DIY Thanksgiving Centerpiece

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Thanksgiving is almost here. If you are hosting Thanksgiving or helping out, there are plenty of things to do to be ready for Thursday. Food preparation, cleaning, dessert baking and of course setting the table. The table may seem like the least important task, but with a few creative touches you could have a gorgeous holiday table that all of your friends and family will remember. Keep reading to learn how to make the perfect centerpiece for your new Thanksgiving tradition.


Flowers

The staple of any centerpiece are the gorgeous flowers. For a Thanksgiving centerpiece, we recommend sticking with browns, golds, oranges and reds. Apartment Therapy recommends using mums, goldenrods, hypericum and mystery greens. Instead of getting these flowers at the big superstore, head to your Westwood Flower Garden for fresh gorgeous flowers. Westwood Flower Garden is located at 1091 Gayley Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024 just 3 minutes from your home at Palazzo Westwood.

Accessories
Whether you live in the city or in the country, you can always find creative ways to use what is available outside. Head to Irving Schachter Park and pick up some branches, pine cones or leaves from the trees. This is the perfect accent to your completed centerpiece. You may not use everything you find, but it is better to have extra than not enough.

Gather Your Supplies

You will need glue, rubber bands, scissors and more for your centerpiece. Head to Michaels to gather your supplies. You can even get creative with what you want to include in the centerpiece. If you want to add some glitter or a coat of paint to stick with a theme, you can pick that up at Michaels also. The final look of the centerpiece is all up to you.

Put It Together

Start by putting one stem and laying another across it. Make sure to continually attach your stems together. You keep doing this process in a clockwise motion. Once you have a few basic stems and flowers attached, start inserting leaves, branches or anything else you have gathered. Keep building this way until you have a bouquet that you are happy with. You can then insert the bouquet into a vase, or build a base out of the leftover supplies that you have.

We hope your new centerpiece comes out beautifully. If you want detailed instructions and images, please go to Apartment Therapy to learn more.

Thanksgiving Volunteer Opportunities

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Thanksgiving is a great day to spend time with friends and family. Every year we say what we are thankful for, as we have a day or two off work to relax and enjoy our time together. However, not everyone has a place to go on Thanksgiving. Los Angeles has many organizations that raise money or collect donations for this specific time of year. Here are a few organizations that will let you give back this Thanksgiving. 

Midnight Mission

This historic organization offers counseling, education, training, job placement and more to the city’s homeless population. They also provide food, shelter, personal hygiene and medical care. This organization started in 1914 when Tom Liddecoat provided a meal at midnight after church for the men of skid row. This organization, 100 years later, now provides all of these services plus special Thanksgiving and Christmas events for the homeless of Los Angeles. If you would like to volunteer, learn more at their website. 

Union Station Homeless Services

Union Station Homeless Services is San Gabriel Valley’s largest social services agency. This program provides year-around community meals and other services for the homeless population. These services include emergency shelter, community shower programs, children’e education and recreational activity and adult classes in parenting, money management and nutrition. USHS accepts donations and volunteers for their many programs. You can learn more at their website. 

One Voice

Santa Monica-based One Voice does a little it of everything to help our community. They provide emergency relief for families in crisis, a scholars program for low income students and a Holiday Food Program to distribute Christmas Food Baskets, toys, books and more to 2,500 families in LA poverty. The Thursday and Friday before Christmas, more than 2,000 volunteers come together to prep, sort and package food. It is a lot of work, but many volunteers have a great time socializing and getting into the holiday spirit. You can learn more about this organization and how to volunteer at their website. 

We are so thankful for our family, friends and residents at Palazzo Westwood. Do you have any volunteer opportunities? You can share them on our Facebook Page.  

Winter In Los Angeles

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Los Angeles might stay pretty warm in the winter months. However, we still like to celebrate the changing of seasons with the rest of the country. Los Angeles is home to some great fireplace bars. Wait until it get’s dark and cozy up with your friends and loved ones at these LA fireplace bars. We love a way to celebrate winter without having to deal with the colder temperatures in the rest of the country. 

The Wellsbourne

The Wellsbourne features wood accents and weathered leather-bound books. This atmosphere gives this bar a cozy library-like feel. This space was designed to resemble a 19th century English manor. You can pick your favorite cocktail while sitting next to the roaring fireplace. You can find The Wellsbourne at 10929 W Pico Blvd. 

The Churchill

This unique gastropub has great drinks and cocktails. However, it is also the perfect place to hang out during one of those rare chilly LA nights. This indoor and outdoor restaurant offers sliding glass walls that open up into a lush garden with a beautiful fire place. This gorgeous restaurant with iron table tops and Edison bulb lights is located at 8384 W. 3rd Street in West Hollywood. 

Terranea

Terranea is one of the best staycations in Southern California, but there is more to this place than the perfect getaway. The Lobby Bar’s fire roars during the winter nights. There are fire pits and fireplaces throughout the area to keep you warm during the slight chill of LA nights. You can even head down to Nelson’s for a beach vibe and a giant outdoor fire pit with live entertainment on Saturday nights. Terranea is located at 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes.

1886

The well trained staff at this Pasadena bar will make your favorite drink or a new seasonal cocktail every visit. You can sit next to their stone-hewn fireplace while you sip your cocktail on a breezy fall or winter night. You can find 1886 at 1250 S Fair Oaks Avenue in South Pasadena.

Grab a few of your friends from Palazzo Westwood and warm up at these gorgeous LA bars. It might still be 75 outside, but you can enjoy the perks of winter like the rest of the country.

Nachos in Los Angeles

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Nachos, cheese and guacamole sound pretty delicious on this Friday afternoon. We want to celebrate National Nacho Day with all of our favorite toppings on tortilla chips. Lucky for us, Los Angeles has so many great restaurants to choose from for our nacho lunch or dinner. If you don’t feel like trying one of these delicious restaurants, you can celebrate by making your own nachos while relaxing at Palazzo Westwood. 

The Lobos Truck

You might have to find the truck throughout Los Angeles, but it will be worth it. You must try their green dragon wachos. What are wachos? Nachos are waffle-fried nachos. Your wachos include sauce-tossed waffle fries, guacamole, scallions and ranch dressing. This sounds like the perfect Friday lunch treat. 

El Flamin’ Taco

This great food truck in Los Angeles has the famous carne asada nachos.  You can find them outside of the bars after closing time. These nachos are perfect for when you are hungry late at night or during the day. The carne asada nachos include refried beans, cheddar, avacado, jalapeños and sour cream. 

TLT FOOD

How do pork belly nachos sound? TLT Food is one of the only restaurants that makes this delicious unique take on nachos. You get tortilla chips with braised pork belly and more. This unique recipe is thanks to the Chef Daniel Shemtob.

Tacos Villa Corona

Tacos Villa Corona in Atwater Village will be tempting for your tastebuds. You can order the Chilaquiles. These are delicious breakfast nachos for your commute to work. This morning restaurant closes at 2pm so make sure to get there early in the day. You can even switch it up by trying their chilaquiles burrito. 

HomeState

HomeState in East Hollywood is a place we recommend for everyone to visit. What can you get at HomeState to celebrate National Nacho Day? Their specialty is Frito Pie in a bag. This recipe is Fritos topped with chile con carne or black beans, cheddar cheese, lettuce, sour cream, tomatoes, pickled jalapeños and pickled red onions. 

Candy Everyday

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Boo! It is almost Halloween, and we are ready to inhale as much candy as possible. Chocolate, pixie sticks and gummy worms are plentiful on this spooky holiday. We are glad we have these classic treats, but Los Angeles has many unique candy shops that we are also excited to try on this “cheat day” every year. Head out with some friends from Palazzo Westwood and try this unique candy on Halloween this year. 

Sweet!

Sweet! in Hollywood is a giant store with a sweet theme. This candy store boasts different boutiques and regions of candy that will defiantly let you explore new flavors. This 30,000 square food store has over 300 types of chocolate bars, 860 chocolate products, 200 types of gummies, 140 flavors of gum, 250 lollipops and more. Make sure to save some time for the “Wonka Inventing Room”. You can try every single Wonka Candy creation that has ever been created. If you want to make your own chocolate bar, head to the “Chocolate Lab” to put your candy flavor skills to work. These are just a few of the features to this unique and giant candy space. 

Dylan’s Candy Bar

This coast to cost candy phenomenon is located in the Los Angeles Grove outdoor shopping mall. This store may be a child’s dream, but it also has many things for adults too. You can look at more than 5,000 types of candy which is stacked from the floor to the ceiling. Whether you are choosing your own selection or purchasing a pre-packaged option, you will have plenty to satisfy your sweet tooth on Halloween. They also have many themed candies in stock from Hello Kitty to Wizard of Oz. 

Sugar Factory

The Sugar Factory is located next to the famous TCL Chinese Theater. This three story candy filled shop has a wide variety of sweets for you to choose from. If lollipops are your thing, you can get various themed pops throughout their store. This variety includes everything from Marilyn Monroe to Hello Kitty lolipops. You can also sample their variety of milk shakes and ice cream sundaes. If you are brave enough, make sure to try their King Kong, which includes 16 scoops of ice cream plus sprinkles and more. 

Happy Halloween in Los Angeles

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Are you excited for Halloween? Whether you are dressing up as a devil, a witch or a celebrity, Los Angeles has some amazing events for you to celebrate the night of the living dead. Palazzo Westwood is in a great location to be able to get to all of these local events. Check them out and have a great Halloween in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Haunted Hayride

This is not the kid-friendly hayride that you remember. There will be no pumpkins or silly scarecrows making you laugh. This Haunted Hayride brings together every fear you have as you ride throughout Griffith Park. This long hayride takes you on a journey themed around "Boogeyman". These nightmarish characters can surprise you from anywhere throughout your ride. It also many scare zones and a pitch black maze for you to add to your adventure. 

Halloween Horror Nights

This is not just your typical haunted attraction. This is Halloween Horror nights at Universal Studios. There is a Crimson Peak: Maze of Madness based on the new Guillermo del Toro film. Visitors will explore the decaying remains of a Victorian labyrinth. You can also experience the classic Halloween attractions such as Insidious, Halloween and The Walking Dead. Do not forget to make time for the Terror Tram through the backlot. That is an attraction you will never forget.

West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnaval

Do not forget about the largest Halloween street party in the world. This is one of the best places to be on October 31st. Over a half million people gather in their favorite costumes to celebrate this spooky night once a year. There is dancing, drinking and parade costume contests. Make sure to see the crowing of the "Queen of the Carnival". Also, don't be surprised if their are special guests. In 2011, MTV surprised the crowd with a pop-up Robyn concert. 

These are just a few of the great events throughout Los Angeles. This city really knows how to celebrate this spooky night once a year. Do you have an event that you are attending? Share the details on the Palazzo Westwood Facebook Page. 

Day Trips From Los Angeles

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Do you need to escape for a day? We have all wanted to just take a weekend and get away from the busyness of life. Lucky for you, Los Angeles and Palazzo Westwood are a short distance from many great California day trips. Pile in the car for a mini adventure on this gorgeous California weekend. We think this will give you a little boost of energy to start the work week on Monday.

The Painted Canyon

Take a 2.5 hour drive to Mecca, California and explore the Painted Canyon. The walls of the canyon are mineralized, which is what makes the breathtaking colors that you see when you are hiking through the canyon. You can also take a second hike to the Ladder Canyon, which is a loop hike that takes you through a slot canyon with ladders at steep points. This adventurous hike will be both gorgeous and fun.

The Cabazon Dinosaurs

Just 98 miles from Los Angeles is Cabazon, California. This town may be small, but it has the Cabazon Dinosaurs which everyone must see at least once in their lives. These dinosaurs are from Pee-wee's Big Adventure. The collection includes a three story concrete T-Rex, a 150ft-long Apatosaurus that you can go inside and more. You can also interact with animatronic dinosaurs in the museum.

The Salton Sea

161 miles from Los Angeles is an accidental man-made lake that is a little different than what you normally expect. This old flooded town is the perfect place to work on your Instagram or photography skills while still exploring a part of history. This old tourist mecca flooded and overtook everything from houses to gas stations. There are only a few hundred people left, but it is a spooky way to spend a weekend before Halloween.

Fort Tejon

Do you want a little history in your weekend trip? Just 73 miles from Los Angeles is Fort Tejon. This fort was built in the 1850s, but it is now the home to Civil war reenactments. You also can celebrate Halloween with their candle-lit ghost tours in October. This might not be your typical getaway, but you will have fun exploring history in a new way.