Bubba Gump (I am not sorry about this one)
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Listen, I understand that no one wants to go to city walk (i do but I’m not boring like some of y’all) I also understand that the food at Bubba Gump is just subpar, it’s the drinks and the atmosphere you’re coming here for! You’ve got a theme park next door for before or after your drinking, you’ve got shops and places to get sweets all along city walk, it’s an ideal spot.
What you’ll order: the gold and honey, always.
Location: 1000 Universal Studios Blvd Suite 114, Universal City, CA
The Fountain Bar
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I understand that people in la that think they’re too good for it, avoid the grove like the plague, but those people are missing out on my favorite dining experience I’ve had so far in the city, The Fountain Bar. Is it expensive? A bit! But the view of the fountain and the bartenders who provide endless banter (should you choose to sit at the bar) make the price seem like a no-brainer. Plus, you never know who you’ll spot while you people watch. I saw Drake Bell one time.
What you’ll order: Anything off the special drinks menu, and the salmon carpaccio
Location: 189 The Grove Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Scum and Villainy Cantina
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I don’t think of myself as a huge Star Wars nerd, however, Scum and Villainy blew me away. The atmosphere is a wet dream for fans both casual and hardcore, and the drinks!!! The drinks are where this place shines, with a marvel/star wars inspired menu, you simply can’t go wrong! If you find yourself out wondering late on Hollywood Boulevard, this is the spot you want to be at!
What you’ll order: Blue Milk, yes, this is my Disney adult coming through
Location: 6377 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
The Golden Gopher
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Listen, before anything else in my life, I am a swiftie. There was no way that I wasn’t going to recommend you all partake in my favorite bar-going experience, The Golden Gopher where Taylor Swift shot ‘Delicate,' is nestled in Downtown Los Angeles and is the perfect bar to bring your computer to and work while enjoying an Old Fashioned.
What you'll order: An Old Fashioned
Location: 417 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
Marmalade Cafe
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I know, you people avoid The Grove like the plague, but you shouldn't! Marmalade Cafe is one of two places at The Grove on this list for good reason, it's full of killer places to dine! The menu at Marmalade is vast and includes breakfast, seafood, and pasta, just to name a few of the offerings. The cocktail menu is killer as well!
What you'll order: Spicy Tuna Tartar, or potstickers!
Location: 6333 W 3rd St # E17, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Bob's Big Boy
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I am a diner hoe through and through, but Bob's Big Boy sits at the top of the list. From the car shows that you may see Jay Leno frequent, to the constant crowd the diner attracts, It's an environment I have really come to love. Bob's Big Boy feels like an escape from the boujie side of Los Angeles.
What you'll order: Biscuits and Gravy, duh.
Location: 4211 W Riverside Dr, Burbank, CA 91505
Nic’s on Beverly
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Nic's on Beverly is a place I had seen every influencer flaunting being at on Instagram, so naturally, I had to go visit! Now, Nic's is easily one of my go-to spots in LA. The Restaurant itself keeps pretty odd hours, so always check the website before heading there! The place is so cute inside and has an entirely plant-based menu! Nowhere is better for a boozy brunch!
What you'll order: Avocado tacos, and wine!
Location: 8265 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Tacos 1986
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I trust Steven and Andrew from Worth it with my life, so naturally, if they recommend a place, I am going. Tacos 1986 comforted me on a lonely night at a hotel downtown and introduced me to some of the best quick-service Mexican food in the city. Best news, it's on Doordash so you can get these tacos from the comfort of your home.
Location: 7235 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Egg Tuck
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There is not a better place for breakfast in Los Angeles than Egg Tuck. I ordered Egg Tuck for the first time back in April, and now I don't know how I'll ever find a place that compares. This is one of those places that is so hyped up, but it perfectly matches the hype.
What you'll order: Egg Tots, Avocado Egg Sandwich
Location: 7131 Sunset Blvd B, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Mochinut LA
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If you're looking for THE hidden gem in Downtown LA, look no further than Mochinut LA. This place is so cute and has easily the best mochi donuts I have found anywhere. The décor is very Instagram-worthy (yes, I'm cringe and like a good photo, leave me alone).
What you'll order: Any donut, Hot Cheetos Dog
Location: 728 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
Canter’s
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I mean. come on! You can't do an LA food article without mentioning Canters. Canters is the definition of a staple, everyone who has spent any length of time in the city has been here at some point. The atmosphere, the staff, the menu, THE SMELL, all 10/10.
What you'll order: literally any food item, but you HAVE to try the dill pickle bloody mary, life-changing.
Location: 419 North Fairfax Avenue
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A Response To Common Core: If Only School Academics Could Change
The common core isn't what we need. We need to change every school for the better!
Ever since high schools have opened up, there are minor changes that need to be implemented in order to better the schools for students' futures. Students need the ability to learn about the various majors that colleges offer them before going into college and also need a de-stressor element during the school day. With the implementation of required career pathways and instructional focus, high school students will be able to enter college with a set mindset of what they want to go through the exposure and experience of the field from career pathways, along with build time management skills for their work.
High school students are not exposed to all the majors that they have interest in and are not given the opportunity to truly learn the fundamentals of a major with the # of classes and AP courses they desire to take in high school. With the implementation of a necessary two major career pathways throughout high school, students will be able to learn about the variety of majors and figure out what they truly have interest in. Schools can have basic major career pathways that give background knowledge about different fields, which will allow the students to see what they enjoy. For example, some of these classes could include marketing, medical, computer science, culinary pathways and more.
In these classes, first-year pathway teachers would teach the students about the basics of the career, along with the specific fields that the students can choose in this pathway. In the second and third years, teachers will be able to teach students about the hands-on experience that students need to apply. With this, if a student doesn't enjoy a field, the next year they can change and find one that they can pursue in the future; this helps guide students in college.
Two career pathway classes will be necessary for two years in order to graduate. This allows students who enjoy their fields to pursue the career for four years and have a side career that they wouldn't mind having as well. In addition, a period of time set aside called Instructional Focus (IF) would bolster the quality of a student's high school experience. Being a specific period in one's daily schedule, this forty-five minute period would occur every Wednesday. It serves the purpose of a study hall and "flex" period. A flex period would give the students the flexibility to move to different classrooms and teachers, with a hallway pass with the teacher's permission. This time is specifically allocated for students to make up missed work/tests, finish up homework and consult teachers and peers with academic regard.
Essentially, this extends the learning experience from simply doing homework at home alone to interacting in an engaging manner with the task they are given and truly absorbing all information. Sometimes, high school classes can pile up and become somewhat strenuous and difficult; this instructional focus period acts as a means for alleviating some stress and allowing education to focus back upon interactive learning.
While the need for career pathway classes sounds theoretically tangible, some would argue that most students already know what they're going to major in in college, which would be a waste for these students. Although some students believe they know exactly what major they are going to pursue in the future, only 25% truly stick with it. It is stated on Central College (Central College is a website that allows students to research their college, admissions and excess information about the college major details), "75% of American college students start college undecided or change their major."
This depicts the need for experience prior to going to college. Though the student knows what field to major in from now, they will have experience with a second major that they'll know they can join if they decide to switch in high school. By having two major career pathways each year, students won't be wasting money on classes to figure out what major they like, but will instead be able to join the major that they know they already have experience in. This will allow students to save time by choosing their field in high school along with achieving more earlier in the future.
One may question the academic and professional nature that Instructional Focus theoretically promises; this could be a time students utilize inappropriately for non-academic reasons is an argument that may come up. However, this is in no way a "free" period for students to do as they please. Instead, students are still in a traditional classroom monitored by their 4th-period teachers. The presence of teachers and faculty as supervisors addresses completely any concern for lack of supervision. Also, the flexibility of IF is enforced with careful attention to whether a student actually needs to be in another teacher's room too, perhaps, make up a missed test.
The passes that allow students to transition are a blue color that cannot easily be replicated, require a teacher signature, and require information about what the student is doing and where he or she will be. Supplementary to this is a sign out sheet used whenever a student transitions. Overall, an instructional focus period should be seen as necessary and vital to a student's quality of life in school and not a means of deviating a student's attention away from academia; it actually focuses attention more towards it. To provide more consistency and make such theoretical ideas seem more tangible, a schedule model has been created that high school can adopt and follow.
Following the traditional 7-period schedule, the classes will be divided as such: five core classes that include the necessary graduation requirements, two career pathway classes, and one instructional focus period. Students will still attend 7 classes but will be given the opportunity to choose career classes that truly depict the field that they have chosen. Instructional Focus will allow them to catch up on assignments along with giving a de-stressor to those who just need a break from studying once in a while. With this schedule, students will be given extra time while also allowing teachers to catch up on the grading that students complain about falling behind. This model reaps the benefits of consistency and tangibility, as a school schedule should be. This schedule is not a big deviation from the standard schedule we use now, but instead supplementary to it and adds the benefits of career pathways and instructional focus.