Date (Group) Idea- Street Food Cinema

First and foremost, I’d like to wish all you amazing mothers a blessed Mother’s Day! If there is a role that I respect the most, it’s that of a mother. 🙂

Now that clearly summer is right around the corner, what other activities are there in Los Angeles besides the beach? Well, don’t I have a treat for you. Street Food Cinema is produced by TIL Lifestyle Marketing and Events which features food trucks, bands, and a movie on a huge lawn. Beginning May 25th for 18 weeks during the summer months, they host these events every Saturday in multiple locations in Downtown LA (primarily Exposition Park). We definitely need more events such as these in LA since it appears to be rather prevalent in other southern states (ex. Blues on the Green in Austin, TX).

Beginning at 5:30PM every Saturday until about 10:30-11:00PM (or whenever the movie is over), you’re able to experience the food truck craze while vibin’ out to some live bands and finally topped off by a movie. You’re able to purchase tickets online or at the door but I highly suggest that you purchase them ahead of time. Here is some additional information for these events:

Parking: $10 Lot Parking
Tickets: $10 General Admission. $15 Reserved Seating.  Children (6-12) $5. Children 5 and under Free. Four Pack (4 Tickets) $32.
Details: Doors Open 5:30pm  Band 6:30pm  Movie 8:00pm (sunset)
Facebook: Street Food Cinemas
Twitter: @stfoodcinema
Website: http://streetfoodcinema.com/

After reading several reviews, I was able to compile several suggestions when attending these events to make the experience as enjoyable as possible.

• Bring blankets (specifically something thicker with more padding as the lawn tends to get damp at night. I heard comforters do the job)
• Do NOT bring high lawn chairs (You can bring small beach chairs and but you’ll be sitting on the left/right side of the lawn as the middle section is designated for people with blankets)
• Pillows- To rest that pretty little head of yours
• Alcohol- beers or wine coolers will suffice and this is perfect for this time of year
• Food- Although they’ll have food trucks at the venue, perhaps it would be a good idea to pack a small picnic for a date?
• Get there early! It starts to get packed around 7:00PM but you want to submerge yourself in the whole experience AND get a great seat for the movie so you should try to get there around 5:30-6PM
• Bring cash for the food trucks
• Have fun!

Some friends and I are planning to go on June 15th to watch Pitch Perfect, so if you’d be interested in coming along please let me know so we can buy tickets. We should be able to get a group rate if we have enough people.

Top Cafes in Los Angeles

Now that the weather is warming up, it’s the perfect time to go out with some friends/family for breakfast or brunch and bask in the LA sun. For those of you that enjoy trying contemporary places and don’t mind paying a couple dollars extra for some delicious food, I’d highly recommend going to to the places below. Cafes and food trucks seem to have increased dramatically over the past couple of years and I’m always searching for novel places to eat. I’ve never been a huge fan of chain restaurants for breakfast (IHOP, Dennys, Carrows, etc.) so I’ve explored Los Angeles looking for some of the best cafes that give breakfast a more “at home” experience with large portions, food made from love, and a quaint ambiance. It was hella difficult to choose from all the cafes I’ve been able to eat at, but I was able to narrow it down to my top 5. I attempted to rank it from 1 to 5, but that failed quickly so I just threw them all out there. I was initially going to list my top 10 but “aint nobody got time for that”. If you have any restaurants you’d like me to check out, feel free to let me know!

1. Crave Cafe (Studio City)- There’s not many great cafes in the valley, but this cafe might actually be one of the best (if not the best) in the Los Angeles area. In my opinion, the best restaurants in the valley are along Ventura blvd. Although it can get pretty populated during the peak times, it’s open 24 hours which is fitting for either breakfast, brunch, dinner, or even after you’ve had a long night of partying and want some delicious food. The patrons are very sociable and hospitable which is always a deciding factor on whether or not I’ll be returning.

   

2. Literati Cafe (West LA/Santa Monica)- I typically go here with co- workers during an early lunch before the lunch rush and it never lets me down. On the corner of Wilshire  and Bundy, this place is the perfect place to wind down and potentially fall asleep with all the comfy sitting. They do provide free Wi-Fi here, so if you’re ever looking to play hookie from work/school this woud be a great place to get your work done.. but I guess if you’re playing hookie, you’re not looking to go somewhere and do work. Their seating arrangement here makes it appear to be more of a lounge or coffe house rather than an actual cafe, but it’s well worth it!

3. Alcove (Griffith Park/Los Feliz)- You’re automatically surrounded by gorgeous estates that set the vibe for a breakfast/lunch here. I recently had lunch here with my friend Krista and had a little impromptu photoshoot, but the food here was exactly what I needed that day (and any day for that matter). Unlike most cafes where there’s relatively a small amount of space, this place offers a generous amount of seating AND they have valet if needed. Most of the people I know come here after a hike at Griffith Park or Runyon Canyon to make up all for all the carbs they just lost. It’s a brilliant idea if you ask me.
4. Malibu Cafe (Malibu)- My best friend/sister used to work here and although the food doesn’t compare to the other cafes on this list, you’re really paying for the environment, weather, and activities they have there. Think of it this way.. it’s a huge backyard with fire pits, cabanas, ping pong tables, live bands, paddle boarding in the lake, and a bunch of other great things. It’s a perfect place to go with family so that kids can run around or even with friends for bottomless mimosas on Sunday morning. It’s planted in the hills of Malibu so it may be a difficult to locate at first but it’s for sure one of my favorite places in Los Angeles.

   

5. Larchmont Bungalow (Larchmont)- The first time I came here was after a hike and let me tell you, I don’t regret consuming all those carbs because it made my stomach and heart happy. I slept like a baby that afternoon. They have these scrumptious red and blue velvet pancakes that I never finish. Ever. The best part about this place is that it’s located on a street with a bunch of little boutiques and Sprinkles cupcakes is right across the street- which is dangerous if you have a sweet tooth. Their desserts are on steroids and I’m not sure who they think they’re serving to- giants? sasquatches? big foot? The point is that you absolutely need to come here if you have the chance.

Here are some additional suggestions for cafes:
Cici’s Cafe (Tarzana)
Aroma Tea & Coffee (Studio City)
Urth Cafe (Multiple Locations)
Morning Nights (Silverlake)
Griddle Cafe (Hollywood/WeHo)
Cafe Americano (Mid Wilshire)
Blu Jam (WeHo)

Date idea- Champagne Brunch or Starlight Dinner Cruise

I went on this Champagne Brunch Cruise in Marina Del Rey about a year ago and this is the epitome of what “Sunday Funday” should be. This cruise hosted by Hornblower Cruises & Events now has a Starlight Dinner Cruise in addition to the Champagne Brunch Cruise that I participated in. They may have always had the dinner cruise but this is my first time learning about it so I’m excited to see how it is. Both these cruises are perfect not only for dates with a significant other but to go with your family or to get your “grown up turn up” on with your friends. Since the weather is slowly getting warmer, I would highly suggest to go between now and May, although, since you always have the marine layer in the marina I’m sure it would be just as beautiful during the summer months.

The Champagne Brunch Cruise includes 2 hours of coasting around the marina, a brunch buffet, free- flowing champagne (get some OJ and make yourself a mimosa) and sparking cider, tranquil background music, and your own table overlooking the scenic view. Since the marina isn’t in open water (don’t get technical), you’re not really paying for a cruise per say, but rather the experience. When making the reservations, request if you can be seated on the top deck as you’re able to fully take in the breathtaking view and you’re not in the commotion of others getting their food on the bottom deck. The food consists of every typical American breakfast dish, but their desserts.. Uhh- mae- zeeng. They have a variety of sweets that puts Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory to shame (ok, maybe I’m exaggerating but it was hella good!). Switch up your Sunday Funday routine and book this! I haven’t tried their dinner cruise so I can’t really give my two sense, but you better believe I will once I try it!

I actually have a gift certificate for either of those events because the wind wasn’t playing nice so they compensated us with a free ticket. If you’d be willing to accompany one Sunday or a Friday/Saturday night (dinner cruise), please let me know! Let’s eat. Let’s drink. Let’s relax. Let’s vibe.