Southern California (6/7/10 – 6/13/10)
I’ve got mixed feelings on Los Angeles. A brief synopsis and then I shall go into my normal bullet point format. 
This is the first place I’ve traveled where I’ve felt unsafe walking around. I almost broke down on the second day, and started feeling like I should just stay in my hotel room…even though that’s far from what I would want to do. I was harassed and called mean things walking around San Pedro St. (bad area) the first day I arrived, which threw me a new perspective. Bums and crazy people in downtown LA are mean and racist. Regular, normal people are just unfriendly. Completely different than from walking around in SF. Mid-week (Wednesday), I hung out with Claire for 12 hours straight! This was by far, the best day of my entire trip. On Saturday, teh nerdery group and I attended Kris and Jay’s wedding day at Kris’ uncle’s house, right off PCH in Malibu. Just so happens that Kris’ uncle is Dick Clark. His “house” was an amazing venue with an expansive view of the pacific ocean. It was beautifully arranged with three different areas: hors d’oeuvre’s, ceremony, and reception. The night was filled with lots of alcohol, our hoot’n and hollar’n, rowdy, Crown memorial Beach table moving…and dancing! Oh, and the best man speech was amazing and funny! One cannot expect anything less from Warren! Sunday I woke up with a hangover and hopped my 3pm flight at LAX. I didn’t capture many photos, but here’s a link to my set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pipsyrules/sets/72157624270650518/ and a link to BF’s set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7416625@N04/sets/72157624282854780/
‘Twas a long day to a long week in SoCal (for better and for worse)!
6/7:
- Flight from SFO -> LAX.
- Taxi to Omni Hotel, downtown LA.
- Walked to Daikokuya for tasty Ramen in Little Tokyo.
- Walked around Little Tokyo and grabbed mochi at Mikawaya.
- Walked through the Flower Market to get to the Fashion District and Santee Alley.
- Harassed by bum/crazy person. Ran a few blocks.
- Headed back to the hotel for shower and sleep.
6/8:
- Woke early, checked out of Omni Hotel (love complimentary beverages and newspapers in the morning!)
- Walked to KPMG office building for a full day of training.
- Checked into Millennium Biltmore Hotel on Grand.
- Hopped the Metro to Wilshire/Vermont and walked Wilshire blvd to get to Han Bat Sul Lung Tang (korean, hole-in-the-wall restaurant) for dinner.
- Hopped the nearest Metro back to the hotel (Wilshire/Western to Pershing Square)
6/9:
- Picked up by Claire around 10:30am. Drove to 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica.
- Bought Sam Edelman sandles (at a reduce price) at Kitson outlet.
- Farmer’s market and tasted different foods.
- BOA steakhouse for sangrias and lunch!
- Santa Monica Pier and beach with lemonade in hand
- Watched guys work out on the rings. ;)
- Swings!
- Drove to the Grove & walked around the farmer’s market. Split a hugggeeeee red velvet cupcake between the two of us! Walked through the shops and Nordstrom for more shoes!
- Dinner at Cheesecake Factory and people-watched the good lookin’ guys behind our table!
- Drove through Rodeo Drive, Miracle Mile, and Westwood/UCLA area.
- Returned to hotel around 11pm.
6/10:
- Chinatown for Phillipes’ pork sandwich, macaroni salad, and iced tea.
- Olvera Street
- Union Station to Old Pasadena (Del Mar station)
- Colorado Street and shopping
- Violet’s Cakes for red velvet cupcake
- Cafe Santorini for braised lamb shank
- Returned to hotel via Metro
6/11:
- Metro to Hollywood/Highland for Hollywood Blvd walk
- Walked to Sunset Blvd and grabbed a quick drink at the Coffee Bean.
- Walked down to Santa Monica Blvd and stopped around Robertson Blvd to get picked up by Amber and Router.
- Walked in and out of the shops at Rodeo Drive
- Dinner at Palermo in Westwood
- Frozen yogurt for dessert!
- Drinks and live music at the hotel – shot from the bassist, Ryan!
6/12:
- Dash store in Calabassas and tried on clothes at the store next door.
- Corner Bakery for breakfast across the the street. Saw Nikki Sixx.
- Wedding
- 4 glasses of red wine, 3 glasses of champagne, 2 shots of whiskey
- Table moving…
- Dancing…
6/13:
- Hungover, dehydrated, jittery.
- Continental breakfast!
- Lounge/nap by the pool
- Road Runner to LAX.
