Urban Ninja
Summer is here. Good eats & good peeps. Wait, what? You’re not a top chef master? Well, put down your shiny new grill tongs that have yet to see the fire of your Weber. Head down to the Rose Bowl & sample some of the best grub this city has to offer. A General Admission ticket gets you all you can eat or drink, including 75 of the city’s best food carts, stands, chefs and trucks. Singha beer, Izze Soda, and Honest Tea all make cameos next to the mezcal at a premium tequila tasting. Parking is including in the price of admission. If you pick one of the 2 early sessions, it’s family friendly with many areas to picnic and hang. If you pick the late session, it’s a date night for adults (21+) or a mixer for foodies. Find your future mate in the Tequila Tent.
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You know that secret dream you have to be a contestant on the Amazing Race? Yes, I’m talking to you, armchair quarterbacks of Over-The-Top-Reality-Race-Shows. Give praise and thanks to creators Larry & Bob for their string of immersive races known as LARF® (aka LA Race Fantastique®). These guys have been cooking up races for corporate events and Angelenos since 2005 and even have an Amazing Race in Cozumel for cruise ships.
At its core, LARF is a scavenger hunt and a sort of location-clue-based puzzle, but it is more aptly described, as their website puts it, “like the ‘Da Vinci Code,’ ‘The Amazing Race,’ and ‘National Treasure,’ but instead of watching it, you’re actually living it.” Having participated in several races with my team Scooby Snacks, I can attest to how addictive, exciting, and totally fun this race can be.
So, okay, what is LARF really?
LARF consists of a series of clues. The clues can be anything from puzzles to actors to destinations to engravings on statues. As they say on their website, “…these ain’t your mamma’s clues. They’re tricky, sometimes very tricky. Not only that but often you won’t even know what they are; the trick may be in actually finding the clue.” There are no directions & there are no rules. The team with the best finishing time is crowned the winner. Our team, Scooby Snacks, has both lost miserably (our first race: LARF Happy Fun Race) and won handily (LARF can’t Marry) and will still go back for more. LARF produces a unique race about once a year ranging from Charity races to Disney Races to Celebrity Races. Your first race can be a little crazy, but once you get the hang of it, the experience is legendary.
I recommend a team of FOUR. Two just isn’t quite enough and past four you end up with way too many cooks in the kitchen. You are also driving all around town, so bigger team equals bigger car or worse… cars, and we all know what parking in LA can be like. So, four is usually optimal.
If you want to just get your feet wet there are weekly races billed as “extreme sight-seeing tours of Los Angeles.” This is a great way to see the city of L.A. and RACE at the same time! There is the Amazing LA Race and there is the Amazing Santa Monica Race that run weekly. You can sign up on their website or sometimes you can score discount tickets at Goldstar Events.
If you like it and want more…
Well, you’re in luck: there is a new original race on Saturday June 25, 2011. Be forewarned/excited: It is an ALL DAY AFFAIR. This one is the AMAZING GOURMET FOOD TRUCK RACE. You can imagine the antics and adventures that this will take you through. If you think you are ready for the challenge – sign up here – it’s $60 a person and you will get fed… a la food truck.
These guys only do ONE original race a year… because they literally spend all year planning it. It is that intense. Good luck, and maybe I’ll see you at the finish line.
In case you didn’t know – it’s Bike to Work week in LA. Cyclists can ride for FREE on most public transportation – check the website for Partners and Sponsors. So in honor of this momentous week (17 straight years strong), I would like to introduce you to Betabrand’s Bike to Work Pants.
Betabrand’s Bike to Work Pants have the distinction of being solid looking work pants and also functioning safety gear for those who prefer pedal-powered vehicles when commuting to their place of employment. Like Clark Kent, they resemble regular old work pants — but when the work day end, the cuffs can be turned up to reveal reflective material to SUPER aid you on your ride home. You were gonna turn up your cuffs anyway to ride your bike! Dude, these guys are reading my mind. And, as if you didn’t think they were reading your mind enough – there are pocket flaps for additional reflective gear. These Betabrand guys are genius.
Betabrand, formerly known as Cordarounds, has been a favorite of mine since their inception in 2005. I love their commitment to the absurd & their attention to detail. Their line began with the appropriately titled Cordarounds, which as their name suggests are Cordoroy pants that have horizontal cords. According to their website (and as we all know – everyone should believe everything written on the internet), these pants are scientifically engineered to lower one’s crotch heat index & increase your aerodynamics.
Their Facebook Fan Page boasts a rabid following who love to post videos and pictures of their current exploits wearing BetaBrand Clothing. Counted among their fans is Stephen Colbert who wore their USA Pants during his Rally to Restore Fear and/or Sanity with Jon Stewart.
Do yourself a favor and sign up for their clever mailing list. It is always a fun time. Betabrand – home of the Cordarounds