Blonder Ambitions

Category: Locations

  • FABULOUS LOCATION – MORONGO RESORT

    FABULOUS LOCATION – MORONGO RESORT

    When my sister and I were first hired to take a gig in Palm Springs {see a story on what exactly we got hired to do here}, I was hesitant… only because I had heard that Palm Springs was a quiet, relaxing place… which can be nice… but not all the time.  After visiting the Morongo Resort… we learned that there was very little about this area that was sleepy.  After a whirlwind weekend of gambling, massages, long days at the pool, long nights at the club, and plenty to do… we were the ones who were sleepy.


    The Casino: this place offers everything imaginable… everyone from the novice to the heavy-hitter will find something to keep them occupied.  The slot machines are my personal favorite… but if you love cards, they have plenty of that, too.  This place gets busy on the weekends, so keep an eye on your favorite machine {or table game} and grab your seat as soon as it opens up.  Also, with wine as inexpensive as $4 a pop, it doesn’t hurt to have a glass {or two}.


    The Oasis Pool: weekends at the Oasis pool are busy, yet mellow.  Grab a lounge chair in the water for the best sunbathing and people watching.  Mid-afternoon someone will come around with a bag full of complimentary popsicles {a nice… and refreshing… touch}.  For drinks {and for those watching their waistline… wearing swimwear tends to make one more conscious of caloric intake}, try their Skinny Colada… made with soda water instead of the normal {oh-so-filling} coconut cream, this drink is a light {and delicious!} version of the classic.


    The Pit Bar: this bar is smack-dab in the center of the casino floor, which allows you to feel as though you are a part of the gambling action even when you are taking a quick break.  The staff is helpful and swift and the drinks are reasonably priced.  This is a great place to go to prepare for a night of gambling or for a night out at Vibe {more on this nightclub below}


    Sage Spa: I honestly didn’t have high hopes for my massage at Sage Spa… I figured that a spa associated with a casino may not be top-notch… I was delightfully surprised to find out I was very wrong.  I had one of the best massages ever here… I left feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, and didn’t experience any soreness the next day.  Tip: if you wait until the weekday to get your spa treatment they offer a myriad of specials.


    Vibe Nightclub: though this nightclub is a bit prone to being crowded, that can be a good thing.  On one of the nights that we went here, we decided we wanted a bit of space… Getting a table wasn’t difficult {it’s worth it if you want some distance from the rowdy crowd}.  On a subsequent evening, we wanted to be a part of the action… and we danced the night away {this is when being a part of the large crowd is a good thing… their energy was contagious}.  This nightclub boasts some great theme nights {that manage to avoid the cheesiness factor} and wonderful DJs.

  • FABULOUS LOCATION – THE STANDARD {HOLLYWOOD}

    FABULOUS LOCATION – THE STANDARD {HOLLYWOOD}


    {some photos courtesy of The Standard Hotel Hollywood}

    I was in Los Angeles this past weekend with my closest friends and my man for a bikini fitness competition {article elaborating on this to come soon!}.  We decided to stay over at The Standard {Hollywood}… and it turned out to be an utterly fabulous decision.  The hotel is located on Sunset Boulevard and close to anything and everything you might want while in LA… However, we had such a wonderful time here that we didn’t even leave the hotel {we actually ended up “going out” to their club, The Purple Lounge}.  This hotel is simultaneously chic and retro kitsch.  There is something entertaining, quirky, or fantastic around each and every corner.  For your next trip to Los Angeles, you should consider a stay at this stellar spot.


    The Lobby: upon entering the hotel, one is immediately made aware of the attention paid to detail and the nod to the kitsch of the 60’s.  Stark white walls and a crisp front desk are offset with beanbags, cacti, bubble chairs, and a woman in a glass case {when we arrived she appeared to be doing homework on her laptop and listening to music}.  The tone is set for the rest of your time at The Standard Hotel {Hollywood}.


    The Rooms & The Pool: don’t be expecting the glam style that is apropos for the Hollywood Regency era… instead expect a throwback to a decade past.  The large flower print curtains, bright orange bathrooms, and mirrored walls are all a part of the fun {you’re in LA after all… go with it}.  The late night room service {which you will likely be craving after a night of partying in Hollywood} was prompt and coated with the kind of guilty deliciousness that one would expect from a late-night munchie menu.  The pool {which was lounge-like and cool in the evening… and packed during the afternoon on Sunday} has playfully bright inner tubes constantly floating in it {good luck getting one… they are coveted by the LA Scene-sters looking to make a splash}.  Enjoy the people watching… celeb-wannabees {and perhaps a few actual celebrities} lounge waiting to be noticed in fedoras and aviator shades.  It’s worth getting a tan {real or faux} before attending the Sunday pool session… as bronzed bodies are the norm.


    The Purple Lounge: this spot was small… but every inch was done perfectly.  The purple and pink lighting created an intimate, yet surprisingly club-like atmosphere.  There was plenty of space to sit {which is a luxury in Los Angeles} and the music was the perfect volume {loud enough to get things going… but not to the point that one had to shout to be heard when speaking to another}.  The drinks were delicious and priced fairly {by LA standards} and the bartenders were prompt and genuinely friendly.  The outdoor patio was tiny, but well appointed and offered a glimpse onto busy, loud, and wonderful Sunset Boulevard.

  • FABULOUS SANTA BARBARA SPOT – BLUSH

    FABULOUS SANTA BARBARA SPOT – BLUSH


    Blush is a killer spot.  The food is delicious.  The nightlife is phenomenal.  The happy hour specials are spot on.  True locals know that the real gem is Sunday brunch and the bottomless mimosa bar {Fresh fruit? Check. A variety of flavors like strawberry and pomegranate as juice options in lieu of the standard orange-juice-only-mentality? Check. Bubbly champagne? Mmhmm, checccck.}… My closest friends and I can often be found lounging, laughing, and sipping those mimosas into the late Sunday afternoon on Blush’s beautifully designed outdoor patio.  Need to host an event? They’re easy to work with, accommodating, and professional {look at an earlier event that I hosted at Blush here}.  Blush is a scene in which you want to be seen… there is an inherent connotation of class and elegance infused with just enough of the edgy stuff to keep things fresh.

    What to Try
    Food    : The Blush Burger is always spot on {it comes with to-die-for truffle fries}.  If you’re looking for a flavor explosion {and to seriously indulge} get the lobster mac n’ cheese.  Dining here for breakfast? Try the Eggs Benedict or the Blush Toast {their special twist on French toast}.  The Chicken and Waffles are also delicious and surprisingly chic {see it to believe it}.  Their Chicken Sandwich and Cobb Salad are also spot on.  Tip: make sure that you get a bread basket with your breakfast… sometimes you’ll luck out and get some warm chocolate-filled croissants with whipped butter and strawberry jam.

    Cocktails:  The Love Potion No. 9 is a scene-stealer… a martini glass full cotton candy is then doused in a ridiculously delicious libation, dissolving the cotton candy and leaving you with a swanky glass full of pink goodness.  They also have an extensive wine list and plenty of wines are available by the glass.  You can order at the inside bar or, if it’s after 10pm, order outside at the back bar and take in the local nightlife in all of its {charmingly} pretentious glory.  Mimosas {especially with a variety of fruit juices and combinations!} are delightful.  And, as just being at Blush is reason enough to celebrate {if you truly need to find a reason… just celebrate life… read about it here}, have a glass {or two} of champagne.

    Local Tip:  Wednesday nights are a steal… the Wine Discovery dinner is only $25… you get to partake in a wine tasting hosted by a local winemaker, pick a glass of your choice to accompany your meal, and enjoy a starter and an entrée.  Sunday brunch is the place to be all summer long as Blush has an outdoor patio with a bottomless mimosa bar {and the fruit and juice combinations offered guarantee that you needn’t have the same mimosa twice}.

  • FABULOUS EVENT – THE PERFECT GIRLS’ WEEKEND

    FABULOUS EVENT – THE PERFECT GIRLS’ WEEKEND

    If you read my packing article earlier this week {found here}, you may have wondered exactly what I was packing for… I was packing for a girls’ weekend.  There is a common misconception that a girls’ weekend has to be all about boys and partying {and, yes, that can be a fun weekend…}, but what can be even more fabulous {and refined} is a more relaxed version of that weekend… a weekend of sunshine, food, poolside cocktails, shows, and treating yourself {or being treated} like a princess.  Another positive: instead of ending the weekend exhausted and hungover {a sad side-effect of the boy-chasing shot-pounding girls’ weekend}, you end the weekend refreshed, tan, and utterly pampered.

  • FABULOUS EVENT – A SURPRISE BIRTHDAY BRUNCH FOR MY SISTER

    FABULOUS EVENT – A SURPRISE BIRTHDAY BRUNCH FOR MY SISTER

    So, if you don’t know by now… I run a design house in Santa Barbara (see it here or here).  One of the things I LOVE. Love. love. is event design.  My little sister (and my best friend in the whole wide world) was turning 24… I thought a surprise brunch in her favorite color {green} at her favorite restaurant (Blush of Santa Barbara) was in order.  I whipped up a theme, stuck with the color scheme, did a little graphic design on some menus, and scoured the local Farmer’s Market so that I could put together the flower arrangements {my how-to on arranging flowers is here!}.  A party isn’t truly a party without some ridiculously fabulous people… we’re blessed with the most fabulous friends that life has to offer.  Needless to say, with the genuine surprise on my sister’s face as she walked in (whew! she had no idea!), the wonderful guests in attendance, and the bottomless mimosas (no better way to pass a Sunday afternoon)… the party was quite a hit.

  • Current Obsession: Bottega Louie

    After one of the best nights… ever (1. Went on a double date with my man and my sister and her boyfriend, 2. Sat in the front row at the Kings’ game, 3. Stayed at the Standard in Downtown LA, and 4. Drank chardonnay spritzers at the Rooftop Bar at the Standard and fell in love with the city lights), I woke up the next morning utterly starving.  I wandered down the street and, by a stroke of luck (or fate, call it what you will), I found myself in front of Bottega Louie.

    This place is perfect.  My boyfriend and I have very different dining styles (he likes the low-key, all-American type of place… I like the hoity-toity restaurant that attracts the wannabe gourmand).  Somehow, Bottega Louie manages to fuse the two.  Even with its Los Angeles location it feels distinctly like New York.  An exposed stainless steel kitchen, a hostess dressed to the nines with a giant reservation book (no computers here), and tiny two person tables charmingly clutter the floor.  The place is bustling and loud, but maintains it’s high-class feel.  The energy is contagious.  It appeared that everyone was a somebody, or felt like they were a somebody, during the lunch hour that I spent here.  Gourmet food and top-notch service at a reasonable lunch price range.  We had the Portobello Fries, Onion Gratinée, and Napoli Pizza (we added pepporoni)… all of it: delicious.  Plus, the full bakery and candy bar at the entrance (and, conveniently, that entrance is also the exit) basically demands that you buy something simply by its very adorable, well-decorated, and divine smelling presence.