On Friday we woke up and sadly checked out of our great room. Today was a beach day though so we headed up Route 1 into Malibu and Zuma Beach.

We got to the beach decently early, but it soon filled up (Labor Day Weekend). Pretty beach though, lots of surfers and nice houses along the horizon. Water was too cold for me, but L took a dip.

We stayed until early afternoon and then began the trek to San Deigo. We hit a little LA traffic, and then were planning to stop in Laguna Beach for lunch. We got off the highway in Laguna, however the only main road into it was closed off by Animal Control. Not sure what was going on but my guess was a some kind of wild animal on the loose in the canyons. So we turned around and got back on the highway.

There was a toll to pay to get back on the highway from Laguna. There were about 6 cars in front of us, however we sat still for about 15 minutes without a clue why. When we finally got to the toll we realized why. The toll booth consistent of a coin machine (to break $5s and $1s into quarters) and a change-only, exact change machine to pay. WTF!! What dumb blond came up with that idea! Fortunately, we were early in the line, but by the time we went through (fortunately with enough bills to pay), there were about 50 cars waiting!

By this time I was STARVING, however we were in the middle of no where, so we had to wait another hour or so to grab lunch in a little beachy town called Oceanside. After that, the Labor Day traffic began (and for some reason I’m always the one driving when we hit traffic). It took us a bit, but we made it to San Diego and checked in to (another) W Hotel.

Our room this time wasn’t quite so pimp, but still really nice. We recuperated for a bit, and then walked to Little Italy to grab some take out and a bottle of wine. While we waited for our food, we had an appetizer at a wine and app’s bar next door.

That night was pretty low key, after dinner we just watched some TV and I did my “homework” (updating this site).

Pics from Day 8 are here.

Thursday was our second full day in LA. In the morning we got coffee at a Peet’s (not bad) and hit the laundromat (I can’t do a ten day trip without doing laundry). Fortunately, we could leave it and pick it up later, so we didn’t have to waste time there. Next we went to Rodeo Drive for some shopping. I bought a Prada Bag and Larry got a Zegna suit…nah, not really, but maybe our next trip This is Larry’s favorite part of the drive:

Once we exhausted Rodeo we went to Melrose and walked around Fred Segal and the other shops around there for a while, and then went to Barney’s for lunch. We ate at Barney’s Greengrass which is on the top of the building and has great views of LA.

No celebrities there either, but lots of rich housewives. Food was good too (very new yorkish).

After lunch we picked up our laundry and then I got my first taste of Pinkberry. Original with strawberries and yogurt chips. Delicious! The rest of the afternoon we chilled in our suite and watched Ocean’s Eleven.

That night we met Larry’s friend Doug for dinner at Koi. Unlike, Dolce, Koi is a cool restaurant that actually has great food too. We saw the guy that owns Sunset Tan there (although he had to wait for a table just as long as we did so I wouldn’t exactly call him a celeb yet) and Debbie Matanopolis (from E! News).

So after dinner I went to the restroom. After I came out of the stall, I noticed Matanopolis in there with some of her friends. We was drunkenly telling them about this roll on Michael Kors perfume thing she had and then proceeded to rub it all over their arms and legs (apparently it gives you “definition” as well). So i go to wash my hands and before I know it she’s rubbing it all over me too. It was an interesting scene, but hey, now I can say Debbie Matanopolis gave me a rub down!

Pics from Day 7 are here.

Today was our first full day in LA. We got the touristy stuff out of the way first and saw the Kodak Theater, Mann’s Chinese Theater,

the Walk of Fame, and the Hollywood sign.

We also walked around the little mall and saw a TLC show in production in one of the patios.

We also saw Wee Man from Asshole chillin on an escalator. All nice to see, but it only took us about an hour to get it all done.

We then drove up into the Hollywood Hills and along Mulholland Drive to see the great views. While Larry made a couple work calls, I took a few pics of the great views and huge houses.

After “the hills” we went into Beverly Hills and walked along the shops on Robertson Drive, and then lunched at the Ivy (unfortunately no famous people there). It was just ok, a little overpriced for the quality of food we got, but hey, it is the place to be seen.

When we got back to the hotel we went to grab the elevator. It almost closes, but a guy holds the door for us. We get in and realize its Charles Barkley! He was staying on our floor, and we wound up taking another elevator down with him again later that afternoon!

We hung out at the pool for a while, and then went to the Bliss Spa in the hotel, where Larry got a massage and I got a mani and pedi.

For dinner that night we went to Dolce on Melrose Ave. Dolce is one of many restaurants in Hollywood owned by the Dolce Group (as well as Bella, Geisha House, and Ketchup), which is partly owned by Ashton Kutcher. The restaurant itself was really cozy and trendy, but the food was just ok (I described it to L as nothing I couldn’t make myself). Unfortunately, Larry’s dehydration from the massage made him feel sick, so we went home early, attempted to watch a movie, and then passed out.

Busy day! Pics from Day 6 are here.