My talented friend Alana Stone has done it again. She and her husband Stefan Horn have just published the three latest editions to their Analogue Guide travel series- Barcelona (where they currently reside with their young daughter), Berlin and Los Angeles, folks. If you’re headed east or west anytime soon, you must pick up one of these little lovelies to accompany you.
Alana is my go-to girl for all things la dolce vita and especially all things done with a crafted and detailed hand. The maps in their guidebooks are impeccable and the photos, beautiful. Little gems. The New York Times just named The Analogue Guides in their 2013 Holiday Gift Guide- “Can a guidebook be artisanal? The almost pocket-size Analogue Guides are about as close as they come”. True that, Times.
The guides are organized by neighborhood so you can take in the city’s spots like a local, not a crazed tourist trying to traverse the city at top speed while checking off the so-called must-sees. These guides really give you an insider’s look into how the locals live from a well-rounded perspective. Great for foodies, art lovers, design mavens, bon vivants and adventurers alike.
If you have a traveler in your life, the Analogue Guide is an awesome gift. Currently available for London, Paris, Copenhagen and New York as well, with more cities on the way.
Read it to believe it.
Alana’s 5 favorite spots in the City of Angels:
1. Intelligentsia Silver Lake
One of LA’s premier coffee spots, Chicago based hipster haven Intelligentsia offers cutting edge brew in the artisanally tiled Sunset Junction outdoor complex, which also houses Café Stella and The Cheese Store of Silver lake. Undoubtedly a place to see and to be seen, Intelligentsia’s tiled bar is an excellent spot to catch up on the latest news while losing yourself in the depths of a perfectly formed flat white.
2. Heath Ceramics
Founded in 1948 by potter Edith Heath, Heath Ceramics grew to become one of the most iconic names in California design. Heath’s wonderfully earthy single kiln fired tableware and tiles, still hand crafted in Sausalito, California, are available for purchase at the attractive LA flagship store. A testament to their lasting quality and artistic value, Heath’s designs are on display at LACMA and MoMA. In addition to phenomenal ceramics, the shop also sells books on craft and design.
3. AXE
Named after a Yoruban salutation, Axe is the brainchild of chef and owner Joanna Moore. Designed in a light and modern mix of congona and black acacia woods softened by handmade lamps, Axe is one of Venice’s most attractive haunts. Open windows and a lovely back patio allow for a constant whiff of Pacific breeze. Dishes are fresh, delicious and inspired, taking full advantage of the diversity of fruits and vegetables sprouting locally. Wines incorporate robust California and Old World selections.
4. Stahl House
In the aftermath of World War II, Arts & Architecture magazine commissioned America’s architectural avant-garde to create a series of efficient yet inexpensive model homes. Many of these Case Study Houses, designed by the likes of Richard Neutra and Eero Saarinen, were built in the Los Angeles area. Overlooking the city from the Hollywood Hills, Pierre Koenig’s Stahl House, or Case Study House #22, is perhaps the most iconic representation of Los Angeles modernism. The house is privately owned but open for visits upon arrangement.
5. Hollywood Bowl
A summer evening concert at the Hollywood Bowl is a quintessential LA experience. Dramatically nestled in the Hollywood Hills with prime views of the Hollywood sign, the Bowl hosts world renowned classical and contemporary musicians, in addition to the LA Philharmonic’s summer season. Bring a picnic and a bottle of wine along or simply book a table at one of the Bowl’s al fresco restaurants.
Former showgirl, forever travel junkie, sometime sommelier, and mom to twin bebes. This little blog is a mixed bag of tasting notes, travels, tales of motherhood, and current musings. Thank you for stopping by. Cin Cin! (photo by Amy Dickerson for Anthology Magazine)
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I need one of these for Rome!
I’ll tell Alana! When are you going to Rome? I could not be more jealous.