LA Parklet

Image credit: TheEastsiderLA

February is a big month for the city of LA as they are finally catching up with other cities like New York and San Francisco and are opening up their new parklets.  The first one opened this week on York Blvd in Highland Park.   I must admit, I am a little sad/jealous about the two new parklets which are set to open on Spring St downtown later this week (as we just moved out of downtown a couple of months ago), but I am super excited to visit these Friday morning.   For now, it is now my new favorite Saturday morning activity to get coffee and sit on the colorful mosaic tiled benches of the parklet while relaxing with my husband.

Handsome + Apolis

For all of you Angelenos, particularly if you live downtown:
A few weeks ago I did a post on Handsome Coffee Roasters (seen here) and a post on shopping locally featuring Apolis (seen here).  Well, the two have merged while Handsome goes through its final stages of construction.  Stop into Apolis this week for some Christmas shopping and the best cappuccino in town!

Delicious!

Common table-ecourages community

Handsome Coffee Roasters

There is a new coffee shop in LA and now one of my favorite stops on weekday mornings.  Handsome Coffee is opening later this month in the Arts District in Downtown LA.  While it is not officially open yet, they brew espresso drinks     M-F 7:30-12 as a preview of what is to come.  You enter through the back way in the alley and they have an old car bench seat (couch) and other fun decor.  Their barista Jesse pulled me a shot of their espresso blend (which is not at all bitter), made me a great cappuccino, and the best macchiato I have had.  Handsome was founded last year by World Barista Champion Michael Phillips, Tyler Wells and Chris Owens--all of whom left Intelligentsia to pursue their own ideal of roasting and brewing.  Stop in, say hello and enjoy a great coffee experience.

The Art of the French Press

I used to consider the French Press a thing of the past.  With the third wave coffee shops in LA and other cities brewing using the pourover, Chemex and the Siphon, I thought these were the ultimate methods. While the husband and I were in Portland, OR for our honeymoon, we discovered that the French Press had made a big comeback there (afterall, the dream of the 90s is alive in Portland). =)  What is nice about it is when done well, it gives a less bitter (almost sweet) and lush brew.

You will need:

• good beans (whole)
• burr grinder set to coarse
• kettle
• french press
• large spoon
• timer
• coffee mug(s)

(I like to use the free Intelligentsia iPhone app for timing of brews and ratio of beans to water).  CHEERS