Tag Archives: Grand Central Market

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

Bad Luck Is Not So Bad

February 15, 2010

Filed Under : EAT

Before we really start discussing New York Fashion Week, I want to share a few food-related adventures. I had planned on going to the La Street Food Fest on Saturday but when we (Kyle and I) arrived, there were easily 1,000+ people waiting in line, snaking around LA Center Studios for blocks and blocks. When we asked a food fest worker how long the wait would be, he told us they were at capacity and could not let anyone in until people started leaving. Translation: Sucks for you. Did I mention it was 81 degrees in Los Angeles? I was beyond peeved. But I could only blame myself, I should’ve gotten there earlier!

So Kyle and I (naturally) walked over to the 500 Days Of Summer “bench” at the corner of 4th Street and Olive a few blocks down. Oh you know, the bench where Tom draws the Los Angeles skyline on Summer’s arm. Sigh. But of course as we sat on the bench (surrounded by bums no less, where are they in the movie?), we saw no such skyline. Instead, a lovely view of a fading brick building. The power of the Hollywood film! Peeved once more.

By this time, Kyle and I were starved so when he spotted a group of people chowing down on tacos at the next bench over, he asked them where they found such a delicious-looking meal. “Grand Central Market” they said and pointed across the street. So we went…and boy, I’m glad we did.


{a bustling market with booth after booth of delicious authentic food}


{Fruit and vegetable stands as well}


{Drinking watermelon juice – the most refreshing drink!}


{There was a line snaking around the corner for Ana Maria’s Mexican Food so we had to eat there}


{Torta de pollo}


{I feel like Anthony Bourdain}


{Sarita!!}


{Beautiful colors all throughout the market}

And that’s Grand Central Market – right in the heart of downtown LA. I guess bad luck isn’t always so bad.