We started the day in Chinatown, hitting the legendary Empress Pavilion for some dim sum. The dining room, which seats 596, was filled to the max as we arrived at 11:30. And because it was just the two of us (plus Evan, who had already enjoyed a delicious lunch of Gerber peas), it took a little longer to get a table (tip: Bigger groups get quicker service).
But once seated, we quickly hit up every cart as they passed by our table. Siu Mai? Yes please. Chicken dumpling? Bring it on. Boba tea? We'll take two.
We were hungry going in, but as the dim sum came fast and furious, it didn't take long to finish. After we left, Maria hightailed it to Empress Pavilion's adjacent bakery and bought a few sesame balls.
Next up, the Museum of Contemporary Art on Grand. The MOCA is currently showcasing artwork from 1980s icon and Andy Warhol buddy Jean-Michel Basquiat. But I enjoyed just as much the MOCA's other current exhibit, The Blake Byrne Collection.
Blogger Baby, meanwhile, didn't quite get the modern art -- but he's always been more into 17th Century Baroque art.
After the MOCA we explored Disney Hall for the first time, getting up close to the Frank Gehry creation. We didn't see the audtorium, but we checked out the grounds, lobby and gift shop... and, of course, the bathroom.
Checking out the building's metallic skin up close, it was interesting to discover that certain sections are actually shiny and reflective, Evan got a kick out of staring at himself in those building panels.
Final stop: Grand Central Market, where a pooped-out Evan quickly feel asleep in the Baby Bjorn (a seamless transfer to the stroller was accomplished soon after). Every time I hit the Grand Central, I tell myself I should go more often. The wide array of food counters, the produce stands, even the semi-gross 99-cents store downstairs all have their own charm. (I could do without the 25-cent requirement to use the bathroom, however.)
I wound up hitting one of the best food deals in town: La Adelita, which sells its huge tacos for just $2 a pop. La Adelita piles its tacos high, and gives you two extra corn tortillas -- enough to actually make three tacos all together. Not bad. I got the chicken taco "with everything," meaning onions, cilantro and sauce (either spicy or mild -- yes, I got the spicy, although it ultimately wasn't that hot.)
Wait, hadn't I just eaten dim sum a few hours earlier? Hey, when at the Grand Central...
One more Grand Central tip: You can park free right in front of the back (Hope St.) entrance after 4 p.m. on the weekends. Free parking? In downtown? Shh-- don't tell anyone.
Evan was a trooper through the day -- quite a contrast to the last several nights, when his teething pain kept us all up for a big chunk of the night. Poor guy. His teeth haven't come in yet, but he can feel it. And he's miserable about it.
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