TOP 100 Favorite Films

What's your favorite movie? You can't name one?!...  I can name a 100! First of all, don't judge me on my favorite films judge away! These are the movies I love, and I dare you to be a little open-minded and check them out. Replay value tends to have the biggest influence on whether or not I place a film in my top 100. Can I enjoy watching this film again? Were there real relatable characters exchanging memorable dialogue? Was the story told from a unique and entertaining perceptive? You decide & make your list!

1. Purple Rose of Cairo
2. Gladiator
3. Pulp Fiction
4. Cool Hand Luke
5. Sunset Blvd.
6. Aliens
7. True Romance
8. Old Boy (Korean Version)
9. Brave Heart
10. The Wizard of Oz
11. The Never Ending Story
12. Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
13. Adventureland
14. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
15. The Wedding Singer
16. It's a Wonderful Life
17. Blade Runner
18. Face Off
19. The Dark Knight
20. Moonstruck
21. Pretty Woman
22. Drive
23. Man on Fire
24. Interstellar
25. Scarface
26. The Count of Monte Cristo
27. The Godfather
28. Rosemary's Baby
29. The Accountant 
30. Sin City
31. High Fidelity
32. 10 Things I Hate About You
33. Jaws
34. Benhur
35. La Confidential
36. Clueless
37. The Gentlemen
38. Nocturnal Animals
39. Garden State
40. Rambo II
41. His Girl Friday
42. For Love and Basketball
43. Thelma and Louise
44. 500 Days of Summer
45. Gone with the Wind
46. Little Shop of Horrors
47. Whatever Works
48. Singing In The Rain
49. Lord of the Rings Trilogy
50. Hocus Pocus
51. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 2
52. Baby Driver
53. Being John Malkovich
54. The Winter Soldier
55. Toys
56. Dumb and Dumber
57. Chinatown
58. Pet Sematary
59. Young Adult
60. Django
61. The Silence of the Lambs
62. Forrest Gump
63. Matilda
64. Elf
65. Charade
66. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
67. Frequency
68. Bridesmaids
69. Die Hard
70. Donnie Darko
71. In Her Shoes
72. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
73. Rocky
74. Water For Elephants
75. The Dream Team
76. Dolores Claiborne
77. The Shaggy Dog 1959
78. Buffy The Vampire Slayer
79. Thor
80. District 9
81. Apocalypto
82. We’re The Millers
83. Safety Not Guaranteed
84. Dirty Dancing
85. Pirates of The Caribbean
86. Pete’s Dragon
87. My Girl
88. Son In Law
89. Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century
90. Coming to America
91. Top Gun: Maverick
92. Casablanca 
93. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
94. Troy
95. Se7en
96. Gone Girl
97. Scrooged
98. Boyhood
99. Death Sentence
100. Home Alone

This list is constantly changing and I plan to continue updating it here. I have another list called "The Cut," which is a list of over 200 films that once had a spot on this top 100, but as I continue to evolve, my list appears to follow suit.

Now, all you need is a bucket of popcorn, twizzlers, raisinets, soft pretzel bites, maybe definitely pizza and somewhere to put you feet, because you have a marathon of movies to tackle!


Anddddddd...... PLAY!

The Ultimate Escape: Los Angeles

The best part of LA is that no matter how long you've lived here, there's always somewhere new and exciting to go. If you're asking me and many of you have, this is my adventurous guide to visiting the fantastical lands of Los Angeles!

First time in LA Must See Spots:

3rd street promenade in Santa Monica 

The Santa Monica Pier -Ride the Ferris wheel, it’s a must! 

Hollywood 'n Highland Star Walk

Grauman's Chinese Theatre & Handprints on Hollywood Blvd

The Griffith Observatory & Hike

Starline Hollywood House Tour to see celebrity homes. Buy your ticket

on Hollywood Blvd $50/per ticket right in from of Grauman's Chinese

Theatre, very fun and worth it -they will take you to Rodeo Drive as well on the tour.

The Grove on 3rd street
See a movie at iPic theater in Pasadena or the one Wilshire Blvd –recliners and pillows and dinner brought to you. I prefer the Pasadena iPic so you can explore downtown Pasadena while there.
The Getty -right off the 405 on the way to the beach free parking on Sundays after four, but otherwise $15 to park but the exhibit is free.
The Getty Villa in Malibu -Free but reserve a time online and print pass.

Malibu Paradise Cove Beach Cafe -eat with your feet in the sand, make reservations for outside seating.

Walk the Venice boardwalk and canals and eat at one of the restaurants on Washington Street. 

City walk in Universal City -Eat at Buca Di Beppo - order their EPIC

chocolate cake for dessert. Try Voodoo Doughnuts there as well.

Cinespia Cemetery Screening Hollywood

The Staple Center/LA Live to see a concert, sports game, or just have dinner.

LACMA museum $15/person but cheaper with student ID and free some hours/days. Look at online schedule.

Hornblower Champagne Brunch cruise in Marina del Rey $100/person

Disneyland

The Magic Castle in Hollywood if you can get in, it can be hard to get

a reservation if you don't know a magician there. 

Other fun things to do: 

Rent a bike in Santa Monica and bike on the beach in the morning before it gets crowded

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum Hollywood

Get tickets to a live show tapings from tvtickets.com

Warner Bros. Studio Tour

Shopping on Melrose and Lunch at LaLa's Argentina Grill on Melrose

Castle Park Mini Golf in Sherman Oaks

Catalina Island for a day trip

UCB Comedy Show in Hollywood
Six Flags
Zuma beach in Malibu
Greystone Mansion and Park

Chateau Marmont

Venice canals cross streets Washington St and Venice Blvd.

Drive Malibu coast PCH

Farmers Markets

Melrose Trading Post on Sundays
Knots Berry Farms

Pool bars:

Make a reservation via resortpass.com

The London 

The Beverly Hilton Hotel
Roosevelt Hotel Pool bar in Hollywood
The W Pool bar in Hollywood

Night Bars:

Blue Collar bar -Best cocktails Mid-Wilshire Area

The One up- Amazing healthy organic food and most importantly, free arcade games

Firefly Bar for drinks in studio city
La Descarga  Hollywood Cuban themed bar with burlesque-style salsa acts. Make reservations or go on a Wednesday or Thursday Night.
The Den Hollywood for Drinks

Early Evening Bars:

Laurel Hardware -Weho

The Blue Dog Beer Tavern -Sherman Oaks 
The Local Peasant -Sherman Oaks
Laurel Tavern -Studio City

Clubs:
The Edison Lounge Downtown LA -Dress up

Hiking:
Griffith Observatory Hike -My favorite

The Hollywood sign Hike
Runyon Canyon Hike in Hollywood
Rustic Canyon Hike -Brentwood
Fryman Canyon -Studio City
Echo Mountain -Altadena (Pictured below, yup that's me!)

Escondido Falls hike in Malibu -very dangerous hike

My Favorite Lunch Spots in LA:
Plancha on 3rd st $20/person Try the Mexican Protein chicken breakfast burrito best burrito in the world say no beans and get the light orange sauce and ranch to dip it in
Blu Jam Café-Tex Mex Hash, Breakfast Quesadilla, Cornflake French Toast
Paradise Cove Malibu -On the beach, feet in the sand $40/person
LaLas on Melrose has good Argentinian food $20/person. Awesome pico chicken sandwich Salad bar and mini burgers delicious 
Diddy Riese in Westwood for famous dessert and awesome Enzo’s pizzeria across street
Aroma Cafe Studio City for Lunch

Mulberry Street Pizzeria for the best Pizza in LA - Many locations 
Bacari in Silver Lake 
Cheesecake Factory because Happy Hour 4-6 Monday through Friday in the bar area

My Favorite Dinner Spots in LA:
Larsens in Encino -Favorite steak in LA $50/person
Palm’s Thai Hollywood -Try the Chicken Pad Thai Mixed veggies Egg rolls with sweet and sour sauce $20/person
Hugo’s Sherman Oaks –Veggie Burger in spinach wrap add onion and hummus, side salad, green lasagna

Ca’Del Sole Italian  restaurant in Studio city -good for drinks and appetizers in outside area great atmosphere
Favorite Chinese- Chi dynasty in Studio City $15/person
Japanese BBQ place called Gyu kaku $20/person in Sherman oaks really cheap happy hour s'mores for dessert roast them right at your table cream cheese wontons & spring rolls also recommended
Delancey on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood Favorite Italian for Chicken Parm -$30/person 
Barney's Beanery in Santa Monica Great Chili and get s'mores for dessert roast them right at your table $10/person
 

My favorite Vegan/Organic restaurants in LA:
Granville -Best vegan Burgers

Sestina -Vegan Italian
Hugo's
SunCafé Studio City-Raw Nachos, Tacos,Strawberry Almond shake
Le Pain Quotidien
Native Foods Cafe
Sage
Ve Station
Crossroads
Real Food Daily
Cafe Gratitude
   

Holidays in LA

For your Holiday dinner, I would suggest paradise cove because they do a 3 course meal with the salad bar and dessert for $75/person and it was so delicious and beautiful because you're eating with your feet in the sand right on the beach and it's a private beach so you can legally bring your own alcohol to drink in the sand. But I'd make reservations ahead of time and ask if they are doing the Holiday dinner set price per person like they did for thanksgiving.

Where to stay in LA

Stay in Santa Monica near 3rd street if you can find something reasonable or if you're renting a car stay in Universal City, because it's right in between the beaches and downtown and close to Hollywood. Universal city is also right by City Walk, which is an awesome attraction full of lights, free performances, restaurants, shops, bars, and Universal Studios. Another great place to stay would be Mid-City near the grove/3rd street area. Also, if you want a cheaper hotel not far from attractions Burbank, Sherman Oaks, and Studio City are all safe places equal distance from fun. But I would recommend Santa Monica or West Hollywood if you want to really be in the center of fun.

Other Advice:
UBER otherwise, Always read street signs or just pay to valet, because they ticket you for parking constantly in LA. And try to stay off the highways during rush hour M-F 8am-10am and 4pm-730pm. I always get my tickets round trip from cheap tickets.com, but do so on a Tuesday night after midnight or wed for best prices and fly into LAX. I usually pay $600 round trip from east coast to west coast. And always check Groupon for deals on hotels, food, and entertainment.

See you soon!

2020 Update: For great food: Craig’s, Locanda Portofino, Spago. For atmosphere: The rooftop by JD, Polo lounge. I haven’t tried, but heard was a fun experience: Barton G. Honorable Mentions: N10, Mr. Chow, Perch, Elephante, il Cielo, Toca Madera, Other Honorable Mentions: Cecconi’s, The Bazaar, The Little Door, The Rooftop Garden at the Peninsula, Salt in Marina Del Rey.

2022 Updates for Favorite Food Spots in Los Angeles:

Prince street pizza 
Lorenzo’s pizza 
Pizzaoki
Pepe’s pizza 
Granville -veggie burger
Plancha -Blanca burrito no beans 
Spago -corn pasta begins with an A  
Craig’s -vegan ck Parm & truffle honey chicken  when I wasn’t vegetarian 
Perch -truffle Mac and cheese and Brussel sprouts 
Celodan Thai  marina del Rey 
Bodhi Thai 
Cafe Habana Malibu -quesadillas and margs
Natraj Indian food & catering 
Hillstone & South Beverly grill -Thai steak & Noodle salad can get vegetarian 
Chinois -fried rice and mixed vegetables 
Plancha -Breakfast Blanco burrito, fajitas quesadilla
Mulberry's NY Pizza
Electric Owl happy hour menu burgers are bomb every day 420-7
Blu Jam -Tex Mex Tofu Hash, eggwich 
Vegan house Thai bistro -ck pad Thai stesmed veggies egg roll 
Locanda Portofino -eggplant linguini & penne alla vodka 
Mendocino farms -Superfood Hemp Burger vegan bun toasted
II Tramezzino -Sicilian panini and vodka penne 
Panera - southwest salad, seasonal corn chowder, tomato soup half of Cesar sandwich  or broc ched soup 
Malibu farm pier cafe -broccoli quesadilla
Tekila -fajitas and quesadilla
Public School -PS Burger 
Madera kitchen on Cahuenga in Hollywood -the carrots and pasta
Mh Zh silver lake -potatoes, hummus, frittes salad 
Alcove -veggie burger 
Jersey Mike's -Italian Sub
Cheesecake -Mini Burgers & avocado egg rolls 4-6 HH
Stone oven -southwest salad with avocado instead of ck and sun dried Tom ranch dressing 
Korean BBQ at mall -veggies water chestnuts 
Larsens -classic mac n cheese steak mash potatoes cream of spinach (5-7 HH)
The One Up -burrata salad and squash gnocchi 
Palms Thai -Hollywood ck pad Thai stesmed veggies egg roll 
Pizza Rev -gluten free Pizza 
Blaze -pizza 
Tender greens -happy vegan salad 
Hugo's -veggie burger wrap 
The next door -burger & the little door 
Toca Madera -Margaritas & food good 
Din Tai Fung -spicy noodle, spicy wontons, spinach 
Tocaya -Tacos, corn and Tortilla soup 
The front yard -street tacos 
Citizen - hazelnut dessert 
Panzella -eggplant pasta & pumpkin pasta
On the thirty -happy hour pizza and salad 
No name-mushroom pasta 
Sotto -market salad and meatballs 
Cafe Roma -happy hour -eggplant pasta and pizza 
Beauty & Essex
Tangine - morrocan 
Elephante 2nd and Santa Monica rooftop restaurant truffle pizza and endive salad 
Bossa nova -WeHo California salad and ck pasta here is good too
Al Basch -Mediterranean Hollywood (12.99 catering option for 16 ppl 232 total)
Kung Pao Bistro -orange chicken veggie rice broccoli & onions, egg rolls 
Terroni -truffle pizza 
Javier’s -javier’s margarita ck quesadilla cubed not shredded  
Terra -Italian with a view salad and mushroom app good 
The Henry -pretzels, hummus, burger 
The rooftop by JD at the Waldorf hotel 
Polo lounge outside 
Mr. C’s hotel pool and cobb salad and bubbly
Bacari -Bussel spouts cauliflower marg pizza 
il cielo -atmosphere 
Sweet greens- green goddess avocado salad 
25 degrees -beyond burger 
Veggie grill - Buffalo wraps and kids beyond burger ,Mac and cheese
Sweet greens -green goddess avocado salad
Pit fire -vegan pizza
Bodhi Thai 
Terra -pasta & burrata with beets
Maggiano’s -eggplant Parmesan 
The Malibu Farm Restaurant on the Malibu pier the have a broccoli quesadilla that’s amazing 
La piazza at the grove 

Disclaimer: These photos are not my own and I do not own the rights to these photos. Noted for the digital millennium copyright act (DMCA)

10 Reasons Why Flu Season Doesn’t Suck

It’s so cold right now, I’m wearing two pairs of pants. My cheeks are still rosy from my morning run. And I WebMD-ed the side effects of having goose bumps for prolonged periods of time. But honestly, there are a lot of reasons to love this season!

1. Pumpkin Everything

Is there anything that can't be pumpkin flavored? What is our society's obsession with pumpkin? Was it instilled in us at birth? Is the womb pumpkin flavored? Is it the smell that actually makes it taste so good? I'm not even sure I'd like pumpkin so much if it wasn't for all the marketing making it the staple flavor of fall. 

But like the rest of the world, I LOVE PUMPKIN ANYTHING! I just tried pumpkin pizza this week and WHOA!

2. Dinner and a Movie

Or dinner during a movie.  Whether in public or at home, it's hard not to be satisfied from this killer combo!

 

3. Hot Anything –Hot Baths, Hot Cocoa, Hot Food

It's so difficult to crave cold food in cold weather. I keep buying lettuce, but it keeps going bad. What is keeping me from eating too many warm comfort foods? Hot tea!! My new favorite warm beverage is passion orange peel. It's the color of Love, 'nough said!

4. Candles

Talk about the easiest way to make any situation romantic? LIGHT A CANDLE! And splurge for the pumpkin scents that are proven to stimulate romance!
AND YES I'm YELLING THIS! Get with the program BOYSSSSSSS and girls (but mostly boys). 'Tis the season of chivalry, hand over that jacket!

5. Nature Shows its True Colors

Instagram is exploding with beautiful earth tones, sunsets, and sunrises! Who doesn’t love “Roygbiv?” (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet)

 

6. Holiday Season –Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas

Family & Friends time! Pour on the love! You know all our faults and you don't necessarily agree with the path we chose, but you love us still and it means so much.☺

It's no secret, we all get a little more fun and a lot more goofy around family. Let us love and be extra merry this season!

7. It’s Relationship Weather –More Cuddling, More Crushing

Besides Love, a crush is pretty much the best feeling in the universe!

Having someone to think about. To fill that empty seat. Thinking of them in their absence. Placing them next to you at future events. Telling yourself stories about them. Filling in the gaps of your knowledge of them. A special motivation to carry you through the day, week, year, lifetime. Someone to dream about. Dreams allow us to live out our perfect fantasies. Dream, baby, dream! 

But stop comparing your relationships to your first love. New relationships will never be like that first love feeling, because you will never allow someone to treat you like that again. Be at peace and be present this season. Live in the moment, live in your current relationships and they will flourish!

8. Yoga Pants Season

Easy to put on, easy to take off, easy to look at.

And I think Kanye says it best, “She got that a$s, I got to look, sorrrrrrray!!”

 

9. Kites In The Wind

The freedom of the sky, the floating possibilities that surround us like leaves in the wind. Kites will keep your chin up, and keep you looking in the right direction. If you do get the Flu this season it will definitely not be because you were flying your kite in the blistering cold, windy weather. 

It's not the cold weather that makes the trees loose their leaves. It's the lack of sun. Which could explain why some people lose their leaves or go crazy from being a hermit in the winter months. It's important to go outside, be an animal!

10. Reflection

These cold months are quieter times. The early darkness takes pressure off the day. I sleep harder, and dream better. And I reflect more. My mind almost furiously makes up for my lack of physical exertion. I reflect on myself, my relationships, my past, and my future. I find it more difficult to be present in the moment as my cold body draws attention inward.

Reflection is never bad. If you don’t like what you see, you have the magical gift of time and the freedom to choose to change. If you like what you see, you can stare back at it and smile or pat yourself on the back and eat a low-carb, gluten-free, vegan, organic, no GMO, guilt-free cookie!

And everyone loves surprises so as a bonus
11. Scarves are finally weather appropriate! 

Hipsters everywhere rejoice!

If you do happen to get the flu this season, remember all these reasons why this season is actually awesome. And enjoy a garlic, ginger, cayenne "Be Gone" shot from your local Whole Foods store to cure that nasty cold.  


All Photos used were taken by the author follow her on Instagram @CinematicEscape

Dating Ain't Easy

The Game has changed. We’re on the precipice of a new era of dating. Infinite distractions compete for our attention, less people are getting married and singles are struggling to master new tactics to stay relevant in the minds and lives of the opposite sex. The era of independence and individual success is among us. We’re living at a much faster pace than ever before. Convenience has spoiled us. Everyone is just a text, tweet, email away. When so many people are trying to advance an ego-based agenda –my company, my band, my script --this rise of independence may not be conducive for building meaningful, lasting relationships.
New Era

When did flowers, surprises, and romance go out of style? And what happened to throwing pebbles and declaring love from below a window sill. It all seemed much easier in black and white. These days if they don't respond within 5 minutes of a text they're clearly not interested and it's on to the next! Dating Ain't Easy or perhaps, is dating is too easy? When was the last time you put a lot of effort in trying to court someone? And why has our vocabulary become so explicit and spoken without caution or care? If it wouldn't make your grandma smile, don't say it to me! Too often we say too much and do too little. We have the latest and greatest technology and tools that oversimplifies the very complicated process of dating and getting to know someone.                                  

                                          Agenda

Dating is difficult because not only do you need to find someone you like, but their agenda has to be similar to yours. Success criteria: Lay out objectives. Are they just dating and exploring what's out there? Or are they open to a relationship? Do they some day want to marry and have children or do they have their mind set on traveling the world with their dog?

Making plans

If you actually call me, and you actually pick me up, and we actually go out ...then that sounds great! Convenience is huge and if the distance apart is more than 30 minutes ...forget about it. I barely see my friends if they don’t live within 10 miles of me and even that’s a stretch.

Love
Love is easy in the way that once you know it, it's easy to give yourself to it. But it's hard in the way that we let our imperfections get in the way.

Butterflies

Nothing compares to having that tingly, fluttery, butterfly feeling for someone. Once felt, I try to purse the lips of my potential suitor and prevent them from saying anything that may ruin the fairy tale I've created where no deal breakers exist and everything they say and do is exactly what I've been searching for.

They are perfect! They like me. I like them. It's warm when we cuddle. And in their absence I think of them still.

But then we start talking.

They have cats. I'm allergic.

They are gluten-free. I love pizza.

Kids are their worst nightmare. I've already named my firstborn.

They're agnostic. I go to church every Sunday.

They've been intimate with over 50 people or "around there." HUH?! 
They lack enthusiasm. I appreciate the small things. And once again the curtain closes.

Shhhhh.... don't speak!

If we just skipped the getting-to-know-each-other part this would last a lot longer.

Serving up disappointments hot!

Put Your Pride Down

Accept the challenge of being childlike and cry instead of turning your emotions off. Don't be afraid to look weak and vulnerable, it’s important to be open to the idea of finding happiness or ...you won’t. When I was younger, I saw possibilities instead of probabilities and magic existed. I was open to things and I want to feel that way again, we all do, but it takes practice. It takes growth in your mental state and it's difficult, challenging, and can end in embarrassment. It’s about putting your pride down and allowing curiosity to spark an adventure. Love is giving someone the power to destroy you, and trusting them not to. Life is about memories and if you get the chance to make some you gotta drop your pride, and see the worth in accepting an almost certain test of mental and emotional strength. Pride is mostly an internal debate that appears unclear/confusing on the outside to others who cannot see this internal struggle. And what others say about you matters a lot more than what you say about you so don’t trip over something others can’t even see.

Dating

Some people will always be looking for the next best thing. I look at any relationship as an opportunity for growth. Everyone you meet knows something you don’t. There’s something to gain from everyone we date, whether that’s musical taste, a great film, or a good habit. Exploring life with others allows your world to widen just a bit and perhaps help you see things from a fresh perspective.

Great Expectations

I just want a boyfriend who makes me feel the way the sun does. Is that too much to ask?! I think love means different things at different times in our lives, but we're all looking for that sense of security, admiration, love, and dependency that we had for our parents when we were little. You may fall in love with someone because they are very attractive or because they spoil you like no one else has. But I think it's more about loving the choices that person makes on a daily basis, loving how they spend their time and money, and admiring their unique qualities that define them. You want someone to stimulate, challenge, motivate, and bring out the best you. Perhaps, even make you a better you. Even if you eventually have to manufacture what you want, you can find it. It’s not easy but it’s equally hard for all of us. So go ask that somebody on a date!

Friendship 
Too often people think they need to sleep with each other in order to feel connected. Why can't we just concentrate on the friendship first? The relationship is uncomfortable because both parties are insecure and worried that the moment anything goes wrong their love interest will run away. But if we focus on developing the friendship first we won't feel like we're stepping on eggshells around them.

Effort

No, I don't want to get coffee sometime! Take notice of what they like before approaching them and put some effort in planning a date they can't say no to. Or ask them in any other means than a text, facebook message, email, call. We might be surprised at the benefits of adopting the ways of our ancestors or favorite old movie.  

With a little effort, I think it can all be cinematic. Challenging, wondrous, but, a gift, no less.