I will not lie. I love me some rooftop bars. Even when they are terribly cheesy and poorly designed, they're still pretty awesome.
ABC posted a slideshow of the world's best rooftop bars.
Without question, one of the most important elements to a perfect L.A. hotel experience is the outdoor space.
My hotel will have 6 to 20 rooms, which I suppose is somewhere between an inn and boutique hotel. I don't really know the difference, so as to avoid awkwardness, I shall classify my place as an hotelito, inspired by this little place.
When I saw this insane Griffith Park-adjacent residence for sale on redfin (for a small $5m buckaroos), I couldn't help but freak out about that backyard. Imagine how spectacular it could be if transformed into a public space.
I have about a million ideas of how to make an outdoor space something magical. In the summertime, there must be a fire pit and live music. I really think there are only a few things in the world more special than sitting outside around a fire listening to music with friends. When everything is just right, a collective feeling of wistfulness settles in.
This scene from Almodovar's film, Talk to Her, is one of my favorite movie moments of all time. I wish this could be in my life regularly. (Except for the crying part.)
I also have an obsession with campfire sing-alongs, particularly when filled with great American folk songs by the likes of Joni Mitchell and Simon & Garfunkel. I feel lucky to have been privy to quite a few spontaneous, outdoor musical moments in my day and know how important that experience can be in shaping a truly great escape from normal life.
In a conversation with an old friend a few weeks ago, he nonchalantly told me he was opening a hotel in Greece. From some strange dark place inside of me, a pool of Veruca Salt-style jealousy started to bubble up. But I want to open a hotel in Greece!
I actually don't want to open a hotel in Greece, but it was too late, the idea of opening a hotel was planted in my brain. In the subsequent weeks, I have become obsessed with this fantasy. I should open a hotel in Los Angeles. It would be a perfect mix of all my favorite things. And, after doing about 30 seconds of internet research, it became clear that there is actually a serious void in Los Angeles' hotel landscape.
I live in arguably one of the most beautiful and interesting parts of L.A., on the border of the Los Feliz and Silverlake neighborhoods. (If you live at the beach, then just shut up.) Rolling hills, lush landscaping, diverse historic architecture, Griffith Park, Silverlake Reservoir, battling street music fairs and farmer's markets, hip cafes, restaurants and boutiques on Vermont, Hillhurst, Rowena, Sunset Junction and Silverlake Blvd; not to mention a population of artists, organic farmers, and movie stars.
Doesn't this sound like a place you'd like to visit? Well, good luck. Unless you've got a couch to crash on, you're gonna have to stay in Hellywood.
That is, until I open my hotelito.
Therefore, I am starting this blog for a number of reasons.
1. I waste way too much time in my life looking at travel, design, cooking and Los Angeles blogs and magazines. I'm tired of being solely an observer and want to be part of the conversation. And maybe if I classify my internet surfing/magazine consumption as 'seeking inspiration for my future boutique hotel' it will stop feeling like procrastination.
2. There's an urban myth out there that if you use your blog to focus on a specific product, marketing professionals will give you free stuff. If someone wants to offer me free hotel rooms I will not say no.
3. When I reach 1000 blog entries, a billionaire investor will knock on my door and give me all the financing I need to make this dream a reality. (My new thing is meta-cosmic projecting. Who needs professional experience in hotel management, interior design, real estate, or marketing when you can post pretty pictures on the internet! I mean, haven't you seen Field of Dreams?)
Photo by Thayer Allyson Gowdy
