I think that's fun. It's a place and side of things most folk don't get to see (hello, I love going to JPL and getting to go down into the sandbox and be speshul people who don't have to look through glass from above and pose with a Rover!) Unless the folk are completely disinterested in that sort of thing, I'd say it is a go. I'm terminally curious, love to get behind the RESTRICTED ACCESS signs to...well, just about anywhere.

Never been to LA? If they are at all interested in media, I think it's a good plan.

If they don't like tv or movies, less so.

Sure, you can find better food elsewhere but it's the experience and the "they make fiction all neat and pretty and viewable here" that are cool.

Fun or not, it'd be a story. I vote for things you'd bring up later during dinner conversation. (Funnily enough, my L.A. experience that meets that criterion was visiting the Hustler superstore in the company of Bufistas.)

I'd probably vote fun, provided (a) they're not huge foodies hoping to get awesome LA food and (b) they are into movies/TV at all.

I vote fun.

What Hil said. You cook it in olive oil, and a little butter, maybe some garlic. And then you put the cooked pasta right into the pan with the stuff you're sauteing and mix the pasta up with it.

You can do this with any combination of things you might saute, like mushrooms, or chicken.

I made a big bowl of awesome last night. Sauteed mushrooms and veggie sausage with garlic and olive oil, boiled some gnocchi, and threw that and a huge mess of spinach into the pan. Tossed in a tablespoon or so of brandy and when that cooked down topped with parmesan.

I vote for things you'd bring up later during dinner conversation.

Like when I showed you and Debet crime?

I live in a small big town. Interrupted ABC program feed for a press conference because a volunteer firefighter lost his life in a fire up the way. It's sad, but also...I love a town that cares.

Just got off conference call regarding my company being bought by another company. Eep. The call in general made me feel vaguely better, but I never ever ever trust big management to actually do things that will make our lives easier, or consider our problems (like, say, how changing health plans might affect us, mid year--we currently have a fairly high deductible plan, and if I've already spent a bunch on it, am I going to have to start OVER with the new plan??)

My dinner last night was awesome--the restaurant was out of half the stuff in one of the entrees, so they were like "We're offering...uh...some seafood, and pasta?" and I asked if they could include some sort of veggie in it, and I got a bowl of superthick spaghetti noodles (I have no idea what the name for them was), clams, mussels, shrimp, kale, and brussels sprouts in a white wine and herb sauce. Delish!

Yeah, I also vote going "backstage" as awesome. Maybe it's just me, but I was pretty excited to go through the "staff only" door at Trader Joe's!

Also, I, too forgot to put out the trash and now it's not going to happen, and also I could eat spinach, feta, and olives every day of the week, although I don't.

Yikes, meara -- good luck.

It's sad, but also...I love a town that cares.

It is sad but truly nice that it made the news.

Gah, that's not fun, meara.

Maybe it's just me, but I was pretty excited to go through the "staff only" door at Trader Joe's!

Totally. One day I hope to see their storeroom in the back. I might have an inappropriate relationship with TJ's.