I had so much fun walking around downtown Los Angeles yesterday.
The weather was perfect. Sunny, no humidity and 75 degrees. I was in heaven! Walking around at noon in the middle of the summer and not turning into a puddle of sweat is pretty sweet!
My adventures for the day began in the early afternoon. I ended up spending most of the morning playing catch up on my computer and before I knew it, eleven o’clock rolled around and I needed to get out!
Here are some highlights from my day!
- Fresh green juice from Caffe Primo
I walked into this place in search of an afternoon pick-me-up and left with one of their fresh juices that came in a glass jar and a small cup of gelato. I selected a juice made with mint, cucumber, aloe vera (yeah, I definitely didn’t know you could drink that) and lemon. It was incredibly refreshing!
My gelato was a mix of coconut and almond date gelato. It was creamy and sweet but didn’t hold a candle to the gelato I had in Italy. Now that stuff was unbelievably fantastic! Take me back!
- Fresh fruit from Pershing Square
Thank you so much for your LA recommendations on my post yesterday. They served me well and directed me to Pershing Square where I spent some time meandering around and looking at some beautiful fresh produce and fantastic-smelling local food.
It seems like all of the people selling produce want everyone to sample their fresh fruit and after biting into one of the sweetest strawberries I’ve ever tasted in my life, I can see why! Every sample I tried was perfectly ripe and flavorful.
I don’t think I’ve ever had a pluot before and after trying a small sample, I knew I needed more.
I bought two pluots and some cinnamon sugar pecans to enjoy in the grass at Pershing Square while I watched the live music playing in the park.
Yum!
- BodyPump
As you probably know, I am a wee bit obsessed with BodyPump. Early yesterday morning I went on the Les Mills website and saw that three gyms right by my hotel offered BodyPump, so I carved out an hour of my day to take a class. I spent some time talking to my boss at the gym about BodyPump again on Monday and think I’m slowly convincing my gym to hop on the BodyPump train… Fingers crossed!
- Macarons at Bottega Louie
This was the place that got the most recommendations from you guys, so I knew I had to check it out. You never steer me wrong and your winning streak continues!
Clearly you know I have a serious sweet tooth and when you all recommended Bottega Louie for their macarons, that was all I needed to motivate me to swing by and pick some up to try.
The salted caramel easily stole the show!
I loved every flavor I tried with the exception of the rose macaron. (It tasted like soap! Apparently I am not sophisticated enough to appreciate rose-flavored desserts.)
I had a blast exploring LA and am really looking forward to another day in the city. Right now I’m off to the IDEA World Fitness Convention!
See ya later!
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macaroons are probably my favorite thing ever- whenever i go back to visit NYC, there’s a place thats completely out of the way that i always HAVE to go to because they make the best macaroons. looks like such a fun trip!!
Macarons* 😉
Ahh, I am SO jealous of those macarons! I have a slight obsession with those adorable sandwich desserts, haha.
The weather does look absolutely perfect.
I absolutely adore the glass jars that the green juice come in! There’s a place where I live that serve them in mason jars and it’s probably my favorite thing about the raw juice bar.
Exciting that you got to get back in and take a body pump class! I remember you saying you loved it a lot.
Macarons always steal my heart, they are so delicious! Rose wouldn’t sit well with me either.. I think you captured the best parts of LA, I have never gone but I definitely want to go now 🙂 Have fun!
How fun! I’ve never had a macaroon before!!
Oh, those macaroons!! I want some!!! They look SO yummy!
All of the fresh food and sweets look absolutely wonderful!!! I love Body Pump too and I totally think your boss needs to let you give it a whirl!!! Have fun!
Wow! I’ve never been to LA but it looks like there is a lot to do! Have fun at the convention!
I’m with ya on the rose flavored things. It always tastes like the smell (best way to describe it) of Crabtree & Evelyn
Oh no! I have SUCH a love for rose flavored things and thus was sad to read that you didn’t like it. Maybe that one wasn’t the best–don’t give up on rose in general! :]
Looks like you are having a great time and making the most out of your time there!! ENJOY!!! xxoo
LA sounds like such a fun city. I hope I get there one day to visit. I don’t think I would be a fan of a rose flavored dessert either.
Looks like you’re really taking advantage of your time in LA. Makes me miss when I used to go there for work. I feel you on Les Mills classes. I love them! I am thinking of getting certified in BodyCombat…but I’m nervous to teach!
Nothing will ever compare to gelato from Italy 🙂 looks like you are having a great time!
Sounds like such a great day! I’ve actually never had gelato before! It’s something that I defintiely want to try. Those macaroons look yummy 🙂
Oh how I miss Bodypump! The local gym that offered it downsized and cut out their classes. Now they have a small weight and cardio area, with a large “box” dedicated to Crossfit. But I want my Bodypump back!!
Looks so pretty!! And all that food looks so good!! That’s awesome that they put aloe vera in the drink, I recently just learned the benefits of it and was shocked! Didn’t know it could help in so many ways. I’ve never had a macaron, but with all those pretty colors how could I say no 🙂 I just need to find a place near me that sells them lol.
That sounds like the perfect afternoon! so much exploring and eating 🙂
Haha I had to laugh at your rose-flavored comment … I recently tried a rose-flavored cookie made by a friend and didn’t enjoy it at all! So I guess I’m with you on the non-sophisticated palate. Of course I tried to be polite and eat it anyway :).
Yay I’m glad you got to try Bottega Louie! I am not usually that into macarons but theirs are definitely the best! Salted caramel is my fave too 🙂
I love BodyPump as well! My gym only offers it Monday mornings, but it makes getting the week started a whole lot better!
GELATO!!!! I miss Italy so much & the gelato was just unreal!!! Nothing will ever live up to it. Those Macaroons look amazing. Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip!
I can’t even imagine what the gelato tastes like in Italy! Looks like you’re having a great time and eating some deeeelicious food!!
The glass jar that the juice came in is adorable! What great marketing!
Looks like you’re having so much fun! If you have time or any interest, I do have some Disneyland passes that you and Ryan are welcome to. Just shoot me an email! Enjoy this beautiful, crazy town!
Haha agreed- rose flavored food DOES taste like soap usually. And isn’t no humidity great? I still can’t get over it, after living back east for so many years.
Perfectly ripe produce from the farmer’s market is the best! After seeing pluots I have to pick a few up from the store later today 🙂
I know it may seem far but you should definitely try to make it over to Venice Beach and Santa Monica. The boardwalk is a great place for a run (and unbeatable people watching) and you can easily cover both places in one quick run. Head to Abbot Kinney in Venice for unique shops and restaurants, or 3rd St Promenade in Santa Monica for more mainstream stuff but still great shopping — and a high chance of celebrity sighting 😉 .
Yumm all the food looks so delicious!! Enjoy your time in LA!!! 🙂
I’ve never tried macrons but salted caramel sounds right up my alley 😉 I love Southern Cali. The weather is always perfect!
Your juice jar is super cute! Looks like you are having a blast in LA!
Macarons are my favorite and Bottega Louie is the best! I still haven’t gotten around the rose flavored desserts either. I think lavender desserts taste like soap too!
I always try to be a true foodie and go for the lavender and rose things, but now I just stick to the regulars like cookies and cream and double chocolate. Lol sometimes simple is best and I definitely do not have the flower palate! I looooove those cinnamon coated nuts (That’s what she said). Sorry, I had to!
Yeah, I doubt I would be sophisticated enough for a rose-flavored dessert either. Salted caramel, however, sounds like something I could definitely get on board with! I, too, had no idea you could ingest aloe vera. What a fun trip! The fruit stands look amazing!!!
Yumm Bottega Louie Macarons! I agree the rose one is too weird for me, Ive had a green tea one though that was surprisingly delicious!
I need to find a bar that gives me mason jars! I would love to collect a few more!!1
Yum – those macaroons look delicious!! I’ve never had one and I’m dying to try one. I actually had my first pluot the other day. It was so tasty! I can only imagine how fresh it must be from the Farmers Market.
The fresh fruit in Los Angeles is the best! I love all of the juice bars they have there too! Enjoy, and glad you got in a body pump class!
Mmmm fresh fruit IS the best!
Fingers crossed for you that you get to have BP at your gym! It is THE best for the gym scene–members love it. (I love teaching it!) You can tell that to your manager 😉 And if you ever need tips on the training when you do get trained, let me know!
Have fun in LA!
I actually got to try some aloe water when I did a review a while back – didn’t know you could drink it until the company contacted me, but it was actually pretty good. My fiance loved it – he actually asks me to buy it now!
omg those macarons look delicious!!!
Holy macaron heaven!! (I always want to spell that word with two o’s…macaroooon) I will def have to search out this place!
Everything looks so delicious- from the pecans to the macarons! I’ve never had a macaron- it’s one of those things I’ve been meaning to try but want the perfect one, ya kno? Glad you’re having a nice time!
You can go ice skating in Pershing Square in the winter. Somehow ice skating outdoors in LA is possible!
Chuckling at the casual drop of the Italy …ha. U r a lucky (well deserved though) girl: Florida, Italy, L.A…jeepers, this stuff is unreality to me. Bigtime. Have fun. No idea what “gelato” is but looks good!
Gahh macarons are the best and those look so delicious! Pluots are yummy aren’t they??
Glad you’re having a blast in LA!
Bottega Louie is one of my FAVORITE restaurants EVER! Next time, you HAVE to go for a meal. I’ve been for dinner several times and all of their food is AMAZING. I’ve also heard their brunch is fantastic. They have the most amazing braised short ribs, chicken cacciatore, and pork chop. Also if you like their macaroons, you should order the dessert “Le Grand Macaroon” – it’s basically a GIANT strawberry macaroon. Unreal.
PLUOTS!!!! YES!!! My husband’s family is from northern california, and the pluot is my mother in law’s favorite fruit 🙂 I had one for the first time while we were up at Tahoe last year. Something about fruit in California is AMAZING. So much fresher and sweeter tasting than down here in Arkansas 🙂 Glad you’re enjoying your time!!
I’m jealous of the weather there – it does sound perfect!
I had a friend that was hooked on aloe vera drinks, and I thought it was sooo weird! I tasted it though and it was great. Only thing is, the bottle she was drinking contained 134g of sugar. It was a big bottle but still, that’s quite a bit. However, I’m sure they don’t add any unnecessary sugar to your juice.
Those macarons are so colorful and prettttty!