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If you had only three days to spend on vacation in SoCal, who would you bring and what would you do?
Well hello there, gentle readers,
First thing’s first. Who would be the lucky ones I’d drag along to the sweetest spots in SoCal? If I was planning on checking out some of the best attractions on the west coast (you know, Universal Studios, Disneyland, LEGOLAND, and the rest of ‘em) I’d definitely bring all the kiddos in my family. But then I’d need at least a week to make sure I didn’t miss a moment of the action. And what can I say, with only three days to work with, I’m gonna be a little bit selfish. For me, that means mostly lunar activity – so I’d have to bring along my besties.
Day one:
I might be a nightowl, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to take care of myself from the inside out. I’d start out an insane three-day SoCal cruise with my favorite chica down to San Diego.
Of course, for us, early rising would mean afternoon – so we’d probably begin with brunch (okay okay, in all honesty, probably late lunch). And to please both our palettes (I’m vegan and my girl is, ummm, not-so-much), I’d make sure we begin by stuffing our bellies at Jyoti Bihanga in Normal Heights. Vegetarian and vegan-friendly, this joint concocts ridiculously delicious meatless dishes. Tofu-loathers rejoice: a lot of the items on the menu, you’d never even know were meat-free. The Neatloaf (yes, I said Neatloaf) is the perfect comfort food. Since we’re so close to the border, I’d toast our neighbors to the south with the bomb Brahma Burrito. And to prepare for the nightlife riot that is about to ensue, I’d make sure we both stock up on Prana-Life-Force Tea (chock-full of herbs to enliven and energize the system).
For dessert, we’d have to head down the road to Extraordinary Desserts. The menu here changes daily, but the mind-blowingly luscious look and taste of every treat here is a staple. From handmade ice creams and sorbets, to cookies, cupcakes, and every other guilty pleasure my buddy and I could gorge ourselves on, every plate would be literally breathtaking. See, it’s not only about how delicious the desserts are here, it’s about presentation. Somehow, fresh-cut flowers make extraordinary desserts extraEXTRAordinary. Awesome, now I’m actually drooling thinking about them.
If we actually have any daylight left to burn, we’d cruise around by foot checking out all the little specialty shops San Diego has to offer. But I’m doubting we’d do much spending – we’ll be saving our cold hard cash for taxi cabs and bar tabs till the wee hours of the night. More specifically, to get a true taste of what it means to be a local San Diegan, we’d start the night in North County at Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens. The homegrown brews here are not only some of the hippest, they’re also the tastiest. We would down as much Stone Ruination India Pale Ale as our girlish figures could handle, and then head on over (by taxi, of course) to Pacific Beach for some more nightlife action. PB boasts clusters of hot bars and
clubs, so we’d have a slew of intoxicating possibilities to choose from. And if it was the right night, we’d end up at a show at Casbah, my fave venue in downtown SD. From the enclosed smoking patio, to the pool tables and pinball in the back, and the full bar and live music room in the front, Casbah is where I like to shake shake shake my rock-n-roll bones.
Day two:
The midpoint of the trip would be my old stomping grounds: Orange County. The day here would start late (are you really surprised?) and I’d have to grab one of my favorite high school dudes too wreak some havoc with. Back in the day, you’d probably find us hot and sweaty in a mosh pit – but now that we’re a little older (and, I’ll say it, even a little wiser) we’d likely get our sweat on at one of the many hot yoga studios that are, literally, heating up the OC. Like I said before, I might like to party, but I know how to balance it all out with a liberal dose of detoxification. And what better way to detox than a 90-minute yoga class practiced in a heated room? Talk about sweating it out. If I only had a day to spend in OC, I’d probably stick to the SoBeCa District (short for South on Bristol Entertainment, Culture and Arts) in Costa Mesa. My buddy and I would stop by The CAMP – a hip, nontraditional, eco-friendly shopping center – and get in some heated stretching at Bikram’s Yoga College of India.
After a much-earned shower at the studio, we’d mosey on across the street to The CAMP’s sexier sister, The LAB (also known as The Anti-Mall). There might be a little vintage-store digging to do here at Buffalo Exchange, or if we’re not feeling the shopping vibe, just a cup of coffee or tea at The Gypsy Den, waiting for that warm SoCal sun to set. At the first sign of dusk, we’d bounce on over to Memphis Soul Café and Bar for some
Southern-inspired grub seated at the bar (I've got a lady friend who drives 1.5 hours just to much on their fried onion strings and po' boy sandwich). And maybe a glass of wine, or a cocktail, or two. We wouldn’t eat and run – this is a great space to linger – but eventually we’d end up at Memphis’ Detroit Bar down the street.
Detroit Bar is kinda a gem in Orange County. This bar and music venue, housed in a nondescript building in a Costa Mesa strip mall, has gotta stunning modern interior and lines up the hottest indie-rock outfits, cutting-edge DJs, and live comedy seven nights a week. The martinis here are awesome. The locals are pretty tasty themselves (hey, this IS the OC afterall). And if my buddy and I show up on the right night, we’ll get to rock out to one of our favorite local bands until we practically collapse. Believe me, that’s a good thing.
Day three:
They say third time’s a charm. And since day number three of my ideal SoCal sweep would be spent in Los Angeles, I’m gonna have to agree. I’m also gonna bet you’ve already sensed a pattern in my dream vacation: invigorating the body and mind with healthy, alternative lifestyle choices during the day (gotta love those Southern California hippies) and when the moon rises, partying it up like there’s no tomorrow (hey, who says you can’t be a green goddess AND a nightlife queen?) So let me be completely honest, my romp through LA would be no exception. But this time around, I’d rip through town with my live-in partner in crime (and let me just tell you, I've got the raddest P.I.C. EVER). Once again, the day would start with sleeping in. And rolling out of bed into that LA sunshine would be brutal without shades. First thing we’d do is go for a drive with the sun roof wide open – because honestly, you wanna get anywhere in LA, you’re gonna have to drive, so you might as well enjoy it. On a side note: I’d let him take the wheel for sure, so I could spend the time people watching. Have you been to Los Angeles before? If yes, then you know how entertaining the locals can be. And if not, then you’re seriously in for a treat.
There’s really only one place I’d die to start my day at in La La Land: Pho Siam Thai Spa. I just can’t get enough of those little ladies walking all over me… literally. We’d fork over the dough for an hour session for two (they’ve got private rooms, or rooms for couples) and that would only set us back about $90 - $100 with tip. The massages here can be pretty
intense, but you get your choice of soft, medium or hard. And after an hour of deep tissue rub down, we would have worked up a serious appetite.
Choosing the first destination was easy, but picking one outta hundreds of amazing restaurants to grab a bite? Not so easy. If I had to pick just one, we’d head on over to Real Food Daily in West Hollywood. I know I know, another veggie joint – but RFD is organic vegan cuisine at its most elegant. They’ve gotta super tasty Sunday brunch, delectable daily specials, and their cupcakes? Yeah, I just got goosebumps. Plus, with an outdoor patio reminiscent of a swanky sidewalk café, I can do plenty more people watching (BTW: Last time I ate here, totally dined next to Jeff Goldblum. No joke!)
But soon enough, we’d sense the moon rising high in the sky, and we’d have to find a little bit of trouble to get ourselves into. Dropping off our ride at home base, we’d cab it up for the rest of the night (safety first, my friends). Downtown would be our playground for the night. With the revitalization of LA’s Historic Core, there are theatres, art galleries, bars and nightclubs, all practically within walking distance from one another. If it tickled my fancy, I’d beg to see a show at The Orpheum Theatre. Built in the 1920s, and recently refurbished into one of the most gorgeous venues I’ve ever seen, the acoustics here are perfect for live concerts, film festivals, and theatrical productions. And with its central location, after we’ve had our fill of arts and culture for the evening, we’d be practically swimming (or rather, crawling) through the number of hot spots to choose from.
Right next door to The Orpheum is The Broadway Bar. Down the street there’s The Golden Gopher Bar (of Bukowski fame). There’s also La Cita. Or Pete’s Café and Bar (my favorite late-night combination at Pete's? A dirty martini and the Hellman burger with a veggie patty) . And if we’re feeling the dive bar scene, we’d check out Bar 107. Regardless, the night’s gonna turn out fun and feisty no matter where we end up. From drinks, to dancing, to pinball, to pool, downtown has all of the bases covered.
So there ya go. Three days in SoCal and I’ve just about covered the length of it. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of other sweet spots I didn’t have time to mention, but I got you through the tip of the proverbial iceberg. And now the sun is coming up, so I gotta jet, and get myself some beauty rest.
kisses,
the nightowl
© All photos that appear on this page are copyright of Anja Marie Brydum. All photos contained within links are copyright of each individual owner.
First thing’s first. Who would be the lucky ones I’d drag along to the sweetest spots in SoCal? If I was planning on checking out some of the best attractions on the west coast (you know, Universal Studios, Disneyland, LEGOLAND, and the rest of ‘em) I’d definitely bring all the kiddos in my family. But then I’d need at least a week to make sure I didn’t miss a moment of the action. And what can I say, with only three days to work with, I’m gonna be a little bit selfish. For me, that means mostly lunar activity – so I’d have to bring along my besties.
Day one:
I might be a nightowl, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to take care of myself from the inside out. I’d start out an insane three-day SoCal cruise with my favorite chica down to San Diego.
Of course, for us, early rising would mean afternoon – so we’d probably begin with brunch (okay okay, in all honesty, probably late lunch). And to please both our palettes (I’m vegan and my girl is, ummm, not-so-much), I’d make sure we begin by stuffing our bellies at Jyoti Bihanga in Normal Heights. Vegetarian and vegan-friendly, this joint concocts ridiculously delicious meatless dishes. Tofu-loathers rejoice: a lot of the items on the menu, you’d never even know were meat-free. The Neatloaf (yes, I said Neatloaf) is the perfect comfort food. Since we’re so close to the border, I’d toast our neighbors to the south with the bomb Brahma Burrito. And to prepare for the nightlife riot that is about to ensue, I’d make sure we both stock up on Prana-Life-Force Tea (chock-full of herbs to enliven and energize the system).For dessert, we’d have to head down the road to Extraordinary Desserts. The menu here changes daily, but the mind-blowingly luscious look and taste of every treat here is a staple. From handmade ice creams and sorbets, to cookies, cupcakes, and every other guilty pleasure my buddy and I could gorge ourselves on, every plate would be literally breathtaking. See, it’s not only about how delicious the desserts are here, it’s about presentation. Somehow, fresh-cut flowers make extraordinary desserts extraEXTRAordinary. Awesome, now I’m actually drooling thinking about them.
If we actually have any daylight left to burn, we’d cruise around by foot checking out all the little specialty shops San Diego has to offer. But I’m doubting we’d do much spending – we’ll be saving our cold hard cash for taxi cabs and bar tabs till the wee hours of the night. More specifically, to get a true taste of what it means to be a local San Diegan, we’d start the night in North County at Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens. The homegrown brews here are not only some of the hippest, they’re also the tastiest. We would down as much Stone Ruination India Pale Ale as our girlish figures could handle, and then head on over (by taxi, of course) to Pacific Beach for some more nightlife action. PB boasts clusters of hot bars and
clubs, so we’d have a slew of intoxicating possibilities to choose from. And if it was the right night, we’d end up at a show at Casbah, my fave venue in downtown SD. From the enclosed smoking patio, to the pool tables and pinball in the back, and the full bar and live music room in the front, Casbah is where I like to shake shake shake my rock-n-roll bones.Day two:
The midpoint of the trip would be my old stomping grounds: Orange County. The day here would start late (are you really surprised?) and I’d have to grab one of my favorite high school dudes too wreak some havoc with. Back in the day, you’d probably find us hot and sweaty in a mosh pit – but now that we’re a little older (and, I’ll say it, even a little wiser) we’d likely get our sweat on at one of the many hot yoga studios that are, literally, heating up the OC. Like I said before, I might like to party, but I know how to balance it all out with a liberal dose of detoxification. And what better way to detox than a 90-minute yoga class practiced in a heated room? Talk about sweating it out. If I only had a day to spend in OC, I’d probably stick to the SoBeCa District (short for South on Bristol Entertainment, Culture and Arts) in Costa Mesa. My buddy and I would stop by The CAMP – a hip, nontraditional, eco-friendly shopping center – and get in some heated stretching at Bikram’s Yoga College of India.
After a much-earned shower at the studio, we’d mosey on across the street to The CAMP’s sexier sister, The LAB (also known as The Anti-Mall). There might be a little vintage-store digging to do here at Buffalo Exchange, or if we’re not feeling the shopping vibe, just a cup of coffee or tea at The Gypsy Den, waiting for that warm SoCal sun to set. At the first sign of dusk, we’d bounce on over to Memphis Soul Café and Bar for some
Southern-inspired grub seated at the bar (I've got a lady friend who drives 1.5 hours just to much on their fried onion strings and po' boy sandwich). And maybe a glass of wine, or a cocktail, or two. We wouldn’t eat and run – this is a great space to linger – but eventually we’d end up at Memphis’ Detroit Bar down the street.Detroit Bar is kinda a gem in Orange County. This bar and music venue, housed in a nondescript building in a Costa Mesa strip mall, has gotta stunning modern interior and lines up the hottest indie-rock outfits, cutting-edge DJs, and live comedy seven nights a week. The martinis here are awesome. The locals are pretty tasty themselves (hey, this IS the OC afterall). And if my buddy and I show up on the right night, we’ll get to rock out to one of our favorite local bands until we practically collapse. Believe me, that’s a good thing.
Day three:
They say third time’s a charm. And since day number three of my ideal SoCal sweep would be spent in Los Angeles, I’m gonna have to agree. I’m also gonna bet you’ve already sensed a pattern in my dream vacation: invigorating the body and mind with healthy, alternative lifestyle choices during the day (gotta love those Southern California hippies) and when the moon rises, partying it up like there’s no tomorrow (hey, who says you can’t be a green goddess AND a nightlife queen?) So let me be completely honest, my romp through LA would be no exception. But this time around, I’d rip through town with my live-in partner in crime (and let me just tell you, I've got the raddest P.I.C. EVER). Once again, the day would start with sleeping in. And rolling out of bed into that LA sunshine would be brutal without shades. First thing we’d do is go for a drive with the sun roof wide open – because honestly, you wanna get anywhere in LA, you’re gonna have to drive, so you might as well enjoy it. On a side note: I’d let him take the wheel for sure, so I could spend the time people watching. Have you been to Los Angeles before? If yes, then you know how entertaining the locals can be. And if not, then you’re seriously in for a treat.
There’s really only one place I’d die to start my day at in La La Land: Pho Siam Thai Spa. I just can’t get enough of those little ladies walking all over me… literally. We’d fork over the dough for an hour session for two (they’ve got private rooms, or rooms for couples) and that would only set us back about $90 - $100 with tip. The massages here can be pretty
intense, but you get your choice of soft, medium or hard. And after an hour of deep tissue rub down, we would have worked up a serious appetite.Choosing the first destination was easy, but picking one outta hundreds of amazing restaurants to grab a bite? Not so easy. If I had to pick just one, we’d head on over to Real Food Daily in West Hollywood. I know I know, another veggie joint – but RFD is organic vegan cuisine at its most elegant. They’ve gotta super tasty Sunday brunch, delectable daily specials, and their cupcakes? Yeah, I just got goosebumps. Plus, with an outdoor patio reminiscent of a swanky sidewalk café, I can do plenty more people watching (BTW: Last time I ate here, totally dined next to Jeff Goldblum. No joke!)
But soon enough, we’d sense the moon rising high in the sky, and we’d have to find a little bit of trouble to get ourselves into. Dropping off our ride at home base, we’d cab it up for the rest of the night (safety first, my friends). Downtown would be our playground for the night. With the revitalization of LA’s Historic Core, there are theatres, art galleries, bars and nightclubs, all practically within walking distance from one another. If it tickled my fancy, I’d beg to see a show at The Orpheum Theatre. Built in the 1920s, and recently refurbished into one of the most gorgeous venues I’ve ever seen, the acoustics here are perfect for live concerts, film festivals, and theatrical productions. And with its central location, after we’ve had our fill of arts and culture for the evening, we’d be practically swimming (or rather, crawling) through the number of hot spots to choose from.Right next door to The Orpheum is The Broadway Bar. Down the street there’s The Golden Gopher Bar (of Bukowski fame). There’s also La Cita. Or Pete’s Café and Bar (my favorite late-night combination at Pete's? A dirty martini and the Hellman burger with a veggie patty) . And if we’re feeling the dive bar scene, we’d check out Bar 107. Regardless, the night’s gonna turn out fun and feisty no matter where we end up. From drinks, to dancing, to pinball, to pool, downtown has all of the bases covered.
So there ya go. Three days in SoCal and I’ve just about covered the length of it. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of other sweet spots I didn’t have time to mention, but I got you through the tip of the proverbial iceberg. And now the sun is coming up, so I gotta jet, and get myself some beauty rest.
kisses,
the nightowl
© All photos that appear on this page are copyright of Anja Marie Brydum. All photos contained within links are copyright of each individual owner.
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