JEREMY THE BLOGGER

Here is a little history about El Segundo, CA, directly from the website of Smoky Hollow Coffee Roasters: “In the early 1900's, Standard Oil built its second California Refinery on the coast a few miles west of Los Angeles.  Named El Segundo ("the second"), the refinery would soon lend its name to the thriving industrial town it helped create.  Eventually, the city of El Segundo would become synonymous with aviation and aerospace.  In the early days, refinery smoke would often settle in the neighboring district...an area the locals dubbed ‘Smoky Hollow.’” According to the city of El Segundo’s website, “Smoky Hollow is an authentic and historical business zone that is emerging as a center for creativity and innovation.”  Smoky Hollow Coffee Roasters encompasses a few businesses within its small industrial courtyard-like compound; a film production company, and a bakery.   There is a very small parking lot but an abundance of free street parking.  Enteri...

Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, Boxx Coffee Roasters offers some unique and wonderful coffee offerings.  With two locations, Istanbul and the LA Arts District, be sure to make this one of your first stops when visiting Los Angeles.   They roast locally at their Arts District location, sourcing beans from trusted local producers and long-time partners around the world resulting in delicious single origins and blends and of course, a traditional Turkish coffee as well.  Each time I have been there, the customer service from the baristas is top-notch from the moment of deciding what to order (they will gladly help you pick the best coffee suited to your likes) to bringing your order to your table or if you are simply just waiting to take it to enjoy on the go.  They were also awarded The Best Coffee Shop In Best of Downtown Los Angeles 2022 and have a wide selection of whole beans for sale in-store and online.

Situated on 127 acres in the city of Arcadia, CA, the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is not only a lush landscape with a rose garden, lake and and dozens of garden zones, it is also a historical site with more wild peafowl than I have ever seen in one place. While there were mostly peacocks with the occasional peahens, they were everywhere; way up on the top of fifty-foot trees, atop other structures and wandering the grounds. Another feature of this sprawling botanical garden are its historic structures. There is a Queen Anne style cottage that was constructed in the 1880’s, a matching Victorian coach barn with slats of cedar and redwood paneling covering the interior with original iron grillwork and the original adobe home from 1840, just to name a few. Keep in mind when you visit that they are going through a few remodeling projects, mainly one of the entrances and some refurbishment of the adobe home and Queen Anne cottage, but in no way does this affect the overa...

On the eastern edge of Downtown Los Angeles lies the Arts District, a vibrant neighborhood full of art galleries, museums, restaurants, coffee shops and more.  My first time there was on a Sunday morning in March, 2023.  It was a nice Spring day with a cool breeze and very few people out and about, which made walking the neighborhood comfortable.  Largely composed of industrial buildings dating from the early 20th century, the area has been revitalized in the recent decade to incorporate live work lofts and new construction apartments and condominiums.   My self-guided walking tour was truly enjoyable with the unique architecture and surprisingly peaceful neighborhood next to the usually bustling Downtown Los Angeles core.  I was also pleasantly surprised that there were no homeless people anywhere to be found and how clean the streets and surrounding areas were. Some highlights of the neighborhood: Boxx Coffee Roasters - 950 E 3rd St, Ste 102.   ...

Last week, UNESCO World Heritage Center which recognizes sites of great cultural, historical, or scientific importance, announced that several Frank Lloyd Wright homes were added as a world heritage site, including the Hollyhock House which I had the pleasure of visiting a few years ago. It is quite the hidden gem in Los Angles, tucked away atop a hill in East Hollywood, in the Barnsdall Art Park.  Completed in 1921, Hollyhock is a perfect example of California Modernism and a stunning beauty with many photo opportunities (photos outside the house only as they do not allow any inside which was torture for me, but I understood).   Photo Notes: Hollyhock House | Los Angeles, CA | April 2016 | Samsung Galaxy Camera 2

I love coffee!  I used to hate it.  In fact, I didn’t even really drink it until 2015.  I started working at a coffee roaster in Seattle and my world changed.  I learned what real, fresh coffee was and immediately after my first ever pour over using a Chemex, which is a brewing method where you pour hot water over freshly ground beans using a beautiful glass vessel, I was in love.  I learned a lot about the roasting process and what makes a good cup of coffee.   Now I enjoy going to coffee shops even more because I only pick the ones who actually roast their own coffee or better yet, have a relationship with the farmers that grow the coffee, know which beans are best to purchase and bring them back to America so we consumers can enjoy the perfect cup.   I also love finding a great space to work, relax, people watch and enjoy a latte, espresso or pour over (those are my top 3 go-to coffee drinks).  The Intelligentsia Coffee in Venic...