In early March I flew south for a long overdue girls trip, in what is becoming my annual Spring Break tradition. Most of my early blogs written from Arlington, VA included a core group of girlfriends and their kids, and chronicled our shared celebrations and struggles of raising young families together. Separated by geography, we still make an effort to reconnect.
Gracy turned 40 recently, and Amy and I wanted the weekend to be a memorable birthday celebration. I chose the iconic
Waldorf Astoria rooftop restaurant for dinner and drinks to kick off our first evening all together. In the heart of Beverly Hills, it boasts an amazing view of the surrounding hills and night lights.
Amy found us a cottage rental right next to Santa Monica beach and we started the day early with a walk on the beach. Coffee in hand, of course.
We had a jam packed itinerary, beginning with a tour of the famed Hollywood Boulevard. The glitz and flashiness, very different from the affluence of San Francisco, did not dissapoint-- I frequently caught myself calling out luxury cars as I do in a game with my boys. I loved learning about the growth of the film industry and even found the handprints of my favorite actor.
The afternoon took us to the Griffith Park, where we lunched at The Trails Cafe. Homemade almond milk lattes, sandwiches, and pies in abundance-- we ordered way too much considering the hike we had ahead.
The walk up was short but akin to the hills of San Francisco. We made sure to enjoy the ever changing view that included Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, and the Pacific Ocean, and were thankful for the clouds that passed and shaded us. My ignorance of Southern California is very typical of someone from Northern California, and I have to admit that my first learning of the Griffith Observatory was from the movie "La La Land."
Late in the afternoon we scored standby tickets to The Broad, a contemporary art museum in downtown LA. Not an art nerd, I would rather casually wander and ponder ("WTF!?!"). I have to admit that I really enjoyed The Broad's collection, especially seeing a few Barbara Kruger pieces that resonated with me.
Early evening we strolled through downtown, where I was delighted to find a park dedicated to the people in Los Angeles who began the Safe Surrender Program. We jokingly admit to thinking about Safe Surrender and even threatening our kids with it every time we pass the fire station on Sanchez Street.
Afterwards we strolled the vibrant Grand Central Market and enjoyed pre-dinner drinks and bites.
Our last morning we dedicated to wandering Venice and started of the day at the phenomenal
Gjusta. I can't say enough good things about this cafe, it's menu beats some of my favorites back home.
The canal stroll indulged my inner snoop. Peering in to the yards and houses, imagining who lived there and wondering if they were delighted with their lives, delighted me so much.
We ended the morning, and our time together, on the beach. Grateful for our 10+ year friendship, we discussed loose plans for future trips together.
After their departure I took a Lyft to the Arts District to meet up with my high school friend Amy. Alvin also happened to be in town for a meeting, so the three of us stuffed our faces at
Marugame Mozo (seriously the best bowl of noodles I've had in my life) before heading to some nearby galleries.
In a short 48 hours I got to reconnect with three of my best friends and squeeze in some sibling time, my trip to LA far exceeded my expectations. And it came at a time when I really needed it. The rigor of parenthood and career leaves sparse time and energy to pursue what makes me feel whole, what makes me feel like "me" before my family-- experiencing novelty, exploring new places, or wandering without purpose. Aside from my family, doing this that in the company of loved ones is one of the greatest joys in my life.
