Friday Fun with Croissants and Cake Pops

After a long work week, you deserve a treat. Why not have a little fun this Friday night by focusing on dessert instead of dinner? These places are sure to make the start of your weekend pretty sweet!

Drinks & Sweet Treats

The Back Door Bakery & Cafe  serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but it also has pastries. Think about after-dinner coffee cake and coffee or tea, or even pair a glass of wine with one of the many flavored croissants (like chocolate, chocolate mint, cinnamon cream, orange almond, almond, chocolate hazelnut or custard). It’s open 6am to 10pm and located at 8349 Foothill Blvd, Los Angeles.

Cake Pops

Get creative with your Friday night stop at V-Lo’s Cake Pops & Cupcakes. The Instagram account @vlocakepops is filled with pictures of the owner’s creations, like: gold-colored dipped strawberries, as well as pops shaped like masquerade masks, unicorns, Minnie, baby animals, Ghostbusters, Jack Skellingtons, eyeballs with forks in them, monkeys, and Thomas trains. Location: 15744 Drell St, Sylmar, CA 91342

 

Groupon to Get Your L.A. Workout On

Looking for something new to inspire your workouts this November? Try looking through the Groupon offers in the Los Angeles area to find something new and exciting.

Climb

Top Out Climbing Center is offering up to 72 percent off. This facility is 11,500 square feet and offers climbing and bouldering terrain. There are three options for 90-minute lessons (after which they will offer a week-long free membership trial):

  • $20 for one (a $40 value)
  • $35 for two (an $80 value)
  • $45 for four (a $160 value)

Not into climbing, but your significant other is? Top Out also offers yoga!

Hit the Cardio Barre

Hit this Studio City location if you want a dancer’s body, but don’t necessarily want to do to a ballet studio. The point of this workout is “toning effects of barre work and light strength training” according to the Groupon. $39 gets your five classes (which normally cost $100). Just arrive 15-minutes early with a full size towel, water, and your Groupon.

 

November Events for Fans of Olde & Brides-To-Be

Not sure what to do now that Halloween is over? Consider these events to help you make it until Thanksgiving!

If you like renaissance festivals:

Go back in time with the 2016 Nottingham Festival. On November 5, 6, 12, and 13, this traditional renaissance festival will be at the Civic Center park. Tickets start at $12. Not only will you experience the times of old, but you can also drink beer, but also eat food like turkey legs, kettle corn, jerky, meat pies and more. For more information, visit here.

If you’re a bride-to-be:

Consider making the hour-long trek to Anaheim’s Wyndham Anaheim Garden Grove for the Great Bridal Expo on Sunday, Nov. 13, starting at noon. Tickets are $10 and allow you to see a variety of vendors. Consider bringing your other half, as there are prizes like free wedding bands for the first 100 couples to register online at https://greatbridalexpo.com.

Halloween Events Near Lake View Terrace

For Kids:

The Lake View Terrace Recreation Center and Sunland Recreation Center is hosting a Halloween Carnival on Monday, Oct. 31. Times depend on you children’s ages, as the flyer here breaks down times slots for specific ages groups. For more information, call (818) 899-8087, or visit 11075 Foothill Blvd, Lake View Terrace, CA 91342.

Take the kids to Boo at the Zoo. There will be special events, and on Oct. 30, the zoo plans to feed the elephants and hippos a special treat—pumpkins! Click here to buy tickets online.

 

For Adults:

Along with the usual Universal Studios rides, check out the Halloween features inspired by American Horror Story, The Exorcist, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Krampus, Freddy vs. Jason, Halloween, and The Walking Dead. Tickets for Monday, October 31 start at $79. Find out more here.

If you’re looking for a “grown-up” event, Hollywood Monster Night boasts that it will be the biggest party in LA—complete with 4 DJs, a full bar, lasers, etc. It’s at the Riviera 31 at Sofitel Beverly Hills. You can get single or group tickets starting at $55.

Dollar Store Halloween Decor to Die For

Halloween decorations aren’t always the most affordable. However, there are some creative tricks that can make your party guests think you’ve spent more!

One inexpensive Halloween hack is to save all your toilet paper or paper towel rolls. After you’ve collected a few, cut scary eye holes into the roll, insert a glow stick, and stash the roll in a dark place—like under the couch. Your guests will feel like monsters are watching them!

Place Dollar Tree fingers, eyes, or ears in mason jars filled with water and red food coloring. It will give your décor a “mad scientist” feel. You can find an example here.

Stash faux skulls and bones throughout the apartment—like in the shower, large jars, and fireplaces.

You can also browse Handy Home Tips for a list of 20 dollar store décor ideas, such as drawing ghost mouths and eyes on the holders of white pillar candles.