A Stroll Around the Silver Lake Reservoir

Kicking off Tuesday morning in one of my favorite L.A. neighborhoods, Silver Lake, was quite alright with me. I had plans to grab coffee and walk around the reservoir with Liza. She's a freelance fashion photographer and one of my most inspirational friends, so I was excited to catch up with her. I didn't even mind waking up extra early to brave that rush hour traffic. In fact, I looked forward to it. That's what Waze is for, after all!

I was running a few minutes late. She said not to worry, because she still had pillow lines on her face. That made me feel a little less guilty; it's pretty clear we're from the same tribe.

We grabbed our caffeine at Silver Lake's finest, LAMILL (coffee for me, tea for her - both iced in this SoCal heat)! Armed with our beverages and twinning in baseball hats, we were finally prepared for that walk around the res.

I find the Silver Lake Reservoir more relaxing than anything. There's a few minor hills, but nothing I can't handle. The sun likes to flare through the fence and bounce off of the water, which is a pretty calming and refreshing sight to see while you're brainstorming creative ideas with one of your pals.

The neighborhood is quiet and the houses are super cool. We managed to circle the reservoir once, just before the sun dominated the day. Then I felt like I was in a sauna, but did I mind? Absolutely not. California's warm weather is the main reason I ditched the east coast. I'll take crazy heat over freezing cold anytime.

Once we got back to Liza's, my 27-year-old body didn't so feel groggy anymore. These days, it's like my joints and muscles are thanking me after any type of exercise. I find this a tad depressing, because it means I'm finally growing up; it's also pretty awesome, because it's the kick I need to hustle.

Whenever Liza and I hang out, we always bring each other up to speed on our most favorite bloggers and vloggers. Today this took place over yogurt and raspberries. After diving into Cupcakes and Cashmere's "Links I Love" series and LEAF.tv's adorably innovative "DIY Lace Print Clutch" video, Liza had some chic photography business to attend to, and I chose to walk around the reservoir a second time, totally solo. Thomas Jack's latest "Tropical House" mix was blasting in my headphones the entire way. It was kind of amazing.

In fact, both reservoir rounds were so fun that Liza and I scheduled the same plans for next week. Do I sense a new routine in the making? I sure hope so. I could get used to this.

*Listen to Thomas Jack here, because he's really ruling my speakers lately:

Then Soft as Shadows We'll Become 【=◈︿◈=】Porter Robinson's "Worlds" Tour

I wasn't even supposed to see Porter Robinson's show at The Shrine last weekend, so it was a pretty little surprise when my boyfriend surprised me 24 hours before. Originally, we acted like total noobs and didn't hop on the ticket train early enough. Of course the show sold out. This is Porter Robinson's new Worlds album we're discussing here.

Inspired by anime, Japanese role-playing games and also tends to replicate that Goonies or Neverending Story nostalgic feeling I always crave, ticket availability for this night didn't stand a chance.

For weeks, I didn't think I was going to see this performance live due to our irresponsible lollygagging, which made listening to his album a tad difficult for me. Actually, it was a total tease. Lucky for us, Ticketmaster opened a few extra tickets at the VERY last minute. Guess it was meant to be.

I love each individual song on Worlds so much - it's like every track is a different chapter, and one by one, they all band together to form this grand, heroic tale. This guy as an artist is just so different and original, and he's only 22 years old. What?!

This album of his did something to me from the second I heard those first 11 happy beats of "Sad Machine". Every time I listen to that song, I catch myself swaying happily with my eyes closed, a huge smile plastered on my face.

The first track to actually make its way to my ears was "Divinity". You know how there's certain songs that strike a chord with you, and you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when you discovered them for the first time? That's what "Divinity" is to me. The sound is just so emotional and effortlessly cool.



Porter Robinson's music here is dreamy - and not dreamy in a poppy, schoolgirl crush way, but dreamy in the sense that you feel like you're invincible and soaring through the clouds whenever you listen to it. With song titles like "Polygon Dust" and "Fresh Static Snow", I'm sure you can imagine where I'm coming from. In fact, the album's cover consists of a dusky light purple and blue sky. Worlds projects some serious feels, and the artwork totally reflects that.

He opened with the beauty "Sea of Voices", which is as calming and inspiring as they come. This song initiated a blinding white light and an audience so silent; it was crystal clear just how much everyone was captivated by his presence. We all knew the next two hours would be quite magical, to say the least.

For the rest of the night, gigantic screens in front of us housed tons of fire and video game themed visuals, blasting purples, pinks, blues and whites straight into the souls of everyone there.

Hearing him throw down "Lionhearted" made me feel like I was marching off into a triumphant battle surrounded by all of my allies.



As always, "Flicker" started off playful and gradually transitioned into an intensely powerful, beautiful and deep adventure. I think I was most excited to see that one live, because the drop makes my chest feel like it's going to explode from all of the inevitable self-reflection it brings on.



Serious synth riffs, air gusts and confetti were unleashed all over the audience as Porter encored to his pre-Worlds classic, "Language". Just the thought of that confetti hovering over thousands of us as the last song winded down still gives me the chills.

The evening fulfilled every expectation I might have had and more. Next time, we'll be purchasing our Porter Robinson tickets the second they go on sale to make sure we'll never ever be deprived of what took place at The Shrine last Saturday night. That was a close one!

If you haven't listened to Worlds in its entirety yet, I have no idea what you're waiting for. I mean, really.

A "Falls Like Rain" Fourth of July

This year's Fourth of July was a good one. I kicked it off with John and my friend Christine on Thursday by grabbing several pitchers of beer at The Snakepit on Melrose Avenue, which is kind of perfect, because it's walking distance from my apartment. Such a convenient spot! I love the silly walks home after throwing back a few, especially during L.A. heat waves. They can be pretty dangerous.

The Snakepit is super small and divey. One of the reasons this place rules is that they keep their big windows wide open, so when you're in there having a few drinks, you don't feel like you're disconnected from the sunshine and interesting outside world of Melrose. You also get that killer warm breeze, which I'm a big, big fan of! During this hangout session, Christine introduced me to a band called Klangkarussell - just in time to have an anthem for the holiday weekend. The song "Falls Like Rain" would be on repeat from that moment on...definitely give those guys a listen! Seriously though - they're an Austrian electronic duo and their name means "Sound Carousel" in German. That information alone should earn them a spot on your latest playlist.



After waking up in my sweet and colorful Melrose 'hood the next morning (yay Fourth of July!), John and I and headed on over to Silver Lake. We grabbed some eggs benny at this old fashioned coffee shop called Millie's (it was built in 1926)! They're known for some pretty yummy vegan selections, and although we're not vegan, we're always open to new places with trusty reviews.

John's really into mixing up our meals, and it's turned me onto so many different things I'd never try otherwise...like Ethiopian food (the lamb is my fave), Sriracha sauce on EVERYTHING (I mean everything), and tacos 24/7. Don't get me wrong - I love tacos, but he could literally eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Long story short, if it weren't for him, I'd probably just eat cheeseburgers and sandwiches all the time.

Back to Millie's - this place was surprisingly packed for a holiday...but I really love sleepy, hot California days on the east side, especially in Silver Lake. Sunset Boulevard is lined with these insanely tall palm trees and so are the side streets, which are also comprised of big old houses on big old hills. I especially love how the glare of the L.A. sun makes it all look and feel so surreal when you stop to take it in, which I always do.

To celebrate that awesome American independence, we showed up to a friend's house party in Echo Park prepared with Leinenkugel. (Side note: I can't even remember the last time I went to a house party. It's been THAT long!) This one was complete with beer pong, flip cup, and a little live music from our friend's band, The Moving Pictures. That was a total bonus, because everyone knows that a little live music can go a long way, especially at a party.

Once the sun set, a few of us headed to Echo Park Lake for fireworks. They didn't actually take place at the lake, but we still had a really decent view of those pretty explosions over the skyline of downtown L.A. from the grass. Plenty of those little illegal fireworks kept popping up around us at the lake too, which was sort of a bonus? I'm posing that as a question because I feared for my limbs at certain points, since those babies were a little too close for comfort. We also bought and played with $2 lightsabers (seriously who wouldn't?), and then John and I drove home to attack some Talenti sea salt gelato before passing right out.

See?! Told you it was a good one! :)

Keep Bleeding, Bloody Beetroots!

Spending a Monday night with the Italian electro-house/dance-punk duo known as the Bloody Beetroots was a no-brainer. I've been dying to write about my experience at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood for months, because it's so rare to be blown away to the extent I was that night. I first saw them in Las Vegas at Electric Daisy Carnival the year before - theirs was one of the few sets that stuck with me despite the blur of that whole weekend, and one year later, these gents can still make minds explode with their crazy good musical talent and killer stage presence.

Earlier that night, I was exhausted from wrapping up Memorial Day weekend and literally had to drag myself out of bed just to get ready for the show. I'm ashamed to admit I even contemplated skipping it altogether. But let's be real - it's not every day you have tickets to see two of your favorite artists in the flesh, let alone have the chance to watch them glide across an intimate stage screaming their brains out...all the while looking effortlessly cool dressed in black from head to toe.

Their signature getup usually goes something like this: super tight pants, super tight t-shirt, and super tight leather jacket. Take this performance ensemble and then throw in their famous LED "Venom" masks (yeah, like the Marvel comics), and this is just one of the many reasons why they are total badasses.

I also really respect these guys because they play actual instruments (keyboard, guitar, bass and drums), and I personally think they've created a category for themselves unlike anyone else. Merging EDM with rock and roll is tricky, and they do it well. They produce some of the most original music I've ever seen or heard, which is why I pulled myself together, chugged a Red Bull or two at the venue, and snapped into Bloody Beetrootland the second they hit the stage - whether I wanted to or not.

The Bloody Beetroots definitely have a presence that commands your total attention. My friends and I were all so sucked into their energy, I don't think we said more than a few words to each other throughout the entire show, with the exception of exchanging several facial expressions (specifically super wide eyes) to get the "THIS IS SO SICK!" message across. Those two hours at The Fonda were definitely a roller coaster. If for one second I felt myself getting sleepy, the Bloody Beetroots wouldn't allow it. The music would take another sharp turn, and I'd instantly snap right back into the zone.

Lead member Sir Bob Cornelius Rifo is classically trained, which is why you'll catch yourself throwing down some of the hardest moves you didn't even know you owned to an actual symphony - a symphony that overpowers those intense beats pulsing underneath. They'll also string you along a dirty buildup that leaves you with an unexpected drop of rockabilly madness, and all of a sudden you question whether you're at a hard show in 2014 or lost at a sock hop in the 1950s. That one's called "Keep on Dancing", and that situation happened.



At one point I opened my eyes and totally caught my boyfriend thrashing his head around like a maniac. I can speak for all of us when I say, it's been a LONG time since we got lost in music like that.

Afterwards, as everybody was clearing out of The Fonda drenched in sweat and still a little breathless, it felt as if I had just taken a vacation from L.A. Now it was time to return to planet Earth. Those Italians sure know how to do it! Bloody Beetroots, thanks for that ride.

I'll leave you with one of my absolute favorites, the haunting "Chronicles of a Fallen Love" -

Los Angeles - Philz Coffee

One thing I love about LA is the number of its killer sister cities within easy road tripping distance. Las Vegas, Santa Barbara, San Diego and San Francisco are just a few exciting options. During one of my treks to the Bay Area, I was introduced to a game changer known as the mint mojito iced coffee.

The Spot: Philz (his flagship location)

The Scene: Mellow groups of people hanging outside on benches, taking in the sights and sounds of The Mission (which also reminds me of Los Angeles' very own Silverlake, i.e. young, vibrant and ridiculously hip). Bright murals and original artwork of Phil himself decorate the inside along with vintage tables, mismatched chairs and worn-in couches.

The Goods: COFFEE
Re: The one and only iced mint mojito!

This masterpiece is creamy and sweet with a consistency comparable to your most memorable glass of chocolate milk. I crave this specialty beverage on a regular basis and actually go through minor withdrawal when I get back to L.A. Imagine the best iced coffee you've ever had, and then throw in a mint mojito (sans alcohol) from your favorite bar. My boyfriend and I stopped at Philz three times over Thanksgiving break. Trust that we could have easily Phil'd it up an extra trip or two during that weeklong stay to keep our fixes going strong.

My boyfriend broke his mint mojito streak to test the waters of another specialty coffee known as the gingersnap brew. This limited edition proved to be quite the treat (basically, it tasted like Christmas in a cup). Specialty coffees aren't your thing? Each regular old cup (you can choose between light, medium or dark roast) is brewed individually by laid-back and oh so trendy baristas and is just as delicious.

Bottom line: Philz is always fresh and ready to perk your day right up... even after a sucky fender bender. (Guilty. This happened en route to my very first Philz experience. Let's blame the cable car tracks for that one.)

The original Philz:
3101 24th St.
San Francisco, CA 94110

Website: http://www.philzcoffee.com/
Twitter:@PhilzCoffee
Instagram:@PhilzCoffee
Facebook:Philz Coffee

Lewla Was WHERE? Welcome! :)

My four year anniversary with Los Angeles is creepin' right around the corner, so I've finally started documenting the magical extremities of just how cool this city is (and everything it can offer a fun hungry 20 something year old east coaster like myself). This spot right here is now my official and long overdue outlet where I'll be showcasing these youthful highlights: a music scene so overwhelmingly cool and diverse you never have to see the same band twice (but let's be honest - you'll see the same band twice), food so good you have to close your eyes when you eat it, and street art so inspiring you can easily dedicate an entire day to a scavenger hunt for new tags. Check back weekly for updates on my favorite places and faces that keep my love for L to the A locked down...and of course, my YouTube channel that goes hand in hand with this bloggy blog: LewlaWasHere. See you soon!