FEBRUARY - Despite being assured that office remodel would keep the original trees and preserve the landscaping Continental Development is supposedly known for, all of the trees in our complex disappeared over the weekend!

SEPTEMBER - The original driveway into our parking structure is now long gone...as is all of the shared green space

All vehicles should have spoilers!

Smartphone panorama from the parking structure of 880 Apollo

OCTOBER - When I first saw the proposal for how they were going to turn Cozymel's into a bunch of restaurants, I couldn't conceive of how the lot could support multiple cafes, but apparently it can! And Shake Shack looks nearly ready to open...just steps from BRB.

NOVEMBER - Shake Shack's soft opening has arrived with free meals for friends and family which they have extended to their neighbors...including Big Red Button!

Morgan, Adam, Gary, Alissa, and I wait for our orders

If I remember correctly, I first heard about Shake Shack from one of Valerie's business trips to New York City

Foosball

We bring our food back to the office so we can eat at our desks

The Smokehouse Burger is small, but tasty (a double would have been way better, but they only offered a single today). In particular, I appreciate the crispness of the bacon. Fries also have a nice crisp edge to them. The bun however is nothing special. Chocolate shake is solid (I would expect nothing less from an establishment with "Shake" in its name). I would go again and would definitely try more of their shakes(dangerous since they are the closest food option to our office)

While I find this meal to be satisfying, I am not sure it is worth the prices they plan to charge. In-N-Out is more filling and a much better deal.

DECEMBER - BRB is invited to another free meal ahead of an opening. Tender Greens will be Apollo Landing's second opening (after Steak Shack). Unlike Shake Shack, I have been to a Tender Greens location before...but only once.

Salted caramel cookie. A former colleague commented (on Facebook) that this looks like a pile of shit. Well, it was tasty shit.

I am having the Backyard Steak Salad with a Pineapple-Orange Agua Fresca to chase it down. Both were very tasty and I would easily order them again. They offer free refills on the agua fresca (hopefully not just part of this friends-and-family opening).

I head back down to Tender Greens to see if their friends and family event has continued into the evening...and, much to my delight, it is. I decide to sample something I might not have considered ordering if I had to pay for it...the Serrano Grilled Shrimp Bowl. The grilled shrimp, California sprouted rice, roasted corn, poblano chile, avocado crema, and cabbage prove to be a tasty combination.

Christmas is coming

This photograph will soon be the cover for Big Red Button's Facebook Page

Today Big Red Button is hosting its third annual Star Wars Holiday Party + screening, though this time the party will happen after we see the movie

The annual pilgrimage to our local ArcLight has begun

No, we are not here to watch Thor: Ragnarok

Hey, for once we aren't sitting inches from the screen!