Category Archives: AROUND LA

THE LA STAPLES

September 17, 2014

Filed Under : AROUND LA

griffith observatory / the style eater

A few weekends ago, we had friends in town staying with us and neither of them had spent ANY time in Los Angeles before. You can only imagine how excited I was to show them around my favorite city and HOME! They were here for less than 2 days and that meant we really had to strategize about where to go. It really got me thinking about what the MUST-VISIT places are when you come to LA. Ya know, like if you had 24 hours to see the dang place, what would you be terribly missing out on if you decided to spend all your time at Hollywood & Highland? For example, don’t spend all your time at Hollywood & Highland. I’ve narrowed my favorite visitor staples down to 4 things:

GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY: This is my favorite place in LA. Sure, there is a great view of the Hollywood sign, but don’t forget about that downtown skyline to the left or the Santa Monica coast to the right if you squint real hard and the haze isn’t too heavy. Goodness, it gets me every time. You can’t forget about the architecture of the Observatory itself. STUNNING, I tell you. You’ll get lots of likes on your Instagram. AND YEAH, it’s educational too! Take a gander through the place and learn a thing or two. I always leave inspired and humbled by the beauty.

griffith observatory / the style eater

ABBOT KINNEY: You can’t really beat the mix of shopping and restaurants on Abbot Kinney in Venice. New stores are popping up every 2 minutes (or so the legend goes), but there is so much GOOD, it’s unfair. On the West side of the street, start at Urbanic and make your way all the way down to Tortoise General Store, with Aesop and Warby Parker stops along the way and definitely a juice shot at Kreation (Rag & Bone just opened on that side as well). The east side of the street I couldn’t even list all the great stops (pretty much every store), but you can’t miss Steven Alan Annex, Firefly, and a lunchtime fix at GTA (Gjelina Take Away) or Axe.

abbot kinney / the style eater

DOWNTOWN: Knock out the Disney Concert Hall, MOCA, and brunch at Bottega Louie in one shot if you can, then pop over to Grand Central Market for a snack/coffee/popsicle and the Bradbury Building for amazing architecture. Still have time to wander around? Head over to the Arts District for pie and Poketo or Olvera Street.

bottega louie / the style eater

TACOS: I’m not about to start a debate about where the best tacos in LA are. I probably still haven’t even experienced them yet. But you can’t go wrong with Guisados or Kogi Truck. The Guisados menu is straightforward, but so unbelievably delicious. Order one of each taco if you’re feeling adventurous (and hungry). Kogi Truck is another level of LA. It is LA. I beg of you: please seek out a Kogi Truck on your next visit. The chicken burrito with extra kimchi is my go-to.

tacos

BUT FIRST, THE WEEKEND

June 9, 2014

Filed Under : AROUND LA - MY LIFE

PASADENA / THE STYLE EATER

Got lots to share on this here blog, but right now, let’s just talk about the weekend. How was yours? Mine was extra jam packed, just how I like it. I don’t know about you, but I like a weekend to be filled to the brim with activities. You know the kind, where its nonstop fun and food and shopping. Yes, all those things. Throw in a hike or a mini road trip for good measure. Sure, I like a good midday nap or a few back-to-back Netflix screenings, but really, give me a full weekend itinerary and I’ll be happy forever.

Like Saturday, for example. We started at the Modernica Factory sale at 9:30am, trolled the warehouse for a few hours, bought this planter (on sale) because you know I needed another planter, and tried this new thing called “cactus water” (water trends, only in LA). Then we made a quick pitstop at Proof Bakery in Atwater Village for fuel before making our way to the Clare Vivier sample sale. Sure, we waited in line for like 45 minutes, but prices were UNREAL and I practically bought one of everything, ughhhh bye money. Then, we skipped over to Pasadena for the Make Music festival to see Moses Sumney, Sylvan Esso, and Tennis. Holy crap, for a free concert, Make Music is incredible. After lots of dance moves and some unexpected sunburns (why are you always so hot, Pasadena?), we ended up back at our apartment after 8pm. <–That everyday, please.

Also, fresh nails and a hair cut. A terribly good weekend, indeed.

Also x2, wearing baggy men’s Levi’s 501s everyday, forever.

PROOF BAKERY / THE STYLE EATER

HAIR / THE STYLE EATER

WEEKEND GEAR / THE STYLE EATER

DOUBLE BRUNCHING

April 14, 2014

Filed Under : AROUND LA - EAT

SUPERBA FOOD + BREAD / THE STYLE EATER

On a rare occasion, Kyle and I will double brunch. That’s brunching on both Saturday AND Sunday, in case you’re unaware of this term I just made up. And even though brunching is my favorite activity on this planet, we actually don’t do it all that often, so partaking in it for an entire weekend was the treat of the century. Also, I love Los Angeles so much, sometimes it hurts. There’s never a shortage of good places to eat and cute neighborhoods to visit. Plus, it was Coachella weekend and that means 90% of LA residents were out of town. CAN THIS BE EVERY WEEKEND? Anyway, sometimes a weekend requires a double brunch and so we went along with it, no if’s, and’s, or but’s about it.

First up…

LITTLE DOM’S
First of all, Los Feliz is one of my favorite neighborhoods and I will happily travel across 3 freeways (sometimes 4, depending on traffic) to get to it. On Saturday, we went to Little Dom’s in Loz Feliz. LD’s is a classic, old-school Italian restaurant with one of the best brunches in town. Their breakfast potatoes are next level and you can’t NOT order the blueberry ricotta pancakes. Tips & Tricks: It’s down the street from Steven Alan Outpost (their outlet) and you must go. Discounted Steven Alan is a slippery slope, but do it.

LITTLE DOM'S / THE STYLE EATER

LITTLE DOM'S / THE STYLE EATER

 

SUPERBA FOOD + BREAD
On Sunday, we popped over to the just-opened Superba Food + Bread in Venice, a sister resto to one of our favorite eateries, Superba Snack Bar. First of all, the decor is a mix of bright colors and modern designs (aka looks awesome). Plus, it has an open/airy vibe, so I wanted to stay there ALL DAY and just hang out. Kyle and I shared a few toasts (avocado and burrata), a biscuit with jam, and a vanilla sticky bun. The food was great and I can’t wait to try everything else on the menu. Plus, black mango iced tea for the win. Tips & Tricks: It’s across the street from General Store, which is my favorite store in all the land.

SUPERBA FOOD + BREAD / THE STYLE EATER

SUPERBA FOOD + BREAD / THE STYLE EATER

ACE HOTEL DOWNTOWN LA

March 25, 2014

Filed Under : AROUND LA - TRAVEL

ACE HOTEL LA / THE STYLE EATER

Last weekend, we staycationed at the new Ace Hotel in downtown LA and if there’s one piece of knowledge that you take away from this blog, it’s that staycations are the best and you should do them often. I mean…being in total relaxation/vacation mode and only 10 minutes from your house? Talk about the easiest and most convenient thing to ever happen. Needless to say, it was lovely in every way and I took zero photos, aside from a handful of iPhone pics, most of which were instagrammed. Luckily, Jaymee popped by for a morning coffee (because, again, staycations are the best and all your peeps are close by) and did a mini photo sesh at the rooftop bar. I’m taking her on all my vacations. I love that girl.

ACE HOTEL LA / THE STYLE EATER

ACE HOTEL LA / THE STYLE EATER

ACE HOTEL LA / THE STYLE EATER

ACE HOTEL LA / THE STYLE EATER

ACE HOTEL LA / THE STYLE EATER

Anyway, it was such a great weekend. We laid out by the pool (very small pool) on the rooftop, drank lots of micheladas, shopped around the hotel, ate a TON, and vegged out. Our hotel room had a terrace so it was fun (and scary as crap) to sit out there and admire the buildings. The room itself was small but super hip and cute. Also, the bathroom fixtures and marble countertop were next level and I wrote down all the specs – that’s how I know I’m an adult. A handful of iPhone photos:

ACE HOTEL LA / THE STYLE EATER

ACE HOTEL LA / THE STYLE EATER

ACE HOTEL LA / THE STYLE EATER

ACE HOTEL LA / THE STYLE EATER

ACE HOTEL LA / THE STYLE EATER

ACE HOTEL LA / THE STYLE EATER

ACE HOTEL LA / THE STYLE EATER

ACE HOTEL LA / THE STYLE EATER

ACE HOTEL LA / THE STYLE EATER

STAYCATION STATS
ATE: Bar Ama for dinner (omg that Tex-Mex Queso, though) and L.A. Chapter for brunch (top notch avocado toast, pancakes, and granola with fruit & yogurt)
DRANK: Micheladas and Bloody Mary’s by the pool. Also, lots of water because it was 88 degrees.
SHOPPED: the new Tanner Goods store (so awesome and Kyle’s fave place), Aesop pop-up, Acne, and OAK – all within a block of the hotel
ROOM: Medium with Terrace
WORE: This kimono, ripped UO jeans, Isabel Marant/H&M tee, vintage Levi’s shorts, old Topshop sandals, and my new favorite bikini top.
MILES FROM HOME: 12

Regular photos by Jaymee

THE HART + THE HUNTER

February 13, 2014

Filed Under : AROUND LA - EAT

THE HART + THE HUNTER / THE STYLE EATER

THE HART + THE HUNTER / THE STYLE EATER

THE HART + THE HUNTER / THE STYLE EATER

THE HART + THE HUNTER / THE STYLE EATER

I had heard so many positive things about The Hart + The Hunter (a restaurant inside the Palihotel in West Hollywood), but only visited for the first time last Sunday. Consider me officially hooked on all things H + the H.

It was one of those perfect meals that come around so rarely these days and we enjoyed literally every aspect of it. The smoked trout and avocado toast was ridiculous. Order this if you go. I almost wish we had gotten 2. Then the crab eggs benedict. Stop it right now with all this deliciousness. And just as we figured things couldn’t possibly get any better, out came the biscuits. The only way to describe the biscuits is with my favorite GIF. I mean, total mind explosion. Plus, the honey butter and pimento cheese – all the thumbs up.

But the true underdog amidst all this goodness was the London Fog. It’s an Earl Grey latte at heart but they must put something magic in it because it might be my new favorite drink.

Anyone down for a biscuit date? Count me in.