LA LA Baby
Last weekend, I went to LA to celebrate my twenty-seventh birthday. Two separate trips with two sets of people. And I had the time of my life.
Saturday
Originally, I went to LA with friends on Saturday to check out a comedy show. But, I couldn't find much happening that weekend that I was dying to see, so we just went anyway and decided to figure it out as we went along. Which turned out to be even better in my book.
We left a little later in the morning - started to stop at Starbucks, but the line was too long, so we went to the gas station next door for coffee and snacks. Then, off we went to start the adventure - listening to music and asking random questions = the making of a great road trip in my book.
We parked in downtown LA, near The Broad Museum and Walt Disney Concert Hall and started wandering through the streets. It was an overcast day, which I love, because everything seems a bit more magical and mysterious. I don't spend much time in downtown, so it was exciting getting to see a different perspective and having no set agenda. I kind of felt like we were starring in our own movie.
As we were walking, we ran into the Millenium Biltmore Hotel. I started geeking out, because I'd read that was where Taylor Swift filmed her video for "Delicate." We made a detour through the hotel lobby, admiring the beauty and architecture of the building. We also spent a few minutes going through the video and pointing out the various spots used.
Our next stop was the Grand Central Market. Obviously, it's a very well-known spot, but I'd never been. Marisel had just been the weekend before, so she led the way. There's even a restaurant which was featured in "La La Land," which was my main reason for going. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling sit on the corner seats for a quick scene, so I had to get my picture in front of it while we were there. While the area was filled with the smells of just about every cuisine you could imagine, none of us were hungry yet, so we kept walking.
Across the street is the historic Bradbury building, which has been featured in films, such as "Blade Runner" and "500 Days of Summer." It's breathtaking.
According to WeLikeItLA, "The Bradbury Building was constructed in 1893 after being commissioned by gold-mining millionaire Lewis L. Bradbury. The original design was done by Sumner Hunt with the project being completed by a relatively young and inexperienced draftsman named George Wyman.Of course that simple explanation obscures a more dramatic beginning, with Bradbury's reasoning for making the switch in project leads (from a well-established architect to a total newbie) still something of a mystery. Maybe he saw something in the kid, maybe he just wanted to save a bunch of money. Who knows for sure..."
Basically, it's one-of-a-kind with many stories to share and many angles.
We decided to go back near The Broad, when we walked into the Angels Flight trolley from "La La Land." Emma and Ryan have the cart to themselves and are being cute and all in love. Once again, Marisel and I geeked out over that, while Juan patiently let us. It's a quick ride that lasts no longer than a minute and is very close quarters, but gets you uphill, if necessary, without having to walk it.
After taking the Angels Flight three times, we decided to get in the standby line at The Broad. LA is filled with various museums and art galleries, and I always love learning more about artists and the expressions of themselves they create. I think you find a bit of yourself and your story in each of the pieces.
There are murals, paintings, statues and more that tackle social injustice, political events and just daily matters, like time and aging. Art makes you think and everyone sees something different. There isn't really a right or wrong answer. That's what I love about it.
I left feeling inspired and ready to take on the world. In a stunning city, like LA, how could you not?
We were all hungry, so we ended up at the Shake Shack near Hollywood Boulevard. We walked over some of the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Marisel joked that there's still room for us someday...and I'm counting on that. The sun had started breaking through the clouds, giving a gorgeous red glow during the "magic hour." It's one of those moments you see in movies - a few friends dreaming of someday, talking about someday, hoping and planning that maybe someday they'll see their name in lights. That was us.
We sat and ate for awhile. I had chocolate milkshake, since peanut butter wasn't in season apparently, but it was a tad too rich. Good though!
When we were finished, we drove to Griffith Park. Unfortunately, the parking lot was full and everything around the mountain was full, too. We drove around twice, listening to the "La La Land" and "A Star is Born" soundtracks. We sure had fun doing it! Ha. And even though we didn't get out, there's something so romantic about Griffith Park and the old Hollywood vibe it gives off. It's this feeling that anything is possible for a crazy dreamer. That maybe, just maybe, even in the City of Angels, you'll make a name for yourself and be a 'somebody' someday.
As we rounded the mountain, we brainstormed our next destination, which was the Santa Monica Pier. We sang, we talked, we laughed and were nearly killed from Marisel's driving. Just kidding. But, we had an interesting time getting there.
We walked the boardwalk, which was lively, but not too wild for a Saturday night. Marisel was hit on by Batman, we watched the waves crash against the shore, we wandered through the arcade and ate churro popcorn (which was delicious, by the way). Again, we laughed a lot.
We walked through the streets of Santa Monica and the 3rd Street Promenade, where there was live music and a lot of people. We smelled bath bombs and tried lotion in Lush, I drank my Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf drink as we wandered and admired the beautiful city. Then, we made our way back to the car. It was still early enough, so I said we suggested driving by the Ally (aka Lady Gaga's character) billboard from "A Star is Born."
We drove through the LA freeway and through side streets, making our way to Sunset Boulevard, just in front of the Chateau Marmont. We weren't able to get out, because the street was too crowded, but seeing it in person was pretty dang cool. Especially because the three of us saw the movie together, too.
After that, we decided to head home. Once again, with lots of questions and laughter. I haven't had that much fun in a long time. Or laughed that hard. It was the perfect way to say goodbye to 26 and say hello to 27. I went to sleep with a very full heart.
Sunday
My parents and I left early the next morning, just in case there was traffic on the road, since it's a bit of a drive.
This gave me time to take a picture in front of the Ally billboard from the night before!
Our brunch reservation was at 11 a.m. It was my actual birthday and I wanted to go to the Chateau Marmont. For years, I've heard about it on Entertainment Tonight or in headlines of magazines with famous visitors like Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and more. Basically, it's famous for its scandals - affairs, overdoses...It's a Hollywood hideaway where staff is known for keeping secrets of the Hollywood royalty who stay there. It has also been used in movies over the years, including one of my favorites, "La La Land." It's a home away from home for many A-list celebrities, including Johnny Depp and Scarlett Johansson.
It was different than I was expecting, as I haven't seen many photos of the inside. But, at the same time, it was exactly as I pictured - dark, gothic and something straight out a mystery novel or thriller film. Inside was dimly lit and almost had a "Haunted Mansion" or "Hollywood Tower of Terror" vibe. I was definitely here for it! I'm fascinated with all things Hollywood and behind-the-scenes, whether it's on set or when the cameras have stopped rolling.
We arrived a little early, but they were able to seat us outside on the patio. Rather chilly, but at least there were heaters. There weren't too many people out. A few were were talking away and enjoying each others' company and others were working. We were the newbies, just taking it all in. It's very chic with intricate detailing to the buildings, trees and bungalows to hide the A-lister you just might see there.
It took about 45 minutes to get my coffee and I was basically finished with my breakfast at that point. But, it was still good. I ordered blueberry pancakes with lemon butter, and I have to say, they were delicious. It was just enough sweet and tart. My dad ordered a build your own breakfast with eggs and toast, and my mom ordered the chorizo burrito.
While we were waiting to get the ticket, my mom whispered something across the table. When I heard her again, she said, "Ben Stiller walking in." I glanced to my left at the main door and sure enough, there was Ben Stiller in just average clothes, carrying a laptop - it looked like some kind of business meeting. They sat him behind one of the drapes of the bungalows. While I wouldn't consider myself a "fan," it was still pretty exciting to see that it is still a hot spot for celebs.
I know they say no photos, but c'mon...Photos or it didn't happen, right? Even the bathrooms were fancy, so I had to take a selfie. I had no shame. I don't know when I'll make it back there again.
And of course, a group selfie in the elevator on the way back down.
Since visiting, I've been reading more about its history, its famous guests and the crazy tales. I have a book in my Amazon cart right now all about the mysterious "castle on sunset" as they call it. I'm curious to know more.
We were only there for a couple hours, so we had the rest of the day to decide what to do. Mom hadn't seen by Carrie Underwood's star, so we drove by Capitol Records where it's located. It was still in good condition and looking pretty. We were only there for a few minutes.
After, I mentioned a coffee shop in the area, the Carrera Café, where you can get photos on your coffee, most famous for its Ryan Gosling "Hey Girl" photo. I ordered a cappuccino with Ryan's lovely face. It's a cute contemporary coffee shop with a lot of white decor and some other pops of color, like the plants on the tables and the signs on the wall. They also have mugs and other goodies you can buy, like the pink "Hey Girl" mug I bought. My coffee was STRONG and kept me going for the next few hours.
It also happens to be located on Melrose, which is a pretty artsy area with wall murals, shops and more. I had to take my picture in front of the totally instagrammable wall, like all of the other bloggers, ha.
Once I had more caffeine flowing through my veins, I was ready to take on the world. The Critics Choice Awards were taking place in Santa Monica that day, so we drove out to the airport to see if we could catch a glimpse of Bradley Cooper or Lady Gaga. While we did see a lot of fancy Escalade SUV's, we didn't see any of my faves.
It was getting later, but the day was still young. So, we went up near Mulholland Drive to one of my favorite spots, overlooking the city. You can see the Hollywood Bowl and just about everything else in LA. It's not as crowded as some of the other spots, like Griffith Observatory, but there isn't much parking, which can create quite a frenzy. It's the perfect spot to get out of the craziness of LA, but still feel the energy radiating from the city. You can also walk up a few flights of stairs to get a closer look at the Griffith Observatory from the other side. While it was still cloudy and dreary looking outside, it was as a beautiful as ever in my eyes.
By this time, it was almost time for "dinner." We drove through the hills to take us over into Burbank and passed Warner Brothers Studios, which is now proudly displaying its nominated films, like "A Star is Born" and "Crazy Rich Asians." I geeked out, so my dad flipped back around so I could get the perfect shot of the billboard.
I wasn't that hungry, but we stopped at Bob's Big Boy, one of our favorite diners in the area. I had fries and a coke, then we came home, with time to spare. I opened presents and finished my birthday celebration, while watching the Critic's Choice Awards.
It was a weekend that I will always remember. Here's to many more adventures in this new year.
That's all for now,
Shelby