brunch at the reef

Brunch at the Reef 

The Reef

562.435.8013

880 Harbor Scenic DriveLong Beach, CA 90802

(It is a little tricky getting there if you're not too familiar with the downtown Long Beach area, so go with a couple minutes ahead of time in order to make sure you get there on time.) 

my first round 

This was my first time at The Reef, I had heard about it from my coworkers for years about how delicious the food was. Today I finally had the chance to experience what all the hype was about and it definitely delivered. 

the reef

They offered a wide variety of food form pasta, sea food, Mexican, omelets, and even a chocolate fountain. Like any regular brunch, The Reef has unlimited champagne, but be careful it does creep up on you after a while. 

brittany and i

It was a total blast being able to celebrate Robin's birthday with Brittany, we always manage to have a blast where ever we go. 

the view from our table 

Robin, is a regular at The Reef, and she knew to make reservations in Augie's Section (a very funny and flamboyant waiter that works on Sundays). The view was spectacular, being able to enjoy great conversation, amazing food, all with good people



Happy Birthday RoRo

moonlight hike

on our way to tree people

Tree People

12601 Mulholland Drive

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Telephone (818) 753-4600

info@treepeople.org

TreePeople

twitter

facebook

Tree People

"TreePeople is an environmental nonprofit that unites the power of trees, people and nature-based solutions to grow a sustainable future for Los Angeles. Simply put, our work is about helping nature heal our cities."

"TreePeople’s mission is to inspire, engage and support people to take personal responsibility for the urban environment, making it safe, healthy, fun and sustainable and to share the process as a model for the world."

"...Early efforts in the 1970s focused on educating and inspiring people to plant and care for trees. Why? Because more trees means cooler temperatures, cleaner air, replenished groundwater supplies and a safer, more beautiful city."

Moonlight Hike

Moonlight Hikes

www.treepeople.org/moonlighthikes

"Hike our park under the moonlight!

Everything changes after dark – the trails, the trees, the entire park. Experience Coldwater Canyon in a whole new light with hikes led by TreePeople staff and volunteers."

"Take in inspiring views of the San Fernando Valley, as the moon rises over coast live oaks and black walnut trees. Listen for owls. Absorb the peace, tranquility and beauty of the canyon trails after sunset."

View from the Hike

This is truly a fun and exciting event. It costs $5 to go with the TreePeople up on the hike which lasts approximately an hour. No hiking experience is necessary, water and a flashlight are not required, but highly recommended. All walks of life were there for the hike, young, old, slow, and fast. Reservations are needed for the hike, and you can contact them at moonlight@treepeople.org or visit the moonlight hike section of their website for more information. Keep in mind travel time, it does take a bit to get to this location so keep that in mind when you go...

TIP: Bring some clothes to change in the car, you are only miles away from Beverly Hills & some great eateries. 

MILK

7290 Beverly Blvd,

Los Angeles, CA 90036    

(323)939-6455

Milk

I had been reading a lot about this restaurant in a lot of blogs, raving about their ice cream macaroon sandwiches. I had to try one. MILK has a variety of sandwiches, ice cream flavors, and bakery sweets. I tried the Media Noche Sandwich, Lemonade (to die for), & a Red Velvet Ice Cream Sandwich. 

Red Velvet Ice Cream Sandwich 

My only complaint about this place is the fact that you have to eat dessert before your meal. The lines are normally too long to make line for your food then for your dessert. BUT I didn't ask if you could pay for your meal and dessert and pick it up after...

Overall, this place is amazing, the lines are definitely worth the wait...ill definitely be checking this place out to explore their other treats!

PARKING

Daytime parking is available from 10 am to 6 pm on Poinsettia Pl., in the parking lot located behind Kearn's Market.

Nighttime parking is available from 6pm to close in the lot located at 7369 Beverly Blvd.

menu:

http://themilkshop.com/MilkToGoMenu.pdf

To walk off the food, walking up and down Beverly Blvd is quiet a visual delicacy on it's own. The street is filled with a variety of unusual furniture shops. 

This impromptu night out was fun! Saw some amazing views and ate some amazing food. I love exploring LA, the little things one would miss if we didn't take the time to find them. 

"A life without adventure is likely to be unsatisfying, but a life in which adventure is allowed to take whatever form it will is sure to be short."

-Bertrand Russell

for more pictures visit:

kriswithakay.smugmug.com

the voice

The Voice

Today was a great and an exciting day.

Went to go watch The Voice for the Season 6 Blind Auditions...

can't say much due to a confidentiality clause....

but had an amazing time with my best friend Brittany. 

hollywood shenanigans

Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Hollywood forever Cemetery

1(323)469-1181

6000 Santa Monica Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90038

Hollywood Forever Cemetery 

info@hollywoodforever.com

hours of operation: 

Mon – Sun 8am – 5pm

* The hours of the cemetery grounds, mausoleums and 

offices may vary due to construction, special events or otherwise.

 Please check with our receptionist for specifics on a given date.

Hollywood Cemetery 

"Hollywood Forever is a cemetery unlike any other in the world. One of the world’s most fascinating landmarks, Hollywood Forever Cemetery is the final resting place to more of Hollywood’s founders and stars than anywhere else on earth. Founded in 1899, the cemetery was an integral part of the growth of early Hollywood. Paramount Studios was built on the back half of the original Hollywood Cemetery, where the studio is still in operation today. The cemetery of choice for most of the founders of Hollywood’s great studios, as well as writers, directors, and, performers, Hollywood Forever Cemetery is now listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. Visitors come from all over the world to pay respects to Johnny Ramone, Cecil B. DeMille, Jayne Mansfield, Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, and hundreds more of Hollywood’s greatest stars."

http://www.hollywoodforever.com

Hollywood Cemetery 

Many people don't enjoy walking through cemeteries, however I enjoy walking through and seeing the history of the cemetery. It's a great place to go for a stroll, they have beautiful gardens. 

Chateau Marmont Hotel

Chateau Marmont

8221 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046 

Chateau Marmont Hotel

"In 1926 Fred Horowitz, a prominent Los Angeles attorney, chose the site at Marmont Lane and Sunset Boulevard to construct an apartment building. Horowitz had recently traveled to Europe for inspiration and returned to California with photos of a Gothic Chateau along the Loire River. In 1927 Horowitz commissioned his brother-in-law, European-trained architect Arnold A. Weitzman, to design the seven-story, L-shaped building based on his French photos. When deciding upon a name for the building, Chateau Sunset and Chateau Hollywood were rejected in favor of Chateau Marmont, a name conceived by the small street running across the front of the property."

Chateau Marmont Hotel (wikipedia)

If you are in the Hollywood area, and you are looking for a relaxing, ambient restaurant to just kick back and lounge around, The Restaurant, at Chateau Marmont is the place for you. The prices are a bit up there, but this place is gives you European elegance, with old Hollywood glamour. We sipped on Long Island Ice Teas, to cool down from heat of walking the cemetery. 

drinks at The Restaurant, Chateau Marmont  

Chateau Marmont

(just across the street from Chateau Marmont)

Pinches Tacos, Hollywood  

Pinches Tacos

8200 W Sunset Blvd.

West Hollywood, Ca 90046

"We pride ourselves in making every location unique but giving every location the same feel. Not cookie cutters like big chain restaurants. We blend into our neighborhood and create a place you want to call your second home!!. Our doors are always open to our neighbors from their culinary needs to request for donations."

Pinches Tacos, Hollywood 

"Our mission is simple, to provide you the best taco experience by using high quality meats and seafood, fresh garden vegetables, hand made tortillas and high quality artisan breads. Our father Miguel hand picks those ingredients every morning. We could have made it complicated but choose not to, because we have found through experience, that keeping things simple is a good recipe for success and happiness. It's also a good recipe for a pretty tasty Pinche Taco. We hope you agree"

-The Anaya Family

Pinches Tacos

Pinches Tacos, Hollywood 

The tacos here are amazing! There are jam packed with flavors, quality, and a decent price. Parking in this area of Hollywood is an absolute mess. Took us about 45 mins to find parking, not trying to spend an arm and a leg in order to pay for parking. One thing that I had never seen and found extremely unique was there usage of Lotteria playing cards as their order numbers. This place is unique, and a very good value if you are in the mood for some LA tacos. 

Roscoe's House of Chicken 'n Waffles 

Roscoe's House Chicken and Waffles
1514 N. Gower Street, Los Angeles, Ca 90028
1.323.466.7453

"Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles is a Long Beach, California-based soul food restaurant chain founded by Herb Hudson, a Harlem native in 1975. It's best known, as the name states, for serving chicken and waffles, both together and separately, although they do offer more traditional menu items as well..."

Chicken and Waffles 

"The Los Angeles Times refers to Roscoe's as 'such an L.A. institution that people don't question the strange combo anymore.' The New York Times refers to it as a 'beloved soul food chain'. The original location in Hollywood remains popular with celebrities."
Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles

Check Out the Menu:

Roscoe's Menu

The Hollywood location is centrally located to many different attraction around the Los Angeles area and is a great place to work into your day if you are near by. It's also a great destination after a late night at the club, and need some good soul food.

Roscoe's Location

(check out the other various locations in southern California) 


want to see more pics? go visit my photo journal website...
www.kriswithakay.smugmug.com

dad's birthday: perch & syrup

Perch

488 S. Hill Street, Los Angeles, 90013

 213-802-1770

Today's outing is quite special, it's my dad's birthday! My dad, my brother, my brother's girlfriend, and myself, went to Perch in Downtown LA. It was our first time there and it was a super nice experience. When you first arrive to the building, you scratch your head thinking to yourself, "is this the right place?". However, once you take a couple elevators up to the 15th floor, you realize that this is an oasis in a sea of cars and buildings. Perch has an amazing happy hour 4-6p and dinner starting at 6p. The views of the city are quiet amazing, great place to relax and enjoy a drink or two. The food is well portioned, drinks are well served, the dessert menu did not look so appetizing, so we decided to skip on that.  

Perch

Perch

Venue

Perch LA is an elevated resting place. A French inspired rooftop bistro that offers unobstructed views of Downtown Los Angeles that makes it feel as though you are floating at the skyline. PERCH offers two outdoor fireplaces, various fire pits, lounge and table seating both indoors and out.

Pershing Square from the 15th floor

Ambiance

The ambiance at PERCH LOS ANGELES is incredibly unique at every turn. As you arrive to the 15th floor restaurant you are greeted by beautiful antique inspired furniture, plush lounge couches and incredibly detailed woodwork, which will transport you to French inspired restaurants of old. You can choose to enjoy the fresh, intimate indoor bohemian ambiance or be seated at one of the outside patios with ornate fireplaces, lush landscaping, breathtaking views of the Downtown L.A. skyline and a direct view to the stars above. If you are in search of a more intimate lounge experience, simply move on up to the 16th floor rooftop lounge with ornate furniture and cozy fire pits to enjoy delicious cocktails, great music and an unparalleled 360 degree view of Downtown L.A. PERCH is indeed the premier dining and nightlife destination in Los Angeles where you can indulge in a most comfortable, unpretentious and upscale atmosphere that features live jazz inspired music, while enjoying a sumptuous French cuisine dinner, followed by DJ’s that will keep you swaying throughout the evening.

Scallops, Perch

Cuisine

PERCH Executive Chef Justin Albertson has created a playful menu inspired by French culinary classics utilizing the freshest of seasonal ingredients. The menu consists of items that are meant to be shared as well as meals that stand boldly alone.

Perch

Bar

Whether you want to be inside the main bar under the 30 foot ceilings surrounded by vintage artwork and sweeping archways of windows with a wrap around balcony or on the rooftop with unobstructed views of Downtown Los Angeles, you will be able to experience a selection of specialty drinks that focus on simple, fresh Parisian inspired cocktails, a wine program that boasts over 25 wines by the glass, a crafted beer selection or even rare selection of Cognacs, Armagnac’s and French Cordials.

www.perchla.com

(Note to my readers: they don't serve Adios and they don't have Patron...)

After an enjoyable dinner, we took a 15 minute walk through downtown to a dessert place called Syrup. 

Syrup 

611 S Spring St

Los Angeles, CA 90014

1(213)488-5136

Mixed Berries Cheesecake, Syrup

This place is amazing, super affordable, huge portion, great atmosphere, and tastes delicious. I had the mixed berries cheesecake, and it left me craving for more. Everything in the display window looked like a slice of heaven. For any of my readers that have a sweet tooth addiction, I would not miss the spot. 

View from the 16th floor at Perch

For more pictures check out my photo gallery: 

www.kriswithakay.smugmug.com

exxopolis and downtown los angeles

photo credit: @grandpark_LA

WELCOME TO EXXOPOLIS

Exxopolis is a sculpture people enter to be immersed in radiant light and colour. Since 1992 Architects of Air's luminaria have enchanted over 2 million visitors in 38 counties around the world.

Exxopolis takes its inspiration from natural geometry and Islamic architecture. The principal dome - the CUPOLA - was inspire by the circular space of the Chapter House of Southwell Minister. Its windows are designed to create a 'stain glass' effect using the Penrose  tilling discovered by mathematician and physicist Roger Penrose.

exxopolis

The luminosity of light and colour inside exxopolis is created purely by the light shining through the coloured plastic. All the individual places have been cut and glued together by hand in our workshop in Nottingham England.

me inside exxopolis 

www.architects-of-air.com

exxopolis 

enter and be amazed...

Exxopolis was absolutely amazing, the colors that we photographed were out of this world. Being inside was space like, something unique and completely out of this world. My mom and I really enjoyed being at this location. We didn't have reservations, but a small 15 minute wait in line guaranteed us stand by tickets.

Have to give a shout out to Grand Park LA's instagram account @grandpark_la for featuring exxopolis which inspired me to go visit this location. 

Music Center

MoCa: Museum of Contemporary Art

250 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012

1(213)626-6222

www.moca.org 

MoCA

"Founded in 1979, MOCA is the only museum in Los Angeles devoted exclusively to contemporary art. It is committed to the collection, presentation, and interpretation of work produced since 1940 in all media, and to preserving that work for future generations. In a remarkably short time, MOCA has developed one of the nation's most renowned permanent collections. Now numbering over 5,000 works and steadily growing, this invaluable cultural resource provides extensive opportunities for education and enjoyment to thousands of national and international visitors. Today the museum is housed in three unique facilities: MOCA Grand Avenue, The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, and MOCA Pacific Design Center." 

MoCa.org

MoCA

ADMISSION

General Admission: $12

Students with I.D.: $7

Seniors (65+): $7

Children under 12: Free

(if you plan on visiting this location make sure you bring your student ID)

Free Thursday Evenings:

Admission to MOCA Grand Avenue is free every Thursday, 5–8pm, courtesy of Wells Fargo.

MoCA

MoCA is a really interesting museum, it's a bit on the small side, but for the experience it's a nice way to spend an hour or two. My mom and I had a fun time here, critiquing the art (she's not a big fan of modern art). Unfortunately only their permanent collection was open on the day we went. If you're expecting a big fancy museum, this might not be the spot for you. 

Tickets can be purchased for same-day admission at the box office at MOCA Grand Avenue and The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. 

The Geffen Contemporary at MoCA:

152 North Central Ave, Los Angeles, Ca 90012

213 - 626- 6222

Geffen Contemporary 

"A former police car warehouse in Little Tokyo renovated by the noted California architect Frank O. Gehry, The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA (formerly The Temporary Contemporary) opened in 1983. This location offers 40,000 square feet of exhibition space and a branch of the MOCA Store."

Geffen at MoCa

The Geffen Contemporary is an extension of MoCa, and I love modern art just as much as the next person but the this place was not to my liking at all. They did have a rather interesting architect exhibition, but to be quiet honest it failed to grab my attention. If you are interested in architecture, I do recommend going to the Geffen Contemporary Extension. 

Geffen Contemporary at MoCA

Our Lady of Angeles Cathedral 

555 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, Ca 90012

1(213)680-5200

Our Lady Of Angeles Cathedral 

"Standing in the midst of downtown Los Angeles, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels serves the total Archdiocese of over 5 million Catholics. As the heart of all 287 Parish Churches and communities, it is the place where the Archbishop celebrates the major Liturgies of the year with clergy, religious and laity. 

Our Lady of Angels Cathedral 

The Cathedral serves as a "model Church for all Parish Churches" in the style and content of its liturgical celebrations. In design, art and furnishings, the Cathedral is rich in cultural diversity in a city in which Sunday Mass is celebrated in 42 different languages. In these first nine years, the Cathedral has welcomed countless pilgrims and visitors. Thank you for being a part of the Cathedral's success story!"

www.olacathedral.org

This cathedral is breathtaking from top to bottom. It was quiet relaxing and tranquil being inside the cathedral with no one there at all. It was a beautiful feeling sitting there in an empty pew, listening to the organist practice for the Sunday mass. I recommend this locations for catholics and non catholics alike. 

Overall, it was a great exeperience coming out to Downtown Los Angeles again. It's been a favorite spot of mine ever since i first came out here. There's always so much to do. I've done some other adventure out here before and there is always new things to discover and explore 

Walt Disney Concert Hall 

LAPD Headquarters 

For more pictures visit my gallery:
www.kriswithakay.smugmug.com

Other Downtown LA Adventures:

exploring downtown la

metro moves dtla

run for a cure

macaroons