malls and trying to make your way through herds of angry shoppers, just figuring out what to get your mom or significant other is pretty stressful, too. Ditch the impersonal gift cards and let us show you a guide to some thoughtful holiday gifts.

ashley honma & saba mohtasham

friend Get in the holiday cheer by snuggling up with a friend and drinking some (s p i ke d ) e g g n o g . T h e 12 D rinking Games of Christmas promises to spice up your cold winter nights with word games such a s “D rink A ll Ye Faithful” and a game of shots titled “Jigger Bells.”

Urban Outfitters, $14

grandparents Can’t decide which picture you want to frame for Grandpa and Grandma? Why not choose all of them? The HP 7-inch Digital Photo Frame allows you to upload all your favorite memories without forcing you to choose just one special picture. Your grandparents will love the easy-to-use functions and high photo quality of their captured memories in this frame.

Best Buy, $109.99

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boyfriend Your guy has the right looks and the right personality, but does he have the right smell? If he’s lacking in the latter, treat him to Givenchy Play, the newest cologne from the Parisian fashion house. Created with help from Justin Timberlake, the scent is centered around the Caribbean Amyris wood, infusing a fragrance that is both warm and youthful.

Sephora, $53

dog A cozy bed is an absolute necessity for yourself during the colder season, and the same goes for your furry canine companion!

For your pooch, head over to Petco and purchase the Round Cuddle Up Dog Bed from Dog Whisperer by Cesar Millan. Created by the television personality himself, the bed features a super soft Microtec sleep surface to keep your dog warm and faux bomber leather to envelope it in luxury.

Petco, $39.99

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co-worker Chilly morning commutes call for hot coffee. They also call for a grumpy co-worker.

With the Contigo West Loop Mug, however, your co-worker can continue to enjoy their hot coffee after arriving at the office. The unique Autoseal technology allows the user to push a trigger to drink and to release to securely seal the mug, allowing the coffee to stay warmer for longer.

Target, $19.99

everyone Everyone you know – boys and girls, young and old – will appreciate the delectable recipes featured in “Cooking with All Things Trader Joe’s.” The recipes are simple but will nonetheless impress all your dinner guests with the fancy presentations, courtesy of authors Deana Gunn and Wona Miniati. From stuffed portobellos to shrimp boats, this is one holiday gift that’s good all year long.

Amazon, $19.77

holiday checklist take this handy list with you when you shop so you don’t forget any of your favorite people

sibling Your sister or brother is blasting their favorite holiday music, and you need to study for your final. What should you do?

Go along with the festive spirit and give him or her the new iPod Nano! Now loaded with a video camera and a built-in FM tuner, it’s guaranteed to make you and your sibling(s) happy.

Apple, $149

mom dad grandparents sibling friend boyfriend/girlfriend dog co-worker everyone else

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e b o t w

t e n r e t in

ho famous paige parker photo illustration michael chen illustrations tiffany liu

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Movie and television stars are so last decade.

In an age when surfing YouTube is as common as (and often more entertaining than) flipping through TV channels, there has emerged an eclectic breed of celebrity: the Internet star.

You know the type. There was the kid who set up a tripod and filmed himself twirling a metal rod around as if his life depended on it. “The Star Wars Kid” currently has over 900 million hits on YouTube.

And who hasn’t heard of Fred Figglehorn? The hyperactive, helium-voiced character’s YouTube channel was the first to hit over one million subscribers.

With help from those who have garnered success via their Web videos, here are a few tips for those looking to make a name for themselves in an age when fame could be just few clicks away.

Be creative With a new form of online entertainment and a YouTube-savvy generation comes the chance to test just what it is that makes a video’s number of views shoot from one to a million. In other words, content possibilities are almost limitless.

Although predicting which online videos will be the talk of the town is near impossible – Who would have thought so many people could spend hours LOL-ing at cats? – creators of Web shows with large cult followings recognize the importance of taking advantage of the freedom the web offers.

For Conor Duffy, the internet provided him with

the opportunity to make a comedy web show with a pretty unconventional subject matter. “Patrick Duffy and the Crab” stars his dad, actor Patrick Duffy (you probably know him as the dad from “Step by Step,” your parents probably know him as Bobby Ewing on the drama “Dallas”), and a giant crab puppet.

The abnormal pair spends the two-minute episodes chatting about everyday subjects such as TV shows and Facebook.

Initially skeptical of the concept, Patrick Duffy, said the Web became a way for him to expand his career at an older age.

“Here I am having established a certain reputation in television and I’m going to do basically one-minute sitcom I have had people episodes with a crab. come up who think I could be laughed off this is the most the face of the earth intelligent piece of and not taken serihumor for this time. ously again. And quite PATRICK the opposite has hapDUFFY | actor pened. I have had people come up who think that this is the most intelligent piece of humor for this time,” Duffy said.

Moral of the story: The Web has opened the doors to major entertainment experimentation. Have an idea for a video or web show that sounds crazy?

Sometimes the crazier, the better.

Collaborate You could pull a Bo Burnham and set up a tripod and film yourself, but teamwork is never a bad thing.

For Joel Church-Cooper, star and creator of Web series “Roommating,” more man power meant more

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creativity. He and the co-creator for the show, Erin Gibson, were close friends who decided to start a Web series about roommates, a situation Church-Cooper said they were familiar with, having “hung out enough to get on each other’s nerves.”

“It definitely feels like it was the product of the two of us together,” Church-Cooper said. “It was our product. You could get all the writers in the world together that couldn’t do what the two of us did to create that.”

Similarly, “Jake and Amir” Web show creators, Jake Hurwitz and Amir Blumenfeld, were both hired as writers for the Web site CollegeHumor, found a common comedic ground and began filming videos for fun in the office. They now shoot two episodes a week, which are featured on their

X

Web site.

Their coworkers have also become regulars on the show.

While none of the CollegeHumor employees are hired as actors, members of the editorial, advertising, marketing and design staff appear on the show and contribute.

“It’s definitely a fun office,” Hurwitz said. “Like a day-to-day thing is I’m scared that someone’s going to shoot me with a Nerf gun, which is a good problem to have at work.”

Get the word out Posting on a video-sharing Web site is just the first of many steps at getting your video in the public eye. The Internet provides a variety of other advertising and marketing outlets.

Online Web media is also cheaper to produce than televised

and easier to show to people because it’s open for anyone to see.

In addition to posting their videos on a number of video-sharing sites, “Jake and Amir” creators paid $8 for their Web site, jakeandamir.com. Here they posted their videos and other information, and the site quickly began attracting fans in the hundreds.

In addition to using a number of distribution platforms, UCLA alumni creators of the popular web series “Dorm Life” developed a social-networking strategy to increase word-of-mouth marketing.

They gave the show’s characters Facebook pages, which allowed for more fan-character interaction.

“Even more than just watching (the show), they post on our Facebook walls and we post back,” said Jordan Riggs, creator, writer and actor for the show. “So I think considering user experience and making that a deeper and more meaningful experience also gets people to watch the show faithfully, to come back every week and to spread the word.”

Dorm Life is now one of the most viewed Web shows on Hulu.com.

Film for fun Only in this day and age can a 16-year-old click the record button, sing some politically incorrect lyrics, post it online and become famous overnight.

Literally. When Bo Burnham’s videos were featured on Break.com, the hit number was in the millions in the first few days. And he had just intended to make his brother and a few friends laugh.

“I just didn’t think of it as that big of a deal,” Burnham said. As a result of his online success, he is now a standup comedian and appeared in Judd Apatow’s film “Funny People.”

The same goes for the UCLA Jerk Kings, whose music videos of their dance routines (many of them filmed at UCLA) became the first jerk videos to reach a million hits on YouTube. Their first tutorial video, posted in October, received around 3,000 hits in less than a day.

“We never thought it would get a lot of views,” said Barnaby Kupper, member of Jerk Kings. “We just did it for fun ... but we rode the wave. And so far it’s been taking us pretty far.”

With a total of six videos, Kupper admits to being recognized on the streets by people of all ages because of their YouTube presence. They have also been asked to perform at parties, dance clubs and schools.

How to Become a Web Success: In the words of people who have succeeded “Always have the funny guy be a puppet. You can never fail if you have a giant orange puppet sitting next to you. Because then when you do something stupid, they’re always going to be looking the other direction towards the puppet. So it’s a fail-safe way to make a name for yourself.”

— Patrick Duffy, star of “Patrick Duffy and The Crab”

“I would say the most important thing in a blog or any sort of Web site is a unique voice. I know it’s kind of a cliché, but it’s true. On the Internet, it’s not about how the production value is, it’s not about how big your camera. It’s about the sense that the person making this video is special and has a perspective that I don’t have that I’m enjoying.”

— Joel Church-Cooper, creator and star of “Roommating”

“Stay focused and follow your dreams, and do what you want to do. Be yourself.”

— Barnaby Kupper, dancer for UCLA Jerk Kings

“Make a lot of videos, make them funny and promote them nonstop until people hate you.”

— Jake Hurwitz, star and writer for “Jake and Amir”

“It’s important to not sacrifice quality for content just because it’s on the Web. ... Do what you believe in, make your product. And if you believe in it, then you’ll be passionate about it, and you’ll work to put out something good.”

— Jordan Riggs, creator and actor for “Dorm Life”

“I would say don’t have any respect for yourself and/or have a video of you smoking salvia.”

— Bo Burnham, musician and comedian

compiled by: paige parker

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MAKING ROOM Brittanee Marksbury, Shizue Reid and Krishna Curry live in a posh apartment complex on Wilshire Boulevard, where they’ve created a cozy haven away from campus. Although the women assure that they were going for a “French Countryside” theme, their home resembles more of an international one.

The girls have decorated the apartment with different trinkets and antiques from all over the world, including Ghana, Italy and France. “Our place has a comfortable feel,” Marksbury said. “It looks like a home. It’s not a typical apartment, and it’s completely separate from school.”

Fusing traditions “We were going for ‘French Countryside’ but the lamp makes it look like it’s some kind of modern Asian fusion,” Reid said. A map of Paris framed in three parts hangs above the couch, adding to the emphasis on global influences.

Jewelry Rack Marksbury’s jewelry rack is the flashiest item in her nautical-themed room.

“I have a lot of earrings,” she said.

“Some of the jewelry comes from vintage shops, and some are just really old. I’m a pack rat.”

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salima koroma photos machiko yasuda

Egyptian Curry’s mother and stepfather traveled throughout Egypt, her stepfather’s birth place, and brought back papyrus paintings and brass plates for her to keep. “(My parents) never take me anywhere,” she said jokingly, “but they like to bring me back stuff.”

Chess Set Curry and her boyfriend Dylan purchased this Ghanian, hand-made soapstone chess set from a dealer in Hollywood.

“The place was pretty much just a random hole in the wall,” she said. “But it had some really cool stuff.”

Keys The keys don’t open anything, but they add a nice touch to the shabby chic atmosphere of the apartment. “I saw (the keys) sitting around (my parents’) house, so I took them,” Marksbury said. She added that she frequently goes antique shopping with her mother.

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surviving family dinners lauren schick illustration julie gerard

Going home for the holidays is a time for reconnecting with high school friends, and sometimes breaking it off with that high school sweetheart – a time for showing off your mounds of school paraphernalia, and rationalizing the money you spent on it (of course the dog needs a UCL A leash!). Some things you can’t prepare for, such as finding out your bachelor-pad bedroom has been converted into you r m othe r’s s ewin g c e n t e r. B u t y o u c a n always count on a holiday family dinner, oftentimes with extended family and friends, whose questions about your college-life and the inevitable, fastapproaching future will make you want to hide behind the stack of quilting patterns replacing your soccer trophy. Don’t stress.

Here’s a guide to show you that the dinner table is just like a game board, and once you’ve mastered the players and the moves, you’re sure to win the game, or at least survive until the final round, which usually includes dessert.

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The “I-think-I’m-young-and-hip” older relative: This person is most likely to out you as this relative is likely to have a Facebook account and may know too much about your trip to Las Vegas. This relative will likely have an iPhone for proof of said trip. Beware.

Also, keep your door locked as this relative may want to borrow your clothes.

The crazy uncle: He is the one most likely to cause a distraction. Whether it’s a slightly obnoxious comment after one too many pumpkin ales or his insistence on showing everyone his photo album from the zoo consisting only of the animals’ behinds, you want to keep him close by in case you need to draw attention away from a brewing family fight.

The grandparents: They are your best bet for allies. They are the most likely to see your decision to take a year off and go to Europe not as irresponsible, but as a much-deserved break for all those hours of studying. If you choose to sit next to them, don’t text at the dinner table.

They think it’s rude.

The parents: They are the ones with the most questions. Luckily, they will have asked all of them within the first 20 minutes you are home, meaning that by the time the big holiday meals rolls around, they should be off your case. However, use caution as there is a decent chance they told another relative to probe you for more information about the new girlfriend.

The younger cousin: She is your get-out-of-familydrama-free card. Tell her you need her opinion on your new screen saver and you can’t decide between Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus. You can buy yourself a good 15 minutes away from awkward dinner conversations.

Be prepared to talk about the following: •Your love life (and, yes, it will be awkward) •Your classes •Your roommates •UCLA sports (a good topic to distract from the personal information) •Your career goals (a safe answer: “I’m keeping my options open”) •How much you’ve grown

The sibling: This is your use-only-in-case-of-emergency person.

When you are in the hot seat being grilled about whether you are going to law school or medical school, you can remind everyone at the table that your brother has been out of school for three years and is still living at home without a job. It will get the relatives off your back, but you must be prepared to suffer the consequences later.

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food for thought

Nick Scull, a postdoctoral fellow with UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services, gave some tips to help students cope with the stress of feeling put-on-the-spot at family holiday dinners:

• Anticipate questions: Decide which questions will be easy to answer, and for the more difficult questions, formulate some thoughts ahead of time. For example, family will probably want to know if you’ve settled on a major and how classes are going. They will also likely want to know about students’ personal lives, such as if they are dating anyone.

• Talk to people individually: Maybe you don’t want grandma to hear about who you are dating, but you can pull family members aside and chat casually, one-on-one, about life at UCLA instead of disclosing

information to the entire table.

• Experiment with establishing boundaries: If you feel that certain topics should really be off the table, try asserting yourself, saying, “Maybe we can talk about that later,” or “I don’t really want to talk about that.”

• Find an ally: If you anticipate being asked something particularly challenging, find an ally, such as a brother, sister, aunt or uncle and let them know what you’re planning to say so they can support you.

• Use humor: Humor can be really helpful in making light of difficult or uncomfortable questions.

Elinor Ochs, professor of anthropology and applied linguistics and the director of the UCLA Sloan Center on Everyday Lives of Families, shared her thoughts on the significance and impact of family dinners.

On the significance of dining together: “It’s important all around the world. People, when they want to reconnect, they will enjoy a meal together. In the United States, as well as in other industrialized nations, it seems particularly important in that family members do not spend a lot of their waking hours together as a family unit. In the contemporary United States, most people are working during the day and children are at home during the day. ... Hence, dinner becomes an important moment to find out what’s been happening in each other’s lives.”

On the difference between everyday dinners and holiday meals: “The Sloan Center on Everyday Lives of Families actually looked at the extent to which children and their parents ate together and found that only 17 percent of the time did parents and children actually eat all together around a table. ... When you have a holiday dinner, ... we think about people coming together and eating at the same place at the same time. ... When you are eating at different places or at different times, you don’t have the problem of people grilling you. But, when you come all together, it affords the possibility of that happening too much.”

On students feeling hounded at mealtime: “The danger of dinnertime interactions is that they become potent moments for not just reconnection, but for probing each other’s lives. Parents, in particular, want to know what’s been happening in their kids’ lives and it doesn’t matter if the kid is 5 or 25. ... Kids actually have very little room to find out about their parents’ lives. So what happens to someone who goes to UCLA and comes home for a break and they have not only their parents but their aunts and uncles and grandparents and who knows who else is around, then it becomes even more magnified because then it’s not just a meal after a day apart, it’s a meal after a relatively long period apart. So, there are going to be more questions and more people asking questions. ... It can be both a source of great sentimentality to be together, but also a source of stress.”

On suggestions for a more pleasant mealtime: “It might be interesting for students to start asking parents about what happened with them while they were gone so some of the conversation gets tipped back to the parents’ lives so it’s not just one way. I don’t know if that would make it more pleasant, but it would be interesting and it would be a challenge, because in earlier research that I did, most of the time what happens around dinnertime is that the lives of children and the lives of women get discussed, but the lives of fathers much more rarely are revealed.”

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late-night eats College students are nocturnal and hungry. Whether you’re pulling an allnighter to study and need a midnight off-campus snack, or you’re craving a huge post-party feast, this is your guide to late-night eats.

story and photos maya sugarman

Izzy’s Deli 1433 Wilshire Blvd.

Santa Monica, CA 90403 310-394-1131 Hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week Parking: Yes Price Range: $10-$15 Type of Food: American, Delicatessen We ordered the Super Burger, which tops the regular half-pound ground beef patty with melted provolone and a two-inch tall onion ring. Our cheeseburger also came with cole slaw, two pickles and a bundle of fries – all for $10.95. The onion

ring brings an enticing crunch and sweetness that complements the tangy ketchup and savory, juicy ground beef. In addition to the Super Burger’s superb flavor, its golden onion rings, stringy melted cheese and pink medium rare beef make it a sight to see. As we snapped photographs of the meal, a customer in a nearby booth couldn’t resist coming over to our table to get a couple shots.

Izzys’ large portions and hefty meals, such as its “overstuffed” sandwiches, skirt steak and barbeque turkey meatballs are well worth the price.

If cost is on your mind, the delicatessen currently offers “Stimulus Dinner Specials” that include a choice of potatoes or veggies and soup or salad, along with a beverage and entree for $11.95 from 4 to 10 p.m.

Parking is difficult during dinnertime; we arrived around 7:30 p.m. and the lot was full.

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Benito’s Taco Shop 11614 Santa Monica Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90025 310-442-9924 Hours: Open until 2 a.m. Sundays through Wednesdays, and 4 a.m. Thursdays through Saturdays Parking: Yes Price Range: $3-$6 Type of Food: Mexican This L.A. taco chain is the place to get a quick meal to fill you up. The closest location, located on Santa Monica Boulevard and Federal Avenue, is about an 8-minute drive from campus. If you don’t have a car, the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus No. 1 will take you straight there.

Benito’s is known for its rolled tacos that include shredded beef wrapped tightly in a crispy corn tortilla topped with homemade guacamole and cheddar and enchilada cheeses. You can get three tacos for $3.29 or five for $4.29. The tortilla was a little hard and the beef was on the dry side. However, the fresh, flavorful homemade guacamole brought the meal to life. Add a dash of spicy salsa and enjoy!

The chicken burrito combines slow-marinated chicken breast, rice and refried beans in a soft flour tortilla that makes for a hearty meal at $4.29. We thought that the chicken breast was dry; without guacamole or salsa, it lacked compelling flavors. Nonetheless, if you’re looking for a meal-on-the-go that won’t leave you feeling like there’s a brick in your stomach – Benito’s is the place to go (but stick with the rolled tacos).

Big Tomy’s 11289 W Pico Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90064

310-479-0601 Hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week Parking: Yes Price Range: $4-$7 Type of Food: American

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The most remarkable thing about Big Tomy’s is its enormous menu – both in terms of the breadth of different foods it offers and the massive overhead menu behind the counter.

Big Tomy’s serves everything from chili burgers and omelets to burritos, ice cream and fried chicken dinners.

Big Tomy’s has always stood out for its zucchini fries, a side order that costs $3.59. While these fries may remind you of Thomas Rockwell’s children’s novel, “How to Eat Fried Worms,” they are much more delicious than they look. The zucchini fries have a somewhat unconventional fry consistency, as the dark golden fried batter is more like that of a chicken nugget. The sweet squash complements the semi-salty batter, and they go very well with ketchup. Although the portions are huge, these fries are addictive – don’t be surprised if they’re all gone after one sitting.

Big Tomy’s interior is quirky with its 25-cent game machines such as “Sex Reactor” and “The Gypsy” that serve as entertainment while your food cooks on the grill. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating areas, but we suggest sticking indoors, as the tables and seating outside are quite dusty.

Pho Citi Noodle Soup 1834 Westwood Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90025 310-446-8070 Hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week Parking: Yes Price Range: $6-$9 Type of Food: Vietnamese

Pho Citi has two locations in the L.A. area; however, the one located on Westwood Boulevard is just more than five minutes away by car. Although the restaurant is known for its Vietnamese pho, or noodle soup, Pho Citi also serves vermicelli, charbroiled meats over steamed rice, pan fried noodles and more. The eatery also boasts various Thai and Vietnamese beverages, including a fresh whole coconut.

We ordered the combination pho noodle soup that includes a rare steak brisket, tendon tripe and meatballs with soup, noodles, bean sprouts, green peppers and limes for $6.95.

The soup was flavorful and light, while the noodles were perfectly cooked. The sour lime and crunchy bean sprouts added energy to the noodle soup.

The most notable characteristic of Pho Citi is its minty scent when you enter through the front door. Its tables are spread out and isolated, allowing for better acoustics and more privacy. The dark walls and ceiling work to contrast with the bright furniture and soft lighting to create a calming interior. Pho Citiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s food presentation manifests this same visual technique; dark charbroiled meats are placed on white square platters and decorated with greens.

Food aside, one of the most interesting things about Pho Citi is its innovative promotion strategies. As you wait in line at the cashier, posters advertise their Twitter account and Monday Night Football commercial. They also have a blog and YouTube that is regularly updated.

fall destinations Sometimes the only way you can tell it’s autumn in Los Angeles is by the resurgence of the Pumpkin Spice Latte on the seasonal menu at Starbucks. For those who wish to experience the true colors of fall, you can do so with just a few short drives. Here’s a guide to how to feel like it’s fall both in and around Los Angeles. jennifer bastien & ashley homna illustrations kim anh hoang

willowbrook apple farm A late spring frost this year means that visitors are unable to pick apples at Willowbrook Apple Farm this season, but they can still press their own apple cider. Take a weekend drive to Oak Glen and enjoy the sight – and taste – of fall taking over the orchards. What’s more fall-like than pressing 20 pounds of apples to yield a single gallon of apple cider?

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get there Willowbrook Apple Farm 12099 S. Oak Glen Road Oak Glen, CA 92399 909-797-9484 Running through Nov. 29, $14.50 Sat. and Sun., 10 a.m. — 4 p.m.

riley’s farm

get there Riley’s Farm

Making your own fresh apple cider is a great way to taste the season. The apple harvest is over already, but there’s still plenty of cider to go around, and the apples in the orchard at Riley’s Farm in Oak Glen are ready to be pressed the old-fashioned way on-site. You can also pick your own strawberries and pumpkins, or attend one of their “Sleepy Hollow” nights for pie-eating, apple-bobbing, seed-spitting and pumpkin-carving.

12261 S. Oak Glen Rd Oak Glen, CA 92399 Year-round depending on seasonal produce Mon. – Fri.: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Sat.: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Prices vary depending on activity

camino real park Spring is not the only season filled with butterflies. Fall is also teeming with the fluttery creatures. Come November, monarch butterflies from the East Coast begin their winter migration, descending in clusters around California until December. Want to witness their colorful journey? Stop by Camino Real Park in Ventura, where flocks are known to gather in the trees.

get there Camino Real Park

Dean Drive and Varsity St. Ventura, CA 93001 FREE

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fillmore & western railway co.

Looking to pick the perfect Christmas tree for your place? At Fillmore & Western Railway Co., you can do just that. Located in the heart of California’s Heritage Valley, the railway company is offering rides to its Christmas Tree Farm where visitors can select and cut their own trees.

get there Fillmore & Western Railway Co. 250 Central Ave. Fillmore, CA 93015 Nov. 28 – Dec. 20, $24 (not including cost of the tree) Sat. and Sun., 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

ice Beyond those frosted spray-painted store window displays and the icicle holiday lights wrapped around the Third Street Promenade, there is real ice to be found in downtown Santa Monica this fall: ICE, the city’s 8,000-square-foot skating rink just beyond the Promenade at Arizona and 5th streets. Practice your one-foot axel and your half flip, or just settle for recreating the opening scene of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” With the chill of the ice and the ocean breeze, it’s an excuse to bring out your best winter jacket and scarf and take notice that it’s no longer summer anymore.

get there ICE 1324 5th St. Santa Monica, CA Running through Jan. 31, $10 Sun. – Thurs.: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Fri. and Sat.: 10 a.m. ­– midnight

topanga state park Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s be honest: Most of the leaves changing color on the trees around campus are not exactly fall-worthy. At Topanga State Park, however, you can get that fall feeling while still in Los Angeles. Experience the views from the Santa Monica Mountains, complete with live oaks, open grassland and the Pacific Ocean. The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk.

get there Topanga State Park 20829 Entrada Rd. Topanga, CA 90290 Year-round, FREE 8 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; dusk

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thursdays in westwood rei estrada graphics john anzelc

what you should know: MIPs A minor in possession charge can be issued anytime an underage drinker is caught. You generally want to avoid these; they appear on your personal record and can cause some trouble later.

Avoid risky situations If a party is loud, crowded and the only one in the neighborhood, there’s a good chance the police will stop by. Most times, the party will be broken up without any arrests, but there’s no harm in being aware.

Don’t be obvious

Fake IDs: How to spot them

Most officers won’t stop you unless they have a good reason. Obviously, you shouldn’t do things like pee in public, but this also includes being visibly drunk, holding an open drink or being loud.

Cooperate If your party gets busted, quietly leave.

Officers don’t really have the time to book every student, but if they do grab someone, it’s probably going to be the one yelling. If you do get stopped, cooperation will always look better than belligerence. You may even get off with just a warning, and if not, it makes things a bit easier in court.

HAWAII DRIVER

In California, minors caught with fake IDs can LICENSE face penalties of $250, community service or NUMBR 43-26-12345 jail time and a year-long suspension on their real license. Here are some telltale signs that DOB 06/02/1925 EXP 06/05/2010 it might not be worth the risk: HT WT HAIR EYES SEX CTY Nervousness 8’11 800 BRO BLU M 0 A lot of the time, bouncers don’t even have ISSUE DATE CLASS RESTR ENDORSE to check your ID to know you’re not legal.

MOE BRUIN 3 06/05/2000 123 N SCHOOL ST. If your hand is shaking, they’ll know you’re Moe Bruin HONOLULU, HI 96821 faking.

Facts So your card says you weigh 155, but your body is closer to 120? You must have lost all that weight by sawing off your legs then, because your like these can lead to hesitation and reveal your card also says you’re 5 inches taller than you look. deception. One favorite is to ask for your zodiac Tampering sign, but almost anything on your card is fair game.

Typos. Fuzzy lettering. Air bubbles. Off-kilter Pro Tools graphics. These are all indicators that a card has been Resources like black lights and State ID books are manufactured or tampered with. a faker’s bane. Some bouncers may even check your Questions signature against the one on the card.

Q u i c k ! W h a t ’s yo u r a d d r e s s? Q u e s t i o n s

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Thursdays are likely to be the most social day of the week here at UCLA. When the sun goes down, students wander the hills of Westwood, participating in debauchery so classically associated with the college life. Newcomers, here’s what you should know.

Parking lots 7 and 4 Drake Stadium De Neve Steps Saxon Steps

the walk of shame Parking lots Underground parking lots like lot 7 and lot 4 offer more secretive means of getting around campus.

Saxon Steps and De Neve Steps If you’re coming from the apartments, these stairways allow you to get back to the Hill without too many run-ins.

Bathrooms If you have to get to class without stopping at your room, at least freshen up. Bathrooms are literally everywhere on campus. Ackerman Union is almost always open, and most academic buildings stay unlocked most hours.

Drake Stadium With construction turning Charles E. Young Drive into a bottleneck, it’s inevitable to run into someone.

Instead, pass through the top of the bleachers in Drake for more privacy.

Diddy Riese Westwood’s pride and joy. The line is long, but fast, and it doesn’t get much cheaper than $1.50 a sandwich.

Westwood Brewing Company Tommy Taco The mouthful of a name tends to be Bruins seem to have a love/hate shortened to BrewCo by seasoned relationship with the taco shack Bruins. It hosts an indoor and on Gayley Avenue. But everyone outdoor seating area, karaoke agrees: The eats are cheap, the nights, and moderately priced portions large, and it’s the drinks. The food consists of the perfect pick-me-up when drunk. usual bar food, like burgers and fries, but BrewCo boasts offerings of barbecue as well.

In-N-Out Burger The legendary left-coast burger Yogurtland joint has a location right here in If you don’t mind the walk, the Westwood. And don’t forget to recently opened Yogurtland is a order from the secret menu; you great alternative dessert stop. haven’t lived until you’ve gone Detox with some fresh fruit “animal style.” toppings, or just load up on the cheesecake bites and gummy O’Hara’s worms.

Also known by its older name, Maloney’s, this bar houses several TVs for catching games. As one of two major UCLA bars, it generally hosts a lot of sports fans. It’s also famous for its $4 Liter Thursdays.

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recipes for a cold day laura belyavski photos nathan kwok

Fall is well underway, and students have caught up with old friends, met new love interests and realized that maybe they should have dropped one of their classes before the quarter even began. But what better way to get people together and escape from the stress of the quarter system than a home-cooked seasonal meal? These recipes will make sure that you incorporate savory fall ingredients into your cooking. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll even impress the old friend who knew you when all you could cook was a bowl of ramen.

With these recipes, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be infusing each dish with the rich flavor of pumpkin.

Some recommendations and notes of caution: The cranberry sauce is best served warm and also goes great with the cookies. If the soup is too rich for you, just add more bouillon. Make sure you mix the French toast batter before each dip to ensure that no ingredient sinks to the bottom and escapes the bread. The toast is an obvious breakfast treat but also makes for a sweet dessert.

Add blueberries, nuts or orange zest to the cranberry sauce to add an extra punch. If you leave the cookie dough out for a long time after combining the ingredients, it will rise a little and create cookies that are a little more like scones. So get cooking; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll create a seemingly reasonable excuse to take a study break and invite some friends over.

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fall french toast ingredients: Toast: Sliced bread 3/4 cup canned pumpkin 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 egg butter powdered sugar Sauce: 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup light brown sugar 1 cup water 1 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries 1 teaspoon cinnamon directions: Toast: 1. C o m b i n e e g g a n d p u m p k i n .

Add milk slowly to avoid creating lumps of pumpkin. Add vanilla and cinnamon. Dip bread into the batter.

Let it soak up the mixture. Heat saucepan. Put enough butter on pan to coat the surface. Put battersoaked bread onto the pan. Let it cook for 2-5 minutes on each side, or

until cooked all the way through.

pumpkin cookies

delectable treats. Grease the baking sheet you want to use for the cookies.

I recommend using butter because it does the job and tastes better (and is more natural) than sprays and spreads.

2. First melt butter in microwave for one minute or until butter has begun to melt.

Combine butter, sugar and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. An electric mixer is the easiest tool, but a wooden mixing spoon works just as well. Add pumpkin and egg.

3. While most recipes ask you to combine the dry ingredients separately and then add them to the mixture of butter and sugar, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think it makes any noticeable difference for the average college student. So feel free to add the flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon directly to the rest of the ingredients. Combine until smooth. Dough should be slightly

ingredients: 2 1/2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 cup canned pumpkin 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup light brown sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional: chocolate chips chopped walnuts dried cranberries directions: 1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. The lower temperature bakes the cookies more evenly and helps create soft,

Sauce: 1. Wa s h a n d p i c k t h r o u g h t h e cranberries to remove any that may be spoiled or rotten. Combine the water, granulated sugar and brown sugar in a medium saucepan. Let the mixture come to a boil and add the cranberries and cinnamon. Reduce heat to low and let the mixture cook for 10-20 minutes,

depending on the consistency you want. The longer you cook the mixture, the more the cranberries will pop and thicken the sauce.

Serve the French toast with the sauce on top. Top it with powdered sugar for an extra sweet flavor and an appetizing appearance.

sticky.

4. Spoon dough onto greased cookie sheet. For heaping tablespoon-sized balls of dough, cook for approximately 15 minutes. Smaller cookies will require less time. variations: Feel free to add chocolate chips, dried cranberries or walnuts to the dough and let them add texture and flavor to your cookies. You can also melt chocolate (chips work just fine) and put that on top of the cookies and set a decorative treat atop each cookie. For example, the photo features plain pumpkin cookies with melted chocolate and a walnut on top. Voila! Makes approximately 24 cookies, depending on size (and on how much you like the dough).

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cream of pumpkin soup Ingredients: 8 cups of water 1 yellow onion 6 chicken legs 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 cups of canned pumpkin 1/2 cup half and half 1 cup heavy whipping cream 2 teaspoons chili powder 1/2 teaspoon curry powder 3 tablespoons brown sugar salt pepper Directions: 1. The first component of this soup is homemade bouillon. To make this, first dice the onion. Put the olive oil and the onion in a large saucepan. Saute the onion

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until it is soft and slightly brown. Then add eight cups of water and bring it to a boil.

Add the six chicken legs. Keep this at a boil for 20 minutes or until the chicken is done. Strain the bouillon so that neither the chicken nor the onions go into the final soup.

2. Add 2 1/2 cups of the chicken bouillon to a medium saucepan; keep the heat at a medium level. Add two cups of canned pumpkin. Mix continuously. Add 1/2 cup of half and half and cup of heavy whipping cream. Continue mixing. Add chili powder, curry powder and brown sugar. Add salt and pepper to taste. Bring soup to a low boil. Once soup reaches a desirable temperature, it is ready to be served. Since it is on the rich side, it makes an excellent appetizer served in a smaller portion.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let the entree disappoint after this impressive starter dish.

urban sprawl Once upon a time, a UCLA alumnus named Ivan Simon took the scenic route throughout Los Angeles, learning about the many layers of this great city.

DEVON MCREYNOLDS On a spring day in 1982, Ivan Simon walked the length of Sunset Boulevard.

This isn’t a Halloween horror story with a sinister ending but rather a story about a UCLA alumnus who did something most of us would consider, well, a horrible idea. I don’t know too many people who would walk south of Wilshire Boulevard, let alone nearly 22 miles in a city where pedestrians are about as common as a rainy day and who are often regarded the same as one – with confusion and bewilderment.

Then a third-year at UCLA, Simon was enrolled in an urban planning class and was encouraged by the professor to explore parts of Los Angeles and to observe firsthand the unique mishmash of architecture. Simon had grown up in East Hollywood in a family without a car, so he was used to getting around town, this bastion of car culture, by other means. He said that he “already had some familiarity with the pleasures of ambling around town.”

When he was in high school, Simon worked as a library assistant in the USC Annenberg School for Communication and would walk from his home (around the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Vermont Avenue) to South Central.

I guess this part is actually pretty scary; I shudder to think of interacting with Trojans on a regular basis.

On the day of the walk, Simon left from Union Station at sunrise and began his journey by walking through Chinatown, downtown, Echo Park, Silver Lake, Hollywood, West Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Bel-Air and Santa Monica, all the way to the Pacific Ocean. It took him the entire day – reaching the beach, oh-so-fittingly, at sunset. Along the way, he said that he encountered hundreds of people, and, as you might expect, the social demographics were as vastly different as the styles of the buildings.

“Downtown was fairly quiet, but even then assorted homeless men and women wandered the streets,” Simon said. “Hollywood had not yet been revitalized. Drug addicts, transvestites and the poor seemed to dominate several blocks between Vermont and La Brea. By the time I reached Fairfax, Orthodox Jews were walking to and from synagogue and West L.A. had the stereotypical beautiful people.”

As a native Angeleno who was accustomed to taking public transit, Simon said that he was already familiar with the “diverse personalities,” as he politely put it, and instead focused on the urban landscape of Los Angeles.

The architecture of the buildings, bridges and even styles of the streetlights in the different neighborhoods revealed

something about the past that a person might not notice if they were to zoom by in a car.

Much of Los Angeles’ history lies in the very recent past, and it’s remarkable how much can change in such a brief amount of time. Simon noticed this on his walk.

“I found myself trying to picture what L.A. looked like in previous decades,” he said. “Parts of Echo Park, Silver Lake and Hollywood, which were by the time of my trek run-down and depressing, were once the most affluent and attractive neighborhoods in the city.”

That was 27 years ago, and now you can’t walk through Silver Lake (a highly walkable neighborhood, I might add) without seeing gourmet coffee and cheese shops, or upscale dog clothing boutiques. So L.A. Having said that, it is another testament to the oft-changing landscape of this diverse and bizarre city.

“I don’t know if the walk changed my view of L.A.,” Simon said. “It did confirm my sense that L.A. is not really a unified city but more a string of eclectic communities.”

This is a common analysis of Los Angeles. Its massive size and autopian urban planning initially makes it seem impossible to walk anywhere here. There’s always lots of loud traffic on the busy streets, and not every block of the city is lined with picturesque palm trees and chic brunch spots like MTV would have you believe. To someone who doesn’t live in Los Angeles, or to those who don’t care to ever get from one place to another without their cars, walking in this city would not only be an unpleasant experience – it would be too crazy to even consider.

Simon, who was actually one of my favorite teachers from high school, is still “Mr. Simon” to me. If you knew Mr. Simon (and I imagine there are a few San Luis Obispo High School alumni at UCLA who do), this story of his L.A. odyssey wouldn’t surprise you.

But just because doing something like this is more expected from someone with certain eccentricities like Mr. Simon doesn’t mean you should be intimidated by trying something you normally wouldn’t do.

You can learn how to do lots of things around the city, and, as a city that can be difficult to get along with at times, these bits of knowledge can go a long way in improving your relationship with it. Walking in Los Angeles is a perfect example. I know plenty of people, UCLA students and others (myself included), who enjoy walking in the city, and it may at first seem “weird” or “dangerous,” but you might want to give it a try. And if a 22-mile walk doesn’t really sound like your thing, you could walk south of Wilshire Boulevard. I hear it’s great over there.

E-mail McReynolds at dmcreynolds@media.ucla.edu.