Shaky Day


The news is true. We're a little shaken by the events that occurred today. But everyone's okay. It's a wake-up call, reminding us that these things can happen anytime, anywhere.


It was sudden. It was unnerving. But we're resilient. We're tough, we're strong. We're Southern Californians. Together, we can make it through.

Youngest Rider Ever Wins U.S. Open of Surfing

The Honda U.S. Open of Surfing presented by O'Neill wrapped up this weekend in Huntington Beach. Hawaiian Malia Manuel, 14, made history, as she became the youngest rider ever to win the competition. Manuel defeated former Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) women's world champion Peru's Sofia Mulanovich in the quarterfinals and current ASP World Qualifying Series leader Sally Fitzgibbons of Australia in the women's semifinals on Saturday.

Not to be outdone, the men had an interesting turn of events. Oxnard's Nathaniel Curran beat Frenchman Tim Boal to win the men's title. Earlier in the competition, Boal beat hometown favorite (and resident sore-loser) Brett Simpson in the semi-final round.

According to the L.A. Times today ".... An obviously frustrated Simpson took off his jersey and immediately left the competitors area, shouting at the judges as he walked by their booth. Simpson said he didn't see Boal's final ride, but watched him take off on the wave and wasn't impressed..." He was also quoted as saying, "I thought it was a one-foot wave."

_

Hey Brett, it's too bad they weren't judging on unsportsmanlike behavior. You would've had this one in the bag. (Is it worth mentioning that Malia's average winning qualifying wave was better than Brett's semifinal attempt? Probably not.)

_

For complete coverage of the kickass chick and crybaby guy event, go here. (Above photo credit: Associated Press. Below: Jeff Russell)

Mucho Ridiculoso

Mucho Ultima is the newest lackluster Mexican restaurant to hit the South Bay. It occupies the old Michi space on Manhattan Ave. in Manhattan Beach.
Now, I’ve eaten here twice. The food is good, not The-original -El Cholo-good, but decent. That goes for the service too. The prices are high – even by Manhattan Beach standards. Take one of my favorite items, for instance: the Tostada con Pollo Salad. It’s a normal-size salad, some might consider it an appetizer. It’s a whopping $13.95. Then there are the entrees. There are nine on the uninspired docket - the cheapest one starts at $18.00. (For enchiladas!)
A friend - we'll call him "John" - had a similar take on the place as me. Astronomical prices, so-so service. Still, it’s a fun atmosphere, it’s a got a hip (yet somewhat “forced”) vibe. Despite the fact that the last time John went to Mucho, they tried to charge him for a refill of the free chips and salsa. And despite the fact that even with a reservation, every time we've ever been there, we've had to wait in excess of 15 minutes for a table, John still thought it might be a good place to take business associates close to his home. Little did he know that for a table for 20, there are certain stipulations.
We'll Need Your First-Born
Diners should know what they’re getting into if they decide to take a large party to Mucho. To say the restaurant’s reservation policy is rigid is a huge understatement. After reviewing the contract, John had to laugh before picking up the phone and making a good 'ole fashioned verbal reservation with another establishment.
Mucho’s contract covers all basis to ensure the restaurant is covered in any possible scenario, stopping just short of requesting a signature in blood to seal the deal. For your convenience, I've included some excerpts of the contract here. Enjoy: “…We have a 48-hour cancellation policy for parties of 13-20 people. By signing this form, you understand that we do not seat incomplete parties and we do not hold a table for more than 15 minutes after the agreed reservation time. By signing below, you are authorizing MUCHO to charge a fee of $250.00 in the event that the reservation is not cancelled 24-hours in advance or $25.00 for each expected guest that is not present at the time of your reservation….”
Okay, 48-hours notice is a bit of a lead-time, but I’ll let that slide. $250.00 if it’s not cancelled 24-hours in advance and a $25.00 charge per person, if anyone’s late or not accounted for? Ridiculous.
But wait, there’s more: “…We will provide the appropriate space for your group for a period of 2-hours, starting at the time you are sat. Any time past the two hour time limit will be charged at a rate of $100.00 per 15 minutes, for the entire group. Please understand it is important that you inform us of the exact size of your party when checking in for your reservation. You will be charged $25.00 per expected guest that is not present for your reservation…”
Who signs this thing? Seriously. $100.00 per every 15 minutes that your party does not vacate the table? Really? What if the kitchen's backed up? Or, what’s stopping the server from taking his time to deliver the food, forcing the patrons to stay?
According to Andrea Zislis, a representative for Mucho, who responded to my email when I inquired about their minimum charge policy, “…Any minimum we would set on a party is based on the time and the area the party is to be sat- not on the number of guests. For example, if you request to sit in the patio for a private room and only have 12 guests, the minimum (charge) is the same if you have 30 guests.” (In John's case it was a $2,000.00 minimum for 20 people!)
Not sure who Mucho thinks it is, but as someone who often makes plans for large groups; and as a local who frequently offers recommendations for eateries in the South Bay; AND as someone who writes a little blog blasting poor business practices, I can say this is one place I won't be visiting anytime soon.
Save your money and walk to nearby Ercoles instead. You won't be disappointed. But don't take my word for it. Check out this recent five-star review of this long-standing Manhattan Beach gem.
Read the Mucho contract in its entirety. You'll laugh, you'll cry. You'll probably make a reservation somewhere else.

Flight of the Conchords Receives Four Emmy Nods


Technically very far west (and south) of Sepulveda, New Zealand comedy duo Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement's Flight of the Conchords (FOTC) HBO series received four well-deserved Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series, Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, and two nominations for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics. The Emmys will air on ABC on September 21.


For those of you who've never heard of FOTC, stop reading this blog immediately and witness firsthand the genius that is this show; particularly the below compilation featuring the band's #1 fan, Mel (actress Kristen Schaal).



Here's a sample of some of the best FOTC musical stylings, featuring Bret and Jemaine. Talk about versatility:


The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room



Hiphopopotamus



Foux De Fa Fa



Original, clever, deadpan. One of the best shows on TV. The second season of FOTC is scheduled to premiere January 2009. We can't wait.

Flyin’ High Today, Horizon Air announced that it will offer new daily nonstop flights from Los Angeles to Mammoth Mountain, California for the 2008/2009 winter sports season.


Beginning Dec. 18, Horizon is offering a limited time introductory fare of $79 each way for travel from Los Angeles to Mammoth for selected days in January 2009. Regular fares from Los Angeles start as low as $99 each way.


"Instead of a drive of five hours or more, you'll be able to take a 65-minute flight, arriving in Mammoth in time for a relaxing dinner before hitting the slopes the next day," said Dan Russo, Horizon's vice president of marketing and communications.

"The addition of commercial air service to Mammoth represents a big step toward realizing our shared vision to become a destination resort community," said Rusty Gregory, CEO of Mammoth Mountain. "Horizon's daily flights will allow the world to experience what Southern Californians have known for decades; that Mammoth is for everyone who wants to play big in the mountains. World class skiing and snowboarding in the winter along with fishing, hiking and mountain biking in the summer plus great new food offerings provided by our partner, Patina Restaurant Group – it just doesn't get any better than Mammoth."


The new daily service will run from Dec. 18, 2008, through April 12, 2009. The flight will depart Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) daily at 2:20 p.m. and arrive at Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH) at 3:25 p.m. The return flight will leave Mammoth at 4:05 p.m. and arrive at LAX at 5:10 p.m. Tickets for the new flights went on sale July 14 through horizonair.com or by calling Horizon Air Reservations at 800-547-9308.


Mammoth is consistently ranked among the top ski resorts in the country by SKI Magazine and boasts one of the most recognized terrain parks in the world. Other winter activities around Mammoth include cross-country skiing, ice skating, dipping into the hot springs, snowmobiling and dog sledding. More information about Mammoth is available at MammothMountain.com. Mammoth vacation packages are available by calling 800-MAMMOTH.

A Safer California


It's official. Beginning today, it's illegal to drive in a car while talking on the phone without a headset.


Now, we Californians can focus on more important things when we drive. Here's some inspiration:

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

"Who's up Cubs or Cardinals? Of course they are, Chicago sucks!"