Zannee’s Blog at BargainsLA.com

Sunday I took my husband, daughter and her friend shopping. After checking out the racks and snatching up some deals at the Warehouse Sale at the Convention Center and a visit to China town, by 2pm all of us were ready for some refueling.

Neither my husband or I had been into Philippe’s in over a decade. Neither of the kids had been either so we decided a trek into this 100-year-old landmark and home of the original French Dip sandwich was in order.

Thank God some things don’t change. Same sawdust on the floors and the same long, burgundy Formica-topped counter/tables. It was the same crusty atmosphere (except for the flat screen TV w/ a dodger game playing) and most importantly, it was the same really good food. The counter service was lighting fast and with a smiling happy face from a woman who may have been there last time I was.

But on top of all the nostalgia, local history and old-fashioned good food was the delight in the prices. Beef French dip sandwiched are $5.35, Lemonades are 70 cents each, kosher pickles are 95 cents each (made there). My Ice tea was only 60 cents. Everything was really good, especially their famous spicy mustard (we bought a jar) and the girls enjoyed chowing down an original French Dip sandwich in a landmark eatery after a day of bargain shopping. Perfect!

Philippe’s
1001 N Alameda St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213.628.3781
www.philippes.com

OY! I broke down and went back to school shopping.
It was great!

I took my daughter and her friend to the Von Dutch Originals Parking Lot Sale this last weekend to hunt for Back to School stuff for her fashionista crew. It was really busy but yielded several really good buys so the girls could look great on their first day back at school.

With prices starting at a dollar and only the couture line at $20 or more… it was like watching girls go crazy in a candy store. My daughter tore thru boxes pulling out shoes @ $15, tops @ $5-$10. Jackets at $10-$20 Skirts at $5-$10.

Such fun, such energy! Watching their editing process alone was worth the visit. I just sat back and giggled as my daughter taught her friend how to bargain shop at a sale.

My daughter, Shae walked away with a styling signature Von Dutch skirt and top, her girlfriend came away with two fashion tops… one blouse and one tee. The grand total $20.

I took them out to lunch to celebrate their frugal savvy shopping!

PS We gave the heads up on this fabulous sale to all the peeps on our mailing list. To join the mailing list and be kept up to date,  click here

Through most of the rest of this summer, my daughter is home… Yep, home and somewhat bored. So on days when she has no one to hang with or nothing to do, I try to take her interesting places.

Today I had very little time available, so a walk in the morining with me to get coffee and a run out to Highland Park in the afternoon was all I could muster. Specifically to hit famous pop and candy market, Galco’s.

I was craving a real, or as close to real as I could get, bottled Coca Cola and Shae wanted a crème soda. This place is soda heaven. Row upon row of dozens of types of cola, rootbeers, ales. Crème sodas, and even Sasparilla. So many different names and labels. Some from out of the country and some boutique (hard to find) USA brands.

But it was the candy selection that held my daughters focus. I had told her about old time candies that I had had when I was a kid, and here she could try one … anyone for just $.99

I showed her Look bars, Big Hunks, but it was the cigarette shaped gum that she wanted. So feeling totally politically incorrect, I told her she could have three boxes. After seeing Grandma suffer from Emphsyma, I am not worried about her ever smoking. We both smacked some around on the drive home… funny, it wasn’t as good as I remember.

As I write this I am sipping on a sugar cane sweetened Coca Cola in a bottle. It was as good as I remember. Regardless of how they market it, Coca Cola is better in a glass bottle. Cans be damned! I got Kevin a Saparilla and some Dads rootbeer and myself 4 bottles of sugar cane Coca Cola, Sasparilla and cream soda.

Most bottled sodas here run $1.50-$2, so this wasn’t a bargain run. But if you really want the best soda and are particular, this is the place to visit. This place is a serious throw back to the 1960’s. It’s totally refreshing from the outrageous soda and candy selections down to the conveyor belt at check out.

Galcos Soda Pop Stop
5702 York Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90042
323.255.7115

www.sodapopstop.com