What a week! In a 72 hour period, I signed the lease for the apartment I’m moving in to in August (MY FIRST SOLO APARTMENT SO EXCITED!), scrounged up a summer subletter for my current place, bought my first grown up bed, and bought my first pair of white shorts…another obviously grown-up purchase as they are so stain prone. And in less than a week, I’ll be on the road bound for LA. Things are happening, folks.

I Learned

• So, deserted Soviet Republic playgrounds are some of the most unsettling things ever. Giant plaster doctor wielding a syringe? Sure! Or how about a statue of a woman bleeding from her eyes? Yessssss.
• Have a hankering for some KFC…but you live in Gaza? Don’t worry. There’s a courier service via underground tunnels that will bring your wings to you. Seriously.
• The Smithsonian is transporting a slave cabin from South Carolina piece by piece to be a part of their new National Museum of African American History and Culture. So much work, but I’m sure the results will be amazing. I can’t wait to see it…in 2015.

Links

• I could watch these gifs of seniors turning into their younger selves all day long.
• These ice cream roses are almost too pretty to eat. Almost.
• Seth Godin’s words of advice about decision making are simple yet profound.
• Do you think you’re good at doodling? Meet the master. (And I don’t know if I buy the story about some random man doing this in the waiting room of a car shop…but I’d like to think it’s true.)
• A photographer got tired of little girls’ photoshoots always being about princesses, so she dressed her absolutely adorable five year old daughter up as feminist icons. The results are pretty special.
• Strawberry shortcakes in jars. Aw. Adorable dessert.
• New travel plans. I’m going to Setenil de las Bodegas in Spain, the town that is under a rock. Seems like a place out of a fairy tale.
• And these blackberry and meyer lemon gin and tonics would be the perfect summer drink!
• Joy the Baker is turning 32 and has a whole bunch of real talk advice.

LA’s one of those places where you’re always going to be able to find something to do. It’s so darn big, that there are huge concerts every night of the week; baseball, basketball, hockey, and soon a football team playing all the time; and, of course, all sorts of movie events. I mean, this is Hollywood.

Here are some of the things I like to get up to instead of lying around the house watching a marathon of bad reality tv…though that’s good too.

1. For the really starstruck:

Go to a movie premiere!

“You’re from LA? Have you seen a celebrity?” I get asked this a lot. Yes, I have seen celebrities (Seeing Seth Rogen drop off his crap at the same thrift store where I was dropping off my crap made me insanely happy), but it doesn’t happen all that often, and it’s impossible to predict. You want to guarantee a celebrity sighting? Go to a movie premiere.

Movie premieres happen all the time in Los Angeles, often causing random road closures, traffic and frustration. BUT! They can also be really fun, and they’re free! You get to ogle the dresses, see celebrities deal with reporters (some better than others), and be amazed at how beautiful some of these people actually are. Wayyyy back in the day I went to the Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring premiere, and let me tell you — Liv Tyler and Orlando Bloom are not of this planet. I’m pretty sure they just glow.

2. For the baseball enthusiasts:

Go to a Dodgers game! (Or an Angels game!)

A bunch of sports teams play in LA: Lakers, Kings, Clippers, Dodgers, and just a tad down the road, Angels. I’m sure going to the Staples Center to see any of those other teams play is great, but being outside on a warm, beautiful summer evening watching the Dodgers play in Chavez Ravine is pretty much heaven. You get to hear the legendary Vin Scully do a bit of announcing (he’s been with the team since they were in Brooklyn!), eat foot long Dodger dogs, drink expensive beer, see the sun set over the mountains, and maybe even go down on the field to watch a fireworks show if it’s the right night. Really, nothing better. Also, I’ve bought tickets for less than $5. Now we’re talking.

3. For the music lover:

Watch a concert at the Hollywood Bowl!

The Hollywood Bowl is a huge, outdoor venue that hosts special concerts, spectaculars, while it is also the summer home of the LA Philharmonic. The best thing about the Bowl? Tickets are cheap, and you can bring in your own picnic. Grab a $10 seat, bring in a basket full of wine, cheese and bread, sit back and listen to the orchestra. Look at you being all classy. Well, unless you’re like me seeing Dolly Parton there. Then you’re just being straight up awesome.

And sometimes there’s some pretty great fireworks too, which is always a plus for me.

4. For the indoor movie watcher:

Watch a double feature at the New Beverly Cinema!

The New Bev is a tiny, one screen theater that’s kind of falling apart…but in the best way. The programming team there chooses some of the most interesting old movies to play as double features for a really reasonable $8. Sometimes there are talks by people involved in the films, sometimes there are special presentations by nearby film schools. And sometimes they just show good stuff like An American Tail with The Secret of NIMH. Or a showing of Gone with the Wind in all of its technicolor glory. Or the really cool seeming pairing of Stand by Me with the new movie The Kings of Summer that they have on this weekend.

Oh, and I may not be the biggest Tarantino fan, but he’s awesome for saving the New Bev from disappearing. To save it from going under, he bought the building it is in about 6 years ago saying, “As long as I’m alive, and as long as I’m rich, the New Beverly will be there, showing double features in 35mm.” You’re awesome.

5. For the outdoor movie watcher:

Watch a movie projected on the side of a mausoleum at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery!

And I saved one of my favorite things for last.

Does eating a picnic dinner before watching a great movie projected on the side of a mausoleum sound way too weird and creepy? Well. It’s not. It’s awesome.

Cinespia has been hosting screenings in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery for more than ten years, and people line up for a long time beforehand to make sure they get in. Like the Hollywood Bowl, you’re allowed to bring in a full picnic, and, if you’re me and my friends, a whole lot of wine. After eating and listening to a DJ spin, the movie finally starts. Is there anything better than watching such classics as Easy Rider or Casablanca under the stars? Yes. Yes there is. It’s watching Peewee’s Big Adventure under the stars. Yeah. Now THAT is good.

And, even though it’s in a cemetery, it’s not creepy. It’s just not. You’re surrounded by a bunch of people who are relaxed and enjoying themselves. Best cemetery ever.

I gotta say, they’re playing Clueless this weekend and Some Like it Hot next weekend. Sounds like they’re gearing up for a really good summer.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

The One and Only Ivan tells the true story of Ivan, a gorilla living in a tiny, sad roadside mall. He was raised from a baby by humans who insisted on dressing him as a child, so he’s never really experienced life outside the human realm. When a baby elephant is brought to the zoo, he realizes that he needs to change things.

This is one of the simplest stories I’ve read in a long time, but also one of the most powerful. Ivan muses on such topics as art, imagination, memory and friendship, all in a beautiful, profound way. This would be the perfect read aloud book for the little ones, I think. It’s going on my hypothetical list for my hypothetical future children, that’s for sure.

The Madonnas of Echo Park by Brando Skyhorse

And now for something completely different…

Look, guys! I’m reading a book written for grown-ups! Oooh. Weird, I know.

I might be a little biased about this book. It’s about a neighborhood in LA that I like quite a bit, and I spent a lot of time just daydreaming about where the characters were. So yeah. Take this review with a grain or five of salt. That being said, The Madonnas of Echo Park is one of the best representations I’ve read of LA. The author constructs a bunch of interlocking stories around Echo Park, the predominately Latino neighborhood of Echo Park that over the past ten years or so has undergone some very intense gentrification. These stories investigate racial relationships, socio-economic conflicts, mother vs. daughter strife and other large themes, while still always keeping an eye on the narrative and characters. Because of such a great attention paid to telling a damn good story, this book never feels preachy or overwrought (like the slightly similar movie Crash. Ugh.) Loved it, and now I’m even more excited to get back to LA!

I think illustrator Erica Salcedo must know a black and white kitty with cray eyes. I mean, she gets it. She obviously gets it.

Hamilton Pool is what I think of when I think of a swimming hole. It’s located about 40 minutes from downtown Austin in the Texas Hill Country. To keep it unspoiled, only about 70 cars are allowed in the parking lot at a time, meaning that you may have to wait during busy, hot days. Worth it though. This pond is half shaded by a cave and surrounded by a sandy beach, perfect for picnics.

My iPhone camera really couldn’t do this place justice, so you’ll just have to check it out for yourself.

And then Austin’s pride and joy – Barton Spring. This massive, 3 acre swimming pool is fed by natural springs, so the temperature always hovers around 70 degrees. The grounds include beautiful, tree covered sloping hills, where visitors can sunbathe for as long as they like. Also, the pool is open until 10 pm, and free after 9 pm (it’s $3 before). Swimming under the stars in the chilly water is really the perfect way to spend a hot summer evening. Oh, and in true weird Austin fashion, going topless is allowed at Barton Springs, and though not a lot of ladies go for it, I have seen my fair share of boobs there. Also, if you go on a full moon night, expect to hear a bunch of folks howling like crazy. It’s weird. It’s Austin.

This photo from the Austin City website. The rest of the photos in this post were taken by me.

Oh heyyyy Avon pink Escalade!

What I Learned

• The best laid plans can go awry…and can really bite you in the butt, even if you were the person who was on top of everything! Ugh. If anyone knows someone looking for a summer bedroom sublet in Austin, please please please let me know. I’d post the Craigslist ad here, but the internet’s scary y’all.

Links

• Um, Reading Rainbow + Classic Novels + Carey Mulligan + Stephen Colbert = The silliest video I’ve seen a while!
• This collection of “Sexy Toy Make-Overs” is so saddening. I’m pretty sure the Care Bears and Trolls really didn’t need it.
• This spring salad with candied pistachios looks so fresh and delicious!
• Hyperbole and a Half is BACK! And she writes/draws one of the most poignant pieces about depression I’ve ever read.
• I can’t wait to try these crispy black bean tacos with feta cheese and slaw! They look like the perfect summer meal.
• These photos have me dreaming of a girls’ vacation in Palm Springs!
• The Hell Yeah Beards of Seattle tumblr is exactly what the title says. And it’s pretty darn sexy.
• These images of “play” are the best way to get the summer started.

LA has a lot of drinking spots, from the super chi chi to the diviest of the dives. There are bars with themes, bars with games, and bars with a whole bunch of dark corners. Just a disclaimer before I get to the list: I’m more of a cocktail/hard liquor lady than a beer/wine girl. Um, they’re all good, but I’m not as up on the big beer and wine selection places. You’ll have to look elsewhere for that. So, without further ado, here are a few of my favorite spots to stop in, put my feet up, and enjoy a beverage.

1. When you need a fancy, fancy cocktail…and a view to match:

The Standard Rooftop Bar

550 South Flower Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90069 (Downtown LA)

Yes, it is expensive. Yes, it’s kind of snobby. Yes, you’ll probably only come here as a tourist or to impress your tourist friends. But goodness, you need to drink a fancy cocktail on the rooftop of The Standard Hotel in downtown LA at least once. The views, especially at night, are just astounding. Because you’re only 12 stories up, you’re actually amongst all the skyscrapers instead of above them, which makes it feel like you’re part of a big, breathing city. There are also some very cool pools and weird sitting pod/water bed thingies. Pretty crazy. And hey, the drinks aren’t bad either.

Do try to go on a night without a cover. While this place is pretty stellar, I don’t think anywhere is really worth a $20 cover.

2. If you want to go back to a glamorous era that probably never really existed:

The Edison

108 W. 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (Downtown LA)

Photo by Dave Bullock. See more here: http://eecue.com/a/1470/1-Edison_Bar

The Edison is a huge, sprawling bar in a century old power plant. They’ve kept all of the industrial equipment, and built a 1920′s style bar around it. It’s kind of like a classy steampunk place. Really.

Photo by Dave Bullock.

There is a strict dress code, so come dressed sharp. Drinks are expensive, but pretty strong and delicious. Also, you can buy absinthe if you really want to from ladies dressed as 1920′s pixies pushing around special absinthe carts. Silent movies are projected on the walls! Sometimes there are burlesque shows! It’s all so fancy! But really, this is just a place to get lost, especially if you come with a date. There’s a whole lot of dark, cozy corners ifyouknowwhatimeanwinkwinknudgenudge.

3. If you want to enter the bar through a “secret” door:

The Varnish

118 E. 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014 (Downtown LA…apparently I only ever went out downtown?)

Photos from their website.

I love any bar that seems hidden, and The Varnish definitely fits the bill. Behind an unmarked door in the back of Cole’s restaurant (which has delicious French dip sandwiches by the way. There’s an ongoing battle over which restaurant had the first French dips, Cole’s or Philippe’s a few miles away. I don’t know, but I do know that they both serve up some bomb sandwiches), this speakeasy type bar is run by some pretty awesome mixologists.

Believe me, these guys know what they’re doing. When I went, I just told them that I wanted some sort of whiskey drink, maybe with some citrus, and bam. There it was. And it was delicious.

Oh, and Mad Men is filmed in Cole’s sometimes. That’s reason enough to come here.

4. When you want to feel like you’ve been transported to someone’s Tiki themed garage…in 1960:

Tiki-Ti Cocktail Lounge

4427 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Tiki style stuff used to be all the rage. Most cities let it go after a while, but LA kept a few bars around well into the 2000′s. Tiki-Ti, though, may now be the last tiki bar around, and it’s well worth a visit. Open since 1961, this bar is teeny, teeny tiny. People pile in, which makes for a rowdy atmosphere. Tiki stuff is absolutely everywhere, basically in heaps — it’s Hawaii kitsch mixed with the decor of a crazy neighbor’s garage.

The menu is just astounding. There are 92 tropical drinks…none of which have descriptions. Yep, you’re just ordering blind. But don’t worry. They’re all fruity, colorful and strong.

Also, just a warning, this is one of the few bars where you can smoke inside as it is owner run. The smoke can get thick.

5. When you’re looking for a cozy, Irish bar:

Tom Bergin’s Tavern (Mid-Wilshire/Museum District)

840 S. Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Every city has a ton of Irish pubs. Honestly, it takes a lot for me to get excited about one. Tom Bergin’s, though, feels homey and warm. It’s where you go to meet an old friend or to just sit at the bar and have a bar. Opened in 1936, it’s still all dark wood and warm booths. Paper shamrocks with old regulars’ names paper the walls and ceilings. Even if it’s 80 degrees and sunny outside, it feels like you’ve just come in out of the cold to a cozy place.

They also serve Irish food, which always smells amazing. Jonathan Gold even gave it a try!

6. When you need a little video game entertainment with dinner:

Barcade

369 N. Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90004 (Koreatown)

This dive doesn’t even have a sign outside- just a neon Pacman ghost. Inside, it’s all dark walls, dark floors, one small bar…and a ton of old arcade games. Really, what more could you want for a night out? If you don’t want to get a bit tipsy and then challenge me to a game of Ms. Pacman, I don’t want to know you.

I realize this is the world’s most incomplete list. Heck, I even left off my favorite watering hole…but that’s because I can’t let the whole world know all my secrets! If you promise to buy me a drink, maybe I’ll let you in on that secret. You’ll be disappointed though. It’s the diviest.

Any Los Angelenos out there want to throw in their favorites?

I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

Ed is an underachiever. He lives with a stinky dog, drives a taxi for a living, and spends a lot of time lusting after his friend Audrey. It’s only when a mysterious ace card with a cryptic message on it arrives for him that his life gets shaken. And boy does it. Now Ed is the messenger, but he needs to figure out exactly what the messages are…

Zusak wrote the absolutely lovely, but heavy The Book Thief, so I knew that this novel wouldn’t be a light, silly read. Although this book has a lot of YA themes (friendship, discovering your calling, a bit of love, etc), it doesn’t ever pander to the reader. Yes. Some things are a bit less subtle than they would be in an adult novel, but the writing is so simplistically beautiful that you don’t care all that much. This is a book that I really do believe would fit in just as well on an adult shelf as it would a thirteen year old’s.

And you know, I came away wanting to do a bit of good in the world, but not feeling conned into it. That has to be a good thing.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Code Name Verity is popping up everywhere, as it is getting a ton of attention for being one of the year’s best YA novels. I heard about it on NPR. You know you’re big when you’ve hit NPR.

I just … I couldn’t get into it as much as other people are. The novel is about two young women who sign up to join in the British war effort in WWII. One is captured by Nazis and interrogated, and the story takes off from there. It’s easy to ruin the plot, so, yes, I’m keeping it vague on purpose.

Yes. The book is a great portrayal of female friendship. Yes. It’s refreshing to not have a love triangle plot. Yes. It’s well-plotted.

But…I just found it kind of boring. I usually have a problem with books about war, as I find myself trying too hard to keep track of all the equipment and missions and subterfuge, etc. I think that keeps me at a distance from the actual emotional heft of the story. So, you all shouldn’t listen to me on this one. I’ll bet you’ll like Code Name Verity more than I do. Everyone else does.

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

And to end it all, a YA graphic novel!

American Born Chinese starts as three narratives – the story of China’s Monkey King, a coming of age story about a Chinese kid in a mostly white school, and a satire of a sitcom about a kid whose extremely, horribly stereotyped (buck teeth and everything) Chinese cousin comes to stay. By the end of this slim book, all three stories have interwoven into one powerful message about identity and self-confidence. As always, I’m never sure how to rate a graphic novel, as I’m not very familiar with the genre, but I know that this one really did get to me and made me consider the outcast story in a new way. Recommended.

(Found via Design is Mine)

And yet, I’ve been lucky to have three women in my life who make it look easy.

They look constantly put together and can garden like crazy people!

They are always the life of the party, even when caring for a true gaggle of kids.

They dress so stylishly that I would steal this outfit today. And, more than anything else, they support me no matter what, especially with this blog. So much love for these strong women.