December 14, 2022

Good times in LA

Chiara Di NORTH AMERICA, TRAVEL Halloween, Hollywood, LA, Lakers, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, USA, Venice Beach 2 Comments

I was so happy to travel international again recently to visit my bestie in Los Angeles.

It was so nice to live like a local with Ivanna and have some very Hollywood experiences. I wanted to live her wild life for a couple of weeks and the trip was everything I wanted it to be. We had so much fun, laughed so much, danced so much, ate so much Vegemite toast, I came with her to showrooms and client appointments, and she enjoyed playing dress ups with me and perfecting my make-up.

As soon as I arrived on Ivanna’s doorstep, she had a Hollywood disco party for us to attend at Grandmaster Records. I did not pack any appropriate disco attire so she styled me up in a shiny pink number and off we went. It was fun disco dancing and my first exposure to a room full of Hollywood style creatives… everything from screen writers, actors and directors, to producers, designers and more. Some were impressed I was a girl with a normal job.

The ultra highlight of the trip was going court-side at a Lakers game. Through a friend of Ivanna’s, we were treated to the VIP Cincoro room and seats a few rows back. The seats were amazing, the company was amazing, the atmosphere was amazing and the Lakers’ won in overtime which topped it all off. It was unreal and I’m so glad I changed my flight to enjoy the full VIP experience.

Another highlight of the trip was Halloween. We decided before I arrived to dress up as a duo and opted for the iconic Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion. We ordered our costumes in advance but utilised Hollywood’s dress up shops for some last minute touches. We attended a party in the Hollywood Hills with an incredible backyard and amazing views over the city of angels. Everyone there was just as creative as my first night in LA. The tunes were good, we started the dance floor of course, and best of all everyone recognised our characters. It was nice to see the whole city get into the Halloween spirit.

I was so happy that dancing and hiking happened a lot throughout my stay. Whether it was nights out dancing with Ivanna’s friends at Grandmaster Records, Bar Lubitsch, Madame Siam and Hyde Sunset, our Halloween party or Ivanna’s kitchen, my bucket was full!

Mornings were spent recovering with a hike through Griffith Park to Griffith Observatory with views over the Hollywood Hills and downtown LA. It was a nice way to start the day. We also went to Runyon Canyon one afternoon for a short walk which gave us a touch of desert ready for Palm Springs.

I was reacquainted with In-N-Out Burger after a night out. It was a little dryer than I previously remember. The fries didn’t taste very potato-like either. We considered it on a number of other occasions but resisted!

We spent an afternoon in Malibu, lunching and checking out the desert meets ocean boutiques of Malibu Village. I had my first Cobb salad of the trip at Marmalade Cafe. We visited the picturesque Point Dume, a beautiful spot overlooking Zuma Beach and Big Dume Beach. A short trail up from the car parking bays will lead you to the top. We parked illegally and were hoping to avoid the sheriffs (as we had just seen them depart) but were out of luck and copped a fine. Stay out of those red zones!

It wouldn’t be a trip to LA without a stroll along the Walk of Fame. I was staying just off Hollywood Boulevard so a couple of days I walked into the heart of it all for a bit of shopping. We also shopped along Melrose in West Hollywood.

We visited the Getty Center in Brentwood Heights and explored its art exhibitions and beautiful gardens including a cactus garden. My favourite artwork was La Salsera of course. Unfortunately the photography exhibition, which I was most interested in, was closed during our visit.

I remember the days when finding good coffee was a struggle in the US but I can say we had some great brews on this trip, and I didn’t have to settle for Starbucks once. The highlights included The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker in West Hollywood, Alfred’s on Melrose (the vanilla lattes are a specialty here but way too sweet for me), a great iced latte at Maru Coffee in Los Feliz, and Menotti’s Coffee Shop in Venice Beach.

We also had some great meals out. At Australian establishment E.P. & L.P., I met up with a colleague who I crossed paths with for one night and we enjoyed cocktails on the rooftop for sunset, followed by dinner in the restaurant including burrata, lobster gnocchi, tuna tartare – the lobster gnocchi was sensational. The server thought it was funny Australian’s would order a Victoria Syrah but we were very pleased with our choice. We rounded out the very tipsy night with more margaritas at Catch LA.

Ivanna and I enjoyed a farewell lunch at Il Pastaio in Beverly Hills, as it wouldn’t be a trip without some pasta. It was on a gorgeous strip amongst other Italian restaurants. We enjoyed an afternoon of bread, burrata, clam pasta and Chianti. We also spent an afternoon at The Rose Venice enjoying pizza, burrata, a mezze plate and grain bowl, amongst wine. Burrata is a common theme.

I visited Venice Beach on my last trip to LA and always wanted to return. It takes me back to Scarborough a little, my favourite local in Perth. We didn’t make it to the canals, but wandered along the esplanade, browsed boutiques, and watched the skaters and basketballers. We ended the day at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica for some bubbles and enjoyed the sunset over the pier.

During my LA stay, we spent a couple of days relaxing in Palm Springs. The two and a bit hour drive isn’t the most beautiful road trip and we got caught in peak hour on the way down so it dragged a little. We eventually checked in to the Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel in downtown ready to unwind. And that we did. I did not leave the sun lounge the following day. Therefore we did not make it to Joshua Tree National Park as planned… but it gives us a reason to go back.

One of the funniest things I have ever experienced happened in Palm Springs. I got a cactus stuck to my hand!! I accidentally brushed past a cactus plant whilst getting ready for a sunset photo and got a piece stuck. It latched on for dear life and was hilarious. Ivanna had to pull out it’s spikes one by one. So many belly laughs and something I will never forget… and I still got my sunset shot!

I seriously haven’t laughed so much in so long. It was a very fun trip and I can’t wait to repeat it all again. Now that international travel’s back, I won’t stay still for too long.

Until then…

LWL xxx