Holiday – Yoojin Cho

Destination: Los Angeles

Sunshine, Warmth, Food (and lots of it, too), Drinks, Friends.

All these do a perfect job describing my week in California and Nevada. For spring break, Jack and I visited our friends in Los Angeles and spent a few days in Las Vegas. Needless to say, it was incredible.

Usually after a week of vacation anywhere, I am ready to come home. This time, however, I was actually sad to hop on the red eye back to Boston.

Los Angeles rose high above my expectations. Sure it was smoggy, but the atmosphere and the weather totally won me over.

The trip involved a lot of exercise. I left dreary Boston thinking I will be laying out on a sandy beach, doing nothing and eating nonstop. The actually itinerary, however, took me hiking, biking and a lot of walking.

First day we hiked up to the Hollywood sign and spotted two celebrities – A.J. from the Office and Ravi from the League, although I was too distracted by A.J.’s adorable golden retriever to actually notice his face. But totally understandable? Right?

After the hike, we sat down for a lovely dinner at In-N-Out. After three visits in a week, I think I can proudly say I have mastered its secret menu. Let me help you out here – especially if you have never experienced the joy of biting into In-N-Out’s delicious cheeseburger.

Double-Double: Yes, for the first time in my life, I ordered a double-cheeseburger. Double patties and double cheese.
Well-Done Fries: Meaning, extremely crispy!
Animal Style: On your burger OR on your fries. I actually suggest both. Carmelized onions + cheese + secret sauce.
Neopolitan Shake: Strawberry + Vanilla + Chocolate milkshake.

My mouth is watering just thinking about it. In general though, the food in California was absolutely incredible. I consider myself a foodie – I love food; I enjoy eating; I love trying new food.

Baja-style Mexican food matched my high expectations of Mexican cuisine in general since I grew up in TX after all. English pub we tried in Santa Monica offered one of the best fish & chips I tried in the US. Even a tiny little food shack along the beach near Manhattan Beach – owned by a nice Georgia man with his homemade chicken salad recipe – was amazing.

We also biked from Santa Monica to Manhattan Beach… Long long long bike ride, but totally worth it! Sure it took all day and sure I ended up with some funny tanlines thanks to my decision to wear a blazer, but the view and simply the idea of biking right along the beach and taking in the scenery… Just, WOW.

Though LA is not a walking city, we chose the simplest mode of transportation – our legs – to see Sunset Blvd, and that wrapper up our stay in Los Angeles.

I would loooove to go back – possibly live there in the future?

(View from the Hollywood sign. Yes, it was a long hike, but totally worth it! Especially when there is a trip to in-n-out involved afterward.)

(While biking down from Santa Monica to Manhattan Beach. one day… I will be a proud owner of one of those modern, chic, fancy houses.)

(Near LAX… Alvin and the Chipmunks. Downstairs there were Sully & Mike from Monsters Inc.)

Post on VEGAS to come soon!

My Christmas Wish List

Yes, I’m 22 years old and I still make my holiday wish list. What’s wrong with that?

Christmas is truly the happiest time of the year. With Frosty the Snowman out by the front door and Christmas tree blocking the hallway, in fact, the entire month of December (minus the finals stress) makes me giggle like a little girl.

So just in time for finishing my final paper about how the Great War transformed the relationship between the government and the media, here is my Christmas 2010 Wish List.

Professional Laptop Carrying Case / Over-the-Shoulder Bag

As a student reporter, I frequently attend important gatherings and interview professors, store owners, commuters, etc. But unfortunately for me, I often go from internship to job to interviews to class to B-Roll shoots without any break, which means I have to bring my precious laptop everywhere. Fine, one little MacBook won’t hurt my shoulder, but its carrying case that has my sorority letters big and proud sometimes makes my role as a student reporter a bit difficult. Sad but true, the fact that I am still a student sometimes causes people to pre-judge me as an immature college kiddo, and having my lovely ADPi bag on top of that doesn’t exactly help my cause. As much as I love me some Alpha Delta Pi, I would love love love to get a new handbag (professional, clean, classy) that fits my computer.

Michael Kors

Blazer

This is an easy one. This semester I had to dress business casual 4 out of 5 weekdays, and if I had a package to shoot or decided to go into WBZ on weekends, more of those suit pants and nice tops. Blazer makes things easy for women. You can throw on a simple tank top, wear black pants and put on a nice blazer. Adorned with a necklace, voila, you have a business casual outfit right there.

Ann Taylor

Brown Boots

For the love of God, WHY is it so difficult to find flattering brown boots that don’t make you look like you’re ready to go hunting?

Nordstrom

Warm – Fleece, Leather, Cotton, Whatever It Takes – Gloves

Today marked the first day in Boston that sent super strong wind chills down the spine. Uh oh… I am NOT ready for the cold, yet. Regardless, I need a nice pair of thick, warm gloves.

North Face

Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear: How Did We do?

“If we amplify everything, we hear nothing.”

“Because we know instinctively as a people that if we are to get through the darkness and back into the light, we have to work together. And the truth is, there will always be darkness. And sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel isn’t the promised land. Sometimes it’s just New Jersey. But we do it anyway, together.”

“Sanity will always be and has always been in the eye of the beholder. To see you here today and the kind of people that you are has restored mine.”

Approximately 24 hours of round-trip bus ride, about 10 hours of sleep and thousands of people basically sum up my weekend in Washington D.C.

It was a last-minute decision to spend the Halloween weekend in D.C. for Stewart and Colbert rally. What initially prompted my decision was simply getting away from Boston for a weekend. When else will I be able to take off a random Friday to go to D.C.? Also, Comedy Central’s dynamic duo hosting a rally… for SANITY & FEAR. How can you resist?

All in all, I am extremely happy I attended the rally. News sources say “well over 200,000 people” gathered at the National Mall. From my observation, more were interested in restoring sanity than in keeping fear alive. Regardless, people of all ages – literally, ALL ages – brought good ol’ posters to show their support.

(Yes, these guys are in banana suits)

(The BEST sign ever)

I think what Stewart said during his closing remarks puts everything in perspective: If we amplify everything, we hear nothing. Especially nowadays when information bombards us constantly via social media, TV and web, we eventually ignore more than half of what we see. Then we tend to either forget about the little bit that we managed to process or twist it to what we wanted to hear.

When two comedians said come to D.C. for this rally, thousands of people listened. When politicans, economists and diplomats speak, well, not much gets done. Interesting, huh?

D.C. as a city, however, did not prepare enough for the crowd. The metro, although definitely superior to Boston’s T, experienced frequent delays and jam-packed trains. Cell service was practically non-existent from about 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pedestraisn ruled the streets while cars waited in a traffic jam. In this aspect, maybe sanity wasn’t quite restored…

Fireworks Near You! (via WBZ)

I made at least 170 calls to complete this. Of course, did some major web stalking, too. Oh, and totally felt like Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness. I present you the complete list of Fourth of July Fireworks near Boston!!!

“Fourth Of July Fireworks Near You” June 15, 2010

Many local cities and towns will be putting on firework displays around the Fourth of July. Find the festivities near you.

Massachusetts:
ACTON: July 4, 2010, Dusk, NARA Park off Ledge Rock Way

AMESBURY: July 3, 2010, 9:15 p.m. Woodsom Farm on Lions Mouth Road

ANDOVER: July 3, 2010, Dusk, Andover High School on Shawsheen Road

ATTLEBORO: July 4, 2010, Dusk, Hayward Field on North Avenue, Rain Date July 5

AYER: July 3, 2010, Dusk, Pirone Park

BARNSTABLE: July 4, 2010, 9 p.m. View from Aselton Park, Bismore Park, Veteran’s
Park Beach

BEDFORD: July 2, 2010, Dusk, VA Hospital on Springs Road, Rain Date July 3

BELLINGHAM: July 4, 2010, 9:30 p.m. High School Football Field on Blackstone St. Rain Date July 5

BOSTON: July 4, 2010, 10:30 p.m. Charles River – Esplanade

BRAINTREE: June 26, 2010, 10 p.m. Braintree High School

BROCKTON: July 2, 3, 4, 9 & 10, 2010, 10:30 p.m. Brockton Fairgrounds

CAMBRIDGE: July 4, 2010, 10:30 p.m. Charles River – Esplanade

CLINTON: July 10, 2010, 9 p.m. High School, Rain Date July 11

DANVERS: July 3, 2010, Dusk, Plains Park, Rain Date July 5

DARTMOUTH: July 2, 2010, 6:15 p.m. UMass Dartmouth, Rain Date July 7

DRACUT: July 2, 2010, 9 p.m. Gazebo in front of the Englesby Intermediate School on Lakeview Ave. Rain Date July 5

FALL RIVER: July 4, 2010, 9:30 p.m. Waterfront Barge near Battleship Cove, Rain Date July 5

FALMOUTH: July 4, 2010, Dusk, Falmouth Heights Beach, Rain Date July 5

FITCHBURG: July 3, 2010, Dusk, Rollstone Boulder

FRANKLIN: July 2, 2010, 10 p.m. Franklin High School

FREETOWN: Postponed until September 5, 2010, 10 p.m. Hathaway Park, Assonet

GLOUCESTER: July 3, 2010, 10 p.m. Gloucester Harbor

GROTON: July 7, 2010, 7 p.m. Town Field, Rain Date July 8

HALIFAX: July 4, 2010, 9:15 p.m. Behind Elementary School, Rain Date July 10

HARVARD: July 2, 2010, 9 p.m. Fruitlands Museum

HAVERHILL: July 3, 2010, 9 p.m. Haverhill Stadium, Rain Date July 5.

HINGHAM: July 2, 2010, Dusk, Harbor, Rain Date July 4

LINCOLN: July 4, 2010, 9 p.m. Lincoln School Campus

LOWELL: July 5, 2010, Dusk, Vandenburg Esplanade

LYNN: July 3, 2010, 9 p.m. Red Rock Park near Lynn Beach, Rain Date July 5

MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA: July 3, 2010, 9:30 p.m. Singing Beach, Rain Date July 5

MARBLEHEAD: July 4, 2010, Dusk, Mouth of the Harbor, Rain Date July 5

MASHPEE: July 1, 2010, Dusk, Mashpee High School, Rain Date July 2

MIDDLEBOROUGH: July 1 & 3, 2010, Dusk, Pierce Playground, Rain Date July 4

MILFORD: July 3, 2010, 10 p.m. Plains Park near Cedar Street, Rain Date July 5

MILLBURY: July 3 & 4, 2010, 9:30 p.m. Windle Field, Rain Date July 5

NANTUCKET: July 4, 2010, 9 p.m. Jetties Beach, Rain Date July 5

NEEDHAM: July 4, 2010, Dusk, Memorial Park

NEW BEDFORD: July 5, 2010, Dusk, Whaling National Historic Park

NEWTON: July 4, 2010, 9 p.m. Russell J. Halloran Field off Rt. 6

NORTH ANDOVER: July 3, 2010, 9 p.m. Middle School

NORTHBRIDGE: July 2, 2010, 9 p.m. LaSalle Field

OLD STURBRIDGE VILLAGE: July 4, 2010, Dusk, Center Village

ORLEANS: July 4, 2010, Dusk, Rock Harbor, Skaket Beach and the Eastham Beaches, Rain Date July 5

PROVINCETOWN: July 4, 2010, Dusk, Commercial Street

RUTLAND: July 3, 2010, 9:20 p.m. Memorial Field

SALEM: July 4, 2010, 9:15 p.m. Derby Wharf, Rain Date July 5

SALISBURY: July 3 & 4, 2010, 10 p.m. Beach Center

SEEKONK: July 4, 2010, Dusk, Seekonk Speedway

SHARON: July 3, 2010, 9:30 p.m. Memorial Park Beach

SOMERVILLE: July 1, 2010, 6 p.m. Trum Field

SPENCER: July 3, 2010, 9:45 p.m. Spencer Fair Ground

STOUGHTON: July 3, 2010, 9:30 p.m. Stoughton High Football Field

TAUNTON: July 2, 2010, Dusk, Silver City Galleria

UPTON: June 26, 2010, 9 p.m. Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational
Technical High School

WAKEFIELD: July 4, 2010, Dusk, Lake Quannapowitt

WALPOLE: July 3, 2010, 9 p.m. Stone Field

WALTHAM: July 4, 2010, 9:30 p.m. Leary Field

WEBSTER: July 3, 2010, 9:30 p.m. Webster Lake

WEYMOUTH: July 3, 2010, 9:30 p.m. George Lane Beach

WILMINGTON: July 2, 2010 9 p.m. High School Field
July 3, 2010, 9:30 p.m. High School Field, Rain Date July 5

WINTHROP: July 4, 2010, 9:15 p.m. Winthrop Harbor

Original Link: http://wbztv.com/local/Massachusetts.fireworks.displays.2.1753159.html