I know what you are thinking... you are a New Yorker!! BUT for some reason (and maybe this has happened to you) when I am in LA I feel like a child again in my home town. Los Angeles to me is the city that inspired my career and it still lights a fire under my butt every time I come back. This is Hollywood and here anything can happen. There is a sense that at any time of the day...something could happen that could change your life. Now, you should be aware that the change you encounter could be found in the powder that someone slipped into your drink at the SkyBar. This is still a city people... so, get your head out of the clouds!
Anyway, I arrived in LA on Monday night via a Jet Blue flight into Long Beach. TRAVEL TIP!! Do yourself a favor and look into flying into the regional airports of this area. The options for Jet Blue are Long Beach and Burbank... both are much more manageable than LAX! Trust me!! AND it will be a cheaper flight and you can watch TV right at your seat. I am a huge fan of Jet Blue... they just get it. All a passenger wants is a reasonable price for a seat on a flight, entertainment on board and maybe a snack! I love the fact that they actually give you a CAN of soda with a cup and a REAL bag of chips or pretzels. I hate when you are on those other carriers and they hand you a tiny mouthful of soda with their dirty ice cubes and a trial size bag of pretzels. Can they spare the food? Do you not trust that I can drink the entire can of soda? Do I really need to split my diet coke with the person in front of me?? Don;t judge me because I want a larger bag of chips along with the swedish fish that I bought in the terminal!
The drive from Long Beach to Hollywood is about 40 minutes. I arrived at 5:30pm... so, the 405 was a bit congested with rush hour... but, it was far from bumper to bumper. In the heat of rush hour, it still took me under an hour.
For this trip, I decided to stay at the Sofitel LA right on the corner of Beverly and La Cienega. What I love the most about this hotel is the location! The Beverly Center (translation... MALL) is directly across the street! I am also able to walk to a Starbucks or A Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (yummy LA version of Starbucks)which is a nice option after a morning workout.
The Sofitel looks and feels like a big hotel. The lobby is black lacquer and glass and the staff is always dressed in black. When I arrived, I was promptly greeted by a young lady who escorted me to the check in area. She checked me in and she also gave me an overview of the property that was so detailed and personal... she actually told me what her favorite dessert was at the restaurant (chocolate and banana bread pudding served warm)! It wasn't annoying... it was personal and super helpful.
The hotel smells good (something that I am aware of after my time in China!) and the hallways are light and open which is really nice because I imagined that the elevator would open to dark hallways with mood lighting (Did I say W Hotels out loud?) My room is small but modern and filled with cool upgrades. There is a beautiful bathroom with a huge rainfall shower and a really nice size bedroom area with a flat screen HD TV. While the design is modern and sleek... the colors are creams and browns... making the shiny furniture and straight lines seem a little softer. Very comfortable. The best part of this room was revealed to me when I went to put my coat away (No need for it this trip... its supposed to be 80 degrees here tomorrow!) in the closet. I noticed a black and white seat cushion. (At least it was not a gas mask like the one in the closet in Chengdu!) I was intrigued... what was that for??? And then I realized. The curtains that lined the back wall of this room was hiding something spectacular!! Two french doors that opened to a small patio area overlooking the Hollywood Hills. So, right now... as I am writing... I am laying in my cushy bed with the curtains open and dreaming about what could happen today in LA. I love it here.
More tomorrow... Lori
1 comment:
Okay... you're probably thinking, "who the hell is commenting on a two-year old post?" Well, I caught one of the shows you produce tonight, went online for more info, spotted your blog, and here I am - commenting on a two-year old blogpost.
I've enjoyed reading your posts so far, but while reading this one, I realized (and confirmed it on my calendar)that you and I flew into Long Beach and visited Hollywood on the same day. Your description of that whimsical thought that "this is Hollywood - Anything can happen" was floating around my conscousness as well.
I know... "Big Deal" right? Well, It was my first and only trip (so far) to CA and I had always dreamed of going (and of course making it) in Hollywood. Big dreams when you live in a small Western NC town... So, even though I was representing my company in Long Beach for the next three days, I spent as much time as possible in Hollywood, LA, Venice Beach, Malibu, etc. seeing all the places I'd only seen on TV. Probably committed a cardinal travel sin by departing from LAX (red-eye no less)to give myself more time to hangout.
Why am I telling you this? Not sure. I was proud of my sales performance that earned the trip... but I have such fond memories of that "what if" feeling that I felt, and that you described so well... as I drove by your hotel - maybe even while you were looking out over the Hollywood hills. Kinda cool. Just thought I would share...
Enjoyed the show. And Yes... Goofy is a dog.
C-Ya
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