If you haven’t met me in real life, you probably don’t realize that despite my penchant for fancy clothes, my lifestyle is very low-key (whether from lack of interest or lack of finances, I’d rather not say). I love our sunlit but ancient little apartment, the old cedar trunk I bought at a garage sale that serves as our coffee table, and our gloriously mismatched bedroom furniture. For us, a night out is synonymous with an establishment down the block called Al’s Big Burger, which has peeling linoleum floors, florescent lights, and the same sweet people at the grill since before we first tried it in 2008. I love our routines, how Rodrigo gets attached to that specific brand of coffee and feels off and grumpy if we switch, even for a day, and that fun game we play of which neighbor is responsible for that foul smell in the hallway. We have a routine, and it’s a delightful one.

But don’t get me wrong. I love new adventures. I love saying “yes” to everything I can and idiotically fumbling my way through whatever those decisions throw back at me.

So when my friend Cory asked me if I could help her with her interior design firm, it was really hard to say “no.” So I didn’t. And suddenly I find myself as a brand manager and design associate in a field I know very little about (and also, what a testament to Cory’s faith in me, haha!). And one of the first things on my task list is to go to a design conference in Los Angeles with Cory.

Well, don’t mind if I do! Haha!

This is no Al’s Big Burger

Lunching at the Beverly Hills Hotel

We had free time in our first day in LA, and took advantage of it by booking ourselves a lunch at the Cabana Cafe in the Beverly Hills Hotel. We were cracking up at the cars in the parking lot – I have never seen so many supercars in one space. From 800 miles away, I could feel Rodrigo’s head spinning, exorcist-style.

I had never been to the Beverly Hills Hotel before, although I had seen it in photos. It is stunning in an old-school Hollywood type of way. Lush palm-filled gardens, with lots of Mediterranean architecture with a subtle retro feel – I loved it. The grounds are stunning, the service impeccable, and the food delicious. The menu is American, mostly, with salads, pastas, and sandwiches – things you would want to eat poolside.

If you decide to have lunch here, or better yet, stay here, I highly suggest entering into what I call the “Disneyland State of Mind,” or “Vegas Lenses.” You know when you go to Disneyland or Vegas, and you just know that you’re going to spend a lot of money, so you psychologically (and financially) prepare for it? At least, that’s what I do. I don’t want to get bent out of shape over a $10 churro or a $18 martini. So I promise myself that while I’ll measure my spending and not go NUTS, I also won’t let myself feel guilty, either. I refuse to feel guilty! I give myself permission to indulge, knowing that it’s not something I do often. For me, this allows me to relax and enjoy myself.

So just be aware – this is no Al’s Big Burger. That being said, Al’s Big Burger can’t compete with the poolside ambiance, the delightfully fruity cocktails, the tuna tartare, and the sunny glamor that drips from the place. You can take a look at their menu here if you’re interested.

We split the tuna tartare and the McCarthy salad, both of which were delicious. I splurged on a cocktail – the Smoky Pineapple – which I also enjoyed immensely. Highly recommend!

Shopping on Rodeo Drive

More like window shopping, am I right? Haha. But if you have a large clothing budget, you will probably enjoy shopping-shopping here since every major designer – and some minor ones – have a spot on Rodeo. If you’re going to spend some cash, you may as well spend it in a beautiful environment, right?

But if you’re like me and are more, shall we say, thrifty, you can still enjoy walking up and down these beautifully maintained storefronts. It really is like walking through an art gallery. Even if you don’t go inside the stores, the window displays in and of themselves are pieces of art. And contrary to everything we learned from watching Pretty Women, the staff at these stores tend to be kind and courteous, even if you’re not buying anything. If they’re not, may I suggest buying a bunch of empty Chanel bags from eBay, filling them with takeout or laundry or whatever, and strolling past the shops while yelling, “BIG MISTAKE. HUGE”? Let me know how it goes.

Dining at Craig’s

When I told my sister/manager (any thoughts on how to join those two words? Sistager? Then that sounds like an angsty, teenage, cist. Open to suggestions) that we were going to Craig’s, her reaction was literally, “O-M-G, really?”

Did you know that Craig’s is a big deal? I certainly didn’t. So when Julianne did her “omg” number, I googled it. Later, those image results would tumble back into my brain when I used the single-seater ladies’ restroom and wondered if my cheeks were on the same seat as Kendall Jenner’s cheeks had once been. They were almost certainly on the same seat as Joan Collins, who was in the booth across from us. That’s a lot of celebrity cheek on that one toilet seat. Oh, if toilet seats could talk.

That being said, I can see why Craig’s is a winner. First of all, it feels intimate – dark, with cozy leather booths, and no one can get a decent picture of you in there, which is probably appealing to celebrities. Although with the squad of paparazzi outside, the dim inside might be a moot point.

Secondly, the food was amazing. I guess I should state that I am, by no means, a food critic. I like most things. But I also think that my palate is just sophisticated enough to know that it’s getting the good stuff. I ordered the Chicken Velasco, a chicken-tomato-brown rice combo that you could have eaten with a spoon. Cory ordered the roast half-chicken, which would have been impossible to eat with a spoon, but which was just as enjoyable. They also have a vegan section on their menu, so if you aren’t into eating animals, you may find something here that you like.

Air BnB

Also, Cory made a super smart move and got us a rental house from Air BnB. It was right on the border of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills, which for us was the center of everything. We had a ton of space – a bedroom and a bathroom for each of us, how fancy! – virtually no noise, and it was less expensive than staying at a hotel. It was also gorgeous. Super recommend.

Stay tuned for Part II of the LA travel diary – I’ll talk mattresses that cost more than a year at college, tiny tacos, and plunging into the interior design world.

love,

Stig

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