Lost in LA: Bars!

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?

Lost in LA – Hamburgers!

LA has a reputation for frou-frou, veggie, healthy living. Yes, there are a ton of vegetarian places around, and you can get your precious, perfectly constructed tiny plates at a bunch of fancy restaurants. But you know what LA is really great for? A damn good, hearty hamburger.  As an unapologetic carnivore, let me introduce you to a few of my favorites:

1. The localish chain with the best custom options: 

The Counter

Four locations in LA, almost 40 worldwide

Are you picky about your burger? Or incredibly creative? At The Counter, you get to choose exactly how you want your burger, from the type of patty (1/3 pound? Full pound? Beef or chicken patty? In a bun or in a bowl?) to the type of cheese (everything from regular cheddar to soft ripened brie) to the very creative toppings (Grilled pineapple? Marinated artichokes? Horseradish mayo?). Believe me, this is a crowd pleasing place.

Yes, this is a chain, but it started about ten years ago in Southern California, and it still keeps its Socal feel. And really, these aren’t your normal chain style burgers. They are truly delicious.

My choice? Turkey burger with blue cheese, sauteed onions and dried cranberries, with those addicting crispy onion strings as a side. Yes, please.

2. Best NOT customizable burger:

Father’s Office

1018 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403

3229 Helms Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90034 (Culver City Location)

If there’s a joint that has a brand burger, it’s Father’s Office. No substitutions or requests allowed. You get the burger just how they make it. Thank goodness, it’s delicious. It is a bit on the pricey side, but many Los Angelenos I know swear by this burger. Plus, the beer selection at this place is pretty darn impressive, and the atmosphere is pretty darn cozy.

And, I’d just like to put in a word for the sweet potato fries. The perfect mix of salty and sweet, crisp and soft…they are seriously what dreams are made of.

3. Best burger joint poised to take over the whole gosh darn food world:

Umami Burger

15 locations in California, 13 in Southern California

Umami Burger started as a burger place but now is the Umami Food Group, including a deli, a pizza place, a Vietnamese restaurant and a ton of burger locations. All of it’s good, but the burgers are outrageous. The original “Umami Burger” has a parmesan crisp (because the best cheese is crispy cheese, obviously) and shiitake mushrooms. Feeling extra testosterone-y? The “Manly Burger” has beer-cheddar cheese and bacon lardon. I know. Your arteries are thanking you already.

4. My favorite all around:

The Golden State

426 N. Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

In some ways, I consider Golden State a friend. Just months after I moved into my neighborhood, it moved in around the corner, heralding the start of a slight restaurant renaissance. I got to know the waiters and owners by sight…and they kinda, sorta seemed to recognize me. Golden State was a go-to for our friends. You can always count on Golden State for a damn good dinner made from mostly local ingredients (usually. Sometimes it was just too packed!). The beer selection is yummy. And, to top it all off, they have a small ice cream counter with my favorite ice cream — Scoops!

But really, the whole place centered around its amazing burger.

This is everything a hamburger should be: medium rare, sharp cheese, good bacon and a soft, yet substantial bun. Golden State doesn’t have to try too hard, because they know how to do it right every single time. There’s no question. If I had one more hamburger to eat before the end of the world, it would be this one.

(As always, all of these images are by talented Flickr photographers. Please click on the image to be taken to their site)

Lost in LA – Museums!

For the second largest city in the USA, LA doesn’t seem to have nearly as many museums as it should…but maybe that’s just a hopeful future museum professional speaking. LA! Add more museums! I want a job!

That being said, some of the museums LA does have are very special spaces. Here’s a list of my favorites.

1. The weirdest, wackiest museum out there:

The Museum of Jurassic Technology

9341 Venice Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

I probably shouldn’t start with the Museum of Jurassic Technology, as it’s almost impossible to explain what it is. Art project? Collection of oddities? Crazy person’s lair? Probably a little bit of all those things.

Tucked into a small space on a non-descript section of Venice Blvd, the Museum of Jurassic Technology collects and displays some of the weirdest stuff out there. Dioramas of trailer parks. Check. Art work so small that it fits in the eye of a needle. Yep. A hall of paintings dedicated to the Soviet space program dogs. Well, of course.

So, go in. Leave your cynicism at the door, and prepare to be just a bit weirded out.

2. The museum with the million dollar view

The Getty

1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049

What a view! The Getty is perched on a mountain between the ocean and the rest of Los Angeles, and the architect who designed the space knew enough to take advantage of it. Views EVERYWHERE! Gardens EVERYWHERE! The art collection is not as exciting as it could be, but it does get some good visiting exhibits. Really, it’s just a nice place to visit and enjoy the weather.

The Getty Center also owns the Getty Villa, up in Malibu. This space is dedicated to ancient Greek and Roman art, and is very pretty also. It’s free, but you do have to book ahead. Worth it.

3. The museum with the stars…and another killer view

The Griffith Observatory

2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Looking over downtown LA, Griffith Observatory houses a small museum dedicated to all things space. It’s a really beautiful space, both inside and out, and the exhibits are interactive enough to entertain both adults and kids. Sometimes sky watcher groups bring out their telescopes for the public to use too. The Observatory is based on the top of the Hollywood Hills in Griffith Park, so there’s a nice, fairly easy hike that starts from its parking lot that gives you a great view of the Hollywood Sign. You get to hit so many LA things in one stop!

Plus the view of downtown LA? Unbeatable.

4. For your taxidermy needs

Natural History Museum

900 Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007

You’ve probably been to a natural history museum before, and the one in LA is fairly typical. But, um, even a typical natural history museum is awesome! The LA one has a lot of dioramas to stare at, a whole bunch of dinosaur bones, and a gem room that makes me consider the life of a jewel thief. They have some creatures on display that will freak you out a bit at the weirdness of nature (Dude. The Megamouth shark thing. BIZARRE).

During the winter and spring, on the first Friday of the month, the very cool NPR station KCRW and the museum team up to offer late night entertainment at the museum. If there’s anything better than sipping a gin and tonic while listening to a cool band and looking at fossils, I don’t want to know about it.

5. If you want to look at art…and then some more art…and more art.

LACMA

5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

LACMA is huge. So many buildings. The permanent collection ranges from four hundred year old Japanese prints to “Levitated Mass”–a giant rock that sits above a walkway below. There are pieces by Monet, Renoir, Diego Rivera, Picasso, Warhol, etc. The contemporary art collection is impressive. There are pieces from all over the world. Honestly, everything is here.

Even this painting from The Little Mermaid lives at LACMA!

And if you want to be like an LA fashion blogger, you’ll take a bunch of pictures of yourself in the lamps out front.

6. If photography is your thing…

The Annenberg Space for Photography

2000 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067

The Annenberg Space for Photography is tucked in the corporate center of LA. It seems like the least inspiring place for a photography gallery, but the museum really dazzles. It’s small, which means that the collection there is focused and well-curated. I’ve been to exhibits there on such varied topics as the nature of beauty (the guy I was dating at the time was very lucky to get to go too. So many boobs.) and sports. Right now, they have an exhibit up about war photography. Gripping stuff in a space that was custom built for it.

As in my other Lost in LA posts, I did not take these photos. Please click on the photo to go to the super talented photographer’s Flickr page.

Lost in LA: Food trucks!

Since people seemed to enjoy my list of delicious LA ice cream last week, I thought I’d continue the LA food love this week with a list of awesome food trucks!

LA has had food trucks forever. You find them at any construction site, often serving up really good but ridiculously greasy tacos and burritos. This was fuel for hard work or cures for hangovers. Although everyone knew about those, it wasn’t until late 2008 that gourmet food trucks hit the scene and almost immediately became THE THING. Most trucks have twitter feeds, so hungry Los Angelenos can find out where their favorite truck is right that moment. Prime food truck parking spots became full on wars between truck owners, local business owners and the city, many of which are still ongoing. Madness! But, even through all the angst, food trucks gave something Los Angelenos to rally around. It got people out of their cars and on the sidewalks, a process that LA needs some help with.

UCLA, where I used to work, got into the game when they started inviting two food trucks on campus each day while one of the cafeterias was under construction. Every day became a food truck treat! I may have put on a few pounds in the process, but all the food truck testing was worth it.

Unfortunately, these trucks are not always the most long lasting. As I researched this post, I realized that some of my favorite trucks are either gone entirely (RIP Louks Greek) or trying to turn into a brick and mortar restaurant (Good luck, Nom Nom Truck and Frysmith). So, double check that the truck is still in existence before you take my word for it…

Here’s my short guide to a few of my favorite LA food trucks!

1. The daddy of all gourmet food trucks:

Kogi Korean BBQ Tacos

Why it’s good:

Kogi was really the first truck that hit it big. It was in the LA Times, NPR, Time Magazine, Gourmet Magazine, Food Network, etc etc etc. Roy Choi, the chef, became the big thing, being named one of 2010′s Best New Chefs by Food and Wine Magazine. Lines for the trucks were massive (I admit to waiting at least an hour at one point for a Kogi taco). The truck fleet went from one to four. Other food truck owners immediately began to imitate Kogi. It was a big deal.

And the food lives up to it. Pairing Korean bbq flavors with tacos is just plain genius. And at $2.29 per taco, the price is right.

What to get?

Although Kogi serves a variety of fusion food, I think the classic tacos are the best. I’m a fan of the spicy pork and the short rib tacos, but really, they’re all good. Kimchi quesadillas are also spicy and delicious, if you’re looking for something slightly different.

Roy Choi also has a few restaurants in LA: Chego, A-Frame and Sunny Spot. I can personally vouch for Chego’s deliciousness, and I hear that the other two are fantastic as well.

2. Top Chef gourmet Mexican food…cheaper!

Border Grill Truck

Why it’s good:

This is another big time chef’s side business. Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger opened Border Grill Restaurant in the late 80′s, and since then have become Top Chef Masters, tv personalities, cookbook writers, etc etc etc. Eating a meal at Border Grill can set you back a little bit, but the reasonably priced truck is bringing Milliken and Feniger’s Mexican creations to the street.

What to get?

I have a thing for the poblano quesadilla. Manchego + cotija cheese and peppers? IN MY MOUTH NOW. The tamale and Peruvian ceviche cones are one of their more unique offerings. And I haven’t ordered them yet, but the next time I’m at the truck, I’m definitely getting some churro tots. Those sound genius.

3. Fancy spins on classic sandwiches and the best sweet potato fries anywhere:

Gastrobus

Why it’s good:

Gastrobus isn’t as well known as the first two trucks I mentioned, but it’s one of my absolute favorites. The Gastrobus crew makes ridiculously good versions of classic sandwiches, as well as offering a variety of seasonal specials. I’ve never been disappointed by the bright yellow bus.

What to get?

THE SWEET POTATO FRIES WITH HONEY MUSTARD SAUCE. You guys. I have eaten a ton of sweet potato fries in my life, and they’re always pretty good. And yet, these fries out of the back of a truck blow them all away. They’re the perfect mix of crispy and soft, and that honey mustard sauce is so good I’d eat it off a spoon. That picture above is making me drool all over my laptop.

If you’re looking for a darn good sandwich, I highly recommend the pulled pork. It has just the right amount of tang in the sauce.

4. Time for dessert!

Coolhaus

Why it’s good:

Are you ready to hear just how cool I am? I knew about Coolhaus BEFORE it launched to four cities besides LA (including a truck here in Austin), got a storefront, and before they put their ice cream sandwiches in a ton of stores across the US. Honestly, I had no idea how much they’d blown up until I just went to their website. And all in only four years! Good for them!

Coolhaus is all about putting interesting ice cream flavors between two delicious cookies of your choice. That simple, that delicious.

What to get?

They’re flavors change every day, so it’s hard to say what they’ll have when you go. I love their dirty mint flavor ice cream and chocolate cookies with sea salt. The perfect blend of fresh and rich.

And how do you find all these food trucks? There are a bunch of truck aggregators online, making it easy to see all the out and about trucks at a glance.

Lost in LA – Ice Cream!

I lived in LA for ten years (with a couple significant breaks during which I gallivanted around the UK), and it is my favorite city by far. It was the city where I went to college, lived on my own for the first time, learned to drive and parallel park like a bad ass, and became an all around adult. I will always feel a connection to that place that I don’t think will be easy to replicate. It’s my pretty city. LA is also one of the world’s most misunderstood cities. When I would tell people in other cities that I lived in LA, I often got the “Aw, I’m sorry” response. Come on! How rude can you be?! Do I say that about where you live? Certainly not to your face! Or I get the “Wow, you don’t seem like you’re from LA! I mean, you’re not shallow or anything!” Well, thanks. I’m glad you think all Los Angelenos are shallow. Not that I have friends there or anything. Jerkface. Ahem. Anyway. I think a lot of the LA hate comes from the fact that LA is a fantastic place to live and a horrible place to visit. If you don’t know where you’re going, it’s very easy to get stuck in traffic, lost, or stuck going to places like the Universal Citywalk. Yuck. So, I’ve decided to every so often share a few of my favorite LA places. And where to start? With the most important food group — ice cream!

1. My favorite crazy flavors place (and my overall number 1):

Scoops

East Hollywoodish (near LACC), 712 N Heliotrope Dr

There are also locations in Highland Park and the Westside, as well as the counter at Golden State in the Fairfax District.

Why it’s good: The genius ice cream maker at Scoops comes up with the craziest flavors, and makes them fresh daily! Every time you go there will be a whole set of new flavors, but make sure to get there early because the best flavors will sell out. Lots of non-dairy flavors! Plus, you get two fairly decent sized scoops for about $3. Ridiculous. This was the place that my roommate and I visited weekly for a while, even though it took a good 20 minutes to get there. Worth it every. single. time. Yelp agrees with us. It gets 4.6 stars after 1926 reviews. Yeah. What to get?

First of all, don’t be afraid to ask for as many samples as you want. I can almost promise you’ve never had these flavors before. My favorites? Brown bread, which is a light vanilla mixed with caramel and grape nuts. Brown bread is the only flavor that is there every day. Anything with black sesame is amazing. Chocolate Guinness is solid, as is salty chocolate. Burnt sugar is basically creme brulée ice cream. My roommate loved the fruity flavors, including strawberry basil.

Sidenote: My roommate once got me an ice cream cake from there for my birthday. The Scoops version of an ice cream cake? A huge tray full of ice cream. No cake. It means that you have to eat it all in one go. Delicious, but kind of intense. 2. My favorite regular ice cream/ice cream novelties:

Milk

Mid-City West, 7290 Beverly Blvd

Why it’s good: Classic ice cream flavors + creative shakes + ice cream sandwiches made with macarons + homemade ice cream bars + actually decent salads and sandwiches + pleasant outdoor seating + celebrity sightings = Pretty darn solid.

What to get?

I love their classic cookies and cream ice cream. It’s the perfect balance of oreos and light vanilla ice cream. Kick it up by getting the cookies and cream ice cream bar, which is the ice cream dipped in perfect chocolate rolled in more oreos. Yep. I have friends who swear by their shakes, including the delicious coffee toffee crunch shake. And if you’re actually looking for a non dessert item, I highly recommend the manchego cheese and whole wheat grain salad. YUM.

3. My favorite Persian ice cream:

Mashti Malone’s

Hollywood, 1525 N La Brea Ave

Why it’s good: LA has a large Persian population, which means there are a few Persian ice cream places to choose from. I give Mashti’s the edge though, as they have a good selection of both Persian and more typical ice cream flavors, plus it’s run by some of the nicest ice cream folks around. Mashti Malone’s is also in a very Hollywood shopping center — run down liquor store + laundromat + hip bar. Oh LA.

What to get?

You have to try the Persian flavors here! Yes, some of them may seem a bit perfume-y due to the rosewater, but they are also clean and refreshing. My favorite is the faludeh — it’s a very light, almost slush like base with a light citrus flavor…and weird starchy noodle things? I know. Weird. But so good! If you’re dying to try this but can’t make it to Hollywood, Mashti Malone’s does sell some of their flavors in fancy grocery stores in California.

4. My favorite ice cream sandwiches:

Diddy Riese Cookies

Westwood, 926 Broxton Ave

Why it’s good: As a former Bruin, I think it’s contractually required that I include Diddy Riese otherwise I get my degree revoked. During the UCLA orientation, the counselors march all the freshmen down to Diddy Riese. It’s just one of those things that you need to know about. Diddy Riese is actually an amazing cookie bakery, but they know how to make a FANTASTIC ice cream sandwich. Take two fresh baked cookies of your choice, choose whichever ice cream you want between them, and fork over only $1.75. Even USC Trojans will come to Westwood for this!

What to get?

Whatever ice cream sandwich you want! One macadamia white chocolate cookie and one chocolate with bubble gum ice cream in the middle? Yuck…but sure! Go crazy. The cookies on their own are really delicious too. My favorites of those are the candy cookies and the cinnamon sugar.

5. My Childhood Favorite:

Rite Aid/Thrifty’s Ice Cream

All over the darn place.

Why it’s good: Thrifty was one of the drug stores in my hometown, and, like most Thriftys, it had the world’s best ice cream counter. A scoop was under a dollar, and it was always in that cool cylinder shape. When Rite Aid bought out Thriftys, a lot of the ice cream counters disappeared, though you could still by the ice cream in the cartons in Rite Aid. Luckily, a few of the counters do still exist around the west coast, including a few in LA. What to get?

CHOCOLATE MALTED CRUNCH, obviously. It’s chocolate ice cream, with chocolate chips and weird little white malt candies. You can’t get it anywhere else, and it’s just amazing.

______________

I know I’m leaving out tons, but this is a good introduction to the vibrant LA ice cream scene. One more recommendation: If you hang out in an LA park long enough, you’ll probably see a guy pushing an ice cream cart around. Paletas galore! And mango/chile popsicles, which I find horrible, but people love!

If anyone has any suggestions for ice cream in LA, please let me know in the comments!

And if you have any Austin recommendations for good ice cream, I’d love to hear those too! And yes…I know of Amy’s. Why is that the only ice cream place that Austinites talk about?!

(One quick note: I didn’t take any of theses photos. Please click on the photo to see its Flickr page.)

California, Here I Come!

Um, so I finished my first semester of grad school…WHAT? I can hardly believe it! Over the past four months, I graded about 6870 pages of lab reports for my job, gave 9 class presentations, wrote God only knows how many pages of essays and worked over 100 hours in an archive. Yeah. I’m tired.

So what will fix that? CALIFORNIA FOR THREE WEEKS! What am I looking forward to?

Ocean sunsets:

 

 

Favorite restaurants:

 

These two pretty, pretty cities:

And, most importantly, lots of time relaxing with all the folks dearest to me. And two awesome pups:

And, of course, The Trix.

Anyone else braving the airport during the holiday season? Happy travels!

 

Vintage Covent Garden.

When I had that six month stint of living in London, one of my favorite things to do was to visit all the markets. Stacks of produce, winding little pathways between booths, hot cider on cold, cold days…it was perfection. I usually frequented Borough and Greenwich Markets, but these photos of Covent Garden from the late 1960′s and the early 1970′s by Clive Boursnell (and discovered through the always amazing The Retronaut) give me the same delicious feeling.

28 New Things: Visit the San Antonio Riverwalk

When I was about 13, my mom, sister, grandma, aunt, two cousins and I took an epic road trip from California to East Tennessee to visit family. As you can imagine, it was a pretty epic trip. There was lots of stops at tourist trap “trading posts” in the southwest, long drives that were made more entertaining by talking/fighting with the cousins, random stops in bayous and Civil War battlegrounds (SO MANY CIVIL WAR BATTLEGROUNDS), and even a trip to the Alamo! My mom wanted so badly to go to the San Antonio Riverwalk that day, as it is only a few blocks from the Alamo, but for whatever reason, it was decided that we needed to move on. My mom has wanted to go back ever since.

So, as my parents were here for a few days after helping me move in, we decided that a long overdue trip to the Riverwalk was necessary. And guess what, I didn’t take a single photo. Not even one instagram shot. I was still in the super stressed moving mindset, and photography was really the last thing on my mind. So, I had to nab some pretty shots other people took for this post.

It is a really lovely space. Situated slightly below the streets of San Antonio (which makes it so much cooler than the rest of the city!), the roughly two and a half mile series of walkways and bridges follows the San Antonio River. There are tons of shops and restaurants, with outside seating complete with bright umbrellas and the most ridiculously aggressive birds ever. Tours of the river are given in cute little boats, and the place is just swamped with tourists.

My parents and I had lunch at Casa Rio, the oldest restaurant on the riverwalk. The food was … eh, but the experience was fun. And really, the birds were intense. They would walk up and try to go after your chips, as you were sitting there! I finally got chased off the table by a flock of about 10 or so. Fine! You can have it, evil pigeons!

All in all, a fun, pretty space, but pretty Disneyland-esque. It feels touristy and sanitized, but it certainly isn’t like anywhere else I’ve ever been! It’s a great place to beat the San Antonio heat for a little bit and do some people watching.

Cutting Down the LA Adventure List!

I’ve reached the final countdown. I have to be out of my apartment in 8 days. I can hardly believe it. Between the packing, cleaning, freaking out, and watching roughly 34 episodes of Louie in a row (yep. I have a problem), I’m also trying to fit in all the items on my LA Adventure List. This weekend, I talked a few of my friends in to driving around the city to help me cross off two!

I have been meaning to visit The Watts Towers for years, but being a lazy person, they always were just a bit too out of the way. Sure, Watts isn’t that far down the freeway, but it’s rare (as in, never) that I have a reason to be there. I’d seen pictures and thought they seemed neat, but not compelling enough to actually make the trip. How wrong I was.

The Watts Towers were constructed by Simon Rodia, a tile worker, over 33 years. He used only found items, and created a surprisingly graceful, intricate structure that includes mosaics of old 7 UP bottles, vases, shells, cast off tiles, and even figurines.

After working on it for so long, he just up and left it to his neighbor one day, who had no idea what to do with it. Luckily, it was saved from being torn down, and now tourists can pay $7 to get a very detailed tour. This is weird LA at its best.

After Watts, we headed back up into Downtown LA to grab lunch and go on Angel’s Flight!

Angel’s Flight has been touted as the world’s shortest railroad, though I don’t know how much truth there is to that claim. For fifty cents, it will cart you up a steep hill…for about 30 seconds. It’s a beautiful little orange and black car, and has been restored recently so it’s very shiny. The view from the top is pretty awesome, as it looks over most of downtown and east LA. Also, if you’re a movie buff, the top of Angel’s Flight is that park in (500) Days of Summer where Zooey and Joseph sit on a bench and talk about cutesy things. So there’s that.

And if you’re looking for a fun lunch experience that is right across the street from Angel’s Flight, head to the Grand Central Market. Want pupusas? They got it. Tacos? Yep. Chop Suey? Sure. They also sell bulk candy, fruit, meat, etc. It’s a throwback to European style outdoor markets, and it’s pretty much impossible not to love.

Lastly, we hit up LACMA to see Levitated Mass, the giant rock that fascinated local news as it was carted from Riverside to LA. It’s…I don’t know. I expected more. Sure, it’s cool. It’s a huge rock. And people love taking goofy pictures in front of it, in which they pretend to hold it up. It’s LA’s version of the Leaning Tower of Pisa! I guess after hearing all the buzz for months and months, I expected to really feel changed. I felt…like there was a giant rock over me. And that’s why I’m not a modern art critic.

Oh, and having cocktails at the outdoor LACMA bar afterwards? Now, THAT is highly recommended.

So yep, LA Adventure List– I’m making progress on you! I can’t recommend taking a day to be a tourist in your city more. Just make sure to take a few up for anything friends and add in drinks whenever appropriate/possible.

Study Abroad — The Lessons.

In Dartmoor National Park, probably within two weeks of my the beginning of my program. So tentative and new to it all!

If you read any promotional materials from a study abroad office, certain themes will come up again and again:
Global leadership!
Academically challenging!
Cultural understanding!

These are all great things, and I do believe wholeheartedly that studying abroad will help students grow in all those areas. But there is so much more to it than just those flashy selling points.

I studied abroad for the 2005/06 school year in Bristol, England. I had always known that I wanted to go to England, from the first time I watched Disney’s Robin Hood. I never even questioned the feasibility; I knew that I would make it happen. I was also always sold on the year long option. Only go to have to turn around again three months later? No thanks.

That year turned out to be a big deal for me. Obviously, it determined the career path that I would follow for five years after graduation, but it also turned me from a meek, retiring college student into an adult (well, at least in some ways). My self-confidence went through the roof, as I learned that I could navigate foreign education systems and public transport systems without any help, then I could certainly handle myself in Los Angeles. It was a freeing thought.

Here are the lessons, little and big, that I learned from studying abroad.

• Read EVERYTHING. Everything. I almost wasn’t able to turn in a final paper because I didn’t read the rule sheet for submitting papers from the English department. Luckily, they made an exception for me, but they had to call the department head first. How horrible would it have been if I failed a class, just because I was too lazy to read the instructions given to me? Super horrible. So read everything backwards and forwards, up and down. You’re a college student. You have the ability. Do it.
• Studying abroad does not protect you from danger. Having the time of your life and feeling like nothing will never go wrong does not make the pickpockets, con artists, sexual predators, etc disappear. It just makes you more susceptible to them. I was lucky and never got in serious trouble, but I did put myself in situations that could have really gone either way. It was dumb. Common sense is important.
• That being said, the world isn’t a scary, horrible place out to get you. People are people everywhere. Just as in the USA, there are some bad people, but most people are generally good. It’s easy for people (especially those who don’t travel much themselves) to be scared of a place more out of ignorance than actual knowledge. Do your due diligence to make sure it’s generally safe, but don’t write off Poland just because you’re cousin’s ex-boyfriend told you this sketchy story about  American tourists being gassed and mugged. Look into the story. See if it’s true/if it’s happened recently/if it happens frequently, etc. Then decide for yourself if it’s safe for you to go. Also, remember, the USA isn’t very safe anyway. I’ve had discussions with Europeans who have said they’re worried about coming here because of gun violence. I have to explain that it really isn’t that bad. It’s all just a manner of perspective.
• Food abroad has calories, just as it does in the USA. Amazingly, you’ll gain weight if you eat cookies with tea every single day. Just sayin.
• Ask for help. Lost? Ask for directions. Feeling homesick? Talk to fellow students/university staff. Confused about your coursework? Ask the professor for help. Don’t understand in which company it’s appropriate to use the expletive “bloody”? Ask your flatmates to explain it. Don’t be proud. Just ask.
• Going along with that, don’t assume you know how things work. This one is tough for me, because I like to be right, and I like to not have to be helped. But you know, that attitude certainly didn’t do me any favors. Assuming things work exactly the same way abroad that they do in the USA is a surefire way to eventually run into trouble. Accept that early, and then open yourself to the differences.
• Keep a journal! Believe me, in ten years you’re going to want to read the banalities of your days when you were living abroad. There’s so much you’ll forget!
• Be patient. Be patient with yourself, your host country, your fellow students, your family at home. This is a new experience, and there are times that you’re going to want to zip past the awkwardness and get to feeling at home. That’s not going to happen all at once. Give it time. Also, remember that other countries sometimes work at different paces than the USA. Yes, there will be more bureaucracy in France. Guess what. You have a tantrum because you can’t be patient isn’t going to fix the situation. It will only make the people trying to help you upset. Patience, my friend, patience.
• Learn to pack and travel like a pro. Empty all your pockets before you get to the metal detector at the airport. Pack light. Read signs/instructions at metro stations before you get to the actual ticket machine. You will be amazing by the end of it. Promise.
• Savor and cultivate your independence. Being abroad is all on you. You make your own mistakes, but you also create your own victories. This is your experience, not your brother’s, not your parents’, not your friends’. Yours. It’s up to you to take responsibility for yourself completely. You need to control your safety, your health, your travel, your academics, and also your emotional state. It’s a lot, especially to the 20 year olds who have never been able to fully separate themselves from their home. It’s fantastic that you have a support system at home, but now is the time to learn how to build your own support system. This skill will come in handy for the rest of your life as an adult. Start working on it now.
• Be open. There’s all sorts of new stuff being thrown at you, so it’s easy to shut down sometimes and retreat to your room. Don’t. Be open to trying new sports, new foods, new friends. Talk to people, even though you may usually be shy. Allow the experience to change your long held beliefs. See things anew. That’s incredibly hard to do, but so worth it in the end. It’s a challenge, but it’s the most transformative challenge you can take on.
• Enjoy the moment. Every so often sit back, breathe in, and realize that what you’re doing is special. I will always remember having a casual picnic in the park with my flatmates on a sunny, June day. It was a thrown together event without any pre-planning, and really, there wasn’t anything extraordinary about it. But it was a special, happy, perfect moment, that I will never have again. I’m so glad that at that time, I was able to realize it and file it away. Every so often, just stop and marvel.

Oh go. Go go go. Just do. If you’re a college student, you really need to go meet with your study abroad office TODAY to figure out if it’s possible. Don’t just assume it’s not because you receive financial aid/are an engineer/work on the newspaper/have a significant other…whatever. I’ve worked with students in all these situations (and hundreds more!) and we’ve always been able to figure it out. Go now. This is the time.

And man, I wish I could do it again.

Thumbs up to study abroad!