I try not to jump on the Times-bashing bandwagon too often -- I've got perfectly intelligent friends who work there, and besides, it's all we've got. But really, what could be more tired than the My Favorite Weekend feature? (Well, maybe the lowest-common denominator fast food review or the always-icky Getting Personal column, but I digress.) My Favorite Weekend is where, each week, we read about the tedious pursuits of some mid-level TV actor. They fall into three categories:
1) "I've got kids, we never leave the valley, we order in pizza, there's a deli in Tarzana or Northridge or somewhere where we hang out after bowling league." Definitely the worst.
2) "I'm an anorexic starlet, so I start my weekend with a no-cal smoothie followed by a three hour Bikram yoga class. I follow this with three successive hikes up and down Runyon Canyon, stop for a shot of wheatgrass juice and then sit on the patio at Urth without ordering anything." Pretty annoying.
3) The miscellaneous category -- usually either a rap star who rolls with his crew to Teddy's and Hyde, or a Scientologist Eastsider who hangs at Figaro and Alegria.
This week's victim must have fallen into the third category, because she liked to pick up deli food at "Jones on Third." Come on, people, Jake Gyllenhaal eats there like every five minutes -- how hard is it to spell Joan's on Third? Christy Carlson Romano admits to being fairly new to town (who else would admit to eating at Andre's Italian?), so she's got an excuse, but the Times copy editors have mostly been around forever.
Since no one in showbiz really has time to discover anywhere interesting anyway, maybe it's time to put this musty feature out of its misery.
9 comments:
That "Jones" thing bugged the crap out of me too-we must be separated at birth !
Is that what she meant? i thought this was some deli that just opened on Third Street that I hadn't heard of.
Speaking of stupid food comments, did you catch the reference to "Farsi restaurants" in the article about changes to the Beverly Hills ballot?
You are right on about the typical categories. However, I love that feature. It lets me know exactly which places to not frequent. It's also really funny to see the same places mentioned all the time.
The best thing though is when they have seven or so activities mentioned in all areas of LA County and you know they couldn't conceivably be able to travel between those locations in a single weekend.
hey, does anyone know what is going into the new building at the corner of hilhurst and franklin? where the gas station used to be...
Bank of America
I don't think you should talk when you order a Vietnamese broken rice dish and then complain about the rice being broken. Or order chicken knees and then complain about the tiny bit of meat, when you're supposed to eat the cartilage/tendon part. It's a matter of being informed and since you're a journalist, I would expect the least you can do is google for some info before complaining about a culture's food. So don't complain that someone else doesn't do their homework, when you don't do yours either.
Hi!
I so agree with you about "My Fave Weekend" feature! I used to read it to gather tips on new, exciting or different restaurants I haven't tried yet. I don't get around THAT much, but there is never a restaurant I haven't heard of in this column!
I thought it was endearing that Romano ate at Andre's. I actually had a good eggplant parmesean there recently! Sometimes, the food at the Farmers Market is so boring and overpriced. I just walked across the street to Andre's for a less expensive meal and was surprised at the quality and taste! I hadn't been there in over 30 years! I'll be going back this week.
Ellen, I actually thought it was endearing too that she ate at Andre's...all the grandmas would fall over if they knew who she was! And "Anonymous," above -- I didn't complain about broken rice, I just wasn't that familiar with it two years ago. And I don't care if you're supposed to eat the cartilage on chicken knees, I don't have to eat it if I don't feel like it. I guess I've got a blog hater, I must be in the big leagues now!
Great post!
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