I’ll say it again, I love living in a city where I can easily go to the beach for the day and be home by dark. Venice speaks for itself, I guess. I’m originally from the east coast and the sunset over the ocean still hasn’t gotten old.

Grocery-store carts and trash litter [Ballona Creek], joined by flotillas of foam-plastic cups after rainstorms. — Jane Engle, Los Angeles Times

The Red Lion Tavern has been a neighborhood tavern in Los Angeles for over fifty years (which is a long time for L.A.), and continues to serve as a landmark for traditional German food, a wide selection of German beer, and cozy Old World atmosphere. Plus the waitresses all wear lederhosen, and it's blocks away from my parents' house.

If you find yourself in Malibu for any reason, stop by the Pepperdine university campus and check out this grass field. If there aren't any lacrosse practices happening, then you can sit and fell like you're on the edge of the world.

Dries Van Noten