Ordering a Dodger Dog is a ritual. Customers queue up in one of two lines—one for grilled dogs and the other for classic steamed. They inch ever closer to the counter where stadium workers dole out foot-long franks that stretch far beyond the confines of steamed buns. Finally they head over to the condiment stations to load up on mustard, ketchup, chopped onions, or relish.
Dodger stadium’s divide-and-conquer approach is the product of years of experience. Many estimate that the millions of Dodger Dogs sold each baseball season outrank sales of any other frank in the league. But once foodies have had their fill of the gargantuan Dodger dogs at the stadium, or even purchased at local markets, they’ve only just begun exploring the diverse hot-dog scene in Los Angeles.
Take the Korean-style franks of Seoul Sausage Co.. They’re a bit harder to track down than a ballpark frank. Without a food truck or retail space to call home, these succulent, grilled delicacies crop up at street fairs and catered events all over LA, where their inventive cooks offer up a kalbi-flavored sausage topped with tangy kimchi relish, and a spicy pork sausage crowned with apple-cabbage slaw.
For a taste of the increasingly hard to find LA street dog, enthusiasts can hunt them down at Skooby’s, where decadently bacon-wrapped franks nestle into fresh buns delivered by a local bakery.
Perhaps the crowning glory of LA’s hot-dog inner circle is the chilidog, which local favorite The Hat has been slinging since 1951. Pink’s, on La Brea and Melrose since 1939, is now practically a regular set piece on TV shows and movies set in LA for its addictive dogs and cheerful, familiar sign. Their ode to the chilidog is a love letter to its loyal patrons written with all-beef franks slathered in chili, mustard, and onions.
Elsewhere in the city, more progressive—even avant-garde—culinary sensibilities shape the future of the humble hot dog. At Let’s Be Frank, nitrate- and hormone-free dogs are made fresh from grass-fed beef and layered with toppings and veggies sourced from local farms. At The Stand, diners can customize their low-fat turkey dogs or chicken-apple sausage with quintessentially Californian toppings including avocado and corn salsa. At Vicious Dogs, the whimsical 8-bit-inspired art of cook Stacey Hughes colors the walls. The eatery’s Thanksgiving turkey dogs arrive smothered in all the trimmings—stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce. Adventurous patrons can even go off the menu and try their hand at topping Stacey by building their own creations, including Latin-inspired, deep-fried doggie flautas.
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A sleek white Ferrari purrs in the parking lot, and suddenly the opaque window rolls down to reveal Kim Kardashian behind the wheel, beaming with joy at her new custom-tinted windows. Fresh Window Tint?s owners smile, knowing they have satisfied yet another customer. Since the first location opened in 1990, the automotive empire has expanded to include three locations, each of which cares for clients personally with custom window tinting and other services.
Using only premium products with at least a 20-year history, which includes Llumar protective window tint, insured technicians wrap windowpanes to reduce heat, solar glare, and up to 99.9% of UV rays. They also protect cars? bodies with vinyl vehicle wrap or enhance headlights with 3M products. Like wallpaper made from dictionary pages, tinted windows are also stylish and practical for residences and businesses, allowing owners to save up to 40% on energy costs. Customers who live in the Santa Clarita/Valencia area may take advantage of Fresh Window Tint's pickup and drop-off service. Customers visiting from farther-flung locations can relax on the lounge?s plush leather sofas, enjoy snacks and beverages, and watch TV while their cars are being armored against heat and the blinding glare reflected off glass-bottom airplanes.
3209 E Thousand Oaks Blvd.
Thousand Oaks,
CA
US
Dermatology and Laser Medical Center's Alex Khadavi knows so much about skincare, he's a go-to expert for both celebrities and day-to-day patients. The board-certified dermatologist and industry innovator founded Advanced Skin and Hair, a company that uses years of clinical research to develop products for hair loss, acne, and signs of aging. Using his expertise in the area of blemish abolishment, Dr. Khadavi helped a friend of Tori Spelling get rid of acne before her big day on an episode of the Oxygen network's Tori & Dean: sTORIbook Weddings. He used his Clearogen protocol to assist a self-conscious teen with her severe acne on an episode of The Tyra Show, and appeared on Extra to promote his natural Revivogen formula, which is designed to reverse hair loss caused by genetics or sandpaper pillowcases.
Dr. Khadavi is also the center's chief cosmetic surgeon and specializes in medical procedures, such as Mohs micrographic surgery for skin cancer. He's written numerous magazine articles on cosmetic treatments, and is a national trainer for Botox, Juv?derm, Restylane, and advanced laser treatments.
415 Rolling Oaks Dr
Thousand Oaks,
CA
US
Dr. Michael McMurry puts teams of boot-campers or personal trainees through their paces as part of his insanely intricate body transformation system. With the help of a nutritionist and certified group fitness instructor, he helps clients beat back the usual obstacles that get between people and their exercise routine.
Each client leaps into the fitness fray with a personalized health assessment, cardiovascular screening exam, and measurements to pinpoint the most effective use of the ensuing six- or twelve-week program. Before the first personal training or bootcamp session starts, clients begin boosting healthy metabolism and cutting out extra calories with simple meal plans, recipes, and a detox diet that takes the guesswork out of going to the grocery store and helps avoid the temptations of travelling frosting salesmen.
Over the ensuing weeks, exercisers cycle rapidly through a dynamic interval training program designed by physicians that replaces reams of weight with lean muscle. A constantly changing roster of exercises, including cardio, plyometrics, and speed drills, keeps muscles on their toes to burn more fat than the first bacon grease-powered locomotive.
650 Hampshire Rd
Westlake Village,
CA
US
It started as a simple idea shared by two moms. Karen Bain and Lisa Kudrika wanted to make their favorite dessert, shave ice, ?hip and trendy,? according to 805 Living magazine. So when they opened Shave It?which recently celebrated the grand opening of its new Tarzana location?they made sure to express their sense of style with chic interior design inspired by water, ice, and snow. Inside the shop, blue plexiglass hangs like icicles over steel tables and chairs. Flat-screen TVs broadcast shots of surfers and snowboarders, and a colorful floor changes design with every step.
Each cup of fluffy shave ice comes drenched with fruity ?flavas? flown in from Hawaii, such as mango, guava, or green tea, or a combination, such as root beer ice over vanilla ice cream. Beyond the storefront, Shave It also purveys the frozen concoctions on the go, thanks to a mobile truck that is often spotted at beaches and parks, unless its cloaking device is turned on. They also donate a percentage of their sales to their foster-child foundation, Foster a Miracle.
11 East Hillcrest Drive
Thousand Oaks,
CA
US
SwimSpot brings high fashion poolside by amassing a collection of designer bikini and one-piece swimsuits by brands such as Athena, Guess, and Nautica. Each swimsuit and cover-up incorporates contemporary trends such as asymmetrical cuts or tropical colours to create stylish silhouettes, and a fit-specialist service provides body-shape searches and remote one-on-one discussions with experts to find a flattering suit for any shape. Lauded in the pages of People Style Watch, Lucky, and Seventeen, an online bikini builder enables the beach bound to build their own ensemble by mixing and matching tops and bottoms using a tool that yields more than 1,000 possible combinations. In addition to providing detailed descriptions and material breakdowns, each swimsuit offered in the online store is modeled in a video that offers a 360-degree view, allowing customers to get a better idea of what they’ll look like as they run into the surf or slowly back away from a sleeping bear.
350 W Hillcrest Dr
Thousand Oaks,
CA
US
A successful exercise regimen involves just as much inspiration as perspiration, according to the certified trainers who helm motivFit. Their fitness and nutrition programs don't just teach participants to count and burn calories; they jump-start lives by pairing goal-focused coaching with group accountability. Designed with both fun and safety in mind, challenging outdoor workouts empower participants to make exercise a part of their daily routine. Aerobics and trail runs torch calories instantly, and weightlifting and resistance training rally the metabolism by building lean muscle mass. Group activities such as relay races build camaraderie, transforming participants into teams that motivate one another. The workouts can be tailored to any fitness level, allowing new exercisers and elite athletes to train side by side. As pounds and inches melt away, confidence grows and self-esteem blooms as boldly as a tulip watered with Buzz Aldrin's joyful tears. Nutrition resources such as recipes and meal plans complement the workouts, helping participants forge healthy lifestyles for the long haul.
950 Ventu Park Road
Thousand Oaks,
CA
US
