Lat Long Answers!

Evidently I dominated Google's latest Where In The World Is... contest, although I should have paid more attention to the other Google LatLong blog posts because if I had spent more time reading about the Great Lakes in the post about the United States' Third Coast I would have found the answer to the bonus question. Oh well, next time Google, next time.

Best Beer Bars in LA

View Toddmartens's List of Best Beer Bars in a larger map

I was perusing the LA Times today and a nice little list caught my eye. Seems like Todd Martens, a staff member, compiled a list of 24 beer bars in the greater LA area. I've been to more than a few of these places, and some have multiple locations (Yardhouse, Father's office, etc.). Missing from the list and deserving mention, although not quite technically a bar, is The Golden State Cafe. They have a GREAT beer selection and food (and even better owners!).

Martens also has a list of LA's best microbreweries but it seems just a tad incomplete (no mention of Manhattan Beach Brewing Company or no shout-out to the no-longer-a-brewery-but-still-has-giant-vats-in-the-bar Westwood Brewco?). Although to Golden State's credit they do carry Craftsman beer on tap.

Google LatLong: Where in the world is ...

The Google LatLong blog sometimes has fun little exercises for finding interesting places in the world. In the latest version of Google LatLong: Where in the world is ... I think I was able to come up with the first ten but not the bonus question.

In order:
1) Los Angeles
2) Las Vegas
3) San Francisco (Coit Tower)
4) San Sebastian
5) Pittsburgh
6) Ottowa
7) Helsinki
8) Auckland
9) Cincinnati
10) Girona (Near barcelona)

Anybody have any idea on number 11?

Spring Cleaning!

Hey you crazy kids. I have a bunch of draft posts that I've been 'meaning to get around to' for awhile. Since it's now spring I'm going to clean up:

• Hearst Castle Virtual Tour: Go to Cambria! Eat at Robin's or the Sea Chest or one of a billion wonderful places! Say hi to my mom!



• Mini Models of Cities: Oh my cuteness. When are they doing version 2.0 with Legos?



• Google Maps Street Traffic: Not just for freeways anymore



• Milky Way Transit Authority: Next map: the entire universe



• Metrolink is on Google Transit: Why the MTA can't just take the plunge is beyond me. Also, Steve Hymon got laid off. He and I actually emailed back and forth a few times last year. He was really nice. That sucks.



• Interactive map of Downtown LA by Cartifact: Seriously, can I work for you guys?

March Madness!

March means several things: my birthday, the coming of Spring, Persian New Year, and not insignificantly the NCAA Basketball Tournament. The great thing about the tournament is that 65 of the 300 some-odd teams are eligible to vie for the National Championship. The field of 65 consists of well known schools with rich basketball tradition (UCLA!) but also a host of schools which most people have never heard of.

Well, the good people at the Google LatLong Blog have done us the service of mapping out not only all the schools but also the sites where games are being played. Pretty cool.


View Larger Map

Oh yeah, Go Bruins!