Dear Daily!
(LOS ANGELES) Dear Daily,
Just flew back into NY on the red eye from a great trip to LA with my GF, Lisa Salzer of Lulu Frost. She was doing a press day at the Chateau Marmont and trunk show at Ron Robinson|Fred Segal, one of the many places that carry her goodies. It was a good getaway for me--who could say no to a suite at the Chateau? Though Lisa was working most of the time, we still managed to squeeze in some fun.
Friday, November 6: After pulling a classic all-nighter shooting and editing my pics from a Cinema Society screening for the new movie Precious, it was time for 6 a.m. speed-packing and a cab to JFK. I repelled the urge to watch Direct TV on my favorite airline and slept through the entire flight. From Burbank, I took a cab straight to the Chateau Marmont and bum rushed straight past the front desk to suite 79 where Lisa was entertaining a bevy of (dare I say) hot L.A. stylists and magazine editors. I snapped a few shots of the scene before taking a nap in the adjoining bedroom (Best Bed in the World Award goes to the Chateau, btw!). After closing my eyes for several hours I catch the last of the sunset on our terrace until the girls (Lisa and the hotties of PR firm The Collective) are ready to put work aside and venture out for the night. We didn't have to go far. Our friend and L.A. designer Magda Berliner had made us a dinner rez at Bar Marmont. Service was slow, but the drinks were strong. Magda's famous photographer husband Alex joined us later and we shared one last drink catching up before heading back to the hotel to prepare for Lisa's trunk show at Fred Segal.
Saturday, November 7: 10 a.m. We check out of Chateau and move across the street to The Standard--apparently, we are big fans of Andre Balazs hotels. I always like listening to the sex through the walls...which of course, was exactly what I heard as I entered our room. I didn't get to perv out for long. Lisa was waiting in the car for me to take her over to Fred Segal (which we will call FS from now on, for sake of repetition). We got to FS and it was a beautiful, sunny day. The cafe was receiving its late morning coffee crowd as we brush through with a literal TRUNK full of jewels. Usually, when I step into a fancy department store I freak out because it reminds me that I couldn't (or is it shouldn't) afford the least expensive item on the knick-knack shelf. However, I felt slightly more relaxed as Lisa introduced me to the friendly FS sales dudes Patrick Wallis and Rick Bennett. They had good music on and were VERY enthusiastic to meet Lisa's boyfriend (THAT'S ME!). Not to confuse things, but I think we should now re-designate FS to stand for "Friendly Staff." So after making sure I wasn't needed for further heavy lifting, I bid farewell to Lisa and FS FS. It's not often that I get to drive (I don't even have a valid driver's license...wink wink) so I was more than happy to just cruzzzz with the windows down. I think you can actually get a traffic ticket in Times Square for said cruzzzzing. I live dangerously...I know. I immediately pulled over when I saw a sign for Target. We don't have a Target in Manhattan yet, so I was excited to see what I've been missing since last X-Mas in North Carolina when last I visited this miracle of awesomeness. I spent at least two hours "shopping like a girl," taking my time, as opposed to how men usually do it--In and Out (no L.A. pun intended). After "finding what I was looking for", I got hung up on the HUGE Casio keyboard they have on display. I used my Blackberry voice memo recorder to capture what I will surely otherwise forget. I stepped quickly In and Out of Best Buy next door (All they seem to sell are video games and plasmas! NEXT!). I walked by a Supercuts and contemplated a haircut. The line was 11 folks deep. I took that as a sign to keep walking to the car. I was back on the road, chugging a new energy drink I'd never seen before, listening to music through my iPod headphones...again, DANGER. I spotted a yard sale and bought Lisa a small heart-shaped plate for her keys. She's always losing her keys. Dollar well spent. Lisa called, and it was time for me to pick her up from FS. When I got there, the FS FSers were joyful after a great sales days. "Lulu Frost is flying off the shelf!" they said. Lisa was glowing, too. She was sitting in the cafe chatting with Ron Robinson|FS' head retail buyer, Karen Meena, who invited us to dinner for the next night at her place in Venice Beach. We bid our goodbyes and made our way back to The Standard where we meet my good friend and photographer Stefanie Keenan for drinks. Room service by the TV was dinner...I won't bore you.
Sunday, November 8: Breakfast with Magda and Alex, who took Lisa back to FS for day two of her trunk show there. I basically stayed in the room ALL DAY LONG. I have no shame. I rarely get a vacation. I'm cool with muscle atrophy. That night was diner with Karen and her very cool man Jason in Venice Beach. After a story-filled dinner, they generously toured us around the Venice canals by foot. No place like it.
Monday, November 9: After "breaky" we decided to check out of the hotel and drive up to Runyon Canyon for a hike. It was really amazing...not just the fact that I was actually hiking, but the views from atop were perfecto. Our endorphins juiced, we drove over to Hollywood Boulevard and played tourist for a few hours before catching our flights home to NYC. Next week, Lisa will be in Tokyo for a Barneys New York trunk show. I'd invite myself, but I'm afraid she might start wearing a t-shirt that reads "My boyfriend is with me EVERY SECOND!" Thank you L.A. Thank you FS. Thank you LS...and thank you DAILY!!!
Billy Farrell
