Sunday Brunch

Business #1: Slice Pizza Kitchen
Business #2: Bay Cities
Business #3: 17th St. Cafe & Bakery

Why I can't live without these three businesses: Slice Pizza Kitchen has amazingly tasty pizza. For just $10 you can get a cheese pizza that will leave you satisfy and leaving you to crave more. Whenever im walking around Santa Monica, my friends and i would always go to Slice and split a pizza for just $5 each. They have tables outside where you can eat, converse and enjoy your meal. Slice is the spot to go when your feeling something italian on a low budget.

Bay Cities is the iconic deli of Santa Monica. Every now and then you can spot a celebrity ordering the famous Godmother sandwich. Theres no argument that every resident of Santa Monica have to try their sandwiches. Attending Santa Monica High School has made me visiting Bay Cities at least once a week to have a well deserved lunch after a long day. If Bay Cities were ever to close down, i can guaranteed Santa Monica would never be the same.

17th St. Cafe & Bakery located on 17th and Montana is an ideal place for a Sunday brunch. They offer free muffins that you can eat with a cup of coffee meanwhile you wait for your order and have great customer service. Their menu is full of a variety of tasty omelettes and breakfast meals that will make you a returning customer. They provide healthy food and reasonable portions that will make your money's worth. I highly recommend spending your brunch here.

Submitted by: Anonymous

Shoes in every color

Business #1: Foster's Freeze
Business #2: Vans
Business #3: Albertson's

Why I can't live without these three businesses: Smell of the burgers, fries and hot dogs after a hard swimming in the SMC pool is the best thing that could be right other side of the street. One bite from a Foster's Freeze double cheese could recover all the nutrition that the body lost in the practice, even more. It's a classic hamburger with the taste of 1980's on it. With all old men and women going there that have lots of things to say is good place to hang out sometimes.

Vans: Red, purple, blue, black, yellow, sponge bob, mickey mouse, any color and any style you would like your shoes be. It's a station for any skate boarder in LA. They would stand front of the store, staring at the samsung 32" LCD hanging from the ceiling behind the glasses and watch the professional skate boarder do back flips and trick. Not just an entertainment for the skate boarder, also for the people who are waiting for the bus in the bus station.

If you have driven on the Wilshire Street, You absolutely noticed the shiny blue sign that says Albertson's on it. You might wondered why there is no door that you can get in from the front and then you find out that the door is on the back. it's funny because it happened for me when first time I saw Alberton. I was new, so didn't know the door is on the back. The first thing that you see when getting in the Albertson is the brown breads and cake the are all sitting next to each other and waiting for you to buy them. One bite from one of the cakes in the morning of a sunny saturday can make your whole weekend. The smile on the black man's face behind the cabinet is adorable. 

Delicious Delis

Your Name: Vanessa Perez

Business #1: Bay Cities
Business #2: Bagel Nosh

Why I can't live without these businesses: The Bay Cities Deli on Lincoln Blvd. is by far the greatest place to get a great meal and a fulfilled belly. As a Santa Monica High School Senior with very little time and a great appetite the small Italian Deli, as we kids say, hits the spot. From the forever loved "Godmother" with an explosion of flavors, to the more mellow "Caprese." The Godmother being the God of all sandwiches of course. Don't like sandwiches? Not a problem! There's always the additional mouth watering pastas and "healthier" approaches, well as healthy as you can get with carb filled foods, and never ending authentic Italian pastries. The down to earth Deli is a cozy good feel restaurant. The kind you want to stop and sit for a minute and just reflect on your day and your surroundings. Bay Cities is the epitome of happiness when hungry. The epitome of Santa Monica.

If you need a quick bite, or a small escape, Bagel Nosh Deli on Wilshire and 17th is the place to go. The early bird deli is the perfect remody to morning hunger and a well served breakfast. The small Santa Monica buisness serves fresh, made on the spot breakfast from 6:30 to 2:30 Monday through Friday and 7:30 to 3:30 Saturdays and Sundays. It's safe to say the early bird gets the worm here. I can still remember the first time I went to the breakfast joint that my best friend kept raving about, so finally I nudged and joined her one late start Wednesday. A large, pulp filled orange juice and a plain bagel with they're delicious homemade cream cheese, topped with a plump red tomato slice and yellow onion. It's safe to say that im suddenly extremely hungry and lucky to get a taste of the wonderful establishment that is Bagel Nosh. Many, I mean many people have been satified by this small buisness that opened their doors in 1978.

Submitted by: Anonymous 

Recreate your childhood

Business #1: Dr. Kishibay; orthodontist
Business #2: Second Spin
Business #3: The Yellow Balloon

Why I can't live without these three businesses: #1: This may not be your average BLB post, but I’ve just got to say it; if you are looking for an orthodontist, go to Dr. Kishibay. His office is located on Ocean Park Blvd, address 2601 Ste. 304. He is the best. I could not live without this place. Dr. Kishibay is the nicest man ever and his dental hygienists are crazy funny. They always remember you and every time you go in, you are greeted with smiles. I’ve been going to him for years and just the other day he asked me about something I told him in one of our first appointments together. This place is extremely family friendly and for you adults that are just as worried as your kids are about going, he always reminds you to let him know if anything hurts or is bothering you while he works. They are a bit on the pricy side, but that’s what happens when you are getting the absolute best. I give them 3 thumbs up and newly straight smile ☺.

#2: You can buy used cars, used clothes, used shoes, used books, used just about anything! Well what about used movies? I pretty much live at Second Spin on Wilshire and 14th; this is THE (emphasis on the e) place to go buy movies. Yes they sell unused movies too, but the real gold is that $3 DVD of Mean Girls you bought and the box set of The Big Bang Theory that was dirt-cheap. No joke, you will feel like you are stealing from them. All of their disks are in prime condition, guaranteed. They have just about everything, even the Mary-Kate and Ashley DVD’s that you used to watch on VHS haha. If you like movies, or if you just like watching them to look at Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Gosling shirtless, you should go check Second Spin out.

#3: Seriously though, who didn’t want to go to the same barbershop as Alex and Nicky Katsopolis did for their first haircut?? If you don’t know whom I’m talking about, go watch Full House and educate yourself. Anyway, these boys got to get their hair cut in seats that looked like cars and planes, were given lollipops, and left with balloons. Sounds pretty awesome, doesn’t it? Yes the Yellow Balloon seems like a place just to take your kids to get a haircut, but who said you aren’t allowed to recreate your childhood dream of being a Full House character? This barbershop is more of an amusement park that you happen to be able to get a haircut at. There are lots of things to entertain your restless kid with to avoid last years “Avant Garde” hair catastrophe. If you were blessed with a child that sits still, there are tons of those smutty magazines (that we all love) for you to read.  Located on Wilshire Blvd and 14th street, the Yellow Balloon takes the cake for family friendly salons. Check it out next time its time for a trim or if school photos are just around the corner. You will be looking your best if you stop here!

Submitted by: Anonymous

Snacks for a long day

Business #1: Verizon Store
Business #2: Coffee Bean
Business #3: n.y. & c.

Why I can't live without these three businesses: Verizon Store - While I don't go to the Verizon Store too often, I went just recently to get a new phone. In the past it would be easy to say I can live without that product, but I've never had a smartphone before and in this fast-paced world, it feels almost necessary. In the classroom, I have noticed that even some of my most electronically prehistoric teachers have offered classroom assignments that give an advantage to those with access to the internet in the palm of their hands, and I'm excited about being a part of that now.

Coffee Bean - Every week in the fall, I have band rehearsal. It usually starts at 4 p.m., a mere 44 minutes after school, on a Friday. All week I go home and have a snack right after school, so on those Fridays I am so hungry when the final bell rings, yet there is seemingly no time to go get food. That's where The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf next to the high school comes in handy. I can usually get there before the big rush of partying students stops by, and I'm out of there with a pastry and a hot chocolate with about 23 minutes to spare. Without this, my blood sugar would be so low at the end of the three hour rehearsal that  I probably wouldn't be able to stand up straight.

n.y. & c. - This pizzeria in Wilshire Boulevard is home to some really great pizza, which is a food I can't live without. Also, I often go there before being entertained at the Broad Stage a few blocks south. Such great performances are too good to miss any of, so I place my trust in the pizzeria to provide swift and timely service, which it always provides. It's easy to sit down, order a slice, and be out of there in about 15 minutes with a full stomach and a smile on my face. That smile may be because I'm about to see a great show, but it is probably because of the pizza.

Submitted by: Anonymous