los angeles
There are 11 entries for the tag
los angeles
An interesting fact from the 2008 Mercer’s cost of living report. I would not have guess that it costs a tiny more to live in Toronto (54th), Canada than in Los Angeles (55th), California. For the weather, I know which city I would pick.
But the Unites States exhibits more discrepancies in the standard of living. Take Venice Beach for example. This is a town founded by hippies where you now have hippies, surfers, performers and modern architecture fans living in the same cities. Venice Beach is not huge.
I visited a 2-million modern house on my last trip for the pleasures of seeing real-life examples of my dream house. The house was at least half a mile from the beach on a residential street. I can imagine the prices of the ones facing the beach.
I took plenty of pictures as I visited the house. I forgot to write about it while I was traveling. I will try to show you this beautiful house in the upcoming weeks.
Categories:
TRENDS
posted @ Monday, July 28, 2008 10:49 AM | Feedback (1)
On Sunday, I talked about the upscale burgers prepared by French Chefs. We tried a recipe that same night. I referred to my version as my Parisian burgers on Twitter. Several Tweeple were curious.
Jerome and I relish the Parisian burgers. The burger reaches new height. We cannot wait to invite friends so they can appreciate their full flavor.
Last Winter
This is not our first excursion to a different burger experience. We savored the Father’s Office burgers in Santa Monica. We liked it but we were not overwhelmed by the flavor. Both recipes prove that mayonnaise, mustard or ketchup are not essential to make a delicious burger.
Our Interpretation of The Café Salle Pleyel Burger
This was a team effort. I dug the recipe, adjusted the ingredients to our taste and my husband Jerome cooked the meal. Be prepared to taste the ultimate burger. The burgers were cooked on the BBQ.
Categories:
FOOD + drinks
DINING
posted @ Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:15 AM | Feedback (3)
The first picture shows that you do not need a lot of money to design a cool pool décor.
How To Reproduce That Look
The key to the top row pool décor is to create a cool mood through a clever use of lighting, cool flower pots and funky beach towels.
The summer night party pool features the Mesh Lounger from UK based retailer Next. In fact, the accessories used for this ad are all affordable. They all come from Next.
Decorative balls are popular in modern gardens. Next sells a set of 3 black polyterrazo balls. A 80cm high Black Garden Polyterrazzo Plinth/Planter complete this collection. Both must be stored indoors during the winter months.
Categories:
OUTDOOR living
HOME + GARDEN
MODERN architecture
posted @ Sunday, July 13, 2008 1:56 AM | Feedback (0)
Travel + Leisure magazine published this month an interesting review of 5 cupcake shops in Los Angeles. Each of these old-fashioned American cake shops has something different to offer.
The winners stand out through their recipes, cake decorations and packaging. Here are 5 cupcakes shops that emerge as the place to go.
Bluebird Café
From my research on the Web, the cupcakes of the Bluebird Café in Culver City are delicious. Their Crayola-bright cupcakes are offered in mini sizes. A practical format if you cannot make up your mind or when you set up a dessert table. Located in Culver City, Bluebird Café attracts the movie studio crews.
Since I did not taste in myself, I looked for a second opinion on the Web. I found a review by the food blogger Bree Crocetti of Triplecreme who said in 2006 the following:
Categories:
TRAVEL
CAKES
DINING
posted @ Friday, February 29, 2008 10:40 PM | Feedback (0)
For our last night in LA, we wanted to eat some comfort food. So we went on a hunt for the best burger in town. And a local pub from the list of 101 reasons why to live in Los Angeles grabbed my attention.
Father’s Office is not your typical place. It is a neighborhood meeting place like we find in Europe. Founded 50 years ago, it is very popular with the locals today.
In fact, I heard the doorman saying to a man ordering some take-outs outside that a second pub twice the size of the original is scheduled to open soon. The fact that a man has to order his take out outside is a definite proof that they observed a strict policy on capacity. Since he did not want to wait in line, a waiter met him outside to take his order. With a maximum capacity of 76 persons, we waited in line 10 or 15 minutes on a Monday night at 8 o’clock.
The local customs
We heard while waiting in line some comments than suggested the place works differently. So we asked our friendly doorman for tips on how it works. He told us that the first thing to do once we get in is to find a free table. It usually means spotting the ones that are almost finished. The first person who arrived at a table gets it. There were many people on the hunt but my husband luckily found us a space for 2 at the five minutes later. He is the best!
Categories:
FOOD + drinks
DINING out
DINING
posted @ Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:12 PM | Feedback (0)
Take a look at the store windows on Rodeo Drive. We are not allowed to film inside.
I really like the orange handbags at Dolce Gabbana. A lot of girls go wild for shoes. Me it is bags. Chanel collection is divine. And the beautiful dresses at Max Mara fit my body type.
I enjoy Prada fashion. I saw some pretty dresses. Their ballet flats were adorable; I cannot wear heels for the next year or so.
The design of the Prada store mixes simplicity hidden behind nifty technological tricks. Glass walls made of panels switching from clear to frost in a harmonic fashion, plus a camera that follows your movements in the change rooms are some of the cool gadgets I saw at the Beverly Hills Prada store. On my video, you can catch a glimpse of the interior and see the mannequins under the sidewalk.
Watch the video to have an idea of my afternoon.
Categories:
TRAVEL
posted @ Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:08 AM | Feedback (1)
We were told by a friend of a celebrity that Toast Bakery Café on 3rd was a great place to eat breakfast. So yesterday we gave it a try. And I am glad we did.
The food was excellent. It is a trendy popular place. If you go, unless you are lucky like us and found a parking spot right in front across the street, go for the valet parking. It is only 5 dollars.
In less than 15 minutes, we sit at our table. This gave my husband time to take some outside shots. As he was taking a picture, a car stopped with three cute girls. They asked him: Who’s there? As he was talking to them, I called him. They thought he was a paparazzi! It is true that we do not see a lot of amateur Nikon cameras around here, especially with someone wearing a hat.
The food
I ordered a twist on the Egg Benedict called The Open Face. Strangely, their real Egg Benedict is served on an English muffin instead of a croissant. To make an Open Face, you layer smoked salmon, scallions and scrambled eggs topped with hollandaise sauce an opened face croissant. Pass it in the oven just enough for the hollandaise sauce to stop being liquid. It was delicious. If you are planning a brunch, that recipe should be a hit.
Categories:
DINING out
TRAVEL
DINING
posted @ Monday, January 14, 2008 12:37 PM | Feedback (2)
Ever since I started blogging two years ago, I saw wonderful modern architecture houses. Many were located in Venice. So I did not want to miss them on my trip to Los Angeles.
We went to the Venice Beach this afternoon. Eureka! I saw several along the beach.
Sourcing:
Learn more: Venice Beach
Categories:
TRAVEL
posted @ Monday, January 14, 2008 3:36 AM | Feedback (0)
Last night we went for sushi. I first spot a sushi restaurant designed by Philip Starck team but we were unable to get a reservation for 8 o’clock.
So the hotel concierge suggested Gonpachi on North La Cienega Boulevard. Watch the video to get a glimpse of the wonderful time we had at Gonpachi. I take about the food when we came back.
Learn more : Gonpachi Beverly Hills
Categories:
DINING out
TRAVEL
DINING
posted @ Sunday, January 13, 2008 1:15 PM | Feedback (2)
That is the right way to greet a guest. Giving them a warm cookie at their arrival. I just finished eating the chocolate cookie that we were greeted with at DoubleTree. It was good!
Our flight went well, we rented a sporty car, life is good as you will see in my first video report on my vacation in Los Angeles.
Categories:
TRAVEL
posted @ Saturday, January 12, 2008 5:42 PM | Feedback (0)
I am going on a week-end gateway in Los Angeles with my husband Jerome. We are staying in Santa Monica. I visited LA once when I was 9 or 10 years old . I experienced the magic of Disneyland with my cousin and my parents.
We are open to suggestions about to do and see. So far our plans involve cruising on the famous streets of Beverly Hills, Malibu and Venice. Amongst other things I want to do some shopping and touring the Paul Getty Center.
Do you have any suggestions of places to eat, to go out at night and to shop? For my blog, I am looking for tableware, home décor and design stores. I am interested in stores that either have a unique retail concept or that are renowned for the products they carry.
What activities should I do? Any good restaurants to spot celebrities? Where to shop?
Sourcing:
Top photo credit: Santa Monica
Bottom photo credit: Santa Monica taken by hoveringdog on Flickr – beautiful picture with some reserved rights
Categories:
TRAVEL
posted @ Tuesday, January 08, 2008 1:15 PM | Feedback (3)