Sunday, October 18, 2009

Jushie B's Birthday!

My sister Suze got me started on the stay-cation vibe; being on holiday but knowing that if you forget anything at home or get a work emergency you're only a short car drive away is the best and not having to deal with airports, carthritis or ferry ports is even better. With that in mind, Jerusha and I took a long weekend break in downtown L.A. at the Standard Hotel to celebrate her birthday.

The Standard is housed in an old office building, it's pretty jazzy, has stark minimal rooms and a swimming pool on the roof. You feel like you are high up on the elevator ride but the view from the window confirms that despite your altitude sickness, you're still dwarfed but sky scrappers. Who ever has to clean the windows of these places must have elephant balls.

This is the view from the bar looking south, you can see the Standard sign in the parking lot if you want to orientate your self with the opening image...

This was the view from the room. The skaters amongst you will recognize the building on the left as housing the infamous but now defunct Arco rails where (Eric Koston nollie heel nose slid the first rail and Jason Lee cruised a line in video days amongst many other things) and the plaza immediately opposite is the LA library an O.G. gap spot skated by all sorts of people especially the Baker boys. The movie buffs will note that the building with the green light at the base is the building that Robert De Niro and his crew rob in the final scene of the movie "Heat".


After settling in, we hit the town.

First stop, the Biltmore Hotel which is where the original Academy Awards were held back when the movies were artistic and the female starlets remembered to wear underwear. Built in the 1920's this building is easily one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever been in. This is the entrance hall.

This was a function room - pretty pinnacle.

A mango cosmo and chocolately alcoholic dream. Delish.

After getting the drinks I found JB relaxing in the piano bar where the was a live band playing mid-life music.

The ceilings in the Biltmore were seriously impressive.

Bragging rights on European Architectural superiority took a heavy hit.

Then we strolled the streets and found all sorts of olde worlde shops like this book store dedicated to shipping.

The next day meant more pacing. Jushie was in her element, transported back to her New York days.

In case my parents forget what I look like...

Jerusha was dancing like she was on Broadway (even though the street sign clearly says "4th Street")!

Breakfast at the Louie Bodega was the best L.A. breakfast yet.

I got the Farmers Market breakfast which had all sorts of beetroot and green beans and yum yum.

Jush got the salmon benedict which was also TDF.

Macarons for days!

3 comments:

Christopher Massey said...

Rad.

Looks fun.

Was that Kilburn?

Krishnan said...

Looks like fun - miss you guys!

Ptite Claire said...

I want to live your life on that day.