Bi-Annual Car Review

Every six months, I take inventory of all the different cars I've driven on all the various road trips I've taken. Included in this bi-annual recap are the following cars:

- 2010 Ford Mustang GT

- 2010 Chevy HHR FlexFuel

- 2010 Toyota Camry

- 2010 Toyota Rav4

- 2010 Ford Fusion

- 2010 Nissan Versa

- 2010 Nissan Altima Hybrid

- 2009 Mazda 3 Sport

2010 Ford Mustang GT

Driven to Temecula, CA

Although it's pretty much a given, the Mustang boasts solid straight-away speed but suffers a bit on cornering. It's pretty much what is expected from American muscle cars. While the engine is a very responsive 210 horsepower outdated relic (as far as muscle cars go), the handling is still very nimble and the ride rather smooth. This car is a two-seater, even though there is technically a backseat (with very minimal leg room) and gets terrible gas mileage. The 150-mile trip to Temecula used up almost half the tank.

2010 Chevy HHR FlexFuel

Driven to Oxnard, CA

Surprisingly responsive and roomy, this cross-breed between old school Chevys and the modern re-designed PT Cruiser seats four or five comfortably. The leather seats are a nice touch, although the dashboard and the rest of the interior features are plastic. The best way I can describe the steering wheel is that it's fat. It fits your hand nicely. I didn't like the small windshield, the cramped front leg room, the elongated accelerator pedal or the rear view mirror that blocks part of the view looking toward the passenger side. The trunk space is very roomy. This is a mid-size car that feels like a full-size.

2010 Toyota Camry

Driven to Carlsbad, CA

Toyota gives you the basics with it's top two models, the Camry and Carolla. There was nothing really remarkable about this car. Good acceleration (although it did have a few moments where the transmission couldn't decide what gear it wanted to be in) decent leg room, deep trunk, automatic-lighting headlights. A plain ole car.

2010 Toyota Rav4

Driven to Pacific Palisades, CA

For some odd reason, Hertz classifies this car as a full-size vehicle, not a CBV (cross-breed vehicle) and as a result, you score a substantial discount on the rental price. The Rav4 is very roomy, very powerful (for its class) and a fun drive. The handling is very agile (didn't have to three-point turn where other cars would have required it) and the trunk is spacious.

2010 Ford Fusion

Driven to La Habra and Fullerton, CA

The best way I can describe the Ford Fusion is to think of the Toyota Carolla and then add a bunch of muscle and extra features to it. And a bulky key. I hate the new Ford keys! Ford must have stock in various plastic manufacturing companies cuz the interior of this car (and the Mustang) are heavy on plastic components. Even a portion of the steering wheel is made of plastic! But once you get past the plastic euphoria, the car drives really well. Good power, god handling. It almost feels like you're driving a cop car, minus the crazy horsepower. And shotgun.

2010 Nissan Versa

Driven to Phoenix, AZ

This car is one hell of a trooper. I'm not just saying that cuz it survived a one day out-and-back trip to Phoenix from L.A. but is pumps out a surprising amount of horsepower and handles really well. The ride is really smooth and the fuel economy is very impressive. The furthest I made it was almost 375 miles before having to fuel back up. Granted, that was all highway driving, but still a really cool compact car.

2010 Nissan Altima Hybrid

Driven to Huntington Beach, CA

Really didn't like this car. It requires a three-step process just to start the car. Insert the magnetic key into a slot toward the bottom of the dash, then step on the brake, wait five seconds, then push the ON button to start. At first, I didn't really mind it, but after making multiple stops, it became really annoying. Being a hybrid, this version of the Altima isn't going to have the same amount of power as its gas combustion counterpart, but I wasn't expecting such a significant drop-off in performance. And maybe it was just my car, but I kept smelling an odd burnt plastic-type smell. And yes, I was driving a brand new car (800-ish miles on the odometer.)

2010 Mazda 3 Sport

Driven to Costa Mesa, CA

Really liked this car. Nice acceleration, great handling, good fuel economy. Roomy too for a mid-size. It took some time to get used to the T-style steering wheel as I'm used to the X-style steering wheel of the Civic, but nit-picking aside, a fun car to drive. Zoom, zoom indeed.

Strawberry Festival Recap

Strawberry nachos. Strawberry popcorn. Needless to say these aren't your run of the mill foods. But for one weekend in mid-May, the central California city of Oxnard hosts its annual Strawberry Festival. The two day event tempts visitors from around the world with treats like strawberry pizza and the now ubiquitous deep-fried Twinkie... with strawberries.


There are two ways to get to the festival, via the 101 North or the more scenic coastal route of Hwy 1, assuming you're starting in Southern California. The 101 North is a pretty no-nonsense hour-long drive through the San Fernando Valley and the expansive farmlands of Central California. Hwy 1 takes a bit longer, especially getting through Santa Monica and Malibu, but once those suburban obstacles are cleared, it's a pretty clear and curvy shot to Oxnard.


The scenic route headed to Oxnard, CA

The entrance fee for the festival was $12, but more importantly, the food:

- Strawberry Nachos - I had nursed a large bottle of water the entire morning and into the early afternoon, so I was very hungry. Strawberry Nachos ($5) consisted of fried triangles of dough with strawberries and whipped cream. It was by far the most amazing thing I have eaten in quite some time.

The strawberry nachos were amazing!!

- Strawberry Pizza - While the name suggested something sweet and tempting, the actual product was far from it. For $5, I was served a slice of bland dough with a coating of plain yogurt and mashed strawberries on top. A dollop of whipped cream was added as if to make up for how lousy this dish tasted.

This vile and disgusting concoction was called strawberry pizza.

- Strawberry Lemonade - The lemonade overpowered the faint strawberry flavor in this $3 per cup concoction. I ended up drinking only half and dumping the rest.

- Chocolate-dipped Strawberries - A must-have at this festival, these jumbo strawberries were well worth the 3-for-$5 price. Juicy, sweet and a touch of chocolate. Perfect.

A must-have treat at this festival - chocolate-dipped srawberries.

- Funnel cake with Strawberries - The line was too long. And not moving. So no funnel cake for me.

- Strawberry Smoothie - This $2.50 drink was a combination of blended strawberries and Tampico orange juice. And mighty potent. The strawberry flavor was VERY strong.

- Strawberry Popcorn - Again, a long, non-moving line. Plus, it was $5 for a tiny bag.

Other treats included champagne with a strawberry, tostadas with guacamole and strawberry topping and the equally revolting mixture of strawberry beer. Traditional foods ranging from BBQ chicken to hot dogs and garlic fries were also available.

A myriad of food choices, once you make it through the crowd.

The festival also features a games area with a small Ferris wheel and a bumper car-like ride. An entire section was dedicated to various arts and crafts as well. Vendors sold candles, paintings, clothing and various knick-knacks.

Two stages also featured a string of tribute bands honoring Elvis, The Beatles, Springsteen, Johnny Cash and even Journey along with some original acts.

My 3-pack of fresh Oxnard strawberries... that took three days to finish.

The drive back took some time, thanks to a car accident in the one-lane area of Malibu. But once home, I was able to enjoy my 3-pack of fresh Oxnard strawberries... which I finally managed to finish off today.

10 Cool Things Along the I-10 Freeway

Before I jump into this list, let me first say that this is a list of cool attractions along the California portion of the I-10, which begins in Santa Monica and jumps the border into Arizona and continues eastward to Jacksonville, Florida.

1. Santa Monica beach – OK, yeah, it may see a bit obvious, but if you’re going to start at the beach, you might as well take the time to enjoy it. Granted, you can always detour and stroll through The Promenade or the Venice Boardwalk. Or grab a bite at the high-end James Beach on Venice Blvd. or Cha Cha Chicken on Ocean Ave. Back on the Beach Café on Entrada Drive is also worth a stop. (Food recommendations – fish tacos @ James Beach, jerk chicken enchiladas @ Cha Cha’s and Fred’s Salad @ Back on the Beach) Or, just take in the sunset. Just make sure you shake the sand out of your pockets before you hop in the car.

2. Giant Dinosaurs! – Near Cabazon, you’ll see a pair of giant dinosaurs made famous in the movie, “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure.” The massive concrete structures are free to the public and include a gift shop, museum and a science center.

3. Joshua Tree National Park – At first glance, it may seem like a barren, boring landscape with limited vegetation, some cacti and a few towering mountains. But this park offers a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, climbing and horseback riding. ATV riding and dirt biking are prohibited.

4. Morongo Casino and Resort – The AAA Four-Diamond Award-winning casino/resort/hotel springs out of the hilly wilderness in the form of an off-white tower of temptation. Stop in, grab a bite at one of the seven restaurants, play some slots, poker or blackjack or even shack up for the night in a room. On-site spa, pool, concerts and clubs offer plenty of socializing opportunities.

5. Downtown L.A. – Since the traffic is often slow and congested in this part of the highway, you might as well detour to an off-ramp and check out the sights of Downtown Los Angeles. Non-event parking can range from $3 to $10 depending on where you park. Most of downtown is walk-able but there are plenty of taxis parked in front of the Convention Center off Figueroa St. Downtown is divided into five sections – the South Park area featuring the Convention Center, Staples Center and L.A. Live; the financial/business district which doesn’t really hold much touristy fascination; the Jewelry District along 6th St, the Flower and Garment Districts along 8th St. and finally the Warehouse District, which, again, I don’t know why you would want to visit. Smaller Asian communities surround the downtown area; Koreatown to the west, Chinatown to the northeast and Little Tokyo to the east. And of course, historic Olvera Street sandwiched between Chinatown and Little Tokyo.

6. Shield’s Date Farm – No this isn’t some new high-tech organic farm for the desperate and lonely in Indio. We’re talking about dates as in the nuts. Granted human dates can be crazy, you’ll be in heaven as you taste a freshly made Date Shake composed of ice cream and freshly picked date nuts. Let me move on before I get into anymore trouble.

7. East L.A. restaurants – Certainly East L.A. isn’t high on anybody’s vacation lists but the area boasts some of the best Mexican and Latin restaurants. Recommendations include El Tepeyac Café, Ciros, King Taco, La Parrilla and La Mascota Bakery. So what do you get when you go to these places? Huge, messy burritos are a trademark of El Tepeyac and none taste better than the Hollenbeck Burrito. One burrito feeds two… or one VERY hungry person. At Ciros, it’s all about the guacamole salsa and flautas while, despite its name, King Taco offers really good sopes. Skip the tiny, skimpy tacos and go for the Chile de Tomatillo sope. At La Parrilla, handmade tortillas are the big draw. While melted cheese on a handmade tortilla is appetizing enough, try the carne asada as well. Finally, La Mascota is the place for some tasty tamales.

8. Desert Hills Premium Outlets – Located in Cabazon, this sprawling outlet center has been routinely called the best designer outlet center in the state. Gucci, Coach, Armani, Nike and Yves Saint Laurent are some of the brand names among the 130 shops there. There’s also a food court, although the food isn’t all that spectacular. The croissants aren’t bad. Between this outlet center and Morongo, Cabazon is quite a money pit!

9. Palm Springs – Although technically not directly off the 10 (take the 111 South), the desert oasis is a recommended spring and fall time stop. If you’re brave enough, you can score some discounts on hotels during the blistering summer season. There are plenty of tours, ritzy restaurants and museums, but one of the more off-beat and consequently memorable attractions is something called, "The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies." This mixed bag of performance includes songs from the 40’s thru the 60’s as well as Vaudeville acts and guest performers.

10. Colorado River – Granted you can’t pull off to the side and snap pictures of the river as it runs along the California-Arizona border, but for a brief few seconds, you’ll get a slight thrill of driving over one of the most famous rivers in the U.S…. and hoping the desert gusts don’t blow your car into it.

I’m sure I’ve missed a few places and attractions along the ride, but that’s where you get to come in. Post your favorite places along this interstate highway. Restaurants, museums, odd-ball attractions, pretty much anything is fair game.

SoCal Cherry Blossom(less) Festival

It is perhaps one of the most ironic festivals in L.A.; a cherry blossom festival without any cherry blossoms. The annual event celebrating Japanese and Hawaiian culture takes place in Little Tokyo every April and features a variety of performances and vendors.

This year’s festival, administered under the guidance of the Pasadena Arts Council, honored Don Nakanishi Ph.D, Director and Professor Emeritus of Asian American Studies at UCLA with the George Kiriyama Educational Excellence Award. Other education awards were handed out to Southern California area teachers making a difference in their communities and school. The award ceremony was emceed by NBC’s Ted Chen.

But this festival is more than an awards ceremony. Singer/actress Gina Hiraizumi kicked off the festival with the National Anthem, followed by a traditional breaking of the sake barrel by distinguished guests, including Counsel General of Japan Junichi Ihara, Senator Daniel Inouye and Councilwoman Jan Perry.

Gina Hiraizumi poses for a picture with Miss Kimono L.A.

The festival is divided into various sections. The main stage featured performances by a ukelele orchestra, a kimono fashion show, a “Most Photogenic Dog” competition and two performances by Hiraizumi and her band.

Gina Hirazumi performs with her band and special guest Shaun Shimizu.

The Hawaiian section featured a series of hula dancers and Hawaiian musicans. On the J-Pop Stage, there was a cosplay competition (Japanese anime costume) and various anime cover bands. Along 1st Street and in a backlot adjacent to the J-Pop Stage, more than 100 vendors sold goods ranging from food to Japanese knick-knacks. And at the Martial Arts Stage, well, I think you can figure that one out for yourself.

Pamela Moss belts out a tune on the J-Pop Stage with her band Makenai.

Lane Nishikawa’s independent film, “Only the Brave,” screened at the East West Players Theater on San Pedro St. The harrowing tale of the 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team’s rescue of the 141st Texas Regiment won critical and audience praise throughout the festival. Screening attendees were given a special DVD offer and co-star Hiraizumi offered autographed copies of her swimsuit calendar with the purchase. The movie also stars Tamlyn Tomita, Jason Lee Scott and Pat Morita.

So despite the absence of cherry blossoms, the annual event (a precursor, if you will, to the larger Nisei Week events in August) was well received and a definite must-see attraction.

L.A. to Phoenix

If you're ever going to make the 400-mile transition from the urban sprawl of Los Angeles to the desert city of Phoenix, spring is the perfect season to do it. With temperatures hovering in the 70's and a warm desert breeze blowing across the landscape, it is a very comfortable drive. Speeding thru the Mojave Desert, wildflowers line the highway as a sort of yellow-flower road, guiding you to the Valley of the Sun, Phoenix's unofficial nickname.

Our journey begins in L.A. and ninety minutes later, arriving at the first pit stop, Indio, CA. The area around the I-10 freeway that exits to Indio is filled with major brand name stores and fast food restaurants. Be sure to stop in the giant Super Target there. It's everything Wal-Mart wished it could look like.

Back on the road, the next pit stop is close to the California-Arizona border, in the small town of Blythe, CA. Be sure to stop at the Courtesy Coffee Shop off the Jackson St. exit and order the Patty Melt with fries and blue cheese dressing! The biscuits are HUGE! And if you're stopping in for breakfast, the pancakes are pretty good. You can't miss this place, with it's huge neon sign and two palm trees shooting thru the roof.

On the final 150 miles to Phoenix, the landscape gives way to flat, barren monotony. The only thing that will snap you back awake is the Photo Enforcement Zones as you enter Arizona. The speed-detecting radars are hooked up to a series of cameras (similar to the red-light traffic cameras) that line each side of the highway at half-mile intervals. If you go ten mph over the speed limit (65 in the photo area), the camera will flash and you will be greeted with an unwelcome speeding ticket in the mail within two to three weeks.

You could literally drive right thru Phoenix in about half an hour, but I exit at 7th St. and head into downtown. The speed limit drops to 25-30 mph in the downtown area and there are traffic signs posted all over the place. It can be a bit overwhelming and confusing. Parking prices range from free (on the street) to about $12 at the various parking garages.

As you make your way east on Jefferson St., one of the coolest things happens. Rounding the corner, a huge baseball stadium comes into view until you reach the signal and sit in awe at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, as it towers over you. The stadium features vintage baseball photos along the outer walk, a sports bar, a swimming pool and a really elegant lounge complete with a fireplace inside.

A few blocks away is America West Arena, home of the NBA's Phoenix Suns. This area is extremely congested with the parking structure literally piggy-backing the arena. Highly recommend parking away from here. Over on 9th St., is the Arizona State University campus, a modern looking campus with sandstone and brick walkways. As you make your way thru the campus, you can wander over to the Science and Heritage Park, where small restaurants and various museums welcome visitors.

My next stop is a small, but very popular pizzeria within Science and Heritage Park. Reservations are strongly suggested for Pizzeria Bianco, as the line grows steadily and the wait time can exceed two hours. A bar next door offers champagne, wines and a couple beers (recommend the Thunder Mountain Cream Ale). You can also order various appetizers while you wait.

Once inside the restaurant, the menu consists of two appetizers, three salads and six pizzas. Salad-wise, get the fresh mozzarella with tomato slices. The chef makes the mozzarella himself and it tastes absolutely awesome! But of course, the main event is the pizzas. There's the Marghertia, Marinara, Rosa, Sonny Boy, Biancoverde, Rosa and Wise Guy. There are various extras that can be added for toppings. The Sonny Boy is marinara, mozzarella salami and olives. It's strong and salty. The Marinana and Margherita are pretty good as well, but add the fennel sausage as a topping. The complete menu here.

The Rankings:

1.) Marinara (tomato, oregano, garlic) add fennel sausage

2.) Wise Guy ( Wood Roasted Onion, House Smoked Mozzarella, Fennel Sausage)

3.) Sonny Boy (Tomato Sauce, Fresh Mozzarella, Salami, Gaeta Olives)

4.) Margherita (Tomato Sauce, Fresh Mozzarella, Basil) add fennel sausage

5.) Rosa (Red Onion, Parmigiano Reggiano, Rosemary, AZ Pistachios)

6.) Biancoverde (Fresh Mozzarella, Parmigiano Reggiano, Ricotta, Arugula)

Sonny Boy pizza - salty with bite!

Stomach full, I had the option of staying the night, but car rental fees and hotel charges be damned, I needed to get my car (2010 Nissan Versa) back to L.A. After picking up some road snacks, it's back on the I-10, this time, heading west.

About the only positive of driving late at night, beside the lack of traffic, is the crystal clear desert sky. The stars shine so bright and the moon hovers majestically over the landscape. It took seven hours to drive back (thanks to the stupid speed traps) and when I arrived back in L.A., the early morning fog was enveloping the coast. Total mileage was just under 800 miles. Next time I go to Phoenix, I'm flying.

Phoenix Update

Just a quick update in case you're wondering where the Phoenix entry is. The original travel date was postponed due to rain and rescheduled to the following week, which was canceled again due to more rain. I have re-rescheduled the trip for March 20, the first day of spring. So far, no mention of rain that weekend.

L.A. to Phoenix Itinerary

Back at last from hiatus. This weekend, I will venture out on a 350 mile journey from L.A. to Phoenix and back in the same day. Below is the tentative schedule.

5:00 a.m. - Leave L.A.
6:45 a.m. - Arrive in Palm Springs
8:00 a.m. - Arrive in Blythe, CA and stop for breakfast
10:30 a.m. - Arrive in Phoenix, AZ

Once in Phoenix, I will be checking out the Arizona Japanese Matsuri (Festival) then checking out the Desert Botanical Gardens and perhaps hike up a few trails in Papago Park. After dinner, I will begin the long journey back to L.A.

6:00 p.m. - Depart from Phoenix, AZ
9:30 p.m. - Arrive in Indio, CA (although there will be a rest stop along the way, perhaps in Quartzsite, CA or Brenda, AZ)
Midnight-ish - Arrive back in L.A.

This will be a 10 hour drive, the second longest one-day drive I've ever done. The longest is L.A. to San Francisco and back in the same day (which I don't recommend, by the way). Full recap should be up by this time next week.