ARTICLES & ESSAYS
Storytelling
Eater, Bon Appétit, Teen Vogue, Food Network, Time Out Los Angeles, Bustle, Racked, On She Goes
THE CHEESE-SMOTHERED COMFORT OF MY HOMETOWN MEXICAN CHAIN
In Georgia, a combo-plate Mexican restaurant named La Parrilla felt like a sanctuary
I HATED MY ROOMMATE, BUT I LOVED EVERYTHING SHE COOKED
Roommates come into your life for a reason, a season, and to teach you how to cook. It was Emily (not her real name), my first roommate post-grad, who taught me how to eat seasonally, purchase pantry staples like red wine vinegar and dijon mustard, make homemade tomato soup, and more. Alas, I never got the chance to thank her for these things, because we weren’t on speaking terms when the lease ended. Emily was a domestic goddess, but she was also a roommate from hell.
WHY CELEBRITIES WON’T CONVINCE ME TO LOVE MY NATURAL HAIR
My veins. Oddly enough, I love my veins. I like how they run along the inside of my arms and show my strength. And my wide, cheesy grin that shows the slight crowding of my teeth, even after years of braces. It shows my genuine excitement whenever a camera is around. There are many things I love about myself, but loving my naturally curly, kinky hair is not one of them. Not yet.
7 THINGS INTERNS SHOULD DO THEIR FIRST TWO WEEKS
Congratulations, you made it through another year of school — or have recently graduated — and are about to begin your summer internship. After tweaking your resume, sending out cover letters and going through rounds of interviews, you can finally relax, right? Well, depends. If your goal is to secure a full-time position at the company, or receive a recommendation for future job opportunities, the first two weeks of interning can determine your potential for success.
10 OF THE WEIRDEST BOTTLE OPENERS YOU CAN FIND ON THE INTERNET
Food Network
Though chances are slim you’ll find an actual pot of gold, St. Patrick’s Day weekend is the perfect opportunity to embrace your fun and wacky side. Whether you find yourself combining ice cream and beer to make frothy Guinness Floats or cracking open a bottle of Irish Whiskey to make some Irish Coffee, chances are you’ll need a bottle opener at some point. Here are 10 unusual bottle openers that’ll make your holiday extra special.
BAR REVIEW: SASSAFRAS SALOON
It has been said that Hollywood is the West Coast equivalent of Times Square: neon-flashing lights, creepy costumed characters and camera-strapped tourists. But five blocks south of the theme park Hollywood has become is an unassuming stretch home to the bayou-themed Sassafras Saloon. No wait, there’s moss hanging from the ceiling, so we’re in Savannah. And whoa, did someone drop a house in this bar? Sassafras is a bayou-themed, Savannah-esque, Old West saloon that’s got a little bit of everything for everyone...
BAR REVIEW: BAR CLACSON
Bar Clacson has answered the prayers of Downtown Los Angeles imbibers who have been seeking a watering hole refuge that isn’t a speakeasy, a dive bar or a night club. A bar where you can show up as you are and get to know your bartenders, enjoy pieces of bruschetta with your beverage and play a game of pétanque (France’s version of bocce ball). It has all the makings of your neighborhood Cheers, but with French, Italian and American influences.
10 DELICIOUS MOCKTAILS THAT WILL HELP YOU GET THROUGH THIS DRY JANUARY
If you’re one of the brave souls who decided to temporarily abstain from alcohol after two months of holiday excess, you’re in luck. Dry January no longer has to suck when you live in a city with restaurants and bars that build non-alcoholic drinks into their beverage programs. Now, you can choose beverages with seasonal shrubs, house-made syrups and juices, all made with the same detail and care as their alcohol counterparts. Who knows, maybe you won’t miss the alcohol and extend dry January for another month or two. Ah, who are we kidding? Let the countdown to February begin!
THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN L.A. FOR FORMER NEW YORKERS
New York City can no longer claim to be the epicenter of great American dining. In food and dining press, Los Angeles has been in the running for decades—but you already knew that. So it’s no surprise to come across former New Yorkers living in Los Angeles; trading in snow for sunshine, and sardines for spelt chocolate chip cookies. Sometimes the best cure for homesickness is food, and in this case, it means black-and-white cookies, hot pastrami sandwiches and New York-style pizza. Thankfully, Los Angeles is a city that has it all and then some (e.g. spelt). Just don’t ask us where to find a dollar pizza slice, we’re still looking for that West Coast unicorn.
THE LEATHER BAG I’VE TRAVELED WITH ACROSS THE WORLD
Right now, there's a $420 round-trip fare from Los Angeles to London floating around the internet. I’ll probably book the flight and then figure out the details of paying for it and getting time off from the new job I just started. The only thing I'm certain of right now is my luggage, specifically the tall brown leather Cuyana tote that I use as a carry-on.
HOW LOS ANGELES TURNED ME INTO A SELF-CARE QUEEN
If you would’ve told me four years ago that I would come to believe in the metaphysical properties of rose quartz and amethyst and burn “magic candles” to set intentions about work life and relationships, I might have laughed in your face. But that was before I moved to Los Angeles and set out on an unexpected self-care pilgrimage.
YOU KNOW YOU’RE A BUDGET TRAVELER WHEN…
There’s a difference between being “cheap” and being conscious about your dollar. Like the time I convinced two friends to stay with me in a 12-bed coed room at a hostel during a spring- break trip to Miami. Twelve people sharing one bathroom the size of a closet is never a good idea. I was being cheap. Now that it’s been five years since I’ve finished college and have an actual income, I still look for deals and discounts when I travel on a budget, but not at the expense of my personal space, my sanity, or my health.