Hiking Topanga Canyon in the Palisades

This is my favorite hike in LA, right off of Sunset @ Paseo Miramar. The best part is the lack of traffic on the trail & the beautiful views. No dogs are allowed so the air is fresh and clean! (Which I know all you Runyon fanatics can appreciate.) The trail I took, Parker Mesa Overlook, is 5 miles roundtrip. This means 2.5 miles uphill, but well worth the gorgeous views!

This is where you veer left to the overlook. At this point you can pat yourself on the back because you've made it 2 miles! Uphill, at that!

This is the Overlook. You have a view of Malibu and the Ocean. Absolutely gorgeous! It feels like you're somewhere in the South of France!!!

BEWARE OF SNAKES! The only down side to this hike is that there is a ton of wildlife, including snakes. On this particular hike I spotted 2 rattlesnakes. They are actually more afraid of you, so as long as you keep your eyes peeled and avoid stepping on them you should be fine!

DIRECTIONS: Going west on Sunset towards PCH, turn right on Paseo Miramar and keep going until the street dead ends.

PARKING: Park at the end of Paseo Miramar (a residential street), but make sure to read the signs!

WHAT TO BRING: A lot of water! At least 24 ounces. A walking stick (to fend of the snakes!), sunblock, and snacks also wouldn't be a bad idea.

35 Cent Martinis @ the Edison Downtown!

So, have you been looking for an amazing happy hour at a glamor spot? Look no further than the Edison downtown! The Edison in an LA Speakeasy in the 100 year-old Higgins building in downtown LA. It has a 20's vibe- retro and swanky! The space is dimly lit with leather couches and exposed brick. The generators, turbines, and furnaces that are present throughout give the space an almost museum-like quality. The menu is reflective of the 20's era: heavy on gin and scotch with drinks such as the Southside Collins and Clay St. Cup. These guys aren't just bartenders, they're mixologists!

Now for the good part! They have 35 cent martinis Wednesday-Friday from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. However, there is a limit (only 1 per person). They also have some yummy snacks at $5.00 per plate (calamari, slider, grilled cheese, wings, or veggie sandwich-all with your choice of fries). Surprisingly, it wasn't that busy the Wednesday we went, but the ambiance is so unique, it's definitely worth the trip. Try a Friday or Saturday night when it is packed and please!!!!! Leave those jeans at home!!!!

A taste of Mardi Gras in Hollywood!

Happy fat tuesday!!!!!! It's the last day of Mardi Gras. Boo! I got a head start by joining the crawfish boil at the Five 0 Four bar in Hollywood last Sunday. It's not just a bar specializing in New Orleans drinks, they serve food there too! Po' Boys, Gumbo, Jambalaya, Shrimp Etouffee are just some of the grub you'll find on the menu. They also have those slushy alcoholic drinks that everyone in New Orleans loves: Hurricanes, Hand Grenades, and Bloody Mary's, just to name a few.

As you can see, Eileen and I loved the crawfish! We probably ate 1.5 pounds! They don't really have a lot of meat per piece. They taste a little like shrimp and have the texture of lobster. They were really spicey, like most Creole/Southern cooking. But good! Has anyone else been to any New Orleans bars in LA?

Farmer's Market in Brentwood

I love going to Farmer's Markets. The produce is usually local, organic, better tasting, and cheaper! There are a ton of Farmer's Markets in LA (Certified Farmer's Markets in LA), but I really like the one in Brentwood on Sundays. It is probably one of the bigger ones and it always attracts a ton of people. Plus, there is more to buy than just produce. There are flowers, baked goods, olive oil, honey, international foods like hummus, and a bunch of delicious things to try like gyros, crepes, kettle corn...you get the picture!!!!!

This is what I ended up buying: kale, mint, avocado, grapefruit, tangerines, blood oranges, apples, asparagus, carrots, and sugar snap peas. The sugar snap peas are amazing! So very sweet! I highly recommend this market! I think I want to make a stir-fry with the veggies. Does anyone have any other recipe ideas or other Farmer's Markets to recommend? Let me know!!!!