adventures in my own backyard - the 2013 edition

A little over a year ago, I made a list of places in and around Los Angeles I wanted to visit/experience/eat at. I've made some progress on the list over the last year, so I figured it was time to review and update it, especially since -- as I was planning places to eat my numerous upcoming birthday dinners at -- I've realized that I actually don't want to eat at some of the places on my original list ;)

Read on and let me know if you have any suggestions for places to add in the comments!

Places to Eat

• Church and State -- Removing this. Don't like the menu right now
• Hungry Cat -- Removing this. Had no idea the menu included so much slimey, chewy seafood. Blech.
• Musso & Frank -- CHECK! Went here for my birthday last year. It was yummy!
• The Original Pantry -- CHECK. Went here after a hockey game. It did not live up to the hype.
• Osteria Mozza -- Still on the list... if I ever need to eat at 9:30pm on a Wednesday (which is the only time you can get a reservation), I will go here.
• Pizzeria Mozza -- See comment for Osteria Mozza
• Yamashiro -- Going here this weekend for my birthday!
• The Huntington for Tea: CHECK!
• NEW: The Huntington Gardens Tea Room -- Going at the end of March (if I'm still a lady of leisure... kinda hoping I have to reschedule...)
• NEW: Red O
• NEW: Angelini Osteria
• NEW: The Tasting Kitchen -- Probably for brunch
• NEW: Laurel Hardware
• NEW: El Coyote -- I LOVE Mexican food and this is an LA institution that I'm embarrassed to say I've never eaten at. Bad Kim!

Places to Visit in LA

• Angel's Flight
• Art Deco Tour of LA
• Daryl's Tour of LA 
• Forest Lawn Museum -- To see the art, not dead people
• Getty Villa in Malibu -- CHECK!
• Gold Coast iPic Theater in Pasadena -- A movie theater with reclining chairs and waitress service.
• Griffith Observatory -- To actually look at the stars, not just the view
• Lake Hollywood -- CHECK! 
• LA Library - Ansel Adams Exhibit -- Removing. Missed it.
• Queen Mary - CHECK!
• NEW: The Last Bookstore
• NEW: Bradbury Building. My friend works here... we're lunching next week ;) 
• NEW: Venice Canals -- Yes, I've never seen them. Although I've seen the canals in Venice, Italy, so these are gonna have a lot to live up to. 
• NEW: California Science Center -- To see the Space Shuttle

Then there are the two sad lists of things outside of LA I made zero progress on in a year. But hey, like I just said, I went to ITALY. So I really couldn't care less about Carmel and the Grand Canyon. ;P

Places to Visit in CA

• Big Bear
• Carmel
• Hearst Castle
• Lake Arrowhead
• Lake Tahoe
• Ojai
• Palm Springs
• Paso Robles

Places to Visit Near CA

• Grand Canyon
• Yosemite