where to — los alamos + santa barbara
good friends and good neighbors coming soon to la
santa ynez getaway:
santa ynez wine country is the ideal getaway from la — just enough of a drive that makes you feel like you’re on a trip. los alamos should be a one nighter so if you’re looking to fill a full weekend, spend one night in los alamos and one night in santa barbara with stops in los olivos, buellton and ventura along the way.
los alamos:
sleepy-but-cute, los alamos consists of one strip of establishments that pretty much all specialize in wine and carbs. be sure to visit on a weekend because a lot of the town shuts down for the weekdays (i told ya sleepy but cute!). stay at skyview on a tiny vineyard overlooking the strip or save a few bucks and stay in the heart of town at shelter social club’s renovated motel the alamo or at bodega house if you’re rolling with a crew. if you still want to experience the skyview, go order a poolside drink in the afternoon and take a little dip. you’ve gotta get an afternoon glass of wine at bodega while you play bocce by the firepit. go to the iconic bell’s for a lowkey boozy patio lunch or celebratory dinner. wine and dine at full of life flatbread for whichever meal you’re not at bell’s. find time for a tasting at lo-fi wines or at least grab a bottle to go for later. end your night at a dive bar within an antique store aka the depot bar. soak up that wine the next morning with all the carbs at bob’s well bread before you take off.
hit up los olivos on your way to + from los alamos for a meal at bell’s seafood leaning sister (+ my actual fave of the two!) bar le cote. see if you can fit in a quick tasting at stolpman so fresh while you’re over there (love you bunches ring a bell?). if you’re lucky you’ll see scott of scotty-boy wine having lunch at na na thai or industrial eats in nearby buellton (pea soup!). for the sideways fans in the back, there’s always the hitching post.
santa barbara:
santa barbara’s charming little beach town has hands down the best street sign fonts, and apparently the most photogenic courthouse to get married at in the area. i mean there’s a reason everyone in la knows multiple someones who got married at the sb courthouse. there’s a lot of santa barbara little gems but here’s the tried and true hits: caffeinate at dune, brave the line at la super-rica taqueria, bike along the beach to build just enough hunger for a healthy-ish snack + glass of natural wine at satellite before some indian food + more wine at bibi ji and end the eve at elsies tavern.
ventura:
break up your car time / comedown to reality on the way back to la by stopping at the jolly oyster ventura for oysters by the beach. byob (hopefully a bottle from your lo-fi tasting!). show off and shuck your own oysters or have them shucked for you (please), but either way, it’ll end your weekend getaway on a high note.
i’ll whip up a special where to — ojai edition soon enough. between you and me, ojai just might be my favorite of these little california roadtrip towns, but pleaseee don’t tell the others 👀
cute na bevys:
balo kombucha - la’s favorite kombucha sunset cultures by chef balo is rebranding with the help of the sqirl, rose + plant paper designer according to the angel
ghia le fizz - na fizzy that’s not as bitter as the original ghia and feels more wine-y served in that bottle
psl - the heatwave broke and whether we like it or not, spooky season’s coming, which means pumpkin spice lattes are brewing. if you know me, i’m clearly not talking about st*rb*cks, but a psl made with actual real pumpkin. i’ve found the best in la from past spooky seasons are from thank you coffee (made with kabocha!), heavy water, clark street + just what i kneaded
la happenings + openings:
sauced - brooklyn’s natural wine bar that prides itself on no menu (you order by talking to the staff on what you’re into wine-wise), has just opened on what was the ace hotel’s rooftop in downtown la
good friend coffee - cute virgil village coffee shop with dayglow beans opening sooon
good neighbor bar - from the silverlake wine umbrella of businesses (clients!) comes a neighborhood bar attached to west altadena wine also opening in altadena very soon
moohan kbbq - the team behind quarters + origin korean bbq just opened up in koreatown. it felt like a full on party with a dj when i dined this week with the camber crew. they have a full banchan buffet — i’m talking rice cakes, california rolls, you name it… so come hungry
izakaya dongame - japanese izakaya just opened next to stories in echo park
kismet brunch - kismet’s finally bringing back their kind of perfect brunch
friends + family peach festival - last weekend i got to shoot f+f’s annual peach festival aka special limited edition pastries with the end of stone fruit season and let’s just say go ahead and mark your calendar for next year’s
bub & grandma’s pizza - not opening till next year, but if you’re like me and want to get far too excited far too soon, bub & grandma’s is bringing their take on pizza to the former town space in highland park
support night + market - if you can, support your favorite thai restaurant owners sarah and kris after their son mark's loss to brain cancer
vancouver recs:
going to vancouver for b’s film premiering at viff on my birthday (sept 27th libra babyy) and haven’t been back in some years. let me know any musts and you know i’ll have a guide to follow
now playing:
“oh you've got green eyes oh you've got grey eyes oh you've got blue eyes” has gotta be one of the best lyrics
paid subscribers, scroll for your full los alamos + santa barbara guide below <3