La La Landing

I’m still hoping to spend a significant amount of time in Southern California, but so far on the #spoiledspinster #soulsabbatical, it’s just been quick stopovers. I gave you a rapid fire hit list of LA’s happiest places here, but I found some new fabulous gems on my weekend layover between Colorado and Australia. I got to see some old friends, visit some incredible architectural marvels, ate at iconic spots, and saw the best improv show.

Santa Monica is one of my favorite first stops. Sidecar Donuts is the best way to start a day. I still can’t say enough about the epic Eggs Benedict donut. It’s a little taste of home with East Tennessee’s Benton’s country ham inside. A stroll down the pier always makes me think of Kenny Chesney’s Anything But Mine video. It plays on loop in my head as I watch families frolic on the beach, ferris wheel and roller coaster.

As an added bonus, I was able to see two sweet friends in Santa Monica. Sugarfish is my very favorite sushi on the planet, so Saturday brunch became beyond dreamy with the addition of my sweet friend Sheila. Katharine was my roommate in the dumpy house we rented in college half a lifetime ago. She’s upgraded considerably AND had a beautiful baby boy. I was thrilled for a chance to meet up with Kat, Kye and her handsome husband Farid at Palisades Park. I can totally see why they go every week. Between the rose garden, buskers, and a shaded stroll by the sea- it’s a PERFECT place to hang out for some fun in the sun.

I’m a huge fan of the Getty, and LACMA is still high on my wishlist. I finally got to see the iconic lamp post installation en route to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Honestly, it was kind of underwhelming for $25, but I happened to go when two exhibits were being swapped out. The Wizard of Oz collection was incredible, and I loved the room with C3P0 and R2D2.

As much as I love shopping, I have never really spent a lot of time in Melrose. Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive is the First Class echelon of shopping, and Melrose is more like Business Class with a bevy of beautiful (and more accessible) boutiques. I’ve gone a few times to visit partners and vendors, but I made a special trip to replace my Rothy’s. I posted a round up of my tried and true travel things, but I’m even more in love with my Rothy’s than ever before. They are a bit pricey, but they are eco-friendly, comfortable, machine washable, and I wear their ballet flats or lace up sneakers every day. I walked hundreds of miles in major cities and and national parks and those sneakers felt fabulous and looked even better with sweats, sundresses, and everything in between. My referral code is good for $20 off online, but I suggest a stop if you are in a city with a storefront. I find that their sizing is really unreliable- different colors of the same shoe fit differently. Their return process is really straightforward and simple- so I’d err on the side of ordering your standard and half a size up and returning the loser. The flagship store in San Francisco was kind of a pain in the ass, but this one was beautiful and right beside the farmer’s market, which you’d be remiss to miss. You know what you can miss? Canter’s Deli. Supposedly it’s an LA institution and I drove right by it on my way to my evening plans. I wasn’t that hungry, so I asked to just get a half a pastrami sandwich on rye with spicy mustard. I couldn’t even finish the $16 pile of shoeleather. I literally could not chew though the meat, it was so tough. The place is seriously retro, and it was kind of nice for a time warp, but next time I want to investigate the LA deli scene, I’m trying Wexler’s. If Jon Favreau and Roi Choi are in, I am too. So I was unsuccessful trying an east coast import, but Melrose is home to the LA flagship of Milk Bar, so be sure to stop by for a slice of Milk Bar Pie.

Beverly Hills has a Frank Lloyd Wright spire, and Melrose has a defunct Lloyd Wright Theatre, but the best theatre to visit in Melrose is The Groundlings. My sorority big sister Lindsey is a Sunday player, and I promise their show will make you laugh until it hurts. I grinned from ear to ear the entire time, and it was an added bonus that our friends Will and Jess were able to join us. It was a baby-Belmont reunion and it was the icing on a perfect day.

Architecture fans have plenty to admire beyond the big gated mansions in Beverly Hills. I already made a big Frank Lloyd Wright pilgrimage on a previous visit to LA, but I recently discovered The Wayfarers Chapel, designed by his son Lloyd Wright. Be sure to call their visitor’s center to confirm the daily schedule or you’ll have to make two visits like me. My friend Deb lets me crash in her guest room in Redondo Beach when I’m in town, and it’s only a quick 15 minute trip to Palos Verdes. We went spur of the moment when I arrived, but there was a wedding so we weren’t allowed in. I was able to get a schedule of availability from the visitor’s center- and there were really only a couple of hours all weekend where people could pop in. It was totally worth a second trip. You’re so far south in Los Angeles, it practically feels like San Diego down there, but the coastal views are absolutely breathtaking.

I’ve also been trying to get into the Bradbury Building for YEARS, and I finally made it in. My first try was thwarted by a private event, my second COVID. It’s downtown, where I never seem to find myself. It’s one of the oldest commercial buildings in central city. You’ll recognize it from Bladerunner, 500 Days of Summer, Lethal Weapon 4, Pushing Daisies, and the Timberlake/Stapleton duet “Say Something.” The ground floor is free and open for pilgrimages from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. The LA Conservancy offers walking tours of some incredible downtown buildings (including the Bradbury) on Saturdays if that’s your fancy.

As basic and bougie as it is, I find wishlist spots for a lot of my itineraries by searching the most instagrammable places in a city. It always means I’ll find cool street art, interesting architecture, gorgeous natural wonders, and feasts for the eyes. The last time I failed to make it into the Bradbury Building I happened upon the Last Bookstore, quite possibly the best bookstore I’ve ever seen. In addition to the magical book tunnel, rare book vault, and stunning displays, a little book called InstaLA caught my eye. I probably added 20 places to my google map wishlist just flipping through it. I’ve purchased it for visitors and locals alike, and we’ve all been so inspired to explore iconic and hidden treasures. I highly recommend it as research for your next trip.

You know I didn’t leave Los Angeles without a quick field trip to the Beverly Hills Hotel for souffle. It was my first time having dessert for dinner, a beach boardwalk stroll, and then boarding a long ass flight to Fiji; but it was a sweet end to a perfect speedy trip.

I never run out of fun and fabulous things to see and do in LA, but I think I’ll stick to frequent visits. As I wandered around, I realized I just cant’ see myself living there. So, I guess as far as the Soul Sabbatical mission to find or eliminate my next potential hometown, it was successful.