A NOT SO SECRET, SECRET GARDEN

Here are a few elements that I think make the perfect date. A walk together, nature’s beauty all around you, discovering something new together, and ending it all with a spot of tea and scones. Cheerio my friends! And the best part; you don’t have to belong to the Tea Party to appreciate a moment like this. It’s open to everyone and it’s in Pasadena. The Huntington Botanical Garden is a privately funded space, which means they have deep pockets to keep the place looking beautiful. There are over 12 different specialized gardens that sits on 120 acres. It’s damn big and beautiful! My favorite are their Japanese gardens. Voted #1 location for Karate Kid II re-enactments by O Magazine.

Along with world-class botanicals there’s classical art in 3 different galleries. The most unique part of The Huntington is their Tea Room. The British have given us so much; Sacha Baron Cohen, Benny Hill, and in the early 1800’s Anne, Duchess of Bedford gave the world of Afternoon Tea. It’s hard to find something more refined and romantic than sipping tea and eating scones with a 3 acre rose garden as a backdrop. It costs $28 per person and you eat and drink as much as you want. Imagine Hometown Buffet with a British swagger. On second thought, don’t do that. Entrance to the Huntington is extra, but they have Free Day the 1^st Thursday of every month. The bottom line is, even if you don't know the difference between poison sumac and oregano, you'll have a great time and be listening to Barry White and El Debarge sing "Secret Garden" on the ride home. 

(In case your 80's R&B IQ needs a refresher)

http://youtu.be/bChCRga3djw

Here’s the details:

-Free Parking

-Closed Tuesdays

-Hours 10:30-4:30 Everyday

-Admission is $15 during the week and $20 on Saturdays and   Sundays

-Free Day is the 1^st Thursday of every month. Up to 5 Free Day Tickets can be reserved online and by phone the 1^st day of the month preceding the month you want to go. So if you want to go in July, you can reserve beginning June 1^st

-If you make reservations for the tea room on Free Day, it automatically comes with Free Day tickets.

-Tours are available for an extra fee

-Theres a café on sight for lunch

WEBSITE http://huntington.org/default.aspx

Date of The Week

No matter where you live, a relationship is tough to sustain. They take work, commitment, understanding, compromise, time management, and of course keeping each other entertained. Don't get me wrong, dinner, a movie, and a night of passion can prove to be quite entertaining, but eventually you'll want to get creative outside the house and find things to do that keep your relationship fresh and interesting. Some of you reading this aren't in a relationship and may be dating one or more people. I'm a firm believer in what you do together as you get to know someone will tell you a lot about what your relationship will look like down the line. Dating doesn't have to be expensive. A little creativity and research can go a long way. All of the men out there without disposable income,  dating more than one person, go ahead and breathe a sigh of relief. I've taken the time to do the work for you.

A little about me. I was in a relationship for 3 years that ended a few months ago and am back in the realm of the single people. One asset I bring to all my relationships is always finding cool, creative, and fun things to do together. I get my information from all over; LA Times, LA Weekly, several websites, AAA Magazine, word of mouth, and simply driving around the city. Over a year ago I started compiling a list of all the places and things I wanted to do with my girlfriend. The list grew and grew and even though we're no longer together I continued to find more great dates and now am giving these gems to you.


One of my favorite places to visit is The Annenberg Space for Photography in Century City. How I wish there was an acronym for the title. In the time it takes to say it, you could've been half way done with a photo shoot at Glamour Shots. Ladies you know you miss walking past Glamour Shots in the mall and thinking you too could look great in a boa. But back to your next great date. Thanks to the deep pockets of The Annenberg Family and their love of media arts they opened this premier gallery for photography in March of 2009. What's great is that you get to see work from some of the worlds top photographers and each exhibit has a theme. Each exhibition is accompanied by a short documentary that chronicles the work of each photographer as they created their photos. The documentaries are displayed on 2 ultra high-definition, rear-projection screens that are 4x the clarity of normal Blu-Ray. That's tech talk for an amazing image to look at on screen. Did I mention the screens face each other, in a dark space with low padded stools. So cuddle up, get comfy, and get your arts appreciation on! Currently their exhibit is Beauty Culture. This exhibit examines the role photography plays in how beauty is defined and how it influences our daily lives, good and bad. I've seen the last 3 exhibitions here. The photos are always incredible and the documentaries attached are equally impressive. I could go on an on, but the important details are...


-It's Free!!

-It's closed on Monday and Tuesday

-Parking is only $1 on Saturday and Sundays and weekdays after 4:30(before that its $3.50)

-If you're really into photography they have a free lecture series on Thursday nights

-You can see The Annenberg in about an hour to an hour and a half

For more information check their website

http://www.annenbergspaceforphotography.org/