Seattle, WA by Artful Dodger. Instagr.am borders cut the recognizable Space Needle off.

As you read this, I am finally making my way up the West Coast to Seattle, the only other city I’ve wanted to live in other than Los Angeles. I’ve kept this plan under wraps for months now, even though it’s been twice as long that I’ve felt the need for a change. It’s time. Los Angeles will always be my home, but now’s the time for me to explore and be somewhere new.

Coffee, rain, and the Sound. 18 hour drives to and from Los Angeles, or a $59 flight from Jet Blue if I’m lucky. Ace Hotel is within city borders, an All Saints is still there, as is a Madewell, no Zara, but one in Vancouver 3 hours away and an Aritzia in a neighboring town. Yup, I definitely considered all those things.

And I’ll be blogging at my newest undertaking, La Sea. While Love Angeles is city-centric and defined me as an Angelena, La Sea will be more about creative exploration and what inspirations I hope to find there. And I hope you’ll join me there. Thank you sharing my love for Los Angeles.

Ten other reasons why Bottega Louie is my favorite restaurant in downtown:

Walking down 7th Street in the summertime

1.
I can walk there in 4+ inch heels

2.
I have to walk there in 4+ inch heels because you can’t show up to Louie and not wear fierce shoes

3.
Feels like you’re not in L.A.!

4.
Some shopping for gourmet goodies while you wait

5.
Gilded everything, even on the cupcakes

6.
Did you say cupcakes?

7.
Fresh feasts on small plates at $6-8

8.
Don’t forget the macarons

9.
Their bread is VERY good

Smoked Salmon Benedict, my brunch item of choice

10.
Under $50 for an amazing meal for two? Believe that.

A few of my favorite macarons at Paulette, including Wedding Almond and Earl Grey

Paulette Macarons • 333 S Alameda Street Suite 103 • http://www.paulettemacarons.com

Paulette is new to downtown, but not new to Los Angeles, and over the years of sampling various macaroons around the area, I’ve decided that these are my favorite. Finding out that they were opening a new location in Little Tokyo? Best news of the year.

Syrup Desserts • 611 S. Spring Street • On Yelp

Waffles, crepes, and Nutella at near midnight, oh no they didn’t! I personally like my desserts more simplified than what they offer, but you can make your own waffle and all that.

The chocolate souffle at Bottega Louie

Bottega Louie • 700 S. Grand Avenue • http://www.bottegalouie.com

If you’ve tried their chocolate souffle, then you will understand why BL makes an appearance on this list. They also have a whole section full of beautiful pastries and cookies. (I was a fan of their original macarons, especially when they were handing the broken ones out left and right, but they’ve since changed the recipe.)

Yogurtland • 130 S. Central Avenue • http://www.yogurt-land.com

Kind of a cop-out to include a franchise not exclusive to Downtown, but this is where we’d head to on office breaks, and sometimes, for meal replacements, during deadline days.

Japanese Tea Latte at Urth Caffe

Urth Caffe • 451 S. Hewitt Street • http://www.urthcaffe.com

Lattes and desserts are what I come here for, on an almost weekly basis. Blended boba drinks also!

Woori • 333 S. Alameda Street • http://woorimarketusa.com

Some of my favorite cheap snacks come from here. I’ve been on a black sesame kick after trying Pocky’s version, which was sadly discontinued), so I was only too happy to find red bean mochi with black sesame sprinkled on top.

Babycakes

Babycakes • 130 E. 6th Street • http://www.babycakesnyc.com

My cupcake tastes have changed over time, from formerly favoring red velvet to loving the more simplified Babycakes offerings. I also really like their cookie sandwiches and donuts. Don’t forget about Bingo Nights on Tuesdays!

Big Man Bakes • 413 S. Main Street • http://www.bigmanbakes.com

I like that there are two equally delicious cupcake places holding it downtown, and Big Man is the other one. Comparing their cupcakes is like apples and oranges, and I’d alternate between both depending on what kind of cupcake I felt like. I love their Old School flavor.

The Vegan Mushroom Confit from the Winter Menu at Mendocino Farms. One of the best things I've ever eaten.

Mendocino Farms • 444 S. Flower Street • http://mendocinofarms.com

My favorite sandwiches here have been the best versions I’ve had of a turkey and mushroom sandwich, and I don’t even particularly like those foods. That’s how good their sandwiches are.

Kachi Deli Cafe • 1001 Wilshire Blvd • On Yelp

Had to include a place that was in my old neighborhood of City West. After Moxie closed down, there weren’t too many lunch spots on my side of the 110. Kachi opened earlier last year, and it soon became a weekly spot for a lunchtime sandwich.

Wurstkuche 800 E. 3rd Street http://www.wurstkucherestaurant.com

An unusual but crave-worthy assortment of gourmet hot dogs found in the artsy-industrial Arts District. Anything goes from alligator to rabbit, but the menu doesn’t forget about vegetarians. Their Italian veggie + truffle fries was my last meal as a downtown dweller. I took friends from New York here, and even they think it’s something special. (See previous post here)

The chicken pot pie at Wood Spoon

Wood Spoon • 107 W. 9th Street • http://woodspoonla.com

Made famous by a Giada mention on the Food Network, but has been serving Downtowners with solid Brazilian dishes for a few years now. I do love their well-known chicken pot pie. (See previous post here)

Blossom • 426 S. Main Street • http://www.blossomrestaurant.com

Simple, fresh Vietnamese fare. Vietnamese restaurants are quite the trend in Los Angeles, but this place has always been solidly delicious and no-nonsense. I come here in the summer, I come here in the winter, I come here once a week.

Tiara Cafe

Tiara Cafe • 127 W. 9th Street • http://www.tiara-cafe-la.com

They had the best brunches that I’d get with seitan instead of bacon back in the pre-Bottega Louie days. Now I think they are only open for weekday lunches, but this place is pink, pretty, sparkly, and plays musicbox tunes!!

Casa • 350 S. Grand Avenue • http://casadowntown.com

The food is not necessarily amazing, but it’s good. Their downtown patio served as a favorite gathering place in the summer. You’re surrounded by all the skyscrapers and it’s a wonderfully satisfying city feeling to be outdoors, drinking margaritas, and looking up at buildings. (See previous post here)

Colori Kitchen • 439W. 8th Street • http://www.colorikitchen.com

Comforting Italian food in a tiny but romantic family-run restaurant. I may have to stop in for their gnocchi before I take off.

Komasa Sushi

Komasa • 351 E 2nd Street • On Yelp

Their sushi is my favorite in downtown, and it’s also reasonably priced. Get there by 5 pm to reserve a spot in the tiny joint, and don’t forget to order the soft shell crab.

Honda-Ya • 333 S. Alameda #314 • http://www.izakayahondaya.com

They do all-around Japanese food, but they do it well, and at good prices. We’d come here at an almost weekly basis, trying their udon, sushi, grilled plates, and have never been unhappy with the food.

Honorable Mentions

Saffron‘s pretty damn good Indian fast food as my 505 Flower lunchtime pick; R23 for an artsy-hip sushi experience; The Lazy Ox Canteen for the new, hot restaurant in 2010; Raku for okinomiyaki; First & Hope for their fried chicken; L.A. Cafe for being probably the only 24-hour restaurant that delivers to the City West.

Angel's Knoll from 500 Days of Summer

Angels Flight

Bradbury Building from 500 Days of Summer

Pershing Square

Ice Skating at Pershing Square

BF’s nieces and nephews have been in my life since the oldest one was but a tiny 4 year old who is now learning how to drive. I don’t have nieces and nephews of my own, so I love them as if they were. Over the weekend we honored our three-year-old tradition of taking them out for the day in lieu of material Christmas gifts. Somewhere usually out in L.A., outside of the suburban SGV that we all grew up in.

On the agenda this time: a downtown L.A. tour of all the sites from one of their favorite movies, 500 Days of Summer (which I posted about before), and ice skating at Pershing Square. In past years we’ve done the California ScienCenter and Griffith Observatory.

I’ve loved doing this every year, since you totally get upgraded to cool aunt/uncle status and it’s all they can talk about for weeks after. Time is such a beautiful gift. Visit DowntownLA.com if you need more kid-friendly ideas and events.

Anticipation. A new year brings a new city, new career, new inspiration, a new life. Festively decked out in sparkles and shine for the holidays, but also in hope of a brighter future. May we all find brighter days in 2011.

Bar 107, Downtown LA

My idea of a good bar is one that’s casual, unpretentious, has no cover and no velvet rope. Some of these might have strayed away from that over time and become more for the Hollywood crowd. I guess that’s all part of the L.A. evolution.

Bar 107 • 107 W. 4th St • http://www.myspace.com/bar107

When it was still a tranny bar a few years back, I was interning at a multimedia studio just down the street. It was the only thing there other than Pete’s. It’s probably the only bar that’s managed to hold onto its appeal despite its popularity.

Casey’s Irish Bar • 613 S. Grand Ave • http://www.bigcaseys.com

Casey’s became my go-to bar for the short walk to and from, the large space, and general lack of scenesters. Bands that play on Fridays have been pretty good too.

Seven Grand • 515 W. 7th St • http://www.sevengrand.la

My favorite out of the 213 bars, if only because good times are always to be had here, especially if you’re with a group. Another bar to avoid on the weekends.

Cole’s / The Varnish • 116/118 E. 6th St • http://colesfrenchdip.com

Though separate entities, you have to go in one to get into the other. The historic significance and the decor of both places are so definitively downtown L.A.

The Edison, Downtown LA

The Edison • 108 W. 2nd St • http://www.edisondowntown.com

I’ve avoided this place like the plague lately, especially on the weekends, but it’s still a can’t-miss bar if you’re in L.A. The architecture, the decor, and the drinks have all raised the bar – pun – on downtown nightlife.

Villains • 1356 Palmetto St • http://www.villainstavern.com

This place got popular – and expensive – real quick, but it’s one of the coolest-looking bars I’ve been to in awhile. Reminds me of old bars you’d find in Chicago.

Far Bar • 347 E. 1st St • http://farbarla.com

An alleyway bar with a string of lights and Bruce Lee movies projected onto the walls. Kind of romantic in that gritty, Little Tokyo kind of way.

Bordello Bar, Downtown LA

Bordello • 901 E. 1st St • http://www.bordellobar.com

It’s pink, red, and looks like a real Victorian brothel with nights that alternate between burlesque shows and local indie bands and artists that you will be hearing on the radio in a couple of years. I celebrated a birthday here, so it holds a special place in my girly little heart.

Biltmore Gallery Bar •506 S. Grand Ave • http://www.millenniumhotels.com/millenniumlosangeles/restaurant/

The usual suspects that you’ll find at this bar are far from it, but it’s such a glamourous bar to me that I always want to dress up here.

The Association • 110 E. 6th St • http://www.theassociation-la.com

It’s kind of lame now, due to the influx of suburbanites in stunners on the weekends. But when it first opened, it was the perfect neighborhood bar. They even held Twitter Tuesdays.

Since I’m moving out of Los Angeles soon, I put together lists of all the things I loved about living here and will miss horribly. No more than ten each, and specifically for the downtown area. They come across as a bit hodge podge, but I selected each one because they all defined my downtown experience in their own way.

Downtown Bars | Downtown Shops | Downtown Restaurants | Downtown Desserts

Downtown LA from Spring St. near the Cornfield. June 2010.

My days in Los Angeles are numbered. Its been a month since I shut down the studio and moved out of my apartment downtown. I am currently spending the holidays with family in suburban SGV, and in the new year I will be moving to a brand new city. Where to? It’s not a secret to some of you, but I will let you all know of my whereabouts as soon as they become finalized. And I still plan to blog about all my live-love-make-shop adventures there. Love Angeles will still around, mostly dormant, though I do have new ideas for the site even while I am no longer living here.

And yes I did just update with a new blog layout.

Love Angeles, 2nd edition

For the next couple of weeks, I thought I’d end my normal posting here with a final roundup of all my L.A. favorites and recommendations. I hope to do more holiday stuff in the month or so I’ve got left.

In the meantime, what Los Angeles adventures do you recommend I do in my final days as an Angelena?

Since coming back from New York, I’ve been on a mission to walk everywhere after doing exactly that on vacation. Coming back 5 lbs. lighter with the hipbones of a 16-year-old model was a convincing enough argument to do so. 10/10/10′s cicLAvia brought on a pedestrian- and bike-friendly 7th Street for a day, and more of a desire to live as a car-free as possible.