We go adventuring every Wednesday in order to treat ourselves for self-care well done, to help us refill our creativity wells, to feel a part of our city, and to explore what it has to offer. But this week, in celebration of my fist 50 pounds lost, Tom surprised me by whisking me off downtown for an overnight adventure. So we indulged in everything that beautiful 1950 has to offer.
Or, well, it felt like the 1950s, because we snagged an unusually reasonable room at the Biltmore Hotel, a Los Angeles landmark.
We're collectors of vintage Los Angeles postcards, and we have one just like this.
Here is the hotel, today.
You might know it as an early host of the Academy Awards ceremonies. Or you might know it as the place you first encountered Slimer in Ghostbusters.
Or perhaps as the place where Betty Draper floated down the staircase in Season 2 of Mad Men.
If you come back later this week, you might catch me floating down this same staircase on Fashion Friday.
Dramatic!
We chose to celebrate my negative 50 lbs in 1950s here, and not only because we love the retro aesthetic. It gave us the chance to do some adventuring with food and exercise, plus it helped us focus on writing together, as a creative retreat. We're coming close to a particular writing deadline of ours, so we the took the time to be collaborate while cooped up in luxury (and away from distracting cats and friends and chores and TVs.)
We started out with lunch and tea in the Rendezvous Gallery.
It came with a vintage tea set, complete with tea cozy.
My tea was called "Green Passion," and it was delicious.
Especially with a touch of floral honey. Yes, I admit it. I took these home. They were too cute to abandon!
I lunched on - what else? - a Los Angeles vintage classic, the cobb salad.
It doesn't have to be an unhealthy choice, as long as you leave the majority of the bacon,
half the avocado and bleu cheese, and 99.9% of the dressing, which was in a pitcher the size of my fist.
Following lunch, we explored the hotel a little bit. After all, we had it all to ourselves. Except, of course, all of the Red Bull employees.
And the cast & crew of True Blood.
No, we didn't see the actors. Even though we found a call sheet that someone had dropped on the ground, so we knew what time they'd be arriving. I'm not paparazzi. (And I don't watch the show.)
We were especially excited to check out (and make use of) the lovely Biltmore Athletic Club, which is free for all guests. I've visited in the past, and the swimming pool is hands-down my favorite indoor pool in Los Angeles. I spent over an hour doing snorkle-laps and absorbing the atmosphere.
Don't you just want to jump into your screen?
We even did some excellent brainstorm work while enjoying the perfectly hot-bathtub-like whirlpool.
I loved the lounge chairs. I felt like I was on the deck in "The Lady Eve."
They had a tremendous number of treadmill and elliptical machines, all with personal TVs.
There were also weight machines and free weights. A great gym for a hotel!
We managed to finish a nice chunk of our script, and even caught a movie before bed (Josh Radnor's writer/directorial debut, HappyThankYouMorePlease - which I definitely liked, but didn't love.)
In the morning, we took a few blocks' stroll to breakfast at Clifton's Cafeteria - the oldest surviving Los Angeles restaurant.
Man, I hardly recognize my silhouette anymore!
Once part of a chain of Southern California cafeterias (each with a different elaborate theme), the downtown Clifton's is the last that remains of the bunch.
It's jam-packed with woodland kitsch.
Legend has it that the crude robotic raccoons and the (kind of) immersive theming
inspired Walt Disney in the creation of Disneyland.
Even the food offerings are retro-kitschy.
Though very plentiful, and very affordable.
Our breakfast, which included an egg white/veggie omelet with potatoes,
pancakes and grilled potatoes, two servings of whole wheat toast,
strawberries and a bottle of water, came to a grand total of $14.
Worth a trip, whether you're a history buff, a fan of things strange and corny, or just a little light in the wallet these days.
All in all, our celebratory trip downtown was both relaxing and productive, which was exactly what we needed to be. Now we're tucked back into our Hollywood condo, trying hard not to be distracted by the kittens or the laundry while we finish up our script. Wish us luck!
I'll be back tomorrow with a bit of honesty and a request for you all. Until then, I hope you'll find some adventure of your own... and take care of you while doing it!
There's a trend in the weight loss blogging community to reward yourself with something tangible for each milestone hit. Some people reward every 10 or 20 pounds. Some people start small (like a pedicure for 10 pounds lost) and grow gradually with each increment.
I like this idea, but our budget just doesn't allow for it right now. Two freelancers between gigs equals "let's not buy anything new that isn't completely urgent." (In other news, if you happen to need the services of a freelance writer, or a film/tv editor, by all means let me know.)
I have found this journey to be reward in and of itself, but there's something nice about the idea of working toward a fun goal. So I've decided, in the hopes that our next gig comes in, that I will be working toward two different motivational rewards.
At 100 pounds lost (that's my current goal) I'd like to purchase a bicycle and some accessories.
I haven't biked since my last one was stolen in college over ten years ago. So this week, I stopped into Orange 20, a local bicycle shop, the other day. They were very nice, and very helpful, but it seems like they're focused on selling to the long-term, bike-crazy mindset. And most of them seemed out of my price range at $1,000+. They did help me to understand what I'm looking for, considering where I live and what I hope to do. I'll want a multi-speed cruiser bike with a hand break.
If necessary, I'm sure I could find one on Craigslist or Ebay. If I have the available funds, though, I have my eye on a few different options that fulfill both my aesthetic style and my laid-back approach to biking. (I'm no racer or off-road explorer; I just want to enjoy another fitness option with a mellow ride on bike paths or to the Farmer's Market.)
This is the Electra Coaster. I love the retro styling,
and it's gotten great reviews from other riders
This is the Schwinn Jenny 7. Clearly I have a thing for classic bike styles.
And, of course, if I'm going to go retro, I'm going to need a wicker bike basket.
This one is by Electra.
Plus, huzzah, they've come up with cute bike helmets since I last wore one!
This adorable number is by Yakkay, which has several different hat looks for their helmets.
When the time comes, I'd love some bike advice from the avid bikers. (Especially from you, Bro J)
At my final weight (I don't know what it will be) I'd like to purchase a Kate Spade dress.
I haven't locked in a final goal, because I think it will really be up to my body. No doubt I'll plateau at some point down the line. In order to reach what's considered a "healthy" BMI, I'll have to lose another 100 pounds from my first goal... but I don't know if my body will make it all the way, or make it farther. I have seen the pictures of my ancestors, ladies working all day in the fields who are still pretty heavy. I mostly want to make sure I'm healthy and active and not having to restrict or over-exercise to get to that weight. So I won't be purchasing any "investment" dresses until some time after I've reached that final weight - so I know that I can maintain it.
I'm not a "label" person - I don't care about wearing logos or being loyal to a particular brand. But every season, I see the beautiful colors and shapes in the windows of the Kate Spade store as I walk past, and I think "hey, that's what I'd wear every day if I could." Something about the classic full skirts and the retro patterns calls my name, and I hear they're constructed really well. It's nice to have a few long-lasting investment pieces in a wardrobe. (It feels weird to be letting all of my investment pieces go; very little that I was wearing last year fits now, except the things my mother-in-law tailored.)
Here are a few cute examples of Kate Spade dresses:
It is all just, you know, pipe dreamin' at this point, but I look forward to the day that I hop on my little retro bike, in my little retro sundress, and coast off to the farmer's market to buy a bouquet of flowers to tuck in my bike basket. Can't you just see it?
