I am very excited to be traveling to sunny and warm California today. I’m starting off in Los Angeles for a few days. The last time I was in LA was three years ago. It rained that entire trip and I think I was so traumatized that I haven’t been back since. I’m really looking forward to seeing some of my lovely friends like Andrea Stanford and Nathan Turner and finally visiting the Violet Grey boutique and The Apartment by The Line. I’m staying at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel where you can bet I will Instagram their famous palm wallpaper and pink and white stripes. I picked up the March issue of Town & Country magazine and in it Jay Fielding mentions in his editor’s letter that it’s his favorite place to stay in LA. I’ve also been reading the new March issue of Vanity Fair on the plane. The issue is devoted to Hollywood so I feel like I’m ready to hit the ground running.

This weekend, I will head to Montecito with a friend to visit with Alice Ryan Miller, who I mentioned in an earlier post, has moved from NYC to the picture perfect town with her family. I can’t wait to also finally meet chic designer Kendall Conrad and hopefully catch up with C Magazine editor in chief Jennifer Smith Hale. I’m sad my dear friend Carolyn Espley-Miller will be away during my visit. But I’m sure that shopping at the great stores in the Montecito Country Mart and visiting the gorgeous San Ysidro Ranch will make me feel better. It was a bit too expensive to stay at the Ranch but I think staying at the Four Seasons Biltmore will be just as wonderful and it’s on the beach.

Then on Monday, I travel to Ritz Carlton Rancho Mirage for a fun press event with Bentley Motors to experience their newest model the Bentayga. I look forward to catching up with my friend Ted Gushue of Petrolicious who will also be on the trip and who also just moved from NYC to LA.  I can’t wait to spend time with The Sartorialist and Louise Roe and the others who will be along for the ride.

Needless to say, a trip to California is a fun respite from winter in New York, even if it has been milder than usual thanks to El Nino. As usual, you can follow all the fun in real time on Instagram and Twitter.

XOXO,

HC

N.B. I highly recommend reading this post while listening to Going to California by Led Zeppelin.