So...

...last night, The Lounge, a swank, intimate little joint next door to The Troubadour, technically in West Hollywood, but literally spitting distance from Beverly Hills. Nice joint, small crowd, expensive goddamned drinks. Some places really have no reason to be open on weeknights.

This past evening, The Yardhouse; a slightly too-hip-for-it's-own-goddamned-good restaurant in Long Beach, right on the water. One of those places with an entire menu page filled with their different types of beer, y'know? Reminds me somewhat of Gordon Birsch, except you're actually expected to eat, rather than just sit/stand there and drink. The atmosphere is also clearly more for their weekend yuppie clientele than for the dressed-down weeknighters that we were among. The food, of course, is good (though pricey), as is the beer (and I don't even really like beer, though I'm learning to appreciate it). This was my second outing to this place, the last time being about half a year ago, give or take, and this time was at least as enjoyable. There might even be a reference in here somewhere to it. In fact, there probably is. Anyway, s'a nice place. The ride home contingent, however, seemed insistant on making certain the next outing is closer to the City of Los Angeles proper. One wonders if there's a decent compromise to be had...

Not that it really matters; I ain't drivin'.