los angeles :::

Two songs stuck in my head in the five days I spent in California. Not even whole songs, really, just two of the most annoying snippets of the songs concerned, which I couldn’t help but sing in comedy voices at various points throughout the day. Yep, out loud.

Song one was ‘California’ by Phantom Planet, which though slightly too radio friendly for my tastes is sung by one of the best looking vegan boys I’ve had the pleasure to read about – Alex Greenwald – who, incidentally, also sings Mark Ronson‘s cover of Radiohead’s ‘Just’. Brilliantly, might I add. I’ll also add that I auditioned to sing live on a few Mark Ronson tunes including ‘Just’ in September 2006, because he thought Lily Allen wouldn’t be available for some festivals he had coming up. In the end she was, so he didn’t need me. I love Lily so fair dues to her, but still boo!

But I digress. Singing “California here we come, right back where we started from, Californiaaaaaaa” took up some of my days, along with a bit of song two, the Hollywood theme song. “Hollywoood, Hollywooood”…etc. The rest of the time I spent walking. Walking and walking and walking. I’ve heard people complain about the terrible experiences they’ve had getting around LA in the past, but always assumed they were just being lazy. I seem to be in the minority when it comes to my penchant for wandering miles and miles in every new place I visit, but this time the advice was solid. I don’t this was though:

After I’d walked vigorously for an an hour and a half to find a supposedly vegan cafe I’d been recommended for breakfast (only to discover most of the stuff contained eggs and milk – grrr) I started to appreciate London. Yes there’s a subway system in LA and buses too, but they only go to and from particular places. In London there’s no part of the city you can’t get to or within walking distance of on public transport. London 1, LA 0.

The next day (after our gig in Anaheim, which is basically Disney central and subsequently just a little bit odd), breakfast time was improved by a less strenuous but still quite long walk to Truly on Hollywood Boulevard. Thai restaurant by afternoon and evening, breakfast eaterie by morning, it’s a shabby gem of a place serving the lightest, fluffiest blueberry pancakes I’ve ever had. I wanted to stay there all day and try more dishes as and when I became hungry, but even I realised that was ridiculous. London 1, LA 2 – vegan food is worth more than trains and stuff

I was even more spoiled on my last day, whisked around the place by the lovely Carina and Dan who showed me the sights of North Hollywood and even drove out to a secluded beach just past busy Malibu so we could go swimming in seaweed and strum guitars in the sunshine.

Food was enjoyed at Leonor’s, Vegan Express and Mani’s (giant vegan cupcakes!!), I was introduced to a host of interesting characters throughout the evening and I vowed to return at the earliest opportunity. Final scores? – the judge is still out.

“Californiaaaaaaaaaa, Californnnnnyaaaaaa-aaaaaa”…

Posted by warriorgrrl