LA Stories

[trip style = sun + sightseeing + weekending]

While galavanting through entertainment-ville this past weekend I read an article in Los Angeles Magazine called LA Stories. Fifty locals shared their views on the city. Jamie Lee Curtis' {whom I LOVED in True Lies} struck me most: "I am very protective of LA." Sure, the city of superhighways gets a bad rap, but it has SO MUCH to offer. No wonder an LA native is protective of her star-studded stomping grounds!

{Did you catch yesterday's post about eating, drinking and segwaying through LA's Downtown?}

From Tourist To Local To Tourist
I can't even count the number of times I've been. Thanks to its relative proximity to Vancouver, its forever So-Cal sun and a dear friend who has called it home, I've been fortunate enough to visit enough that everything now seems semi-familiar. Initially I went as a tourist, going to attractions and eating at front-and-centre touristy restaurants {remember Planet Hollywood? They had the best dessert burrito ever, sounds gross but soooo good}. Then with the help of my friend, I graduated to local tourism where I did things locals would do: hike Runyon Canyon, grab a coffee & cookie at Mani's, get my nails done at one of the many shops offering $25 mani/pedis, etc... My most recent trip was a local and tourist hybrid, fuelling up at incredible restaurants, expending energy on segways and museums, and conserving energy as I recharged at the pool.

My LA Story

Aside from the day I spent exploring LA's re-envisioned downtown core, here are some highlights:

Must-Try Restaurants
Bottega Louie - Downtown *I just about lost my breath when I walked into this marble-floored, high-ceilinged, open-kitchen cafe, bar and high-end eatery. Every detail from the freshest, plumpest rasberries in the macaroons to the delicate brass detailing on every wooden counter base blew me away.

Tavern - Brentwood *I was equally swept away when I walked into Tavern for dinner. The farmhouse-chic decor meets cozy-corner-cafe fare was done with perfect execution. At dinner we sat under a tall indoor tree with clove-studded oranges hanging from every branch. Heaven.

Favorite All-In-One Night Out
The Grove - LA *Even though it's busy, busy, busy, what's not to love about shopping, dining, dancing fountain-watching and catching a flick all in one place?

Most Beautiful Vista + Museum
The Getty *The hilltop museum is not only a favorite with art and architecture buffs, but also with people who love a breezy, lazy afternoon of lounging on the grass overlooking multiple LA vistas. I was there for 3 hours, but could have come back everyday for a week in 3-hour increments to properly appreciate the art expositions, open-air cafes and stunning grounds.

Stay
$ - Find a hotel through Hotwire
$$ - Luxe Hotel Sunset Blvd {see my review here} or Sofitel
$$$ - Beverly Wilshire or Chateau Marmont

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[photos by @tripstyler & @nate_fri, except for luxe + tavern]

Travel Trends :: Downtown LA

[trip style = sun + urban + weekend getaway]

The Many Faces of LA LA has many faces. Some old, some young, some pulled, some plumped, some starry-eyed and some content. Like the millions of unique faces populating The City of Angels, you can visita million times and never tire of its vintage-glam, yet ever-changing, features. Last weekend's jaunt down South was no exception, when I experienced the primed and refurbished Downtown LA---until now, a spot that wouldn't have been on my radar. Yet re-envisioned downtowns are a travel trend spanning from the West to East Coast, and I didn't want to miss it!

{Don't miss tomorrow's LA Stories - Uptown.}

The Approach As I approached LA Live---the city's newest and hottest entertainment centre---I was greeted by Lady Los Angeles herself. The sexy, silver and tinsel-clad angelic figure is on every street pole surrounding the district---a harmonious ode to the festive season and the iconic area. Beyond her, in true LA form, sat a sparkly entertainment stretch spanning multiple city blocks in LA's Downtown.

First Impressions My first impression of this entertainment city within a city was "wow." Even for a city girl, it was overwhelmingly big, but once I navigated its brightly lit corridors, the unapproachable giant became a friendly companion. LA Live challenges the norm of dinner and a show. With multiple restaurants to choose from, you can start off midday with an appie and bevvie at the JW Marriott's Ion roof-top pool bar, catch a matinee of the famous Rockettes Christmas show, celebrate happy hour with the world's largest selection of draft beer* at the Yard House and cap off your outing with an LA Kings or Lakers game. All.in.one.place. *If you're not into the taste of beer, but still want "beer", try the Lindemans Framboise, it's like a fruity cocktail!

Old & New Downtown LA mixes the current and the classic with new and time-honored features, some enhanced over time, some left alone. In one day, two old and new experiences:

The first ...was zipping around the city at 12mph in a bright green and pink helmet {maybe my head was kid-sized?} on a Segway! Led by Jason from Another Side Tours, we covered a lot of ground as we zig-zagged around the city on two wheels {that recalculate balance at 120 beats per second}, seeing highlights like the semi-shiny Disney Concert Hall { with panels were so bright in the sun they had to be dulled}; the oldest street in LA; Union Station and a host of art-deco buildings. I still dream about getting back onto a Segway...maybe a Christmas gift idea for the person who has e-ver-y-thing?

The second ...was at the Grammy Museum gazing at Janice Joplin's 1968, custom-painted Porsche and imagining myself in Katy Perry's famous fruit get-up from the 2009 Grammy Awards.

If you've never thought of going Downtown for your next trip to LA, consider it. This metropolis-turned-entertainment-centre is worth another look. Plus, how can you say no to a place where angels are watching over you?

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*All Downtown activities mentioned were sponsored by the LA Visitors and Convention Bureau.

[photos by moi et mon husband, except for Katy Perry by Candy Kirby]