Southern California – …on the B.L.

Eating in L.A.

July 21, 2017 RaeAnna

I love to eat. I mean, I really love to eat. When I lived in France, I tested every patisserie in Aix-en-Provence, the city I lived in. Eating is a major part of my everyday life. You can only imagine how it figures into my travel plans. While I was in California I ate at the obligatory: In and Out and Del Taco of course. I try never to eat places I can eat at when I’m at home.

Sprinkles Cupcakes is a now famous cupcakery. It was founded in Beverly Hills, California in 2005, and since then, has grown into an iconic treat for people across the country. They rose to national fame for their delectable cupcakes, but became an instant hit when they introduced the cupcake ATM. You read that right! A cupcake ATM for those days you just need a cupcake now. If you’re like me, it’s happened more often than I’d like to admit. I actually have a Sprinkles here in Houston, but I had to go to the original to truly reach happiness. I enjoyed a chocolate marshmallow cupcake, which was delightful. I wouldn’t necessarily suggest the Beverly Hills Sprinkles as a quiet reading destination because there are so many people coming and going. It’s an upbeat place, which brings smiles to a lot of people of various ages.

I think part of my trip to Los Angeles was planned around this restaurant… Badmaash. I saw it on Buzzfeed or something on Facebook. I already knew I was going to LA, but I really got excited to go when I found out about this Indian restaurant. I love Indian food, but this takes it to a whole new level! They are known for their Indian mashups. I personally had the traditional comfort food of Butter Chicken as well as the Tikka Poutine. Poutine? you’re thinking. Yes, Tikka Poutine. You are not seeing things. It is an amazing mashup of the Indian Tikka Masala with the Canadian Poutine. They have tons of other mashups, but I’m only one person with limited stomach space. I could rave on and on about this place and their food. The decor was just awesome. The walls had Gandhi wearing different colored sunglasses. I would not suggest this as a reading spot. Though the food is top notch, it’s definitely young, hip, and loud but in a good way.

One of the last places I ate at in Los Angeles was La Brea bakery. It was awesome. The coffee was delicious. The food was delicious. I ended up going home with three loaves of bread because vacation and carbs. Who doesn’t love carbs? I love carbs. As far as reading, this is the best place to read. There are comfy booths, it has a quiet atmosphere. It is more like a local cafe than a bustling restaurant. I would go back in a heartbeat!

Bookstores

The Last Bookstore

July 17, 2017September 8, 2019 RaeAnna

I happened upon The Last Bookstore in downtown LA by accident, truly. I was on my way to a dinner reservation (see Los Angeles – Eating) when the strap on my high heel broke… Ugh! So I had to hobble to a Walgreens for some super glue to save the day, which it did. As I was speed walking through downtown LA to make my reservation, I walked by The Last Bookstore. Speed peeping through the window, I made a mental note to return after dinner. I did. It was worth it.

I vowed I would only spend $20 because I don’t need more books… Who am I kidding? Of course I NEED more books. I spent a bit more than $20 a few times more. I’m proud of myself; I could have spent so much more. This bookstore was amazing. Seriously.

You walk into the bookstore, and it’s marvelous. They sell both new and used books. The used books are in all but perfect condition, and at such a low price you would be stupid to buy new. Feel free to buy new, though! I was in heaven. There is the ground floor which has contemporary fiction and classical fiction and self help and cooking and rare books and biographies and more. There are hug columns, which are gorgeous. When you walk up the stairs, on each stair it says what genre awaits on the second floor. On the second floor there are art exhibits and art vendors. There is a tunnel made from books and a cute circle acting as a window to books yonder. You can find sci-fi books, mystery, foreign language, history, philosophy, psychology, you name it, you can find it. My favorite part was when I happened upon several shelves dedicated to decorative books in every array of color because, I guess, some people don’t actually read books?

Suffice to say, I could have stayed in the bookstore forever. I let my close friends know if I am ever lost they can find me here. No, in fact, I was not kidnapped; I just ran away to The Last Bookstore in LA. So if you don’t hear from me, I’ll be there!

I’m considering moving to LA just to be in close proximity to this bookstore… So if there’s anyone out there who wants to employ me for, you know, a living wage in LA, hit me up!!!

Experiences, Travel

San Diego

July 16, 2017September 8, 2019 RaeAnna

San Diego is one of my favorite places to visit. I was six the first time I visited, but have made it back many times in my twenties because it has a really laid back atmosphere, tons of beautiful beaches, great food, and a lax dress code.

The Hotel del Coronado is both historic and beautiful. It is known to be haunted, but has been visited by some of the biggest names in the entertainment business like Marilyn Monroe. Located on Coronado Island, it is the focal point with its white walls and red roof surrounded by beach and palm trees alike. A little paradise. It is incredibly fancy, and you’ll feel fabulous just walking around the grounds. It’s pricey, but I’m sure it’s worth it; I’ve never been able to afford it myself. I always grab an ice cream at MooTime Creamery to keep me company while I walk around until I find the perfect bench to read at.

I love Ocean Beach! I have for years. It’s where the hipsters congregated before the word hipster entered the vernacular. It has been a safe haven for the weed smokers before it was legal. It has welcomed dogs as people before it was cool. Known for the dog beach, the pier, the cliffs, the array of people, and Hodads, it’s a fun place to spend an afternoon. I would not recommend it for reading; you’ll be too busy people watching. That is, if you’re not too uptight for the laid-back, coolness that is Ocean Beach. It is bright and bustling all day and well into the night. Lots to do and eat and smell all along the beach. So be prepared to take part or sit and watch!

The dunes are everywhere they can make themselves in San Diego. These particular dunes take up a good deal of space on Coronado Island between the ocean and the ocean wall. They are vast, deep, and rolling hosting all sorts of plants and probably even some critters too. The plants are beautiful and flowering… I have no idea what they are, but they’re pretty and prominent. People can wonder in them without being seen except from above. By the dunes there are beautiful stone life guard huts… Although, I wouldn’t call them huts; they are fairly substantial buildings reminiscent of lighthouses from days of yore.

Oceanside is not actually a part of San Diego, but is often lumped into San Diego because it’s identity is so closely tied. It’s about an hour North of San Diego downtown without traffic, and an hour and half South of Los Angeles. It’s incredibly centralized between the two. It is a hub for the Marine Corps because of Camp Pendleton’s proximity. It has changed a lot in recent years with lots of good food and a cute downtown. I was personally drawn to the Oceanside Public Library. I didn’t even realize it was a library at first because it looks more like the mirage of a desert oasis to me. Whoever designed this library needs to design my future house because I would happily sit down to read a book with a wading pool, palm trees, a fountain, and architecture and coloring reminiscent of Mykonos, Greece. With a pastry shop right across the street, I would often be found in front of this library. I didn’t get a chance to go in, but I’m sure it is spectacular because the outside is so memorably bright and lovely.