As I spent a lot of this Labor Day weekend watching the US Open, I got serious green tennis ball colored envy. I need to go to Flushing, NY stat (my friend goes every year, I have no excuse). I mean, what a perfect way to spend a long weekend, exploring the last few days of summer in the city and then enjoying Primetime tennis! Until I make it there, all I can do is dream of past New York adventures.
concrete jungle where dreams are made.
I have often called LAX the eighth portal of hell, and I mean it. There is no worse pain than landing at LAX on a Friday afternoon/night. Well, maybe there is if you’re Chrissy Teigen and John Legend. Y’all need to stop what you’re doing right now and read about their 8 hour flight from LAX to LAX due to a passenger snafu last night. I would die.
Anyway, if you’re flying into LA, hope you didn’t make any plans because you’ll be stuck for an hour before you can even reach Century or Sepulveda Blvds. It has one of the worst traffic flow designs of any place that is allegedly supposed to serve that many people. Like the architect deliberately thought, how can we purposely make it so there’s only one route out that bottlenecks like crazy?
Even though it one of the worse places on this planet (you think I’m exaggerating. I am not), it’s a necessary evil that has to be dealt with because you can fly almost anywhere from there. One of the busiest airports by volume, if you’ve flown internationally from SoCal, you’ve likely flown out of LAX. It is the second busiest airport in the US by passenger load, and maybe for this week it is a little better than the busier ATL (at least there’s power).
There are 8 numbered terminals separate from the Tom Bradley International terminal. 1= Southwest; 2 = Delta and SkyTeam members: Aer Lingus, WestJet, Virgin, Aeromexico. 3 = Delta, Copa, Avianca, Interjet; 4 = American 5 = American, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Allegiant, Frontier, Spirit, Sun Country. 6 = Alaska, Virgin America, Air Canada, Mokulele, Great Lakes. 7 and 8 = United. There are random exceptions in terms of check in counters for some of the international carriers of the codeshare alliances, but all international flights return to Tom Bradley (TBIT).
I will give it one thing though, there’s some good shopping there, particularly duty free. And if you’re uber wealthy, there are separate luxury lounges that are not connected to the terminals where you can get checked in and taken to your plane by SUV. There could be more restaurants, as the selection is dispersed sparingly amongst the terminals.
Remember: ✈️ = welcome to the jungle to ✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️ = i love LA (we love it)
Convenience to the city: ✈️ (theoretically it is, practically it is not; may the odds be ever in your favor if you’re flying in during peak hours, rideshares help but it takes awhile)
Ease of navigating through terminals: ✈️ (you’re at the mercy of shuttle buses on the tarmac that wind passengers around planes from terminal to terminal)
Convenience of check in/security lines: ✈️✈️ ✈️ (fairly efficient for its size)
Dining: ✈️✈️✈️ (three planes because the eateries are good, but limited in each terminal, so there’s not that many given options. But…you should look for Ink.sack by Michael Voltaggio in TBIT, La Brea Bakery in Terminal 1, lots of Coffee Beans and Starbucks as well as local coffee shops around; Pinkberry locations, Panda Expresses, Shake Shack in terminal 3, Wolfgang Puck eateries in 6, the Habit and Wahoo’s fish tacos in 6; LA’s hipcute cafeteria Lemonade in 5, Umami Burger, 800 Degrees Pizza, SlapFish, etc)
Bathrooms: ✈️ (don’t expect them to be that clean unless you’re in a recently renovated terminal)
Charging stations/wifi: ✈️✈️ (no free wifi, which makes complete sense)
Amenities: ✈️✈️✈️ (every lounge ever (including a luxe Qantas), retail from bliss spa, Spanx to Burberry, Gucci, Hermes, Harley Davidson — wish there were more options per terminal, but hey real estate is a premium here. I took one plane off because the Sanrio store closed. Also, don’t forget to check out the spacey Theme Building on arrival, home of the former Encounters restaurant (wasn’t actually that bad food wise) but now is a viewing deck on the weekends)
Off to enjoy some family time for the holidays! Sometimes the best travel is heading home (sometimes it’s also the most stressful ;). Hope everyone has safe travels with no delays, lines or airport aggravation. Will be back next week!
I think I’m going to Boston, I think I’ll start a new life. So are the lyrics of the Augustana hit from the early 2000s that fill my head every time I go here. It’s a great city for new starts and rejuvenations, being both young and vibrant whilst steeped in history and tradition.
One if by land, two if by sea…
Inexplicably, I’ve been to San Antonio several times for work. Texas’s second largest city, it’s one of the fastest growing cities in the country. There’s a huge US armed forces contingent there and is probably best known for being home to the Alamo and previously, Tim Duncan.
Beyond that, the food and drink scene in San Antonio is fantastic. Not only do you have spectacular Tex Mex regional cuisine, but every restaurant has it’s own unique look and feel. The decor in some of these restaurants–especially the ones in repurposed spaces is something to behold. It’s a multicultural city with so many identities, and that’s what makes it a great place to create some memories.
Remember the Alamo…
I hadn’t been to Newark Liberty (EWR) in years, like more than a decade, and it has changed considerably for the better. One of the airports serving NYC as well as most of the Garden State, it has very heavy traffic. There were people everywhere.
We’re talking a TON of restaurants, shops and amenities. It’s still crowded, and the addition of said trendy restaurants in the middle of the concourses narrows the walking path quite a bit. But, at least there’s stuff to see and do.
I was really pleasantly surprised at the amount of food choices and the presence of the Global Food Bazaar, although ramen, pizza and philly cheesesteaks doesn’t quite scream “global” to me…but at least they tried.
There are 121 gates in three terminals A-C, each with three concourses. A serves JetBlue, Alaska, Virgin, Southwest, Air Canada, American, United Express. B is international, Delta and Spirit. C is United and is the terminal I passed through (i.e walked circles in). If you’re flying in from the north, sit on the left side of the plane. You’ll catch a great view of Manhattan and will even be able to see the lights of Times Square from very high up (think about all that energy being used!)
Remember: ✈️ = EW-R to ✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️ = the Boss
Convenience to the city: ✈️✈️✈️ (airtrain connects to the train/amtrak station which will connect you basically everywhere in the tri-state area)
Ease of navigating through terminals: ✈️✈️ (the hallways are narrow because of restaurants taking up the middle portion)
Dining: ✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️ (Global Bazaar food market, CBGB, all sorts of chains, upmarket restaurants/bars, fast casual bistro types, Dumpling Bar–I would skip this food is meh, neapolitan pizza, french brasserie, steakhouse, sushi/ramen, oyster bar — like everything you could want at exorbitant prices)
Bathrooms: ✈️✈️ (clean but there could be more of them dispersed)
Charging stations/wifi: ✈️✈️✈️ (free wifi available, plentiful charging)
Amenities: ✈️✈️✈️✈️ (the shops are a little weird, America! store? Swatch? There is a Metropolitan Museum of Art store so that’s a plus, CBGB’s, spas–mainly the things to see here are food based and of course, people watching–the best activity on layover)
how bazaar
Sacramento may seem like a random place to visit, but thanks to Greta Gerwig’s stunning (read: STUNNING) ode to cinema and her hometown, Lady Bird, California’s capital city is taking its turn to bask in its own deserved spotlight.
I think the best way to describe this city is that when you’re here, you feel like you’re in a vintage Instagram filter, a bygone era of Americana with modern splashes. It is simply an easy place to be. There’s that old school charm, from the architectural gems of the Fabulous Forties to the neighborhoods dotted with old neon signage (featured prominently in the movie and as you know if you’ve read this blog, are one of my favorite things) and the proximity of farms and citrus tree groves.
Beyond the capital, it is one of the top destinations for locavore cuisine, earning it the nickname of “America’s farm to fork capital.” For a city of its size, there’s every type of food you could imagine, and ingredients are so fresh due to its proximity to California’s central agriculture industry. People forget California is one of the largest farming states in the country–next time you eat those strawberries and avocados, think of us.
Eureka, I’ve found it!
Charlotte, North Carolina is one of the country’s financial centers which draws in a lot of young professionals and individuals with money. With a growing population, the demand for restaurants, attractions and entertainment rises, and the city has stepped up. It honestly does not feel like much of a Southern city, other than its hospitality, the downtown feels like mini Wall Street with its city of skyscrapers.
The cool thing about this city is that there’s a real sense of humor about it. There’s quotes all around town, and whimsical public art displays. Not what you might expect from a city that boasts the Nascar Hall of Fame. The unexpected it what makes this city so special, and a great place to spend a short weekend.
As far as bucket lists go, Niagara Falls is typically a popular featured destination, for good reason. I can’t believe I’d never been until now! It’s one of the most beautiful natural wonders of the world, and it’s right in our own backyard. *Whispers: the Canadian side is better. Sore-y, not sore-y.
Of all of the places I’ve been in our great neighbor to the north, Canada, I had never made it to the eastern side of the country. But, with all of my immediate family out of the country for Thanksgiving, no time was better to seize the moment and head across the border to Toronto. I traded turkey for Tim Hortons, and I regret nothing.
Oh Canada…
Portland is probably one of the best airports in which you can hope to have a layover. Two words: movie theater. Beyond that, the airport really strives to make it about PDX eats and treats, featuring many local restaurants and breweries, including the House Spirits Distillery. The stores featured are mostly local brands, which is great because PDX originated companies include Nike, Columbia, Pendleton and Powell’s Books. It really is a destination on its own, with a personality befitting the city it serves.
PDX also boasts incredible views as you are flying to and fro. If you’re flying south, make sure you sit on the left side of the plane, as you’ll likely be privy to a gorgeous sighting of Mount Hood. So amazing.
Located about 12 miles from downtown, there is one terminal building split into North and South Terminals which are connected by a walkway. South has three concourses A (Alaska), B (American), and C (JetBlue). North has D (Delta) and E (Southwest and United). There’s a total of ~65 gates.
Remember: ✈️ = trapped in an episode of portlandia to ✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️ = just do it
Convenience to the city: ✈️✈️✈️ (not too far and there’s also light rail to downtown)
Ease of navigating through terminals: ✈️✈️✈️ (there are people movers)
Convenience of check in/security lines: ✈️✈️✈️✈️ (not too crowded, flows easily)
Dining: ✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️ (They also have a food truck area here! Mauritian food, Korean. Kenny & Zuke’s, Laurelwood Brewery, Rogue Brewery, Bambuza, Blue Star donuts, Rose’s. There’s also everything from McDonald’s to sit down fare like Stanford’s surf and turf.)
Bathrooms: ✈️✈️✈️ (clean)
Charging stations/wifi: ✈️✈️✈️ (free wifi available)
Amenities: ✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️ (Alaska, Delta, United Lounges. Live music, movie theater –15 min short films, local shopping, this airport has it all!)
Traveling docs 