Los Angeles, CA
by Ali
I’m a big fan of West Hollywood. Many of my friends live in this neighborhood making it easy to eat, sleep, shop and visit them all by staying true to my New York roots and walking everywhere.
Delish Dish:
Joan’s on Third
The stop by, pick up or sit outside place for coffee, sandwiches, and excellent cookies and cupcakes. Without fail I always see a celebrity, of course in LA, you never have to walk more than a block to see one. Last visit yielded an Amanda Peet sighting. Perhaps I’m in a rut, but I usually order the small field green salad and the cheese plate. You get to choose three different cheeses from their varied selection and the cheese expert serves them with a sliced baguette, Spanish Marcona almonds and tasty pastes like apricot, plum and quince to add splendid sweetness to your cheese.
Toast
The stomping ground for everybody in the neighborhood and multiple celebrity sightings like Selma Blair, Patrick Dempsey, and Paris Hilton (of course, where isn’t she seen).
Best place on Third St. to have breakfast (I love the Denver scramble and the breakfast burrito) and order a 1/2 chocolate 1/2 vanilla cupcake.
You just can’t leave West Hollywood without succumbing to the latest craze of enjoying a cupcake. Try the ones at Toast, Sprinkles in Beverly Hills or Joan’s on Third. Funny, that a town with such a prominent focus on being skinny also likes their cupcakes.
Pace—Delicious food, warm service, bustling crowd, and homey atmosphere are a few ways to describe this inventive Italian restaurant along the climbing road of Laurel Canyon Blvd. The California style pizzas are the real draw with sourdough crusts and an eclectic mix of toppings. But my tastes always steer me to the pasta special, which is usually the best choice. And last time we saw a former Spice Girl so we had lots to gossip and “sing” about.
Urth Caffé-Organic, earthy and all-natural ingredients go into their food. Start with their signature spinach salad with pine nuts and feta or the new to die for salad with spinach, fennel, candied almonds (yum), radishes, onions and more. Or order one of their homemade soups and share a chicken curry panini. Save room for a rich dessert like 18-Carrot Gold cake or deep-dish apple pie and skip the vegan chocolate cake (yuck).
Farmer’s Market- Located at The Grove it’s a great place to stop for lunch and celebrate your cheap buys from Forever 21. Pick from numerous food stalls that serve crepes, fresh doughnuts, salads and burgers. Having dinner at a friend’s place? Then shop for fresh fish and pastries.
Al Gelato- For some this little restaurant on Robertson is the place to go for huge meatballs and marinara, though I find the sauce too sweet. Ironically, the sweet that is just right is the chocolate cake with white icing or the mile high apple pie. I skip the meal and go straight for dessert and while they pack up a big slice to go I sample some gelato.
And if it's all about red velvet and some good grub head to The Wood on Washington Blvd in west LA and you'll satisfy your sweet tooth with a mini moist red velvet cake. It's hard to share, but try when you can also share the chocolate whoppie cake. Plus a big menu to fulfill a hearty breakfast or lunch.
Shop Talk:
The Way We Wore- Vintage done right. It’s not cheap by any standards, but this shop is a go to place for one of kind dresses to wear to events, belts that make any outfit stand out plus tops, skirts, jewelry, shoes and bags. Owner Doris Raymond has exceptional taste and is truly a curator of couture to prêt-a-porter. It’s the shop I can enjoy spending an hour or two going through the racks, playing dress up, chatting with the salesgirls and always pulling out my credit card for an unusual piece.
Hilary Rush-Hilary grew up in NY and has an eye for picking out the successful and the up and comers in the fashion biz. She has a small boutique on Third St. across from Toast restaurant. Quirky, but stand out jewelry pieces like an elephant cuff by Kenneth Jay Lane, or a bright faux strawberry with gold seeds dangling from a chain along with cropped canvas pants and simple sun dresses. Wish she didn’t sell out of the small sizes so fast which isn’t uncommon in LA boutiques.
Milk-A larger boutique on Third St. with homey touches like antique armoires filled with new and vintage clothes for sale. A couch and coffee table covered with fashion mags in the back faces the dressing rooms making it easy to carry on your own fashion show to friends or allow a bored boyfriend to sit while you peruse the racks.
Scout-Another trendy boutique on Third St. Beneath the antler like gothic chandeliers hangs contemporary finds and vintage couture from short shorts, strapless cocktail dresses and oversized sweaters in neutral colors.
Zipper-Scouring for gifts leads to plenty of pleasurable finds in this shop from gold circle necklaces to rubber alarm clocks and vases to coffee table books. Located on Third St. near a bevy of other boutiques. And who knows, you may run into Kirsten Dunst.
Satine- A pricey, small boutique with a heavy celebrity following on Third St. I always find my size and always find something that ends up on my Amex bill. Last time I shopped next to Rachel Bilson from “The O.C.” and Nicole Ritchie is a regular.
Other Notables:
Robertson St.-Visit Tory Burch (I love her shop in NYC in Nolita), Keihl’s (be sure to get samples if you make a purchase), Kitson for celeb sightings and Nanette Lepore for her ultra girlish line.
And take an afternoon in Santa Monica and Venice—
Rent a bike for a few hours to ride towards Malibu until you hit the old spot where Baywatch was filmed and then turn around and ride to Venice along the beach. And whether you ride your bike or drive head to Abbott Kinney and visit the boutiques that line about eight stylish blocks and get a fish taco at Tortilla Grill. This Mexican dive is the best in Venice with massive burritos and huge side dishes. Try the variety of pre-packaged sauces with your meal. And drop a little dough at some of the best boutiques along the boulevard. My picks—Heist, Madley, Lily, and Vert. If biking isn’t your thing try the trapeze school on the Santa Monica Pier.
And lastly—
Los Angeles has plenty of must do activities and two include a hike in Runyon Canyon which offer you a view of the city, the Hollywood sign, Griffith Observatory and an excellent chance to work on your thighs. Choose between entering off near the end of La Brea or Vista road. The second is a less physically taxing activity but still offers a view. Head up Mulholland, park your car and take the trolley ride up the hillside to the Getty Museum for the latest exhibit and a chance to relax in a glorious location.
Comments