fejsez[dot]com » Orange County

OC Metblogs-Amateur Night Tips- Part 1- St Patricks Day

FEJ — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:57:53 +0000

Good News!

FEJ — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:38:46 +0000

I was accepted as an author for OC Metblogs.
I am excited to be able to write about things here in orange county that may bee seen on a broader basis.
I will still be writing here on a more personable level and with things that do not pertain to Orange County.
Just wanted to share!

Cancer Star by Carl’s Jr.

FEJ — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:33:13 +0000

Cancer Star by Carl’s Jr., originally uploaded by FEJSEZ.

Potentially, so says the sign pictured above. It is on the drive
through also. Chemicals in both food and drinks! Katie and I have
stopped eating there and won’t even get sodas there until we
investigate and find out why they have to post this. This perticular
Carl’s Jr is at Sand Canyon and Irvine Center in Irvine. I have seen
the sign at others around Orange County.

Landmark gone?

FEJ — Wed, 21 May 2008 23:28:16 +0000

As Katie and I drove up Harbor Blvd from 19th Street in Costa Mesa, I noticed that the Pasta Connection was gone. It was quite a shock for me and I did notice a “for lease” sign on the fence around the location. Many may recognize the photo below from their sign:

According to an article in the Daily Pilot , the owners would

“would like to reopen in the same spot as soon as the landlord, the Murrell Co., is finished with the new building. The landlord, though, is asking for higher rent than the property’s previous owner, and Pasta Connection has yet to reach a deal. “

It also looks that they would like to keep a location in Costa Mesa, but depending the costs, that is yet to be seen. I personally will miss the original location and my favorite the #35 (the Pasta Connection Speciale). The little house feel was quaint and had a personable feel. Usually when a big renovation like this happens the new place looks sterile and homogenized. It is hard to recreate the kitchen/ dining room feel the original restaurant had.
If the Pasta Connection can’t make a deal for the original location, I do hope they find a secondary spot that has as much atmosphere as the original.

Sore

FEJ — Sun, 18 May 2008 14:50:23 +0000

As mentioned a couple days ago, I rode my bike to work and much further. It was a personal best and a big accomplishment for me. Yesterday I rode to and from work. I was sore from the previous ride but still did it (although I did have to walk the last couple hundred yards of the steep hill both ways). Today my body is trying to get me to stop. It would be much easier if I drove, but then I will find another reason to not ride next time. I am ok if I have to walk part of the hills. I am saving gas, not polluting with car exhaust, and getting into shape. If all else fails, I do have the bus to fall back on. (they have bike racks.)

I have noticed the bike lanes are really dirty along Moulton/ Irvine Center and the condition of Moulton between El Toro and Ridge Route is horrible. I need to write the county about the maintenance. It is interesting the things one sees when they change their perspective.

Breakfast is digested, off to work. Wish me luck.

Bike to work day

FEJ — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:36:22 +0000

Today is bike to work day. Since I didn’t have to work it was the perfect day to see how long it would take me to get there. It only took me about 40 minutes. Not bad. I plan to do that more often once I get a bike lock. (and that should be tomorrow.
While I was out I stopped by Sand Canyon Cyclery where they hooked up with a water bottle cage and verified the seat was adjusted correctly. As I have mentioned before, this is a new bike and am just getting used to it and riding again. On the way to the cycle shop though, I did stop by my brothers work, Earthbound Media Group, to say Hi. I am so proud of him and the work I get to see him do. Our family is full of geeks and nerds. It’s great.
From there I rode down Laguna Canyon to home.
An exhilarating 17.7 mile trip.

Edited to add: Number of people I saw on bikes between 9 and 12 this morning = 3.
I don’t think OC wants to get rid of their cars.

Spectrum, damn near killed em

FEJ — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:06:14 +0000

It is no secret that I am not the biggest fan of these entertainment “destinations” and the big business consumerism mentality. Since my career currently makes me frequent one, I have noticed quite a few empty spaces at the Irvine Spectrum Center as of late. More vacancy’s at the same time than in the past two plus years I have worked there. I am not sure what the rent is there, but I suppose it is pretty high. It must take a lot of overhead to stay. There are some businesses that I am surprised that they stay, while other larger ones (Spencers Gifts, t-mobile) have left. I don’t know if it is a plan by the center to refresh the businesses by summertime, or if that many occupants just cant survive lately. The free space is allowing some of the existing tenants to remodel and move spaces. (Sketchers and Wetzels Pretzels)

The Spectrum center has also added space for a few shops by the Edwards Cinema, some of which I find odd choices in the loyalty department. This goes to two of the original tenants Gary’s Island and Johnny Rockets. Right next to Gary’s Island they opened a Tommy Bahama’s and They are opening a Ruby’s Diner right outside the entrance to the theater. Johnny Rocket’s used to have the line-of-site opportunity out of the theaters, and then the construction blocked that. It looks as if Johnny Rocket’s is moving to the former Tea Station location, which is closer to the carrousel. In one way this is good, as it puts it right by Chipotle and Panda Express, with visibility right out of the parking structure, but on the other hand it seems like a snub.

I understand that the Spectrum is a business, and the new names bring in more business, but on the outside things looked wonky. I don’t know what behind the scenes deals went on, like a prime location for Johnny Rockets, so I may be completely wrong in my observations.