Sunset View from my Balcony

Just a few shots of downtown LA as the sun sets behind my balcony. I never get tired of the view from our apartment!

The Seven Grand

This is a whiskey bar even a non-whiskey drinker could love. (Meaning even I could love it, and I do!) Anyone familiar with downtown LA has spent a night at this hunting-lodge-themed watering hole. For those who love whiskey (and have deep pockets), there is an endless drink list to choose from. For those who know nothing about whiskey, go for the mint julep. It is delicious. While you are enjoying your beverage, you can sit outside, play pool, pick a tune on the jukebox, or just walk around and admire how the decorator managed to fit deer heads into every possible corner.

This last picture is not from last week; it is from this past Halloween. I met a few friends at the Seven Grand Halloween party, and we had such a great time. They had a fantastic jazz/rock band and a good crowd. Everyone was dressed up and dancing, and most people were still sober enough to be friendly and polite. I think I might go again this year!

DTLA's New Coffee Bar - CoffeeBar

Sorry I have been out for a few days. I spilled coffee on my computer (not at CoffeeBar) and I had to let it dry out for 2 days and then after that it's been hit or miss with whether it will start up. But I will try to persevere!

So this weekend I did get to the new coffee bar, CoffeeBar. I really liked it! It is just like Intelligentsia except much closer to my apartment, and it has outlets! (For when my computer decides to work.) The coffee is pricier than Starbucks but definitely better and brewed with a lot more care. I am a sucker for having my cup brewed individually. The clientele is the cool kids of downtown and apparently every blogger in a 5 block radius. I saw at least half a dozen people in there taking serious pictures!

I have found my new study home!

Murals on Spring Street

Have you ever seen these great murals on Spring St. in downtown LA? I love them. They are tucked away on the walls surrounding a little parking lot that is between 2 apartment buildings on Spring St. It's right next to the LA Cafe and Syrup. I've always wondered about them, and then on blogdowntown I saw this!

Image from blogdowntown.

Now I know about these murals and the artists! (And knowing is half the battle - ak! Every time I say "now I know," I have an uncontrollable reflex to quote GI Joe.) Anyway blogdowntown reports:

“Wrinkles of the City”: The French street artist known as JR has been making waves the last few weeks with his L.A. edition of "Wrinkles of the City." New pieces can be found on the side of the Angel City Brewery at 216 S Alameda St; the loft building on 808 E. 3rd; and a warehouse at 2476 Hunter St by the 10 Freeway-- as well as the walls at 696 S. Myers St and the side of the Hotel Bristol at 8th and Olive. All of this follows his 2010 appearance in the Historic Core.
Now the artist is using his TED fellowship to create Inside Out, a global, participatory art project.

The Rose Garden at the Science Museum

Across the street from USC's law school is the LA Science Museum and Rose Garden. It is an absolutely beautiful garden with a huge, gorgeous fountain in the middle. And you know how many times I've gone over there to read and do work? Never! I've only been once when my friend Katie came to visit. Now that I'm looking at these pictures, I am making a resolution to go back asap. Or at least as soon as this rain and cold stops!

I love knee socks (as I posted about ages ago, my obsession has still not died), but its hard to pull them off in a casual outfit. I feel somewhat successful here. I'm wearing: vintage blazer (from my mom), thrifted white skirt worn as a tube top, Old Navy skirt, F21 kneesocks, and ballet flats from the downtown LA fashion district.

Griffith Park, Again!

A view of Griffith Observatory and Downtown LA.

This has to be the 3rd or 4th time I've posted pictures from one of my hikes in Griffith Park. It's just that I love it so much! You're in the middle of Los Angeles, but you can't tell at all. And it's not like being in the middle of Central Park where you still see a million buildings and people. In Griffith Park, you really feel like you've gotten out in the wild a bit (except for all those paved and well-groomed paths). So I end up going a lot since it is the quickest way to "get away." But I'm sorry if I'm boring you with the same old stuff! This weekend my plans are to go skiing and try out the brand new coffee shop that opened up downtown, called Coffeebar. So look for something different next week!

It's kind of hard to tell in this last picture, but this day was so clear that, for the first time, Jeremy and I could see all the way to the ocean! (The ocean is that darker blue strip under the lighter blue thing - the sky - and above the grey thing - urban sprawl.)

Fashion Exhibit not in LA - McQueen at the Met

Are you a lover of fashion? If so, you need to plan a trip to NYC this spring/summer. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is putting on an Alexander McQueen retrospective staring on May 4th and running through July 31st. Even if you are not usually into the fashion thing, I think this exhibit is one not to miss. McQueen really transcended the boundary between what is apparel and what is art.