Everything Old Is New Again…
Out And About In Santa Monica
Saturday evening le Monsieur and I took the train to downtown Santa Monica. We’re so thrilled to have this option now! Driving into this area on the weekends is often an ordeal…LOTS of traffic congestion, and parking can be scarce and/or expensive. When I first moved to LA (25 years ago, wow!) we used to visit Santa Monica regularly, but over the years it just became too onerous, and we’d mostly stopped.
We arrived with some time to kill before our dinner reservation, so first took a walk in Palisades Park along the bluff overlooking the Santa Monica Pier (above).
We passed by Tongva Park on the way to the restaurant. We’d only seen it from the road previously, so we paused to take a short walk around the space. It’s a really nice park, with sculptures and an awesome playground for the kiddos.
Everything I’m wearing here is at least a year old (except the glasses), but I’ve never worn this combination before, so it feels brand new.
eyewear | top (similar) | jacket (similar) | jeans (similar) | bag | bracelet (similar) | shoes (similar)
We’ve had a run of blissfully mild weather the last few days, cool enough that mornings and evenings have been “jacket required” for me. I don’t know how long it’s going to last, but I’m enjoying while it does.
Dinner was at Herringbone on Ocean Avenue. The food was mostly excellent, but the service was a bit haphazard. Our salad came out before our appetizers, and we waited so long for le Monsieur’s dessert we were pretty sure the order had been lost. According to our server it’s under new ownership, so maybe they’re working out some of the kinks. Decor was fun though…
After dinner we enjoyed a leisurely walk back to the train station. (The pier was pretty all lit up, but more crowded than we felt like dealing with at that point.) I think we’ll be visiting Santa Monica more often in the future.
What have you tried recently that’s made something old feel new again?
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I’m looking for a great classic red nail polish. Please tell me what brand/shade you are wearing!
Hi Linda, it’s Chanel “Rouge Puissant.” I love this red, so classic!
We went out this weekend and I ordered iced tea. I don’t drink alcohol so that was my “drink.” It was coffee- believe me I know coffee when I get it! I sent it back and the replacement was still coffee. I think they must brew their tea in their coffee maker. ☹️ We tipped as usual, clear the waitress got the drink from what she knew to be the tea pitcher – and left a Yelp! Review.
That must have been so frustrating!
I don’t follow that rule about getting rid of clothes if you haven’t worn them all season. I put them away, and when I change for the new season I reconsider them. Last winter, I was always in jeans. This year, though, I think I’m going to wear those sweater dresses that got neglected. Sweater dresses with tall boots look great and are so comfortable.
Did you take the Gold Line to Union Station, or drive there and leave your car? I discovered LA’s Metro this summer, and am a total convert!
We picked up the Expo line in West LA. LOVE the Metro…also great for getting to downtown LA!
So wonderful that there is redevelopment of passenger trains in California!
i’m not a fan of throwing out anything I haven’t worn lately either. This weekend I actually catalogued all my fall/winter clothes in a Word document (type of item, color(s), fabric, brand) and have started to look for “new” outfits by searching the catalog for commonalities of various kinds. You’d think a grown-up person like me wouldn’t need a tool like this. But I swear it has already helped me find four new combinations I’d never have put together that now seem so obvious I can’t imagine how I missed them before.
Obviously, “visual recognition” is NOT one of my fortes. Fortunately, typing is. 😉
WOW – that’s a GREAT idea! It’s a Word doc? Or a spread sheet??
Thanks!
Thea, it’s just a big table in a Word doc. Of course, you could do it in Excel. Searching for RED or BLACK/WHITE or OLIVE makes so many things “appear.” Some people obviously don’t need this help … but I sure do!
What a neat idea! I’ve thought of interesting outfits with items that I have while perusing Pinterest, etc., but they don’t seem to come to mind while standing in front of the closet! Having them sorted out and ready reminds me of a movie scene (can’t remember the name) where Faye Dunaway is standing in front of her mechanized closet, pushing the button as the clothes rack passes in front of her with each hanger holding a completed outfit, jewelry and scarf included! Brilliant. And Hollywood. 😉
Had completely forgotten that scene.LOL!
Sounds like you had a great evening, Sue. And your mention of Palisades Park brought memories rushing back, not of the place but of an old 45 record that my older sisters used to have when I was a kid back in the 60’s. I think I still know every word to that song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYDSFKLu-TA
Oh dear. I didn’t mean to post a huge thing like that. Only to put the link. Sorry, Sue.
I grew up in Detroit and loved that song. Thanks for posting – I remember most of the lyrics. Great memories.
I thought of that tune too, but I lived on the East coast in my youth, and the tune for me was about our Palisades Park, New Jersey
Oh this is wonderful!
We were in Santa Monica a year ago and, having not been there for about four years, found it SO congested. Especially the pier area. Somehow it has lost its magic so it will be a while until we return! Hmmmm….maybe that’s called “getting older!!”
I just want to say that you look so happy and healthy. Your complexion is flawless!
Thanks, Tracy!
Love your mani! Red polish looks so chic on a shorter nail…as a new soft contact lens wearer ( wore hard semi permeable for forty years!) I now wear mine short too!
EXPLAIN THE TRAIN?WHERE DID YOU HOP ON…………….?
I CAN”T IMAGINE!
Elizabeth, there’s now a light rail Metro line that runs from downtown LA to Santa Monica. LA once had a robust trolley system, which was bought up in the 1930’s by oil, tire and auto manufacturers and ripped up, all in order to encourage more driving. Now we’re spending gazillions of dollars to rebuild metro rail lines, in order to ease traffic congestion and pollution. It’s worthwhile in my opinion, though not everyone agrees.
We were at Herringbone for Saturday brunch. The noise level (music & large groups of Texas fans) was deafening. The food was so disappointing. Have you tried Hillstone’s in Santa Monica? Always a fave. Luv that Gucci bag!
Thanks! We have not yet tried Hillstone’s, but will for sure.
Here on the Canadian prairie, it seems to have turned from summer to winter rather suddenly! I’ll be doing my seasonal closet switch this weekend (reluctantly… still hoping for some nice fall weather!) One of my goals for this new season is to switch things up and try combinations that I haven’t worn before.
I love the way you’ve added a pop of red to your neutral outfit with your purse and nails!