by Diana G.
the little town center that...couldn't.I've grown up in Encino. And yes, I joined Yelp mainly because there's nothing to do in Encino, and I'm finally accepting that fact.this town center was, for me as a teenager without a car, like some kind of tantalizing desert mirage. A place where things happen?! That I could get to?! Well, yes and no. I do like the Laemmle theater; my friends and I have been hitting that theater fairly regularly since we were maybe 15?Yes, the place is old and run-down, the seats are ratty, the screens are small, and the median age of the clientele is 60, but in some ways the hidden unassuming character of the place has always made me feel a certain community protectiveness towards the old theater. Not to mention, those elderly people make for a very quiet audience. And I like all of the odd films they show - some, like the small independents or the rereleases, wouldn't be shown anywhere else. I saw Gone With the Wind there on the big screen when I was 17 - that was practically a full day event! I've often stopped for films i knew nothing about, just to see what they were, and have gotten rewards like Waking Ned Devine, and flops like Pumpkin (sorry if you like this one).I like Rubio's Fish Tacos; they make decent food, the outdoor patio option is nice, and I've always gotten a kick out of the random saltwater fish tank and the surfboard on the wall.I've always been intrigued by the travel agency on the lower level - it's so tiny and messy, and who possibly goes there?then there are some things which are OK. More than waffles makes fairly good food, and they have live music once a week, but it's pricey and not really that exciting.there's some kind of new trendy smoothie/yogurt place now, which is expensive, but alrightthe middle eastern restaurant, which I've never been to, has a hookah lounge, and I'm pretty sure live music. Might be worth looking up.Sky sushi was good while it existed, though it was overpriced for the quality of the food. (Unless Sky was over at Encino Place, in which case the review still stands, but it was located a couple blocks away)I even hung out in the frame store a couple of times. Yes, I was that bored. And they have some really nice frames.The rest offers nothing in the way of amusement or edibility. So, in conclusion, decent, but not great.
