In Love with San Diego: May 2012

May 31, 2012

Don't Be a Creep

Alright people,

let's do a quick round of Thursday Travel Tips.

I kind of dropped off the face of the earth with this series,

but after my latest stint in LA last weekend,

I just felt an obligation to share something.

When you go to Hollywood,

please don't be that tourist that buys a map of "celebrity homes".

It's creepy.

Like stalkerish creepy.

Know what I mean?

I understand... you're probably intrigued by the size and landscaping patterns of George Clooney's front yard,

but here's what:

his fence is probably so high that you won't be able to see anything anyway,

and instead you'll just look like a silly fool riding around in one of those topless minivans (see photo above).

Editor's note: if you've made the mistake of taking this tour in the past,

just do me us both a favor and never mention it, ok?

Now that the pep-talk is over,

I would just like to note that other forms of creepiness are totally acceptable.

If you're like me,

and feel obliged to make inappropriate sex jokes whenever an opportunity presents itself,

then you're going to love staying at The Standard.

I meaaaan it's pretty happenin' and all,

but the best part is the fact that there are sex joke "booby" traps all over that place (pun intended, tee hee).

I took photos of the evidence to share with ya'll:

Yeah, that's what she said.

And again...

Aaaaand that's what HE said. Now just to clarify, this switch does not control what most guys wish it would control... just the AC people, just the AC..

All of these props sure lead to a good time, hence our silly faces.
Oh, and the lotion is the bomb.com. No other reason for that picture, really.

The mini bar is stocked with some of my favorites. Pretty handy if you get back to your room around 6 a.m. Just sayin.

Oh and let me tell you a thing or two about the room service.
Thing 1: The ranch dressing is the BEST I've ever had.
Thing 2: There's a good chance that your meal will be delivered by the same handsome fella that brought us our turkey club. Yum.

Oh and if you were wondering,

this IS the same hotel that Carrie and the girls stayed at when they came to Hollywood,

and there really ARE live models in the tank above the front desk.

Pretty sweet, huh?

May 28, 2012

Greystone.. Day to Night

Hidden among the winding streets of Beverly Hills,

sits a little gem, called the Greystone Mansion.

Perhaps "little" is not the best adjective to use when describing this lavish estate...

The 55-room, Tudor-style former residence sits on 16 acres of land.

Also known as the Doheny mansion,

Greystone was comissioned to be built by the oil tycoon Edward Doheny in 1928,

and served as a gift for Doheny's son and daughter in-law.... just because.

Not bad, eh?

Unfortunately, the inside of the mansion is no longer open to the public except during special events..

The home is often used for filmmaking though,

and the property's descending staircase holds its ground as one of the most famous sets in Hollywood.

The mansion is gorgeous all around,

and offers breathtaking views of the city of angels.

My friend and I were intrigued and inspired by our touristic escapades,

so we decided to prolong our experience by paying a visit to Greystone Manor at night.

The supper club is not related to the aforementioned mansion above,

yet it holds its own reputation around town.

The Manor is one of the hottest spots in LA at the moment,

and we had a great time exploring the winding paths of that property too.

May 26, 2012

MDW

In my world,

Memorial Day Weekend officially kicks off the beginning of summer.

Suddenly,

the smell of BBQ wafts through the air in every community,

it's legal to wear white again,

and it seems like everyone decides to take road trips all at once.

I personally think that the longer days are the perfect excuse to invest in new sunnies.

I meaaaan.. we have to protect our peepers from those pesky UV rays one way or another, right?

Above are my new Guccis, that are the perfect mix of cat-eye/warfinger.

Like 'em?

One of my besties and I decided to take advantage of the long weekend,

with an impromptu trip to LA.

Let's see how much trouble we can get into in just one night...

A full post will be up within a few days,

but for now,

you can follow our adventures through my instagram photos - inlovewsandiego.

Tootles!

May 25, 2012

Herringbone La Jolla

You guys..

yesterday was better than Christmas.

Wanna know why?!

Aaaalright... I'll tell ya.

Last night I was invited to attend friends & family night,

for a sneak peek of Herringbone La Jolla,

Brian Malarkey's brand new restaurant!

Obviously, I was beyond giddy when I received the invite from Enlightened Hospitality Group.

I'm a huge fan of the man's work,

so to have a chance to check out his newest joint, before it even opens was a major treat.

The concept of this fifth culinary installment is based on an "ocean bazaar" theme.

The kitchen is helmed by another Top Chef alum, Amanda Baumgarten,

who will be featuring ocean specialties from around the world,

as well as inventive surf and turf dishes.

Thomas Schoos did another amazing job,

transforming the La Jolla space into an old world bazaar.

Ma favorite part?

The olive trees.

Yes.

Real life, 100-year-old olive trees, spread out all throughout the restaurant.

The result is so beautiful,

my words or pictures just don't do it justice.

Signature Snake Oil Cocktails are designed to tickle your senses. Each drink is presented with a fragrance sample, urging you to seek out the different flavors (wood, floral, etc) with every sip.