Minneapolis, MN

In October 2008 I took a weekend trip out to Minneapolis to visit a friend. I personally never imagined I would have a reason to make it out to Minnesota, but as it turns out I did. I do have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the twin cities and what they have to offer.

The first night was a Friday night, so like most travelers after settling into the Crownplaza Northstar on 2nd St, I headed off to dinner. Chinos was the spot of choice. Sushi and exotic drinks made up most of the menu and the atmosphere was something to speak of. Chinos is a large restaurant with many tables wrapping around a center bar area.

I made my way downstairs to the bathroom after ordering a Mohito. As I walked in I felt disoriented while looking into the mirrors to the left of me. What appears to be a double mirror is actually no wall at all and you can see straight through to the men's room!

Back upstairs we ordered three kinds of sushi and a chicken peanut lo main dish for our meal. The food was excellent and our seat next to the window was an ampule spot for people watching.

From there I was wildly entertained all night by a series of clubs and bars in Minneapolis. We hopped in and out of taxis, clubs and bars for hours most of which is a slightly a blur.

The next morning we woke up early, grabbed some breakfast and headed off to the Science Museum of Minneapolis. The Science Museum offers plenty of educational exhibits to play with as you explore. We followed our tour up by catching a showing in the IMAX theater. " Mysteries of the Great Lakes" was showing.

On Sunday, after checking out, I decided I had to see what this famous Mall of America was all about. So we decided to head over there before my flight in the evening. The ginormous three floor mall is overwhelming to a person who has not been to it before. Any store you can possibly wish to find there, you will find there. Let me not forget to mention the Nickelodeon theme park located directly in the center of the mall. After shopping around a bit we decided to head over to the Showcase cinema inside the mall. We watched "Max Payne" and headed for the airport.

Although already a bit cold in late October, Minneapolis had plenty of activities to keep an individual entertained. I can only image it being even more appealing in the summer months when the weather permits you to walk around the city more comfortably. In case you were wondering about that, don't worry, Minneap has sky walks that allow you walk from building to building without even going outside!

Brentwood, CA

I will start this off by back tracking a bit. Last month I took a trip out to Los Angeles to visit a close friend in Brentwood. As usual in the warm and sunny city of LA, the sun was shining, traffic was bustling, and people were, well interesting. As an individual who once called the city of Los Angeles home, I was pretty familiar with what I would find waiting for me as I exited LAX. So I hopped in my rented Hybrid and headed for Brentwood with the help of Anna via cell phone directions.

The next morning I woke up to the California sun shining in the window of the second floor apartment I was lucky enough to be a house guest in. As my friend and I walked down San Vicente I was immediately reminded of the difference in scenery, food and products available on the West Coast. The streets were lined with people walking, jogging and biking. The restaurants are pro-health and the stores have the latest and most expensive items available to its wealthy residents. After getting a fresh squeezed orange juice from, "Robeks' ", Anna's favorite stop, we quickly continued our walk down to a small salon, where they offer a full manicure and pedicure for only $20.00. I was shocked by the quality of the service at such an amazing price. I believe this is because the service industry has such competition around the area.

From there it was off to El Segundo beach. Now in LA there are many beaches to choose from, but I would highly recommend hitting up this particular quiet "scenic" beach. On most days you will be one of only a few sunbathers. However you will find this is a favorite spot of the local surfers. If you get hungry while your there let me recommend a excellent restaurant in Manhattan Beach beach called "Ebizos Skewer". The Kobe beef Shabu Shabu is a wonderful choice that will not disappoint! Wash it down with an Asahi beer and enjoy!

If you are in the mood for sushi make your way back to Brentwood and stop by " Hara Sushi" on Wilshire. They have a wide selection of delicious sushi to choose from. If you are a Sake drinker like myself grab some of that for your table. Most of the sushi is half priced everyday so you can order away with out running up your bill.

Another beach to stop by if your in the area is Santa Monica Beach. Complete with a pier and shopping center along side of the usual beach amenities. Palm trees and sidewalks full of walkers, joggers, and rollerbladers will fill your view as far as you can see. Santa Monica also has some interesting restaurants, shops and bars to keep you busy all day. A favorite of mine is Monsoon on the corner of Wilshire and 1St.

If you still have some energy after the California sun goes done, there is more then enough nightlife to chose from. In Brentwood, the Cabo Cantina is right around the corner on Whilshire. This is a Mexican themed bar with tropical decor. It is usually busy on any given night and is a great spot to check out. Want to stay near the beach? I would try Niki's in Venice Beach. It's trendy and laid back all wrapped into one.

I would indubitably recommend a visit to Brentwood and its' surrounding areas. It is easy to be fooled into believing it is a warm July summer day rather then a fall day in mid-October when when you are spending time in Los Angeles. LA offers much entertainment and can divert anyone of any age.