gigglesbyjones

I have been desperately searching for a relaxed bar where I can either wear my hair in a bun, or throw on my uncomfortable yet chic Zara sandals.

I have found my place.

Ray and Stark’s bar located in the LACMA museum is so fabulous on so many different levels.

Skip the restaurant that looks like a glass cube, and sit on the outside patio staring at the new Resnick building.

The drinks are A+.

The one that  everyone is sipping on is the Ginger Rogers which is basically a Moscow Mule/ Mojitio.

So yummy on a balmy, or these days June Gloom evening in Los Angeles.

The food is dece, and waitresses are sassy but not rude.

After passing the street light exhibit nearly everyday while driving, seeing it up close at night was enjoyable.

But the real highlight of my evening was chatting with a security guard who monitors the giant 340-ton boulder.

The rock

I won’t write much about our conversation but here are a few snippits-

“I had a really awkward transition from high school to adulthood.”

“You could pass for Chelsea Handler’s sister.” The guard worked for her and “got fired because I asked for a million dollars for my earth worm farm.”

Totally normal.

The rare lasagna from Osteria Mamma I had on friday evening.

There were so many more comments and I am so thankful that I had my brother there to witness them.

Ray and Stark’s also has live Jazz on Friday nights.

You’ll know where to find me this weekend.

xo,

Giggles

When will this June Gloom be over with?

Perhaps in July.

Cucumber sorbet from Carmela. I am not an ice cream person, but this new shop on 3rd and Fairfax makes me crave it! I’ve gone twice this week.

My overfed cat Socks

June Gloom in full effect

My summer perfume

Drinks on the roof at Hotel Shangri-La

My favorite flowers

The BEST gelato in LA. All the way out in the Bu. Irina dropped hers in her shopping bag. It was so sad.

I am the biggest Shark Tank fan and I have always wanted to find the Cousins Maine Lobster truck. I found out they have a restaurant in the Dena. The cold lobster roll is so amazing.

Urban Daddy

Happy Tuesday!

xo,

Giggles

I had no idea I was going to a taping of “The Voice” until last thursday.

First thing I thought was how can I get a drink with Blake Shelton.

My alter ego

I attempted to tweet him, but got no response.

Rats.

No response.

Tapings can be long, boring, and uncomfortable.

I went to a “So You Think You Can Dance” taping after I graduated from high school and stood for five hours straight.

They were constantly making sure no one was going to faint.

That taping was amazing though, because I got to see Lady Gaga before she was famous. It was her first TV performance ever.

View from Shakira’s chair

This taping was painless and fun!

The judges were hysterical, the contestants were fab, and we were in and out in two hours.

Success.

I’m writing this from my death bed.

Ok, i’m being dramatic but I am seriously suffering.

San Francisco, you did not disappoint.

I feel like I got there in less than a second, special thanks to my favorite airline, Virgin America.

The best.

The screaming baby sitting directly behind me, was drowned out by my chardonnay that I could access oh so easily on my touch screen at my seat. If anyone has not flown Virgin America, do it!

Met up with the sorority posse and ventured to Chestnut St. to go to Delarosa for dinner.

Best/ deadliest moscow mule i’ve ever had.

Next, we hobbled over to the bar Lightning which was the size of narrow hall closet, but still enjoyable.

I say hobbled because my new Zara strap sandals got seriously damaged after going up and down the SF hills also known as Everest/Mt. Kilimanjaro.

We somehow all rallied to go to the Giants Game.

Going to a Giants Game is different than any other sporting event I have ever been to.

I can see why everyone who lives in the bay area is a die hard Giants fan.

The stadium is amazing. The crowd is not real life.

What was also not real life was our scary cab driver we got outside of AT & T park.

We were desperate for a cab, so when this painted cab turned the corner we ran in.

He told us how he had lived in a foreign country and how the music we were listening to was him, then he gave us 10 CD’s.

The photo speaks for itself.

Our talented cab driver

Somehow we managed to go out to Brixton, then to my least favorite bar, Bar None.

Last time I was there me and my friends got our iPhone’s stolen on the same night.

I had a much better experience because there was a hot dog stand right outside.

Sunday I woke up feeling like death. It felt like a large golf ball was stuck in my throat. We roamed around SF and had a golden retriever named jagger stomp all over our half eaten sandwiches.

We packed the cars and crossed the Golden Gate bridge to get to Marin.

My friend Kimmy just got back to California after a year in Australia.

Jagger

The party was fab with all different kinds of food and of course vegemite which remained untouched throughout the party.

Even though I am so sick, SF was so much fun and I can’t wait to go back!

Special thanks to Brooke, Olivia, and Jessica, Kimmy K and family for throwing a great party, and Kelsey Mulflur and Dana T. for providing entertainment all weekend long.

xo,

giggles

La Jolla brings back some interesting memories to me.

The first one being when I went to a YMCA Surf Camp at 13.

I had only been to one other camp, Catalina Island Camp, and assumed this would be the same.

Wrong.

Surf pup

This camp was so close to the border I could have boggie boarded into Mexico.

I had never been to a Y camp and was confused why the counselor’s were reading prayers to us every night.

The majority of the kids were troubled, so I was convinced that I was sent there because I was troubled.

(Which was not the case.)

How comforting

It was overcast the whole time, we went surfing maybe once, and they overfed us.

On the last day, parents came to pick up their kids and to watch a grand finale surfing competition.

Fish Tacos from George’s

I think the camp forced us to get into wetsuits and rash guards but no one actually went in.

As I stood with my parents on the close to the border/ overcast beach, my mom looked at me and said, “Lisa, why are you sticking your stomach out.”

Me: “I’m not.”

Cowabunga.

This recent trip involved over eating (and drinking), but  not on a close to the border/overcast beach.

In fact, the La Jolla beach and Tennis Club allow bottles to be on the beach.

Chardonnay in the sand.
Heaven

Beautiful.

It was extremely relaxing and I wish I was still there inhaling wine and cheese.

xo,

Giggles

“I feel like all you do is travel and drink.”

This is partially true.

Bar Golf for my friend Lauren’s birthday

Besides the above, my hobbies have included finding a job, which by the way is easier said than done.

I’ve been to some of what I like to call the #trendy bars/lounges this week and frankly i’m exhausted.

Oh Los Angeles.

You are just too cool.

Did somebody say Dodger Dog?!

I can only take so many overpriced vodka tonics, hipsters, and Instagram celebrities.

While I LOVE LA, I miss the simplicity of Tucson.

I miss the days when Forever 21 and H&M were my main haunts.

(I still frequent them often).

Now, I fight for  clothes at the sample sales, which I refer to as the sample sale games since they so closely resemble the Hunger Games.

I don’t get up early, but when I do it’s for a sale.

After boycotting The Larchmont Bungalow for over a year, (they’re operating with an illegal permit) I gave in. The food is just too good, and there’s live jazz on thursday nights…

While the sales can get physical, and the amount of egos and trendiness can become claustrophobic,

LA provides a setting that seems to make people forget about its occasional foolishness.

Meow mix

But then again, how could anything be wrong with your feet in the sand and a marg in the hand.

-Giggles

Honestly my life has been such a lie this week I don’t even know where to begin.

I’ll start with my coincidental run in with Phoenix.

Irina mentioned something about going to a talk show so I recommended we go to Jimmy Kimmel.

It’s my old stomping grounds so I said, “Sure.”

My friend Jason got us passes to the green room and told us there would be a musical performance.

Who?

“Phoenix.”

Sweet child of mine.

The face for cat obesity….

2 Chainz, The XX, and Phoenix were definitely life altering moments at Coachella.

We arrived to check in, and of course I dropped the fact that I used to intern there.

Guess what?

Nobody cared.

Whatever, the bartender in the green room seemed a little interested but maybe because he wanted a tip.

Showtime happened and I was expecting it would be the same Coachella deal minus a few things but still that people would be vibing? I guess.

Not quite.

Reeny and I were the only ones going cuckoo and I nearly got escorted out because I was taking a photo/video.

Yolo.

Right before they threatened to escort me out.

Next stop, the Churchill.

I had about 4 moscow mules too many and had a dream about an apocalypse and then everyone became amish.

Woah.

I know I have said this before, but who ever is reading my blog.

T H A N K

Y O U

!

-Giggles

In the past 24 hours, I have received numerous text messages asking if i’m alive.

Yes, I am alive.

But barely.

Woof.

Holy hell what a weekend.

You need to have stamina to handle Coachella.

I’m not going to lie day 1 was fabulous but rough.

I didn’t anticipate how tired I would be. I think it had something to do with me not knowing any of the bands, and spending WAY too much time in the Sahara Tent.

Sweet child of mine.

I nearly collapsed in the beer garden into my heineken light.

One of the best parts of the day was listening to Local Natives, on the grass with a hot dog watching the sun go down.

day 2

Reborn.

Perhaps it was my alter ego of flower child gangster, but day 2 I could have taken on the world.

2 chainz.

Woah.

 Then the XX.

I woke up the next morning and saw I made my status about it…

What is wrong with me?

Phoenix (my second fave), Benny Benassi, Postal Service.

It was so amazing.

Day 3

Hardwell, La Roux, Lumineers, and of course Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Thank baby jesus I did not wear a dress because it could have been a disaster.

By around 8 PM, there was a Sandstorm.

I’m so happy I went, but i’m pretty sure i’m going to need an IV with water attached to me for the rest of the week.

Special thanks to the “Coachella Sharks,” Joey Orlandini,

“The Sharks”

and the Coachella Princess herself, Cammie West.

In her natural habitat

Without you  I would still be lost in the Sahara tent.

xo,

Giggles.