… is too cute not to post.
Tag: design
5 Years
5 years as Mr. and Mrs. Kim, and this was a milestone anniversary for many reasons! We tend to really go big for anniversaries … we’ve spent them in places like in Miami, Buenos Aires and even The Grand Canyon! So this year, it was tough to think of a way to make this one just as extraordinary (especially with the one-income budget we’ve been adjusting to, and our sweet little baby at home!). But thanks to a really fabulous mother-in-law, this year was no exception. Halmoni stayed with Ruby at our house and got us a room at The SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills!
When we arrived at the SLS, we were told that we’d be receiving an upgraded room … score! As you can see, the rooms are breathtaking and have a modern look that we always die over. We especially loved the leather lounge bench near the window. The SLS’ interior was designed by Phillippe Starck, and we are huge fans. We’ve made special stops in many of the hotels he’s designed, just to gawk. We checked out The Delano Hotel when we were in Miami, we checked out the Clift Hotel when we were in San Francisco, and we saw The Faena Hotel (a masterpiece!) when we were in Buenos Aires. Needless to say, we couldn’t wait to see the SLS.
Just a few more pics of our room …
Aside from the room, we decided to indulge in dinner at the very swanky modern latin restaurant, Rivera.
The restaurant is probably the best take on a modern latin theme we’ve ever seen, and it was very cool inside and out. We thought the food was just okay, though.
If we were really big shots, we could pay for one of these many bottles of tequila embedded in the wall. If you pay a large sum of money, they put your name on one, and you get to have them pull it out for you every time you visit. Big league kinda stuff!
We were pretty anxious to return to the SLS, where a very famous chef, Jose Andres has his very famous restaurant, The Bazaar. We couldn’t get a reservation, but we knew we wanted to grab some cocktails and sample the goods at the on-site patisserie. We ordered cocktails, just a few bon-bons, and two cupcakes. :)
The best part was knowing that we could sleep in and not have to worry about waking up before we were ready to! We rented a movie in the morning (Woody Allen’s, Midnight in Paris) and ordered room service for breakfast! 12 quail eggs sunny side up for Ed, scrambled egg whites with squash blossoms for me, a side of chicken sausage and French Press coffee were delivered to our room as we watched TV. It was pure decadence!
A perfect way to celebrate 5 years!
The Last Hurrah
So the last hurrah before Ruby arrives was indeed amazing. Staying at The Parker has been on our list of things to do ever since we first laid eyes on it a couple years ago. Jonathan Adler‘s fun, lighthearted take on the early 1970s is just so…happy. So why hadn’t we stayed there until now? Simply, it was always just a little out of our reach financially. Thanks to the recession and Palm Springs’ off-season (hot, hot desert summer), The Parker was dealing, and we were only too happy to take advantage of it!
Carrie has been a champ through Ruby’s gestation, but even a trooper like her deserves some serious R&R and especially pampering. I treated her to the “Vanilla Sundae”, which was a full three hours in The Parker’s super-fab spa, the Palm Springs Yacht Club (PSYC). Based on how much she was glowing by the end of it, I’d say it did the trick!
Other things we did there? Lots of nothing. And that was the point!
Here’s Norma’s, their awesome breakfast and lunch joint whose decor reminds me a lot of San Diego’s Bazaar del Mundo during the 1970s. Carrie loved her lobster and asparagus omelette.
The world’s most awesome lobby…
Chilling out at one of The Parker’s pools. Being able to order all kinds of tasty things poolside was a real highlight.
Here’s me with one of the super Jonathan Adler tapestries in our room.
Two days of decadent relaxation! We’re so glad we did it.
Adventures in Downey: A Mid-Century Treasure Trove
This past weekend, Larry took Carrie and I to Bob’s Big Boy in Downey. Doesn’t sound like anything out of the ordinary, does it? After all, most Bob’s Big Boy restaurants are but a shadow of their former selves, looking like generic family restaurants inside and out. And Downey? Just another ho-hum middle class suburb of Los Angeles, right?
Um, no. This restaurant has been lovingly and painstakingly restored to its original glory, down to every last detail. It is an archetype of mid-century Googie architecture. Everything here is as it once was, from the green vinyl upholstery on the booths, walnut-effect laminate on the counters and tabletops, rock walls, and gorgeous bullet and sputnik light fixtures. It even features a drive-in section that is operational everyday after 4pm. You can learn all about it here at the restaurant’s website. And Downey? As it turns out, it is filled with amazing mid-century architecture everywhere, some well preserved, others not. It’s an amazing place to explore. Downey. Downey!!
All of these pics were taken with my iPhone, with suitable vintage photo effects courtesy of two apps – Hipstamatic and Camera Bag.
I had to dine on an old childhood favorite of mine, chili spaghetti. Sounds disgusting, and it sorta is, in the most gloriously delicious way.
The experience was so magical that we had to bring our friends Rebecca and Jody back the next day, meaning that we came here twice in one weekend. And yes, I did get the chili spaghetti the second time too.
Larry also took us to another Downey landmark, the oldest operating McDonald’s in the world. Opened in 1953, this location is well preserved and has its huge sign intact.
Rebecca and Jody learned that Downey was the birthplace and home of The Carpenters. Who knew? We found the house Karen Carpenter was raised in, and better yet, learned that once the Carpenters became successful, they decided to buy and manage two apartment buildings in Downey, directly across the street from each other. Random thing to do with your success, huh? And they named them too. What did they name them? What else?
We passed a Hawaiian apparel store called Exotical…filled with all kinds of vintage Hawaiian kitsch (which I don’t think was meant to be kitschy). Regretfully, they were closed as it was Sunday, but we got pictures of the patina’d sign and some creepy mannequins.
Turns out Charles Phoenix, a connoisseur of all things mid-century, has also taken an interest in Downey and did a feature with the local NPR affiliate KPCC here. Downey’s only 15 minutes from home…we’ve got some more exploring to do, and more chili spaghettis to down!
Our Go Room Photo Shoot at the Flamingo in Vegas
Sometimes we really don’t know how we got so lucky! Our friend (and wedding photographer!) Suzi Q met up with us in Las Vegas for Ed’s birthday last year, and did a little photo shoot just for fun with us! Yes, lots of fun can be had when you are friends with an incredible photographer! Suzi is awesome, and we feel so lucky to be friends with her years beyond our wedding.
She even gave us props on her blog – so we are flattered by the publicity! Be sure to check out the cool shots from our fun day in the “GO ROOM” at the Flamingo. Thanks so much, Suzi!!!