It’s been a while since I’ve updated everyone on my life. The 30th, I was in New Hampshire with my family, doing a little snowshoeing and reuniting with my crazy relatives. The 5th, I was flying from JFK to LAX, happily squished between an old Italian man and a snoring jetsetter. Now that I’ve been in the land of sunshine for a week, I suppose it’s time to write an entry!
Christmas was, of course, excellent. I received a UKULELE from my stepdad and my mom, which was awesome, and a lovely plane ticket to Los Angeles from my father. (Awesome again? Yes.) After the celebrations, I said goodbye to my mom, little sister, stepdad, dog, and cat and headed off to NYC with my other sister to visit our father. (Enough family for ya?) The ride was smooth, and we arrived in Connecticut in time for dinner with my grandmother. It was great to see the other side of my family, and although I missed Vermont’s snow, I was excited to get into the city for a few days. Here’s my “travel guide.”
NYC in 36ish Hours
Dining:
- Penang: My sister and I went to lunch here with her Oberlin field hockey teammates. Start with the Roti Canai as an appetizer, have the spicy shrimp noodles for a main course, and obviously go somewhere else for pastries.)
- Sugar Cafe: This is where you should get dessert. If you like fudgey brownies, this is the place to go. It’s a skinny cafe, much longer than it is wide, and provides the perfect munching atmosphere. Or, take the sweets to go and hop on the subway.
- Pinkberry: JUST KIDDING, don’t go here. If you go to any chain in NYC, shame on you. There are tons of places (that I obviously didn’t have time to go to) which are delicious and more fun than any froyo chain could ever hope to be.
Lodging:
- Stay with your grandparents in Connecticut. If you don’t have any grandparents who live there, find someone else’s.
Activities:
- Photography: New York City is full of tourists, and what better way to blend in than to tote your Nikon along? You may come home with such pictures as this:
ooohsparklez
- Go Shopping: see above.
- Participate in an Occupy Wallstreet protest: Although I have many friends who are anti-occupy anything, I’m not. My sister and I ended up in Grand Central with about 100 other people, and we documented/protested the National Defense Authorization Act. (Look it up. You may wish to protest after reading what it is.)
- Visit Rudy’s Guitar Center: If you’re at all interested in guitars, ukuleles, mandolins, etc, this is the place to be. Also, John Mayer was playing guitars in the uptown location for theentire day…the day before I visited. I’ll be back, though, because I left my guitar to be humidified, as it has totally dried up in Canaday this semester.
COOL. So NYC was awesome, per usual, but on the fifth I started a new adventure in the City of Angels. Read on for the exciting bit.
LA
I’ve been here for a whole week, visiting my GREAT friend Georgie, and staying in her house in the urban sprawl. I cannot think of a city more physically different than New York– it goes on forever, buildings are generally low (except for in downtown), it’s always fair weather (as opposed to the extremes of NYC), everyone drives, and there’s not really a subway system (earthquakes, you know). However, the fashionistas, musicians, actors, and the like can be found comfortably (or uncomfortably) residing in either city; they’re known for similar arts. Needless to say, I love LA and NYC equally, but this weather is the perfect break from the cold. (Yeah, it’s 73 and sunny right now.) Here’s a photo-essay of the highlights of my trip, including captions.
Silverlake is the home of hipsters, which means Intelligensia Coffee and cool laundromats.
If LA isn't known for its street art, it should be.
Vermont Avenue is home to the VT Restaurant, which sports a sign that says "Barre, VT"…interesting choice of towns, eh?
LA, birthplace of American Apparel.
In Little Armenia, you will find Harvard Boulevard and Harvard Preschool, the secret to acceptance.
Street art is so popular there are lines that stretch around the block, just to see a gallery.
That's Georgie, those are French fries. Best ones I've had here? At The Standard, an artsy hotel.
This is what your building could look like.
Check out the city! No, it's not that small–the high rises are just in downtown, and the rest of LA spreads out as far as the eye can see.
The City of Angels is also the City of Dreams. Whether or not they're broken is left up for debate.
Venice Beach, right on the edge of the city, is an awesome place to people-watch…because of the other bizarre people roaming about.
At Venice, you can find many a skateboarder. There's no place like empty pools.
Be forewarned: if carrying a ukulele on the beach, one might break into an impromptu concert. (Yup, datz me!)
The Santa Monica Pier — Gorgeous views, right near the city.
The End of Rt 66!
Obviously, LA has some downsides, one being the danger of eating seafood, due to pollution.
So that’s all for now. Next time I post, I’ll be back on campus for Speak Out Loud Wintersession workshop!
Until then,
-Reid
