One of the things I’ve been loving most about living in Vegas is, well, LA. Being from New York, LA was never high on my list of places to visit: I was one of those West Coast-hating types, for no reason except I felt I had to out of principle. And I thought the city had nothing to offer.

Well, that was ridiculous. LA is actually pretty awesome. And it’s the perfect little escape from the sometimes overwhelming Las Vegas strangeness. Plus, a 45-minute flight does NOT suck. That’s shorter than my commute from Englewood Cliffs to downtown Manhattan on a Friday night during rush hour. Fact.

Since moving across the country, I have already taken 2 trips to LaLa. That’s 2 more than I had taken in the past 5 years so I have a feeling this is going to become a pretty regular thing. Even better, my company gets amazing room rates at the Mondrian which is basically the best location ever for someone like me who needs to walk to get juice every morning (hi, Earth Bar!)

Plus, the last two times I’ve gone, I’ve stayed in the exact same room which is actually starting to feel like my own little crash pad. The view ain’t bad either…

Trip #1 was really all about reacquainting with the city I loved to hate. My best friend, Joyce, is a resident so it was a no-brainer. We had the most amazing time – in between meeting with editors, many of whom are really good friends anyway – we hit up Bagatelle (straight from the airport, natch), Craigs, Soho House, Bootsy Bellows, Kitchen24 and, of course, DryBar. I met some awesome new people and saw some friends I hadn’t hung out with in over 5 years. I fell in love.

Amazingly, a few of my fave boys from college were also in town for the Malibu marathon, making it that much more special. Being away from NYC is hard so it was like a nice little reunion.

I also met some of Joyce’s awesome friends and got to see my friend Elle who I met about 8 years ago at the Toronto Film Festival. Epic weekend indeed. I came back to Las Vegas ready for my next trip. It’s funny – the few times I went to LA years ago I just wasn’t impressed. I was turned off, actually. But going back now, LA just seems so much different. Maybe it’s not LA – maybe it’s me.

Anyway, just weeks later I realized I had no events in Sin City all weekend so I booked a flight back to Burbank to go with Joyce to the Nylon Magazine and Hollyscoop parties which were both happening right down the street from the Mondrian. Let me just say I have never seen so many people I know in such a short amount of time. So productive. And so fun! #HUGEGROUPOFGIRLS!

Oh and did I mention how much I LOVE the 2am curfew? I can go out and rage but still get up at 9am to work out and not feel like a complete disaster.

Saturday was filled with brunch and working out and  blowouts and shopping on Melrose (what? I miss Necessary Clothing!) – and then a departure from my normal routine: dinner with Deb in LOS FELIX! I was nervous to venture out of West Hollywood but we went to MessHall and it was unreal! Such amazing food and the cutest scene ever. So worth the drive. Well, worth Deb driving 🙂

Next was a stop at Rock & Reilly’s with Anny and Brandon. So good catching up with my NYC bestie and her BF. She was another reason I flew out for the weekend – when one of my closest friends from NYC is in LA and less than an hour away, it’s hard to NOT go.

I should have been exhausted and heading for bed after Rock & Reilly’s, but I made one last stop at Soho House to see my other college friend Adam. Love, love, love the Soho House in LA. Nothing like NYC but gorgeous nonetheless.

I took an early flight back on Sunday – work calls! – but I know I’ll be back soon. I’m finally having a love affair with LA after 34 years of resistance, and things are going really well so far…