A Super Secret St. Paddy's Day Show with Flight Facilities

I'm not usually one to embark on the St. Patrick's Day shit show that blows up the bar scene and spews onto the streets of LA. I'd like to think of it as amateur hour, where all the generally calm and collected take the excuse of a holiday to go out and get wild, too wild, for me. So when my friend Andrew hit me up about going to a show on Sunset Blvd. I was naturally inclined to say no. It wasn't until he divulged the deets that Flight Facilities (a DJ duo I was still hitting myself over the head for missing at last year's festival circuit) was playing a secret show at Mondrian's Sky Bar that I started to get intrigued. So I said, what the hell, let's go!

We arrived 30 minutes before the show was set to start, hoping to avoid the treacherous lines that follow free shows, but shockingly the venue was bare. We grabbed a window booth and watched the cotton candy-colored sunset, while sipping on whiskey and waiting. I scanned the slim crowd every now and then, secretly crossing my fingers that the green-garbed shitheads were too busy downing shots to stop by. 20 minutes after the show was set to start, two cute yet goofy Aussie boys started spinning. Lit only by candles and decorative white string lights, the duo led the slowly growing crowd into a low-key groove. 

A little bit disco, a little bit 90s hip hop, the mood was set and I was above the clouds. Remixing original faves like "Crave You" with a bit of funky soul, I had found my slice of heaven. The dudes downed beers between head bobs and chatted with a few nameless models, but the vibe was overall perfection. Just a few music-lovin' kids hanging at an outdoor pool, dancing with effortlessly gorgeous strangers, NBD. Drew and I scooted out after a few hours, being a school night and all, but the party raged on behind us. As we shimmied back onto Sunset and into our car, I thanked my lucky stars for the most perfect St. Paddy's Day ever.

The Shocking Beauty That Hides in Placerita Canyon

Nestled deep inside the Santa Clarita Valley lies a magical place I'm embarrassed to admit I've just discovered. A pioneer trail, where cowboys once rode. A place called Placerita Canyon. After a recent family tragedy, I found myself stranded in (what Angelenos may call the boones) Valencia with nowhere to go and nothing to do so I dragged my parents off their comfy couch to wander the mountains with me.

What I found there was breathtaking. Lush greenery, rolling streams and trees that nearly kissed the sky. Who knew such a snooze of a town could hold such untouched beauty. We hiked the 3.5 miles to the waterfall, which was unfortunately a bit of a bust, but the hours spent admiring our surroundings in their purest form with the parentals was nothing short of a majestic day.

For those of you looking to dust off those cowboy boots and explore a new (or rather old) frontier, try this hike:

Placerita Canyon Waterfall Hike

To get to the trailhead: Drive up the 5 Freeway to Newhall Pass and take exit 162 for Route 14. Drive 2.6 miles north on Route 14 and take exit 3 for Placerita Canyon Road. Turn right at the bottom of the ramp and drive 1.5 miles to the entrance of Placerita Canyon Natural Area, which will be on your right. Pull into the park and make your way to the trailhead next to the nature center.

Trailhead address: 19152 Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall, CA 91321 Trailhead coordinates: 34.377866, -118.467618 (34° 22′ 40.31″N 118° 28′ 03.42″W)

Why Kindness Is The Coolest New Musician On the Block

It was a gloomy Wednesday night when a very hip crowd filled the quaint El Rey Theatre in Mid-City Los Angeles. Slowly the hoards of vintage threads, ankle boots, and costume jewelry began to take over the room with a hushed anticipation. British cutie Adam Bainbridge (aka Kindness) was about to take the stage and the foreshadowed excitement was buzzing in the air. Countless hours spent listening to Kindness' soundcloud couldn't have prepared us for the dance party that was about to occur. And boy, does the dude know how to groove.

Adorned in a blazer, cropped black pants, and shiny patent leather oxfords, Kindness demanded attention the second he stepped on the stage. And his moves kept the entrancement going. Filling the space with smooth vocals and a funky sound, unlike anything I heard in a long ass time. Think motown meets Aaliyah (he even covered her “If Your Girl Only Knew”).

The entire theatre became a total dance party, as unannounced guests Kelela and Angel Deradoorian stepped onto the stage. Each performer under the spotlight that night seemed of otherworldly level. Two goddesses guised as back-up singers shook their groove thangs while belting out hearty sounds. The magic in the moon was full force that night.

From his smooth tunes to his fancy footwork, Kindness evoked something deep inside me that had been sheltered away. With lanky limbs and a unassuming amount of awkwardness, the man took the command of the stage with an air that epitomized dancing like no one was watching and a confidence that belted, "Fuck y'all haters, this is me."

3 Waterfall Hikes to Escape the LA Grind

Los Angeles is a magical place. And it wasn't until a close friend of mine moved from Denver that I realized how lucky I've been to call this place home. The cityscapes, the beaches, the mountains -- all within a short drive from each other. And the weather...always perfection. 

Few Angelenos actually take the time to discover the more uncharted parts of the city -- something I've most recently dedicated my spare hours seeking out. 30 miles away from the urban sprawl lie some of the most beautiful natural landscapes I've seen. Chasing waterfalls has become my new part-time gig. Here are the best LA hikes I've discovered so far:

Switzer Falls

A 3.5 mile hike located near Mount Wilson in the San Gabriel Mountains is one of LA's best waterfall hikes. It's moderate hike, the hardest part being the walk back to the parking lot, but easily one of my favorites in the region. Much of the waterfall has been dried up thanks to the California drought, but there's enough creek crossings, lush greenery and wooden canyon walking to make one instantly forget that they're so close to Tinseltown.

To get to the trailhead: From the 210 Freeway in La Cañada Flintridge, take the Angeles Crest Highway (CA 2) northwest for 10 miles to the Switzer Picnic Area. Descent to the parking lot, display your adventure pass and begin hiking. If the lot at the picnic area is full, there is additional parking at the top of the road. 

Trailhead address: Switzer Truck Trail, Angeles National Forest, Tujunga, CA 91042 Trailhead coordinates: 34.266239, -118.1457 (34° 15′ 58.46″N 118° 08′ 44.52″W)

Eaton Canyon

Heed my warning: don't go on a weekend! I made the mistake of coming here on a Saturday afternoon and the crowd was comparable to a weekend trip to Cosco. So ridiculous! However, if you're looking for a hiking option with great canyon views, come here on a weekday for a chill afternoon. Located in Pasadena, California, this 3.5 mile (out and back) hike is one of the easiest I've ever done. Perfect for novices, children and dogs.

To get to the trailhead: Take the Altadena exit off the 210 Freeway in Pasadena. Head north on Altadena Drive. The Eaton Canyon Nature Area is a couple miles up the road on the right past New York Drive. Pull into the park, leave your vehicle in the lot by the nature center and start hiking north.

Trailhead address: 1750 North Altadena Drive, Pasadena, CA 91107 Trailhead coordinates: 34.177202, -118.096485 (34° 10′ 37.92″N 118° 05′ 47.34″W)

Sturtevant Falls
Located in Sierra Madre's Chantry Flats area, this hike is home to an old resort town named for canyon pioneer Wilbur M. Sturtevant in the 1890s. Hiking around the area will find remnants of cabins and other staples, which make for a fun little stroll, and the shaded woods make for an instant escape from the bustle of the city. Try this 3.7 mile hike if you're wanting to take a little trip through time and space and find yourself in an old mountaineer's piece of heaven.

To get to the trailhead: Take the 210 east through Pasadena to Arcadia. Exit on Santa Anita Avenue and head north. Go up the mountain for 5 miles until the road ends at Chantry Flats.

Trailhead address: Chantry Flats Road, Angeles National Forest, Arcadia, CA 91006 Trailhead coordinates: 34.195515, -118.022503 (34° 11′ 43.85″N 118° 01′ 21.01″W)

Seafood Stewing in K-Town

Stop the presses! Yesterday I had my first official dining experience in K-Town, and I gotta say...it was beyond epic. Now being an LA-native, some might find it shocking that I had never been, but I've been waiting for the right Korean to show me the way, and lucky for me it came it a sexy little package I like to call my bestie Alice.

Byul Pocha is a quaint little Korean bar hidden in one of K-Town's many outdoor malls, a well-kept secret from the unknown eye to see. You see the everyday pedestrian could easily walk right past the place without a second thought, but upon first entrance I was packed with a LED punch. Neon lights adorned the ceiling, blinking stars flashed their welcome, and giant TVs playing gloriously ostentatious Korean pop circled around us. God, this girl knows exactly what I want.

We got there just before Happy Hour had ended (9pm on a Sunday, go figure!) so we ordered the special: Korean Fried Chicken and a pitcher of beer for $21! We sat, we gossiped, we drank. And when the waitress came around the second time, Alice (bless her soul) ordered a seafood stew and a bottle of soju.

The seafood stew was spicy and warm, the perfect coating to my buzzed belly. Filled with mussels, crab, octopus and a healthy heaping of veggies. We sat, we stewed and we shot rice wine, until the food coma trickled in and we decided to dash. First K-Town food adventure in the bag. And it was totally epic.