Foodie Foreplay

Few things in life are more sensual than food -- other than actual sex, of course. Food involves all five senses, as well as your hands and mouth, which is pretty much a recipe for getting all hot and bothered as far as I'm concerned. The acts of cooking and eating are the perfect excuse to get close to someone else, to lick something off a significant other's spoon, to place a tender morsel on their tongue, to share something spicy or something sweet -- few things make for better foreplay than that. At least not foreplay you can get away with in public.

Lucky for us, Los Angeles provides plenty of opportunities to feed your appetite for food, and for the aforementioned foodie foreplay, of course. And, the best part is, there are a lot of delicious -- even decadent -- date destinations that don't cost decadent dinner dollars.

The best place to start for some culinary courtship is, of course, the Farmer's Market. What's sexier than sharing a bite of a juicy sample strawberry or feeding each other the fiery freshness of a picante pepper. It's hard to top the Farmer's Market when it comes to perfect daytime dates -- it's cheap, sustainable and perfect for people watching and conversation catalyzing. How can the conversation not flow freely when food is involved?

In my opinion, the best Farmer's Market for romantic roaming is definitely the Sunday morning Hollywood Farmer's Market at Sunset & Ivar. With tasty treats ranging from tongue-tickling tamales to cool coconut milk, there's something to please every palate. I especially recommend the goat cheese lady who always sets up in the middle aisle of the market -- her jalapeno goat cheese is a spicy, sensuous treat that's perfectly engineered to be lustily licked off the spoon of your significant other.
If you're looking for more of a meal, check out the newly-opened Farmer's Kitchen, where skilled chefs whip up delectable sustainable fare right from the Farmer's Market while also providing hands-on culinary training and nutritional education to the area's low-income locals. Last time I was there, my brunch of a fresh fritatta, savory spinach and sausage, perfectly prepared polenta, mouthwatering melted cheese sauce and fresh squeezed orange juice only cost around $10 -- less than what you'd pay for parking at plenty of places in the area.

If you're looking for something slightly more adventurous than the airy aisles at your local farmer's market, why not embark on a food-finding mission and take your date on a trip to track down one of LA's notorious twittering trucks of traveling tastiness. Anyone with Twitter (or a newspaper subscription) in the LA area has probably heard of Kogi's Korean Barbecue -- the Mexicasian fusian mobile that delivers delicious tacos with a tasty twist to Tweeps all over LA, who follow @kogibbq to find out where the palate pleaser will be parked every night.

If the fusian of flavors found in a Korean barbecue taco isn't quite exotic enough to thrill your date, try tracking down @ Dosatruck instead. It's a relatively new addition to the mobile munchies scene that offers the crispy crepes of its name sake, amongst other savory South Indian treats. And if you still find yourself fiending for fuel-fired fusion food, why not add @LomoArigato and @FishLips_Sushi to your roaming romantic repertoire for Japenese Peruvian fusion and fresh fish, respectively. All you need for a perfect culinary quest of a date is a car and a mobile device that gets Twitter. Simply crank up the tunes, roll down the windows and find your way to the finest food on four wheels. Call it a foodventure, and get bonus points from your beaux for creativity and cutesiness.

Just don't expect me to let you cut in line when it comes to those Korean barbecue tacos -- I don't care how adorable you and your date are, you ain't gettin' between me and my one true love.

Written by: Mollie Vandor - SpeedLA Dating Resident Blogger

Beat The Beaten Path...

Okay, so LA isn't exactly always Melrose Place or 90210. But, some stereotypes about the city of angels do have their roots in truth -- preferably well dyed roots. For example, odds are good that pretty much every waiter you'll ever have in LA is also an actor/model/writer/insert dream Hollywood job here. The paparazzi really are everywhere. And, there's nary a restaurant in sight that doesn't have a low carb option on the menu.

The stereotypes come out in even more full force when going out in Hollywood. Every bar is packed to the brim with blondes, bunnies and businessmen, and everyone's running as much professional game as personal. Of course, there are places you can go to get away from the whole stereotypical scene. But, once The Dime became a haunt on The Hills, I personally started losing my faith in the future of those out of the way watering holes. Which is why as much as I love the bars, there's also something to be said for some of LA's more unexpected singles scenes -- especially if you're looking to close a date with a real guy, not a deal with a reality producer.

If you're into the witty writer types, Book Soup is the place to pick them up. With writers from Al Gore to Sarah Vowell gracing their tiny store stage for readings, the shop attracts an eclectic event crowd. Browse the stacks and the shelves, work your way through the classics and the contemporary and maybe find your way to flirting over some fiction. Nothing makes a better pickup line than "hey, have you read this?" Plus, you can always test your potential pick up by asking him what he thinks of "Twilight."

Another bookstore with big boy finding potential is the newly opened branch of Santa Monica staple Hennessey & Ingalls. This sleek shop specializes in books about fashion, photography, art, architecture and design, and they just opened up a branch in the brand new Space 15 Twenty complex in Hollywood. The books are incredibly beautiful, inspiring and compelling, and the hunky hipsters and debonair designers that frequent the place aren't bad either. Strike up a conversation over that book about Schnabel or that coffee table Taschen tome, and then casually make your way over to Snackbar for a beer.

If grappa and grape talk are more your thing, head over to Silverlake Wines, where weekly tastings provide the perfect pairing for picking up foodies and fine diners alike. Tastings range from $12 to $20 a person, and come with a flight of wines accompanied by farmhouse cheeses, fresh breads and olives, as well as plenty of valuable vino knowledge, providing you with plenty of things to talk about and enough liquor to lubricate that whole awkward first conversation.So, bust out your sexy librarian look, brush up on your blancs and your burgundies and check out one of LA's lesser-known single scenes. Or, if you really want to get adventurous, you could try to cram all three pickup possibilities into one crazy book and booze filled singledom spree. Just make sure you pick up a moleskin at Book Soup so you can keep track of all your conquests.

Book Soup - West Hollywood

Hennessey & Ingalls - Santa Monica

Silverlake Wines - Silverlake Area

Written by: Mollie Vandor - SpeedLA Dating Resident Blogger

"Dating on a Dime: Driving Range Edition"

Dating on a dime (or nickel…or penny…or half cent) has never been more in…or necessary. Sure, your savings account, job outlook and 2009 BMW car loan may all be dreadful, but that doesn’t mean your golf swing has to be. Invite Sporty Spice (or Sir Sporty Spice) to hit up Los Angeles’s best kept driving range secret (well, nearly best kept secret – its monster size green mesh nets practically wave at you while sitting in traffic on the 101 North), the Majestic Golf Land (4301 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles).

The Golf Land offers a variety of deals, for instance you can rent or purchase a club for the same price of $5. Yes, allow me to repeat that you can rent or purchase a club for the same price of $5. Break me off a piece of that fuzzy math. Their golf packages start off at $6 for 80 balls before 3pm. How’s that for majestic? From 3pm – 11pm, you get 63 balls for $6. Their other specials include $12 for 160 balls, $18 for 240 and $24 for 320, however, if you’re new to the golf scene then teeing up to 80 balls for the uno time is highly recommended. How highly? Any more than 80 swings will put your hands smack dab into blister territory and there’s no scarier enemy than an angry blister. Except one thing…multiple angry blisters.

So make like Tiger and tee up on one of the three tiered levels, all offering sweeping views of the Hollywood Hills. The balls are automatically dispensed (again, oh so majestic) so there is no opportunity to “bend and snap” a la Elle Woods. Instead if you’re sans suitor and swinging solo, chat up the golfer next to you. Chances are he will probably chat you up first as unsolicited golf tips are generously offered – especially for those that can’t distinguish a seven iron from a straightening iron. Guilty! Most of the customers are men, and by “most” I mean all, so come prepared in your favorite argyle skirt (where else besides a driving range can you get away with argyle? Besides Connecticut?).

Also, what’s particularly enchanting about the Golf Land is that most of the customers are not only men but Korean men. Korean men who not only like to hit a golf ball, but to hit a golf ball while listening to Korean pop and rap music, as each tiered level has radios buzzing with Korea’s hottest hits. If that’s not simply majestic then I don’t know what is. So add some majesticness to your summer date night or strike it solo and see you at the Golf Land.

Majestic Golf Land - Wilshire Center

Written by: Meredith McKenna - SpeedLA Dating Resident Blogger

The Sweet Escape

We’ve all been there. That magic moment when the candles are flickering, the music is tinkling, the perfume is wafting and you’re gazing into your date’s eyes, daydreaming about the future. Or, more specifically, daydreaming about all the terrific Tivo you could be taking in if you could just make your escape.

Nothing is worse than getting stuck on a bad first date. Especially if you’re stuck making small talk through three courses of awkward. That’s why I always opt for first dates with an easy out and a set time limit. Activities like coffee and cocktails certainly provide the perfect opportunity to suss someone out without committing to multiple courses. But, the downside to the whole drink-as-date plan is that it’s a pretty obvious ploy. That’s why I’ve found something even better -- frozen yogurt.

With fro-yo shops popping up on every corner, the tasty treat is totally the new Starbucks, especially when it comes to dating. Frozen yogurt gives you the same grab-and-go benefits that meeting for coffee or cocktails does, but it also provides both a tasty topic (toppings, anyone?) and an excuse to indulge your inner child. Both of which can come in handy to cool you down when you’re stuck in the pressure cooker that is a first date.

Lucky for you, LA just happens to be fro-yo mecca, with shops of all sorts showing up all over the city like, well, Starbucks. So, without further ado, here are my picks for the best places to treat your first date to a little frozen fun.

Cantaloop Yogurt (7095 Hollywood Blvd) is a sweet self-serve yogurt bar, where you can fill up your cup with flavors ranging from birthday cake to dairy-free pomegranate, pick and pour your own toppings and enjoy the whole thing on a gorgeous walled-in patio. And, if you get bored discussing your date’s decision to combine gummy bears and cookie dough, there’s a well-stocked magazine rack full of cool catalogues to keep you occupied. So, even if you don’t agree on toppings, you can always find out you share the same taste in Crate & Barrel.

If your date is more into pumping iron than piling on the cookie dough, you might want to try Ce Fiore (http://www.cefiore.com/index.php). This franchise has creamy, calorie-conscious combos like their Golden Cherry flavor, which combines acerola cherries and blood oranges to create something that’s sweet, tangy and a little tart – which is exactly what a good first date should taste like. They have locations all over the place, but be warned that the ones I’ve been to are big on the bright colors and bumping bass, so if you’re looking to actually converse with your date, you might want to plan to savor your sweet treat while you stroll somewhere.

While Cantaloop and Ce Fiore are my personal favorites, no discussion of fro-yo in our fine city would be complete without mentioning PinkBerry. Which is, of course, a universal fave for a reason. Personally, I’m a fan of the green tea yogurt with cocoa pebbles and the location at the intersection of Sunset and Fuller, which has some of the best people watching around.

So there you have it, my take on the coolest new craze in quickie dating, the fro-yo first date. Of course, sharing my fave frozen yogurt joints was the easy part. If you can get me to actually share a spoonful of whatever combo happens to be in my cardboard cup, then you know you might just be on track for a second date.

Cantaloop - 5 Locations throughout Los Angeles

Ce Fiore - Loads of locations all throughout California and the US

Pinkberry - So Cal Locations

Written by: Mollie Vandor - SpeedLA Dating Resident Blogger

Something For Him...

So it's time for something for him. Well ladies, we knew this would happen eventually. I've got a great spot sure to tickle the car bone in even the toughest of guys. I offer you, The Peterson Automotive Museum on Wilshire in Los Angeles.

Covering four floors, the facility features permanent exhibits on the first floor that trace the history of the automobile. Visitors are invited to walk through, not by, exhibits and dioramas and experience settings of early Los Angeles where the world’s first shopping district was designed. The second floor presents five rotating galleries with state-of-the-art displays of racecars, classic cars, vintage motorcycles, concept cars, celebrity and movie cars, and auto design and technology.
The May Family Discovery Center is located on the third floor. Designed to spark interest in science by way of the automobile, the 6,500 square-foot, interactive “hands-on” learning center teaches children basic scientific principles by explaining the fundamental functions of a car. Like scenes in a romantic comedy, children's area in museums can create some of the sweetest date moments in any relationhip. Have fun, see how you look in Vivien Leigh's convertible and most of all... nod a lot. Men seem to like that.

Peterson Museum rotate their exhibits regularly and offer such an array of exhibits you are sure to find something that strikes both your fancy.

The Peterson Automotive Museum - Los Angeles

Written by: SpeedLA Dating

Dream On

The LA singles scene is like a smorgasbord of stereotypes straight out of central casting. From the aspiring actor awaiting his big break to the Hollywood hotshot holding court at Katana, Los Angeles is like a pu-pu platter of personalities, preferences and professions.

So, what do all these disparate daters have in common? Well, to put it bluntly, they’re all just a little bit crazy. You have to be to live here. Nobody would willingly put down roots in a place where it takes twenty minutes to drive two miles unless they had a little bit of the Don Quixote dreamer in them. Of course, instead of fighting windmills, we flip off film crews when they block our boulevards. And our heroic quests tend to be more about making it through lunch without eating any carbs.

But, no matter how you slice it, it’s impossible to deny the fact that you have to be a little bit batty to be an Angeleno. After all, in a place where your neighbor makes movies, your waiter wants to be in them and your trainer is probably moonlighting on Mark Burnett’s latest mega-hit, you’d be crazy if you didn’t have a little bit of the dreamer in you.

The trick, when you’re dating in LA, is to find someone whose craziness complements yours. And what better way to do that than to take your date to a museum devoted to dreamers?

That’s right, Culver City-ians, I’m talking about your very own Museum of Jurassic Technology. The museum itself defies easy characterization, with current exhibits ranging from a collection of artifacts from local mobile home parks to x-ray photos of flowers. According to its website, “the Museum preserves something of the flavor of its roots in the early days of the natural history museum - a flavor which has been described as ‘incongruity born of the overzealous spirit in the face of unfathomable phenomena.’ ”

All in all, The Museum of Jurassic Technology is a lot like crawling into David Lynch’s head, “Being John Malkovich” style. It’s a little bit crazy and a little bit kitsch – the kind of place where creaking staircases lead to musty, moth-eaten rooms, and musty, moth-eaten rooms lead to dark, damp corners. If the exhibits don’t get you, the atmosphere will.

So why does this musty maze of madness make for the perfect date? Well, it’s like I said before. Dating in LA is all about finding the one, the one person in this sprawling city whose craziness complements your own. Someone you can laugh with, and adventure with and – dare I say it - dream with. Someone who will still want to hang out with you after you wax poetic about the magical modernism of that mobile home exhibit. The Museum of Jurassic Technology is like the ultimate litmus test for looking at all of these things in your date.

And, admission is free. And so are the cookies and tea at the top of that creaking staircase. Plus, if you park in the public lots off of Culver City’s main street, you get free parking for two hours too. And, as any Angeleno knows, free parking within walking distance of your dating destination is truly the stuff that dreams are made of.

Museum of Jurassic Technology - Culver City

Written by: Mollie Vandor - SpeedLA Dating Resident Blogger

Broken Heart, Broken Wallet?

Hollywood may make them good girls go bad, but it also makes them good girls go broke (romantically and financially). One too many bad boy breakups or Betsey Johnson boho bags and bam…you find yourself diagnosed with broken heart/broken wallet syndrome, potentially critical if left untreated. So what’s a Hollywood girl suffering from broken heart/broken wallet to do to get back on the fast track? Besides of course hit up SpeedLA Dating’s next smashing event (hello, duh!).

First order of business is to grab a bite...or channel your inner Elvis and grab a hunka hunka burning cheese fries at Los Feliz’s House of Pies Restaurant & Bakery (1869 N. Vermont Ave, Los Angeles). Whether its early morning or late night (House of Pies is open until 2AM nightly – perfect for those nocturnal nosh sessions, which happen to prevent nocturnal sob sessions), leave your heartache and American Express at the door (prices cap off at $15 and that’s for the ritzy din din options). No matter the hour, the atmosphere is always homey, cozy and cheery…there’s no place like House of Pies, there’s no place like House of Pies, there’s no place like House of Pies. Except maybe of course in Kansas. The crowd is fairly oddjob – both the family style interior and people-watching outdoor patio (be careful of hipster sightings) attract mamabears and papabears, thirty something couples and indeterminate aged artists. The home style menu teases you with everything from pancakes to western burgers to strawberry pies. Shakira may be She Wolf but you get to SheWolfsss at House of Pies.

After your House of Pies binge-a-thon (rest in peace cheese fries), roll your broken heart/broken wallet self on over to Manhattan Beach’s the Strand for your second dose of treatment. The Strand is a three mile (you can make it a little longer or a little less depending on how conscious you are post- House of Pies sugar smackdown) oceanside walk path lining Manhattan Beach’s toniest homes…uh I meant MEGA toniest homes. Prime time at the Strand tends to be around 3pmish and later aka when the stock market closes and stock brokers pound the pavement in their pumas. Park in one of Manhattan’s metered lots adjacent to Manhattan Beach Boulevard or in front of the Manhattan Pier and walk off your heartache…and heartburn. You can recharge while heading north towards El Porto or south towards Hermosa Beach, and while both offer stunning views (of the ocean….although equally stunning views of parked Bentleys), the Hermosa Beach section of the Strand tends to be livelier.

Warning: some Strand-walkers have been known to make a detour to the rowdy Hermosa Pier to hydrate themselves…with Corona. See, exercise is fun. The only thing I would recommend (besides a sun-shielding Dodgers cap, for my fellow Snow Whites – bronze beauties may disregard this suggestion) is to bring a dog on your Strand stroll. Whether it’s a friend’s dog, a stuffed dog or even a robotic dog (arguably the most difficult dog of all to take care of), nothing promotes impromptu Strand convos than a leashed canine. Jogging hedge fund managers trip over each other (they travel in packs) to chat up girls with a pup in tow. There can be absolutely no canine substitutions, I once tried bringing a gigapet with zero success. Perhaps it was Comic-Con weekend.

Written by: Meredith McKenna - SpeedLA Dating Resident Blogger

Fireworks Anyone?

Growing up in England, baseball isn't even on the radar. It's footie, footie and more footie (Soccer for you Yanks). Since moving here I have become quite fond of our Lakers and lately have discovered America's Favorite Pastime through the Los Angeles Dodgers. I happened upon Friday Night Games at Dodger Stadium which include a post-game Fireworks show that is truly spectacular. There is something about the combination of warm LA nights, being a sports geek with the one you fancy and fireworks to boot, that is wonderfully romantic.

StubDog.com is excited to offer their customers great deals on Dodgers tickets. In their arrangement with Major League Baseball and the Los Angeles Dodgers you'll purchase tickets directly from the Los Angeles Dodgers website.

When you click the CLICK TO PURCHASE on the StubDog.com website you will be taken to their partner page where you'll find discount ticket offers exclusive to StubDog.com customers. A savings of almost 50% off per seat!

With seats ranging from Field Box to Premium Baseline Field box, you are sure to find something that fits your preference and budget.

This of course doesn't mean I have traded out my love for Kobe Bryant for Manny Ramirez, but a discovery of a lovely night for any date or couple. I am a bit curious as to why Manny's uniform looks a bit like pajamas...but I'm still catching on.

StubDog.com - Discounted Tickets

Written by: SpeedLA Dating

A Dog Eat Dog Day at the Beach...

Nothing says California Sun quite like an afternoon at the Pier. It also provides the perfect opportunity to grab a bite, have a lovely bit of sun and people watch... all without breaking the bank. A wonderful shortcut into the Pier, without paying Pier prices to park, is to head north on Ocean Boulevard past Colorado Ave and make a right on Seaside Terrace. At the bottom of the street lies Hot Dog On a Stick and is surrounded by a metered parking lot, with a going rate of about a $1 an hour. With the Pier just to the right, a wonderfully romantic Merry-Go-Round and a bevy of Carnival games, the Pier can make even the most staunch adult, feel like a kid again.

Another easy on the wallet option is to stop by and grab a Corn Dog at Hot Dog on a Stick. The employee-owned corporation staffs its branches with perky workers who don the brand's iconic 1960s-inspired uniforms: whimsically colorful jockey caps and striped smocks. The short menu offers 100 percent turkey franks, which are served skewered and battered, as well as all-beef wieners in a bun. Extras include "Cheese on a Stick" (also coated and deep-fried in the secret-recipe batter) and shoestring fries.

Be Merry, be Cheeky and save a pound while doing it.

Hot Dog on a Stick - Santa Monica Pier

Written by: SpeedLA Dating

Tis the Season...

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Kwanzaa, Channukah or Festivus, it's hard to deny that the holidays are here -- as much as the 70+ degree weather might have you thinking otherwise. From the themed commercials to the endless loop of lunacy-inducing carols already playing everywhere from the market to the mall, it seems like everybody's getting into the holiday spirit. And, as much as you bah humbug, you have to admit, it's kind of infectious. Then again, isn't everything, in this swine flu season?

But don't worry. Even though we're in sunny southern California, there are plenty of options for those of us who just can't shake the urge to indulge in a little seasonal something or other, and the good news is that you can definitely drag your significant other along and make it a date.

If lights are your thing, check out the annual DWP Holiday Light Festival in Griffith Park - which goes on all month. This display of festive sculptures made out of the ubiquitous strands of electric-bill-killing Christmas lights, will put that puny little light display on your roof to shame. Of course, it's always nice to take a stroll through all that seasonal spirit - and to see that the extra bucks on your post-holiday electric bill really are going to a good cause - or at least a bright one. For more info, check out http://www.dwplightfestival.com/. For more light love, check out Candy Cane Lane on the corner of Lubao and Oxnard Street in Woodland Hills, where sweet suburbia gets a jolt of holiday cheer in the form of some serious neighborhood-wide hall decking. And, get your highfalutin' holiday cheer fix driving through the tony Hollywood suburb of Hancock Park, where everyone from the Mayor to the Cunninghams (yes, of Happy Days fame) have been known to spread the Santa-lovin' cheer with jolly light displays and those creepy animatronic lawn reindeer.

If you're craving a Christmas that's more white than light, I've got bad news for you -- it ain't gonna happen. Yes, it did snow in Malibu in 2007, but unfortunately it all melted before you could get through the chorus of a Bing Crosby carol. So, if snow is what you're craving, the closest you're going to come around here is an ice skating rink. The good news is that the LA area has plenty of those. LA Live's got a rink going all December downtown (http://www.lalive.com/content.php?section=promos&page=holidayice), and the regular rink at Pershing Square (http://www.laparks.org/pershingsquare/doi.html) is open for its twelfth season this year courtesy of LA Parks. There's also outdoor skating in Santa Monica (http://www.downtownsm.com/about/winterlit.html), outdoor skating in Woodland Hills (http://www.woodlandhillsice.com/) and a classic indoor rink in Culver City (http://www.culvericearena.com/). With skates and admission averaging around $12 per person, you'll have plenty left over for the inevitable bandages and bruise creams.

Written by: Mollie Vandor - SpeedLA Dating Resident Blogger

Flirting With Danger

As any girl who has lusted after R-Pats knows, there's something kind of sexy about something that's kind of scary. Which is why there's no better time to take your significant other on a themed date. After all, there are few things that will bring you closer faster than sheer terror -- except of course sharing your Halloween candy stash.

If the typical Halloween hullaballoo seems as passe as finding popcorn balls in your trick or treating haul, then maybe it's time to try a different day of the dead - literally. Dia De Los Muertos is the traditional Mexican celebration of the Halloween season, and it also happens to be a great excuse for a festival on October 24 at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. For just $10 admission, you get to enjoy arts and crafts, music and dance and plenty of treats. The tricks you'll have to provide for yourself. But hey, it's Hollywood. I'm sure you can figure something out. In the meantime, check out http://www.ladayofthedead.com/event_info.html for more info.

For a little history with your Halloween, you can always take your date on one of the countless classic Hollywood tours that crop up like candy corn in your trick or treat tote this time of year. Hollywood Forever Cemetery takes you straight to the scary source, with graveyard tours ranging from a Jewish history themed stroll to the aptly named "Cemetery of The Stars" Tour, which takes you to the tombstones of luminaries like Valentino and Vampira.

Full info is available here: http://www.cemeterytour.com/. If the cemetery isn't exactly your ideal seduction scene, how about the classic back of the car situation? That's what you get when you book a Haunted Hollywood Tour, which takes you to the Tate House, Marilyn Monroe's haunted mirror, the Manson Massacre site and the OJ Simpson murder scene. Because nothing says sexy quite like 'if the glove doesn't fit...' Check out the full scary scoop at http://www.hauntedhollywoodtours.com/.

If the whole haunted house thing is too tame for your trick or treat tête-à-tête, take a walk on the wild side -- or at least a trip back in time -- and check out horror classic "Halloween" at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on the day itself, courtesy of Cinespia (http://www.cinespia.org/calendar/). With DJs spinning before and after the screening, the scariest thing might be the fear of losing your date to that hipster hottie hanging out by the mausoleum.

Written by: Mollie Vandor - SpeedLA Dating Resident Blogger

Mamma Mia from NY...

Few things are more wonderfully simple, yet fantastically romantic, as a lovely pizza and bottle of wine with the one you fancy. So the question begs, "Just where can you get New York pizza in LA?". Well, I think I have just the answer. I offer you, Mamma Mia Pizzeria.

New York style pizza that makes one want to dance their self silly through the streets of Italy. Perhaps that was a slight exaggeration, but I think you get the delicious point. With two locations, one on the Sunset Strip the other in Sherman Oaks, getting a taste of New York is just a stone's throw away. With the freshest ingredients, home made dough and more specialty pizza's than you can shake a stick at, it's no surprise to see Mamma Mia's packed at nearly any hour. Also, well worth a look are their pastas, salads and sandwiches. Personal favorites are the Chicken Picata with linguine in a white wine sauce, the Gnocci in delicious marinara and the Pannino Della Casa, their House Special Sandwich with Grilled Chicken, avocado and provolone cheese.

A frequent fan of their delivery, I do try to pop in every once in a while for a quick ello' to their Sunset locale, their staff always friendly and always eager. Not to miss is the coupon section on their website, filled with discounts for an added bonus. If you have an extra second, sign up for their Mamma Mia Pizzeria Club, for a slew of discounts and special offers. Also convenient is the ability to order on-line. Easy, affordable and bloody good.

One mustn't forget that perfect, yet affordable bottle of wine. Whereas the Opus One in your home cellar might be a bit over the top, I think you will find any selection of Bolla Wine, at $10 a bottle and available everywhere, a perfect companion to your New York moment.

Mamma Mia Pizzeria - Sunset Blvd / Sherman Oaks

Written by: SpeedLA Dating

All the fun minus the gun!

For the kid and Gumshoe in you, I offer you, 'CSI: The Experience' at The California Science Center in Downtown Los Angeles. Grab your date, polish up your badges and head down for some crime solving...CSI Style!

You’ve seen the award-winning television drama. Now it’s your turn to put your investigative skills to the test as a crime scene investigator. Created in cooperation with the hit CBS franchise, CSI: The Experience invites you to step into the world of cutting-edge forensic science and investigative techniques. Guided by investigators from the television show and their real-life forensic science counterparts, you’ll formulate a hypothesis, validate your findings based on evidence, and solve the crime.

Best of all... It's Free!

California Science Center does appreciate donations and offers an opportunity to give a little back on both their website and in the lobby.

California Science Center - Downtown Los Angeles

CSI: The Experience

Written by: SpeedLA Dating

It's a Dog eat Dog day at the Beach...

Nothing says California Sun quite like an afternoon at the Pier. It also provides the perfect opportunity to grab a bite, have a lovely bit of sun and people watch... all without breaking the bank. A wonderful shortcut into the Pier, without paying Pier prices to park, is to head north on Ocean Boulevard past Colorado Ave and make a right on Seaside Terrace. At the bottom of the street lies Hot Dog On a Stick and is surrounded by a metered parking lot, with a going rate of about a $1 an hour. With the Pier just to the right, a wonderfully romantic Merry-Go-Round and a bevy of Carnival games, the Pier can make even the most staunch adult, feel like a kid again.

Another easy on the wallet option is to stop by and grab a Corn Dog at Hot Dog on a Stick. The employee-owned corporation staffs its branches with perky workers who don the brand's iconic 1960s-inspired uniforms: whimsically colorful jockey caps and striped smocks. The short menu offers 100 percent turkey franks, which are served skewered and battered, as well as all-beef wieners in a bun. Extras include "Cheese on a Stick" (also coated and deep-fried in the secret-recipe batter) and shoestring fries.

Be Merry, be Cheeky and save a pound while doing it.

Hot Dog on a Stick - Santa Monica Pier

Written by: SpeedLA Dating

A Lovely Day on a Dime...

A stroll, a kiss and a moment in time... All can be found on the 3rd floor of the Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens in Downtown Los Angeles. A Japanese "Garden in the Sky" is a miniature half-acre version of an historic 400 year-old, ten-acre garden in Tokyo.

The seven principles of Zen were utilized in the construction of this garden. Here you will find: asymmetry, simplicity, naturalness, calmness, austerity, subtlety and spirituality, presenting nature in its purest form. Kyoto Grand gardens are traditional "strolling gardens". It's path is not merely a functional entry into the garden; each step signifies a release from the realities of work and worry. An important classic technique in Japanese landscape architecture is called "shakkei", or borrowed landscape. This method beautifully incorporates surrounding landscapes into a garden's panorama.

There is no cost to tour the Gardens. If the mood strikes you, I would highly recommend a stop in the one of the three Hotel restaurants or drop by one of the two bars to top truly capture the moment. All are beautful and a wonder for the senses.

Kyoto Grand Hotel & Gardens - Downtown Los Angeles

Written by: SpeedLA Dating