Listen, Do, Eat

Yeah. So the last couple of weeks have been bittersweet. Bffl comes to visit, bffl moves to Montreal. Last minute trips planned. Last minute trips cancelled. Trial prepped for. Trial cancelled. Food poisoning. Sangria induced self-haircut. Blah blah blah. Champagne problems.

Cutting off your own braid? Bad idea?

I have to say despite the last few rocky days, life is pretty stable. With the chill in the air, I'm feeling more domestic and introspective right now. The Ted Hughes poetry, the Feist on repeat and lavender hot chocolate are probably helping.

Listen:

Gwen Stefani's heartbreaking new song, "Used to Love You", about her ex-husband. It's enough to just refrain from relationships altogether.

The National and Laura Mayberry (Chvrches) did "I Need My Girl" together at Treasure Island this weekend. Then I cried. And played it again.

Sort of obsessed with Post-Malone's White Iverson right now and everything Fetty Wap. (Don't judge).

Do:

One Down Dog, Silverlake - Yoga Flow. So sweaty, so good. Really intense vinyasa that leaves me "glowing" (read: dead tired, sweaty AF, and read to conquer the world/anger prevention).

Post-yoga basic-ness

Pilates Plus, Silverlake - SPX Extreme with Angie: I fainted the first time I did her class. It still makes me want to vomit, but in the best way possible. Also her playlists are 90s hiphop amazingness - Dre, Destiny's Child, JLo, Ja Rule and everything in between. We also talk about poutine in the middle of doing planks, so Angie is basically my soulmate.

Taco Zone lines

Brew your own beer: I just ordered stuff online from Urban Brewery. This could be an epic failure, or I could end up opening my own brewing company a la the Three Weavers. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Eat:

Mulitas ("Little Mule") de Sauderos from Taco Zone: OMG - an oasis in the Vons parking lot off of Montana and Alvarado. Jaimie and Jeff had to wrangle Cassi and I over there Saturday night. But OMG. Two fried corn tortillas smothered in delicious jack(?) cheese, brisket and salsas made from god himself. My appetite has been non existent for the last few days, but this $2 piece of heaven makes me want to sell my soul.

Sunday at home

L and E Oyster Bar - The Daily Dozen ($30) - Basically the best deal in town. They offer an affordable Sancerre (my only white wine) and delicious, well prepared oysters. It's a great date night/girls night/taking my dog on the town place.

My mom's house: We had Lauren over for a farewell brunch. Though she is coming back at Christmas, I love excuses to make my mom day drink. We had sangria and Ceasars (tequila, clamato juice, worchester, jalapeños, and other delicious things) plus a salad nicoise and tiramisu. Then I decided to cut my braid off - just braided it, grabbed some child safe scissors and lopped it off. Only about 8 inches. It was a little cray. 

Five Days in Dc - Day 2

Le Diplomate.

I can't even. If there is one place, one menu (or five, in this case), one location, that is the single handed reason I am debating moving to DC, like right this minute. It's Le Diplomate. On Saturday morning, Cailin and I met her lovely boyfriend, Rafi, for brunch over Bloody Marys (very well executed). The restaurant is completely French, for the tiles and moldings imported from France, to the woven chairs, the bound menus, and the officious waiters - I LOVED IT.

It was bustling with families, couples and newspaper wielding individuals, chatting over cappuccinos and fresh bread. I mean, it was heaven. I ordered the creamy polenta, with crispy prosciutto and two poached eggs. The eggs were perfectly cooked, so rare to find and utterly delicious. Cailin, who is a regular, said everything on the menu is that ridiculously magical and I can only imagine. It is a must go.

After brunch, I wandered over to Dolcezza cafe, where they incidentally served Stumptown. I picked up an iced Americano from their to-go window (such a great idea) and wandered to the Mall, where I met up with Annie at the Lincoln Memorial for a personal tour. Like I said, Annie is smart and sweet and thoughtful and also, an amazing tour guide. We walked around the Mall and she gave me the history, tips about DC, and we even had time for a quick discussion on recent political movements within the U.S.  

Ten miles later (jk kind of), I had seen the White House, Washington Monument, all the War Memorials, the Lincoln Memorial (my favorite), and all the monuments around the Tidal Basin. We even watched the late afternoon sun rest over the Tidal Basin with some Dove ice cream bars - pretty epic. Since it was my first time to DC, I was awestruck by the history and the beauty and it really solidified my own feelings of responsibility in being an American citizen. Many of the monuments contained quotes about kindness, generosity, fairness and justice. Good things to remember in the midst of the recent political climate.

After that epic stroll and a rather tearful goodbye with Annie, I walked back to Cailin's for a glass of wine with my new friend, Rachel, where we discussed boys. (Much needed levity after my DC trek; Rachel is so funny and open and warm). Cailin and Rafi joined us a bit later and we headed to Doi Moi, a fusion restaurant down the street. It was lifegiving after my walk. We started with the Gui Chai, Steamed Garlic Chive & Mushroom Dumplings with sweet soy-black vinegar dipping sauce. I would bath in that sauce. So amazing, totally made the dish. We also had Laab Ped, Ground Duck & Duck Liver Salad (Phet Mak) with shallots, toasted rice powder, ground chilies, saw leaf herb, kaffir lime, and cilantro. Very rich, but so flavorful with the lime and cilantro to cut the delicious duck. Again a great dish. I had the pork belly over vermicelli noodles, which I can't seem to find on the menu now, but, let's be real, you can't go wrong with beautifully cooked pork belly. Amiright? We had the ice cream and the pumpkin coconut custard for dessert, which was solid and headed down to the speakeasy downstairs for post-dinner drinks. 

Two Birds, One Stone is super secret and very chic, located in the basement of Doi Moi. It's brick, blue light, and white furniture feels very Euro to me, with little cavernous booths and twists and turns. We ordered a round of the punch du jour and settled in for some serious conversation before heading home. It would certainly be a good place to while away a Friday night, but we were deep into our food comas. 

We wandered home and I pretty much collapsed after such a fulfilling and busy day.

A night in Queens and Brooklyn

Last Saturday, upon my arrival to JFK airport and the three hour hot, humid, gritty journey across the NY subway to Queens, I was withering away from exhaustion, dehydration and a general hate for all humans. I didn't sleep very well and was too enthralled with House of Cards on the plane to properly rest. 

But first stop saved me from an imminent demise: iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts at one of my subway stops - my saving grace, my oasis in the bleak landscape of 90 percent humidity and having to carry my overloaded Longchamp weekend bag over 9 miles of stairs, cement and trains. Only regret? Should have gotten a donut.

First stop:

Taverna Kyclades

33-07 Ditmars Blvd, New York, NY 11105

(718) 545-8666

So then I met Nat and E at our Airbnb and we ventured out of our apt in the face of a thunderstorm because with only coffee in my stomach, I was ready to kill. We decided on Taverna Kyclades, which served the best grilled octopus I've had since I backpacked through Greece four years ago. It was ridiculously amazing - perfectly cooked, tender, with a hint of that beautiful grilling char. Served with lemon, it was a simple refreshing dish.

We also ordered the fried calamari, mythos beers (a light Greek lager), and some dips, including taramosalata, tzatziki, and skordalia. It was a lovely little patio we sat in, under an umbrella with a cool breeze. It was perfect for hipster watching (so many cute pups). By the time we left, there was a line down the block for this place, with a wait of up to two hours. Nat and E said that the night before at around midnight, the line was still that crazy. It was perfect fare for a sweltering summer afternoon. 

Second stop:

Brooklyn Bridge Park

Before meeting up with old friends, Nat, E and I skedaddled around the park, taking a few selfies, checking out the phone charging stations (amazing!) and drooling over all the cute restaurants. 

Third stop:

Grimaldis

Under the Brooklyn Bridge,
1 Front Street,
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone. 718-858-4300

5 Front St
Brooklyn, NY 11201

This is a must-stop for me every time I go to NYC. They have changed locations to a bright, white, industrial chic spot in the same area. Thin crust, thick cut pepperoni, and an adorably sweet waiters (Thanks Ernie!). The only downside is that their liquor license is still pending, but have no fear, in the midst of a crazy storm, we found a cute little margarita bar around the corner, housing delicious drinks (and my favorite from Gilmore Girls and Supernatural, Jared Padalecki!). 

Fourth Stop:
Gran/Electric 
5 Front St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 852-2700
We enjoyed a couple of rounds of their refreshing, not so sweet, margs with our reunited group of six and essentially got kicked out since we closed the place down. I almost reclaimed my youth until I realized the restaurant closes at midnight. 

Fifth Stop:

Brooklyn Bridge

It had to happen. We rapped Jay-Z, walking through the fog, checking out the skyline, the lights, and scaring the general population. We missed the rain, soaked in the city life, and collapsed into bed like zombies. An amazing time :)

My Two Minute Acting Gig + A Grapefruit Cocktail

So my friend Christina gets really irritated with my hair situations. She hates that I meet her with my hair down and within minutes of arriving at our destination, its up in my messy, not-quite-a-top-knot, wonky-ass bun. So do most of my other friends.

My annoyance with my hair is quite cyclical. I generally keep it long, then hack it off every two years for locks of love. In the meantime, I can't stand my growing hair until it hits right at my bra line. At which point, I may start wearing it down, but only for minutes at a time.

Anyway, Christina messaged me on Friday asking if I wanted to take part in a Patene marketing campaign to go with the new branding they are launching next year. A free haircut and products? Sold. So I dragged Jacy along thinking I might do a before and after photo thing after my trim.

Um no. This was a full blown makeover. I got my makeup done (totally buying all of the Smashbox products), and then met Jamie, the lovely Brambila hairstylist who made my hair so much more tolerable and pretty and wonderful. I got blunt bangs, layers and color - "sunkissed highlights," which I am pretty much in love with. I am totally going back to Jamie since she was so detail oriented and took her time, despite the filming schedule we were on.

Also I was interviewed before, after and during the whole "transformation."

Anyway, the video will be online in a a couple of weeks, but until then some before, during and after shots :)

Also, Jacy (who is the most amazing and patient person ever) and I managed to sneak away to Misfit for a Happy Hour grapefruit sparkling wine cocktail (Bijou) and a lavender honey cocktail (Bee's Knees- my fave).

All in all, a pretty wonderful day. I have to say though that the whole pampering thing is not as glamorous as it seems. I had to be cheerful and engaging and cute all day long. I slept for nine hours last night straight.

Now for some normalcy,  I am currently in the kitchen baking a mixed berry pie. Recipe to follow!

xx

One Eyed Gypsy and Pie Hole

One Eyed Gypsy
901 E. First
Los Angeles, CA
The Arts District

Pie Hole
714 Traction
Los Angeles, CA
The Arts District

There were a couple of questionable things I did yesterday. We won't get into all of them, but the major one was not having coffee until 6pm and then checking my student loans, so you can only imagine my dire mental state by the time 9pm rolled around. (Let's not even talk about my misfired screenshot #foreveralone).

Jackie, Evan and I checked out One Eyed Gypsy in the Arts District last night. I had actually never been, despite the fact it fits my 1920s/Dustbowl/speakeasy/hipster/decaying decadence thing that I love a la Villians and 4100. (Also interesting, Dana Hollister  is the visionary behind all those places' designs. Hopefully, she's available to do my house in 65 years when I've paid off my student loans.)


Really I went for the deep fried oreos, but ended up with the Piaget - a grapefruit/rosewater concoction of my dreams. It might be my favorite cocktail ever - the fruit, the tart, the floral undertones - so drinkable. Dangerously so.


Evan had the Monserrat - a chai spiced vodka. It was such a comforting combination of flavors - black tea, cinnamon, cardamom. Super autumnal.

Jackie went with the clowns cup - a refreshing cucumber lime thing. During Happy Hour, its only $6(!).

Long story short, we're going back like all the time.

After, Jackie and I were meandering through the Arts District and we drove by Pie Hole and saw the light on. If you follow my blog, you know that Pie Hole is one of my favorite places in Los Angeles, or maybe even the world. Their sea salt chocolate crostata makes my life worth living on rough days. Like when I get parking tickets. Anywho, Jackie and I were like WE HAVE TO GO. We found a lucky parking spot and flounced over like lambs in a spring meadow. We walk in and are quickly rejected because it is 10:17 and they closed at 10. We must have looked like our souls were decimated because Ariel (my new hero/messiah/role model) saw our faces fall and said one minute. SHE CAME BACK WITH THE LAST SLICE OF CROSTATA.

I can't deal. So generous and lovely and perfect and great and delicious and life-changing. I had been craving Pie Hole for days and have been so crunched for time that I haven't had a chance to venture over. Very rarely do you get a place as popular as Pie Hole still having that sweet, familial service. I am just so impressed.

It was a surprising and lovely way to end the evening. And also indicates I need to program Pie Hole's schedule into my phone.

xx