From Whoville to Disneyland - Velkommen to Solvang! update p. 7

[whogirl'smom]

OMG...she looks too cute!

As for that Decker Canyon Road-it gave me flashes of the Road to Hana in Maui, which had me on the edge of my seat while driving. Not for the faint of heart-nobody in our car was allowed to speak the entire time under penalty of death...so I totally understand your DH's anxiety.

Sounds like everybody's had some "roadrunner" moments!

 

[whogirl'smom]

July 25th

Today we decided we couldn't wait any longer for the bright lights and big city. Whogirl was dying to see Hollywood, so out came the trusty map and we planned our day. After a breakfast of eggs, bacon and rye toast (my aunt spoiled us so much!), we got on the road at about 9:30 a.m.

A hazy morning

Soon we were seeing this

and just snapping away with the camera! You know the tallest building we have in town is only about 12 stories; after that it's the five story Holiday Inn! I love being in big cities, love driving in big traffic and even love being in big crowds (but not at Disney ).

We found a parking place a couple of streets over from Rodeo Dr., parked the car and then realized we forgot something very crucial.

Anyone want to guess?

WE HAD NO STINKING QUARTERS!

I got out of the car, hopeful that LA would have sophisticated parking meters that took credit cards here in Beverly Hills....no such luck. DH spied a pizza place just ahead and went to beg for some change for a dollar. See what happens when you don't plan???? Finally with our place secured for $1.50 worth of minutes we struck out to see where the big dogs shop.

Nope, didn't stop in here...

Hmmm, wonder if Hannah Montana shops in there?

An eye for fashion. (an eye???? We don't even have heads!)

The coolest boots evah at Coach.

Jim and I had been here on 10 years ago and I didn't think my memory was that bad, but everything seemed to be in a different place or something. I finally figured out that we were used to driving up from Orange County, not DOWN from Ventura, so we were seeing some places in the opposite order. At least that's what I tell myself. Forty one feels pretty old sometimes!

Tourist shots...

Daddy, can I have a pony?

Forget the pony, gimme some bling!

Honey, did we really need that other woman in our picture??? Can we say "crop"?

Onto my new obsession. I had known that I wanted to eat at Pink's hot dogs ever since we planned this trip. We picked up tourist guide on the street in Beverly (we're on a first name basis now) and had the address--700 N. La Brea. We also had our map, but of course turned the wrong way when we hit La Brea. Turn around, another u-turn, back up the street, passing this along the way..

For all the Simpson fans, this can be yours for your front porch...

Finally the heavens smile down upon us and we were there!

Parking across the street, we get in this line.

By the way, it goes all the way around the building to the back parking lot. All in all, it was a wait of about an hour and 10 minutes because we got there at 12:15 p.m.

Here's the menu:

There are many more dogs to choose from than are on the menu. The walls are covered with signed pictures of the famous and their concoctions. We chose a chili dog, a stretch chili cheese dog and a "Mulholland", which is a 10 inch dog with grilled onions and mushroom, bacon and nacho cheese sauce. MMMMMM. Two orange Crush, a water and a side of fries completed our blissful lunch.

What is up with my hair here?

I am not a big hot dog afficionado most of the time, but these things were WONDERFUL!!! Now I know why people stand in line for hours without complaint and I also know why Pink's beat Bobby Flay in a throw down! (Ok, most places beat him in the throw down, but that's not the point.) I decided right then and there that there was no way I could walk away from this vacation with only one Pink's hot dog under my belt! Dh and dd agreed that these were indeed very special hot dogs, although dd's opinion was a little sullied by the hour she had spent sweating in line waiting. No worry, we had oatmeal cookies in the car to appease the sweating, grumping Who.

With our bellies full, we continued down the road with the promise of Hollywood Blvd. just a few short minutes away. Did we make it there without any more u-turns?

Next up: Hollywood Here We Come!

 

[oybolshoi]

Love the Simpsons in your picture! As for Pink ... do they offer a plain old boring dog for a schmuckaroo like me?

 

[ChelleinNC]

DH & DD would be in 7th heaven They LOVE Chili dogs! I'll stand off to the side with Bendy and have a plain one

 

[Shenanigoat]

Pinks is the best! I'm not usually a hot-dogger, by they are awesome. Sorry about your long wait for the weiners though.

And funny thing about the Simpsons- aren't you supposed to get tan in the sun?

(btw- my brother works at a movie theater, and I have the "life sized" Lisa sitting in my garage. I used to drive around with her all the time)

 

[kabuki]

PINKS!!!!!!!! Worth the drive to LA for anyday! LOVE IT!

My usual is a Kraut/Onion/Chili/Mustard, Orange Crush, and two TUMS!

Can't wait for more!

 

[TigerKat]

I've always wanted to try PINKS!!!!!!! Now I know some folks who have.

 

[hmgray95]

Great update Jamie. I must admit that while I am generally pretty up on my West Coast places, I have never heard of Pinks.....but I loathe hot dogs, so I might have blocked it out!

 

[kabuki]

I've always wanted to try PINKS!!!!!!! Now I know some folks who have.

If I could bring one to you that would taste as good as Central Grocery I would -but they don't transfer well!

 

[lisalonglash]

Great updates! My heart starts racing whenever I walk past a Chanel store (we have one in Vancouver too) - although I can't afford anything in there LOL, it makes me happy to walk through and browse Oh, forty feels pretty old sometimes too I'm glad you were able to find Pink's - your lunch looks delish, but that line looks lol

Fantastic pictures, as usual

I hope you managed to get there without any more u-turns

 

[emememem]

Enjoying your trip report!! We are going to Disneyland in 2 weeks for the 1/2 marathon. Pinks is on our list too!

 

[whogirl'smom]

Love the Simpsons in your picture! As for Pink ... do they offer a plain old boring dog for a schmuckaroo like me?

DH & DD would be in 7th heaven They LOVE Chili dogs! I'll stand off to the side with Bendy and have a plain one

You can certainly have plain dogs (or a burger!). There was a family in line in front of us with the mom on the phone with the three teenagers that were on their way. I heard her lamenting that she was having to stand in line for a hour for three PLAIN dogs!

Pinks is the best! I'm not usually a hot-dogger, by they are awesome. Sorry about your long wait for the weiners though.

And funny thing about the Simpsons- aren't you supposed to get tan in the sun?

(btw- my brother works at a movie theater, and I have the "life sized" Lisa sitting in my garage. I used to drive around with her all the time)

That makes me giggle every time I think about Lisa riding around with you. I can only imagine the looks you got!

PINKS!!!!!!!! Worth the drive to LA for anyday! LOVE IT!

My usual is a Kraut/Onion/Chili/Mustard, Orange Crush, and two TUMS!

Can't wait for more!

Miraculously no Tums were needed, although dh was looking longingly at the burrito dog at first. I told him "no way!". He had seen it on TV, but I said we didn't have a cardiac monitor with us so he needed to pass.

I've always wanted to try PINKS!!!!!!! Now I know some folks who have.

You gotta get out there and try it!

Great update Jamie. I must admit that while I am generally pretty up on my West Coast places, I have never heard of Pinks.....but I loathe hot dogs, so I might have blocked it out!

We keep the tv on Food Network and Travel Channel way too much....

Great updates! My heart starts racing whenever I walk past a Chanel store (we have one in Vancouver too) - although I can't afford anything in there LOL, it makes me happy to walk through and browse Oh, forty feels pretty old sometimes too I'm glad you were able to find Pink's - your lunch looks delish, but that line looks lol

Fantastic pictures, as usual

I hope you managed to get there without any more u-turns

to our trip! It was truly the trip of u-turns...

Enjoying your trip report!! We are going to Disneyland in 2 weeks for the 1/2 marathon. Pinks is on our list too!

I will try my best to get us to Disneyland before you leave on your trip! You will love it! We were also told that Tommy's was a great place to get a burger somewhere in LA, but we didn't have time to seek it out.

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Hey WGM!

Finally getting caught back up on all my TR's. First, up, the sampler platter. WOW. That looked mighty nifty. DH getting rolled by a wave - classic slapstick right there my friend. The no guardrail trail of death would have definitely cause me to have a moment. The "Mulholland" hot dog looked FANTABULOUS (whatever that means), and the fact that you were able to get Orange Crush with it, well that's just a fine meal all the way around.


Can't wait to see how DL goes!

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

I am thoroughly enjoying this TR, can't wait to read more.

 

[whogirl'smom]

Hey WGM!

Finally getting caught back up on all my TR's. First, up, the sampler platter. WOW. That looked mighty nifty. DH getting rolled by a wave - classic slapstick right there my friend. The no guardrail trail of death would have definitely cause me to have a moment. The "Mulholland" hot dog looked FANTABULOUS (whatever that means), and the fact that you were able to get Orange Crush with it, well that's just a fine meal all the way around.


Can't wait to see how DL goes!

Hey, GB, good to see you back on track! There are more hot dogs to come....I'm thinking about skipping ahead to DL and then coming back to the other days because it feels like forever getting there! And this is a DL trip board!

I am thoroughly enjoying this TR, can't wait to read more.

Shuttergirl! I'm honored to have a reader from so far away and glad you're enjoying the report!

 

[Cameo818]

Definitely subbing to this one!

I've been to DL lots of times when I was younger but never stopped by Pinks. However, I've seen lots of Food Network programs about Pinks and that might just have to be a required stop on our next visit! Those hot dogs looked scrumptious!

Looking forward to reading about the rest of your vacation!

 

[whogirl'smom]

Definitely subbing to this one!

I've been to DL lots of times when I was younger but never stopped by Pinks. However, I've seen lots of Food Network programs about Pinks and that might just have to be a required stop on our next visit! Those hot dogs looked scrumptious!

Looking forward to reading about the rest of your vacation!

Oh, good another Food Network devotee! aboard!

 

[castmemberb4]

Oh, good another Food Network devotee! aboard!

Me too ! Me too ! I was already onboard but didn't mention that I love Food Network. Alton Brown lives here in Marietta, I ran into him one day in Publix, kept going up and down aisles I didn't need anything on just to pass by him. I was too shy to speak though.

I told DH that when we're in LA at Christmas this year (it's his hometown) we HAVE to go to Pinks !

 

[disneynerd420]

I am excited to see your DLR portion of the report, but I loved the Pinks pictures. I'm trying to fit that into a trip sometime.

By the way, Tommy's is AWESOME. I have eaten there.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

These look sooooo good and I'm not even a huge hot dog fan. I definitely have to keep Pink's on the list for the next time we go out to California.