Of course my reservation for dinner was after almost narrowly missing a deadline on previously mentioned big and secret project, and I couldn’t eat half the things on the menu (no red meat for me, and it seems the meaty dishes are Ludo’s stand outs), but I still had fun. It’s food.

It might also have been because there was no fried chicken, and we all know how much I loved that at Akasha. Oh well. There’s always the truck.

Told ya I'd keep an eye out for the ♥'s

]]> http://loveangeles.la/2010/08/downtown-dining-ludobites-5-0/feed/ 4 http://loveangeles.la/2010/08/type-life/ http://loveangeles.la/2010/08/type-life/#comments Fri, 20 Aug 2010 07:40:25 +0000 ro (xo@loveangeles.la) http://loveangeles.la/?p=2046 I just got back from the opening night of TypeCon, a conference on yes, type, which is taking place here in L.A. this year. It featured an hour-long documentary on a man who made and cut letters for a living, from sketching them out on paper to carving them in miniature form on metal blocks, and I didn’t ADD once from the screen. That’s how much you know I love this shit.

All this letter talk makes me remember that awesome alphabet print from Vena Cava Spring 2008 – seriously wishing I had that to wear right now.

Work’s been kicking my ass since the beginning of summer, and I needed a vacation, stat. BF had some Priceline credits that we needed to use before the end of July, so we booked a quick getaway to Vegas last week. Little did I know that August would be my busiest month EVER, but all you can do is sit by the pool and not think about it, right?

Window shopping at Crystals: 1) Marni pieces like at a dry cleaners – but a ‘COOL’ dry cleaners. 2) Miu Miu Bow Satchel: “I waited for you all day and you didn’t come!” (It is PINK too, mofo!!) 3) I really want a hooded coat with toggle clasps this FW – no furry leopard wrist cuffs though. 4) Miu Miu Store. 5) Tom Ford Store. 6) Ooh la la, Lanvin wins Best Window Display award from me. 7) BF admiring shades at Dior. 7) Lanvin for men makes me wish I was a dude.

Pool-siding at New York, New York: 1) Cheap rooms right now, but boo on the $13/day “resort fee”. 2) Haphazardly trying out the side braid and liking it. 2) 11 am and the bar’s not open yet??

Eating. Everywhere: 1) Jean Philippe gelato at Aria. 2) $8.95 lunch Dragon Noodle Co. at Monte Carlo. 3) Breakfast at Mon Ami Gabi in Paris, one of my faves.

Outdoor time, on the rare occasions it was under 100 degrees: 1) The Louis Vuitton store from the Strip. 2) L.A. sighting in front of the Statue of Liberty at NY, NY. 3) View of Bellagio from Mon Ami Gabi, one reason why I love this restaurant!

A little late to the party with this one. (Pun!) It’s been a couple of years since I closed down my fashion-related blog, so it was cool to be included among the stylish L.A. bloggerati at last week’s Forever 21 party for the Brian Lichtenberg collection. All thanks to Fashion Intel, one of the nicest bloggers I know. Saw real-life friends, met online friends in real life, and made friends with the bartenders at the open bar in between.

It's fashion-related so I can talk about my clothes: Mayle dress with the cutouts, even after carb-o-loading in Vegas; Marc by Marc Jacobs cardigan that I snagged on eBay after seeing it on Lea Michele in Glee; Bing Bang Heart Earrings that I wanted since 2007, also from eBay; and Coach Stefanie shoes

Soon to come -
a new look for Love Angeles
and more of this right here.

Trying to get it done in between work and, you know, working on the weekends.

Popcorn Shrimp and Grits

After the World of Color show, we walked over to First and Hope for dinner. I had heard about this place opening earlier this year, but had no expectations otherwise. And I was blown away. The decor is elegant and classic, but sleek and modern enough to excite and attract pretty young things. In other words: dress up, bitches! Because the waitresses look FLY here, and you don’t want to look busted next to the help.

On to the food. Oh, the food. It’s Southern comfort. It’s amazing. It’s fried chicken and grits and shrimp done well and done right and done to the nines. But not pretentious. Not at all, not this place. In the words of Coco Chanel, as seen on the restaurant’s website: “Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury”. Preach.

Teeny tiny amuse bouche

Mac and cheese, yes please

How hot does this waitress look?

Nenaw's Picnic Basket of fried chicken

When our studio was researching businesses around downtown to work with, we discovered that the Disney Concert Hall was designed by Gehry to be able to project video images onto the swooping planes. To my dismay this idea never came to fruition, at least not to my knowledge, until recently when the Disney World of Color tour came our way. The show didn’t blow me away, but it still made me happy to see the Concert Hall finally being utilized the way it was intended.

I have many people – and things? – to thank for this night.

Ilan Hall and the Gorbals, for hooking it up with his delicious bacon-wrapped balls.
I’m talking about the matzo balls. Don’t get nasty with me.

Didn’t try the balls myself – my boyfriend was there – but heard good things from the girls.
I was limited to the veggie & fish dishes. Don’t feel sad for me though. They were amazing.

The Falls for their awesome bulb-y bathroom area.

Whoever made this mural on Spring St.

Zara for making the best Miu Miu knockoff kitty cat print dress.
This is my first time wearing this dress out, even though I copped it in April before everyone and their momma bought it.

Monthly dinner dates with these gals and guys, plus or minus a few.
(Do you love how my friend is matchy-matchy with Ilan and their glasses? Coincidence, sure!)

Highly recommend the Gorbals.

Not knowing exactly where this wall was in downtown has been bothering me immensely. Because I KNOW I’ve seen it before. BF and I have even spent a few minutes driving around downtown in hopes of spotting it. Little Tokyo… Grand Ave… nothing.

And then on the way back home late Friday night, I saw it. Or thought I did. After some cross-checking on Google Maps, it was confirmed. Turns out it was right in my neck of the woods the whole time:

The front of the Universal Care building on 6th and Bixel, City West

BF and I were dressed up to go to a wedding on Saturday – not dressed up to walk the Well.

There’s also this spectacular tile mural just down the street.

Yeah, I totally drive by this building all the time. Kind of neat to find out gems like these are in overlooked but familiar places though.

I never have to leave downtown for the best cupcakes, what with Big Man Bakes and Babycakes both in the neighborhood. We stopped by Babycakes last night for a cupcake only to come home with five more. Four I won from their Tuesday Bingo Nights! Every win gets you two cupcakes. That means I won twice.

Buncha bingo babies

It's because I'm winning.

Sticking with my brown babies FTW

Showing off my winzzz

Bad Blackberry photos. I need to start carrying that camera around more often.