#LosAngeles

#jolenegoes

I am a Southern California native with a taste for adventure. When I was younger, I was privileged enough to travel with a sports team. This opened my eyes to all of the different places just within the United States. In the early 2000's, I fell in love for the first time - not with a person, but with a city. Boston stole my heart. Then in 2008, I visited Europe for the first time. This, partnered with the realization that I could love a city, began to fuel my desire to see the world.

As a working person in my thirties, I try my best to balance a normal life - work, friends, love, art - with my adventures.

Keep following along to see where life takes me next.

Sep 25, 2019

Jolene goes on a very los angeles Staycation

Most of us are not blessed with a disposable income and unlimited time off from our 9 to 5 daily grind, but that doesn’t mean we can’t squeeze in an adventure here and there. This one goes out to my fellow Weekend Warriors. Instead of planning an expensive trip to go somewhere far and exotic, Cathrine and I decided to have a staycation, choosing to venture out into our local Los Angeles labyrinth instead of boarding a plane to go elsewhere. Our staycation began on Friday nigh

Mar 21, 2019

Jolene goes to Griffith Observatory: A Mental Health Day

Famously depicted in Hollywood favorites such as Rebel Without a Cause and La La Land, the Griffith Observatory is an iconic Los Angeles landmark that draws tourists and locals alike. So, when I found out one of my besties of 13+ years (Christine) would be in that area, I suggested we include it in our LA-day. Recently I've been battling with some mental health issues, all triggered by recent negative personal and professional experiences. I got to a point where I basically

Mar 4, 2019

Photo Diary: Jolene goes to Downtown LA

“The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one’s own country as a foreign land.” – G.K. Chesterton Until next time, Happy wandering! #jolenegoes #Jolenegoes #DowntownLA #DTLA #TheBroad #WaltDisneyConcertHall #LosAngeles #LA #BottegaLouie

Dec 21, 2018

Jolene goes to the LA Zoo Lights

While I do not celebrate Christmas, I still find myself engaging in seasonal, ~festive activities such as this one. Last year, a good friend of mine wanted to do something festive for the holidays but our schedules didn't work out. This year, I knew I had to make her a priority this season, and oblige her holiday-themed craving. We settled on visiting the LA Zoo Lights, an after-hours event that skips out on the animals but brings plenty of sparkling lights and holiday cheer.

Sep 27, 2018

Jolene goes to a Bastille Gig

The idea of trading PJs for a cute outfit, cramming yourself into a standing-only area with hundreds of strangers to recklessly shout out your favorite lyrics along with the artist on stage does not appeal to everyone. In fact, most people are content "listening to the album at home," but I'm definitely not one of those people. I find an allure in live music, and I've never been able to put my finger on one particular reason that I am so strongly drawn to it. Perhaps it's the

Aug 29, 2018

Jolene Goes to the Skirball Cultural Center

In the current Instagram model and social media FOMO climate, popular Los Angeles spots like LACMA or The Broad have been dominating cyberspace, with their insta-worthy photo ops and trending exhibits. I myself have fallen prey to this facade created by Instagram, giving into the allure of Kusama's Infinity Rooms but not seeking out the other museum gems so readily available in Los Angeles. Thankfully, Instagram did me a favor - I saw one of my friends post some photos from t

Aug 12, 2018

Jolene Goes to Venice Beach

Sometimes it's nice to be a tourist without going too far! My girlboss friend Cathrine (who I have mentioned in several posts before) spent the day exploring Venice Beach, CA, with no particular plans. We meandered through alleyways, drooled over the canal homes, and ate some pretty yummy food. Blue smoothie bowls at Great White Exploring the canals "Youth is in a grand flush, like the hot days of ending summer; and pleasant dreams thrall your spirit, like the smoky atmospher

Feb 25, 2018

Jolene goes to Little Tokyo

Part of my 2018 "resolutions" included exploring more locally, and this little day trip was definitely with that in mind. I wanted to reconnect with my friend Stefani, who I don't get to see often. After perusing Instagram for destination inspiration, I stumbled across a place called Little Fluffy Head Cafe, which turned into the idea of a day trip to Little Tokyo. Los Angeles is often known for certain areas frequented by celebrities or made popular by social media. However,

Jan 15, 2018

Jolene goes to the Walt Disney Concert Hall

Being a somewhat-native Angelo (I say somewhat since I'm actually from Long Beach), it's easy for me to breeze past activities or places I deem "touristy." This often causes some difficulty when I'm planning a day in LA, like the one I had planned with my friend Melody this past weekend. Melody currently lives in the UCLA area, so I tried my best to find something that wouldn't bore her in her own neighborhood. After a bit of searching, I came across a site that listed compli

Sep 4, 2017

Jolene goes to Beetle House LA

In addition to having a penchant for traveling, eating and exploring, I am also quite a fan of Tim Burton. These two affections of mine became blended at Beetle House LA, our own Southern California of the Tim Burton-themed restaurant that got its start in New York City. Tim Burton, the amazingly creative brains behind of some of my all-time favorite films (Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, etc.), is not for everyone. He has a tendency to draw from darker s

Aug 21, 2017

Jolene goes to the Warner Brothers Studio Tour

When your bestie of 10+ years sends you a text like this, you know it is time to go on some kind of little trip. After tons of logistical planning and brainstorming, Christine and I decided to stay local and go on a staycation. We are definitely privileged to live in California, and since she decided to drive back down to SoCal for a week, we had a ton of options for our mini-adventure. We are both pop culture enthusiasts, so we arrived at the conclusion that a trip to the Wa

Aug 7, 2017

Jolene Goes to a Wallows Show

If you know me at all, you know that I really enjoy live music and attending concerts. I think there's something special about the energy you experience at live shows, and something very attractive about watching passionate people exhibit what they are feeling through a creative outlet. This is also a reminder that my goal for this blog wasn't just to post about over the top trips to other countries. I really want to make a point to share my local experiences, because I belie

Jul 8, 2017

Jolene Goes to a Cinespia Screening

To celebrate Fourth of July weekend and our full immersion into the summer season, I took a few good friends to see a Cinespia screening at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. That's right. CEMETERY. An actual cemetery. Where people are buried. By now, I'm sure you've gathered that I have an affinity for all things unique, and I treasure any opportunity that allows me to have a special, most commonly categorized as weird, experience. I attended my first Cinespia screening last ye

May 30, 2017

Jolene Goes to the Museum of Ice Cream

Yesterday, I was privileged enough to visit the Museum of Ice Cream, a playful pop art installation that would make even Willy Wonka smile. Nestled in Downtown Los Angeles' Arts District, the Museum of Ice Cream is a playful, interactive take on the traditional idea of an art gallery. I attended with my friend and fellow girlboss Cathrine Khom, editor-in-chief of Local Wolves. I'm quite a fan of the publication and even more of a fan of Cathrine. I knew she'd appreciate this