Le Diplomate

I was nervous about finding a brunch spot on Mother's Day for us since I hadn't booked anything in advance.  We decided to go to Pearl Dive as they don't take reservations but as we were waiting for it to open, I saw Le Diplomate across the street and we decided to at least see if it was possible to be seated.  Le Diplomate opened a few weeks prior and I had been wanting to visit but I kept hearing how crowded it was.  I've been a fan of Stephen Starr restaurants after visiting Buddakan and Morimoto in Philadelphia years earlier and there is a reason why his restaurants are so popular.  He creates an entire experience and the food always delivers.

Unfortunately, Leslie had to leave the night before but Ty and Trish were able to stay for Sunday.

We were seated in the patio after maybe a 10 minute wait and it wasn't as crowded as I thought it would be for Mother's Day.

Started with the cheese board paired with lots of fruit/nut choices.  

I was really happy with my Gruyere omelette with herbs and a side of bacon. 

We were all taken with the decor and the food.  I love photos of Ty and Trish and being in photos that they take.  I have very talented friends.

Sweetlife Festival 2013

It's kind of wonderful when you text friends in NYC about a great lineup at Sweetlife, an all day festival in Maryland, and they immediately buy tickets.

The food options were very good.

The return of certain 90s trends not so good.

Ty's excitement over the Yeah Yeah Yeahs very good.

Karen O was amazing.

Not pictured is a couple standing next to me having sex - not amazing at all.

My NYC friends always great.  So was Phor but not pictured.

Passion Pit so much fun.

And Phoenix also great.

Especially when Thomas Mars is on stage and then all of a sudden he is singing directly in front of us.

Other highlights - Gary Clark Jr and Haerts.  And the pavilion that kept us dry from the pouring rain.

Postal Service 2014

A boy I loved introduced me to Postal Service back in 2003.  I've always felt like it was the soundtrack to those initial few months of just happiness.  A couple of months ago, I heard they were touring to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Give Up and I convinced Phor that we had to go.  The music still holds lots of happy memories and feelings and none of the bad that came when the relationship didn't last.  I was really sad to hear that Postal Service played at the Black Cat in 2003 and I was not there but I was really happy to be there this last week at Merriweather.

Jenny Lewis is kind of incredible.  And I was impressed with Phor for recognizing the keyboardist Laura Burhenn who we had seen perform years ago in the DC-based band Georgie James.

They played the entirety of Give Up and covers from Beat Happening and Dntel.

The District Sleeps Alone Tonight
We Will Become Silhouettes
Sleeping In
Turn Around
Nothing Better
Recycled Air
Be Still My Heart
Clark Gable
Our Secret (Beat Happening cover)
This Place Is a Prison
There's Never Enough Time
A Tattered Line of String
Such Great Heights
Natural Anthem

Encore:
(This Is) The Dream of Evan and Chan (Dntel cover)
Brand New Colony

I was hoping they would play Against All Odds (Phil Collins cover) and Suddenly Everything Has Changed (Flaming Lips cover) but I have something to look forward to if they ever tour again.

Cinco de Mayo at Brigham's Grandma's House

I ate Mexican food every day that I was in LA as one should.  On the third day, it was a pretty big day that deserved a pretty big celebration.  Brig made a lot of taco fixings, invited friends over and showed us how it should be celebrated.

Some of my friends hate it when I take photos of them eating but that is kind of what Brig and I do to each other.

His Grandma's house is beautiful and I loved how it was decorated.  There were also two little ones at the celebration who just brought so much more fun to the proceedings.  I didn't take any pictures of them but just imagine two really adorable kids kicking back around the adults.

I just had to take pictures of the lamps, chairs and clock that I loved so much.

The Tasting Kitchen

There are times when I'm very happy that I follow recommendations to order a specific item.  This is how I felt eating the Chicken and Waffles.  Both Lauren and I fell hard for this dish.  I've had chicken and waffles before but this was so much better.

Back it up to the beginning - this dish is at a great restaurant in Venice Beach called The Tasting Kitchen. 

We shared the spinach salad with granola, blood orange and yogurt.  I want to add granola to all of my salads.

I loved the feel of the restaurant - very comfortable - and we couldn't help but notice the chairs. 

A Reception

I could have written about the wedding and the reception in one post but there would have been so many photos and each event deserved its own moment.

Mallory and everyone who put together the reception did an incredible job.  There were so many small details about Mallory and Collin that made it perfect.

I arrived a little early and ran around taking photos of everything.  Let's start with the pinatas.  I believe Mallory made them and they were perfect.

The table decorations were pictures that Collin had made for Mallory while he was courting her.  

Finally, a picture of their heads that works - Jeff, Brigham and Jared.

This may look like a simple a chocolate chip cookie but they were the best chocolate chip cookies.  Between the four of us, we ate probably a third of them.

Finally a picture of the newlyweds cutting the cake.

Brigham was the dj and the guests were crazy for the music.

And this was the sweetest moment before they left for their honeymoon.

A Wedding

Saturday morning was the entire reason for my trip to LA.  There is something really grand about seeing a dear friend get married to the love of his life.  And I was able to see friends that I was with during the first year of living in NYC.

Jared and Brigham checking out stuff on a phone.  I tried to get a good photo of the three of them but the best because of a strange look on one face was the one of all of them wearing Jeff's socks.

After the marriage, we waited outside the temple for Mallory and Collin and when they did, we cheered.  

This is the best photo bomb of the day.

I ran off with Jared, Brig and Jeff to grab food at a Mexican place down the street and then joined up with the wedding party at a nearby park.

The park was also the location for a dog obstacle course which was kind of amazing to watch.  I had no idea that this existed and very kind people came over to tell us how it all works.  They were pretty surprised to find such formally clad observers in their midst.