LAURA JOHNSON
A&E Assistant
Editor’s Note: This is the last of a seven-part series featuring fun, out-of-the-ordinary activities to do each day of the week. It is the perfect guide for those who find themselves searching for new ways to spend their nights.
God knew Mondays could be particularly nasty, so he invented Sunday. It is that glorious day when many go to church, some sleep until noon and others just catch up on that pesky homework “accidentally” forgotten on Friday and Saturday.
Sometimes though, being studious is just not the answer on a beautiful California Sunday. The following are places to aid in the art of procrastination.
House of Blues
Sunday Gospel Brunch
Anaheim and Sunset Strip
hob.com
When it comes to worshiping the Lord, it really is to each his own. However, sometimes the traditional way of doing things just is not enough. But the House of Blues Gospel Brunch promises to be that different kind of experience one is seeking.
“It depends on the crowd,” said Pete Williams, a sales representative for HOB. “But for the most part people always get out of their seats and dance around to the music.”
According to the Web site, the award-winning Gospel Brunch at House of Blues Anaheim as well as its Sunset Strip location is a one-of-a-kind live music show and dining experience.
“There is nothing like it,” Williams said. “It is a concert and a worship service in one. It’s whatever a person’s outlook on the whole thing is.”
For $33 to $40 a ticket depending on the venue, guests enjoy a two-hour show full of delicious all-you-can-eat southern style buffet that features breakfast favorites plus a host of southern specialties.
Every Sunday local gospel groups, such as Firm Foundation, the Mighty Revelations and Sons of Christ, perform live on the House of Blues stage. The music is uplifting, energetic and guaranteed to get the crowd standing on their feet. So pass the biscuits and praise God, because Jesus is in the building.
Sunday Supper at Dominick’s
8715 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood
dominicksrestaurant.com
Perfect for taking relatives or friends who might as well be family, this Sunday supper is perfect for cozy get-togethers, or that weekend mom decides to drop in for a visit.
At only $15 for a three-course meal, Dominick’s offers low prices for those with even the greatest of appetites.
General Manager Lawrence Rudolph described Dominick’s as having a “homey feel” and said that the restaurant is “incredibly comfortable.”
“It has this sense of familiarity that’s almost East Coast,” he said. “Although the first time one goes there it will be an experience, it somehow also feels like maybe you’ve been there a thousand times before.”
With a walled-garden patio and an interior featuring white-tiled floors and large over-stuffed red booths, the atmosphere exudes comfort.
Dominick’s Italian restaurant menu favorite’s include meatballs, chicken Marsala, hanger steak and its famous grilled artichoke, which is so good it does not even need dipping sauce on the side.
Getting reservations early is highly recommended for this evening, but well worth the advance effort. For reservations call (310) 652-2335 after 3 p.m.
Saddle Ranch Chop House
at Universal CityWalk
1000 Universal Studios Blvd.
srrestaurants.com/locations-univ.htm
There are not too many places where people can roast s’mores and ride a bull at the same time. But at Saddle Ranch this is all possible, thanks to a mechanical bull and fire pits, conveniently located outside for the use of roasting marshmallows slowly over a blaze. A bull riding contest is held from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. for those who want to prove how great they truly are at riding. Winners are rewarded based on how long a person stays on and how loud the audience cheers, and these skilled riders receive cash prizes and the title of “Best on the Bull” for the night.
Boasting extreme country flair, Saddle Ranch offers up what is sure to be a unique Sunday evening experience. So round up a wagon load of friends for a cheering section and come on down to grab the bull by its horns.
L.A. Philharmonic
Sunday Concert Series
Walt Disney Concert Hall
111 South Grand Ave.,
Los Angeles
wdch.laphil.com
Classical music: for some the perfect remedy for being unable to fall asleep, yet to others it is music that transcends the power to move the very psyche of one’s being.
This year, the Philharmonic has sprawled a few key matinee concerts throughout the season. Choice tickets range from $33 to $135 depending on how close to the action one wants to be.
Q&A sessions with the guest artists and even free refreshments after the concert are offered with some of the shows. Special guests include Joshua Bell and Jean-Yves Thibaudet.
It is no accident that the word “class” is in “classical,” and the Walt Disney Concert Hall’s chic design complements the music within its walls.
Located in a beautiful area of the city, walking around the venue before or after the concert simply enjoying the satisfaction of someone’s company would be a wonderful prelude to an already enticing evening.
“Beat It” at
The Ruby
7070 Hollywood Blvd.,
Los Angeles (323) 467-7070
Sundays at the Ruby, Michael Jackson tunes pump through the club, the music of the 80s being the beating force that drives the night’s festivities. The Web site hilariously describes the club as one that plays music from that magical era when the King of Pop was black.
Though it is located in downtown Hollywood where most clubs are 21 and over, anyone over the age of 18 can come and groove to the tunes from a few decades past.
The dancing begins at 10 p.m. but the eats actually begin at noon when the dining room opens. So get there early to have time to chow down before getting down to the nostalgic hit, “Thriller,” and Madonna’s “Material Girl.”
The cover charge for the night of 80s flashbacks costs $15.
However one chooses to spend the day of rest, it is sure to be a Sunday night to remember. And as long as one does not have an 8 a.m. class the next morning, it could be all right to party until the break of day.
03-29-2007