Mini staycation

My father is in town for business, and that means food and fun for me. Last week Sunday we got lunch, dinner on Tuesday night, and Friday kicked off my mini nonvacation-staycation.

I went down to stay at dad's hotel, just south of LAX. We've done this before when he's been here on other trips, but it's been maybe a year since the last. I had to work on Friday morning, and dad was working until evening, so I finally met him down there around 7:00pm...

This adventure begins with two thumbs up.

...and I was greeted by the Wienermobile in the parking lot.

Best part? It wasn't even the first time.  On another one of my hotel visits (last year?), it was parked out front then, too! Dad always stays in the same hotel for work trips, and I guess the Wienermobile also likes to crash there.  So it wasn't, "OH HEY, it's the Wienermobile!" — more like, "OH HEY, it's the Wienermobile again!"

I dropped my stuff upstairs and we went to Chipotle for an easy dinner, then stopped at BevMo for a case of beer.  Believe it or not, it was my first time inside a BevMo.  Now I understand Alexa's statement of, "It's beverages and things that go with beverages." ("Doesn't everything go with beverages?") Pretty cool.  I'll have to check out my local store for festive glassware and interesting drinks/snacks.

The next morning, dad had to work early (yes, on a Saturday), and I got to sleep in. That is a big deal! I've been getting up too early for work, so sleeping in all the way until 9:30am was awesome.  The plan: Beach Day!

I felt like a rockstar as I sat up in bed wearing my bikini, checking my email, and eating cold leftover supreme pizza.  Oh, no big deal, just chilling in a hotel in my bikini while the Wienermobile hangs outside. (Okay, now that sounds lame. But it felt cool!)

I arrived at Manhattan Beach before 11:00am and it was perfect.  First I walked down the little pier, then found a little patch of sand to claim.

"This is...burlesque!"

I actually went out last night!  Considering I wake up before 5:00am for work, this was quite an event. (Okay, so maybe we got there at 7:30pm and left by 9:30pm, but still...I went out.)

I just finished taking a five-week beginners burlesque workshop (I'm sure I'll talk about that again later).  My teacher is part of a super awesome burlesque troupe—they've performed on daytime/late-night talk shows, at Golden Globe afterparties, and at other big Hollywood events.  Since they had an early show, as part of an artistic showcase, I decided I had to finally go.

I also decided I am not Hollywood-trendy.

I am not weird enough for an "artistic" event in Hollywood.  I wish I had taken pictures of the overall venue and crowd.  Imagine the most colorful "scene" kids from high school/college.  Now give them money and outlets for even crazier artistic creativity.  Add in a weak $9 cranberry+vodka.  There.  That was the vibe at this event.

(Okay, sidenote? Kent and Vyxsin from The Amazing Race were MCing. Love the show, dislike that competitive pair.)

The girls were the first act.  It was a condensed version of their "burlesque through the ages" show, starting with old glamour and class.

Then came the motorcycle revving sound and little biker jackets.

First time in the Fashion District

I never go "downtown."  I tend to stay within a 5-mile radius of my apartment (except for work), because everything I need is nearby—super convenient neighborhood.  I do like going to Hollywood sometimes to "play tourist" and explore the Kodak Theater, Grauman's Theater, Walk of Fame, etc...because sometimes it still blows my mind that I actually live so close to that stuff.  But I don't go downtown.

Today...I went downtown.

Okay, so I had been in the area a few times before to go to events at the Staples Center, but that's different—you drive in, park in a lot, and walk to the arena.  I've never gone shopping or exploring or anything outside the immediate space around Staples.

It was interesting.  I tend to picture downtown anywhere to be the business center where everything happens.  Washington, DC and Chicago may have set that precedent for me.  New York City's financial and theatre districts also follow my theory.  Downtown Los Angeles is a little more seedy (at least the area where I was).  I guess my version of "downtown" is more like Museum Row and that area on Wilshire.  Even touristy Hollywood Boulevard is more like my image.

And parking?  Ugh.  I knew I'd be dealing with street parking and meters, but I circled the block (a few blocks) several times (like 5) before finally finding a spot on a side street.  I am so thankful for my GPS.

I went to the shop pictured above (on the recommendation of my dance teacher) to pick up super cheap stockings and professional fishnets.  They also have costumes, accessories, and fun little pieces like hats, gloves, corsets, fluffy tutu skirts...and the owner even told me they could order something if I needed it and they didn't have it.  Overall, definitely worth the excursion and parking woes.

Wine tasting...at home

A couple weeks ago, there was an amazing sale on wine at the grocery store down the street.  Every wine was 30% off, plus an additional 10% off if you bought a mix-and-match case of any six bottles.  I took the opportunity to stock up on different brands and varieties, since I usually just get the same bottle of whatever's cheapest.

Well, I still went with whatever's cheapest.

Of the six bottles I selected, the most expensive was about $4. I don't know much about different wines, though, so I did choose different types.

The empty bottles so far...another full bottle and a quarter remain in the cabinet.

That evening, I sampled a glass of merlot and cabarnet sauvignon of the same brand (Quail Oak in the photo above)...and hardly noticed a difference. Maybe the merlot is a little sweeter, but I couldn't quite figure out why I liked the cabarnet better.  I just know that I did like it more.  (I am clearly not well-versed in wine vernacular or descriptions.)

My order of preference for the finished wines: Quail Oak cabarnet sauvignon, Redwood Creek pinot noir, Beringer California Collection cabarnet sauvignon, Quail Oak merlot.  I think. They still all taste very similar to me.

Not yet a wine connoisseur.