👋 OH HEY 👋

Mads here! I MISSED YOU GUYS! DID YOU MISS ME?! If you were in LA over the holidays, I bet you enjoyed the 2 weeks of no traffic. Hope everyone’s start to 2025 has been stellar.

I recently got a question on TikTok and realized we’ve never made a list about this topic: staycations in LA! My favorite hotels within the city that feel like a vacation.

• Santa Monica Proper, Santa Monica 🌴 You can’t beat this Kelly Wearstler-designed hotel (the lobby is elite). My favorite place for rooftop drinks before dinner in Santa Monica.

• The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu 🌊 I have such a soft spot for Surfrider. This boutique hotel has it all: ocean views, the best rooftop ever (which can only be accessed if you’re staying there), and their own signature scented candles that transport you right back to Malibu.

• Silver Lake Pool & Inn, Silver Lake 🌞 The only answer in Silver Lake. They have the oh-so-popular Marco Polo restaurant and a pool (duh) right in the heart of the neighborhood.

• Calamigos Guest Ranch, Malibu 🐴 Alright, this is obviously a splurge, but oh man. There’s nothing like Calamigos Guest Ranch. The luxurious grounds, the 2 pools, access to their beach club…My go-to rec for an anniversary or special occasion staycation.

• 1 Hotel, West Hollywood 🌿 It’s like if Restoration Hardware was a hotel. Their lobby filled with comfy couches is one of my favorite places to work from. And you can pop up to Harriet’s on the rooftop for some of the best views of the city.

• kodo hotel, Arts District 🍵 An urban oasis and a modern ryōkan right in the middle of the Arts District. Minimalist design, serene, and steps away from kodō, their modern Japanese American restaurant.

• Gjelina Hotel, Venice 🧺 By the team behind Gjelina comes their own hotel. You can probably visualize the vibes: neutrals, coastal chic, with a stocked fridge of provisions from Gjusta Grocer.

• Palihouse, Brentwood or West Hollywood ❣️ I simply love any Palihouse property. Their WeHo one is centrally located on 3rd St, and they just opened a charming location in Brentwood!

• The Hoxton, DTLA 🌇 My go-to rec in DTLA. They have Cabra and a pool on the rooftop, and they describe their rooms as “beachy California meets old school Hollywood glamour.” Can confirm.

Top Left: Santa Monica Proper (📷 by @santamoicaproper), Top Right: Calamigos Guest Ranch (📷 by @calamigosguestranch), Bottom Left: Hotel June (📷 by @hoteljunewestla), Bottom Right: Silver Lake Pool & Inn (📷 by @silverlakepoolandinn)

Okay, now on to the coolest things to do in LA this week.

🗓️ THINGS TO DO 🗓️

^{The coolest events happening in Los Angeles this week.}

• Santa Monica, Tuesday 1/7 📚 I predict that reading clubs are going to be THE thing in 2025. Reading Rhythms has got one on Tuesday at Espresso Cielo.

• Atwater Village, Wednesday 1/8 🎲 It’s the first Girls Only Game Club of the year! As always, it’s trivia at Nico’s.

• Larchmont, Wednesday 1/8 ☕️ Levain is launching a new, limited edition cookie for winter: coffee toffee! On Wednesday, the founder of Canyon Coffee will be at the bakery so you can sample their coffees and try out the toffee.

• Frogtown, Thursday 1/9 🏺 It’s a sip & sculpt at Frogtown Brewery! Terra Sole Studio will guide you through a free form ceramics sculpting workshop. Great solo or friend date.

• DTLA, Thursday 1/9 🖼️ This art exhibition & mini market by Obscura Collective is one of the DTLA Artnight stops! An unforgettable evening of art, music, and vintage treasures.

• Venice, Thursday 1/9 🍷 Venice Beach Wine Club is back with their first wine night of 2025 at Fig Tree! They will have a curated menu of some of their favorite wines for you to try.

• Highland Park, Friday 1/10 🎭 Fancy some opera? Well, you’re invited to the US premiere of Salieri’s sparkling opera comedy, La Scuola de’ Gelosi, by A Pacific Opera Project. It’s bound to be an unforgettable show, with table seating, wine, food, and Queen Charlotte inspired wigs & wardrobe. Starts this Friday and goes until 1/19. Use code CAMBER15 for 15% off tickets!

• Glendale, Friday 1/10 🛼 Fun group activity that doesn’t revolve around food: David Bowie-themed roller skating night at Moonlight Rollerway!

• Hollywood, Friday 1/10 👩‍💻 You guys love when I post networking events: connect with other women in media over coffee on Friday at Toastique.

• Historic Filipinotown, Friday 1/10 📖 It’s HiFi Friday Night Market again at A Good Used Book! They will have a Filipino-Mexican fusion food pop up, Filipino-inspired baked goods, fresh flowers, handmade jewelry with a DJ playing soul, funk, and disco on vinyl.

• Culver City, Friday 1/10 👯‍♀️ Perfect way to make friends in 2025: an evening of conversation & connection at Village Well.

• Santa Monica, Saturday 1/11 🍕 All my friends doing Dry January, listen up. Bar Nuda is putting on this day hang. Expect pizza from Hi-Fi Pizza, flower arranging, NA drinks, and more!

• Echo Park, Saturday 1/11 🍹 Sønderhaus is popping up at Lisa Says Gah on Saturday! Oh, they’ll have drinks from Anytime Spritz.

• Santa Monica, Saturday 1/11 ☕️ Wait, I love this: a ceramic coasters workshop at MUD \ WTR by Handmade in Venice Beach.

• Glendale, Saturday 1/11 ❣️ Awww love this: a love letter to Los Angeles at Junior High. It’ll be a night of celebration of everyone the city welcomes, accepts, and loves right back! Expect music, ceramics, jewelry, and Filipino baked goods.

• Venice, Sunday 1/12 🪷 Wanna start off 2025 right? This “New Year New Energy Women’s Wellness Retreat” with Well by Martha at the new Rose Den in Venice is going to be a special way to reset. Sound bath! Cold plunge! Healthy lunch!

• Los Feliz, Sunday 1/12 📚 You committed to less screen time in 2025, right? This is how we do it: Sunday Reading Club at Fern Dell Nature Trail. Bring a book and make friends and this low-pressure group hang.

• Eagle Rock, Sunday 1/12 ✨ Start your year with intention with an inspiring Manifestation + 2025 Action Board Workshop by ToGather Studios at Flowers Finest.

• Silver Lake, Sunday 1/12 🥯 This is really important: Ben’s Bagels is popping up at Bravo Toast in Silver Lake. You have to try their homemade butters.

• Echo Park, Sunday 1/12 🎨 A beginner-friendly still life painting class! You’ll paint pomegranates to welcome in the new year. Oh, and light snacks from Erewhon!

📍PLACES TO BE📍

^{New openings, places you should know about, what I’m adding to my starting lineup, etc.}

^{Top Left: Couplet Coffee (📷 by @couplet), Top Right: Marea (📷 by @marearestaurants), Bottom Left: Woon (📷 by @woonkitchen), Bottom Right: Rose Den (📷 by @rosedenandtea)}

• Couplet Coffee, Echo Park ☕️ Friend of Camber, Gefen from Couplet Coffee, has soft opened a brick-and-mortar coffee shop!! Let them know you’re coming this weekend.

• Not No Bar, Santa Monica 🍕 The team behind Dudley Market have soft opened this new bar on Main St. Check their IG for pizza pop-ups and schedule.

• Rose Den, Venice 🫖 A new sacred space for tea & reflection right on Rose Ave. Sign me up.

• Marea, Beverly Hills 🍝 This Italian restaurant from NYC just opened their West Coast location in Beverly Hills. I’m drooling for this fusilli with red wine braised octopus and bone marrow…

• Woon, Pasadena 🥢 Um OMG my friends at Woon have opened a second location in Pasadena!! This is high on my list to visit!

💬 ONE FINAL THING 💬

See ya around,

Mads

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