CITY GUIDE: Los Angeles

I was so excited when Ann approached me about possibly curating a City Guide for Los Angeles. I’ve connected with so many clients, bloggers, and designers from Los Angeles and this post makes me want to visit ASAP! Be sure to read through her guide and be sure to add any of your favorite L.A. spots in the comments section!

Hi and welcome to Los Angeles! It’s true what they say about the weather, and even truer about the traffic. However, on Sundays you can escape the latter. Here’s how you should spend a perfect Sunday, my favorite day of the week.

Start the morning off at a flea market. L.A. is a wonderland for vintage-loving magpies. My favorites are the PCC Flea Market (1st Sunday of every month, free admission, inside a parking garage so lots of shade, parking is $2 or street parking) and the Long Beach Flea (3rd Sunday, $5 admission, get a coupon on website, free parking).

If you happen to be here the 2nd Sunday, the Rose Bowl Flea (photo above found on Sammy Davis Vintage) is worth the visit – but beware it is a behemoth and pricier ($8 admission, free parking, bring a sunbrella)! The Melrose Trading Post is also good if you need a fix, because it’s every weekend and manageable in a morning. ($2 admission, street parking).

Now it’s time for brunch/lunch – whatever floats your boat. My favorite brunch place is Canele. They serve LA Mill coffee, so two birds one stone. It’s the best coffee in LA, trust. Order the eggs en cocotte and the meyer lemon pancake for breakfast dessert. You will not be sorry.

If you’re more in the mood for something quick, Hugo’s Tacos is the best and just a couple blocks down from Canele. Lots of veggie-friendly options. Pick the chipotle honey salsa…mmm. Also stop at Proof Bakery down the street for the best baked goods in LA.

Now if you’re heading over to the beach, you should stop by the Museum of Jurassic Technology. It is one of the most unusual places you’ll ever visit. One cannot be told what it is, one can only experience it. For a grander, but unusually underrated, museum experience, check out the Natural History Museum downtown. Incredible dioramas.

In the evening, catch a film at the gilded Vista Theater in Los Feliz, then wander on down and pop into La Luz de Jesus Gallery (inside Wacko’s, the best book & toy store for grown-ups). For dinner, stop a couple doors down at Umami Burger (always check to see if they have cheesy tots! That’s a secret menu tip from me to you). Or wander up a couple blocks to Cafe Figaro and pretend you’re at a Parisian sidewalk cafe (if you squint your eyes). They have an amazing happy hour, or dinner if it’s later. Cap the night off with a scoop from Pazzo Gelato, get the salted caramel rose if they have it.

Thanks for spending the day with me!

A huge thanks to Ann Shen for curating this lovely city guide! Be sure to check out her site (oh my her illustrations are amazing), her blog Annplified and give her a follow on Twitter!

Featured image by Ben Amstutz.