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Jon & Alyssa’s LA Debut

Larry’s sister Alyssa and her husband Jon came out and visited us for a long weekend – it was a blast!  They hadn’t been out here since their respective Teen Tours (an explanation on that in another post, I suppose) so it was going to be fun to show them LA from a native’s perspective.  Also, we now have a very centrally located place and a very comfortable guest room – so let the fun begin!

We started on Thursday night after they flew in – Larry picked them up at LAX and spent the day with them in Santa Monica and Venice while I was at work.  I imagine it was nice to revisit the old stomping grounds – I was just there today for a doctor’s appt and had small twangs of “awww…this is where I used to live” but honestly, yay new place!  After fighting ridiculous traffic to get back home along THE 10 and THE 110 and THE 101 (thanks, Dodgers Game!), they got back where I was waiting for them.  We grabbed a nice dinner at the Lago Italian pizzeria just up the street (yay walking distance) and kept them up just long enough to combat their jet lag.

Jon & Alyssa at Barbarella/Lago
Jon & Alyssa at Barbarella/Lago25-Jul-2013 19:18, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 400
 

On Friday, I worked a half day in the morning and then joined up with Larry, Alyssa and Jon at Universal Studios.  I missed the Studio Tour and The Simpsons Ride, but I joined up with them right afterwards.  Oh the humanity – it was effing PACKED at the park.  It was Friday and it was summer – but geez.  There were lines for everything.  I took those blessedly short lines for granted when we went earlier this year I guess.  Jurassic Park Cafe?  Line.  Transformers the Ride?  2.5 hour line – NO JOKE.  It’s an amazing ride, but damn.  After that, the lines were nothing, relatively.  The Mummy’s Revenge?  45 minute line.  Jurassic Park the Ride?  40 minute line.   It was all a lot of fun though, despite it all.  The weather was pretty nice and not blazing sunshine down upon us.  After the park, it was time for eats, and the recommendation was for Sugarfish in Studio City – best rec ever.  Sugarfish is a fantastic sushi restaurant – small, and you may have to wait (we did, but again, who cares about 30 minutes when you’ve waited 2.5 hours for a damn ride), but the food was spectacular.  Go with the “Trust Me” menu – you won’t regret it.  Did I say the food was fantastic????

Jon, Bart, Larry & Alyssa at Universal
Jon, Bart, Larry & Alyssa at Universal26-Jul-2013 12:47, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 160
At Sugarfish
At Sugarfish26-Jul-2013 19:25, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 200
26-Jul-2013 19:25, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 200
 
26-Jul-2013 19:29, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 160
26-Jul-2013 19:29, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 400
26-Jul-2013 19:31, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 4.0, 5.626mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 200
 
26-Jul-2013 19:31, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 4.5, 8.486mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 200
26-Jul-2013 19:32, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.5, 4.904mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 250
26-Jul-2013 19:33, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 4.0, 5.26mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 320
 
26-Jul-2013 19:56, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 1600
26-Jul-2013 19:57, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.5, 4.788mm, 0.2 sec, ISO 1600
26-Jul-2013 20:11, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 1600
 
26-Jul-2013 20:38, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.2 sec, ISO 1600
26-Jul-2013 20:38, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.5 sec, ISO 1600
 

For Saturday, it was time to be ambitious!  Alyssa wanted to see Rodeo Drive, so damn it, we were going to see Rodeo Drive.  The traffic wasn’t so bad getting there as I had dreaded, and the weather was perfect.  We first walked to the south end of Rodeo Drive which just also happens to lead to the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, the setting and inspiration for the movie “Pretty Woman.”  Alyssa had to go in so we did do that – and then we decided to grab a drink in the bar, The Blvd.  As we were walking in, Larry happened to notice that who else but Christopher Plummer (Capt von Trapp!!!!) was seated at a table inside.  Alyssa had wanted to see celebrities – who knew we were going to actually make that happen?  The Beverly Wilshire is a Four Seasons hotel and the bar definitely does them proud.  The bartenders were fantastic and above all, very nice.  I ended up ordering what the bartender told me was the original Pretty Woman cocktail, a cranberry spin on a mimosa.  It was delicious.  Jon got a flight of premium Rieslings while Larry expanded his knowledge of Old Fashioneds.   After a nice stay at the bar and finishing our drinks, we explored Rodeo.  It’s so decadent there.  We didn’t buy anything but before leaving, we grabbed lunch at the restaurant called The Farm just a block away from Rodeo Drive.  Very good and they had a brownie to die for.  YUM.

Our next destination was the Getty Museum, which really has one of the best views of Los Angeles around.  It was a gorgeous day for it and of course that meant it was packed.  Regardless, it was worth the wait.  We perused a few of the exhibits but most of our time was spent looking around outside, as the Getty’s grounds are simply begging for you to explore.   We didn’t stay through till the evening – apparently the hottest underground band, The Geographer, was playing that night.  As we were leaving the parking lot, there was a mass of people still trying to come in.  Maybe for the band, but likely just to be there for the sunset, which I’ve heard is a fantastic thing to do.  We’ll have to go back.

We headed home finally via Sunset Blvd’s twisty path.  It was originally planned to cook dinner but by the time we got back, everyone wanted food NOW.  Including me.  So we shelved the cooking option and instead walked to Hyperion Public, our trusty neighborhood pub.  Well, on a Saturday night, Hyperion Public gets packed.  We kind of lucked into a table and took a reserved one by accident…the waitress came over and said it was fine, but we had to be done by 9pm.   That was okay as it was only like 7:15.  So we had a nice filling dinner and some great Alagash White beer….and then noticed that the other tables that had been reserved were filling up.  Uh oh – maybe 9pm wasn’t the deadline after all.  As more people show up, we realize that one of them is famous!  It was Jeremy Sisto, Elton from Clueless!  So Alyssa got TWO celebrities for the day.  It was awesome.  When we got home, we had to watch Clueless to finish out the night.

Alyssa & Larry at Rodeo Drive
Alyssa & Larry at Rodeo Drive27-Jul-2013 12:27, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 125
Jon & Alyssa at Rodeo
Jon & Alyssa at Rodeo27-Jul-2013 12:28, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 4.5, 7.815mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100
Jon & Alyssa at Beverly Wilshire
Jon & Alyssa at Beverly Wilshire27-Jul-2013 12:37, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 400
 
Great group shot at Bev Wilshire
Great group shot at Bev Wilshire27-Jul-2013 12:41, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 800
27-Jul-2013 12:43, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 320
My "Pretty Woman" martini
My "Pretty Woman" martini27-Jul-2013 12:43, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 100
 
Jon & Alyssa at The Farm
Jon & Alyssa at The Farm27-Jul-2013 14:44, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
27-Jul-2013 14:44, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
The remnants of the brownie
The remnants of the brownie27-Jul-2013 14:44, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
 
27-Jul-2013 14:44, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 1000
27-Jul-2013 14:44, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 320
27-Jul-2013 16:10, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
 
Getty time
Getty time27-Jul-2013 16:10, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
27-Jul-2013 16:10, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
27-Jul-2013 16:10, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
 

On Jon & Alyssa’s last day with us, Alyssa & Larry started out Sunday with a run around Silver Lake.  Jon & I drank coffee.  When everyone was back and cleaned up, we headed to Barbrix to finally partake in their brunch, which quite a few people have raved about, especially since they have $5 bottomless mimosas.  Well, the raves were well-earned.  The mimosas are five bucks and the food was delicious.  Also, our waiter was ridiculously hot.  Ah, LA waiters.  After that, we walked down to the Sunset Junction area where there are some cute shops.  Alyssa loved it.  It was a great way to spend the afternoon!  We then finally got to do some cooking while also watching American Ninja Warrior – that show is freakin’ awesome.  They had a red-eye flight that night so we drove them to LAX to conclude what ended up being a really great weekend.  I’m sure they enjoyed it but I also know they couldn’t wait to see their daughter again.  They know they always are welcome to come back though!

Jon & Alyssa on the deck
Jon & Alyssa on the deck28-Jul-2013 10:33, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 100
28-Jul-2013 11:25, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 1000
Enjoying brunch at Barbrix
Enjoying brunch at Barbrix28-Jul-2013 11:25, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 1000
 
28-Jul-2013 11:26, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 1600
28-Jul-2013 11:26, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 800
28-Jul-2013 11:26, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.5, 5.021mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 1600
 
28-Jul-2013 12:31, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 800
Walking to Sunset Junction
Walking to Sunset Junction28-Jul-2013 13:01, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 3.4, 4.0mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
View of the Hollywood Hills from our hood
View of the Hollywood Hills from our hood28-Jul-2013 13:15, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, 5.0, 28.475mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100
 

For Jon & Alyssa’s education, here’s a map of where we ended up during the trip – both were completely oblivious to where they were most of the time and even when I would say where we were, it really didn’t matter.  But maps are cool, so here you go!

LA Map - Alyssa Jon trip v2 notated

2 replies on “Jon & Alyssa’s LA Debut”

Ria! Thanks for the feedback. I have to say that I had attempted to leave a comment on your fantastic blog a month or so back. Your post about Amelia’s clubhouse was INSANE. In a good way, naturally. I loved every moment of that post and I could clearly hear you saying every comment in that trademark Ria wit. Hope all is well up in San Fran!

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