Friday, October 18, 2013

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

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

"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:


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:

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

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. 

Friday, September 27, 2013

hollywood shenanigans

Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Hollywood forever Cemetery
1(323)469-1181
6000 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90038


Hollywood Forever Cemetery 

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."

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."

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  


(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:


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.

(check out the other various locations in southern California) 


want to see more pics? go visit my photo journal website...

www.kriswithakay.smugmug.com


Friday, September 20, 2013

dad's birthday: perch & syrup

Perch
488 S. Hill Street, Los Angeles, 90013


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.
(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 AngelesCA 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: