it's a party in the USA
Finally back in Bethesda and it feels like nothing’s changed! Besides the fact that they don’t sell Oatmeal Cookie Chunk Ice Cream at the Potomac Safeway and the macaroni and cheese at Chicken Out is wholewheat rotini… And the fact that the rest of my friends are all 21 and I have to muster up ways to be of age (thanks Cheeps!).
I had to leave 9 kilos (about 20 lbs) of luggage with Cat and Mish at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport. I’m sure everyone enjoyed me kicking over my suitcase and frantically throwing things into bags in order for it to be of-weight. I slept like 12 out of the 14 hours and landed in LA. Stopped in LA for a few days and hung out with Khue during the day and Natasha and Christina at night.
Sunday: Got picked up by Khue and had a bit of her bulgogi chicken drumsticks then headed to Christina’s in Sherman Oaks, armed in a leopard romper from Bridge Rd in Richmond, Melbourne. Went to a ridiculously awesome, straight from Melrose Place rooftop hotel party at The W’s Drai’s. We were attacked by some LAPD guys and a guy told me where his penthouse was (#917). That’s some classic LA for ya! We had to wait like an hour to get in but it was so worth it so I could experience the high life! Giant burgers at Juicy Burger consumed. The gay guy Andrew that works there was so adorable!
Monday: Lunch at Lemonade with kiwi strawberry lemonades. Shopping on Third St Promenade and Melrose. Venice Canal and Venice Beach (cue “California Gurls”). Dinner at a Top Chef contestant’s Mexican restaurant Red O. Visited a Whitmanite’s house near Beverly Hills.
Tuesday: Brunch at another Top Chef contestant’s restaurant Grub (impossible parking). Completely adorable decor and cute outdoor seating. Attempted to walk the Hollywood Sign hiking trail. Made it about ten feet. Lounged by the pool. Dim Mak Tuesday at Cinespace, where Dcup spun “We Speak No Americano!” And Midnight Juggernauts played. Supposed bacon-wrapped hot dogs were consumed.
Wednesday: Woke up mega early to leave at 7am to San Diego (“whale’s vagina”). Can’t believe how early it was and that I was fully functioning. Stopped off at Balboa Park, Embarcadero, Gaslight Quarter. Pasta lunch at Little Italy and strawberry scones at Extraordinary Desserts, where the desserts are adorable beyond belief. Then we watched paragliders (opted out because it’s $150 for 20 minutes) and checked out sea lions and the scene at La Jolla Cove. Headed back to Ell Ay in time to see Zac Efron on Jimmy Kimmel. Gorgeous, as always. Especially that head nod. To die for. Ate some ramen in Little Tokyo.
Thursday: Luggage was overweight 10 lbs. Another fiasco ensued. Made it home where Nora, Ari and Becky picked me up! Union Jack’s happy hour with Chau’s ID. So I was a 29-year-old hanging out with a bunch of 21-year-olds. Sweet as.
