Kevin Appel Art

LA artist, Kevin Appel, is a recent discovery to me. His work is right in line with my current geometric crush.

Further Products

Yesterday I was at Clover buying a birthday gift for my sister, and as I am oft to do, I tried on multiple lotions in the "try me!" section. (Don't even get me started on my acute case of must-try-on-every-perfume-in-duty-free-shop syndrome.)

I was taken aback at how much I liked the lotion by Los Angeles-based brand, Further. The smell was fresh, with hints of bergamont, olive and grass, and most importantly, it made my hands so soft.

It got me thinking. This is exactly the kind of product I would love to have in my hotelito bathrooms. Discovering exciting bathroom products that you can take home with you (hint hint, Ace) is really one of the best things about staying at a hotel, isn't it?

I'm certainly not the first to discover this product. It's the soap used at Suzanne Goin's restaurant Tavern (who used to live in our apartment!) and at the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica. Oh, and they sell it at William Sonoma.

The reason it's still worth talking about, despite the hype, is that the products are made from glycerin, a byproduct of the biofuel distillation process. The married couple/owners get used grease from Mario Batali's Mozza to fuel their biodiesel vintage cars and they used the remaining product to make candles.


I wonder what other great local bathroom products are being produced right under my nose. Any ideas?

The Competition

As I've mentioned before, there is a startling lack of hotel options in my neighborhood. Today I would like to take the opportunity to make that very clear by presenting your current hotel choices.

First, as all good researchers must do, I'll define some terms.

My Neighborhood - I'm referring to the glorious chunk of Los Angeles that is east of Vermont Ave., north of Sunset Blvd. (with some exceptions like Echo Lake), west of Dodger Stadium and south of Riverside Dr. Many will call this Los Feliz, Silver Lake and Echo Park although my borders don't include the entirety of those neighborhoods.

Hotel - Hotels, motels and guest houses.

1. Olive Motel

Photo: Yelp

This place looks awesome in a sad, Midnight Train to Georgia sort of way. The location is ideal, right in the middle of Sunset Junction, but the Olive Motel concerns me. It costs $49 a night, which I guess is an attribute, but you can't make reservations . My favorite quote from a Yelp review is, "I found a friggin crack pipe under the bed that apparently was not cleaned up from the person before."

2. Comfort Inn

Photo: Comfort Inn

I'm sure this hotel is fine. It's like the Sizzler of hotels. It's the kind of place that is perfect when you're in town for week to move your old grandmother out of her house and into a nursing home. Not really a vacation destination, but it probably does the job. The best part is that it's only a block away from the iconic rotating Happy/Sad foot.

3. Super 8 Motel

Photo: Super 8 Motel

This Echo Park motel is extremely close to Dodger Stadium. This is why people stay there. It gets 2.5 stars on Yelp with various different complaints of ants, cigarette stains on sheets, urine smell, etc.

4. Baxter 5

Photo: Baxter 5

This is a series of guest houses and apartments in Echo Park. The website features some appealing photos but go read the reviews on Yelp. Actually, why don't I just give you a taste:

"First, my room was not ready until 8:00 pm, Later I found a large dark hair ball on the whitish bedspread, wrinkled faded black sheets with a hard, thin mattress, and both pillow covers with large stains. Closets were stuffed haphazardly with boxes, bags and god-knows what. The entire room smelled sickly sweet like they were trying to get rid of an even worse smell. "

And now for the real competition...

5. Los Feliz Lodge

Photo: Los Feliz Lodge

When I've asked people where their friends and family come to stay in my neighborhood, this is the place they mention. Four really cute bungalows in Los Feliz for short or long term rental with nice design sense and reasonable prices. I would definitely stay here.

6. El Tres Inn

Photo: Apartment Therapy

This small inn, featuring 3 suites (as in, El Tres), is above El Chavo Restaurant in Sunset Junction. The people who've stayed there love it and it looks pretty cool with it's kitschy Mexican vibe. It's the only real boutique inn in the hood and if I had a hotel, it would be friends with El Tres. More photos on Apartment Therapy.

The End.

In summation, your options for hotels in my neighborhood are as follows: 2 extremely shady motels where you may or may not contract Hepatitis C, 1 mediocre Comfort Inn, a series of frightening guest houses, and a grand total of 7 suites/bungalows worth spending your money on. Yep, that's it. 7.

Did you know that my neighborhood has more restaurants and boutiques than most mid-size cities in America? I'm just saying. Maybe it's time for a proper hotel, guys.

Oh no, looks like someone is beating me to the punch. Damn it!

Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

Marion House

I know these trees are about as trendy as any plant can be, but still, I love them. In the version of my guest house fantasy that is a take on your community college art teacher's hippie Topanga Canyon cabin, these guys would work perfectly.

Marion House

The Marion House

Yes, Marion House, I would love to come over and take a nap in your bed. Thank you so much for asking.

Geometric Art

Alexander Kori Girard

One of the things I love most about California Modernism is the art. I've been really into geometric designs lately and would love for my hotelito to feature both classic and contemporary pieces by Cali artists.

Karl Benjamin

Helen Lundeberg


Victor Maldonado

This terrible, glarey photograph is from our living room. It's by one of Jared's best friends, who is an artist and art professor now living in Portland, OR. (This piece was done in Berkeley so it still counts as Cali art, right?) This is one of the many sweet bonuses I got when we moved in together.

This yet-to-be-hung piece was done by Jared's dad in the 1970's. Another score!

Lords South Beach

I've never been to Miami and know very little about it. I'll admit, shamefully, that when I think of Miami what comes to mind is the image of a 1980's gay, topless, Cuban man on roller skates listening to Miami Sound Machine. No doubt Miami has evolved dramatically since those days. (Or maybe not?)

The Lords South Beach hotel in Miami Beach is featured today on Design Sponge. What I like about this self-proclaimed "Hottest Gay Resort in Miami" is that it simultaneously satisfies my need to experience the stereotype, but also presents something new.

Isn't that what travel to a new place should always do?

It makes me wonder though. What stereotypes could I fulfill with an LA Eastside hotel?