Rate-A-Restaurant #294: Dynasty Big Bear

Restaurant: Dynasty

Location: 40989 Big Bear Boulevard (Big Bear City)

Type of restaurant: Chinese



We stipulated: Spending a few days up at Big Bear, where the restaurant pickings are slim, we were looking for a good Thai restaurant. They don't seem to exist there. So we went the Chinese route.



They stipulated: "Authentic Chinese Szechuan Cuisine." Accepts reservations, walk-ins or carry out.



What we ordered: Dumplings ($7.95); Eggplant Szechuan style ($8.95); Spicy Chili Pepper Chicken ($11.95); Steamed Fish Fillet in Thai-Style Lemon Sauce ($13.95)



High point: The spicy pepper chicken was quite tasty.

Low point: The lack of service and the wait. We ordered for pickup. Arrived 20 minutes after ordering. Proceeded to wait ANOTHER HOUR for our food.



Overall impression: The wait was absolutely ridiculous, and came with no apology or attempt to make it up to us. Ruined what might have otherwise been a good experience.

Chance we'll go back: Thankfully we don't like in Big Bear, as we'd probably have to return, just because there are few food options up there. But we don't, so we won't.

Big Snow in Big Bear

Snow! And lots of it! Like last year, we spent a few nights between Christmas and New Year's Eve up in a Big Bear rental with another family -- and once again there was enough snow on the ground for the kids to enjoy sledding right in our backyard. Unfortunately, the snow was too powdery to build a snowman. But we did get in a few minor snowball fights.

Then, as we were leaving the mountain on Saturday afternoon, the snow began to fall again -- and we were able to pull over to the side of the mountain highway for one final sledding session. A few more pics from above it all:

Post-Holiday in Big Bear

The Los Angeles Times reported last week that a lack of snow has put a real damper on things at Northern California ski resorts like Mammoth. Luckily, that hasn't been the case at Southern California mountain towns such as Big Bear, where enough snow dumped in the late fall that there's still plenty of stuff on the ground (even as temperatures rise).

Regular Franklin Avenue readers know that we generally get our snow fix by jumping on the Angeles Crest Highway (the 2) and driving until we hit snow (usually just past Newcomb's Ranch). But this year, we decided to meet up with some friends and rent a cabin up in Big Bear for an extended snow experience. And we weren't disappointed.

Our cabin, located on a hillside incline, included an adjacent empty lot -- perfect to slide down on our sleds. The kids seemed content with sliding down the hill next to our cabin, which allowed us to bypass the busy mountain attractions (crowded because of the holiday).

The drive to Big Bear on Dec. 26 was a crawl up the mountain, as I think several had the same idea. But the drive down was a breeze. More pics from the mountains:


Kids take in Big Bear Lake.


Stay off the lake. Seriously, not a good idea. The ice is thick, but not that thick.

Our pal Anthony took these shots:


Icicles


Welcome


Tree


Snow angel


Snowy trees


Crack in lake ice


Big Bear Lake


Kids take in the view


Walking down the bridge


Snowpeople


Down the hill with Maria


Wipeout!

Take This L.A. Times Reader's Wife, Please

Well, they're Henny Youngman-style comedians, at least. From the comments on this week's story about Stephan Miller, the show biz grizzly trainer killed by one in Big Bear:

The Approach to LAX

One of my favorite things about flying back to Los Angeles: Playing the geography guessing game. Which freeway is that? Is that the Ontario Airport? What race track is that? It's also a great way to get a lay of the land, observing just how much is separated by mountain ranges, etc. A few pics I managed to take in the haze (sorry!) on Sunday:


You get a whole new feel for Southern California geography when you look at it from above. Being able to see Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead up above in the mountains, with the Inland Empire below and the Antelope Valley behind it is pretty fascinating.


Spotted in the mountains: An "R." Anyone know what this signifies? Redlands?


To the rest of the world, a ditch. To us Angelenos, a river.


The Forum and Hollywood Park, as seen by thousands of fliers daily.