Santa Monica/Venice

Me: I made it to Manhattan Beach. I don't recommend going that far in a heavy cruiser with a 15 lb dog in your basket! Lotsa extra weight!

Bars

The bungalow

As name suggests, an old bungalow home converted to a bar! Feels like someone's cool place.

The bungalow is  Just steps away from touristy promenade for world class shopping which you are allowed to stop by of course! It's an outdoor shopping mall. Don't forget to check out the new Santa Monica place if you do go to the promenade. I enjoy eating at zengo on the 3rd floor. Modern Latin American menu with happy hours and good cocktails. Plus you can kinda see the ocean from up there. And the couches/seating is nice. 

And of course you might as well walk to pier. Maybe ride the Ferris wheel. I highly highly recommend you rent a bike and take it down the bike path. You can stop at Venice. (only about a mile or 2 away).Keep going to Washington st another mile or 2) And even go some more up until Manhattan beach! That's about 30 miles round trip. :)

Visit

Abbot Kinney blvd for food, shops, and bars. 

Gjelina is suppose to be great food although I have yet to try! If you can do it please do. In the day time there a lot if cute shops especially for home. Moon juice has a store here (a juice company run by a seasoned chef so think amazing flavor combinations). There's also an inteligentsia for coffee off this blvd. For evenings I like the brig which is loud and full of energy. Down the other end of street is the other room, a wine bar, which is dark and more quiet feeling. 

If you visit Venice beach. Do not be surprised by it's grittiness. Do enjoy drinks at the rooftop if Erwin hotel! Hey have warm cocktails for that cool ocean breeze, heaters, and blankets too, but that view up and down the California coast! Plus the couches feel private, each sectioned off. I love that they stuck with the street art theme even though it's a nice hotel! 

There is also a poke place called poke poke and a bread pudding stall right to for it for cheap and light bites! Otherwise you'll just be eating a lot of expected beach side food which is not bad. You know.. Pizza and burgers. 

If you like dives and pool go to Hinano cafe off Washington blvd. it will force you to walk down the beach path for a it. They also claim best burgers in town. There are a lot of dives off that street. Including Cabo Cantina for greasy bad but what your body wants with margaritas and cheap Mexican beer. And they have happy hour. Yah!

A circa 2010 photo. We are at the other room. It was dark when we walked in. I told my friends, "When I go to a dark place this I think there is celebrity around." Lo and behold there was one and we even sat right next him. It's L.A. Keep your eyes open!

Los Feliz/silver lake/echo park

Points of interest:

Griffith observatory

Come for the view or do a hike up the highest peak on the opposite end of the parking lot. You will see people heading that way. Either way. You will get a nice view of LA. Good place to get Hollywood sign photos. Try to catch a planetarium show. They redid it and the shows leave me mind blown! And then walk around and enjoy the exhibits inside too! 

Eat:

1) sqirl

For breakfast head to sqirl. You will not get typical breakfast fares here! You will get something different! Rice porridges or sorrel pesto rice with egg. Thick toast with homemade jam and ricotta. Turmeric elixirs. Almond milk made in house! Good coffee. 

2) Mohawk bend

They have a huge selection of brews. And it is owned by golden brewery (local brewery which is also worth a visit). Modern American. Good appetizers, California pizzas (seasonal ingredients), and good burgers. Love the interior too! 

3) Mess hall

 Mess hall theme but in nice way. Another contemporary American place with good appetizers, food, and drink.

4) Cliff's edge
Supposed to be good for brunch for it's patio but I actually love their dining room and the dinner menu much better. It's dimly lit and intimate. I love the menu. 

5) mixto

There are a lot of Mexican places but I loved this place for feeling fresh. Speaks more to the Californian palete. They have a kale ceasar salad. But they have a rockin habernero salsa! And usual fixins of Asada, carnitas, and  also grilled fish, plus more. 

6) Street tacos
You've had dinner, got out drinking and now you need something to help soak up the alcohol. Get tacos late at night. Look for Taco Zone, who's truck doesn't show up until about 8:00 P.M. and stays there probably util 1:00 P.M.VONS (that's our Safeway yo) parking lot, order their brisket. My favortie taco there was actually the vegetarian one with cheese! Try it.
If you are into Offal meats such as tripe! Got o Leo's in Eagle Rock.

7) Coffee

Go to Intellgentsia. I love the sunset junction location. It's by the silver lake cheese shop and clementine flower shop.  Simple but interesting interior. 

8) Strictly Drinks

You can head to Bigfoot Lodge for a Camp themed night out with the nearby Griffith nearby. If you like Hip Hop, Verdugo Bar is a good option. Both places are more relaxed,. For a crazier more energy filled night please see my Hollywood List. Edendale is also a good place to stop by for drink if you like pretty place. It's really a restarant though, so it's better for just 1 drink. 

9) new and haven't been and critically acclaimed but also fairly priced

pine and crane

For modern California take on tawainese food. Definitely looks like a place I would love even though I have not yet been! Cute decor. 

Downtown

Me: on Angel's Flight "the world's shortest railway

Takes you up Bunker Hill

Let's start in the heart of L.A. Downtown. This is probably one of the fastest changing, evolving parts of L.A.. It's where the newest hotels to stay at or where the newest restaurants, bars, and coffee shops are opening. Maybe to you that is a a given for a downtown area, but just 8 years ago when I first moved to L.A. It was not like that at all! There was always Lil'Tokyo and a few classic joints that have been there forever but it was definitely not the vibrant town it is now. I've already been gone for a year, so I'm already scared my places are outdated but I'm sure the places I've pick are new classics. :)

Best bars:

1) the Gorbals: really a restaurant run by top chef alum, ilan hall, heavily Jewish influenced menu but with a twist! Think matzo balls covered in bacon! Yikes! Hah. But I loved to come for a drink and the watch people dance. There was a band that played there called California Feetwarmers. The band would transport me to 1930s Eastern Europe. Yiddish party music. People dancing. Really dancing! Not just bobbing thier bodies to whatever but twirling and coordinating thier feet. Talk about testing your compatibility with a dude this way. The restaurant is in historic Alexandria hotel, which was once run down but now enjoying some kind of revival. 

2) Edison 

1930s speakeasy theme. In an old Edison power plant, and you will see remnants of it in the bar. Highly suggested to make a reservation! So you have a place for your party! Employees in flapper dresses. There's a fairy that walks  around with absinthe in her cart. No dance floor, but they do play music.

3) rooftop at the standard

I suggest coming on obsure weekend. No cover. And more relaxing. Otherwise on a weekend, thier maybe a cover charge for thier pool party on the weekend. There will be lines and cover on a weekend. But if you don't mind that than do it. But yes, I said rooftop, so there will be a view, a nice breeze, and interesting furnishings to enjoy.

Food! 

1) Bottega Louie

High ceilings and poor acoustics make you feel like you are in Manhattan (why must I even make that comparison? LA is >) I love the table the host waits at. The most beautiful dessert cases and the best macaroons. Food is good too and fairly priced. You can still get seated without a reservation (and I can't remember if they even take them!)

2) Sugarfish

The best sushi I've ever had. Simple. Just nigiri. And served at perfect temperature! Melt in your mouth. They have a simple menu setup too where you pick a $20, $30, or $40 omasake. Or you can order a la carte. They don't take reservations. Just show up!

3) The Grand Central Market
Recently included in the country's best "restaurants." A half market/half food court, almost outdoor space. Combines old with new! So you'll see old Mexican and Chinese joints but also the new Egg Slut, Wexler's deli, and G & B coffee. Take Angels Flight for .50 cent up to Bunker Hill. There is more food up there, including the famous Mendocino Farms for soups and salads or starry kitchen for neuvo Asian food.  You should also stop by the Bradbury building for historic architecture. (blade runner filled inside)

4) Wurskuche

Sausage and beer and it's in the arts district. All sorts of sausages like rabbit and snake or even a Filipino sweet pork sausage! Pie hole is across the street for desserts! 

5) my fave place to eat is Marco bercat for good cocktails and small bites. Good flat breads and unique and appetizers. Prices are fair. And not that hard to get a reservation the same week but I still recommend getting one at least 2 weeks ahead! 

6) Favorite cheap eat
Besides the ever changing Grand Central Market, CHEGO is a must.Chef Roy Choi. Explosive Asian/LA/Latino flavors in your mouth. Spam kimchee bowl. Primerib with rice. Everything under $10!

 Coffee
Head to Urth for great coffee and desserts! Order a Spanish Latte.

 place to stay

Ace hotel is supposed to be the new best place to stay. I have yet to visit! But I recommend considering it as a choice! I'm sure it would be a cool place to drink as well.

critically acclaimed and not been to:

Bestia. Bestia has won my favorite food Critic's claim for best restaurant in LA. This place will need a reaervation for at least a month in advance and is definitely a spurlge.

 non food related points of interest:

The flower mart. I recommend visiting the flower mart but get there early! You can get there as early as 5:00, but anytime in the morning should be good. Do not even think about coming past 11. You've missed the boat. When you think of a place of L.A. you get to experience the best of all worlds here because it is just so diverse! Expect is with the fowbtown flower mart! All sorts of flowers for the best flowers! My family stopped by right before my graduation party and I had the most beautiful flowers! 

Me and my niece, Janaya, with my flowers!

L.A.: let me be your tourguide

L.A. Sprawls really wide and there are many pockets of town. I've lived all over L.A. For the past 7 years and it's always constantly changing. New places opening up, and many close. Let me be your tourguide. My next several posts will be about my old favorite haunts in different parts of town. 

Vegas

What's a photo w/o a creeper photo bomber? 

A couple months ago I made it to Vegas. Vegas is meant to be indulgent and that is what we did. Trip included good food, clubbing for both nights, and pool parties. I requested prime rib the first night. So we ended up at lawry's, which was my first time doing. Classic service included our table for our booth being pulled out so we could easily get to our seat, table side salad dressing, and table side carving. I could not complain. My steak pretty much looks alive here.

Highlight of my trip was def the pool party. Kinda felt like I was on a mission. What kind of mission? Uh.. The.. Ladies don't buy thier own drinks kind of mission. I had some guys tell me they were from Santa Monica, my usual suspecting self snapped back,  "no! you guys can't afford San Monica!" Which is very asshole of me to say when the dude was buying everyone drinks. Heh. They were nice. He thought it was funny. 

We went out both nights. While people often wear tiny dresses, on the second night I ended up with something with sleeves and I had a revelation that went something like, "yup being almost naked on a dance floor makes a lot more sense since it gets so hot." Take note dudes, we are wearing tiny dresses bc it is hot, not so you can look up our dresses. We also look too sober here and we were. We got see tiesto, whom I've been listening to for over 10 years now, and I really should have let that thought sink in more. And I think it did, and it def brought back memories for those days. (What's those days? Maybe the days i first discovered edm.) we look way to sober here and we were. We did most of our drinking during the day at the beach club, so we took it easy here. Plus we were right by the dj booth and did not want to move. Thanks to my shortness though, I still could not see tiesto. Hah.

Recovery the next day was spent at the Bachannal buffet. We beat the crowd and did not have to wait in line. Plus it felt like my first time there, since my first time there, I was a vegetarian, and nothing was vegetarian there. So this time I was able to eat everything. A lot of things were good and everything look cute. My cheesy polenta. My mushroom soup. The fries. Here's a pic of my desserts. All Asian themed. Red bean ice cream. Pandan tiramisu. Mango pudding.

San Deezy

Brought my nephew down to San Diego  for his orientation and placement exam tests and of course we had to have a little fun. I even got to pick up my doggie for the weekend. First stop was Huntington Beach where we picked up some poke.

Then was Bull frog tacos in Encinitas which was a on state park. I need to plan a camping trip there one day. They had duck, goat meat as an option too besides usual beef and fish. My sister got one thier shrimp, bacon, and hash brown tacos too! Beautiful view and the water was acutually nice.

Finally down in San Diego about 15 hrs later, we had dinner with friends at Maru for Korean bar food.

Monday night we headed to Soda and swine. Which was this cool indoor/outdoor shack thing going on. Theme wAs meatballs and you order is with the sauce, cheese, and way you want to eat it. Of course they had a  good selection of soda including on tap root beer. I opted for a champagne slushie!

Tuesday night we celebrated taco Tuesday at Playa taco! And then Wednesday we waited for my nephew to finish up his orientation and off we went back to home and the reality of work life.