LA Vacay
My husband and I just got back from a vacation to LA. He is in the middle of his residency and we rarely get much time together, so when we have the chance, we have to maximize it. I firmly believe that when it comes to devoting time to relationships, it's about quality over quantity. Life is hectic as heck, so it is paramount to remember why we fell in love in the first place and to keep our relationship a top priority. We are approaching our 7 year anniversary and he happened to have a week off, so we decided to head to the west coast. The zika threat limited our options for destinations and with only four days, we really didn't want to leave the country, so Cali was our best bet. We love LA because we both love to have the option to relax or to stay busy--neither of us is very good at chilling on a beach for more than an hour. Food is never our top priority for us when we travel, but it is nice to be able to indulge and LA also has a ton of amazing kosher restaurants, which is perfect for us. I don't usually make an itinerary because I like to wake up and see what I'm in the mood to do, so we had a happy balance of pay-per-view/room service and hustle bustle. Below I'm sharing my top three packing essentials, my top three activities, and my top three kosher and/or vegan dining experiences from our trip followed by a photo diary. This is certainly not a comprehensive travel guide, but it's a snapshot of our trip that hopefully you will find helpful and/or amusing!
Packing Essentials:
1. Oversized Sunglasses: Because, it Los Angeles. Obviously. Glamorous sunglasses upgrade any casual outfit and add personality. I love a retro pair to channel the 70's jetset charm. These Chloe sunnies reminds me of a Slim Aarons photograph.
2. Beauty Revivals: This is arguably more than one essential, but I'll group them for the sake of brevity. Traveling takes a toll on eyes, skin, hair, and well, all things beauty, so we need a little help from our friends. The airplane and recycled hotel air makes my hair limp, so I use Kerastase VIP Volume in Powder Spray to add some life. For the inevitable dry, tired eyes I count on the Illuminage Skin Rejuvenating Eye Mask--also perfect for ignoring your neighbor on the plane! And lastly, the Bliss Lemon & Sage Sinkside Six Pack is all the cleansing travel essentials I need in a super fresh scent. I am sensitive to fragrances and can get a headache, but this one is mild and nice.
3. Versatile Dress: A solid dress in a neutral color is the perfect piece for a city vacation because it can be accessorized for day or night and you can add or subtract layers depending on the weather. I always think a one piece outfit is the easiest when it comes to packing and it's a nice, feminine departure from your go-to jeans.
Activities:
1. Shopping on Melrose: I actually didn't shop for myself on this trip because I live in NYC and my job involves being around clothes 24/7, I just wasn't in the mood. But, I had a lot of fun shopping for my husband. We also had a good time taking photos in front of the famous pink wall at Paul Smith. I had no idea there could be such a fuss about a bright colored building, but we totally fell for it and loved it! Some of my favorite stops on Melrose are: Fred Segal, Gregory's for shoes, and Nasty Gal. For Ira, we loved Moods of Norway--the clothes were unique and cool and so was the decor! We also spent a lot of time and money in UNTUCKit, which has changed the game for men's casual clothes. It's impossible to find the perfect length shirts, T's, and sweaters for men to wear untucked, but UNTUCKit has mastered it. Apparently they have multiple locations throughout the country, and I know we'll be frequenting the SoHo store here.
2. Santa Monica Pier: This is the perfect place to channel your inner child and catch a beautiful sunset. We can't go to Cali and not take in the Pacific when the weather is beautiful. We rode the ferris wheel, Ira won a teddy bear by sinking 3 hoops, and we ate a giant blue "Cookie Monster" ice cream cone. It was a blast!
3. Wine Tasting at Herzog Wine Cellars: This was a bit of a drive but well worth it! We happened to go on election day, which could not have been more appropriate, all things considered. Anyone who knows me, knows I am completely obsessed with red wine. We only drink kosher wine, so I always get FOMO when I see my friends enjoying lavish wine tastings at gorgeous vineyards. We took an Uber so we could take full advantage of the experience. The wine was delicious and this was such a fun adults-only activity. I am still recovering.
Dining:
1. Gracias Madre: I had been hearing amazing things about this vegan, Mexican joint for quite some time, so I was anxious to give it a try! We dined on the back patio where the decor was dreamy and spicy margaritas with mezcal were life-changing. I had one of the famous bowls and Ira had the four course tasting menu, which was an overwhelming amount of food for a very reasonable $40. I couldn't resist tasting each dish and everything seemed authentically Mexican and also healthy, which is ironic and amazing. I wish they would open an NYC location!
2. Tierra Sur: This renowned kosher restaurant on the property of Herzog Wine Cellars served up one of the best meals of my life--and that's not just because I was tipsy. If I, Gd forbid, die tomorrow I would want my last meal to be the wagyu burger on the homemade challah bun with a side of sweet potato fries and pickled jalapeños. It was worth every single bite. The only drawback is the hour drive, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
3. Bo Nuage Patisserie: My vintage maven, Meira, of Golden Age Vintage, recommended this bakery and it did not disappoint! They are known for their beautiful cloud cakes, which come in a regular size and a mini size in a variety of flavors like passion fruit, hazelnut, and chocolate peanut butter. This gluten-free delicacy is topped with chocolate curls and has a light, meringue-like consistency. At 40-65 calories for the mini size, they are an almost guilt-free indulgence--that is, unless you eat 12, like we did. We also loved the eclairs! FYI, they are kosher certified and they ship!
Honorable mentions: Ditmas, Beverly Hills Thai (impeccable Kosher Thai food--finally!! Please open in NYC!), and Real Food Daily (which even has a location at LAX!). We definitely ate (and drank) our way through this vacation, but thankfully LA comes with a lot of delicious, healthy options so no need for a detox upon return!
