My company is cool enough to give us Columbus Day off, so I spent the day hanging out with my mom who was visiting from Texas. The main event -- which you can probably tell from the pictures below -- was the Warner Brother's VIP Studio Tour. If you've never done it, I highly recommend it. Well worth the $45 admission -- and much cooler and more informative than the Universal Backlot Tour. I took pictures where I could. Some areas were off limits for cameras, though. This was my second time on the tour, so I was able to watch my mom experience it all -- but even I got some surprises. Our tour guide took us on the sets of two of my favorite Warner shows. Alas, my Inner Geek became my Outer Geek at that point. So. Cool. If you take the tour, ask for Bob. He was fantastic.
Here we go, though...
9:50 a.m. - Morning Has Broken.
We stayed up late -- really late -- watching TV the night/morning before, so we let ourselves sleep in. I know I'm biased, but I think my room is really cozy.
10:39 a.m. - Mixing It Up.
Mom starts mixing up the chocolate cake. Mama, I tried not to get you in this picture. Promise.
11:53 a.m. - Chocolate Cake!
The cake layers cool while we get ready to go to Burbank. Is it just me, or do they look kind of like giant hamburger patties?
1:11 p.m. - A Little More...
My mom got her first real taste of Poquito Mas. (We split a Traditional Vegetarian burrito with pinto beans, no salsa, cut in half.) I'm always amused by these signs. I mean, I understand their purpose -- but it doesn't mean I'm not going to sneak a picture anyway.
1:40 p.m. - Thufferin' Thuccotash!
Mom poses with Daffy Duck in front of the Warner Brothers tour center. I was so excited that my mom got to do this tour. It was so much fun seeing it all through her eyes.
2:57 p.m. - Ever Dance With the Devil in the Pale Moonlight?
The amazing Bob (our Warner Brothers tour guide) tells us about the Batmobile and Tumbler on display at the studio.
3:09 p.m. - I'll Be There For Youuuu.
Aside from the fact that I love the fact that I have a picture with my mom "inside" Central Perk, I hate this picture. That stupid (but necessary) hoodie did me NO favors. Ugh.
5:36 p.m. - Barnes & Noble.
My mom has a tradition of buying a book on Hollywood history every time she's here. She wasn't about to break that tradition this trip, so we stopped at the Studio City Barnes & Noble on the way back to my part of town.
7:21 p.m. - Chinatown!
This was actually our second visit to Yang Chow this weekend. On Saturday night, we picked up slippery shrimp and sauteed green beans. It was enough to make my mom want to return.
7:46 p.m. - Chinese Food. Om nom nom.
In addition to Saturday's leftovers, we picked up some Szechuan beef, combination fried rice, and spring rolls. So, so good.
9:14 p.m. - The Finished Product.
Mom shows off the finished cake. There's actually another version of this picture that I like better, but Mama would kill me if I posted it. I had her say "cheese!" and it turned out hilarious. That one will have to go in my private scrapbook.
11:29 p.m. - Updating the iPod.
Mom was leaving the next morning at 6:50, so I wanted to make sure she had some primo tunes.
