Blessed is the season
which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.
~Hamilton Wright Mabie
Last week I met my Lauren over on Canon Drive in Beverly Hills, for happy hour. Yes, there's even happy hour in Beverly Hills, at Wolfgang's Steakhouse. You can get lobster sliders for 9 bucks before 8pm! Shhhhh!
A little music to set the Christmas mood ...
Yes! Rain in L.A.! Below, Lauren in front of the cute little sweets shop where were hoping to get a treat to celebrate my birthday, but alas they were closed! We realized I never did the whole wishing on a candle thing!
But we found an Italian place, Via Alloro on the corner of Canon and Dayton Way and as luck would have it, they had a delicious chocolate lava cake! Here, I am waiting in anticipation and modeling my new leather gloves I bought online, on Black Friday. Neiman Marcus Last Call, their outlet online. They're like butta!
After the yummy cake, Lauren had to take off but I wanted to walk along Rodeo and look in the windows. I mean, if you are going to window shop, go big right? So, I went past Brooks Brothers ...
And over to Rodeo Drive.
It was lightly raining, and the stores were closed, but the Christmas music was still playing over the street speakers! It was one of those moments where you feel like you're walking through a scene in a Hollywood movie.
Window at Valentino. The entire dress is beautifully beaded!
Ralph Lauren. The horses might be a tip off. Those were actually video screens.
Fabulous little Italians, at Ferragamo!
And more fabulously Italian windows at Dolce and Gabbana!
Jimmy Choo
Agent Provocateur
And there's Via Rodeo, the little footpath street off Rodeo!
I'm not sure if this was a sparkly selfie booth or some little spot for Santa?
The stairs when you come out the other side ...
And it's opposite the Beverly Wilshire Hotel they used as the "Regent Beverly Wilshire," in Pretty Woman.
Where Rodeo and Wilshire meet, there's a Tiffany Store. These windows were actually quite small and in Miniature. So cute!
A tiny Rockefeller Center ...
At this point the rain was coming down a bit harder so I headed to the parking garage and finished my Wilshire Window tour from the comfort of my little red Mini.
Wilshire is where all the big department stores are like Barney's, Saks and Neiman's. These, I think were Saks.
And more Italians, all wrapped up for Christmas!
Sunday, my friend Karen was meeting friends at the Langham Huntington in Pasadena. More happy hour, but playing dress-up, as well! It's swanky.
This is the Tap Room bar.
When we got there, it was pretty lively but by the time we left it had cleared out, except for a few people here and there that were probably staying at the hotel.
Karen and me in front of their lovely tree!
Biggest eyelashes I've ever worn when it wasn't Halloween!
My own little tree!
Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories
and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year
for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.
~Laura Ingalls Wilder
Merry Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!
Big blessings and much light!
