An Updated LA City Guide

Hi friends,

Long time, no see. I’ve been mostly offline during my three week stay in LA. As you might already know, my dad passed a way recently so I came back home to LA this time for a longer period of time to be with my family.

Life in LA is bittersweet for me now. I do love to reconnect with my friends, pass an afternoon as a beach bum, and simply enjoy the good weather that LA notoriously provides; however, I don’t miss sitting in an hour and a half of traffic just to go see some museums in the city. I suppose I shouldn’t complain, that’s a small price to pay to live in a beach suburb but I digress.

For the most part, my LA routine consisted of staying home to help my get organized and adjust to a new normal but when I did have time to venture out, I found myself here:

Museums and Galleries:

The Broad: This museum brings me back to my early twenties, starting Ella Kol at my parent’s place, and the rise of LA Fashion influencers. The museum contains some of the world most iconic contemporary art works by Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami, and Andy Warhol. The museum itself is a beautiful architectural masterpiece holding its own next to the Disney Concert Hall by Frank Gehry.

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA): It’s been years since I last visited this museum. Honestly, I couldn’t even remember what was part of the permanent collection so I decided to stop by just to take a look. While I was there, only one wing of the museum was open so I don’t suggest visiting unless you’re in the area or after the collection renovations are done.

The Walt Disney Concert Hall: I have vivid memories of my dad pointing out this building and commenting on its architectural feat. Designed by Frank Gehry, the Walt Disney Concert Hall is actually open to the public for visits. It’s worthwhile to simply wander around to the hidden courtyard behind the concert hall to escape the noise of the city and enjoy an atmosphere of calm. Did I mention it’s free?

Seventh House: I’ll do a more comprehensive article on this gallery but for now all you need to know is that you need to make an appointment to visit beforehand. Once inside the Frank Gehry home, you are transported to one of the most beautiful and elegantly curated modern interior galleries in LA.

Griffith Observatory: Historical and magnificent, Griffith Observatory has some of the best views of LA. Inside, there’s a small free museum that captures the world of our universe and the stars. Occasionally, you can also take a glimpse in the observatory’s functioning telescope.

LA Eats and In The Kitchen:

LA has a great food scene. You can find everything from every corner of the world but the catch is can you find parking? Normally I prefer to cook at home. For a few family dinners, I made the following:

Miso salmon, rice, baked brussel sprouts
Herb and lemon cod
Brunch Toast: Farmer’s Market bread, French butter and cheese, handful of arugla, crandberries, thinly sliced almonds
Blackberry Frangipane
Matcha mochi filled with azuki bean (dad’s recipe)

For eating outside, I visited:

In-n-Out: Still a good deal for fast food in LA. My order is a number two, light spread, tomatoes, no lettuce, grilled onions, and a Dr. Pepper. Yum!

Kargura:An elevated yet not too pricey Japanese restaurant that my family goes to for special occasions. The ambiance is intimate, minimal, and traditional. I love the salmon bento and all the little sides.

Marugame Monzo: Located in Little Tokyo, this is one of my favorite Udoj shops. Casual and affordable. I love to go to Honeymee, a soft serve shop across the street after for dessert.

Bread, Espresso:A new local joint in my hometown of Redondo Beach. The breads are pricey, but elegantly presented and delicious!

Fu Rai Bo: My all time favorite meal on the planet. Something I could eat maybe everyday until the day I day is the tabi-saki fried chicken wings. So tiny but so the best umami flavor ever.

Gjusta:The epitome of LA dining, Gjusta has a big menu of sandwiches, deli dishes, posh pastries, breads, and desserts. There’s beautiful outdoor seating and it’s a short walk from the Venice strip for a little afternoon dip.

What I wore:

It was unusually hot when I was in LA. Even by LA standards. Between the jet lag and the sudden exposure to sun, my skin was not having it in the beginning but by the end of my visit, my skin recovered.

My LA uniform consists of long curved denim by LEMAIRE, vintage Lucky Brand jeans, and a basic rotation of tank tops. Simple yet functional bags like my mom’s vintage coach and top handle Ferragamo were also part of my wardrobe staples.