Friday
Daily Drills x Shopbop Malibu Pier Pop-Up
A one-day Malibu Pier pop-up celebrating Shopbop’s exclusive Daily Drills collaboration, with shopping, special surprises, and the new collection available in person.

More Information

Venice

Friday
Abbot Kinney Supper Club
A golden hour dinner party with long tables of good folks enjoying a Japanese inspired 6 course menu with some “Cali” flair.

More Information

Friday-Saturday
Pinterest x Practical Magic 2 Pop Up
Pinterest and Practical Magic 2 bring fall’s witchy hobby trends to life with hands-on experiences like herbal apothecary making, Tarot, candle making, and other creative rituals.

Saturday-Sunday
SweetClean Pop-Up
A skincare-meets-gelato pop-up at Wanderlust Creamery featuring free scoops and complimentary full-size SweetClean Gelato Cleansers, plus exclusive gifts while supplies last.

More Information

Marina del Rey

Sunday
Boys Lie Sample Sale
Boys Lie’s biggest sample sale yet, featuring samples, past collections, one-of-a-kind pieces, and some of the brand’s deepest markdowns.

More Information

Palos Verdes

Saturday
Pickle For a Purpose
A charity pickleball tournament and networking event hosted by Echelon LA Metro, featuring mixed doubles for all skill levels—no partner or experience required.

More Information

Culver City

Friday
Wright’s & Wright’s Men Grand Opening
A grand opening celebration at Platform with drinks, light bites, music, raffles, and giveaways celebrating Wright’s newest location.

More Information

West Adams

Sunday
Buji X Rep Club
A Sunday pop-up featuring BUJI drinks, STRIPT and BUJI merch, plus a curated selection of Black-owned books from Reparations Club.

More Information

Studio City

Friday-Saturday
Charmed by Kelsey Armstrong
A colorful charm pop-up at Annabelle’s Book Club featuring Haricot Vert jewelry and custom charm pieces.

More Information

Hollywood

Friday
Tropicana Pool Summer Residency
A Friday night pool party at The Hollywood Roosevelt’s Tropicana Pool featuring music, a special album listening session, and a guest DJ set. Free with RSVP.

More Information

Koreatown

Saturday
Creative Link Up at Love Hour

A creative networking happy hour with a DJ set, free portraits, raffles, smash burgers, and opportunities to meet fellow LA creatives.

More Information

Silver Lake

Friday
The Linda Lindas x Pazzo Gelato
An album release celebration with a special Helado de Limón gelato flavor, vinyl and merch, plus free scoops during the first hour.⁠

More Information

Saturday
Dog Day at AKILA LA
A dog-friendly afternoon with pet adoptions, accessories, custom embroidery, caricature portraits, gifts with purchase, and more.

More Information

Echo Park

Saturday-Sunday
Echo Park Rising
Echo Park will turn into one giant neighborhood festival with live music, DJs, art, brunches, pop-ups, record shops and community events spread across dozens of local venues.

More Information

Saturday
Ggiata x Final Girl Records Echo Park Rising
A free Echo Park Rising party featuring DJs, late-night sandwiches, merch giveaways, and a wine bar from Jumbo Time Wines.

More Information

Downtown LA

Friday
Sketch & Soul
A live drawing session set to neo-soul and R&B performances, inviting guests to sketch along while enjoying the music.

More Information

Saturday
Lumiyre Pop-Up
A pop-up showcasing Lumiyre’s 2026 jewelry collection with pre-drop access, exclusive apparel and accessories, a Bodega collaboration piece, café offerings, art installations, and a live synth performance.

More Information

Saturday
Going Outside x Little Tokyo Farmers’ Market

Two live music sets from Going Outside celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Little Tokyo Farmers’ Market.

More Information

Is the Cool Girl Really Dead, or Just Pretending?

I recently had dinner with a Friend who ordered one thing and received something entirely different.

Not a missing side of dressing or an accidental sprinkle of cheese. A completely different meal. When I suggested she tell our waiter, she looked at me like I was pressuring her to commit a felony in the middle of e. baldi.

“Nah, no reason to make the waiter feel bad.” So she spent the rest of dinner eating something she didn’t order and didn’t enjoy.

While I watched her push her food around (and realizing she was going to pay for this privilege), I started wondering: When did it become more uncomfortable to point out a mistake than to quietly live with one? How many things are we currently tolerating because we don’t want to seem difficult?

The Friend who never follows through. The coworker who adds more to our plates. The people we date who treat basic communication and respect like an optional and expensive subscription upgrade.

Someone else drops the ball. You pick it up. And then, for whatever reason, you apologize for noticing it was on the ground.

And we have a million names for this: easygoing, chill, low-maintenance. But if we know her most infamously as the Cool Girl.

We even gave the Cool Girl the full Barbie treatment: undeniably appealing and conveniently free of human needs. Her hobbies? Being agreeable, adaptable, unbothered, fine with whatever and down with whatever.

Her coolest feature? Requiring no maintenance whatsoever. Like a fake houseplant.

For years, we’ve been told she was the ultimate aspiration.

But, like every female star forced to maintain an impossible public image, what goes up must eventually come down.

We all know why “the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now”.... And I’m proud to announce the Cool Girl is unavailable for the same reason.

And my men, please stick around. There are lessons in here for you too. Because while the Cool Girl might have started as a female dating stereotype, pretending not to care has become an equal-opportunity problem.

Before we bury her, let’s conduct a brief autopsy.

In her final years, she was spotted in our relationships, our workplaces, and our Friendships. And according to my findings, she wasn’t doing particularly well in any of them...

First up: Relationships. Historically, this is where we’ve been told we need Cool Girls the most.

The Cool Girl has been told that the most attractive thing she can do is not care. Including whether someone likes her (the Barbie and Ken dynamic ring any bells?).

Don’t text back quickly. Don’t ask where things are going. Don’t mention that you’d prefer plans made more than 45 minutes in advance.

And if a man disappears for two weeks before resurfacing with “hey stranger,” just pretend you also spent those three days in a remote location without cell service. You wouldn’t want him to think you noticed. Or worse, that you cared.

But, if you asked most women what they actually want in a partner? Someone who calls. Who makes plans. Who follows through. And who shows enthusiasm about getting together.

Basically, someone who is not chill about them.

I’m sorry to say that men are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. While women have been taught to idolize the Cool Girl, we’ve also been taught to idolize the opposite in men. Every rom-com gives us an unavailable woman and a man who pursues her, makes himself vulnerable first, and refuses to give up until we collectively swoon.

In real life, that same effort can either be super romantic or super not, depending on whether the feelings align. So showing interest has become a strategic liability for everyone. Two people can genuinely like each other but waste weeks pretending they have better things to do. We all want effort, but we’ll be damned if we’re caught making it first.

So why have we been encouraged to become the exact kind of person we would never want to date?

Relationship expert Shane Kohler talks a lot about why playing it cool can backfire. And if you insist you’re happy to “see where things go” when you’re secretly hoping they go somewhere specific, you are effectively marketing a version of yourself that does not exist. Congratulations: You are very chill and quietly miserable.

Eventually, you’ll say something. And the other person will wonder what happened to the laid-back girl they started dating. She was fictional. You spent three months pretending you had no needs and are shocked that someone actually believed you.

Nobody likes this plot twist. Especially the person who thought they found a girlfriend who could survive exclusively on vibes and the occasional text.

Conclusion: Chill (and quietly miserable).

Next up: Career.

Not to be confused with the Girlboss (she’s a very different creature), the Cool Girl doesn’t care about climbing the corporate ladder. She just somehow does it, usually while wearing impeccably tailored Khaite outerwear.

Emily in Paris is the perfect blueprint. Every week, Emily swoops in to save a crisis that has somehow stumped an entire agency of executives. The client is furious. A high-level campaign is falling apart. Her boss has no idea what to do. But don’t worry. Emily saw a croissant on the way to work and now has a revolutionary brand strategy. Crisis averted.

Do Cool Girls spend six hours researching and revising a project four times? We’ll never know. She must be brilliant without looking ambitious, prepared without appearing to prepare, and successful without revealing how hard she worked, how often she doubted herself, or how many times she failed.

Recently on Call Her Daddy, our Friend Alex Cooper examined why trying hard has somehow become more embarrassing than pretending success just happened. Apparently, it’s no longer enough to be good at your job. You also have to act like it requires no effort. Duke University named this “effortless perfection.” Stanford calls it “duck syndrome.” Calm above water but paddling like hell underneath.

Of course, natural talent goes a long way. So does being in the right room at the right time.

But neither of those can carry an entire career without work, grit, and help. When all anyone sees is the polished result, they assume the process was smooth and then compare your invisible effort to their very visible struggle. They wonder why the same success feels so much harder for them.

The better you get at hiding the work, the less work everyone assumes it takes. And your reward for making everything look manageable is more to manage in secret.

In conclusion: I’m exhausted for her, and for everyone comparing themselves to her. And finally: Friendship.

In Friendships, the Cool Girl comes in two editions.

Similar to dating, the first is the low-maintenance Friend. She doesn’t care about unanswered texts or canceled plans.

At least, that’s what she says.

Chanté Joseph wrote about this trap for British Vogue last year (queen has always been ahead of her time). She asked for little and expected even less because expecting less felt safer than admitting she wanted more from her Friends. It worked. Nobody could disappoint her because nobody was required to show up. Small catch: they also stopped being close.

Then there’s the other Cool Girl we’ve all tried being Friends with. She isn’t afraid of needing people, she’s just very busy making sure everyone knows how little she needs them. She’s terrible at texting. Impossible to schedule dinner with. She cancels plans almost religiously because “something came up,” then always reappears two months later with “I’m the worst!” (as if identifying the problem counts as fixing it).

She wears her chronic unavailability like a badge of honor. She’s booked. She’s thriving. And nobody is receiving much of her time.

And I’m not even going to pretend this works the same way with you dudes. I fully believe in the saying that female Friendships happen face-to-face while male Friendships happen side-by-side.

Women can chat over dinner at Seline about everything that’s happened that week, including how they feel and what their moms think about it. Men can catch a Lakers game, exchange six words, and leave knowing they had a great catch-up. You may or may not know what your best Friend does for work, but you know exactly who he’s starting in fantasy this week. Even side-by-side Friendships require occasionally showing up beside someone.

Back to our two Cool Girls. One makes herself smaller to keep her Friends. The other makes her Friends feel smaller to keep herself cool. And both treat caring like an embarrassing amount of effort.

In conclusion: One is exhausted from pretending she doesn’t need anyone. The other is just exhausting.

Cause of death seems to be quiet misery and exhaustion across the board. Because the problem with “low-maintenance” is that it usually means doing all the maintenance yourself, in every category.

And if the Cool Girl really is dead, why is everyone still obsessed with certain Cool Girl archetypes like Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, or even SATC’s fictional Samantha Jones...

Maybe because it isn’t the Cool Girl that’s dead. Maybe trying to perform like one is...

A recent Vogue piece (yep I’m citing two Vogue pieces like an academic journal) makes the case that the way Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy is portrayed in Love Story represents the truest kind of Cool Girl. She isn’t suppressing herself to win a man. She knows her value—and apparently, even a Kennedy can be expected to make an effort. At the same time, she was very vocal about things she was not cool with. Which is really cool, because having boundaries is not the same as pretending you don’t have needs.

There’s a fine line between what you’re genuinely cool with and the things you’re just pretending to be cool with.

And Samantha? She genuinely didn’t want traditional relationships, openly cared about her career, and dropped everything for her Friends. She wasn’t pretending not to care. She was just very clear about what—and whom—she cared about.

If something genuinely comes naturally to you, fantastic. But if it took six tries, three rejections, and an emotional meltdown, that’s cool too. If you’re genuinely fine not having active Friendships, carry on. But if you miss your Friends, pick up the phone—and if one keeps blowing you off, give yourself permission to stop calling. And if you genuinely aren’t looking for a relationship, go on with your cool self. But if you are, that’s also cool.

It’s even cooler if you say it early on.

Intentions are cool. Caring is cool. Effort is so fucking cool.

And the coolest thing you can possibly be is honest.
—Your Friend

Saturday
likeafriendsaid Summer Pool Party
A summer pool party at Hotel June featuring swimming, a live DJ, photo booth, Kosas goodies, towels, and a complimentary first drink made with Luna Nueva Tequila. If you have a ticket, see you there!!! If you didn’t snag one, don’t worry, there will be more in the future!

More Information

Malibu

Saturday
Malibu Country Mart Summer Block Party
A community event featuring live music, free ice cream, and family-friendly activities including face painting, glitter tattoos, and flower crown making.

More Information

Santa Monica

Saturday
Coffee & Chill: 3rd Annual DOG PPL Classic
A dog-friendly wellness morning featuring a CorePower Yoga flow, coffee, iced tea, protein shakes, sauna sessions, cold plunges, a water slide, giveaways, and plenty of time to hang with the dogs.

More Information

Sunday
Wellness on the Westside
A wellness festival at Santa Monica Place featuring Pilates, yoga, dance, sound baths, massage, compression therapy, wellness treatments, healthy bites, giveaways, and local Westside brands.

More Information

Saturday
Good Spirits, On The Go
A summer fragrance pop-up at Ulta Beauty featuring The Nue Co.’s newest fragrance, Good Spirits, alongside refreshing raspados.

More Information

Beverly Hills

Friday–Sunday
Stoney Clover Lane at The Beverly Hills Hotel
A Stoney Clover Lane pop-up at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel featuring shopping, special events, customizations, and exclusive experiences on select dates.

More Information

Sawtelle

Sunday
BDE Coffee Club
A casual dog-friendly coffee meetup bringing together adoptable rescue dogs, fosters, volunteers, adopters, and dog lovers for coffee, breakfast, pup cups, and a morning supporting local rescues.

More Information

West Adams

Saturday
Anemone at Twentieth Street Garden
An open-air afternoon of live music, DJ sets, and garden-inspired food and drinks featuring an all-local lineup of artists and selectors.

More Information

Sunday
Buji Sunday
A Sunday pop-up featuring BUJI Matcha drinks and a special BUJI x STRIPT merchandise collection.

More Information

Fairfax

Saturday
Cole Henry Los Angeles Pop-Up
A one-day Cole Henry pop-up featuring exclusive pieces, new Mainline and Blanks items, plus special giveaways and discounts for the first guests in line.

More Information

Koreatown

Sunday
Sound Bath & Love Letters
A wellness gathering centered around a guided sound bath, mindful reflection, writing love letters and intentional connection.

More Information

East Hollywood

Saturday
I Think You Should Dance!
A late-night dance party with four hours of disco, funk, soul, and other dance-floor favorites.

More Information

Burbank

Sunday
Feybl Grand Reopening
A grand reopening celebration for Feybl’s newly renovated café featuring free tastings of five new drinks from its updated menu, served by Sean Lew and the Feybl barista team.

More Information

Los Feliz

Saturday
Mystic Vision: A Surrealist Ball Honoring Betye Saar
An art celebration honoring Betye Saar featuring live music, DJ sets, performances, installations, tarot readings, workshops, and other immersive art experiences at the Philosophical Research Society.

More Information

Echo Park

Sunday
Outdoor Drawing Workshop at Echo Park Lake
An outdoor drawing class hosted by C.W. Moss and Heavy Manners Library, bringing artists of all skill levels together for a relaxed morning of drawing by the lake.

More Information

Highland Park

Friday-Saturday
Party How You Like It
A special two-day celebration at When Two Become One. Expect a DJ, drinks, dancing, wellness activities, exclusive shopping, special gifts, and freebies! ⁠

More Information

Pasadena

Sunday
Cool Fam Fest
A family-friendly festival featuring shopping, live DJ sets, kids’ crafts and games, skincare giveaways, a Twinings hydration station, brand activations, and family photo moments.

More Information

Sunday
Slay 5K
A community 5K at the Rose Bowl powered by Nike, SLAY, and Create & Cultivate, bringing runners together for a fun morning run and high-energy community experience.

More Information

After Hours

Over the last few weeks, I’ve noticed more than a few grown-ass adults I know rushing off after work with somewhere to be.

Not post-work drinks. Not even the gym.

Practice.

A colleague of mine casually mentioned that she plays in both a softball and a volleyball league. A Friend who’s a mom sings in an a cappella group. Another Friend started taking ballroom lessons.

I didn’t even realize I was underachieving recreationally until everyone around me started developing extracurricular schedules.

And once I started noticing it, I couldn’t stop. Suddenly, I was seeing extracurriculars everywhere.

My cousin crocheted my birthday present. My other cousin is still baking sourdough six years after the pandemic. My sister is getting her Pilates certification while earning her master’s degree because apparently one educational pursuit at a time was insufficient. A few months ago, a Friend invited me to see her boyfriend’s band play—a band made up entirely of guys who work in law enforcement and tech but book gigs on their nights off just because they love to play. My uncle already does yoga daily and has now added a mahjong coach to the rotation.

I respect the commitment to extracurricular excellence.

Then there’s my TikTok feed. People are making rugs. They’re bedazzling art. They’re crocheting. They’re making things I don’t know the official names for but require a very specific set of tiny tools that Amazon can have at my doorstep tomorrow.

BookTok is my extracurricular drug of choice. Now with its own section at Target, BookTok has turned reading into its own cultural universe. People have TBR lists, favorite book influencers (proving publishing is no longer the only career path for professional bookworms), and very strong feelings about dragon stories. And smut. And dragon smut. Not to mention celebrity book clubs, elaborate annotation systems and passionate opinions about fictional people who will never know we exist.

No longer reserved for kids and retirees, extracurriculars are officially back in our adult lives.

Just last night I was having dinner at Bone Kettle in Pasadena and overheard one woman ask her Friend, “Are you still taking those hip-hop classes?” to which she responded, “Yes, but I suck at it!” I’d like to think she was inspired by our conversation earlier this year about how cool it is to be a beginner...

And clearly, there’s no shortage of activities we’re willing to take our best swing at.

As kids, extracurriculars were completely normal. You went to school, but you also played soccer, took piano, danced, joined clubs, and routinely brought home craft projects your parents were contractually obligated to display.

Then we grew up, and most of that quietly disappeared.

Ask an eight-year-old what they do and you might get six answers ranging from karate to collecting caterpillars. Ask an adult, “What do you do?” and we all know exactly what you’re asking: What do you do for work?

Lately, I’m much more interested in what people do when they’re done working. In a city full of creatives and major industry leaders, we’re used to seeing creativity, passion, athleticism, curiosity, and imagination built directly into someone’s profession. But no matter what your industry or title is, we all need somewhere to put the parts of ourselves our jobs don’t ask for. And it makes me so happy seeing so many Angelenos with a second act waiting for them after 6 p.m.

Hell, I’ll even give my ex a shoutout for being a chemist by day and writing poetry by night. (Me ignoring the fact that those poems might as well have screamed, “I’m emotionally unavailable,” is beside the point.)

And not every second act needs to reach Troy Bolton in High School Musical levels of range. (Although I know there’s a football player out there moonlighting as a musical theater protégé. You got this.) It’s just that sometimes, the other parts of our brains need somewhere else to go. If you work in a high-stress environment, maybe adult coloring books, gardening, or baking with a glass of wine is your version of relaxing. If you spend all day sitting at a desk, maybe you’re the one out hiking or racing to a dance studio in your free time. Or maybe you spend your days buried in spreadsheets and your nights behind a pottery wheel.

Those other parts of our brains seem to know exactly what kind of outlet they need. Sometimes it’s crocheting. Sometimes it’s joining an adult softball league. And sometimes it’s moving tiny tiles around a table with enough strategic intensity to justify professional coaching.

This really goes beyond creativity. We’re curious creatures. We’re active. We’re competitive. We’re social (to varying degrees). We like making things, learning things, moving our bodies, solving problems, reading, singing, and playing.

We like having a thing. And I see you, fantasy football people. You may not call it a hobby, but if you spend time researching whether a professional athlete’s hamstring should affect the future of a team that does not technically exist, welcome to the adult extracurricular club.

And to take it one step further—and prove this isn’t just happening in my own little bubble—an entire economy has sprung up around our desire to do the things.

Pickleball has exploded its way from seemingly every millennial Friend group into hotel guest programming around the world. Mahjong is officially the new It Girl of leisure activities, with everyone from Hilary Duff to my uncle bragging about their mahjong coach and weekly games. Walk down any busy street in your neighborhood and I can almost guarantee you’ll find at least one business built around teaching people how to make candles. Or perfume. Or lipstick.

I guess walking into Sephora and trying a thousand shades was no longer hands-on enough for us. We needed to get involved in manufacturing.

Even staying home to craft got a glow-up. I’ve watched the chicest puzzle and paint-by-number companies make deals on Shark Tank and are now sold by Anthropologie and Whole Foods. Not to mention the hundreds of TikToks I’ve seen from the “junk journaling” community. I’m still not 100% sure what’s going on over there, but they make gluing literal scraps of trash look like a Martha Stewart MasterClass.

There is truly something for everyone: solo pursuits for those craving a little time to themselves and entire communities for those looking for connection. Our hobbies give all the extra parts of us somewhere to live. To unwind. To belong. Something can be entirely yours while still connecting you to a whole world of other people.

Of course, having time for any of this isn’t always easy during every phase of life. Any parent still reading this is probably wondering what magical 25th hour of the day I’d suggest they dedicate to a hobby. Which is fair. We’re aiming for joy here, not another item on the to-do list. So maybe some hobbies become things we do together as a family. Or they happen less often. Or they disappear for a little while because keeping small humans alive is already quite the extracurricular. And then at some point we find ourselves back in an a cappella group like my best mom Friend.

And maybe that’s what I find so beautiful about all of this.

Adulthood gives us plenty of things we’re required to do. Careers. Errands. Appointments. Responsibilities. The never-ending administrative task of keeping our lives functioning.

And apparently, we looked at all of that and said: You know what this calendar needs?

Volleyball.

Or ballet.

Or crochet.

Or a 600-page fantasy novel.

There are so many parts of ourselves that don’t go in our LinkedIn bio.

I’m glad we’re finding places to put them.

—Your Friend

Saturday
Bass Pueblo at Palma Lounge
An evening at the Santa Monica Proper Hotel featuring jazz house, Afro-Latin funk, disco, global grooves, and live percussion.

More Information

Saturday
The Bungalow Sessions
A community yard sale and social gathering featuring secondhand clothes, books, films, ceramics, drinks, knitting, recipe swaps, bites, and space to shop, hang out, and connect.

More Information

Venice

Saturday
Venice Photo Walk with Fujifilm
An evening photo walk and slow-shutter photography workshop at the Venice Skatepark, with Fujifilm cameras available to test, sunset shooting, and a gear raffle.

More Information

Saturday
Venice Skate Day
A laid-back community skate meetup at the Venice Skate Circle featuring skating, music, hanging out, and a social afternoon by the beach.

More Information

Palisades

Saturday-Sunday
Paige Reopening
Enjoy Avaline wine while you shop, custom patches and embroidery by Rumi Lane, limited-edition product benefiting Steadfast LA, and exclusive gifts with purchase.

More Information

Westwood

Friday
Drawing Closer to Plants
A nature and mindfulness workshop at the UCLA Botanical Garden combining sketching, creative observation, and time spent connecting with plants and the natural environment.

More Information

Century City

Saturday
Kändi Swedish Sweets Grand Opening
A grand opening celebration for Kändi’s new Century City location featuring Swedish candy, sweet treats, surprises, and special gift bags for the first 50 guests.

More Information

Torrance

Sunday
Hynas & Hydraulics
A girls-only lowrider showcase and car meet featuring female-owned builds, women vendors, music, photographers, and a celebration of women in car culture.

More Information

Koreatown

Saturday–Sunday
MIXIK x MaDang Summer Glow Pop-Up
A two-day beauty pop-up featuring a color-matching station, the new Cloud Cover Cushion Foundation, photo opportunities, product testing, and exclusive freebies and perks.

More Information

Los Feliz

Saturday
Los Feliz Art & Music Block Party + Mural Festival
A free, family-friendly neighborhood block party featuring original artwork, live painting, live music, murals, local artists, and community booths along Hollywood Boulevard.

More Information

Silver Lake

Sunday
Gigi Flea
A singles-focused flea market featuring vintage clothing, jewelry, tarot readings, doodle portraits, happy hour, a singles board to meet new people, and more.

More Information

Echo Park

Friday
Arete Studios Los Angeles Opening Party
A celebration for Arete Studios’ new LA space featuring new brands and styles to shop, music, photos, drinks, and treats.

More Information

Melrose Hill

Saturday
Collage Workshop
A workshop where you can get creative, and cut and paste from vintage magazines.

More Information

Hollywood

Friday
About Last Night

A handful of LA locals share their worst dating and hookup stories while a live musician turns the stories into songs after.

More Information

Downtown LA

Friday-Sunday
KCON LA 2026 + Olive Young Festa
A major Korean culture festival featuring K-pop performances, K-beauty activations, food, shopping, fan experiences, brand booths, and interactive programming.

More Information

Saturday
JIYU Los Angeles Pop-Up
JIYU’s first pop-up featuring free matcha, skincare samples, a photo booth, bag charm bar, touch-up stations, music, and beauty experiences.

More Information

Lincoln Heights

Sunday
Jazz & Journal
A laid-back evening of full jazz album listening, a live jazz set, and quiet activities like journaling, reading, or sketching.

More Information

Pasadena

Saturday
The Makers Hive Market
A community market featuring 30+ local makers and small businesses, handmade goods, art, jewelry, home décor, vintage finds, treats, live music, and a hands-on charm-making experience.

More Information

Opportunity Cost

I think we can all agree that being wrong is humbling. However, few things are more humbling than realizing the advice you've been ignoring for years was, unfortunately, excellent.

Being wrong after years of defending your situation and insisting everyone else simply doesn't understand? Apparently, one of my hidden talents. Hidden from me, just to be clear. Everyone else was well aware.

Finally arriving at the same conclusion everyone else reached years ago? Watch me go!

Everyone knows the age-old saying: hindsight's 20/20.

Looking back, there are usually signs. There are warnings. There are people explicitly telling me what to do while I explain in detail why my situation is different (spoiler: it absolutely is not).

There's another saying people like to throw around: Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan. Apparently, success also has siblings, cousins, godparents, etc.

And in this most recent case, they've all earned it...

For years, I wanted to make a few career pivots. My friends knew. My family knew. And any unfortunate soul who asked about my career status knew.

But wanting to pivot and actually being brave enough to pivot are two completely different things.

Every time I seriously considered pursuing a new opportunity, my brain skipped right past what I might gain and went straight to listing everything I could lose. Aren't our imaginations so much more fun as adults?

I had built a career I knew inside and out. It was far from everything I wanted, but there were parts of it I valued. So at some point, I convinced myself that wanting something better was too much of a gamble. The risks being: What if the next move solved one problem and created three new ones? What if the few things I knew worked for me were harder to find than I anticipated?

Basically, I wanted change with a money-back guarantee. And because no new opportunity could provide an upfront guarantee, staying exactly where I was kept winning by default.

Which brings me to popular saying #3: The devil you know is better than the one you don't.

But...is it, really?

For years, whenever I'd explain that I was afraid to make a move because I wasn't convinced I'd find the things I wanted somewhere else, my family would say something like: "You've already put yourself in a position to lose."

They were right. (My 20/20 hindsight speaking now.)

But then my imagination would always end up chatting with my anxiety... What if I regretted it? What if I gave up something I couldn't get back? What if I traded the problems I knew for bigger ones?

Essentially, I was comparing the real pros of staying to the imaginary cons of leaving.

So for a long time, I stayed professionally still.

And I'd love to tell you this was an isolated lapse in judgment. But when I told you this was a hidden talent of mine, I meant Olympian level.

For YEARS, my sister gave me a hard time for staying hopelessly devoted to the same woman who did my hair color. Every appointment would follow the same sequence: I'd show her the color I wanted (always the exact same), I'd go home knowing it wasn't quite right and I'd return the following week so she could tweak it. This was our routine for EVERY appointment. For five years. Sounds like a perfectly good system, no?

My sister had a radical idea: try someone else.

My argument: what if someone else was worse?

Hers: But what if they were better? What if you found someone that gave you what you wanted the first time around, every time?

Can you feel me getting personally offended by her logic?!

I mean... this woman knew my hair. And in return, I knew what she was capable of. I knew what could go wrong and (most importantly) exactly how wrong it would go every time.

Was I routinely booking two appointments to accomplish the work of one? Irrelevant.

I had something far more valuable: a system that already accounted for the predictable level of disappointment I could plan around. A problem I already knew how to fix. Zero surprises.

Which brings us back to the devil we know. (Clingy bastard.)

We talk about this all the time when it comes to relationships. In fact, we practically expect it there. People can stay in the wrong ones for years because of comfort.

They know this person. They know the problems. They know exactly what they're getting and exactly what they're not. Leaving means giving all of that up for...what? An unknown set of characteristics with the next person.

Maybe someone better. Or maybe no one. Or worse, six months of first dates with men who pride themselves on being "fluent in sarcasm" (aaaand suddenly that wrong relationship starts making a strong case for itself).

We call it complacency when we watch someone else do it. But where else in our lives are we doing the same thing? What situations are we staying in solely because we can't guarantee we'll be happier if we leave?

Careers, yes. (Hairdressers, definitely.) Friendships? Cities? Routines? And are the loudest neighbors in my condo building really the price I have to pay for two parking spots and in-unit laundry?

At what point does familiarity stop being a reason to stay and become the reason we're afraid to leave?

Because "better the devil you know than the devil you don't" sounds very wise until you actually think about what we're saying.

If we've confirmed the first person is the "devil" in this scenario, then another person would be a stranger. A complete unknown. Yet somehow we've already given them worse odds? How can we be moreafraid of something we've already confirmed from experience isn't good?

That's exactly what I'd done professionally. I wasn't comparing what I had with another opportunity. I hadn't even allowed myself to experience another opportunity yet.

I was comparing what I knew and what felt "safe" with my own anxieties and fears of the unknown.

Until eventually, I was finally fed up enough to put my big-girl panties on (shoutout Skims) and find out what else was out there for me.

I started saying yes. To conversations and possibilities. And to seeing where something might lead without first needing to know exactly where I'd land.

Eventually, those yeses led me into new chapters I never imagined for myself. Chapters that have me feeling more inspired and energized than I have in a long time.

And as wonderful as that feels, there's an uncomfortable realization on the other side of it: I could have done this sooner.

I spent years being afraid of how much I might regret making a change. Now, what scares me is how much I might have regretted never making one.

And how much more time could I have wasted staying still out of fear?

Another year?

Five?

Ten?

We spend so much time being afraid of what could go wrong when we should actually be more afraid of missing out on what could go right.

Now that's terrifying.

—Your Friend

Friday
Seed Summers in Malibu
An intimate, curated beachfront residency and sunset series created to connect and celebrate the Malibu community.

More Information

Sunday
Sunday Sessions with AV
The last Summer Session of the year put on by Aviator Nation Dreamland hosted on the Malibu Pier. Free live music and local vendors.

More Information

Santa Monica

Saturday
Peak Beach Yoga
An energizing Beach Yoga Session designed to help guests connect with nature, get in alignment, and feel their best.

More Information

Saturday
Santa Monica Block Fest Vol. VI
A three-block festival featuring a food and merchandise night market, where guests can eat, drink, and dance in the heart of Santa Monica.

More Information

Sunday
The Makers Hive Market
Spend your Sunday shopping local, supporting talented makers, and enjoying an afternoon filled with live music, creativity, and coastal vibes at Santa Monica Place.

More Information

Beverly Hills

Friday
Mercedes-Benz x KidSuper
Celebrate Mercedes-Benz’s collaboration with KidSuper designer Colm Dillane and explore a limited-edition KidSuper x Mercedes fashion collab, live DJ, chainstitch customization, drinks, and special guests.

More Information

Friday-Sunday
Mother Beverly Hills Opening
Mother is celebrating its new Beverly Hills flagship with a weekend of in-store activities, featuring birth chart, patch application, and a charm bar on Sunday.

More Information

Culver City

Friday–Saturday
Lindfors Farm x Cooking with Yoon
La Sabina is hosting a dinnertime patio takeover featuring specialty pizzas, Korean–Californian dishes, dessert, and a selection of natural wines.

More Information

The Grove

Saturday-Sunday
Dr. Reju-All Pop-Up
Dr.Reju-All is bringing its K-Pharmacy Skincare experience to LA, visit their booth to explore skincare solutions for different skin concerns and find the right answer for your skin.

More Information

East Hollywood

Saturday
OMG Padel Courts 2.0
A nighttime padel party featuring two open courts, music, drinks, food, and dancing in a lively social setting.

More Information

Silver Lake

Friday-Saturday
Château Waffle
A breakfast-for-dinner pop-up featuring waffles, grits, steak au poivre, and fries at Desert’s Coffee Shop.

More Information

Echo Park

Saturday
Spoke Social
A night of food, drinks, local bands, DJs, karaoke, giveaways, and bike films, all while fundraising, supporting, and bringing together the bike community.

More Information

Sunday
Outdoor Drawing Workshop
An outdoor drawing session at Echo Park Lake where guests of all skill levels can practice, create, and learn from one another in a relaxed community setting.

More Information

Historic Filipinotown

Sunday
Every Sunday Funday Market
Every Sunday Funday Market is back this weekend with Thai food, ice pops, retro Japanese electronics, tableware and home goods, handmade jewelry, plant-based skincare, and typewriter poetry.

More Information

Downtown

Friday
Couplet 1 Year Anniversary
Couplet coffee DTLA is celebrating their 1-year anniversary with live music on their newly renovated rooftop.

More Information

Highland Park

Friday
Los Ceramics Studio Grand Opening
A night of ceramics, drinks & music, to celebrate the opening of Highland Park’s community pottery studio.

More Information

Multiple Locations

Saturday
August 08 Day
An all-day celebration featuring a wellness walk centered on healing through grief, a festival merchandise pop-up, and a late-night after-party with music and custom airbrushed shirts.

More Information

Saturday-Sunday
DRMTLGY: The 15 Minute Facial Pop-Up
Stop by DRMTLGY’s truck to explore their FacialRX Collection, receive personalized skincare recommendations, cool off with a popsicle, and enjoy exclusive samples & prizes while supplies last.

More Information

No Purchase Necessary

Friends, there’s a new online shopping site we need to chat about. You browse thousands of products. You add items to your cart. You check out.

All pretty normal. Here’s what’s making the headlines: your card is never charged and nothing arrives at your doorstep.

Congratulations. You bought absolutely nothing. Paid for nothing. And in return, received nothing.

So... window shopping... online? Apparently, it’s called a “dopamine site” (imagine explaining this concept to our grandparents).

Since then, I’ve been trying to figure out whether this was the most depressing thing I’d ever heard... or a stroke of Gen Z brilliance. I still haven’t. But it begs the question: Why does pretending to shop feel so satisfying?

Retail therapy is practically scientifically proven at this point. And window shopping has probably been around since the horse-and-buggy days (someone should probably fact-check that). But this feels wildly different.

For my fellow Sex and the City fans, I couldn’t help but wonder... what would Carrie Bradshaw think? I can imagine an episode where someone tells her about it over Cosmos, and she’d be equal parts horrified and intrigued.

By Sunday brunch she’d casually announce:
“Ladies...I think I went shopping.”

Charlotte: “Oh! What did you get?”

“... Nothing.”

Miranda: “Nothing?”

“Well...I filled my cart. Then I checked out.”

“And?”

“Nothing came. That was it.”

(Cue Samantha making a joke HBO would approve, but Substack probably won’t.)

The conversation would then spiral into one of Carrie’s columns about why pretending to buy something scratched an itch she didn’t even know she had... but why?

My theory? We love trying to separate the experience from the consequence.

The luxury without the price tag. The taste without the calories. This is how brands like Quince, Halo Top and SmartSweets became household names. They’re not trying to replace the real thing. They’re trying to capture enough of the experience that you don’t miss it quite as much.

And today, online shopping without the spending has its own website.

Maybe fake shopping sites fall into the same category as Halo Top. All things in moderation, right? If ice cream is your comfort food, some people grab a healthier alternative to get through the week. And if online shopping helps you unwind, maybe a fake site is just a harmless hack for someone trying to spend less.

And then the hard stuff like Bacio di Latte is reserved for a real Friday night indulgence. Just like buying an item that actually shows up both on your credit card statement and doorstep.

Last week I wrote that different people need different things. I still believe that. If pretending to buy a pair of shoes helps someone save their money, I genuinely don’t see that as a bad thing.

We’ve figured out a way to keep the dopamine and remove the spending, all from the comfort of our couches. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized this wasn’t really about consumption at all. Instead, it reminded me of all the other places we quietly feed our imaginations...

We make Pinterest boards for homes we’ll probably never decorate.

We scroll listings on Zillow for fun.

We vote on AI-generated cozy cabins we’d want to disappear to.

We make AI-generated fan-fiction trailers for movies that don’t exist.

We digitally hoard more recipes than we’ll ever need to keep ourselves alive.

Basically, it’s all just the grown-up version of the imaginary worlds we built with Barbies and superheroes.

I don’t think fake shopping sites invented anything new. Instead, they gave us another place to daydream. We used to doodle in the margins and stare out of classroom windows to let our minds wander. Now, we scroll. And look at all kinds of things we have zero intention or ability to experience IRL, from vacations to homes to Becca Bloom’s closet. AKA: low-stakes escapism.

And as always, I’m not here to judge, especially when I’m absolutely the target demographic this site was designed for.

I’ve lost embarrassing amounts of time online drooling over hotels for trips I don’t even have planned. I’ve rearranged furniture in apartments I don’t live in. I’ve built wishlists that would financially ruin me if I ever clicked “Checkout.” I’ve browsed countless LTK links knowing I won’t buy anything, simply because imagining a different version of my closet is oddly therapeutic.

Apparently, my imagination has graduated from touring with the Spice Girls at age six to disappearing into English cottage renovation videos and mentally choosing gowns I’ll never own. And with expensive taste, to boot (don’t even get me started on my dream Givenchy boots!!).

Sometimes we aren’t just browsing a house on Zillow for fun. We’re secretly fantasizing about a different life.

We aren’t just watching Italy itinerary videos online. We’re imagining a version of ourselves that embraces la dolce vita and slows down.

We aren’t just filling up a shopping cart. We’re filling in the blanks of who we want to dress up as.

Adults don’t get many opportunities to daydream anymore. Every spare minute is filled with emails, notifications, headlines and errands. But the internet has become a bigger playground than Disneyland to let our grown-up imaginations run wild.

Scrolling through imaginary shopping carts, Italian villas and dream kitchens isn’t just about scratching a consumerism itch. Online is one of the few places we still let our minds wander when the real world feels a little too loud.

Turns out, adulthood never took away our imagination. It just changed what we play with.

—Your Friend

Saturday
LA Girls Book Club: Beaches & Books
Our July LA Girls Book Club is heading to Zuma Beach to chat about Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. Bring your book, your beach chair, and your favorite snack.

More Information

Calabasas

Sunday
Café Solis Cars & Coffee Grand Opening
A cars-and-coffee celebration marking Cafe Solis’ first anniversary and the opening of its new Calabasas warehouse café, with coffee, cars, and a relaxed community hangout.

More Information

Santa Monica

Saturday
Glass House Farms x Mr. Charlie’s Plant Based Run Club
A community morning run followed by plant-based sandwiches and orange juice at Mr. Charlie’s. The first 40 runners receive a limited-edition run club shirt and complimentary food.

More Information

Venice

Sunday
Coffee & Chill
A morning wellness event featuring a workout class, coffee, cold plunges, saunas, wellness samples, snacks.

More Information

Mid-City

Saturday
Vandy the Pink x ASICS LA Pop-Up
A one-day pop-up featuring a limited-edition, ice-cream-inspired footwear and apparel collection. Items are available first come, first served, with a one-pair-per-color limit.

More Information

West Hollywood

Sunday
Cloudnine
An afternoon party featuring music, drinks, and sunset views at Harriet’s Rooftop.

More Information

Beverly Grove

Saturday
Glamnetic Sweet 7th
Celebrate Glamnetic’s birthday with us this weekend with Dot Cakes, Birthday Cake Matchas, and a few sweet surprises we can’t wait for you to see!

More Information

Fairfax

Friday-Sunday
Ariana Grande’s Petal Pop-Up
Shop exclusive petal merch and music at this special in-store activation.

More Information

Larchmont

Saturday
Yogurt or Nothing?!
Mori Haus is popping up at Suá Superette with a limited menu of signature yogurt bowls

More Information

Silver Lake

Saturday
Shmasters Burger Eating Contest
The strongest and hungriest burger eaters in Los Angeles will gather to compete for the most coveted title in the game: the 2026 BNSD SHMASTERS Grand Champion.

More Information

Echo Park

Saturday
Saturday Night Off Sunset
A night dedicated to great music, dancing, and meeting new people in Echo Park.

More Information

Saturday
Play By Ear
Dance party with a live DJ. No cover. Pull up ready to MOVE.

More Information

Sunday
Temple Art Market
A day of local art, handmade goods, and good vibes. Shop small, meet the makers behind the work, and support your local art community.

More Information

Downtown LA

Saturday
Cloud Café Pop-Up
Cloud Café’s one-day pop-up serving collagen coffee and tea, with exclusive merchandise, complimentary samples, and special pricing while supplies last.

More Information

Sunday
Summer Block Party
A free summer block party featuring seafood and other food vendors, drinks, music, and a challenge to guess the weight to win a whole ora king salmon.

More Information

Lincoln Heights

Saturday
Grounded x Mind Liquid Pop-Up
A collaborative pop-up by Grounded Blanks and Mind Liquid featuring a new collection, exclusive pieces, live screen printing, airbrushing, food and drinks.

More Information

Highland Park

Sunday
York Manor Market
A neighborhood market featuring 35 local vendors offering clothing, jewelry, ceramics, art, home goods, tattoos, food, drinks, and a live doodle booth.

More Information

Pasadena

Friday-Sunday
Stationery Store Day
A multi-day stationery pop-up featuring limited-edition merchandise, mystery stationery bags, a stamp station, in-store activities, and weekend specials.

More Information

Everyone’s Doing The Work

Everyone knows there are certain topics avoided in mixed company. (Money. Religion. Politics.)

In Los Angeles, therapy isn’t one of them.

Around here, bringing up our experience with therapy is on the same level of fluffy small talk as chatting about the weather (especially since our perfectly stable weather gives us very little material to talk about).

So, naturally I’ve found myself having some version of the same conversation about therapy with Friends, family and even acquaintances over the last few weeks. Not a single one was debating whether therapy works. That would be a tough sell in LA, where even our dogs can have emotional therapists now. What stood out to me, though, was that everyone seemed to have different ideas of what therapy is actually for.

A family member even put words to what everyone was dancing around during one conversation: How long is “normal” to be in therapy these days?

And the more I listened, the more I noticed the answers seemed to line up almost perfectly by generation. Not an exact science, but close enough.

My grandparents’ generation? Therapy was somewhere between unimaginable and unnecessary. It wasn’t exactly dinner table conversation unless it was gossip, usually about someone everyone agreed was so detached from reality they may as well have been living on another planet. Like Mars. Or Malibu.

My parents’ generation generally viewed it as a resource for getting through something specific. A divorce. Grief. A particularly difficult season. You went, worked through it and hopefully reached a point where you no longer needed to go.

Then there’s my generation.

A lot of people I know don’t really talk about therapy as something you finish. It’s just...part of life. Like going to the gym or the dentist. Or the Hollywood Farmers’ Market to see your tomato guy.

We talk about attachment and communication styles to help us become stronger partners. And boundaries and healing childhood wounds before having children ourselves. All with the ultimate goal of breaking generational patterns and becoming more self-reflective than the generations before us.

To be fair, Los Angeles isn’t exactly an unbiased sample size. Working on yourself is practically a civic duty. We don’t just have therapists. If I had a dollar for every person I’ve met who swears by their life coach, medium, chakra aligner or spiritual advisor, I could probably retail-therapy all my problems away on Melrose.

Personally, I’ve dabbled in enough of everything myself to believe there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Different self-help strokes for different folks. If something genuinely helps you become a healthier, happier version of yourself, I’m all for it.

But somewhere in the middle of all these conversations, I found myself asking the most therapy-coded question imaginable: How does this make me feel?

Physical therapy usually has an end goal. Speech therapy often has milestones. Even couples therapy is usually centered around working toward something specific together.

Today, it almost feels like we’ve created an entirely new category of therapy. One that’s less about getting through something and more about continually working on yourself. Less like recovering from an injury and more like going to the gym. Ongoing. Preventative. A regular investment in your well-being.

And what’s wrong with that?

There’s something I really admire about our generation’s willingness to keep doing the work. I think of a Friend of mine who’s been seeing a therapist once or twice a month for several years. She’s wildly successful, deeply self-aware and holds herself to an incredibly high standard (as most high performers do). She once told me that therapy is her luxury. A protected hour where she gives herself permission to slow down and untangle all of the mental noise that comes with living life at full speed.

I also have a Friend who started therapy as part of preparing for motherhood. Not because she expected to be perfect, but because she realized there were certain habits, reactions and patterns she’d rather unpack now than pass on to her future kids. How cool is that?

I think there’s power in being the Kourtney Kardashian of your family—the one who’s always nudging everyone toward a little more self-growth and awareness. Even if it occasionally annoys the hell out of those around you, there’s something undeniably admirable about refusing to settle for emotional stagnation. About believing growth isn’t reserved for moments of crisis.

And sure, we may be the more self-absorbed generation, but that isn’t always a bad thing. It also means we’re the most emotionally self-aware. We talk openly about mental health. We encourage people to ask for help. We want to understand ourselves better and pass a little less baggage on to the next generation.

At the same time, for many people, the goal isn’t to stay in therapy forever. It’s to eventually feel confident navigating life on their own. I recently came across a Bustle article about a woman whose therapist encouraged her to “graduate.”

Graduate.

I couldn’t stop thinking about that word. Of course, I imagine a great therapist should genuinely want their clients to feel strong enough to leave if—and when—that’s what feels right. To feel equipped to navigate life without regular guidance if that’s what they’d prefer. Another Friend of mine turned to therapy for the first time during a painful divorce. It carried her through the hardest, rawest two years of her life. Once she was back on her feet, she graduated.

Isn’t that success too?

Maybe that’s where the great therapy divide really lives. Some see therapy as a destination. Others see it as a lifestyle.

Some people seek therapy to work through a specific chapter of life. Others live with circumstances that benefit from long-term or even lifetime support. Some leave and come back during different seasons. Others find that having an ongoing space to process life makes them happier and healthier.

One celebrates resilience after making it through something incredibly difficult. The other celebrates the ongoing commitment to becoming the healthiest version of yourself.

I can see the beauty in both.

Neither path sounds inherently better than the other. The only version that worries me is the one where we stop healing and growing altogether.

Mental health isn’t linear. There isn’t a universal finish line. Whether therapy lasts six months, six years or the rest of your life, the goal is the same: to keep moving forward. Whatever that looks like.

If that’s happening, I’d say you’re doing just fine.

—Your Friend

Saturday-Sunday
Mystos Malibu Pop-Up
A weekend surf pop-up featuring more than 40 new and used Ryan Burch surfboards, plus the Mystos summer drop. Hosted at the Simone Fan Store inside Surf Canyon.

More Information

Venice

Saturday
Little Market
A beachside community market featuring 15 local brands, vintage finds, art, jewelry, tattoos, music, coffee, and pizza.

More Information

Saturday
Swirl Surfskate Fest
An all-day surfskate festival under the Venice Sign featuring a competition with prizes and guest judges, live music, a local market, a paddle-out, and a pop-up skatepark.

More Information

Sunday
Salsa Pa’ La Gente
A daytime salsa party featuring vinyl-only music, an On2 salsa class, live percussion, saxophone, and special guests.

More Information

Mar Vista

Saturday
Cook From Your Culture
A culture-themed potluck where guests bring a homemade dish inspired by their heritage, family traditions, childhood, or a meal that feels like home.

More Information

Playa Vista

Saturday
The Makers Hive Market
A free, pet-friendly market featuring more than 25 local makers and artisans, live music, handmade goods, jewelry, home décor, treats, art, and interactive activities

More Information

Manhattan Beach

Saturday
Manhattan Beach Cars & Coffee
A morning car show featuring more than 200 vehicles, from modern supercars and classic Porsches to hot rods, American muscle, and exotics. Coffee, pastries, cookies, and breakfast treats will also be available.

More Information

West Hollywood

Friday-Sunday
Clinique x Bluestone Lane: Almost Lipstick Day Pop-Up
Clinique and Bluestone Lane are celebrating National Lipstick Day early with a limited-edition Black Honey-inspired cold brew, plus special surprises for early visitors.

More Information

Hollywood Hills

Saturday
Year of Ours x Richsport: Tennis Club
A morning tennis event with coached drills, skill-building, and friendly competitive play. Choose between a beginner session or an intermediate session.

More Information

Hollywood

Friday
About Last Night
A handful of LA locals share their worst dating and hookup stories while a live musician turns the stories into songs after.

More Information

Silver Lake

Friday-Sunday
The Crop Shop
Bring clothing or textiles to be cropped, hemmed, or reworked during a one-on-one consultation with SUAY’s sewing team.

More Information

Saturday
Plant Sale at AKILA LA
A plant sale at AKILA’s Silver Lake flagship featuring plants by A.D.L.R., music by Botanical Sounds, and a complimentary plant with any eyewear purchase while supplies last.

More Information

Echo Park

Saturday
BLVD Run Club
A community run around Echo Park Lake featuring a relaxed two-mile route made up of two laps. Open to runners of all levels.

More Information

Downtown LA

Friday
OFFLINE: A Social Mixer for Creatives
A casual networking mixer for LA film creatives to meet new people, grab drinks, and connect with the Sonder Pictures community. Guests can stay afterward for a karaoke night.

More Information

Saturday–Sunday
Obscura Collective Summer Sample Sale
A two-day fashion sale featuring pieces from emerging designers, plus an expanded vintage section with items for $10 or less. The first 10 customers receive a free surprise goodie bag.

More Information

Boyle Heights

Saturday
Mori Haus Surprise Pop-Up
An RSVP-only comeback pop-up serving Mori Haus yogurt bowls and signature matcha in limited quantities. Each guest must register individually, with space limited to 170 people.

More Information

Pasadena

Saturday
Souu Taiwanese Breakfast Pop-Up
A Taiwanese breakfast pop-up at Mandarin 2 serving Dan Bing and Fan Tuan in limited quantities until everything sells out.

More Information

Multiple Locations

Friday
The Strokes Listening Party
A two-location listening party celebrating The Strokes, featuring music, drinks, and a chance to win tickets to Just Like Heaven.

More Information

The Cost of Knowing Exactly What You Want

I have a few single girlfriends who genuinely make you wonder where all the good men are hiding (somewhere between Bigfoot and affordable LA housing).

Funny. Smart. Successful. Kind. The type of women you’d happily set your brother up with (assuming your brother has his life together). Picture us having dinner last weekend at The Grill on the Alley, talking about the greatest art heists in history over our first round of martinis. Just kidding, we were talking about men. But we got to the art heists later because contrary to every rom-com ever made, men aren’t the only things we talk about.

Anyway, back to our dating conversation. Or, more specifically, the list. You know the one...

Tall (6’3’‘ on a bad day)
Blue eyes
(...I’m looking for a man in finance...)
Funny
Full head of hair
Tattoos (vs. no tattoos)
Facial hair (vs. clean shaven)
Lives within a 10 mile radius (or at least isn’t “figuring out his startup” in his childhood bedroom)
Likes to travel
Well-dressed
Owns more than one set of bedsheets

The longer we chatted, the more it sounded like we were building a science experiment. It made me realize we’ve become incredibly good at describing people we’ve never met. And this isn’t only something straight women do, by the way, I think it applies to everyone.

Like looking for a home. Three-car garage. In a cul-de-sac. Open floor plan. Four bedrooms. Five-and-a-half baths. Within the zoning lines to send the children to Malibu High, and close enough to Harvard-Westlake for the more studious sibling.

Before I go any further, I should probably say this: I still wholeheartedly believe in standards. But by standards, I’m talking about things like...

Kindness.
Integrity.
Emotional maturity.
Respect.
Communication.
Follow-through.
Curiosity.
Someone who makes your life feel lighter instead of heavier.

Those are about how your life actually feels when you’re with someone, which are non-negotiable. And if you need a three-car garage, who am I to tell you otherwise?

What I’m talking about are specifications. The things we can list before someone even says hello (height, hair volume, eye color, job title, etc.). Second disclaimer: I’m not suggesting anyone ignore physical attraction or chemistry. If anything, attraction and chemistry are some of the hardest things to predict before two people actually meet.

But modern dating deserves some grace. The apps have changed everything, and people are burned out. Finding someone who’s emotionally available, compatible and looking for the same things you are is harder than finding Saturday night street parking or Sunday Erewhon parking in Silver Lake.

The result has turned romance into something that often feels more like online shopping than meeting another human being. Even our Friend Esther Perel, and today’s leading relationship psychotherapist, explained this on Call Her Daddy as an era of “romantic consumerism,” where the search for the perfect person can start to overshadow the experience of actually getting to know one. She made another point that stuck with me: first dates have started feeling less like dates and more like job interviews. Instead of trying to determine whether someone is “the one” over a 45-minute cocktail, what if we approached the evening with a little more curiosity than evaluation?

Third disclaimer: Before anyone reminds me that dating in your 30s is different, I know. The stakes might feel higher and time feels shorter depending on what your goals are. No one is suggesting we ignore red flags or waste months endlessly entertaining the wrong people. Time is valuable. This is just about recognizing that some things (like chemistry) don’t always reveal themselves as quickly as a LinkedIn profile.

We do this in a lot of other areas in life, honestly. It reminds me of a Friend of mine who “said yes to the dress” after ten bridal appointments. She walked into every wedding dress store with the same crystal-clear vision of what she wanted. A specific fabric and shade of white. A certain silhouette and neckline. But every time she tried it on, it felt somehow underwhelming. So she’d move on to the next store, convinced “the one” perfect dress she was envisioning was hanging somewhere else.

At the ninth boutique, the consultant was willing to try just about anything. She came out carrying a dress that was the complete opposite of her specifications. My Friend immediately dismissed it on the hanger, but put it on to be polite.

It was the dress she got married in. She still talks about her complete shock and sheer excitement when she put on that dress and finally had her “this is my wedding dress” bridal movie moment.

I think this is just how humans work sometimes...we become so attached to the picture in our heads that we stop noticing when something better might be standing right in front of us. We don’t leave ourselves as open to chance, possibility or surprise.

Outside of dating and wedding dresses, it could be the neighborhood we swore we’d never live in.

The job we almost skipped because it wasn’t exactly what we’d pictured.

The night we almost didn’t go out because we weren’t feeling 100% put together and our best (which are usually the most memorable).

The Friendship we might’ve missed because we didn’t instantly click during that first impression (a few of my closest Friendships started like that.)

Sometimes things, places and people don’t immediately match the picture we had in our heads. Which makes me wonder if certainty isn’t always our greatest strength. Maybe curiosity is.

Esther has pointed out that our phones have trained us to expect certainty. Every app tells us where to eat next, what to watch, which hotel to book and what to buy. We rarely have to wonder anymore because someone or something has already ranked it for us.

Five stars.
Good reviews.
10/10.
Add to cart.
Next.

In dating app terms: Tall. Great smile. Witty prompt answers. Taurus. Swipe right. Next.

Going back to my Friend at the bridal store: She didn’t find “the one” because she gathered more information. She found it because she experienced something she never could’ve predicted from a hanger. Every dress was compared to the picture she’d already created in her head. And then they didn’t feel right once she put them on, so she’d move on to the next boutique convinced her perfect dress was still out there.

Ironically, she finally found it as soon as she let go of the idea that she’d recognize her dream dress immediately. Sometimes the things that end up being right for us aren’t the ones that look perfect to us on a hanger, on paper or on an app.

The point isn’t to abandon standards or specifications altogether. It’s to remember that some of life’s biggest decisions can’t be made with certainty from a distance. We need to stop imagining the experience and actually have it.

That’s where discovery begins...

So let’s stay curious and open to being pleasantly surprised.

—Your Friend

Sunday
Coast ‘26
Over a mile of open streets with live music, art, soccer, food trucks, and play zones, bringing thousands together for Santa Monica’s biggest summer send-off.

More Information

Venice

Friday
Annual Global Midnight Run
A late-night community run through Venice with Midnight Runners Los Angeles. Arrive in lights and your brightest neon colors for their most vibrant Midnight Run yet.

More Information

Saturday
Sample Sale + Vintage Pop-Up
Shop discounted Frankies Bikinis and Emi Jay pieces alongside a hand-picked vintage collection.

More Information

Sunday
5K, Matcha & Makeup
Luft Los Angeles and Forta are hosting a 5K run or walk followed by pastries, matcha, and beauty charms.

More Information

Marina del Rey

Sunday
LikeMinded Run Club
A relaxed four-mile run along the coast where guests can meet new people, enjoy the ocean breeze, and stick around afterward for a recovery session at LikeMinded.

More Information

Fairfax

Saturday
World Cup Watch Party
Watch the third-place playoff and the World Cup Final on the big screen at Brain Dead Studios.

More Information

Hollywood

Friday-Sunday
Tankair Pop-Up
Tankair is hosting its first pop-up ever.

More Information

Griffith Park

Saturday
Year of Ours x Tower 28 Hike Club
A morning hike focused on movement, community, and fresh air.

More Information

Silver Lake

Sunday
Happy Hour Pool Practice
A free pool practice with vinyl music, merch, and the World Cup Final playing at the bar.

More Information

Historic Filipinotown

Friday
Los Caramelos at 1642
Los Caramelos are performing a free late-night set featuring bolero, bossa nova, ranchera, and more at 1642 Bar.

More Information

Downtown Los Angeles

Saturday
Performance of Self
A free, one-night immersive exhibition exploring identity through fashion, photography, and image while celebrating LA’s local creative community.

More Information

Sunday
Dulce Nostalgia
La Cita Bar is hosting a late-night dance party with throwback music, food, glamour portraits, and a World Cup jersey theme.

More Information

Sunday
World Cup Final Watch Party
Copa del Rave is hosting a World Cup Final watch party at LA State Historic Park with DJs and a festival-style crowd.

More Information

Northridge

Friday
Patio Music at Yonder Coffee
Yonder Coffee is hosting an evening with DJ Kyle Junn, food vendors, coffee, and live patio vibes.

More Information

Boyle Heights

Friday
Supernova Nights
Supernova Thrift is bringing back Supernova Nights for an evening featuring local artists, unique vendors, live music, and community vibes.

More Information

Eagle Rock

Saturday
Baryo Marketplace
A community market with food, local shopping, music, café drinks, and a special Baryoke hour.

More Information

Pasadena

Saturday
Dry July Tasting Market
Burden of Proof is hosting a free tasting market featuring five California non-alcoholic beverage brands and more than 10 pours. Guests can meet the makers, learn how the drinks are crafted, and enter to win prizes.

More Information

Sunday
Yamanaka Kakigori Shave Ice Pop-Up
Woon welcomes Yamanaka Kakigori for a shave ice pop-up during brunch.

More Information

Sponsored by BeingHuman™

I recently read a piece from our Friends at The Everygirl titled “We’ve Health and Wellness’d Too Close to the Sun.” It explored how things that were once widely recognized as unhealthy like nicotine are being rebranded through the language of wellness and biohacking. Yes, nicotine. For health. In 2026. Apparently, “clean” nicotine enhances focus, curbs cravings and boosts energy.

I’m not a doctor. I don’t even play one on TV. But I have a feeling even clean nicotine wouldn’t make it past Erewhon’s ingredient standards. And this got me thinking...that maybe we’ve lost our minds a little trying to save ourselves finding solutions to every problem.

Think about this with me. We can’t just be tired anymore. We have to determine whether it’s our cortisol, hormones, blood sugar, magnesium, circadian rhythm or our “adrenal support window” (whoever he is).

We can’t just be grumpy once a month. Now there’s a period drink (which I’m trying btw, not an ad but will report back).

Water? Not enough if you’re drinking it the way our ancestors once did. Now it’s Erewhon’s $12 cup of “sacred water” with recipes flooding social media. Yep, recipes for water…

We can’t even find a simple moisturizer anymore without reading words like “skin barrier” or “snail mucin” (what a time to be alive...).

Basically, we can’t just breathe. We have to breathe through one nostril while facing east after cold plunging for exactly 2.5 minutes or it doesn’t count.

And I’m sure somewhere, gracing a 90210 shelf is a Tuesday Afternoon Fatigue Tonic that’s been bottled beautifully for $25.

It’s no wonder the health and wellness industry is now worth $6.8 trillion. Every single part about being human has become its own product category.

Sleep has gummies, sprays, mouth tape, tracking rings and specialty elixirs. Stress has powders, adaptogens and patches. Digestion has greens, enzymes and probiotics. Hydration has a fucking fuck-ton of electrolyte packets with new brands launching every 2.4 seconds. Focus has fancy mushrooms, nootropics and liposomal packets. Recovery has massage guns, compression boots and cold plunges. Basically, all things keeping the likes of Goop and Erewhon extremely alive and well.

With all of these products trying to fix something plaguing the human condition, when does a person get to simply exist?

I fear, my Friends, that we can’t. Because we know too much now. Which has led to our ultimate demise: we’ve become incredibly uncomfortable with being human, or dare I even say it: average.

Normal energy levels.
Normal skin.
Average fitness.
Average productivity.
Average mornings.

Instead, everything has to become “optimal.” Which means, everything has become a product opportunity. We’ve reached a point where every normal human experience now has its own aisle.

Sometimes I imagine someone like Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra magically reappearing in 2026 Los Angeles, wandering into Erewhon and seeing things like cramp elixirs and “Hyper-Oxygenated” Water.” I can’t help but wonder what they would think of all this stuff today. Possibly that we’ve completely lost it, while marveling at all the things they had to go without (and filling their carts out of sheer curiosity). They’d be looking for Lucky Strike cigarettes (because everything during LA’s Golden Age was built on tobacco) and rolling their equally famous blue eyes when they learn the modern equivalent comes in the form of gummy candy called “Lemme Chill.”

The funny thing is...I’m not even against most of it. Quite the opposite.

We live in an extraordinary time. (Un-ironically: what a time to be alive!!)

Therapy is more accessible and less stigmatized than ever. Mental health is finally part of everyday conversation.

Women’s health is finally being studied on a deeper level. PCOS, endometriosis and menopause are conversations instead of whispers.

Science-backed supplements can genuinely help people fill nutritional gaps and improve overall health.

We can track everything from our heart rate to our sleep quality from a device on our wrist.

We understand sleep, nutrition and mental health better than any generation before us.

I wouldn’t trade any of that.

But the problem is that we now know too much to ignore wellness, but nowhere near enough to know which topics deserve our attention. And which products are really the right ones for our individual anatomy (vs. the ones with shiny branding). So really, we’ve learned just enough to overwhelm and confuse us.

We aren’t stressed because wellness exists. We’re stressed because everything suddenly exists and it all sounds SO important. Gut testing. Cortisol management. Creatine and protein. Seed cycling. Oil pulling. Red light therapy. Lymphatic drainage. Each one sounds more essential than the last. Every influencer has the routine. Every product promises to change our lives. Every podcast insists we’re one overlooked habit away from becoming our healthiest selves.

The tricky part is that we’ve all become amateur researchers. We have more access to health information than any generation before us (again: what a time to be alive!!). But after too many TikToks explaining that the fatigue you’re experiencing could be anything from low iron to high cortisol to mold exposure, it’s hard to know when you’re learning vs. spiraling.

And while the wellness industry hurdles further into the trillions, it’s harder than ever to separate science from buzzy marketing. If you watch Shark Tank, you know the first thing Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner ask about any wellness-related product is third-party testing and scientific evidence. It’s exactly why companies like Goop landed in legal trouble over the infamous Yoni Egg (the gemstone controversially made for women to put up their you-know-exactly-where). Sometimes the best marketing in the room isn’t the best science.

The irony is that an industry built around helping us feel healthier has also become so great at making us feel like we’re constantly doing health...wrong.

Maybe the healthiest thing we can do is be kinder to ourselves and remember that not every ordinary human experience needs to be optimized. When taking care of ourselves starts feeling heavier than the thing it’s trying to fix, it might be time to simplify. This doesn’t mean caring less about our health, just not being as pre-occupied with everyone else’s version of health.

So, for anyone else feeling overwhelmed by wellness....consider this my completely unlicensed medical advice from someone who isn’t a doctor (just a Friend who holds a double PhD in Internet Self-Diagnosis and Optimistic Consumerism):

Trust the basics that genuinely work for you.
Keep listening to your body.
Never stop advocating for your own health.
Stay curious enough to explore new answers—but release the pressure to perfect every part of being human.
And remember that wellness should support your life, not compete with it.

The healthiest habits are usually the ones that quietly make your life easier, not busier. Instead of making us feel like we’re failing at being human, wellness should make life feel bigger. After all, not everyone has to aspire to become a wellness expert. It’s okay if your goal is simply to feel well enough to enjoy being alive.

And what a time to be alive!

—Your Friend

Saturday
SMBF
Santa Monica Block Fest Vol. V takes over all three blocks of Third Street Promenade for a free night of house music, food, drinks, art, merch, and dancing in the heart of Santa Monica.

More Information

Venice

Friday-Saturday
Football on the Beach
Windward Plaza will turn into the Los Angeles World Cup 26 Fan Zone on the beach for the biggest watch party to hit Venice Beach!

More Information

Sunday
Coffee & Chill Wellness Club
A weekend full of incredible matches, from a huge pre-event workout, to plunges in full force, to the introduction of sauna trucks, partners galore, pickup games, and so much more.

More Information

Sunday
Venice Street Fair
A summer celebration with live music, local makers, artists, small businesses and more.

More Information

Sherman Oaks

Saturday
Summer Party
Enjoy a live DJ, dancing, delicious bites & drinks, curated pop-up shops & vendors, interactive activations and photo ops, exclusive giveaways, and so much more!

More Information

Beverly Hills

Sunday
Festival Beverly Hills
A vibrant day of music, dance, cultural experiences, culinary delights, and community celebration.

More Information

West Hollywood

Friday
Rare Beauty LA Pop-Up
An immersive pop-up celebrating the launch of Rare Beauty’s NEW Soft Pinch Lip Oil Stick. The first 200 guests to purchase get a free Rare Beauty tote bag and the first 1,500 guests receive be an employee perk!

More Information

Friday-Sunday
Hince X Mewame Shaved Ice Collab
To celebrate the launch of Hince’s Chill Voyage Collection, Hince has teamed up with Mewame for a special 3-day weekend pop-up, serving a limited-edition shaved ice inspired by the feeling of a chilled hince summer.

More Information

Saturday
Thunder Road Trading Post
A free parking lot market with vintage finds, local makers, coffee, beer & wine, snacks, and a laid-back community vibe behind Thunder Road Cafe & Motorcycles.

More Information

Melrose Hill

Saturday
Collage Workshop
Cut & paste a collage using vintage magazines in a workshop led by artist Julia Walck in her art studio.

More Information

Griffith Park

Saturday
Los Angeles French Fry Festival
The Los Angeles French Fry Festival brings LA’s first fry-focused food festival to The Autry in Griffith Park, featuring loaded fries, dipping sauces, food trucks, games, contests, and family-friendly fun.

More Information

Echo Park

Saturday
Lotus Festival
A day of culture, community, music, and great food. We’ll be serving our Chicken Strips & Chips and Fish & Chips all day long.

More Information

Downtown LA

Saturday-Sunday
Lost in Dreams
A two-day electronic music festival bringing dreamy visuals, immersive stages, and melodic dance music.

More Information

Sunday
Love Island Finale Watch Party
Bingo games, a vintage photobooth, specialty drinks, and more come together for a fun watch party celebrating the finale of Love Island.

More Information

Sunday
World of Sound
A free World Cup quarterfinals block party with outdoor match screenings, music collectives, food vendors, drinks, giveaways hosted by Menace X Adidas Futbol Society.

More Information

Eagle Rock

Sunday
July's International House of Breakfast
A Filipino breakfast pop-up featuring timed breakfast slots and breakfast karaoke.

More Information

Long Beach

Saturday
Good Luck Vinyl Movie Night
A summer movie night featuring a free Italo disco party with an all-vinyl DJ set, followed by a screening of Call Me By Your Name.

More Information

Multiple Locations

Sunday
Pizza Run Club
Pizza Run Club kicks off at Prince Street Pizza, with a run or walk, pizza, Red Bull, and new friends before ending at Bar Next Door with drinks and more pizza.

More Information

We Heard There Was a Wedding.

Unless you swore off the internet this weekend (in a real way, not the same way we promise to swear off our ex) or were suddenly plucked from the Earth, you probably noticed there was one thing everyone was talking about.

The World Cup took a back seat. Even America’s 250th had to share the stage.

The global distraction: Taylor Swift tied the knot.

It takes a lot to get the entire internet to look in the same direction these days. But for about 48 hours, Instagram Stories looked identical. Table conversations we could overhear around us sounded similar. TikTok became an endless scroll of guest arrivals, blurry paparazzi shots and outfit speculation. Even people who couldn’t name three Taylor Swift songs somehow knew who attended the wedding. It was like one big @DeuxMoi takeover.

This was not just another celebrity wedding (there’s never been a shortage of those). Love her or not, it was the closest thing our generation has to a royal wedding—with die-hard loyalists, people who couldn’t care less but still couldn’t escape the coverage, fans camping out for a glimpse and millions more following every update from other states or countries.

Regardless of how you feel about Taylor, you cannot deny it was a cultural moment.

Previous generations had a lot of moments that brought nearly everyone together. They gathered around the TV for history like the moon landing, whatever show had the entire neighborhood racing home to catch before someone spoiled it the next day and events that felt bigger than any one person. And before you come for us, no, we’re not comparing Tay marrying KillaTrav to mankind landing on the moon.

Outside of the Super Bowl, the Olympics or maybe the Met Gala, those moments have become surprisingly rare. Even those events don’t always transcend generations and communities the way the Swift x Kelce wedding did. My dad has nothing to say about the Met Gala every year, but somehow had plenty of thoughts about this wedding. And one of my Friends who has never been a Swiftie and isn’t remotely interested in sports (unless you count her Favorite Daughter sweatshirt that says “Go Sports!”) suddenly had detailed opinions on everything from the wedding dress theories to the venue.

We don’t even have the Oscars in common anymore, unlike our grandparents’ generation who watched them like a national holiday despite having nothing to do with Hollywood. With everyone streaming a different show you’ve never heard of, the explosion of Dancing WIth the Stars reminded us how fun it is when everyone’s watching the same episode each week.

Most of us don’t even live on the same side of the internet anymore.

One of our Friends is living on BookTok. Another’s algorithm is nothing but marathon training videos. I somehow ended up on Formula 1 TikTok (which I’m not complaining about hehe). The people who somehow missed MormonTok had absolutely no idea why everyone was suddenly talking about women in Utah. Maybe yours is filled with recipes I’ll never see.

Our online worlds have become so personalized that two people can spend hours scrolling and walk away having seen almost nothing in common.

But every once in a while, we’re all on the same page. Like when John Travolta introduced “Adele Dazeem.” Or the collective fever dream that was Tiger King. Or the endless Love Island memes.

This past weekend was one of those times. We all found ourselves looking at the same photos, making the same jokes and wondering about the same unknowns. Like we all got to meet for drinks at the bar and fun conversation before returning to our own neighborhoods (or corners of the internet).

Then...almost on cue, the internet remembered it was the internet and the conversation shifted.
Suddenly everyone became a wedding planner, marriage expert and unofficial Taylor Swift biographer.

Everyone had an opinion.
On the flowers (the word “flaccid” was actually floated around...).
The guest list. (To quote TTPD, it truly was the “the who’s who of ‘Who’s that?’ “)
The extravagant favors. (Another lyric resurfaces a lot here: “The wedding was charming if a little gauche...”)
The price tag became its own conversation, despite reports of charitable donations made in conjunction with the wedding.

And yes, part of what makes the internet fun is the comment section—swapping theories, debating opinions and sharing unhinged jokes with GIFs. But the interesting part wasn’t the opinions, it was how strongly those opinions became expectations for someone else’s day. One of the biggest reactions from the Swiftie community, even after waiting years to celebrate this moment with her, was that the whole event just didn’t feel like her.

“She would’ve wanted something smaller.”
“She would’ve wanted something more intimate.”
“She would’ve had a more meaningful guest list.”
“I always pictured her pulling a CBK and RFK Jr., holding a secret ceremony on some remote island.”

It sort of reminded me of a Rorschach test. You know, those ink blot paintings where you’re asked to describe what you see and one person usually sees a butterfly while the other sees unresolved childhood trauma. What I mean here is: people weren’t really reacting to Taylor’s wedding, they were reacting to their own version of Taylor.

But which version is everyone thinking of? The teenage country singer who wrote Tim McGraw? The cardigan-wearing folklore poet? The Reputation-era Taylor who practically went into witness protection? The stadium-filling global phenomenon? We’ve had nearly two decades (and twelve eras) to build our own idea of who she is.

Except: none of us actually know her.

We’ve spent so long watching celebrities that it’s easy to forget how much time we spend inventing them. We’ve stopped observing public figures and started writing characters. The wedding became less about Taylor and more about whether reality matched the version each of us had already written in our heads. And then became confused when reality didn’t match.

And we don’t just do this with celebrities. We share our design notes on everyone’s kitchen renovation videos (”they shouldn’t have picked that color”). We do it with other people’s weddings (our Friend @NatashaPerry publicly defended her own wedding decor on IG after seeing the amount of online commentary). Not even morning or skincare routines are safe (you’re either doing it all wrong or not doing enough according to the comment section).

Because everything has a comment section, the internet has become one giant editing room. An open invitation to rewrite everything as we see fit.

Nothing gets to simply exist anymore.

Maybe that’s the trade-off of living online? We get to experience more moments together than any generation before us.

But in return, we feel entitled to edit them. We struggle to simply let those moments exist as is, while we witness from afar and say, “good for them!”

Because not everything needs our hot takes or edits.

Sometimes the best thing we can bring to someone else’s moment isn’t another opinion. It’s simply the ability to let it belong to them.

Maybe it wasn’t the wedding the internet would’ve planned for Taylor Swift. But it was the wedding Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce planned for themselves.

GOOD FOR THEM! And congratulations to the newlyweds!

—Your Friend

Saturday
The Dream
This 4th of July, SHADES LA is transforming Viceroy Santa Monica into a poolside world of house music with cocktails, summer games, and sunset DJ sets.

More Information

Marina del Rey

Saturday
Marina del Rey 4th of July Fireworks Show
Celebrate the holiday with a 20-minute fireworks display over the water, perfect for a scenic and festive Fourth of July evening by the marina.

More Information

Venice

Friday
First Friday on Abbot Kinney
First Friday returns to Abbot Kinney with some of LA’s favorite food trucks, local energy, and a fun neighborhood atmosphere for a casual Friday night out.

More Information

Saturday
July 4th Rubber Ducky Race
A favorite Venice Canals tradition returns with the Annual July 4th Rubber Ducky Race, supporting the Venice Canals Association’s work to preserve and care for the historic canals.

More Information

Culver City

Friday
Fat + Flour x Asiadog Pop-Up
Fat + Flour and Asiadog are teaming up for a one-day-only pop-up to kick off the holiday weekend with fun food, limited-time bites, and a casual Culver City stop.

More Information

Hollywood

Friday
Shrek With Fireworks!
A picnic-style outdoor screening of Shrek with fireworks, food, a DJ, and more after the movie.

More Information

Saturday
Swimsuits and Cowboy Boots
This Fourth of July party brings poolside country vibes to Desert 5 Spot with a Cowboy Cook-Out and a live performance by The Y’all Star Revue & Johnny Travis Jr.

More Information

Historic Filipinotown

Sunday
Temple Art Market
A Temple Art Market brings local artists and makers together for a free community market with art, vendors, matcha, music, and prizes.

More Information

Downtown LA

Friday
Pacific Electric World Cup
Pacific Electric is hosting a Colombia vs. Ghana watch party with game day specials for all ages, making it a fun Downtown LA option for soccer fans.

More Information

Friday - Sunday
Get Lost DTLA Weekend Lineup
Get Lost DTLA is hosting a full weekend lineup with hip-hop and R&B, Saturday brunch, a girls’ night party, and a ticketed Sunday day party with Roman + Friends.

More Information

Saturday
Familiar Faces 4th of July Day Party
Familiar Faces is hosting a Fourth of July day party in Los Angeles with music, dancing, and an all-day outdoor party vibe.

More Information

Sunday
LANG Los Angeles Grand Opening
LANG Los Angeles is celebrating the grand opening of its new flagship store with custom outfit illustrations, Hong Kong-inspired details, refreshments, and its latest High Summer Delivery.

More Information

Westlake

Sunday
Sunday Sessions LA
Sunday Sessions LA is hosting a vinyl-only night featuring Donald, Monoclick, and Adam Rose with deep grooves and dancefloor energy.

More Information

Exposition Park

Saturday
July 4th Benefit Show
A major Fourth of July benefit concert is taking over the LA Memorial Coliseum, hosted by Queen Latifah and featuring Chris Stapleton, Smashing Pumpkins, Chaka Khan, and more.

More Information

Echo Park

Sunday
Gemini Jewels LA Pop-Up
Gemini Jewels is hosting its annual summer LA pop-up with exclusive jewelry, vintage watches, custom engraving, free soft serve, free tote bags, and $5 whimsical hot dogs.

More Information

Atwater Village

Friday
3rd of July Party
Nico’s Wines is hosting a 3rd of July party with free cake while it lasts, glass specials all night, and tunes for a casual neighborhood celebration.

More Information

Highland Park

Sunday
World Cup Viewing Party: Mexico vs. England
A free, open-to-the-public World Cup viewing party for Mexico vs. England, perfect for soccer fans looking for a community watch party.

More Information

Pasadena

Saturday
4th of July Drone Show
Watch the sky light up over the Rose Bowl with a Fourth of July drone show. The picnic area is open to the public from 4–9PM for guests to enjoy the show.

More Information

The Things We Notice About Each Other in LA

Let’s face it, Los Angeles has a reputation for being judgmental. Which is a little unfair...

Not because we aren’t (we totally are). But only because we’re just incredibly opinionated about a very specific set of harmless things.

In our defense, we’ve collectively earned this right.... We gave the world the entertainment industry, avocado toast, In-N-Out, enough wellness trends to keep celery farms employed for decades, the Kardashian-Jenner family, Erewhon (now expanding across the country). Not to mention athleisure as acceptable dinner attire. All born right here in the city of angels.

And besides, most of our judgment isn’t reserved for tourists. They don’t know any better. Our strongest opinions are almost exclusively saved for fellow Angelenos. Once you’ve lived here long enough, you realize LA has its own unspoken social rules.

They’re ridiculous, highly specific and don’t make much sense anywhere else on Earth. Yet somehow, we all understand them. We coexist by the same invisible code in perfect harmony—or at least until someone backs up all of Abbot Kinney struggling to parallel park their Tesla Cybertruck. That’s why we need our breathwork at Satorii and massages at Tomoko.

In no particular order, here are just a few topics we’re strangely passionate (and openly judgemental) about...

Your grocery store: LA didn’t just invent the niche grocery movement—we turned it into a leisure activity. From Erewhon‘s newest rival, Laurel Supply, to holistic havens, beloved neighborhood institutions, specialty Asian grocers, gourmet Italian markets and Hallmark-level farmers markets, grocery shopping is less like an errand and more like a lifestyle sport. And where you do it is just as personal as where you live. Not because anyone actually cares where you buy your avocados, but because it tells us more about you than your astrological sign. Whether it’s Erewhon, Trader Joe’s (TJ’s if you’re truly a regular), Whole Foods, Gelson’s, Bristol Farms, Gjusta Grocer, Cookbook Market, Vintage Grocers, Mother’s, H Mart...there’s a right answer depending on who’s asking. And yes, the same logic applies to your workout studio of choice.

Celebrity run-in etiquette: You either pretend not to notice Halsey sitting next to you at Seco while simultaneously blowing up the group chat (complete with a photo of her you awkwardly snuck while pretending to check your phone), or you genuinely couldn’t care less. Brad and Angelina could get back together and renew their vows right in front of you, and you’d barely look up from your burrata. The only wrong answer is interrupting their dinner, which we would absolutely judge you for.

Your relationship with Erewhon: There are several personalities here, each with their own subgroups. If Erewhon is where you genuinely do your weekly grocery shopping, chances are you haven’t actually stepped foot inside one in years—that’s the nanny’s job (with a quick stop at Bristol Farms afterward for the “more reasonably priced” version of whatever Erewhon doesn’t have). If you’re the one doing the shopping, you’re usually one of two people: the hot bar and smoothie loyalist grabbing a few convenient extras on the way out...or the person every Angeleno quietly judges for being there to see and be seen more than actually shop.

Your parking skills: We don’t mean parallel parking, that doesn’t impress us (only annoys us if you’re not doing it fast enough). Can you back into a suspiciously tight spot on one of Highland Park’s steepest streets while avoiding the red curb, a jasmine bush, a passing delivery robot and someone’s six-figure Bronco? Now we’re talking!

Your earthquake gameplan: You either have to ask, “Did you feel that?”, or you don’t even look up from your laptop until someone else mentions it. If you have a fully stocked earthquake kit and regularly say “at least hurricanes come with a warning,” we’ll assume you’ve either been through the Northridge quake or spend too much time thinking about The Big One. If you’ve lived here for a decade and still don’t even own a flashlight because you don’t think it’s worth stressing about, the emergency-kit crowd has already formed opinions about you. Whichever camp you’re in, just know the other side is convinced they’re the smarter one.

Dietary restrictions: In this town, “Do you have any dietary restrictions?” is an invitation to tell your life’s story. If you order gluten-free, dairy-free and seed-oil-free, the burger-and-fry lovers quietly wonder what happened to you. If you confidently order the burger, fries and a regular Coke, the wellness crowd quietly wonders what happened to you. If you’re vegan, the carnivores take their medium-rare steak with a heaping side of opinions. If you’re a carnivore, vegans have louder opinions. We’re all quietly assessing each other’s life choices over the appetizers. Except, for some reason, if you say “I’m mostly plant-based except when I’m in Italy.” Everyone accepts that as a reasonable answer with zero follow-up questions and it launches a passionate discussion about the lack of preservatives in Europe. And don’t even get us started on the almond vs. oat vs. coconut vs. cashew milk debate.

Your dog’s standard of living: Some people have a nice leash and coordinate playdates with their golden at Palisades Park. Others have a stroller, a seasonal wardrobe, a dedicated Instagram account, lavish birthday parties with neighborhood dogs and “bark-cuterie” boards. Then there are Beverly Hills dogs... The ones who own more Hermès than Kris Jenner, drink out of Baccarat crystal because “it’s easier on their whiskers” (or so we’re told), and have a standing grooming appointment that costs more than any haircut we’ve ever gotten. Lisa Vanderpump’s Giggy truly gave all four-legged pups in the 90210 area something to aspire to. The rest of us quietly judge from afar... while secretly hoping that in our next life, we come back as one of these dogs. If reincarnation is real, we’d like ours to include teeny cashmere sweaters and a front-row seat in a G-Wagon.

Common hiking courtesies: If you’re blasting music out of a Bluetooth speaker that’s louder than the birds, everyone within earshot is judging you. Say hello when you pass people. Step aside if you’re stopping to take in the view. And if your entire hike consists of blocking the trail to shoot content...we’re sweaty, mildly annoyed that we have to go around you and 10000% judging you. And while we’re on the topic, if you think Griffith counts as a real hike, a specific subset of the city is judging you too.

Your relationship to “the industry”: This one separates the tourists from the transplants, and the transplants from the nepo babies. If a Friend says they’re “in glam with a client”, “on a production this month”, or “in post right now,” you either know what they’re talking about because you’re on the inside too, or you just smile and nod while waiting for them to get to the interesting part (just like they do when you talk about your job). But if someone introduces themselves by saying they’re “in the industry,” “working on something huge” or “can’t really talk about it yet,” we do one big collective eye roll (especially on a first date). The people in LA doing the most interesting work don’t really care about making it sound interesting. We’ll never judge you for working in entertainment. We will, however, quietly judge how hard you’re trying to convince us that you do.

Your opinion on the Santa Monica pier: Can we all agree that most locals wouldn’t be caught dead there unless they’ve been kidnapped (with the Hollywood Walk of Fame likely being the next stop against their will)? Of course, exceptions are made any time Paris Hilton rents out the entire pier and transforms it into “Slivingland” for her guests. But on regular days, this is one of the few places where locals and visitors see two completely different things. Visitors see history, nostalgia and one of the most iconic symbols of the California Dreamin era. Locals enjoy the view of the lights from afar, ideally while sipping a cocktail from Casa Del Mar. But if you do love it, we promise not to judge you (if you’re a visitor...).

The airport hierarchy: LAX is the default, but a ride to / from that circus is the modern-day equivalent of asking someone to help you move. Burbank is the elite choice. Long Beach is the hidden gem. John Wayne is for those who’d rather drive an extra 45 minutes to OC than navigate LAX. And if you casually mention flying out of Van Nuys... congratulations on whatever it is you do for a living (IYKYK).

Being unaware of LA’s rich history: Some people walk through LA completely oblivious to the stories surrounding them, while the rest understand that this is the city that built modern entertainment. We look at the Capitol Records Building and think about the voices that have filled it from Elvis to Queen. We drive past the Roxy on Sunset imagining what it must’ve been like to hear Guns N’ Roses play for the first time. We sit inside Chateau Marmont and The Beverly Hills Hotel thinking of Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Frank Sinatra and generations of Hollywood legends who treated those like a second home. We pass the studio lots and appreciate that this is where silent films evolved into the Golden Age of Hollywood, where I Love Lucy forever changed TV production and where The Wizard of Oz helped define cinematic history. This city gave us more than celebrities, it’s where thousands of artists built an industry that the entire world still needs. That’s why La La Land hits differently for people who live here—it’s the ultimate love letter to Los Angeles and its dreamers. It’s a three-million-acre museum of cultural relevance. We won’t judge you for not knowing every story.

But we will judge anyone who dismisses Los Angeles as shallow. Because if you look beyond the overpriced smoothies, there’s sacrifice and history on every corner. The least we can do is learn their stories.

— Your Friend

Friday
Emi Jay Spritz Stop
Stop, spritz, summer. Receive a free aura hair + body mist of your choice while supplies last.

More Information

Friday
Chaotic Singles Love Island Party
Expect island cocktails, epic games, chaotic confessionals, and a moment where we'll gather 'round the firepit.

More Information

Saturday
Cuyana X Faherty Block Party
An afternoon of shopping, sips from Avaline x LEORA, and special experiences that take you through both locations, with exclusive surprises waiting at every stop.

More Information

Friday-Sunday
The Vintage Marché Trunkshow
A vintage trunk show with hundreds of vintage pieces from The Vintage Marché archive.

More Information

West Hollywood

Saturday
The Opening of The Patio on Sunset
Coffee, treats, music, and good company to celebrate the opening of The Patio on Sunset.

More Information

Saturday
Midnight Crafting
MSY Collective and Charmed LA are hosting a cozy evening of charm-making, crafting, and community.

More Information

West Adams

Sunday
Buji X Rep. Club
Celebrate Buji LA’s grand opening with Buji bevs, Stript + Buji merch, and all the vibes you’ve been waiting for.

More Information

Hollywood

Sunday
R&B and Ribs
R&B and Ribs is bringing its day party to Los Angeles at The Whitley, featuring good food by Swoops by Stella, dope DJ sets, and a laid-back no-VIP, no-table-service atmosphere.

More Information

Koreatown

Sunday
LA’s New Favorite Flea Market
Denada is launching its monthly flea market bringing together local vendors, pizza, coffee, DJs, clothing, dogs, and more.

More Information

Downtown

Saturday-Sunday
Fashion X Futures Pop-Up
A two-day curated shopping experience celebrating Fashion x Futures’ one-year anniversary in Los Angeles.

More Information

Saturday
333:Pottery & Jazz Night
A community-centered evening featuring live jazz, poetry, journaling, dancing, and performances from local artists.

More Information

Saturday
Good Boy & Friends
A big day-to-night festival with 70+ wine producers, food from LA restaurants, beverages, live music, art, dogs, exclusive partner activations, and an open-table game setup from Deuce.

More Information

Saturday
Hellstar X Amboy
Family Style Food Festival is bringing Hellstar x Amboy to LA State Historic Park for a day of exclusive merch, food, and festival fun.

More Information

Highland Park

Saturday
Songs, Spells & Storybooks
An event inspired by one of everyone’s favorite early 00’s movies, Ella Enchanted.

More Information

Frogtown

Sunday
Justine’s x Flourbelly Pasta Club
Justine’s Wine Bar and Flourbelly Pasta Club are hosting a pasta pop-up featuring fresh pasta, fine wine, and a little jazz.

More Information

Boyle Heights

Friday
Synoptico
A large-scale contemporary dance and video art experience performed atop a giant floor projection that transforms beneath the performers in real time.

More Information

Multiple Locations

Saturday
0627 Trailheads
A relaxed morning on the trail followed by light bites, beverages, exciting giveaways, and plenty of time to meet new people and connect with the community.

More Information

When Inspiration Becomes Instruction

It’s been four months since Love Story premiered, but if I had a dollar for every “How to Dress Like Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy” video that still crosses my feed, I could afford every authentic piece from CBK’s actual wardrobe.

Everywhere we look, someone is teaching us exactly how to become someone else. How to dress like Carolyn. How to decorate like Nancy Meyers. How to host like Ina Garten. How to build a Ralph Lauren-inspired home. How to order Nobu like a regular.

To be clear, I’m absolutely not immune. My Pinterest boards are as full as yours. My TikTok feed is a curated stream of “how to get the look,” “where to buy the look” and “five items you absolutely need to create the look” videos.

And in all fairness, people have always pulled inspiration from outside sources: magazines, pop culture and even the people around them. I’m talking long before “Get Ready With Me” videos took over, if we can even remember that far back. The difference is that previous generations were given juuust enough inspiration. We, on the other hand, are given full-blown blueprints.

Meaning, there used to be space between seeing something you loved and recreating it. Space to interpret it, make it your own and add your own personality. Now, we’re handed exact outfit links, products, paint colors, restaurant orders and routines. It’s like the internet became one giant answer key. Instead of inspiring us, it’s prescribing us, and it makes me wonder if somewhere along the way we stopped developing our own taste.

A few weeks ago, we talked about the difference between building a life and performing one. About whether you’d still wake up early to run, write, volunteer, train or pursue the thing if nobody was watching. This feels like the natural next question: When was the last time you discovered something before someone recommended it to you?

Just the other day, I had to stop myself before swiping my card for an expen$ive handbag (emphasis on the $) and ask myself if I loved it or if I’ve just seen it so many times that my brain eventually surrendered to it. And while we’re at it, do I genuinely like this couch, or has my algorithm just shown it to me seventeen times a day for the last six months?

I obviously believe that the things we gravitate toward reflect our taste to some degree. But, maybe the better question is: What would we choose if people on social media didn’t choose it first? What would your wardrobe look like if there weren’t a million videos warning you that your skinny jeans and ankle socks are outdated? What would your home look like if you couldn’t search “Old Money Coastal Grandmillennial Nancy Meyers Ralph Lauren Summer House”? Would you still buy art from Anthropologie, or would you hang a watercolor painting you bought in Prague because it reminds you of a magical week you’ll never forget?

And before anyone points out the obvious: businesses in Los Angeles are practically built on recommendations (like ours). But the problem with imitation is that eventually everybody ends up eating at the same places, wearing the same things, decorating with the same inspiration pics and taking the same trips.

This is why we’ve never been about just handing you another instruction manual. Yes, we recommend a lot of things on here. Restaurants. Hotels. The occasional Neutrogena product. But we’re a Friend sharing only what works for us, not a formula for you to follow.

Our hope is to give you interesting places to start based on experiences we’d share on our Friends’ couches over Love Island. The rest—the places you return to or skip, the hidden gems you find on your own, and opinions you form—that part belongs to you. We want our recommendations to spark curiosity, not replace it.

Which is why a Friend’s recommendations hold so much value over online influence. One tells you what you should love, while we say “I think you’ll like this”, then let you decide for yourself.

Because recommendations were never meant to replace your own taste. They’re an invitation to help you discover it. And thank the Erewhon angels for that, because how boring would it be if we all liked exactly the same things?

And while super well-intentioned, I’ve even found that our attempts to become more interesting have become formulaic. Our Friend Tinx famously encourages her followers to read articles. Not self-help books or blogs. Real magazine features...op-eds...long-form journalism, current events...stories outside our own lives. Her explanation is simple: reading widely gives you more to think about and more to talk about. And she’s right, but some of the responses she’s shared have both amused and terrified me. There’s a lot of: “Love this! What topics am I supposed to be looking for?”

Even curiosity has become something we want instructions for. Becoming a more interesting person has become another “aesthetic” to optimize with a checklist. (Read these five publications + Consume each day = Become interesting).

But that’s not really how interesting people become interesting. They don’t read because somebody told them it would improve their social skills. They read because something catches their attention and they’re genuinely curious.

Becoming more interesting is just a side effect.

In a world of endless influence, we’ve lost some of our ability to sit quietly with our own curiosity. So the challenge becomes figuring out how to become more yourself. How to cultivate preferences and opinions that didn’t come from an algorithm. How to buy art because it moved you and get dressed without consulting online trends.

Even longtime style influencer, Arielle Charnas joined the Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy style conversation with valuable insight rather than another outfit breakdown: her style worked because she wasn’t chasing an aesthetic or outfit formula, she was simply wearing what made her feel confident with pieces she naturally loved to move through her days in.

I think that’s actually the thing worth copying: the confidence to decide for yourself.

And as for spots in Los Angeles that are genuinely great (not just currently popular)? Don’t worry, we’ve always got you covered there.

And if you’ve caught us saying a place was just okay lately... also intentional. We’d rather be the Friend who tells you our truth than add to the internet noise insisting every meal was life-changing.

And, of course, the final verdict is always yours.

— Your Friend

Friday - Sunday
Look What Still Blooms
Look What Still Blooms brings together artists whose work reflects how beauty, culture, and meaning continue to emerge through everyday life.

More Information

Santa Monica

Saturday
Ollie + Bob n’Cars
Celebrate Father’s Day weekend with cars, food, drinks, friends, pups, limited-edition poster prints, and a sunset hang under the twinkly lights.

More Information

Venice

Saturday
Rrett Sola and Zen Mina at Waterfront
Catch the World Cup, then stick around for live tunes and good drinks.

More Information

Saturday
The Venice Fest
Venice Blvd transforms into the Westside’s ultimate Summer Kickoff Festival with live music, local artists, food, drinks, games, family fun, and dog-friendly good vibes.

More Information

Beverly Hills

Saturday
See You Soon Beverly Hills Neighborhood Market
A neighborhood market bringing together some of your favorite local LA makers, artists, and small businesses for a Saturday morning pop-up.

More Information

West Hollywood

Saturday
Cars and Coffee
A day of curated cars, coffee, donuts, live screen painting, and live music.

More Information

Sunday
Pop-Up Ceramics Market
Ceramics pop-up featuring work from local artists across LA.

More Information

Inglewood

Sunday
N’Namdi Album Release Show
Celebrate Kobie Dozier’s N’Namdi album release show with a live performance featuring some of LA’s most exciting young jazz musicians.

More Information

Hollywood

Saturday
W Legends ‘LEVEL UP’ Wellness Experience’s 1 Year Anniversary
An unforgettable morning of elite movement, deep recovery, and genuine community connection at the W Hotel Hollywood rooftop.

More Information

Downtown

Friday
A House Called Zanzibar
A night of deep music, communion and the kind of magic that reminds that the dance floor isn’t just for dancing but for release.

More Information

Saturday - Sunday
10 Years of Homage
Bottle Releases, new merch, specialty taps, dancing, watch parties for the World Cup, food specials, pop ups and much much more to celebrate Homage’s 10th anniversary.

More Information

Saturday
Summer Solstice Block Party
Celebrate the Summer Solstice with melon ice cream, frosé, henna, and a live music performance.

More Information

Saturday
Kissa Corazón Live DJ Day Party
Spend your Saturday at Kissa Corazón with coffee, wine, sake, beer, and live DJs spinning Japanese city pop, house, and R&B.

More Information

Saturday
Summer Solstice Party
Make the most out of the longest day of the year with global sounds and good vibes.

More Information

Sunday
Smorgasburg LA 10 Year Anniversary + Father's Day
Exclusive resident vendor specials, collabs, live music, a special I Love Micheladas menu, all-ages activities, giveaways, and more all day long to celebrate Smorgasburg LA 10 year Anniversary + Father’s Day.

More Information

East Hollywood

Saturday
Walk of Fame Market
A curated market-bringing together vendors showcasing their Vintage, European Designer, & Japanese fashion collections. Featuring tattoos, live music, drinks + more.

More Information

Eagle Rock

Saturday
Baryo Marketplace
Shop home goods, clothing, jewelry, and more from vendors curated by Sari-Sari.

More Information

Silver Lake

Friday
I Think You Should Dance!
If you really wanna dance and get lost in some great disco music for a few hours, this night is for you.

More Information

Your Friend's Guide to Santa Barbara

Welcome back to our travel series, where we spend the next few months aggressively encouraging you to leave Los Angeles for 24–72 hours before inevitably returning and telling everyone, “Honestly, there’s just nowhere like LA.”

Next on our list: Santa Barbara.

There’s a reason Santa Barbara has earned the nickname “The American Riviera.” Spanish-style architecture. Palm trees swaying over ocean views. Wine country fifteen minutes away. Only the gas prices will remind you how close to your LA home base you actually are.

For generations of Angelenos, Santa Barbara has been the default answer to “We should get out of town this weekend.” It’s close enough for a spontaneous Friday departure, yet somehow manages to feel like you’ve traveled much farther than two hours north.

And unlike some California beach towns that feel overly sleepy or aggressively touristy, Santa Barbara somehow manages to be both effortlessly elegant yet grounded. It’s luxurious without being flashy. Refined without feeling stuffy. The kind of place where five-star resorts, surfboards, multi-million-dollars in Kardashian-Jenner real estate, wine tastings and award-winning fish tacos all coexist quite peacefully.

I highly recommend taking PCH at least once. The drive alone is cinematic enough to justify the trip. It’s the closest most of us will ever come to feeling like the main character in a lifestyle car campaign.

Like a stiff martini or a little black dress, Santa Barbara is proof that a classic endures for a reason. It survives trends because it consistently delivers. Good weather...great food...beautiful scenery.

• Drive time: About 2 to 2.5 hours from LA depending on where you live, what day you’re leaving, whether Malibu has decided to cooperate and how many other Angelenos had the exact same idea. The fastest route will usually take you up the 101, but if you’ve never done the PCH drive, consider it a required Santa Barbara rite of passage.
  

• Where to stay:

  • San Ysidro Ranch—one of California’s most legendary properties, tucked into the Montecito hills with vine-covered cottages, award-winning gardens and enough Hollywood history that “summering in Santa Barbara” sounds like a solid life choice. The property is also home to the iconic JFK suite where he and Jackie honeymooned, which tells you everything you need to know about the level of SoCal luxury we’re dealing with here.

  • Rosewood Miramar Beach—another gold coast landmark. Think perfectly manicured grounds, Travis Barker dropping a knee for Kourt K on the resort’s private beach, white umbrellas lining the sand and the kind of effortless indulgence that makes ordering a midday spritz feel medically necessary.

  • The Ritz-Carlton Bacara—a massive oceanfront resort hidden within its own stretch of coastline. It’s honestly perfect for the kind of weekend when you can’t be bothered to leave the hotel. Just rotate between the pool, spa, beach and your next meal.
    

• What to do:

  • Browse several lush, open-air shopping destinations like Paseo Nuevo, where charming cobblestone paseos and sun-drenched terraces are home to more than 50 shops and restaurants. Wander through Victoria Court (don’t miss Covet by Kate) and La Arcada Courtyard for a mix of recognizable brands, independent boutiques like Domecíl and local art galleries. Even if you arrive with no intention of shopping, Santa Barbara has a remarkable ability to convince practically anyone otherwise. Consider this your official warning.

  • Stroll down State Street and downtown, where Spanish-style architecture, hidden courtyards and independent boutiques create a perfectly curated fever dream in which time, calories and financial responsibility cease to exist. Are we noticing a recurring threat to our bank accounts yet?

  • Channel your inner Montecito Rich Mom (in Tinx we trust) with a shopping detour to Coast Village Road. My must-hits are Aquarius and WUNDERKIND.

  • Explore The Funk Zone, the industrial-turned-artsy neighborhood with converted warehouse wineries, waterfront vintage stores and surf shops. You can even find Mid-Century Modern gems at the three-level The Blue Door antique store.

  • Explore Santa Barbara wine country, which quietly rivals Napa but without everyone turning their thesis on “tannins” into a Ted Talk. Downtown’s Urban Wine Trail makes wine tasting incredibly accessible, with walkable tasting rooms throughout The Funk Zone’s converted waterfront warehouses. And if you’re willing to drive 35 minutes toward Los Olivos, congratulations—you’ve entered an oasis that encourages day drinking in an extremely tasteful way.

  • Hike local trails like Inspiration Point or the Cold Spring Trail before immediately rewarding yourself with the above-mentioned wine, carbs and shopping (exactly as the balanced California lifestyle intended).
    

• Where to eat & drink:

  • La Super-Rica Taqueria, for the legendary Julia Child and Gwyneth Paltrow-approved tacos. The magic is in the food, the picnic tables outside and the fact that a place this beloved still doesn’t have a website or social media. It’s gloriously old-school.

  • Santo Mezcal, my favorite reminder that upscale Mexican restaurants should still prioritize the highest level of quality instead of just expanding into every wealthy SoCal zip code (looking at you Javier’s...)

  • Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch, a Michelin media darling in its own right that celebrates the freshest ingredients pulled straight from their onsite gardens. The ultra-romantic spot features crackling fireplaces, one of the largest wine lists in the country and an atmosphere that feels closer to the South of France

  • Dusk inside Drift Hotel when the night calls for mezcal and a moodier atmosphere. Order the Into the Sky if you want a cocktail that looks like a fortune teller’s crystal ball, complete with a giant smoke-filled bubble that you pop yourself.

  • End any night at The Manor Bar inside Rosewood Miramar Beach for ice-cold martinis and live music. Don’t blink or you’ll miss the recently divorced billionaire in the corner reading a first-edition novel pulled from the hotel’s bookcase.

  • Promise me you’ll hit Test Pilot, Shaker Mill and The Good Lion for a bar run that perfectly captures Santa Barbara’s blend of polish and playfulness, pouring everything from the classics to the chicest tiki drinks.

— Your Friend

Saturday
Surf Canyon Market
A Summer Kick-Off filled with local finds, delicious bites, and a little summer fun.

More Information

Saturday
Surf Outpost x BentPenny
Pour overs, freshly-roasted coffee, and cold brew at Malibu’s most beautiful RV park with an ocean view.

More Information

Santa Monica

Sunday
The Art of Conversation
Inspired by the New Moon in Gemini, The Art of Conversation invites you to slow down and reconnect with yourselves, one another, and the present moment.

More Information

Venice

Saturday
Rhythm + Flow
Spend a slow summer morning with energizing mat Pilates, a live DJ set, and a restorative sound bath. After class, enjoy coffee or matcha, explore wellness offerings, and connect with the community.

More Information

Mar Vista

Sunday
Sandwich Swap
Cook Club LA returns for a sandwich-themed afternoon of homemade bites, quick pickling, sweet collaborations, local raffles, and gathering with fellow food lovers.

More Information

West Hollywood

Saturday
2nd Saturday TRC Trading Post
Thunder Road Cafe’s monthly 2nd Saturday Trading Post returns with local vendors, vintage finds, good company, and sips in the back parking lot.

More Information

The Grove

Saturday
Lil Sweet Treat Grand Opening
Lil Sweet Treats is arriving to The Grove, first 100 through the door take home an exclusive lil sweet treat goodie bag.

More Information

Melrose Hill

Saturday
Collage Workshop
Glued to your phone? Put glue on paper instead! Cut & paste a collage using vintage magazines in a workshop led by artist Julia Walck in her art studio.

More Information

Hollywood

Sunday
About Last Night: Dating Disaster Stories!
Enjoy laughs as a handful of LA queers lay bare the best of their cringiest dates and one night stand stories.

More Information

East Hollywood

Saturday
Cafe Santo en Siphonophore
A slow morning of coffee, music, local pop-ups and good company.

More Information

Downtown

Saturday
Workshops & Community Crafts
An event created to give back to yourself. It’s a chance to set apart time and feed your inner creative soul through hands-on activities, whether you sign up for a class or if you have a project you’ve been meaning to work on.

More Information

Sunday
The World Grub
LA’s ultimate celebration of soccer, street food, and global culture.

More Information

Silver Lake

Saturday
Una Protesta del Corazón
A multidisciplinary fundraiser show consisting of an art reception, artists panel, & fashion show.

More Information

Echo Park

Sunday
Clay & Coffee
A wholesome coffee & clay morning with Cera Sera Studios.

More Information

Highland Park

Sunday
Vintage Fair
A limitless collection of vintage brought to you by 15+ sellers and brands hosted by Moonlight and Cheerio Collective at Cheerio’s beautiful space in Highland Park.

More Information

Frogtown

Sunday
Trunk and Lace
A morning of coffee, culture, cuisine, community, and vintage cars in collaboration with The Motoring Gallery at their gallery.

More Information

Lincoln Heights

Sunday
Chicken Sh*t Bingo
A full-on Waylon Jennings takeover for Chicken Sh*t Bingo packed with outlaw country tunes, cold drinks, good luck, and a whole lotta Waylon spirit.

More Information

Boyle Heights

Saturday
Salsamba World Club
Live music, dancing, drinks & bites and all the World Cup excitement.

More Information

LA’s Friendship Plot Hole

At this point, you've either found yourself on #NoFriends TikTok or come across the growing number of online articles unpacking social media's latest phenomenon: influencers openly documenting life with a smaller social circle than we're used to seeing online.

A quick recap to make sure we're all on the same page: these videos feature people spending weekends alone, going to dinner solo, navigating adulthood without a built-in Friend group or candidly admitting they're struggling to make Friends. And while the content might look like it's glamorizing isolation at first glance, that's not really the point. The appeal is that they're showing a reality that rarely makes it onto our feeds but is way more common than social media would have us believe. The conversation isn't celebrating loneliness, just removing some of the shame around it.

And it got me thinking: for decades, we've mostly seen one version of Friendship reflected back to us.

Just think about how many TV shows teach us that adulthood comes with a perfectly assembled group of Friends.

Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda somehow found time to meet for a meal multiple times a week. Friends, Seinfeld and That '70s Show walked so How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory could run. Boy Meets World's Cory Matthews was never far from Shawn and Topanga. Entourage was literally named after the group itself.

And while Euphoria, 90210, Gossip Girl, The O.C. and One Tree Hill had the most chaotic Friend groups ever, they were Friend groups nonetheless. The generation that grew up watching it on Jersey Shore is now getting its fix from Bravo, whether that's Housewives, Summer House or whatever Friend group is currently fighting on a boat. And, of course, we can't forget the OG group: The Golden Girls.

Their Friends weren't just Friends on these shows. They were family. They lived down the hall, around the corner or somehow had unrestricted access to each other's apartments. They gathered at the same coffee shops, bars and kitchen tables week after week. Nobody spent three weeks trying to coordinate a dinner reservation or sat at home on a random Friday night wondering whether leaving the house was worth the parking situation.

For generations, this has been the Friendship blueprint we’ve seen over and over again.

And now social media has amplified that image even further. We now open our feeds to find weddings with twelve bridesmaids, seasonal girls’ trips and rooftop birthdays every weekend.

The internet would have you believe everyone in Los Angeles spends their days making group Laurel Supply runs, strolling the Malibu Country Mart with an entire posse and chartering Duffy boats in Marina del Rey with all 12 seats filled. And by night, they’re floating between dinner parties at Osteria Mozza, Gjelina and the Polo Lounge. Meanwhile, some of us spent Saturday afternoon reorganizing a bathroom drawer and debating whether leaving the house was worth the parking situation.

Which is exactly why this latest wave of "no Friends" content feels so refreshing. Not because it's aspirational, but because it's showing something we don't usually see.

The person who just moved to a new city and hasn't found their people yet.

The person whose once-tight Friend group naturally drifted apart.

The person who genuinely prefers a handful of close Friends over a packed social calendar.

The person spending a Saturday alone without feeling the need to apologize for it.

This online movement is for them.

Friendship can be the one person you call when something good happens. The Friend who sends you a meme at 11 p.m. The Friend who remembers your go-to cocktail because you've ordered it together a hundred times. The childhood Friend who feels more like family even though you only talk every few months. The long-distance college Friend whose voice notes take three weeks to answer but you always pick up exactly where you left off.

It also feels like the perfect reminder of what Like A Friend Said has always been about. One good Friend can make even a city as big as Los Angeles feel a little more like home.

Because Friendship doesn't always look like a cast photo from a television show. Sometimes it's one person who shows up. Who shares the best recs (we got you), advice or TikToks.

And while society has always celebrated the Friend group, these conversations remind us there's more than one way to belong.

— Your Friend

Saturday
Open Mic Night
Join Alana’s Coffee Roasters for Open Mic Night.

More Information

Santa Monica

Saturday
Sushi Walk Club
The Gluten Free Walk Club heads to Santa Monica for a fun afternoon getting to know others in the LA gluten free community.

More Information

Saturday
Fenty 5k Post-Run Party
GirlGangCrazy is teaming up with Fenty Skin for a beach run and post run skincare party at the Viceroy Santa Monica.

More Information

Sawtelle

Friday - Saturday
Squigs Beauty in LA
Celebrate the launch of Squigs Beauty’s new award-winning Gooseberry Delight Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner with your favorite cream top matcha and more surprises.

More Information

Westwood

Friday
Closing Time
The Doghouse is saying goodbye with one last night of live music. Catch performances by Ryann Barnes and Sev Karlsson and celebrate the final chapter of this beloved Westwood house venue.

More Information

West Hollywood

Friday - Sunday
Kapri Los Angeles Pop-Up
Join Kapri at their LA Pop-Up for exclusive pieces, special activations, surprises and more.

More Information

Saturday
Hot Girl Dog Walk
Join trainer Stef Armstead for a Hot Girl Dog Walk starting at Community Goods.

More Information

Sunday
As If WeHo Pride Darty
The WeHo Pride Darty returns with live performances, drag, a ballet takeover, and plenty of surprises along the way.

More Information

Fairfax

Saturday
Fair Trade
Restock your wardrobe, grab a plate and enjoy the music.

More Information

Hollywood

Saturday
Kava Hana Grand Opening
Kava Hana Hollywood is opening with two brand-new creations made just for the celebration: Banana on the Beach Nectar and Beachspanner, both exclusive to the new Hollywood location.

More Information

Arts District

Sunday
Gigi Flea
Vintage finds, cold bevs, the Singles Board and a World Cup inspired soccer setup on the lawn.

More Information

Melrose Hill

Saturday
LA Grocery & Cafe’s 2nd Annual Summer Party
Celebrate summer at La Grocery & Cafe’s 2nd Annual Summer Party featuring local food favorites, matcha milkshakes, live music, special guests, and new merch.

More Information

Larchmont Village

Sunday
Artist Pop-Up at Framebridge Larchmont
Browse a collection of playful prints by Carianne Older at Framebridge Larchmont.

More Information

Highland Park

Saturday
Cheerio Collective Free Clothing Swap
Free Clothing Swap for all sizes, shapes, and genders.

More Information

Echo Park

Saturday
Susan Studios 2 Year Anniversary
Celebrate the 2 year anniversary of Susan Studio with a low country broil, new shirts, an airbrush artist doing custom artwork for you and more.

More Information

Frogtown

Friday
Celebrate Pride in Frogtown
Kick off Pride Month with a block party along the LA River, featuring great coffee, good music, local artists, and community.

More Information

Virgil Village

Saturday
French Open Watch Party + Newsletter Launch
Watch the Women’s Final, enjoy fresh croissants and coffee, and celebrate the launch of the Net Worth newsletter.

More Information

Glassell Park

Sunday
Olivia’s Table X Little Ripper
Olivia’s Table is popping up at Little Ripper for an intimate 5 course dinner, complete with curated wine flight pairings.

More Information

Different Coasts, Same Friend

If cities had siblings, Los Angeles and New York would absolutely be related. Endlessly competitive. Deeply similar. Convinced they’re nothing alike. Love rolling eyes at each other. Basically, proof that two people can have wildly different personalities and still somehow share DNA.

I was recently in the Big Apple with a few Friends, and for several of them, it was their first time experiencing the city.

By the second day, we were tucked into a booth over post-Fifth Avenue shopping mimosas (a Friendly LA wave to Sarabeth’s) when they all started saying some version of the same thing: “Wait...why is everyone nicer than I expected?”

Not exactly the reputation New York has spent decades cultivating. This is, after all, the city of people who walk faster than your Uber can drive. Where nobody waits for light changes before crossing major intersections. Or for you to finish your sentence before hailing down that cab on the corner. If LA is globally known as the land of shaman-led Pilates, healing our inner child and Erewhon smoothies with more ingredients than a science experiment, NYC has spent decades branding itself as the city of impatient, blunt pedestrians who don’t have time for your nonsense.

Our conversation turned to a popular saying a few of us read somewhere on Instagram before: People in Los Angeles are nice but not kind, while people in New York are kind but not nice.

And while I understood what people are trying to say, this theory doesn’t quite feel like it does either city justice. Because the more time I spend on both coasts, the more I think they’re actually saying the same thing in different accents.

Los Angeles is a city that stops to chat about the fluffy stuff. We hear about our waiters’ dream movie audition before the cocktails arrive at Mother Wolf. We ask where you got those sunglasses or what your favorite part about visiting Portugal was five minutes after meeting you. We tell each other to send the link. We cheer on dreams before they’ve fully formed. And say things like, “we should totally grab matcha at Maru next week” (and we usually mean it even if our calendars don’t because intention is everything but burnout is a bitch).

Warmth here sounds like encouragement. And if the vibes are right, we’ll even end up exchanging our childhood wounds with a stranger while watching the sunset.

New York, on the other hand, doesn’t have time for all that.

The stranger next to you on the subway isn’t asking about your five-year plan or which yoga retreat changed your life. (Although, one of my Friends did have a 30-minute conversation with the cab driver about his chakras, but she was sitting up front with him in gridlock traffic so it was really more of a hostage situation.)

But they will inform you that you’re standing on the wrong subway platform with the urgency of someone preventing a national emergency. The waiter will tell you if you didn’t order the best thing on the menu, usually with the same warmth as a parking ticket: “No. Not good. You don’t want that. Don’t waste your meal on that.” Which is very different from the same situation happening at one of the Bacaris 2,800 miles away... “Everything is so amazing, it just depends on what type of journey you’re looking for tonight.”

The cab driver will spend the entire ride roasting your itinerary in a voice that suggests all that breathwork at Unplug has actually deprived your brain of oxygen. By the time you’ve arrived, he’ll have called half your plans ridiculous, questioned your judgment, and completely reorganized your trip with better places to eat, drink, shop, and spend your afternoon.

To sum it up, NYC is less interested in making you feel comfortable and more interested in making sure you don’t accidentally ruin your own day. Which, when you think about it, is its own form of kindness.

Maybe we’ve spent too much time trying to decide which city is Friendlier. The more interesting question might be: what is Friendliness supposed to look like?

In Los Angeles, it often sounds like enthusiasm and encouragement.

In New York, it often sounds like efficiency and resourcefulness.

One says, “Tell me more about that.” Possibility.

The other says, “You’re going the wrong way.” Practicality.

One gives much better directions, the other gives better pep talks.

Aren’t both pretty useful? It’s not that one city is nice and the other is kind. It’s that kindness wears different outfits and has different customer service styles depending on which coast you’re on.

— Your Friend

Saturday
Silent Disco
Alana’s Coffee Roasters will turn their cafe into a dance floor. Grab your headphones, your favorite brew and move to the rhythm with a live DJ.

More Information

Sunday
Friends Of The House
A new way of brunch at Belles Beach House. Start with Pilates, then stay for brunch, music, drinks and goodies.

More Information

Sunday
Pup Date at Levain
Drop by for a complimentary whipped cream and peanut butter sundae doggy treat with any purchase, plus on-site custom portrait keychains, pup goodies, photo moments, and more.

More Information

Mar Vista

Friday
Grocery Store Comedy Show
A stand up comedy show inside a grocery store.

More Information

West Adams

Saturday
Passage de West Adams
An incredible mix of vintage, fashion, design, food, music and community.

More Information

The Grove

Saturday - Sunday
After Hours: Los Angeles
Hourglass Cosmetics is hosting an exclusive pop-up experience.

More Information

Saturday - Sunday
Glow on the Go Activation
Biodance will be hosting a pop-up truck, where guests can experience the brand’s skincare offerings, infused with the magic of Hydrogel technology, and leave with a Biodance product sample, while supplies last.

More Information

Beverly Grove

Saturday
Miffy Meet & Greet
Don't miss your chance to take a photo with Miffy, plus celebrate the launch of the brand new Miffy Goes to the Zoo Blind Box series with fun surprise giveaways.

More Information

Downtown

Friday
Bloom Fridays
Fresh flowers, warm bagels, movement, music, coffee and beautiful energy all morning long at The Flower Ateliers.

More Information

Saturday
Hauser & Wirth 10 Year House Party
A daytime, all ages celebration marking 10 years of Hauser & Wirth in LA. Enjoy free workshops, screenings, exhibition tours, live music and special offerings.

More Information

Saturday
Archive Pop-Up
A designer brand pop-up featuring brands like Rick Owens, Dior, Saint Laurent. They’ll also have vintage clothing, Chrome Hearts jewelry and more.

More Information

Melrose Hill

Saturday
Collage Workshop
Glued to your phone? Put glue on paper instead! Cut & paste a collage using vintage magazines in a workshop led by artist Julia Walck in her art studio.

More Information

Pico-Union

Friday
Comedy Show
An exciting one-night-only comedy show at the historic Pico Union Project, featuring a stacked lineup of top talent and a fun game show segment, all for a great cause.

More Information

Atwater Village

Saturday
2026 Summer Series in LA: Gorgon City
A 13-show outdoor event series across iconic Los Angeles locations. The series continues this Saturday with Gorgon City at Reframe Studios Outdoors.

More Information

Echo Park

Saturday - Sunday
The World of Siempre
Siempre World will be showcasing their new clothing collection & Moños de mi Niñez will be there styling hair, as well as selling hair accessories.

More Information

Boyle Heights

Saturday
The Wellness Event
ILY Girlhood is hosting a wellness event, including a Pilates class in a beautiful rustic-modern space, small bites, curated goods, a social hour with mocktails, a gifted makeup bag, and a giveaway.

More Information

Glendale

Friday
Sew Silly
A monthly fiber arts meetup to practice your textile skills. Whether you prefer crocheting, knitting, sewing or have never picked up a need (or hook) – all are welcome!

More Information

Northridge

Saturday
Yonder Coffee Saturday Pop-Up Series
Yonder Coffee is hosting local makers/vendors every Saturday at the Yonder Patio.

More Information

Pasadena

Sunday
Kidspace Neighborhood Block Party
A free celebration of community, creativity, and resilience at Brookside Park. Enjoy live entertainment, community murals, hands-on activities, local food and vendors, activities supporting Pasadena Humane, and more.

More Information

What Summer Brings Into the Light

This time of year in Los Angeles always feels like the official reopening of everyone’s personality. There’s a universal optimism in the air right before June, like the entire city upped their Prozac at the exact same time. It also marks the return of the “Summer of Outside / SOO” mindset (courtesy of Tinx).

And if you’re not a nature lover, don’t worry. The overall theme is simply encouraging people to stop rotting in bed and start saying yes to life again, no matter where that takes you. Her followers excitedly count down the days until “SOO” because it taps into something deeper: people craving real experiences, real connection, and real life beyond the screen.

But in LA, getting out there has evolved into something else entirely. Here, it’s not just about living your life. It’s about curating one. La La Land is one of the most advanced environments for turning any life into a full-blown lifestyle and packaging that personality like an Emma Grede-level brand launch.

You can curate every detail of your identity here (wellness, career, taste), because in this town, it’s all for sale. Brands (and the influencers who front them) package entire personas: the pilates girly, the tech bro turned marathon runner, the Nancy Meyers-interior obsessed, the clean wellness guru, the creative director with a film camera. Every version of a person already exists as a fully developed aesthetic package waiting for you to buy into it. Just pick one. Even the “I summer in Europe” guy who somehow turns every conversation back to Mykonos after one boys trip in 2022. We all know him.

And most of it is beautiful. LA sells aspiration better than almost anywhere. We are a city built on fantasy, branding and reinvention. Of course we romanticize ourselves here.

None of those popular identities are inherently bad, by the way. Most start from genuine interests, personal taste or trying to become better versions of ourselves. And the best influencers are rarely performing a persona from scratch. They’re just documenting one that already exists in real life.

But somewhere between the Hot 8 Yoga memberships, non-seed-oil restaurants and perfectly branded routines, it becomes easy to confuse performance with identity. Who are you when nobody’s watching (both online and IRL)?

Do you still take the Carrie’s Pilates classes without posting about it? Do you still write if there’s no caption? Do you still wake up early to run if nobody knows you’re “the marathon guy”? Do you still play pickleball once the cultural obsession dies down? Do you still do the 10-step skincare routine if there’s no “GRWM” video? What about cooking beautiful recipes? Or reading, creating, training, volunteering, praying, practicing or pursuing the thing when it stops being content?

This is the difference between building a life and maintaining the appearance of one. The habits that nourish you, versus the ones that present well.

So what actually holds if the lens of social media and personal marketing went away? Basically: who are you really when there’s nothing to prove to anyone? And what would you still spend your time doing? Because whatever continues in private, is usually who you are at your core and what actually matters to you.

One of my Friends doesn’t exist on social media, but she wakes up before sunrise to work out every single day simply because that’s who she is. No audience, no content strategy, and no performance attached to it.

You can’t fake consistency in private. That’s discipline. And discipline is one of the only luxury items left that can’t be purchased, not even on Rodeo. My Friend never relied on aesthetics to convince herself she was an athlete. No amount of personal branding or matching Alo sets could substitute consistency. It was simply a quiet agreement she made with herself and continues honoring year after year. She simply does what she loves every single day when no one is watching, and by doing that, has built (rather than rented) that identity.

And maybe that’s the strange contradiction of LA in the summer. For all of our obsession with aesthetics with buzzy names (coastal grandmother, hot girl walks, tomato girl summer, model off duty, rich mom energy, tradwives, gym rats, digital nomads…I could keep going), this city also exposes people faster than almost anywhere else.

The problem is when the performance of the lifestyle quietly becomes more important than actually living it. Because eventually, the branding stops carrying you. And summer has a way of bringing things into the light. Longer days, less structure, more sunshine, fuller calendars and a goal to live more and plan less....

What a beautiful season to see what parts of us remain when there’s less time to curate them.

—Your Friend

Friday - Sunday
Tezza Pop
Tezza is bringing dirty soda to sunny California with Swig. Stop by for a dirty soda on them and snap a few photos in their photobooth.

More Information

Saturday
Little Market
Find your summer wardrobe and hang out with the coolest locals at Little Lunch Coffee X Molly World market.

More Information

Saturday
Keep Winning x W Legends Run Club
A special Mental Health Awareness Month community run hosted by Keep Winning x W Legends Run Club, two like-minded communities coming together for something bigger than fitness.

More Information

Sunday
Circular Flea Market
Circular Library and Better Future Club are hosting a Circular Flea Market with charm bars, cap customization, patch stations, upcycled tees, brooch making, and drinks.

More Information

West Adams

Friday
Say When LA Silver Charm Making Workshop
A silver charm making workshop in collaboration with Studio Bubby.

More Information

Saturday
Taquero Super Torneo
Taquero Supero Torneo is a free, donation based community event at Midcity Mercado featuring 8 LA taquerias competing in a small sided soccer tournament, plus local vendors and artisans.

More Information

Friday - Saturday
Our Fantabulously Fury Feline Friends!
A playful cat inspired group show featuring 50 artists celebrating feline mystery, elegance, and pop culture charm.

More Information

Culver City

Friday
An Elle S. Dee’s Trip
An open invite for music lovers to celebrate Elle S. Dee’s album release at the bar.

More Information

West Hollywood

Saturday
Sporty&Rich Opening
Corsa Concierge will be bringing some cars to the opening of the Sporty & Rich LA store cafe.

More Information

Sunday
Stella Groove X Gallerie
A morning 5-mile route hike on Mandeville Trail in Brentwood.

More Information

Beverly Grove

Friday
Double Bypass Comedy
Double Bypass Comedy returns for a night of laughs, drinks, and good vibes. Some drinks will be provided, but it is mostly BYOB. Doors open at 7.

More Information

Hollywood

Friday
Jungle Disco
A Jungle Disco featuring special guest DJs from around the world.

More Information

Sunday
Wild West Pool Party
A Hollywood rooftop pool party with swimsuits, cowboy boots, a trading post, country DJ, Fleetwood Mac tribute, and cowboy cookout.

More Information

Melrose Hill

Friday - Saturday
Touchland Blush Factory
An immersive exploration of Blush Rose, Touchland’s new body and hair fragrance.

More Information

Silver Lake

Friday
Italian Night at Mohawk General Store
A little slice of Italy with live music, drinks, and handmade Italian loafers from Fromsena.

More Information

Little Armenia

Saturday
Closet Sale
Enjoy some Cafe Nido coffee, shopping, and light bites with friends! Their curation of sellers will include LA’s fashion authorities - from stylists to fashion bloggers, to flat out cool girls.

More Information

Long Beach

Sunday
Secret Pop-Up with the Homies
A Memorial Day weekend pop-up with oysters, yakitori, steak frites, artisan ice cream, and vinyl at a secret Long Beach location.

More Information

Pasadena

Friday
Rosé Rose
An evening floral arranging workshop with a Rose tasting included. The ticket covers your wine, flowers and supplies.

More Information

Your Friend’s Guide to Ojai: The Land of Locally-Poured Everything

Now that we’re well into May, we’re all collectively itching to get away and pretend we don’t spend a zillion dollars just to breathe in Los Angeles (because, deep down, we wouldn’t want to be anywhere else). Luckily, one of LA’s greatest strengths has always been what surrounds it: idyllic little towns, beach escapes, wine country, desert hideaways and low-effort 24–72-hour trips close enough to justify leaving Friday after work.

So, welcome to the start of a new summer travel series dedicated to the destinations Angelenos have been escaping to for decades—both the tried-and-true classics and the slightly more under-the-radar gems. I’ll be including all the hotels, restaurants, local experiences and overly specific recommendations my Friends and I cannot stop sharing in the group chat, aggressively raving about over dinner and forcing onto anyone who casually mentions they “need to get out of town.”

Up first: Ojai...

There are two types of people in Los Angeles: those who have already entered their Ojai phase and those whose obsession is coming.

Located about two hours northwest of LA in Ventura County, Ojai trades freeways, influencer-packed grocery stores and suspiciously long lines outside Melrose boutiques for mountain views, olive groves and a downtown that’s refreshingly untouched by corporate California.

Unlike many towns that lose themselves to appeal to tourists, Ojai has held onto its identity in a way that feels increasingly rare. Large chain stores and vacation rentals are banned, which means local businesses actually get to thrive.

And everyone seems connected: the wine shop owner will excitedly tell you about the lounge he’s opening next door, the bookstore owner is married to the florist, and she’s providing all the wedding florals for the yoga instructor in exchange for unlimited vinyasa classes.

Community still exists here in a very tangible way. And its entire economy appears to run on olive oil, artisan pottery, and collective emotional healing.

Between the olive oil tastings, impeccably curated shops, local honey classes, and the way everyone seems deeply committed to both ceramics and civic engagement, the entire town feels less like a real place you can drive to and more like a lifestyle fantasy. One where your nervous system is regulated, you own several bottles of expensive herb-infused oils, and you know local vendors by name.

How damn lovely.

Drive time: About 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours from LA depending on where you live and how optimistic Google Maps is feeling that day. Easy enough for a spontaneous overnight trip, but far enough that someone will definitely notice your Microsoft Teams dot mysteriously going inactive.

Where to stay:

• Hotel El Roblar—yes, the hotel from Hilary Duff’s highly-discussed girls’ getaway with her famous mom group. Small, stylish and quietly tucked into the valley, it carries the same understated chicness that mirrors Ojai itself.

• Ojai Valley Inn—one of the last family-owned luxury resorts in the country and easily one of Ojai’s crown jewels. Expect sprawling grounds, citrus trees, an enormous spa, and enough on-property activities to accidentally spend your entire trip inside the resort gates.

• The Capri Hotel—retro, relaxed, and effortlessly photogenic. Between the mountain backdrop, striped loungers and boutique aesthetic, it feels like someone turned a vintage California postcard into a hotel.

What to do:

• Wander through the Spanish-style, old-fashioned shopping arcades, lined with beautifully curated boutiques. Browse elevated home goods and, of course, ceramics at Sundays and Fig Curated Living / Bungalow by Fig, along with apothecary finds, artisan kitchen goods and home décor straight out of a California wine country estate. Don’t skip Beato Chocolates, the chicest woman-owned and artist-focused small-batch chocolatier. If you suddenly pledge your new commitment to linen everything, locally-produced olive oils and handmade wooden kitchenware, Ojai’s Goop-approved shopping scene has claimed another victim.

• Stop at Bart’s Books, one of the largest outdoor bookstores where you’ll suddenly convince yourself you need more poetry, plants and paperbacks in your life.

• Taste local olive oils at Ojai Olive Oil Company, because olive oil quietly reigns supreme here. The family-owned farm offers tastings beneath the olive groves featuring citrus-infused oils, balsamics, and enough farm-to-table enthusiasm to make grocery store products feel deeply inadequate for the rest of your life.

• Take a honey tasting workshop at Heavenly Honey Company and leave strangely invested in local honey production (seriously, that’s how passionate their experts are and how good their honey is).

• Wine taste at Walson Holland, a small family-run winery just outside of downtown

• Catch Ojai’s famous “pink moment” at sunset when the Topatopa Mountains glow fuchsia and lavender. The Scenic Overlook off Highway 150 is one of the best spots.

• Walk or bike the Ojai Valley Trail, or hike Shelf Road for sweeping valley views.

• Unwind at Spa Ojai at Ojai Valley Inn, which has a near cult-following among the LA wellness crowd for treatments like the famous Kuyam clay-and-steam ritual, guided outdoor meditation classes, apothecary-style healing experiences, and treatments using locally-grown lavender, citrus and honey.

Where to eat & drink:

• Farmer and the Cook for organic, all-vegan lunches built around local produce, fresh juices and enough Ojai wellness culture to make you briefly reconsider your relationship with meat and processed food (mostly because everything is delicious).

• Rory’s Place for dinner and cocktails (order the Holy Marg or the Teagroni. Or both because decisions are hard and so is adulthood). You likely know its sister spot, Rory’s Other Place, home to the viral Matcha Affogato layered with buffalo milk soft serve, ceremonial-grade matcha and edible flowers that collectively terrorized everyone’s Instagram feeds for months. A media darling like that deserves to be seen in the flesh. And like most celebrities, she’s somehow even more stunning in person.

• The Dutchess, where a bakery by day transforms into a Burmese-Californian dinner spot at night slinging rum-coconut-passionfruit cocktails and decadent, family recipes passed down for decades (lucky us).

• Ojai Rôtie for highly-praised rotisserie chicken, colorful sides, handmade breads and elevated picnic provisions inspired by the idea of a tiny Parisian rotisserie shop where you’d grab a few quality things before hopping on a Vespa and heading to the countryside. If you don’t order a loaf of Chef Claud Mann’s bread to-go, I’m not sure we can still be Friends. It’s made from a starter he’s kept alive for over 20 years (the kind of commitment usually reserved for marriages and golden retrievers). The very least we can do is have some.

• A cozy Italian dinner at Nocciola, the best spot to savor a “pink moment” sunset over freshly rolled pastas, slow-braised meats and an always-changing, multi-course tasting menu that takes seasonality extremely seriously.

— Your Friend

LA products of the week!

shop products of the week

Saturday - Sunday
EEEEEatscon
Infatuation’s food festival built like a music festival, bringing together standout LA restaurants and special out of town favorites for one weekend.

More Information

Sunday
Artful Moment Weekend Pop-Up
Learn metalsmithing and create 3 custom ring designs with Artful Moment at their weekend pop-up.

More Information

Venice

Saturday
Merz b. Schwanen Grand Opening
Merz b. Schwanen is celebrating the grand opening of its third global store on Abbot Kinney in Venice with an evening event in collaboration with Albert Muzquiz.

More Information

Saturday
Clay Date in Venice
Art by Cruz Creations is hosting their first workshop with Brooklyn Charm for a beginner-friendly class, a 2-hr session diving into the world of pottery clay, glazes & firing of your creations all included.

More Information

Brentwood

Saturday
Trailheads Club
A morning 5-mile route hike on Mandeville Trail in Brentwood.

More Information

Culver City

Sunday
Matcha Meetup
TOMS is bringing its Matcha Drop to life with a one-day pop-up experience at Maruwu Seicha with a limited-edition collection, live music, interactive games, giveaways, and more.

More Information

Sawtelle

Friday - Saturday
Menotti’s Coffee Stop West LA Opening
Menotti’s Coffee Stop invites you to their grand opening of their new West LA location. They’ll be celebrating with complimentary minor figures oat lattes & hatchet hall cookies for the first 75 customers each day.

More Information

West Hollywood

Friday - Sunday
Nünü Vintage
Nünü Vintage’s first Los Angeles Pop-Up.

More Information

Beverly Grove

Friday - Sunday
Gia & Friends: The Pop-Up
I AM GIA pop-up with prizes all day long and a free Blare for the first 50 guests.

More Information

Arlington Heights

Saturday - Sunday
Brassroots District Final Shows
An electrifying immersive theater and live concert experience where funk grooves, raw drama, and bold ambition collide.

More Information

Koreatown

Friday
Housecat.(a)m
Housecat by JIJI’s Jazz Club is back in Ktown all the way from the Bay Area for their series: Housecat.f(a)m.

More Information

Downtown

Friday
World of Japanese Trip-Hop and Downtempo
Explore a world of downtempo grooves infused with hip-hop, dub, dream pop, sampling, and electronics from artists like POiSON GiRL FRiEND, DJ Krush, Yoshinori Sunahara, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Towa Tei, Water Melon Group, Major Force Records, and more.

More Information

Saturday
Downtown Dance Party
A free back alley dance party with beats by KCRW’s Alejandro Cohen and Dublab DJs Xandão and PayRay, plus free tacos from Tacos y Birria La Unica while supplies last.

More Information

Highland Park

Friday - Sunday
Step Off The Trail
Waysyders is excited to host their first-ever weekend pop-up, a chance to step off the trail and into their utopia come gather, try pieces on in person, and celebrate movement in all its forms.

More Information

Friday
Vintage Fair
Moonlight Market first vintage fair featuring 15+ of LA’s best vintage sellers for a limitless vintage selection.

More Information

East Hollywood

Saturday
Obey Flea Market
OBEY Clothing is bringing the community together for its first ever OBEY Flea Market. This inaugural community market centers around pet themed vendors with Mutt Scouts at the heart of it. Bring your dog!

More Information

Atwater Village

Sunday
Lucky Pig Anniversary
Celebrate 5 years of Lucky Pig in Atwater Village with food, fun, music, great vintage, and 10% of the entire store.

More Information

Lincoln Heights

Saturday
Grand Slam LA
For tennis players by tennis players. This is a space for all the tennis crews in LA to come together and Dance. Bring your doubles partner!

More Information

LA Is a Long Distance Relationship

In Los Angeles, closeness is rarely measured in miles. This is true in both romantic relationships and Friendships.

“I miss you” is something we say to people who live ten miles away. Friendships survive almost entirely through Instagram story reactions, late-night voice notes sent from our couches and “we need to get dinner soon” texts we both know will require at least two weeks of scheduling.

And unlike cities where connection happens passively, like running into each other at the same corner café or bar, relationships in LA require intention. You choose them over and over again through traffic, parking, precise timing, planning and checking the ETA before deciding how much you actually like someone.

Which is why dating someone across town is basically long distance.

I’ve lost track of the number of people on dating apps who’ve openly admitted to prioritizing first dates based on proximity. And if we’re being honest, that’s a universal survival instinct in this city. I’d be lying if I said I never take another look through someone’s profile photos before making the trek to Venice just to triple check they’re worth the 25+ minute drive to Si! Mon. A person can be emotionally available, attractive, funny aaanndd completely incompatible with your lifestyle simply because they live in Glendale and you’re in Malibu.

So naturally, there’s something deeply moving about the willingness to drive in LA. Another love language of ours: crossing the 405.

And there’s some level of logistical intimacy at every stage. One of the most humbling realizations in modern romance is discovering the person you’ve been seeing for three months has actually never seen your neighborhood in daylight. “They drove from Venice to Los Feliz on a Thursday at 6pm” carries the same emotional weight as someone in another city writing you poetry.

The most romantic thing you can do in LA is drive.

We also mentally categorize Friends by freeway and geography, like our adult version of high school groups. You have your westside Friends. Your Valley Friends. Your “I’d see them more if they lived closer” Friends. Your “I genuinely love them but cannot mentally commit to the 101 right now” Friend. Your Friends in Altadena, Calabasas or Long Beach who may as well live on another planet depending on the time of day.

A 7:15pm reservation at Marvin in Beverly Grove when you live in Santa Monica feels less like casual plans and more like psychological warfare. “Meet me halfway” starts sounding less like a compromise and more like custody negotiations.

There’s something undeniably meaningful about the effort. Because when someone picks you up from LAX, that’s not just kindness, that’s devotion. Sacrifice. Massive opportunity cost plus at least 60 minutes of defensive driving no matter what neighborhood you’re coming from. And when it comes to dating, that’s the biggest grand gesture there is.

Strong relationships here become less about convenience and more about willingness. Who is willing to go the extra mile (knowing it could take 45 minutes). Who will circle the block for parking. Who will spend 1-2 hours driving from Pasadena to Beverly Hills after a long workday just to catch up in person at Il Cielo for two hours before driving that exact distance back again in reverse. That effort means something.

Especially in a city where everyone is tired, overextended and constantly in transit between meetings, auditions, events, dinners, workouts, appointments, breakups, breakthroughs, breakdowns, big moves and small moves. All of it.

Maybe that’s why LA Friendships and romantic relationships can feel so emotionally loaded. Nothing happens accidentally here. There’s no “just popping by because I had extra time today.” Every plan involves cosmic levels of calculation, near-divine coordination and at least one person saying, “wait, what does traffic look like at that time?”

And somehow…we still make it work.

We spend more time in our cars than at the restaurant. We sit in traffic. We send the voice note. We push the reservation back thirty minutes. We leave work early to try beating the 405.

We choose each other anyway.

Which, no matter your zip code, might actually be the purest form of love.

— Your Friend

LA products of the week!

shop all products

Sunday
Mother’s Day Picnic at the Eames House
Slow down and gather in one of Los Angeles’s most beloved landscapes: the sweeping eucalyptus-framed meadow surrounding the iconic Eames House in Pacific Palisades, with its breathtaking views stretching out toward the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica Beach.

More Information

Venice

Friday
Supper Club
Two long tables, shared plates, candlelight, and live music. A farm to table six course menu by Chef Trevor Brown, bringing together builders, creatives, and curious minds.

More Information

Friday
SGS Friday
by/rosie jane is teaming up with The Penmar for a sunset session featuring sips, music, good company, and scents that make the whole experience a little sweeter. The first 100 in line get a free glass of wine.

More Information

Sunday
Mother’s Day Market
A curated market presented by Unlikley Florist with Venice brands that celebrate wellness and lifestyle. All of whom are offering complimentary goods, services and mad discounts on their products!

More Information

Brentwood

Sunday
Mother’s Day Buns & Beauty
The first 50 orders will receive our Buns & Beauty bag filled with full size products from Cyklár, Loops Beauty, Rare Beauty, Summer Fridays, and YSE Beauty.

More Information

Beverly Hills

Sunday
Blooms & Brushstrokes Watercolor Class
hands-on workshop led by acclaimed LA artist Shannon Courter, with all materials and a champagne toast included; beginners welcome, ages 10+.

More Information

West Adams

Saturday
Mother’s Day Market
Say When, along with Espresso Social Club, are turning their studio into a cute little shop filled with handmade gifts, local treats, coffee, matcha, flowers, and thoughtful finds from small businesses.

More Information

Long Beach

Sunday
Bring Your Mom: Matching Mugs
Create something special together this Mother’s Day: Matching Mugs for grown-ups or sweet Handprint Plates with your little ones.

More Information

Beverly Grove

Saturday
EB Demin X Soshe
Celebrate a one-day pop-up featuring complimentary matcha and bouquets, on-site brow services, permanent jewelry, curated gifting sets, and an exclusive I Love Mom Tee + Soshe Bundle.

More Information

Fairfax

Friday
Gary Baseman Exhibition
A special exhibition by Gary Baseman at Canter’s Deli Wilshire + Fairfax location.

More Information

Downtown

Saturday
Little Tokyo Flea Market x Miffy
Celebrate the cutest bunny and shop so many Miffy inspired art, trinkets, merch, and so much more. Don’t forget to try the delicious drinks and treats from our amazing line-up of vendors.

More Information

Saturday
Slow Saturdays
Slow Jamz and Lasita are serving breakfast favorites, select wine pours, beers, coffee, and matcha. Expect old school records, new favorites, and an easy family friendly morning to start.

More Information

Sunday
Live Pet Portraits
Celebrate Dog Mama’s Day with live pet portraits by Andrea Caceres, plus a curated lineup of dog brands, treats, and gifts for pups and their mamas.

More Information

Atwater Village

Friday
Cinema In The City
A night of wine, short films, and crafting at Nico’s Wine Bar.

More Information

Eagle Rock

Saturday
Flowers Finest Mother’s Day Market
A sweet market the day before Mother’s Day to prep and get your goodies or bring your mom in for a treat!

More Information

Boyle Heights

Friday - Sunday
Market Market: Message Market, Los Angeles
Explore a selection of past-season collections from COMME des GARÇONS in a specially designed space.

More Information

Pasadena

Saturday
Nana’s Green Tea Grand Opening
Experience the beauty and tradition of Japanese tea at Nana’s Green Tea Grand Opening.

More Information

Friday - Sunday
These Days LA at Printed Matter’s LA Art Book Fair
Find These Days at LAABF at Table B7 in the Photobook Room, presenting a selection of books from Void out of Athens, Greece.

More Information

The Women Who Raised Us (Without Actually Raising Us)

Every Mother’s Day, there’s a lot of conversation about the women who raised us. But if we’re being honest, some of our most formative lessons about womanhood also came from television, movies, and pop culture.

Whether we realized it or not, many of us spent years watching these women on our screens and quietly picking things up from them along the way...how to navigate friendships, heartbreak, ambition, beauty, motherhood, independence, dinner parties, etc.

Basically, how to thrive within the version of womanhood they each embodied.

And somewhere between all the drama, memorable one-liners, and impossibly aesthetic lives, some of those lessons actually stuck. Below are just a few of my favorites.

• Lorelai Gilmore (Gilmore Girls)

  • What we took from her: Life should feel cozy yet a little chaotic—but in a charming way—and your morning coffee stop sets the tone for the rest of your day. Gilmore Girls turned mornings into something almost romantic. For Lorelai, this meant lingering conversations, multiple cups of coffee, a full breakfast at Luke’s, and somehow time to actually talk to people. And even though most of the time we were thinking…when in the hell will Rory make it to school and Lorelai get to work (because that morning routine looks two hours long)…the point wasn’t the logistics. It was that mornings weren’t rushed through, they were lived in.

  • How it translates now: Romanticizing your daily rituals instead of optimizing them. A Lorelai-coded morning routine isn’t about efficiency, it’s about loyalty—being devoted to your coffee spot. Even if it’s your nearest Starbucks or Coffee Bean, you know at least one barista by name and in return they know your milk preference without asking. It’s also about giving yourself permission to linger a little longer than you “should” because you’ve decided mornings aren’t something to rush through anymore. A real breakfast, actual pancakes, sitting down for ten minutes instead of standing at the counter...it’s small, but it shifts the whole tone of your day. As a no-fuss, pot-of-coffee purist, I have a feeling Lorelai would’ve claimed Russell’s, Clark Street Diner (or Max & Helen’s right as they open their doors before the crowd rolls in) as her LA outpost, holding court at the counter and refilling her coffee without asking.

• Kris Jenner (The Kardashians)

  • What we took from her: If you’ve watched any Kardashian show, you’ve heard Kris say on repeat that her favorite thing aside from a vodka martini is making “the most delicious memories with her family.” And after twenty years of hearing it, it actually lands. Because love them or not, there’s something to be said for the way she brings everyone together as the matriarch of one of the most famous families in the world. Even on her podcast, Khloé in Wonder Land, Khloé reminisces a lot about how her mom created the most magical memories on otherwise typical days simply by knowing how to host (long before they had LA event legend Mindy Weiss on speed dial).

  • How it translates now: Treating your space like it’s always five minutes away from hosting. This means having a few go-to details dialed in: a signature (and simple!) drink you can make without thinking or needing a ton of ingredients from the store, glassware you actually like using and a home that feels put together enough on a random Tuesday night. Host smarter, not harder by just focusing on a few things that matter like lighting, a go-to Spotify playlist, a clean table and LA’s finest takeout and gourmet snacks. Anything from the grab-and-go section at your local Erewhon is a saving grace, or pop into top neighborhood gems Gjusta Grocers, Cookbook Market, Canyon Grocer by Kurt and Whey and Agnes Cheesery. Plus, recent group takeout orders I’d recommend: La Scala, Checker Hall, Anajak Thai and Hamasaku.

• Mrs. George (Mean Girls)

  • What we took from her: Beneath the Juicy tracksuits, Mrs. George is actually her daughter’s biggest cheerleader. She’s involved, paying attention, and just wants to be in the room—and there’s something to be said for that level of enthusiasm. Sure, it sometimes borders on a little too much (her fully mirroring the Jingle Bell Rock choreography from behind the camcorder is objectively one of the most legendary moments of our cinematic lives). But she roots for her girls loudly, consistently, and without hesitation.

  • How it translates now: Not holding back when it comes to supporting your favorite people. Being the Friend that isn’t too cool to hype everyone up—celebrating their wins, taking a million photos of them at Merois until they like the angle, backing them in the room and behind their backs, and cheering the loudest when they book a stage at The Hotel Cafe or try stand-up at The Glendale Room. It’s texting the encouragement, saying the compliment out loud, and being someone your Friends feel supported by. There’s something really special and important about being each other’s biggest fans.

• Miranda Hobbes (Sex and the City)

  • What we took from her: You can be deeply ambitious, highly opinionated, and still figure out how to show up for the life you didn’t plan. Miranda was never trying to be the “perfect” version of anything. She was brutally honest (borderline cynical at times) but unapologetically herself through every season. Her honesty guides her through life’s messy and surprising milestones on her own terms: opting out of the traditional baby shower, not romanticizing a big wedding, and navigating motherhood while making partner. We see her wrestle with expectations, challenge them, and then quietly build a version of adulthood that works for her.

  • How it translates now: Letting your life evolve without forcing it to fit a narrative you outgrew. Be just as honest as Miranda about everything...who you are, what you want, and what isn’t working. Then have the confidence to adjust accordingly, and the flexibility to roll with life’s curveballs. It’s not clinging to the plan just because it was the plan, and not pretending something fits when it doesn’t. And sometimes the most honest thing you can do is admit you’re still figuring it out and keep going anyway.

• Lily van der Woodsen (Gossip Girl)

  • What we took from her: No matter how dramatic life got on the Upper East Side, Lily van der Woodsen never stopped presenting herself with a sense of composure. Her version of self-care was intentionally built into her lifestyle. The perfectly tailored coat...standing salon appointments...constant fresh flowers...the quiet luxury of taking care of herself even when everything around her felt messy. And while there’s an undeniable level of wealth attached to her world, the deeper takeaway is that there’s value in treating yourself like someone worth caring for. Looking put together wasn’t about vanity, it was about self-respect.

  • How it translates now: Making “me time” part of your routine consistently and unapologetically, instead of something you earn after burnout. Book the facial you’ve been promising yourself for years at Face Place (and a massage at Tomoko before you desperately need it). Focus on building a capsule wardrobe by investing in pieces that will last (and don’t underestimate the power of good tailoring, go see my girl Michele Curcho). No more cheating yourself out of a consistent pedicure routine. Keep recurring hair appointments on the calendar with the same commitment you’d give work meetings. Treat yourself to a good blowout at Studio 1 Blowouts or Blown Away LA whenever you want. Romanticize your post-workout routine with time in the sauna, dry-brushing, and drenching yourself in any Cyklar Body Balm or Jenni Kayne Moisture Rich Body Balm. And remember that presenting your best self to the world starts with taking good care of yourself behind the scenes.

• Kyle Richards (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills)

  • What we took from her: Being a girls’ girl isn’t just about showing up when it’s fun. As the longest-running Housewife across the entire franchise, Kyle hasn’t been immune to the drama—she’s just built a reputation for facing it authentically and head-on. There’s a reason she’s consistently called the most “real” or “down-to-earth” Housewife: she has the conversations, listens to understand, and still finds her way back to forgiving, laughing, and moving forward with the people she cares about. We’ve watched her fight for relationships on every front over the last sixteen years (including with sisters Kathy and Kim) and proudly share decades-long relationships on the show outside of the cast (hi, Faye Resnick). She values history, feels things deeply, and doesn’t walk away forever.

  • How it translates now: Treating your friendships with consistency, not convenience. Long-term girlfriends, shared memories, complicated dynamics—they’re priceless, and worth the effort it takes to keep them. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about being present: checking in, making the plan, reaching out when something feels off, staying engaged even when it would be easier to pull back. Because the goal isn’t a flawless group dynamic, it’s a lasting one—and that kind of longevity is built through the conversations our egos and anxieties usually like to avoid. Another lesson worth taking from Kyle’s book: she loves a good heart-to-heart in the comfort of LA’s best landmarks like the trails at Griffith Park, lunch at Il Pastaio and rooftop drinks at The West Hollywood EDITION whatever it takes, in the name of friendship...).

• Elizabeth James + Meredith Blake (The Parent Trap)

  • What we took from them: This movie gave us two very different versions of feminine confidence. Elizabeth James taught us that elegance can be quiet, composed, and deeply self-assured. And while Meredith Blake is technically not a mom, she absolutely deserves an honorable mention as the almost-step-mom. Rewatching the movie now feels less about an “evil future stepmother” and more like watching a successful 26-year-old publicist get relentlessly terrorized by twins her fiancé conveniently forgot to mention even existed. She knew what she wanted, dressed impeccably, communicated it clearly, and refused to apologize for taking up space while doing it. (“Being young and beautiful is not a crime” remains one of the most important lines ever delivered to us.) Somewhere between Elizabeth’s quiet elegance and Meredith’s unapologetic confidence is the ultimate lesson: present yourself well, know exactly who you are, and don’t shrink to make other people more comfortable.

  • How it translates now: Letting yourself have standards, ambition and boundaries (and resisting the urge to downplay them to seem more easygoing). Elizabeth and Meredith both moved through the world with a level of certainty that felt deeply aspirational: successful careers, strong opinions, impeccable style, and absolutely no desire to make themselves smaller. Let that serve as your proof that women with strong taste and clear preferences often end up building the most beautiful worlds around them. After all, these traits are exactly why they fit so seamlessly into one of the most visually perfect Nancy Meyers worlds ever created. Also, being young and beautiful is still not a crime.

— Your Friend

LA products of the week!

shop all products

Saturday
LAFS X Basqueria Saturday Special: The Casita Friend
Likeafriendsaid and Basqueria are teaming up for two Saturdays only to serve their limited-edition sandwich,”The Casita Friend”, available from 11 AM until sold out.

More Information

Santa Monica

Saturday
National Matcha Day
Celebrate National Matcha Day at the More Than Matcha’s x Viceroy event with yard games, custom bag charm stations, cabana poolside offerings, dj + dancing, and other fun surprises including free matcha for the first 50 guests.

More Information

Sunday
The Makers Hive Market
A beautiful afternoon of shopping small, discovering local makers, and getting a head-start on Mother’s Day gifting.

More Information

Hollywood

Sunday
Hollywood Farmers’ Market 35th Anniversary
Celebrate Hollywood's Farmers’ Market 35th anniversary with chef demonstrations, a speaker ceremony, commemorative photo booth, and limited-edition anniversary tote bags.

More Information

Mid-City

Sunday
Sunday Sewcial
Twice-monthly open studio hang for fiber artists, crafters, and makers of all kinds. Bring whatever you’re working on—knitting, crochet, embroidery, mending, sewing, or any project that could use a little company.

More Information

Beverly Grove

Saturday
Tacori x Magnolia Bakery Mother’s Day Pop-Up
TACORI has partnered with Magnolia Bakery for a one-day Mother’s Day pop-up. Guests can visit a custom-designed flower cart for a chance to win exclusive product giveaway through a ticketed drawing. Plus, the first 100 Magnolia Bakery delivery orders will receive a special 20% off code to use toward TACORI fine jewelry.

More Information

Downtown

Saturday
Spring Closet Sale
A spring closet sale featuring clothing, shoes, and bags, with coffee by Vänskap available on-site for an easy, laid-back shopping afternoon.

More Information

Sunday
Spring Table: Wild Greens, Seasonal Foods & Renewal
This guided tasting experience explores springtime macrobiotic cooking through wild and seasonal ingredients associated with the Wood season.

More Information

Sunday
Tats N Books
A curated afternoon and evening event featuring flash tattoos, tooth gems, books, vintage vendors, and a mix of local food and drinks.

More Information

Chinatown

Friday
Mutual Aid Market
Support small LA businesses and artists raising funds for a variety of mutual aid efforts. Each vendor will be contributing to different grassroots initiatives and fundraisers.

More Information

University Park

Friday
USC Mash Marketplace Sample Sale
Shop the last sale of the semester featuring major discounts from Frankies Bikinis and Emi Jay.

More Information

Melrose Hill

Friday-Saturday
Maison Nico at Bar Étoile
Maison Nico is popping up at Bar Étoile in Los Angeles on May 1–2 with Duck Pithiviers during dinner service and pre-order pick-ups for the Pâté Box and Pithivier.

More Information

Highland Park

Friday-Sunday
Crap Eyewear Pop-Up
A one weekend sample sale pop up featuring one off colorways, daily restocks, and exclusive pricing across samples and polarized styles. Take advantage of a buy three get one free offer, and enjoy coffee from Bent Coffee on Saturday and Sunday.

More Information

Silver Lake

Friday
Chaps Comedy Shop: One Year Anniversary
A Friday night comedy show with well-priced hand rolls, crispy rice all night long, and a vintage clothing market to browse before or after the laughs.

More Information

Echo Park

Sunday
Intro to French Beading
Intro to French Beading workshop hosted by Christina Ng, all materials included.

More Information

Frogtown

Friday
Frogtown First Fridays
A free, family friendly First Fridays event in Frogtown with food, drinks, local art, live music, pop ups, animal adoptions, and neighborhood activations along the LA River Bike Path.

More Information

Lincoln Heights

Saturday
Hearts Gallery
A star-studded group exhibition at the iconic Modern Multiples print studio, a space with deep roots in Los Angeles’ creative history. They will have a DJ and food.

More Information

Glendale

Saturday
NM X TF Collab Pop-Up Event
A collaborative pop-up event by No Maintenance and Two Fold featuring a limited run product drop, complimentary sandos, and drinks.

More Information

The Devil Wears Prada Alo

In honor of The Devil Wears Prada 2 coming out tomorrow, I gave the original a rewatch (for maybe the millionth time). It made me think about how much of the movie’s portrayal of women, work and ambition still exists...it just looks different in LA.

The overwhelmed assistant didn’t disappear. Here, the “Andys” and “Emilys” became the founder’s ‘right hand,’ working from home but glued to their laptops in the corner of their apartments, spending too much on Uber Eats because they don’t have 10 minutes to run to the Whole Foods on Fairfax and 3rd.

And your boss likely doesn’t bark orders like Miranda Priestly (after all, she swears by every bottle purchased of Poosh “Lemme Chill” and Miracle Meditation at Unplug). Instead, they’re nice but impossible to reach on some days and incessantly “just checking in” every few minutes on others—quietly micromanaging behind a layer of softness.

Even the Creative Director energy has shifted. Less Stanley Tucci in full grind mode at the office, more answering emails between sets from Equinox Culver City at 7pm.

None of the dynamics changed, we just rebranded them into something that’s harder to call out. The first movie still resonates because the cost of ambition for women still exists. It’s just hidden behind nicer language and “cooler” job titles.

It looks like flexibility: WFH culture, wear whatever you want from Alo sets to Starface patches in meetings. It sounds like opportunity: wellness stipends as common company benefits, proximity to something exciting as the “Chief of Staff” or “Personal Brand Manager,” and being in the room where LA’s biggest names are built from celebrity to lifestyle brands. And while New York owns its cutthroat reputation seen in the movie, LA is its equally cutthroat cousin that insists it isn’t—just because we put mushroom elixirs in our coffee.

But everything else is still there. The pressure to prove ourselves. To get it right at all costs, including burnout, identity-shifting, the quiet erosion of our social lives and energy. This hasn’t gone anywhere. Just think about how many popular terms we’ve created to cope with it: ‘quiet quitting’ was added to major dictionaries. ‘Rage applying’ and ‘9-9-6’ are everywhere from social feeds to career podcasts. And ‘work-life-balance’ has become its own content category. All of which came decades after we were first introduced to the turbulent journey of Andy Sachs.

And that’s the part the movie still gets right. It was never really about fashion, it was about the cost of becoming excellent. The long hours just to “stay in the room.” The constant shape-shifting. The quiet understanding that if you want to be taken seriously, you might have to give more than anyone warned you about upfront.

But it’s a lot harder to question something when it’s wrapped in a $10.15 matcha (with tip) from Alfred, a good title and a world you’re supposed to want. We didn’t fix the system. We just gave it your typical LA glow-up. Same story, better lighting.

So where does that leave us today?

Andy’s takeaway at the end of part one was understanding what it takes to succeed, and then decide for herself whether it was worth it. Not based on how anyone else valued it from the outside, but on what actually felt right for her. And this still holds: not rejecting ambition, but choosing it more intentionally. Knowing when you’re building something authentic and sustainable—and when you’re just maintaining the appearance of it while it quietly takes you further from yourself, your passions and the people you care about.

And as evidenced by part two, Andy didn’t give up on her career—she chose her own version of success. Her shift was knowing when to step back, check in with herself and re-prioritize what she actually wanted out of it all.

You should, too.

Because the job might look better now. The lifestyle might sound cooler. But the question is still the same: does it actually feel like the life you want, or just the one you’ve learned how to sustain at the expense of yourself?

- Your Friend

LA products for Mother’s Day

shop all

Saturday
LAFS X Basqueria Saturday Special: The Casita Friend
Likeafriendsaid and Basqueria are teaming up for two Saturdays only to serve their limited-edition sandwich,”The Casita Friend”, available from 11 AM until sold out.

More Information

Santa Monica

Sunday
Beachfront Yoga w/ Astrid & Miyu
An intimate sunset yoga experience on Santa Monica Beach, in celebration of Astrid & Miyu’s Abbot Kinney opening, followed by a grounding sound bath.

More Information

Venice

Saturday
Create Your Own Trinket Tray
Guests are invited to a jewelry tray making workshop. The event will include a glass of wine and gift bags featuring Astrid & Miyu jewelry.

More Information

Sunday
Coffee & Chill: Goes Country
A cowboy inspired morning bringing together wellness, community, coffee, cold plunges, facials, workouts, and playful activations.

More Information

West Adams

Sunday
Party with Plants
A 5-course spring inspired menu, celebrating the gifts grown by local Southern California farms.

More Information

Sunday
Seed Bomb Day
Stop by the POT Gardens patio to make free seed bombs (a great activity for kids), and grab some brunch while you’re at it. There’ll be chilaquiles, baked goods and sample & merch sale.

More Information

Beverly Grove

Friday
Chaotic Singles SAPPHIC Spring Fling!
A Sapphic Spring Fling for lesbian and sapphic singles featuring a queer DJ, cocktail attire, and interactive icebreaker games. Guests can enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne for the first 100 arrivals.

More Information

West Hollywood

Saturday
Level Up Wellness Day
Step into an immersive wellness event curated by the world's elite trainers. With over 30 years of combined industry expertise, The Legends have engineered a workout unlike anything you've ever experienced.

More Information

Downtown

Friday
Date My Friend
An interactive night where friends take the stage to pitch their single friends to the crowd, followed by an open dance party.

More Information

Saturday
Pedal for the Planet Playdate
Celebrate spring, Earth Day, the outdoors, and community at this free, all-ages event designed for families. Join them for bikes, scooters, arts & crafts, nature, and good vibes all afternoon.

More Information

Saturday
Rock N Roll Flea at The Regent
A free, music-driven market inside a historic theater, featuring 30+ vendors, vintage and handmade goods, a wide range of vinyl, DJs, tattoo artists, interactive booths, brunch, a full bar with bottomless mimosas, and bingo with prizes.

More Information

East Hollywood

Saturday
Lucky Boy Launch Party
Guests are invited to celebrate the debut of Lucky Boy and shop their collection in person. The event will feature drinks, sweet treats, a special gift with purchase while supplies last, and Polaroids guests can decorate.

More Information

Highland Park

Sunday
Collage & Coffee
Enjoy making your own collages while sipping on coffee or matcha from Salud Coffee Co.

More Information

Boyle Heights

Saturday
Pasting A New World
A free wheatpaste workshop teaching you how to make accessible glue for street posting and versatile everyday use.

More Information

Lincoln Heights

Friday
Salu’ Khamsa
Salú returns to Zizou for a late night gathering centered on music, food and live percussion.

More Information

Sunday
Mabel Parker + Small Whirled Pop-Up
A Mabel Parker x Small Whirled pp- up with wine, snacks, and a build your own bouquet station.

More Information

Glassell Park

Saturday
Hard Skills for Hard Times: Intro to Backpacking PT1 Workshop
This workshop covers the basics of spending time outdoors, including shelter, cooking, water, safety, and trip planning. It also explores accessible ways to source gear through rentals and swaps, making it easier to get outside.

More Information

Spring, On Your Terms

Spring shows up less as a season and more as a subtle identity crisis.

All of a sudden, it feels like you should be evolving. Cleaner habits, clearer mind, better routines—reinventing yourself at a pace that’s somewhere in between self growth and a Taylor Swift-level rebrand.

This means something different for everyone. For my East Coast Friends, it’s a ruthless attempt at spring cleaning. Anything that hasn’t been used in the last half hour isn’t important enough to take up space in a third-floor walk-up under 1,000 square feet. For others, it’s the return of “being outside,” which somehow means both long walks with fur babies (or real ones) and a heightened awareness of the pollen count. Equal parts fresh air and mild suffering.

And in Los Angeles, spring tends to manifest in a very specific way. It’s a rotation of the following habits that feel restorative, or at least well-intentioned (I don’t make the rules). Erewhon wellness shots become non-negotiable as spring temps swing from hot to cold and back again more often than my ex (who, btw, is subscribed, heyyyy). Someone books time with a new chakra healer or medium. Some type of Pressed Juicery cleanse is attempted. There’s a new form of outdoor yoga that no one fully understands (crossing puppy and goat yoga off this year’s list). Pilates studios start offering “new season, new you” packages. Menus lean heavily into chlorophyll. IV’s packed with extra vitamins are dripped. Calendars get cleared in the name of a “reset” (but if we’re honest some of us are just tired and isolating before summer). Whether you fully lean in or just observe it from a distance, the underlying theme is the same: spring asks for some version of change. The trick is not letting it turn into a full-blown identity crisis—take what actually feels good, leave what doesn’t, and call it your own version of a reset. Stop, smell the roses while they’re actually in bloom, and take a moment to consider what actually serves you versus what just looks like it should.

Whatever you’re hoping to get out of it, below is my ultimate spring guide to LA. Take anything that feels right, leave the rest.

Touch grass: Spring in LA is your cue to act as carefree outside as someone in a GLP-1 commercial—suddenly you’re doing pottery with a view or yoga in a garden. Make use of the city’s best outdoor parks...morning loops around Silver Lake Reservoir, hikes up Runyon Canyon or Los Leones, or a full afternoon in Griffith Park with snacks and a good book. Dog parks double as your next meet-cute (looking at you, Laurel Canyon), golden hour belongs to the golden retrievers at Palisades Park, and outdoor yoga is in full swing at Hollywood Forever Cemetery along with beachside fitness classes on Santa Monica Beach. To match our stunning scenery, LA picnics demand the perfect al fresco companion. These win the “easiest to transport” award: any Sugarfish to-go box, an Erewhon charcuterie board, and our limited-edition sandwich with Basqueria (The Casita Friend, only available April 25 and May 2)

The outdoor pour: The great outdoors can also mean a rooftop, courtyard or patio with a cocktail. See my guide to some favorite rooftop spots for great views and better drinks here.

Immunity support: Kourtney Kardashian Barker knows what she’s talking about with Erewhon’s Turmeric Crush smoothie—my sore throat hates to see it coming every time.

One trip to Kreation Juicery can feel borderline medicinal, from their Source of Vitamin C tonic and Super Double Immune Plus to Sea Moss blends and anything labeled “Breath EZ.” Whether it’s preventative or reactive is between you and your immune system.

Florals...for spring...groundbreaking: Yes, Miranda Priestly’s sarcasm lives in our heads (and hearts) rent free, but ‘tis the damn season, my Friends. Embrace the blooms with some of our city’s most epic landmarks from Pasadena’s Descanso Gardens to The Original Los Angeles Flower Market, with a reputation for drawing flower lovers from all over the world (plus, cute merch like here). For something slightly more involved, check out monthly workshops at Weho’s Bloom Boom and Rolling Greens (Culver City, Beverly Grove and Studio City).

Mental reframe: The benefits of spring cleaning shouldn’t stop at your closet. Just like that Brandy Melville sweater you worshipped in college and have no intention of wearing again, taking an inventory of the habits and thoughts you’ve been holding onto a little too long is a great way to weed out other things that no longer fit. I swear by Katie Byron’s Loving What Is—it’s built around writing your thoughts down, questioning whether they’re actually true and catching how quickly your brain defaults to fiction. Like a reality check to see what actually holds up so you can throw out the rest.

Physical reset: Somewhere between the sculpting, sweating, and exfoliating, spring cleaning also becomes more about emerging as a more optimized version of yourself. This could mean trying a Flow class at Open’s Venice studio, a nourishing reset like the Turkish Soak & Scrub at The Raven Spa, something more spiritual at Surya Spa, or a full day of detox treatments at Pause Studio. The key: do only what feels good and makes a difference for you—inside or out—not what you think you “should” be doing.

Breathing room: LA’s best apothecaries and holistic health aisles (like Apothecary Pharmacy and Rainbow Acres) are filled with knowledgeable people who take seasonal suffering very seriously, offering treatments designed to get to the root rather than just mask the symptoms. Think herbal remedies, medicated oils, Ayurvedic supplements and neti-pots that remove pollen (not cute, but effective). Next on my list to check out is DTLA Chinese herbalist Ten Xin Inc. Don’t let the low-key social presence fool you, the TikTok reviews speak for themselves. And don’t skip the allergy section on your next Erewhon visit—top-rated products include Wishgarden Herbs’ Kick Ass Allergy tincture, Xlear saline spray and Boiron AllergyCalm tablets. If you have a talent for keeping plants alive, a few air-purifying greens from your local farmers market or nursery (like snake plants, peace lilies, spider plants and areca palms) help filter the air by reducing airborne irritants. Lastly, rest assured our beautiful city has some of the best holistic veterinarians offering everything from homeopathic allergy care to acupuncture (are you even surprised?). Look into Dr. Marc Bittan and Holistika Veterinary.

— Your Friend

LA products of the week

shop all

Saturday
Community Hike with FP Movement
Join FP Movement x GorpGirls LA for a scenic day hike in Los Angeles.

More Information

Mid-City

Saturday
The No Phones Allowed Immersive 70s Event: Brassroots District
Brassroots District is theater, meets music (with a 9 piece funk band), meets a celebration of 70s LA and the musical history that shaped our city. Guests dress in era-specific attire, meet characters throughout the venue, and literally step into 1974 when they enter the space.

More Information

The Grove

Friday
CIDER Store Grand Opening at The Original Farmer’s Market
The global online retailer Cider is opening its first-ever store! To celebrate, Cider will be hosting weekend activations, including photobooth moments, a fresh flower stand, seasonal sips, and exclusive gifts with purchase.

More Information

Hollywood

Saturday
Couplet Coffee’s Grand Opening
Grand opening party for Couplet Coffee’s Hollywood location with 20% off drinks, DJ sets, pop ups, and freebies.

More Information

Melrose Hill

Saturday
Bruce at Little Fish
@bruce__la is taking over Little Fish restaurant and you won’t want to miss it !!

More Information

Downtown

Friday-Sunday
Common Market Sample Sale
Shop a curated selection from past collections by Common Market and their sister brands, MOD REF and All Row Label.

More Information

Saturday
Down to Earth: A Skill Sharing Celebration
A fun afternoon of community, creativity and hands-on learning rooted in art and sustainability.

More Information

Saturday-Sunday
Image at Festival of Books
Image joins the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC for a weekend of conversation, free magazines, and astrology readings.

More Information

Sunday
Taberu Market
Support small businesses and LA creatives while enjoying food and drinks from a variety of local vendors.

More Information

Koreatown

Saturday
Mahjong Market
An afternoon of Mahjong, sandwiches, and friends. All levels are welcome. TAs will be available to assist in gameplay.

More Information

North Hollywood

Sunday
Noho Market
If you want to shop small and support local businesses or you just want a space to hang out, and listen to music, stop by the Noho Market.

More Information

Highland Park

Saturday
Cheerio Collective One Year Anniversary Party
Celebrate Cheerio Collective’s one year anniversary with a party featuring live music, raffles, comedy, vintage finds, coffee, treats, tattoos, a photo booth, art games, and more.

More Information

Silver Lake

Friday- Sunday
Drake Diary’s Los Angeles Pop-Up
A special pop-up offering an extensive offering from their latest seasonal and perennial ready-to-wear collections, as well as a dedicated made to order selection.

More Information

Echo Park

Saturday
Office Supplies
Office Supplies opens its doors for two hours, offering guests the chance to explore its vintage pieces in person during a special visit, as the space is usually open by appointment only.

More Information

Boyle Heights

Saturday
Studio Sale Pop-Up
Guests are invited to a free evening of art, music, and community, featuring a pop-up exhibition with artwork by Checo Sinclair available to view and shop.

More Information

Central Alameda

Saturday
Earth Day Market
An annual Earth Day Market bringing together workshops, food and drinks, live music, DJs, and a curated lineup of vendors offering plants, florals, art, and other earthy goods.

More Information

Long Beach

Saturday
Good Night Flea Market
Thrift Club, in collaboration with Off Track, invites guests to a nighttime flea market filled with vintage finds, live music, food, drinks, tattoos, and more.

More Information

Undisclosed Location

Saturday
Silky's Southern Comfort
Silky invites guests to a candlelit evening with deviled eggs, spring succotash, 7 Up cake, negronis, spritzes, and a few courses fresh off the grill.

More Information

LA Neighborhoods as Dinner Reservations

Just like the people that make Los Angeles unique, its neighborhoods have some of the most distinct personalities. And nowhere does that show up more clearly than in how you make (and keep) a dinner reservation.

Because in LA, it’s rarely just dinner. You might say it’s somewhere between a social ritual and the city’s love language. It’s the lead-up, the wait, the people you run into, and the version of the night it quietly turns into.

However the night unfolds, a reservation is usually where it all starts...

Malibu: 6:15pm reservation, strategically timed around golden hour. You’ll only catch a few minutes of the sunset though because half your Friends are stuck on PCH and they won’t seat incomplete parties. Your table is sandwiched between a group taking a million photos and a man asking his small kids, “isn’t having Nobu with dad way more fun than eating dinner with mom and her new boyfriend?” While breathing in the healing ocean air, you promise yourself you’ll start driving out this way more often. You won’t.

My favorite spot right now: Casita Basqueria for their secret sandwiches that drop daily at 11am, which btw, I’m wondering if we should do a collab with them... thoughts??

Beverly Hills: 8:30pm reservation, corner booth held slightly past the grace period. You’re late but no one would ever say that out loud. The maître d’ knows your name. You’re greeted like you’ve been coming here for years, even if you haven’t. No one bats an eye at a table for three with a George Hamilton look-alike, his significantly younger date and a toy dog being fed straight out of her The Row Margaux bag. Everything makes sense here.

My favorite spot right now: The Dior Cafe

Silver Lake: 7:45pm reservation at a natural wine bar that technically doesn’t take reservations. This means putting your name in at 7pm and being told it’ll be “a few minutes.” They don’t actually know how much longer. That’s how you end up sipping orange wine for an hour on the sidewalk because you’re not a quitter. Nobody remembers what time you originally put your name in—and the hostess is banking on that.

My favorite spot right now: Pine & Crane

West Hollywood: 8:00pm reservation to catch up with your girlfriends over spicy margs. Then you all start running into everyone you know, squeezing around a table originally meant for four. You and your closest Friend slip out early, telling everyone you’re heading home. You’re not—you take a detour on Sunset for a nightcap at The Tower Bar.

My favorite spot right now: Uchi

Santa Monica: 5:30pm post-work drinks on Thursday with your team from the new start-up. Casually turns into dinner. Everyone agrees it’ll be an early night, but (like always) you end up at Not No Bar when someone inevitably asks, “where should we go next?” Like everyone else in Santa Monica, your ex is there. Somehow you both end up at Jameson’s after, because at that point…why not.

My favorite spot right now: Cobi’s

Pasadena: 7:00pm reservation, somehow your entire party arrives early and is taken straight to the table. It’s effortless in a way that feels straight out of a Nancy Meyers film. Almost too perfect for reality in LA, and kind of refreshing. No one is on their phone. Bottles of wine are ordered for the table and dessert magically appears without anyone ordering it. You start to understand why Meryl Streep lives out this way.

My favorite spot right now: Woon

Downtown: 9:15pm reservation booked at Berenjak weeks ago, and you’re still standing outside long enough to hear your date’s tenth story about the nearby building’s historic architecture (it feels too late to ask if he’s actually an architect). Once you’re finally inside, the music is just a little too loud to hear anything else for the small space—but you're secretly happy. You already had to hear his entire thesis on the difference between Art Deco and Beaux-Arts outside.

My favorite spot right now: Cafe Tondo

Hollywood: 8:00pm reservation that no one is honoring. Somehow you’re already on your second location by the time you sit down. The table next to you is celebrating something unclear. Half the table is debating whether we’ve outgrown Desert 5 Spot. The rest leave early to go to some DJ set at a Friend’s house (it’s def rented from Airbnb).

My favorite spot right now: Stir Crazy

Culver City: 7:00pm impromptu dinner (no reservation needed) because everyone in the writers’ room got hungry. Everyone says they’re not going to talk about work—until that’s the only thing being talked about. No one is in a rush to leave because the cheap parking feels like a steal that needs to be put to good use. A nightcap at The Culver Hotel feels inevitable.

My favorite spot right now: Hatchet Hall

Venice: 8:00pm dinner plans at RVR you booked two weeks in advance hoping to run into a hot, eligible single at the bar. You swear you won’t do the walk of shame down Abbot Kinney—the same one you did at 24 and are somehow still doing at 29—from Roosterfish to The Brig to Owa. But there you are, clinking down the street in your kitten heels. “Should we just pop into Gran Blanco?” Half the group sighs. The other half is already counting heads for an Uber XL.

My favorite spot right now: Badmaash

— Your Friend

LA products of the week

shop all