URBAN LUNCH

Took a break from posting about Rio, as wanted to share some pretty cool "bigbrightbold" inspiration from my own backyard. A friend of mine took me on a personal tour of the LA Arts District after dinner one night, and I had to come back during the day to photograph the stellar murals. Been posting a bit about everything on my instagram, but really wanted to showcase the works of Art in this space too.

The Downtown Arts District has exploded within the last year, and literally every time I drive down there there is a new restaurant, a new mural and even more people living and working there. Walking around at midnight was still a bit sketchy, but a lunchtime stroll with mural inspiration should be on everyone's to do list. I travelled halfway around the world to Buenos Aires to check out incredible mural scenes, but the LA one is just as amazing. 

LA ART WALLS

DOWNTOWN LA ARTS

One of the highlights of living in LA is having an endless stream of inspiration everywhere around me.

Yes, there is traffic, and congestion, and sometimes obnoxious people, but what I love most about the city is that it feels like 5 cities. Venice, Silverlake, Downtown have so much to see and do, and feel like I am travelling to a new place when I'm just driving across town. (When I do eventually get there) The people are different, in each of these "city states." The shopping is different. The Vibe is different. We can do a bike riding beach day, or an urban graffiti exploration day, or tree top mountain hike or do it all in one day.

I work in downtown,  in one of the corporate tower high rises in bunker hill, surrounded by lawyers, powersuits and innumerable Starbucks. When I get bored, I drive 5 minutes down 4th street and hit another micro community. One where people don't tend to have 9-6 jobs, where there are a handful of vegan restaurants and no chain ones, and where artists are reshaping the urban landscape. A place where a communal yoga studio/juice bar/art gallery/vegan cafe and networking space just opened because everyone here is a "/"(entrepreneur/creative/actor). Pioneers moved in to "rough" live work lofts a few years ago. Sci arch set up shop as an internationally renown school of architecture 15 years ago. But, only now is the neighborhood hitting its stride.

From the sausage place to the pie hole, artisan juice or artisan handicrafts (Poketo) there is so much to explore and it definitely feels like another world. I love LA!

BOHEMIAN RIO

My favorite neighborhood in Rio, Santa Teresa was the perfect place for slowing down the tourist rush and enjoying Rio's cafe culture in a pretty setting.

SANTA TERESA

Santa Teresa might very well be Rio’s Silverlake, a neighborhood known for its slightly gritty bohemian vibe, an enclave for artists, urban  pioneers, and dreamers. Built in the hills above Rio, teetering on top of the yet to be gentrified favelas, it’s still a bit rough around the edges. A destination where taxi cab drivers might refuse to go, Santa Teresa’s roads  are windy and under construction. Cut off from the beach lands below, it feels like another land.

But, gentrification  is seeping in. First, the boutique Hotel Santa Teresa opened. Then, it got featured in a Kate Spade guide. Needing a change from the perfect beach vibe of Copacabana and wanting to experience a more “real” Rio, we headed into the hills.

The easiest place to start the journey was from the Santa Teresa hotel, a deluxe boutique destination or the well healed jet setters. After a slightly lost detour, our taxi cab dropped us off in front of the wooden gate. We entered a magical, lush wonderland, wandering the grounds of the former coffee plantation. We were inspired to indulge in the serene spa setting, but realized that we hadn’t brought our swimsuits to enjoy the beckoning lap pool.

Santa Teresa awaited and we reluctantly left and we made our way down the hill. The neighborhood awakens around noon, and as of 10:30 am we were the only ones wandering about. We idled about on the main strip, photographing murals, graffiti, and random details. The views were incredible, but the layered history was the more compelling sight.

Kate Spade’s guide inspired us to visit the local coffee shop, where we took a midday nourishment break. Coffee, juice, Acai kept us going on the hot day. We toured opulent mansions and private art collections which had once been opulent castles and now stood as historical monuments. We hung out with fun-loving locals, enjoying brazillian barbeque and drinks celebrating on national holiday. We popped into art shops (more on these soon) seeing crafts and paintings created by the neighborhood’s artistic community. We did nothing and everything, savoring the culture and the exuberance of life.