Sadly, it seemed like my weekend had a few circles in them.  Friday night, I went out to meet up with some old friends (and also ended up making some new ones) at Birds, a bar up in Hollywood… Little did I know that the bar was next door to the place I was slated to go on Saturday night. 

Saturday morning, I went with a few friends out to Monterey Park for dim sum since Empress Pavilion in Chinatown was shut down (thanks for the heads up, Chowhound!) and then we returned to the city to wander around Chinatown before taking an almost-3-mile hike to the top of Mount Lee.  If you live in L.A., Mount Lee is where the Hollywood sign is, and we went all the way up to the antenna farm behind the sign.  It’s the closest you can get to the Hollywood sign without trespassing, and it’s pretty neat — you’re actually up behind and above the sign, and the views of the L.A. basin on one side and the Valley on the other are pretty spectacular.  It’s one of those things that I never thought about doing, despite having lived here in L.A. for six years now, and I’m thankful my friends dragged me up there, especially since I can see the Hollywood sign and the antennae from my desk at work… and now I can point out the window and say, “Hey, I’ve been there!” Word to the wise if you plan on doing the hike, though:  Wear shoes that have good support.  The road up there is a paved access road (though you can’t drive it), but the incline is kind of steep in some parts, and my calves and shins weren’t too eager about the experience.  After a quick dinner at Cafe 101, it was over to the Upright Citizens Brigade theater for some improv — which was right next to Birds.

Sunday was another loop:  Up to the Camarillo outlets and back, where I blitzed through the place in just over two hours.  I think my credit card was smoking by the time I left.  And then today was a loop up to Valencia and back (or, as one of my friends calls it, “Val-effing-encia,” thanks to the distance) to have my taxes done.  I got over $1,000 back last year, so I’m hoping to score a big refund this year as well.  Big money big money no whammy!

I’m already starting to think ahead to my next loop — in a little over 2 weeks, I’m heading up to Toronto for their huge annual music and radio industry convention, and I’ve been asked to not only moderate another panel this year, but also appear on one.  Plus, it’ll be a chance to catch up with my Canuck friends and make fun of them for their extra u’s and their metric system, and then they can get me drunk on their superpowered beer and ask me what I think about Canada to hear the drunken American yell out “I LOVE CANADA!” Because, really, when you’re lit up on Molson XXX, how else can you respond?