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.

The Most Confusing Los Angeles Parking Signs Yet

Spotted on Wilshire Boulevard. I dare you to figure out how and when to park here. (I managed to, having found this spot at 7:30 p.m. on a Wednesday -- and left without a ticket!)

Rate-A-Restaurant #293: Chadaka Thai

Restaurant: Chadaka Thai

Location: 310 N San Fernando Blvd. (Burbank)

Type of restaurant: Thai



We stipulated: We were meeting friends in Burbank and looking for a place to meet. Thai sounded good.

They stipulated: Happy Hour deals include $3 beers, $5 cocktails and $5 appetizers



What we ordered: Grilled Calamari (Grilled calamari over charcoal served with spicy lime garlic chili dipping sauce); Basil Eggplant (Sauteed with onions in chili black bean); Pad See Ew Noodles (Flat rice noodles, wok sauteed with broccoli and Asian broccoli in a black bean soy sauce)



High point: The calamari was decent and the happy hour prices are great.

Low point: There were flies buzzing around the restaurant, distracting us from the food. The entrees lacked any heat -- even the chili sauce was surprisingly mild. We had to ask for the tofu to be cooked regularly in the eggplant dish. And even rice was extra.



Overall impression: Missed opportunity. Nice location and trendy atmosphere, but mediocre food.

Chance we'll go back: In a town crawling with good Thai restaurants, Chadaka Thai doesn't make the grade.

Pics From TV Guide Magazine's Showrunner Panel at Wondercon

TV Guide Magazine was in force at Wondercon this Saturday in Anaheim, and I got to moderate one of the best panels of the convention (if I do say so myself!). Our TV Guide Magazine TV Showrunner Panel, which we organized in honor of the magazine's 60th anniversary, boasted some of TV's heaviest hitters: Greg Plageman (Person of Interest), Jeff Davis (Teen Wolf), Remi Aubuchon (Falling Skies), Glen Mazzara (The Walking Dead), Steven Molaro (The Big Bang Theory) and Julie Plec (The Vampire Diaries). In a wide-ranging chat, we talked about everything from how and when to kill off major characters, to when to bring romantic interests together and how to walk the tightrope of network content standards. We also chatted about the showrunners' TV influences ("Hill Street Blues" was a popular one), and they all also gave us a few nuggets of storyline scoop.

My colleague Rob Moynihan summed up the panel here. And here are a few more pics from the panel, snapped by TV Guide Magazine's west coast photo editor, Geraldine Agoncillo.

Daily News Finally Finds Its Missing "Los Angeles"

I've wondered for years why the Valley-based Daily News wouldn't put "Los Angeles" in its name. Perhaps that was answered for me when the Daily News pushed for Valley succession a decade ago. But nonetheless, when most people hear "Daily News," they probably think "New York Daily News." I would assume that the name "Los Angeles Daily News" would be a much better sales tool for the paper, and perhaps help distract from the fact that its circulation is less than 100,000.

Well, perhaps the paper is finally wise to the power of making it a bit more clear that you're located in the nation's No. 2 market. As part of the newspaper's recent redesign (above), it has finally started calling itself the "Los Angeles Daily News" in its nameplate.

Similarly, I don't know if you noticed, but within the last year, Santa Monica College's KCRW has finally started including "Los Angeles" in its station ID. Santa Monica is still KCRW's city of license, but the station now identifies itself as "KCRW, Santa Monica-Los Angeles." (By the way, when I was at KCSN, we always identified ourselves as "KCSN, Northridge-Los Angeles" -- which is odd, since Northridge is not a city.)