UnHip LA

 

Take your date to see "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi," Shahrukh Khan’s latest Bollywood romantic comedy offering.  It’s playing at the Naz 8 in Artesia.  The movie is about an older man who has an arranged marriage with a younger woman (who has a tragic back story), and how he tries to woo her by entering a dance contest.  The movie has Bollywood heart and soul all the way and gets pretty philosophical about what true love really is.  It steered clear of paneer (cheese) somehow and just told a satisfying story with comical yet touching acting by Shahrukh Khan and his forlorn co-star Anushka Sharma.  The soundtrack is outstanding as well, very poetic and dance beat-y at the same time.  Though I don’t understand the lyrics, I know the songs are about love and finding your true partner. The Hindi word kuch = love something (Thanks Soni).  My favorite song is Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai.

I was first introduced to Bollywood fare via Abhishek Bachchan whom I adored, but now I have finally discovered the greatness of SRK.  He delivers time and time again, and picks better projects than Abhi does.  SRK’s work seems more mature and deep than Abhi’s, yet at the same time very charming and highly entertaining.  I drool for SRK. 

After you see the movie, I suggest dining in Artesia.  Any restaurant would probably offer you a spicy and seductive meal.  Happy Valentine’s Day!   Here are my former posts on my lovely trips to Little India, Artesia, here, here, here, here, and here.  Anyone have any restaurant suggestions for Little India?  If you go, you’ll most likely have an uncrowded and pleasant Valentine’s Day!

*** UPDATE *** SRK is in another movie playing at the Naz 8 too.  It’s called Billu Barber.  I have not seen it yet.

I visited the new Fresh & Easy in Alhambra on Sunday.  It was hopping!  I think Fresh & Easy has hit pay dirt with this location, which is across the way from Target, and in an area that needed a grocery store.  The store is large and has more product variety than I thought it would, especially in bath products.  I guess I was expecting a much smaller, more boutique-y store.  This is more like a nice-looking 99-cent store.  Some items seemed really cheap (cookies); others did not (frozen Indian food).  I bought a bag of salad which quickly wilted.  The pink Princess cupcakes were disappointing.  I was impressed by the tea selection and got a tasty chocolate-flavored black tea box for $2.15.  The store is from England, so I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised by the tea selection.  I am not sure if I will be a Fresh & Easy regular though as I was not too impressed with the ready-made food selection.  It was not that cheap!  I also had some difficulty at the self-checkout, paying for my bananas twice.  A clerk had to delete one purchase.  It was kinda annoying.  I think the reason I was so not thrilled by Fresh & Easy is I have been to grocery stores in London and was thinking this would be modern and cool like those.  I will give Fresh & Easy another chance though.  Be forewarned - at Fresh & Easy you check yourself out and bag your own groceries.  I could see this being a problem with people who are not familiar with computers, such as my mother.