Domenico's - Great pizza in Belmont Shore

While the sheer enthusiasm contained within the following review might lead you to suspect that Domenico's has paid for this post, I can assure you that the only money changing hands has been from me to Domenico's following another gutbusting session of pizza eating that has left me sluggish and listless - but happy.

Domenico's, located on Belmont's Shore's glittering Second Street strip, has been serving a variety of pasta and pizza dishes since 1954. Don't ask me about the pasta dishes, I'm only here for the great pizza. We last ordered the pepperoni with ground steak. The pizza is nicely herby, and they really coat the pizza with the toppings so try to keep it down to one or two toppings max.

As you can see from the picture, I (middle) shared this with my brother and my father. Things got a bit 'Where the Wild Things Eat'. But we only barely finished. Somehow the combination of ingredients just stacks up (and I hadn't wasted any valuable room on the cheap salad starter they offer (tasty salad dressing) but I had, perhaps foolishly, partaken of the bowl of minestrone starter that comes gratis). I took down 12 pieces at Chuck E. Cheese the previous week on the all-you-can-eat-kiddie-prison-riot-lunch-special (maybe my stomach was still busy digesting this earlier acquired hay bail of cheese and dough) so I know I'm on good form. Bit of a mystery, really.

Anyway, word to the wise, enjoy. It's got friendly staff and a great interior, with a sort of rustic framework over cosy booths. And if you have kids, make sure they take a lollipop from the barrel by the door. Right of passage, man.

Opening this Friday in Orange County....

World's Greatest Dad - click for review

Showing this Friday in South Coast Village Regency.

It's good.

Sunset Junction Street Festival (22-23 August)

We went to this on Sunday. It's held annually in Silver Lake, which is inland, which means it's held in a tarmaced desert. The organisers, despite this being 29th edition of this event, haven't thought of putting up some shady areas for people. It starts at midday. I mean, if it started at midnight - ok, but... It was hot as sh*t (I think I said that every two minutes (minus the asterix)). My beer evaporated before I could drink it. Smart people had sun shades (R had a sunshade). The majority of people at this festival weren't that smart. A lot had tiny dogs.

Whinging complete, it was pretty cool. There were a lot of rides, hipsters, and random stalls offering everything from massages to sunshades to Mexico Extreme Makeovers (proudly serving the gay and lesbian community (there's a big one in Silverlake) and offering Breast Augmentation for $2995.00 @ 2 ppl Same Day Surgery). They weren't cutting people at the stall, thankfully.

The bands made appearances roughly every half an hour on various stages dotted around. Built to Spill and Conor Oberst & Mystic Valley Band were the biggest names, but for $20 a ticket ($15 in advance) we thought it was pretty good value. Caught a few bands in the afternoon, and here's what we thought:

African drumming band - Lazy journalism, I know, African drumming band probably isn't their name, but at the same time they were so generic ( a lot of drumming and crazy dancing) that I don't think it's going to serve anyone by me finding out there name. But they did what they did well. There was also a Janet Jackson style wardrobe malfunction at one point. It didn't seem staged.

Night Horse - Caught the end of this Wolfmother-ish sounding band. Only had a taster, but they seemed entertaining if a little run of the mill old-school rock. (pictured below)


Local Natives - Were a really good 5-piece. Harmonious without tending towards wussy, a bit of a My Morning Jacket thing going on, but definitely their own band.

Charangoa - Cuban grooving. The front-lady's flute fell apart at one point which was pretty funny, but she recovered well.

Tiny Masters of Today - Had a punky Moldy Peaches thing going on with the female singer/male singer combo. The male singer was fine, but the lady just got painful. Tiny Mistress of Misery. She drove people away with her shrill, flat tones, and that's saying something considering nobody wanted to move in that heat. I'm a big punk fan, but this grated. Chuck her out and be a Tiny Master of Tomorrow, long hair male singer. (pictured below as Tiny Masters of McDonalds)

And a final honourable mention for MC Dizz who I thought was great. (pictured below)

More photos below:

Needy baby.

R stays cool.

Nice underwear.

Cops investigating the cobbler stall on their chariots of justice.

There was a weird Golliwog theme going on..

The Getty: Camelot meets Willy Wonka meets Kew Gardens (with a bit of art chucked in)

We went to the Getty Center yesterday. The museum (designed by architect Richard Meier) is perched on a hillside overlooking Los Angeles.

As you approach from the road it looks like Camelot, all pure and white against the dusty hillsides. There were wildfires near here quite recently, and you could see the scorched earth from where you pick up the tram. I can understand why people were so upset about this, after visiting.

We only managed two exhibitions. But you wouldn't want to see everything in a day, you want a reason to return. Not like you really need one, though. Picnics can be brought to the incredible gardens (damn, those gardens... (shaking of head)... never felt this way about gardens before).


Only downer was the $15 parking charge. Admittance remains free, but come on. The ticket lady said the price had been creeping up for a while. Greed has no place here.

And... they do a great burger ($7).

Nice lines!

Pretty flowers!

Strange grass with golden tongues!

Art inside and outside. Respect.

Weird cactus garden. Views!

Panorama! In real life there isn't a chunk of sky missing in the top left corner...

Movies in the Park - Dana Point, Orange County

Good old Dana Point. Following a run of outdoor movies (mostly kiddie-stuff) in June, they're coming back for more over August and September. Check out the details here.

Belmont Shore does not have the best beaches

Nor the best views from the beaches, located as it is near the Port of Long Beach: the second busiest seaport in the United States.

But it does have an excellent main drag known as Second Street. Bars with buzz, restaurants, shops, cafes (free wifi and good coffee at Polly's, although they need to liven up that patio), all available and within walking distance.

Belmont Shore itself is nicely placed with Huntington Beach about half an hour to the south, about 40 mins with good traffic to Santa Monica and near the 405 for getting into the city.

Hurley US Open Surf Championships

Gnarly.