waysideviolet - cozy, lovely things

Hellooo from sunny (read: currently hot, deathly hot) Southern California! This is Ash, one of the bloggers at tea@elevensies, and I’ll be showing you around my recently adopted hometown, the city of angels. LA can be pretty brash and uncultured, especially when you compare it to other, older cities. But something about the sprawling hills it covers, the nearly 365 days of sunshine, the disenchanted glitter of Hollywood, and the insane diversity of its residents — all these things kind of make you love it all the more.

source 1 2 3

If you’re ever visiting, do yourself a favor and rent a convertible (or help a city out and pick a hybrid), throw on your hipster shades, and plan some stops at a few tried and true places, genuine, interesting places that don’t cost a whole lot of moolah to enjoy.

source 1 2 3

morning
Los Feliz is an absolute gem of a neighborhood in LA. Nestled at the foot of Griffith Park and the Hollywood Hills, it’s a fairly hip (but still totally genuine) area of town…and it’s the home of my favorite lovely hideaway, Alcove Cafe. There is no better place to enjoy brunch grub, soak in some rays, and sip on a good cup of coffee. I highly recommend the turkey pesto panini above. Omnomnom.

source

midday
What kind of a Californian would I be without giving you a beach recommendation? Well, not a very good one. While Venice is exciting for its eccentricities, and Santa Monica has the famous pier, my favorite spot for soaking in rays is Manhattan Beach. It’s quieter, less crowded, and just outside of the city. The adorable town surrounding it is the perfect beach town — ideal for strolling, window shopping, and breathing the fresh air.

source

afternoon
While LA has many fab art museums, my favorite to recommend is the Getty. The grounds are gorgeous, the only cost of admission is a flat parking fee, and the collections focus on older, more classic pieces (which, if you’re not an art afficiando, the older stuff can be much less intimidating and way more enjoyable to engage with). An entire day could be spent here, so leave yourself plenty of time to walk around and enjoy. And make sure to take the architecture tour! It’s absolutely fascinating.

source

evening
Guys, this is where my geeky side comes out. I am cuh-razy for astronomy stuff. The science, the conceptual thoughts, dark matter, it all just totally floats my boat. If you want to get outdoors, take a hike through Griffith Park, and end with a visit to the observatory. It offers some incredible views of Los Angeles, and if you want your visit to be the bee’s knees, plan to arrive a little before dusk. It’s the best place to watch the sun set into the ocean, and to watch the lights of the city glow into life. And before you leave, make sure to see the main planetarium show (cost is about $7 per ticket, be sure to buy early), and head downstairs into the far reaches of space. And just TRY to not have your mind blown by something you learn about this crazy universe we live in. Seriously.

source

night
For those looking for a dose of laughter, I’m currently loving the shows put on at the Groundlings. Lots of famous faces have gotten their start in this tiny club in the heart of Hollywood. If you’re only going to see one show, go for one with the seasoned pros, like the Crazy Uncle Joe Show.

And for a super interesting bar experience, the Edison is my fav. It’s a downtown bar built in an old Edison power plant. It’s loud, crowded, and off the chain in an utterly, vintage-ly swank way. Old silent movies play on walls throughout the multi-story bar (the last time I was there, it was a CRAZY pre-ratings version of Faust). All the drinks are fabulous golden-age-of-Hollywood-inspired, and there’s a green fairy who wanders around with an absinthe cart. Yes, it is a totally bamf bar.

afterhours
And at the end of a really full day of the crazies, what could be better than sinking into a comfy couch with a few good friends? This, of course, would be at my bungalow just outside of the city: my home, the heart of my hometown. Come give a visit, and we’ll sit out on the porch enjoying the beautiful night air and each other’s company.