Ah, the age old question, which is the best coast? West versus East Coast? Snoop Dog versus P. Diddy? Real Housewives of Beverly Hills versus New Jersey? We East coasters tend to betray our side, and sensationalize and fantasize about the West coast as this wonderful paradise. But is it just a case of the grass is greener? After all, LC from The Hills moved to NYC to pursue fashion in The City. To find out for sure, I went for some October in California, stopping first at San Francisco, followed by Los Angeles.
I was lucky enough to stay with friends at both destinations for full immersion. I was advised to come to SF this month because the weather is best. They get a late summer, and it just so happened to be Fleet Week. To get the trip started right, we went on a wine tour with Napa Valley Wine Country Tours and toured Sonoma and Napa Valley. We made some fun Swedish friends, who enlightened us on Swedish onomatopoeia (pigs don't go "oink oink," rather, they go "nuff nuff"). These gentlmen also enjoyed Se7en for all Mankind jeans. (below: winery)
Weather in SF was great, sunny, and 75 degrees. Couldn't ask for much more! Both NoCal and SoCal excel in Mexican fare. We went to The Mission to grab a humongous burrito for $7 (try La Lengua / Cow tongue). Then we headed over to Dolores Park to people watch the hip and or gay (below). No one interested in bothering us straight ladies = perfect people watching opportunity. For food, also check out Leopold's (Russian Hill neighborhood) for spatzle (german mac 'n cheese), and a wide selection of German beer in a boot. It is cozy and sunny yellow inside, great for casual dining. If you're looking for a more polished place, The Prospect is a cool, hip, modern restaurant in the city where the music is just loud enough that you can still carry a conversation.
So, this is not typical San Francisco. It can get quite cold and rainy here. They say that you can tell who the tourists are by their fleeces that say "San Francisco" embroidered on it that they had to purchase for the lower than expected temperatures. Food was excellent!
Next stop: Los Angeles. I stayed in Arcadia, which is just east of Pasadena. There is a tight knit Taiwanese community here. The Mexican and Asian food can't be beat here! The weather can't be beat either. Sunny, 80 degrees, and beautiful succulents and lush florals here. The sunshine was easy to take for granted. Sometimes it was even downright annoyingly sunny, if that's even possible. One thing's for sure, you get your dose of vitamin D year round, but no snow for Christmas. (West coast 1-East coast 1.)
You MUST have a car to enjoy what LA has to offer. Driving is easier than NYC, but more challenging than NJ on account of the freeways and continuous traffic at all hours of the day.
My cousin and his friend seemed pretty amused when I said, “All I know in southern California is Arcadia and Cerritos.” So, I got to know the town better by driving. I had a low profile, Nissan Sentra, which I stocked with pistachio nuts like a squirrel. I spent a lot of time cooking at the house…and my go-to destination ended up being Pavilions, the supermarket down the street. I was still able to eat healthy when I cooked at home because I had the kitchen at my disposal. Aaand as a housedaughter, price is a nagging issue, but thanks to the bazzilionaires who may or may not have made money in unsavory ways, they donated parks and gardens and their homes to the public to enjoy.
Side note: squirrels in California are redder than our east coast squirrels, who are more grey. Both collect nuts obsessively this time of year.
Day 1: First day out on the town was Pasadena Old Town to get shorts and a tank top. (Free parking for first 2 hours)
Day 2: I lucked out and stumbled into the 2011 Southland Orchid Show at the Huntington Library! Loved the gardens, and found that all the old people were hiding out in the air conditioned mansion-converted-to-art-gallery. Not a bad place to be! ($10 student admission, Free parking)
Day 3: Koreatown and Soot Bull Jeep! SBJ is well known by yelp and foodies alike to be the best Korean BBQ in all of Los Angeles. Some say even the best Kolbi BBQ in all the world! It was recently renovated, and is a very understated and casual place. Celebrities know they won't be bothered here. I spoke to the family who owns the restaurant.
Housedaughter HD: "What's the secret to your success?"
Soot Bull Jeep SBJ: "No secret. We have been here the longest. We were the first Korean BBQ to open up, and while others have opened up since then, we are still the best."
HD: "No secret sauce for the Kolbi beef?"
SBJ: "Same sauce as anywhere else. Sugar, Soy Sauce, Salt. But the ratio is special, that's the trick."
Day 4-6: Beaches! Santa Monica Pier, Manhattan Beach (my favorite one) and dinner at Cecil’s Ribs, Venice Beach. (Free municipal parking at Manhattan. Maybe $3 or so for Santa Monica, maybe free can’t remember. $5 parking for Venice Beach)
Day 6: The Grove and Farmer’s Market. Saw Russell Brand at the Anthropologie (TMZ, hire me!). I think I had deer-in-the-headlights + smile combo on my face, but I respected his personal space, and admired from afar. So I am now officially a fan of his! Every bit as scraggly and lanky as he is in the movies. Three middle aged ladies tried to chat him up. He did the smile-keep-walking, and politely ducked away. (First hour of parking, free. Celebrity sighting, priceless).
The Griffith observatory sits on top of a mountain, with great views of the Hollywood sign, and at night, the city lights of LA look like glittering confetti on a black ground. Gorgeous! (Free admission, $5 for IMAX film about stars and with a live narrator. Think listening to a bed time story)
Day 7: Cerritos! Treated to In N’ Out Burger (with fully loaded, insider’s only toppings) and animal style fries (beef and special sauce and cheese on top). Also, at a Mexican joint, we got Burritos with french fries INSIDE!
Day 8: Briefly visited the Getty long enough to spend quality time at the watercolor exhibition. It was cool how watercolorists used mussel shells to mix paint in. The museum is just absolutely beautiful, inside and out. (Free admission, $15 parking)
I must say that California is a great place to live and to vacation. I had great fun soaking up the sunshine, cruising around town. I am probably more of a SoCal girl than NoCal. “Los Angeles, I’m yours.”Thanks to Daily Love Affairs for the guest blog spot! - The Housedaughter
