Your Best Weekend Ever - LA Version

Dude, we aced it this weekend. The locations, the food, the people - all were a welcome break from the craziness of my work schedule. In between trafficking cases, the police brutality one and CEDAW petition, I was grateful for a busy, but relaxing weekend.

Locations Featured:

Blue Plate
1415 Montana, Santa Monica
Order the Breakfast Quesadilla and the Mac and Cheese Pancake (?)

Highland Cafe
5010 York Blvd., Highland Park
Order the hemp latte and chilaquiles.

The Greek
Griffith Park, Los Feliz
See the Lumineers - like omg.

Golden Road Brewing
5410 W. San Fernando, Glendale
Play cornhole and get the IPA.

El Caserio 
401 Silverlake Blvd.
Silver Lake
Order the Maduros con Queso and the Salchipapas (grilled plantains with burrata/sausage and potatos).

Caffe Vita
4432 W. Sunset Blvd
Silver Lake
Order the Iced Americano (duh) and get a cookie.

Silverlake Ramen
2927 W. Sunset Blvd., Silverlake
Order the Spicy Pork Belly Ramen and the Crispy Rice and Spicy Tuna Roll

Friday started off with wine, cookies from Sweet Lady Jane, and frozen yogurt from Yogurtland plus a lovely home-cooked meal by Christina. Sophie, Christina and I watched about 15 minutes of a horror movie before crashing and woke up for a walk on Montana and brunch at Blue Plate. 

We ordered the breakfast quesadilla and the mac and cheese pancake. Holy mother of god. First of all, I'm always disappointed by breakfast quesadillas - too much egg, too much cheese, too soggy, etc. But this actually might be the best one I've had. The mac and cheese pancake was interesting. It's actually a plain pancakes with spoonfuls of mac and cheese cooked into it, served with powdered sugar and syrup. The taste was good, the concept a bit disconcerting... it was a bit too much for me.

After that, Sophs and I headed home for a walk and then met Jacy at Highland Cafe for hemp lattes (my fave) and some work time. Evan and Ladi met us and tasted the delicacies that Highland Cafe has to offer. I went home and worked a bit more, took Soph on another walk and then had some delish Mexican food on York with Annie and her two friends, Hollis and James.


I picked Aline up for the Lumineers and we headed to the Greek. I heard amazing things about the show from Evan, who had gone the night before. I had purchased the tickets fan pre-sale, whatever that means, the seats were legit. Except we didn't have seats... we were in the pit. The show felt so intimate and of course, the venue is one of my favorites, so I was on a high. Until my gas light went on when we were stuck in the parking lot and I almost had a heart attack. But you know, so it goes.






Aline and I headed to Golden Road to meet up with Annie, Hollis and James again where I witnessed the epic stick throwing game. Literally throwing sticks. Like I can't. I have to go back - they have cornhole and giant jenga.
   
I was planning on like working on Sunday. That was a fail. I was quickly swept into a mimosa brunch at El Caserio in Silverlake, a place I had been meaning to try for their gorgeous patio. Minus the fact they were NOT dog-friendly (get with the times people) and a little bougie, the food was an interesting Latin American fusion and they were heavy on the champagne pours. We had a great group: Aline, Nora, Hollis, James, their friend Marsen, Jenaba, and Christina.






We hit up Caffe Vita for iced Americanos to get our heads on straight and then headed home to recharge. I napped for a bit and then met Evan for some life-giving Ramen at one of our favorite spots and we didn't have to wait that long - just about a half hour.



Exhausted, I came home and... worked. But for an epic weekend, pounding out some research wasn't so bad.

Now I want someone to come visit me so I can do it all over again.

Sophie was sleepy after our long weekend :)

One for You, One for Me - Donut Friend

Donut Friend
5107 York Blvd, Highland Park

Sophie was due for her booster shots today, so I smuggled her into the car and to the vets before she even knew what happened.

A little thing about me: I have a really great pain tolerance. Like really great. I feel asleep during my tattoo. Once I didn't even realized I'd cracked a rib. BUT, and this is a big but, I am TERRIFIED of needles. It's a mind of matter thing. But I have cried getting a flu shot. At the age of 22. And it was the last one I got. And my friend Megan had to hold my hand. And I still cried.

So on my way to taking Sophie, I started getting a little panicked - for her, for me, for the world. And then I teared up, thinking of my little baby girl getting punctured with needles. Three to be exact.


Clearly, I should have asked the vet for a xanax or something, but we hurdled on and Sophie was in and out in less than 50 seconds. And she weighs 61 pounds.

Of course, after that trauma, rewards were in order. So Soph and I trotted over to Donut Friend, a new customizable donut place in Highland Park - close to my other faves: the Herm, Scoops, and Highland Park Cafe. This heaven on earth just opened a few weeks ago and I'd been meaning to try it and despite my diet, I went.

Um. People. What. Like OMG stop.

This place is cray. You pick your base - i.e. baked, gluten free, vegan and then your toppings, which ranging from mundane: sprinkles, nuts, etc. to ricotta, goat cheese, spices, balsamic reduction, etc. 

My un-caffeinated brain couldn't survive. So I ordered a cold brew to start ($3) - light, bright, slightly sweet - no add-ins necessary.

And I was thinking about designing my own donut, but I couldn't handle the pressure. So I ordered the Lemon Weapon ($4.00). Traditional fried donut, a light lemon curd, blueberry compote, light glaze and fresh mint. 

Vaccinations forgotten, Sophie and I inhaled it. Well, we waited until we got home, which apparently is the maximum self-control I can demonstrate. Yum.

But don't worry. I'm going to Cardio Barre tonight, even though I still can't bend my knees from Crossfit. NBD. 

Massive Weekend Post: The Black Keys, Florence, Hiking, and Red Velvet Pancakes

I had an epic and productive weekend. The major highlights were Tegan and Sara and the Black Keys at the Staples Center on Saturday and Florence and the Machine at the Hollywood Bowl last night.

Some breakdowns:

Friday:
I took the pups home so my mom could pamper them with organic chicken and fish stew. At least I got bacon for breakfast. Jenaba and I hit up Casa Bianca for some pizza and chianti. Very sweet and retro and just happens to be Obama's LA pizza place from his days at Occidental.

Then I met Aline at Verdugo for some girl talk. Great beer garden and good convo. Then I met Ellie and Ryan for a drink at Little Cave. Delicious Green Flash and laughs and I love the exposed brick.

Saturday:
Machiko and I did a massive Mt. Washington urban hike with the pups on Saturday morning and then met Veronica for brunch at Home in Silverlake. Super beautiful patio and dog friendly. We had the red velvet pancakes, the eggs benedict and the veggie burrito. Loved loved loved the pancakes - not too sweet.

 Then the Black Keys!!! So after a epic win with a parking enforcement man (I ran like a gazelle to save myself), V, Stef and I headed to the Farm and shared several plates of food. The Truffled mac and cheese - be still my beating heart and a couple bottles of wine and went to the show. My love for Tegan and Sara is near obsessive and they were great, although I wish the set was longer. Then the Black Keys just killed it. Phenom. They were absurdly good. Then V disappeared after introducing us to some new friends. We then hit up Tony's Saloon - yay photo booths and got late night Thai. I think I went to bed at 4:30.

Sunday:
Picked up my dad - I was in a rather rough state and went back to the OC where Sophie basked in grass and sunshine. Then went back to LA and Sophie hung out with my Dad, while Aline, Haley, Justin and I hit up Kitchen24 for massive burgers and (sweet) strawberry cocktails, then headed to the Hollywood Bowl. UM. FLORENCE IS A GODDESS. I WANT TO BE HER. SHE IS PERFECTION. Good drinks and company and just amazing.

Yeah, so my weekend was one of the best ever. I went to two new venues that blew my mind. Although they were big, the sound was good and the performances were crazy legit. And I just got to hang out with my best friends all weekend and cuddle with my family. Like too perfect.

The Hermosillo on York

The Hermosillo, 5125 York Blvd., Highland Park.  

c/o LA Times

My jetsetter amigo, Greg, just returned from a Europe/NYC trip (super-jeal), so V, Evan and I met him at The Hermosillo on York Blvd. in Highland Park. I tried the Firestone DBA - that stuff is strong and has an unique and extremely alcoholic taste. It's not my faves Firestone but as Evan says, it gets the job done. Then I had the Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale, which I had had before but couldn't quite remember. But this second time, I loved it. On the shortlist for the rest of the summer.

The Hermosillo has a Cuban-y, 40s feel. The bartenders are cute, the craft beers well selected, and a cozy feel. I love the lay-out - easy flow, spacious. And it was a wonderful place to catch up with Greg and also to meet the owner's (housemate's) dog - a beautiful choco lab named Frank. He was the highlight of my evening :-)

In other news, I made the most horrendous vegan carrot muffins. They are like carrot-y sponges with an odd, stretchy casing. However, nutella makes everything better.


Off to brief writing. Muchos besos.

The High(Land) Life

There were a few things on my list that I still needed to check out in Highland Park.
- The Second Saturday (which I missed this month - darn)
- Hermosillo (a bar that recently underwent some changes and was featured in Thrillist)
- Highland Park Kitchen
- Ba Restaurant
- Cafe De Leche (esp. the horchata latte)
- Antigua Coffee
- The York trivia night
- The Farmer's Market
- Fashion 21 (the original Forever 21 first opened in Highland Park)
- La Cuevita (another bar - lol)
... and countless other things.

But on Tuesday, Jenaba, Lennie, and I had an epic evening. First, we hit up the farmer's market, one of the oldest in LA, and bought corn, green beans, peaches, cherries, sweet potatoes, beets, nectarines, strawberries and carrots. So far, I've tasted a gorgeous nectarine and roasted some beets for a beet salad (my fave). Absolutely gorgeous organic produce for just a couple of bucks.

I had no idea that Highland Park has its own food truck central on Tuesday. I started with samosa chaat from India Jones. That's like Indian potato dumplings, with yogurt cucumber sauce, tamarind chutney, garbanzos, and mint. Yum. Then for dessert, we had CoolHaus ice cream. I indulged in a chocolate chip cookie, red velvet ice cream sandwich. I died. Even Lennie loved his sample of vanilla ice cream.

Then to finish off the night, we stopped by Figueroa Produce, which is an organic, healthy, amazing grocer with natural products. Definitely going again. They have great vegan cheeses and condiments, as well as my favorite natural soaps. And it's only a short drive from my house. WIN.

Then we watched Jeopardy with Jefferson and cleaned the house. (I think that helped work off a chocolate chip or two :-) )

Big News...

I'm moving! After a couple of weeks of intense searching, I found an gorgeous old Victorian to live in with all my qualifications and phenomenal roommates came along with the deal, including a cute little dog named Lennie. (We're still looking for a fourth if anyone is interested :-))

The house was built in 1902 - hardwood floors, bay windows, lots of light, crown-molding, and a fireplace. We have a washing machine, parking, and a little garden. It's four bedroom, two bath, with little gorgeous brightly lit nooks. And my housemates seem wonderful - LA transplants with senses of humor and good taste in beer :-).

The house is located in Highland Park, which is about eight mins east of Echo Park and about ten minutes north of downtown. It's in a mostly residential neighborhood. I hadn't heard of Highland Park before, but it's apparently the "new" Echo Park, which is just great news for the psuedo hipster in me. (It was one of the first LA suburbs, and was a mostly Jewish neighborhood. In fact, it has one of the oldest operating synagogues in CA. It went through a rough period with crime and such, but it's been picking up after hte last few years.(After watching Madmen with Jenaba (a new roomie), Evan and I grabbed a beer at the York, which was an an amazing urban chic bar a few minutes away with well-priced good beer (I had the Hopscotch IPA) and a truffled grilled cheeses. SOLD.

Here is a pic of it from the LA Times Travel Guide on Highland Park:

I move in July 1, but here are some pics for a sneak peek. They don't do the house justice, so you'll just have to come over for mimosas and pancakes one of these weekends :-)

I'm so grateful to have found such a great place and thankful for my family's support this entire time, since I can be a bit of a brat.