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Tom O.
Hometown:
Pasadena, CA, 91105
Insider ExpertFirst Reviews: 18
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Spaceland
Beck, Foo fighters, Death Cab for cutie, Weezer and White Stripes are a few of the bands that have played here. With that said, they do have an eye for tallent. However, some nights the tallent can be pretty questionable. The best time to go is after 12:30 on Friday or Saturday night when they have no cover and PBRs are only $2.50 and well drinks are $3.50 and by that time on a friday or saturday night you probably wont even notice that there is a live band playing. However, if you are in more of a focused state of mind then the music definitely makes the experience. Ive been for really great bands and had fun and for really awful 'bands' that no amounts of pbr and well drinks could make sound good. Parking can be a pain and they are really strict on IDs.
PROS: Cheap drinks, with a good band its amazing
CONS: If the band sucks this place blows
Crown City Brewery
A very solid local bar with a ton of tvs. Everywhere you look you will see a tv and some sports on it. They have three delicious microbrews and at least a hundred or more other beers. I recommend signing up for the Beer Passport. After each different beer you sign your server will initial your beer card and after 100 beers you get you name put on the wall and a free t-shirt! What better motivation for drinking 100 beers is there. The food here is also really good. I like the nachos and the burgers. A good place to meet up after work and have a few, however they arent big on people getting crazy. And for some reason a lot of out of town people go here for sports, which can cause problems when their team is playing an LA team.
PROS: Tons of beer, tvs and good food
CONS: Can get crowded and hard to find a bar stool
Father Natures Lavash Wraps
Don't get me wrong, the food here is good. However, if you would like your wrap, sandwich or salad prepaired in a different way than it states on the menu, you can forget about it. If you ask for no garlic sauce you will get extra. If you ask for no turnips you will get a turnip wrapped in a tortilla. I really like their #9 with no turnips and humous instead of garlic, but out of the 20 times ive ordered it they have gotten it right about 4 times. Now many people don't think the service is that friendly, however i beg to differ. I myself am sick and tired of people who smile at you, act kindly towards you and treat you with respect. Being surly and grumpy most of the day I look forward to the cold scowles and the 'Im better than you' looks I get when I go here. One time when I placed a to go order they said it wasnt ready when i came to pick it up, but in reality, it was sitting in the warming drawer the whole time. If i didnt enjoy being starved and angered so much I would have been upset, but hey, making your customers wait while their food wilts in the oven is a restaurant classic! The joke certainly was on me. Oh father nature, you jokester you!
PROS: When they get your order correct it is an amazing experience
CONS: They never get your order right
Viper Room
There isnt a whole lot to say about this place other than it will be one amazing show. This place doesnt book lame bands. If someone is playing here then they are legit. Starting off, the line outside moves pretty quickly, but I recommend buying your ticket online the night before the show because it will sell out and once you get to the front of the line your names is already on the list and it is hassle free. Once in side head upstairs to the main bar and get some drinks asap. As it gets more crowded it becomes harder to get a drink. They serve a ton of different beer, but I only drank the Mickeys because, well when an establishment serves Mickeys grenades you just dont say no.that would be sacrilegious. The Mickey is also the best bang for your buck in the beer department. However, for hard liquor I suggest the long island iced tea, which comes in a pint glass, where their jacks and cokes come in smaller cocktail glasses. Get as many drinks as you can before the band takes stage, because you wont want to miss the in your face set. It says maximum occupancy 175, however I believe there were 250 when I was there and the fire marshal showed up post show. Anyways, they do all sorts of surprise acts such as Tom Petty and other big name stars. And speaking of stars, you most definitely will rub shoulders with someone famous. So go to the Viper Room, prepare to rock, drink until you fall over, try to survive and definitely dont pass out on the front sidewalk.
PROS: MICKEY'S GRENADES. Any place with these is a 5 star lock. Small venue
CONS: It sells out, and people have been known to die here
Chin's Szechuan Cuisine
Plan before you go to Chins. Dont eat lunch, have a light breakfast and prepare to pack it in. I suggest a shirt two sizes too big and pants with an elastic waste band. Once youve sat down, immediately order pot stickers. They come 8 to an order so I would suggest two orders per person. For dinner, avoid the white rice as it is nothing special and is just a filer. Their chow mein is mind blowing as is their beef and broccoli, moo shu pork, sweet and sour pork, egg rolls and wan tans are all amazing. The food is a little expensive, but the atmosphere and the nice staff and the outstanding food make it worth the extra bucks. If youre in Carlsbad you have to go here. I only wish there were more Chins around.
PROS: the food
CONS: Loss of consciousness due to over eating is very possible Dont Chin & Drive
Angelo's Burger
If you find yourself cruising down the Coast highway and you see a giant bald guy holding his hand in the air, pull over, thats Angelo. Or if you are a free spirit who hops freight trains and wanders the rails, Angelos welcomes you too. Located just north of the sewer dump known as Buena Vista lagoon, and sandwiched between the railroad tracks and the Coast highway is where Angelos lies. Now dont expect a classy collard shirt establishment. In the mornings this place is packed with construction workers, at lunch surfers in board shorts grub and in the evening people stroll in after sleeping one off to start their days. If you get their in the morning then the bacon breakfast burrito is the only way to go. A tortilla smothered in egg wrapped around another tortilla which is wrapped around hash browns (not fries), cheese, bacon and tomato. Make sure to get extra salsa because its amazing. This burrito rivals Lucky Boy of Pasadena. If youre coming in from the beach for lunch here, the cheese burger or double cheese burger is a good bet. The onions are pilled high so make sure to order without if youre planning on talking to anyone the rest of the day. To accompany your main course I would suggest the bag of onion rings or French fries, which will last through the afternoon snack time. They also have hot dogs and gyros, but Ive never gone that rout.(They also have some other stuff, but i don't remember what) For dinner, after a long day on the beach or to show that hangover whose boss I would recommend the chili cheese fries. This thing is outrageously big and could feed several villages in Africa. For dessert Angelos knows how to treat its customers. Unlike most fast food places that only serve milkshakes in their smaller cups, Angelos lets you get any size. The XL is 44oz of goodness. If youre in the drive through the speaker on the menu on the right side cuts in and out so good luck. Inside everything is plastic so lip lagers need not worry. Before entering, make sure to check out their specials or you might miss out. Enjoy the angiogram in 5 years!
PROS: Great location for commuters,surfers and drifters Amazing breakfast burrito
CONS: Sketchy right drive through, Mystery meat rotates 24/7 by the register.
Rosa's Mexican Food
So if your idea of mexican food is Taco Bell or baja fresh, check yourself before you wreck yourself and dont come here. This is authentic mindblowing mexican food. Their tamales are the best. Their chicken chimichanga will keep you full for a week. Los margaritas estan bien. It gets crowded in the evenings so expect a little wait. Your food will come fast once seated so dont plan on a long winded dinner. The chips are never ending and the salsa tasty. TODOS VAMANOS A ROSAS!!
PROS: Best mexican food in tucson
CONS: can get crowded, the cactus glasses filled with margarita fall over easily
Polly Tech School
First off, this place gives you an insane education. You learn more booksmarts here than you can anywhere else, however you learn nothing of the real world. If you dont get in at kindergarden level, good luck. I put a puzzle together, teach your kid the same and he/she should be chill. Grammer school was fun, Jr. high was a blast, high school was aweful. If you do not aspire to go to an Ivy Leauge university, Caltech or MIT dont waste your time.The academics are crazy hard and 95% of the students are geniuses. Poly encourages you to not be humble, but to know that you are better than most people but that you care about them by reading to blind kids once a week. Receiving a well rounded social life here is hard, since there are only 80 kids per class and the school fosters a bubble like atmosphere. I had fun playing sports, but those are a joke to. To quote Adam Carolla Hows your seven and a half man football team doing? sums up their sports. I got a great education that prepared me for college well, but was disappointed with the administration. If your child does go to this school, make sure they at least look at a large university or they will forever have their handheld through their years of education and think they deserve the world on a platter.
PROS: Great education, AP classes, good college prep. Everyone plays sports
CONS: Costs more than most universities, Privileged kids, no diversity
Long Wongs
This place has awesome burgers, wings, rings and other healthy food. For a while it was BYOB, but Im not sure if it still is. An awesome place to get some food close to UofA campus. Food price is normal and they have pac man and pool tables. Definity good times.
PROS: BYOB, if it isnt byob anymore its still worth while for the food
CONS: It might not be byob anymore :(
Bob Dobb's Bar & Grill
Tucson has a lot of good food, but very few good burgers. Fortunately Bob Dobbs is one of them. Close to the UofA, this place is great for grabbing some beers and a burger. The Bob burger is amazing. Feel free to grab a pen and write your name on the wall. The bartenders are nice and even on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights the bar doesnt get too crowded.
PROS: Bob burger, free soda refils. Awesome beer and liquor
CONS: