So what to say, what to say.....Miss Tea was in LA and loved it! Miss Tea's alter ego, Miss Evylina, made a push to move out there, just to watch the men with their surf boards ride the waves. Sigh. What on earth would Miss Tea do for work in LA?! Goodness knows she'd just hang out in Santa Monica like a beached whale all day without a care in the world. Thankfully Miss Tea came back to NYC and back to her senses just in time.
While out in LA, Rocky Stillwell suggested Miss Tea take her friends out to "Mandibles & Scorpions." Okay, so Rocky got the name of the tapas eatery all wrong, but apparently it didn't matter because every Angelino knew it translated to "Cobras & Matadors." So off we went to this lovely BYOB (thank goodness for the liquor store next door - otherwise Miss Tea was going to have a fit). All the tapas plates ranged from $7 - $18. Miss Tea's friends who are paella connoisseurs told her this place definitely served one of the better paellas they've had - they were totally impressed! Score one for Miss Tea from NYC! We also had the grilled rack of lamb, the albondigas, the pa amb tomaquet with jamon Serrano & manchego cheese on catalan pan, and (Miss Tea's favorite) artichoke stuffed with goat cheese. Miss Tea's hosts were also kind enough to take her to a taping of Jimmy Kimmel, where the guests
were Adrian Brody, and....ok, Miss Tea didn't know who the other guests were. Miss Tea has never watched Jimmy Kimmel ever, but still it was an experience. There was also a band that was pretty good...but Miss Tea can never remember their name...Atomic Bomb Event? Toxic Atom Event? Hold on.......ah, Airborne Toxic Event. You still have no idea who Miss Tea is talking about...it's okay. Couple things that annoyed Miss Tea about the taping: first of all, they take away your camera and return it to you at the end of the show; secondly, you're allotted 1 pee-break per group; thirdly, they keep you locked in until the band finishes their set - the band could suck, and they only tape the first song, but you have to stay locked inside through the third song and put up with it. And don't even think about using the bathroom at that time, especially if you already took your allotted pee-break.
Another interesting space that Miss Tea was dying to check out was Pourtal in Santa Monica. Miss Tea in Pourtal was like a kid let loose in Toys R Us. A new kind of wine bar, Pourtal provides wine tasting in the form of a prepaid card and an ounce of wine of your choice. Miss Tea's friend said it reminded him of the automatic vending machines that served meals, which they used to have in places like Macy's (Miss Tea doesn't remember, so it must be before her time). 
Anyhoo, Miss Tea put money onto a special card, inserted it into the wine vending machine, then selected the wine she wanted to taste. One ounce of that wine sprouted into her glass. Each ounce had different prices, depending on the wine. It ranged from $1.25 to $6.00. While it may be a slightly expensive joint (particularly for the likes of Miss Tea), it would be a great place to have a party!While in LA, Miss Tea got to catch up with her friends and hang out at The Grove, do her usual LA spa thing and sit by the pool (thankfully, this economy has not affected the job of the Evian spritzer boy by the pool) All in all, a very relaxing vaca ... just what Miss Tea wanted.
