Kelson Reviews Stuff - Page 20

Great smoothies and tropical juices, plus Brazillian-style grilled pita sandwiches and Açaí bowls. Tiny (small business, literally!), with a handful of small tables (and not much shade) if you want to eat there, great for takeout whether you’re just going for smoothies or getting lunch. I keep getting the Kamehameha (pineapple, mango and banana), which is kind of ironic since it’s named after a Hawaiian. The Beirute Turkey is really good, and they have a vegetarian version using hearts of palm.

(Pronounced like in Portuguese: Nah-TOO-ray-bah, not Nature-ba!)

(If you drive, park on the street, not in the hardware store lot next door.)

Not just great scones, but a great variety of scones (as well as coffee, tea and custom soda drinks). Good for breakfast, lunch, a snack or just coffee. I’ll sometimes grab a lunch sandwich (a “sconewich”) made with a savory or plain scone, and a sweet scone to save for a snack or dessert later.

In a large brick building next to Anthony’s Lounge. Lots of indoor seating and a few small tables outside. Only open mornings and afternoons. If you want coffee later in the day, The Press Espresso is across the street.

To my shock and surprise, this D&D movie was actually good! (I still remember the…let’s just say “disappointing” 2000 film.) The characters are engaging. There’s a reason for them to be working together beyond “the plot requires it.” The story is more than just collecting plot tokens (and even tries to say something about the nature of found families). It focuses more on the “role” aspect and using the game world than on adapting game mechanics to the screen, and doesn’t assume you already know the setting inside-out and backwards. Heck, I wouldn’t have minded paying to see it in a movie theater, if I was still going to movie theaters these days.

Entradero Park is a flood control basin hidden away in a residential part of Torrance, but for the 99% of the time that it doesn’t need to keep storm drains working, facilities include:

1. Restored wetlands habitat in the middle.
2. Shaded picnic area in one corner.
3. City park with field, playground, basketball courts and a dog run along one edge.
4. Baseball fields wrapping around the center (used by the local Little League, among others).
5. Walking path through the scrub habitat around the edge of the basin.
6. Parking.

The loop trail itself is a relaxing walk. Depending on time of year, you may be able to spot wildflowers, birds, rabbits, etc. There’s not much in the way of shade - it’s almost all scrub - but it has a couple of scenic viewpoints, and part of it runs close to the wetlands. The pond usually has water in it, and often has ducks, geese, and other waterfowl.

The combinations can sometimes be amusing: I once watched a flock of geese trying to share the baseball outfield with a riding lawnmower. The lawnmower would approach them, they’d all take wing, and then they’d settle somewhere nearby where the grass hadn’t been cut yet…and then repeat the cycle when the lawnmower turned around for the next pass!

It’s imitation wilderness, but a good place to bring your kids or just take a shady walk in something that feels like nature. Lightly wooded, trees, some hills, trails, a stream and a duck pond, plus areas for picnics and overnight camping. You can almost forget you’re in the middle of suburbia, but it’s too small to get lost. (Also too small to recommend as a destination if you’re not already in the area.)

Over the last few years, a local conservation group (South Bay Parkland Conservancy) has been slowly re-introducing native plants to rewild the landscape. This works out well ecologically, makes it a touch more authentic, and adds another educational layer for field trips.

Restrooms and water are available at the front and at each campsite, plus a few more drinking fountains scattered around the park.

You can see more of my photos in this Flickr album.