25 Things to do in SoCal

[EDIT: Updated 8/11/09...Almost done ;-)]

So I was driving today, as we are oft wont to do in this area, when a thought occurred to me: I'm leaving Southern California in four months! And when I leave, it is entirely possible that I will never be able to experience SoCal as a resident again, but only as its occasional guest. I do not mean to sound resentful of the area, mind you--SoCal, despite how hard I have tried to escape it, leaves quite a strong impression on me and will always have a special place as my one and only real "home." The fact of the matter is, though, that after I go away to grad school next fall, I will probably never move back, since jobs in my field are few and far between in this area and since, to be honest, I hate driving! But I digress; people like me are trying hard to change the car culture of this area.

Anyway, I was thinking, there are a number of things that I can do in SoCal that I can't do anywhere else during the summer, and as such I am working on a "List of 25 Things to Do Before Leaving Southern California." Now, while 25 is the number given, I claim the right to, at my discretion, increase or decrease the number of tasks as I see fit. Without further ado:

1. Go camping! It's been forever since I have done this in general, and SoCal has some of the best campsites in the nation. What better time than now? And it's cheap! [done! See photos: http://bit.ly/fN37Y. Thanks to Mr. NEO for posting.]
2. Go to as many happy hours as I possibly can. My favorite happy hour so far: JT Schmid's in Tustin (also in Anaheim), who sells pitchers (approx 4 beers) of their proprietary brews for $6, not to mention super cheap appetizers that are really good! For ideas: http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/happy_hour/ [done: JT Schmid's, TGI Fridays, Dave & Busters, Lazy Dog Cafe, Alcatraz Brewing Co., Memphis Cafe]
3. Use my remaining gift cards for Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, which only has locations in SoCal. Right now I have about $32 to spend. What is that, like, two coffees or a latte a week? [UGH...still at $17.30]
4. Go on a cruise. This is a hope of mine. But, they're only like $200 and there are some good last-minute deals that Carnival sends me. And when else will I ever get to go on a Booze Cruise with hundreds of college co-eds? Again, that is. [yeah...not gonna happen THIS summer. Maybe soon?]
5. Road trip to NorCal. Does this count? I think it does! [tragedy]
6. Hotel party. Need I say more? This has been planned for many many years, and has yet to actually happen. I believe it's time. [going away party idea?]
7. Use my Disneyland AP as much as humanly possible, aside from going every single day. Devote trips just to riding one or two rides or seeing a show, especially as summer crowds begin.
8. Go to Disney's Food and Wine Festival at California Adventure. Enjoy free wine-tastings and amazing food.
9. Go to Disneyland, ride Winnie the Pooh and Alice with the aid of a beverage or two. Experience the maximum of trippiness.
10. After having been to Disneyland 800 times, avoid Disneyland for a year. Ok, it's not a real task, but I'm pretty sure I will have had my fill. Although, my birthday may be worth coming back for... [Yeah, pretty much...]
11. Watch the California Supreme Court overturn Prop 8. One can hope, no? [edit: guess not :-/. retry in 2010?]
12. Go to the Improv. One of them. At least. [does comedy night at Memphis Cafe count?]
13. Spend a few hours at each of the major shopping centers: South Coast Plaza (inc. Metro Pointe), Irvine Spectrum, Brea Mall, The Block, Downtown Disney, The Marketplace (Tustin/Irvine) [edit: I'm actually working right next door now, on Wednesdays], Fashion Island. After waiting an hour to find parking, buy nothing. Remark on the overwhelming number of people there who are much younger than I am. Feel extremely old.
14. See Terminator: ROTM, Up!, Star Trek, and one to two other summer blockbusters. Granted, this is not an exclusively SoCal activity. But I'm pretty sure there are few other places you can pay so much to do it. New York, here I come! [Side note: DISTRICT 9!!! Kthx]
15. Beach Bonfire. It's tradition!
16. While I'm on the subject: go running along the beach.
17. Get a gourmet cupcake with a gourmet cup of coffee at a drive thru cupcake place. Park and eat it in the car. Any suggestions on such a place (perhaps this is only the stuff of dreams). [K, well it wasn't drive-thru, but it was picked up at Sprinkles and brought to my office for my co-worker's b-day, so I think this counts]
18. Go to In-n-out. Like 4 times. You remember the commercials with the guy who goes to college in Boston? Yeah, think about that. [Easier than it seems]
19. Bring a picnic to a summer concert.
20. Have a picnic in general. Especially those that involve bread and cheese and beer and Jason. The last ingredient is critical. [Happening today!]
21. Run at Mile Square, again. Wonder why my ankles are destroyed when I'm 50.
22. Eat Ebisu, about 5 or more times. This is more essential than In-N-Out. [edit: current count, 3]
23. Eat Pho, probably at the place on the corner. Or the one across the street. Or the one down the street. Or the 50 in Little Saigon. Or...
24. Eat Red Mango, followed by Pinkberry. Preferably somewhere where they are across the street from each other. Compare. Eat Golden Spoon and remember why the flavored stuff is always best.
25. Going away party? There's a lot I will miss here, but I think there is one thing I will miss most: friends. I know, corny, but despite all of the above, my friends (& family, of course) are probably the only reason I'll keep coming back. Unless they all move to Boston...(nudge nudge).