Sail Away With Me...

I really love the ocean in general, but in particular I love boats. There is something so calming about being on the water. While I've spent many a voyage on our family boat in Mexico and Orange County, I had never been out in LA. Last weekend, Chad and I had the opportunity to cruise through Marina Del Rey and it was beautiful... I encourage you to book your own trip and take advantage of the summer sun!  

 *Disclaimer -- I should mention that we were not actually sailing. While I find sail boats to be quite majestic, I have never actually been sailing and it does in fact seem like a lot of work :)

A World Away

The best part of LA is having so many weekend getaway spots. From downtown, we are two hours or less to the desert, the mountains, wine country, mexico, the beach... the list goes on. One such escape is Palm Springs. My best friend and I spent the weekend away at my Grandparent's condo for some much needed girl time! Gotta love the heat...

Water mist to keep cool

We went to lunch at a great hotel called the Colony Palms Hotel (featured above and below). We viewed a room and it was beautiful. If you're looking to book a trip, I would definitely suggest this boutique hotel. 

Palm Springs truly is an oasis in the middle of the desert. Susanna and I beat the heat floating in the pool all weekend. When it's a bit cooler (it was in the 100s!), it's a great place to play a game of golf or tennis. 

Melancholia

While I'm no critic, I believe any good film should linger in the mind of it's viewer for days, weeks or even months. One such movie that I continue to think about (even though I watched it nearly two weeks ago) is Melancholia. The director, Lars von Trier, pitched the film as "A beautiful movie about the end of the world"-- it is exactly that. While I am certain Chad would have fallen asleep within the first ten minutes (his favorite movie is Transformers), I was completely captivated by it's beauty. Featuring music from Richard Wagner's opera Tristan & Isolde, the film focuses on two sisters while a hidden planet heads toward Earth.

 

With a noteworthy performance by Kirsten Dunst, Melancholia is more than just an armageddon story, it deals with the human psyche. It's available now on Netflix.

Take me Back to Paradise

On our honeymoon, Chad and I drank the most delicious drinks! It was a homemade cocktail that I still just can't get enough of. Perhaps it's the summer heat, or maybe it's the fact that we are approaching our one year anniversary, but my drink of choice has recently been the Pog Punch.  I'm getting ready for a weekend in Palm Springs and I can't wait to sit by the pool sippin' this lovely libation...

To make, you'll need 1/3 dark rum and P-O-G. Which is a blend of Passion fruit juice, Orange juice and Guava juice. And yes, these are actual photos from my honeymoon (lucky me!). Check back in for photos of my weekender..!

An Architectural Gem

Although it appears to be just a normal brick building from the exterior, the interior of The Bradbury Building boasts something entirely different. Built in 1893, it was commissioned by mining millionaire Lewis L. Bradbury and designed by George Wyman. An architectural and historical landmark within DTLA, I could just feel the rich history inside the Bradbury -- such a beauty!

Imagine the stories surrounding this building...

 Not one to always appreciate architecture, I was mesmerized by this magnificent building. As I walked under the low ceilings of the dimly lit entry way and entered into the bright center atrium, I stood in awe watching the elevators move up and down. I loved that the whole ceiling is a skylight, allowing natural light to illuminate the intricate patterns of the wrought iron, marble, brick and other textures. Located on the corner of Broadway and 3rd, The Bradbury Building ranks high on the list for things to see Downtown. 

Not just a Concrete Jungle

Over the weekend Chad and I discovered Elysian Park. Within walking distance to DTLA and founded in 1886, Elysian is not only the second largest park in Los Angeles, it is also the city's oldest park. Home to Dodger Stadium and other historical sites, Eylsian Park proves the diversity within the city of LA. It boasts hundreds of walking trails with striking views of the city. Not to mention, Patrick (the pup) was in heaven! 

Happy Weekend

Sunday marks four years since I met my darling husband, Chad. We will be spending the day in Santa Monica celebrating our love and re-creating our first date in LA... whatever your plans are, soak up the sun and enjoy the long days of summer lovin' xo

When Life Gives You Lemons...

Make Lemonade! While I don't particularly like lemonade the drink, one of my favorite places to eat in LA is Lemonade the cafeteria. I'm so proud to say that DTLA boasts not one, but TWO locations of Lemonade. And, lucky me, both are within walking distance! 

One of my favorite dishes is the Israeli Couscous with Truffle Oil (front and center below)....very tasty! I've managed to re-create this dish at home. So, if you aren't fortunate enough to have a Lemonade close to you, you can still try a taste. 

For this dish you will need: 

Israeli Coucous

Olive Oil

Organic mushrooms (I like white)

Parsley

Truffle oil (very important)

Lemon

Parmesan Cheee (optional)

Salt & Pepper

DIY

You can find all of these ingredients at Trader Joes or any other large supermarket, with the exception of the truffle oil. I found my truffle oil at Williams Sonoma and while it is pricey, it's totally worth it because it can turn an ordinary dish into extraordinary! Ok, so here are the steps:

Cook the couscous according to the instructions on the box (duh).  Slice mushrooms and cook in a pan over medium heat with olive oil until they are tender (about 5-10 mins). Finely chop the parsley leaves (I like to use cooking scissors). Once everything is cooked, combine the couscous, mushrooms, and fresh parsley in a bowl. Add a dash of salt & pepper, lemon juice (a whole lemon or more) and a few drops of truffle oil. When the dish is cooled, you can also add parmesan cheese. I don't measure so use your judgement and taste it as you go along! Enjoy!

A Petit Escape

Over the weekend Chad and I escaped Downtown and went to West Hollywood to the hotel and private club, Petit Ermitage.  I am completely obsessed with this place. They have an unbelievable art collection and talk about chic.... puh-lease. We sunbathed and enjoyed the afternoon the European way... in style of course!

With much more to offer than just a rooftop pool, Petit Ermitage is the place to stay if you're planning a trip to LA or just want to get away from the hustle and bustle overnight. 

"Who's the chicest of them all?"

After three months of exploring, thus far the winner is "the place without a name." The first week we moved, Chad and I saw this place on the corner of Main and 9th. It has no name on the outside and even with the large open windows you can't see a whole lot of what's happening on the inside. We decided to stop by "the place without a name" and a small sign on the door read Pattern Bar. Could easily be my new favorite place. My salad was appropriately called the Delicioso, and let me tell you, it was delicious! All of the specialty cocktails are named after designers, I had The McQueen. 

The owner is Venezuelan who moved to LA from NYC - super nice. Supposedly it gets pretty packed during the night and has fun dancing. I can't wait to go back!

The Library

 I was on a walk with Patrick a few weeks ago when I discovered the Los Angeles Public Library on 5th Street between Flower and Grand. While I had seen this building several times (mainly because Hope street comes to a dead end here), I had never walked around or been inside it. With over six million books, it's one of the largest publicly funded libraries in the world. Chad and I decided to explore. It hosts not only a vast collection of works, it is a historical and architectural gem.

Maguire Gardens off Flower

Cafe Pinot

While we didn't have time to stop for lunch, off of Flower St in the gardens is a lovely restaurant called Cafe Pinot. The ambiance is so serene. I will have to go back and try it. Who wants to come with me? 

Blue Cow

I ate a a great spot for lunch today called Blue Cow Kitchen. It's a gem in the middle of the financial district off of Grand Ave. If you've ever eaten at Mendocino Farms, this is by the same owners -- same delicious food, but with more variety and table service. The outside patio is so comfortable and boasts an amazing view. Love the food, love the vibe, love it! Can't wait to go back...