I Love LA !!!!!

Well, it's very different from Huntington Beach, anyhow. It's urban, so even if it's somewhat grimy and beat up, there is ALWAYS something fun to do. On Friday night, we drove up to Santa Monica, which is the beach area of LA. We stayed at the Shore Inn, and it was very nice. We had free WiFi, free parking, and the location was perfect. We got an upgrade to a spa tub for some reason - maybe my birthday. It was half the size of the room. There were also lots of Bath and Body Works toiletries.

First, we had continental breakfast, which was served downstairs.Then we walked down by the pier. That's it in the distance. This park is always crowded - jogging clubs, tourists, individual exercisers, homeless bums, and large tour groups of Asian vacationers. Here are two views.

See the row of homes below me? I can't even begin to imagine how much those cost.

We walked all through this park, until you get to the bridge/driveway that leads down to the actual pier.

It has a Bubba Gumps, a Mexican restaurant, some tzotchkee shops, and an amusement park.As you can see, it's kinda gloomy and misty out. But it never rained.

This picture of me looks north, to Malibu and the Pacific Palisades.

Then we went up to the Third St Promenade, which is a large outdoor shopping mall, with a couple of more organized mall areas in there. No cars are allowed. These topiaries of Triceratops and Stegasaurus, along with others, were in the center median.

We stumbled upon a farmer's market. There were huge assortments of flowers, citrus, dried fruits, apples, baked stuff, and lots and lots of Brussels sprouts. Here are tree different types of eggs they sold there.

Preston's eggs looked the most like the first ones -sprout fed. He has the same varieties of chickens, only he feeds them scratch and some leftover veggies and fruit.

Then we had lunch at The Olde King's Head Pub. First. I had a cocktail of Jack Daniels Honey and ginger beer. It was delicious.

Then it was entree time. Doc had an enormous bowl of Irish Stew, while I had the Cornish Pastie.

Then we split up. One of the reasons we went is because Doc was giving a lecture up there that has to do with his project with the Stage IV cancer patients.We agreed to meet back at the hotel in 4 hours. I went through the mall. The first picture is of the Karen Millen store. A few posts ago, I wore the Karen Millen dress that my MIL got me at the bargain store.

This next store is called All Saints and they carry edgy clothes that although cool, are not really my thing. I'm a little too old for the post apocalyptic look - I look like I have actually been through the apocalypse. Their windows were filled with antique Singer sewing machines. It was an impressive display.

After that, I went into Banana Republic. I don't usually shop there, but they had a 70 % off sale. That lured me in. I got a pair of oxford shoes.

They are black and white tuxedo style with silver nailheads and Cuban heels. They were $129 and I got 70% off that.

Then I went into Bloomingdales, another store that I don't usually  frequent. I got an Armani Exchange cornflower blue satin dress.

It has bell sleeves, a V neck line and pleats in the front.

In the back, it has more pleats, with a keyhole neckline above. Swoon.

I also got a black lace blazer made by Amanda Uprichard. It's eyelash lace, and semi-unstructured.

It's lined in a pinky nude, and it is maroon and black Chantilly-type lace. Very nice.

Then I met up with Doc - we went and had a bite at a restaurant called Brixton and we got some snacks and drinks to take back to the hotel and proceeded to chill.

The next morning, we Ubered up to the Fairfax district. At Fairfax and Olympic, this is what they charging for gas.Yipes.

We went to The Merkato Ethiopian restaurant in Little Ethiopia. Here are two pictures of the inside. You don't use utensils - instead you sop it up with a doughy bread called injera.

I started with a glass of honey wine. It tasted a lot like Irish Mead.

Here is our platter. In the middle are two meat dishes - yebeg sega wot (beef) and yebeg aliche (lamb).

Around the circumference of the platter is the Veggie Combo -collard greens, cabbage, lentils, peas, yellow split peas, and spicy tomato salad.

Look how enormous it is next to the wine and the water.

From there, we walked up Fairfax to go to Canter's Deli . On the way, you pass CBS studios and The Farmer's Market.

It's about two miles each way. Here is the destination: Canter's.

I walked two miles just to buy Jewish pastries. We got rainbow cookies, mandel bread, pizelles, cherry rugalach, and chocoalte dipped spritz spirinkle cookies.

Also a big prune Hamataschen.


Then we walked back and went through a couple of weird LA shops while walking. They really do have everything you can think of up there.


Then we came home to a joyful reunion with our Elli. She seemed happy to see us.

Today's magical color is grey. Here's what I am wearing.

The slacks are Rampage, and the light gray cardi with the bow is J Crew.

On top, I wore the long grey sweater that I got at Macy's in Philadelphia.

On my right arm. a leather/crystal cuff from Baltimore, and a mother of pearl ring.

On my left arm, my new pink adventurine ring, and a silver costume bracelet.

I wore a mother of pearl necklace, as well.

And of course, my first good bye kiss from Elli for a couple of days. My tiny love!!!!

Three links to follow my mega post. First, Patti at www.notdeadyetstyle.com has Visible Monday.  Then, Deb at www.elegantlyfashionable.com has Classy Monday. And finally, because of course, I am wearing my new shoes, Cherie at www.stylenudge.com has Shoe and Tell.

Thanks for stopping by, and don't let Monday get you down!!!