Top Los Angeles Beaches

Image courtesy Pixabay

Definitely one of the best parts of Los Angeles living is being so close to the ocean and the sand that adorns the coastline. You can turn any weekend into a vacation just by taking a short drive to the shore! Which beaches are worth going to? While Los Angeles has many fantastic beaches, these are just a few of our favorites, all of which are less than an hour away from your home at Palazzo Westwood Village.

Surfrider Beach

Known for its appearances in movies like Gidget, Surfrider Beach in Malibu is the beach to be for, you guessed it, surfing. Walk east along the beach and you will reach the pier, which is a picnicking spot for many visitors. If you are new to the area, this is also an excellent spot to take surfing lessons. Visitors may park for free along the Pacific Coast Highway. Malibu is a little under an hour away from your apartment home.

Dockweiler State Beach

Located in Playa del Ray, Dockweiler State Beach is a wonderful location if you want space to lay out and soak up the sun. It's also a great location to get in a good workout early in the morning, as it is surrounded by beachside baths and a biking trail. Its three mile long shoreline is also home to a hangline facility, volleyball courts and an RV campground. Dockweiler Beach is about 40 minutes away by car.

Santa Monica State Beach

Santa Monica State Beach has practically everything - a Ferris wheel, boardwalk, arcades and more. Although it's usually pretty crowded, if you head there early enough, you can claim your spot in the sand. The biggest draw is the Santa Monica Pier, which is also frequently featured on the little and big screens. Visitors may also enjoy summer concerts or have their fortune told. This beach is about 30 minutes away from Palazzo.

While our country is home to more than 75 beaches, depending on what activities you would like to complete will usually help you narrow down your choices. Any of the beaches we highlighted above have a broader appeal, but if you are seeking a fishing experience, hiking, or camping, there are plenty of other beaches nearby that will suit your needs. 

Which of our area's many beaches is your absolute favorite? Share yours with us on the Palazzo Westwood Village Facebook and Twitter pages.

Additional sources consulted:

LA Weekly

Time Out Los Angeles

Beer Week is Back

Image courtesy Pixabay

Whether you have a love for all things craft beer or have just had a long, hard week at the office, relief is on the way - the 7th annual Los Angeles Beer Week is just about here! This year's LA Beer Week runs from June 20 through 28, and has a variety of events in store throughout the city during this time. Here are a few of this year's most notable events:

Kickoff Event

The LA Brewers Kickoff Event is tomorrow, June 20, on the south lawn of Exposition Park. More than 75 breweries will be in attendance, with 200 types of beer in tow. In addition to food trucks (including the Grilled Cheese Truck) and beer, there will be live entertainment for your listening pleasure. The event will be held from noon to 5 PM. Tickets are available online, but please be advised that VIP tickets for the event have already sold out.

Father's Day Vinyl Brunch

If you want to treat your beer-loving Dad to a nice Father's Day outing on Sunday, head to Phantom Carriage for brunch. Enjoy "Beermosas," Bloody Marys, Sangria and plenty of one-off beers as you listen to some old-school vinyl records. While some LA Beer Week events charge an admission fee, this event is free to enter and begins at 12:10 PM.

Vegan Cheese & Beer Pairings

Even if your diet does not include animal products, you can still participate in LA Beer Week. Join Golden Road Brewing at the pub for an evening of vegan cheese and beer pairings. Guests will enjoy vegan cheese from Follow Your Heart paired with some of Golden Road's favorite brews. The event takes place Monday, June 22 from 5-9 PM. 

Rarest of the Rare

Smog City Brewing's Rarest of the Rare event has taken a break for the past two years, but it will triumphantly return on Saturday, June 27. Smog City's three bars will serve retired beers, bourbon barrel-aged beers, sour beers and experimental beers. Don't feel the need to drink everything all at once - this event lasts from noon to 8 PM.

These are just a handful of the week's planned events. To view the full schedule, visit the official event website. If you have yet to come up with the perfect Father's Day gift idea, some of these events could be just the ticket! Please remember to travel safely and responsibly from your home at Palazzo Westwood Village to each of these events. Get ready to sit back, relax, and sip on a nice cold brew!

Have you attended any LA Beer Week events in the past 7 years? Which events are at the top of your list this year? Share your thoughts with us on the Palazzo Westwood Village Facebook and Twitter pages!

Additional sources consulted:

LAist

LA Pride 2015

June is National LGBT Pride Month, and this weekend Los Angeles is ready to celebrate! The 45th annual LA Pride begins today and lasts through Sunday, June 14! Get ready for three days parades and festivals in West Hollywood!

Pride Festival
The main events of the Pride Festival takes place Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14 at West Hollywood Park. Hours on Saturday are noon to 1 AM, and 11 AM to 11 PM on Sunday. Both days of the festival include performances from some of music's most popular artists. While most of the pride fest activities are Saturday and Sunday, there is a festival tonight from 5 PM through midnight.

Festival experiences include the Main Stage, Art & Culture Exhibit, Country Pavilion, Erotic City, Hop-Hop Stage, Latino Carnivale, Sizzle, TranStation and Youth Space. There are also an area for food and beverages. Main Stage performers include headliners Ke$ha, Wilson Phillips (on Saturday) and Fifth Harmony (on Sunday).

Pride Parade
The Pride Parade takes place Sunday at 11 AM at the intersection of Crescent Heights and Santa Monica Boulevards. Activitsts the Rev. Troy Perry and Zoey are the parade's grand marshals, and the cast and crew of Amazon's Transparent are the community grand marshals. 

If you are interested in seeing the festivities in person, tickets can be purchased online. Ticket options range from $20 for a General Admission ticket to $115 for a Festival Door Multi-Day pass.

If you driving to the event, parking is available at the Kings Road Parking Structure, Hancock Parking Structure, La Jolla/Havenhurst Lot, La Peer Lot, Orange Grove Lot, Spaulding Lot and Pacific Design Center. If you park on the street, you do need to observe the parking regulations. "Pride Ride" will offer a continuous shuttle loop along Santa Monica Boulevard with shuttles scheduled to arrive every 15 minutes. 

Getting to LA Pride from your apartment home at Palazzo Westwood Village by car will take about 20 minutes.

Have you attended any of the previous Pride festivals? What are you looking forward to seeing this year? Share your thoughts on Palazzo's Facebook and Twitter pages!

Additional sources consulted:
Los Angeles Daily News

Celebrate National Donut Day

Whether you spell it "doughnut" or "donut," the important takeaway from this post is that today is National Donut Day! Sure, any day of the year has the potential to become a donut day, but on this day, and this day alone, you could eat donuts for breakfast, lunch and dinner and it would be socially acceptable. If you plan to indulge in these sweet, doughy pastries today, here is where you should go:

Donut Snob
As their motto states, being snobby about donuts is what Donut Snob "lives for," and for that, we are grateful! Donut Snob was featured in USA Today as one of the "tastiest donut shops in the USA" with good reason. Their donuts are from pure Madagascar bourbon vanilla and Belgian chocolate, along with other natural ingredients. Their menu is comprised of standard, seasonal and fruit donuts, including Cherry Hibiscus, Salted Caramel and The Berry Best. The closest Donut Snob location to Palazzo Westwood Village is at 7253 Santa Monica Blvd.

Dunkin Donuts
While supplies last, Dunkin Donuts is giving patrons a free donut with the purchase of a beverage. Unfortunately, the closest Dunkin Donuts location is in Santa Monica, but if you happen to be out that way, swing by and snag your free donut!

Plan Check Kitchen & Bar
You apartment home at Palazzo Westwood Village is only 8 minutes away from the Sawtelle Blvd. location of Plan Check. For today's holiday, the eatery is offering $2 donuts. At the Sawtelle location, the featured donut is Root Beer Float, which is served with vanilla bean ice cream, root beer sprinkles, root beer froth and a cookie straw, according to Los Angeles Times.

STK
Maybe you prefer your donut towards the end of the day, and with alcohol included. For your dessert donut, served with a free glass of prosecco between 6 and 8 PM, try one of STK's boozy donuts! On the menu are the Cocoa Bomb (vanilla lemon custard and hazelnut liquor), Fruity Rebel (cereal custard and raspberry liquor) and Not Your Daddy's Donut (cherry bourbon custard and orange liquor). 

You might even prefer to undertake the task of making your own donuts! If that's the case, try these recipes from The Kitchn!

Where are some of your favorite bakeries in Westwood? Share your thoughts with us on Facebook or Twitter!

National Running Day

Today, June 3, is National Running Day! Whether you regularly get in a run in the mornings before work or if you run on the treadmill at the gym, today is the perfect excuse to get running and get healthy! National Running Day, as the name implies, is a nationwide celebration of running and its benefits. It takes place annually on the first Wednesday in June, and many cities throughout the United States get in on the holiday by organizing runs.

If you would like to celebrate National Running Day today, or any other day, there are many area locations where you can go to get in a run. Palazzo Westwood Village offers residents access to our state-of-the-art fitness center, which includes treadmills, ellipticals and much more, for our residents who live a busy lifestyle and need to go for a run close to home. If you would prefer to get out of the building and run outdoors, nearby locations for a good run include UCLA's campus or around the perimeter of Los Angeles National Cemetery. 

If you prefer to run as part of a larger group, consider joining a local organization like the Los Angeles Running Club or LA Road Runners. Organizations like these typically have different pace groups, depending on your experience and skill level. Also, if you are training for a long-distance race, these groups are a great resource for new training tips, and can also serve as an indicator of where you are in your personal training.

If you're still not feeling very motivated to go running, this should do the trick - 92 year-old runner Harriette Thompson of North Carolina completed her 16th marathon when she finished San Diego's Rock n Roll Marathon last weekend! Pretty inspirational, right?

If you consider yourself an expert runner, what advice do you have to offer those who are just beginning? What are your favorite locations in our area to go for a good run? Share you thoughts with us on Palazzo Westwood Village's Facebook and Twitter pages! Now lace up your shoes and hit the pavement! Who's with us?