Photo from Afternoon Tea at The Peninsula Hotel
I just had another birthday roll by and am always explaining my latest philosophy about birthdays and how I’ve been spending them the past few years so I thought I’d write about it so I can just refer people to what I’ve done (complete with links!) as the list grows. (Plus, I was googling this very title when I was wanting to do something different for my birthday and there was NO list of 10 Great Things To Do In Los Angeles For Your Birthday, so, now there is. ;))
For me, birthdays have become more about resetting my intentions, direction, health, and internal personal growth. I’ve tried to make them more intentional and about spending time with close friends and doing things I’ve never done before because I’ve learned these are definite ways to set you up for new epiphanies…
So since I live in Los Angeles, here are some Great Things To Do (Or GIVE) For Your Birthday in Los Angeles. (Please note, if you live elsewhere, come visit LA and do these things! But really you can do similar things in any staycation situation—they’re relatable.)
1.) Get Healthy. One year, I went for a week to OHI: The Optimum Health Institute in San Diego and LOVED it. I was referred to it by friends over the years and did hardly any research on it when I booked it, so when I got there and it was basically a raw food cleanse for a week, I was like “uh-oh.” (Complete with a 3 day juicing program that started on my bday! I’m so glad I didn’t know or I probably wouldn’t have gone! They are also way into enemas and colonics.)
I loved it though. I loved the people I met and learned a lot about cleansing, wheat grass, food, eating plant-based and lost 8 pounds that stayed off for at least a year and I have not ever been able to go back to diet sodas again—they taste horrible to me now. You can easily drive there from LA so you’re not paying or have the hassle of major travel, and it’s totally reasonably-priced, as it is not super-fancy and is a non-profit. If you are into super-fancy and are not into raw food for 6 days and nights with daily wheat grass, this is not the place for you, but they do have treatments you can get there like a normal spa, just book early. They also have a location in Austin, Texas—my former home town!
If you can’t get away somewhere, do a cleanse, join a gym, hire a trainer or buy yourself a ClassPass.
2.) Imbibe at your favorite place for Happy Hour with a few dear friends. I went to La Poubelle, my favorite neighborhood French bistro, for their awesome Happy Hour (5-7p every day) of heavy appetizers and cocktails with my boyfriend and another couple on a Saturday evening before my bday. We sat outside on the sidewalk and celebrated before heading to the Greek Theatre, which brings me to number 3 on my list, but before we go there…other restaurants on this East Side o’ LaLa Land that I love: Kettle Black and that whole strip of restaurants in Silver Lake is fab and The Park restaurant in Echo Park has $20 3-course pre fixe on Tue nights, Wed. night $6 (gourmet) hamburgers, half price bottles o’ wine on Thursday, and Supper Club on Fridays, and it’s charming as a quiet, neighborhood joint if you’re looking to go low-key.
3.) Experience one of your favorite bands/musicians. We saw Lord Huron to celebrate. I’d never seen them before and love their music. They were amazing and we had great seats at the Greek Theatre which is one of my favorite music venues in LA (or anywhere for that matter, plus it’s never been outrageously expensive.) Hollywood Bowl; The Wiltern; Teragram Ballroom; The Fonda Theatre and The Hotel Cafe are also fantastic venues to experience music in LA.
4.) Enjoy Afternoon Tea. We went to the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills. Afternoon tea is one of my all-time favorite things to do—especially with special friends. The Peninsula’s tea is old-school, beautiful, and complete with harpist and of course, champagne. The London also has a great afternoon tea (now only on Saturdays) that I’ve done for my bday in the past too.
5.) Go Do Something Touristy in your town that you’ve never done. Check out The OUE Skyspace LA. The Skyspace is a slide in the tallest building (or one of them anyway) in Downtown LA. You can see the entire city and there are fun exhibits and a bar and restaurant up there. We loved it and didn’t drink or eat but you can! And here’s a video of me on IG doing the Skyspace Slide (oh so gracefully…)
Other fun touristy things to do are the Griffith Observatory, a Studio Tour at Paramount, Universal or Warner Bros., or StarLine Tours are so fun with the right person or people.
6.) Visit a Place that Feels Nostalgic or “Like Home.” Bar Ama in DTLA – I think I mentioned that I’m from Texas? This place was founded by a Texan so it’s REAL TEX-MEX. I’d never been and always wanted to and was NOT disappointed. The queso is totally legit and the margs are fab and they gave me as a bday gift on the house the huge bowl o’ queso with guacamole and meat, like only a good Texan girl orders and shovels down on her bday!
7.) Visit a Place where you Learn Something. Like the Esalen Institute. Esalen is another spa-ish place, but north of LA, about 6 hours, in Big Sur, CA. A Native American ancient site that became a gathering and learning center for philosophers and writers like Joseph Campbell when it was first organized, this place is magical. I took a weekend workshop by Laura Day on intuition and lots of serendipity happened before and during this experience. This is just one example: I was laughing, saying I felt like I was in a sort of Hogwarts (Harry Potter’s school) and went into a meditation hut one afternoon during a break. Because I inevitably fall asleep almost every time I meditate, I woke up from a lovely nap and looked over and had to rub my eyes to make sure I wasn’t seeing things. Hermione (Emma Watson) was asleep (or meditating?) across from me! What are the odds?! Esalen is famous for educational, self-improvement workshops that last from a weekend to a couple of weeks. Spa services are also available and the food is organic and much of it is grown on-site, but they are not solely raw and vegetarian like OHI—they serve meat and cooked meals. They are also known for their gorgeous, healing outdoor baths.
8.) Take a new local class you’ve never tried like FaceYoga With Koko or bring a cool teacher in to talk or teach your group. I found out about FaceYoga through researching for a new podcast and had never even heard of it. It was so fun and my face did feel more awake and I’m going to keep doing the exercises – why not? What’s good enough for the Kardashians is good enough for me! (Also, I thought Koko was 15 years younger than she was–she swears it’s because of FaceYoga and LED lights.) You can check out some of her exercises on her site if you’re not in a city where she teaches and here are some photos from her event on IG. Other yoga-related retreats/classes I recommend highly are Jennifer Pastiloff’s classes and retreats; Deepen offers all kinds of cool/interesting experiences/classes every week/month and you must check out MindTravel if you haven’t yet.
You can also bring people to you to teach or talk to honor your birthday and make it special and a little more meaningful. For example, I’m going to be leading a short Epiphany Intention-Setting Circle at my friend’s birthday gathering tonight.
9.) Relax in your local Salt Room. I went to The Salt Studio in Pasadena for a salt rub and massage and a hang out in the salt room. Have you heard of these? I hadn’t but they’re popping up all over. They’re super-healing and relaxing. Find one near you — they’re usually not expensive.
10.) Even if you make no plans, definitely take the day off work! My first job was at a small company and one of our paid holidays was our birthdays. I always thought that was so lovely and civilized. Of COURSE, you should have your bday off, even if you’re a stay-at-home mom.
You might choose to keep your day open and loose. Celebrate yourself and your life but without a lot fanfare. Set intentions for your coming year. Treat yourself to something special that you love, like even something simple like an eclair or petit four (my all-time favorites), get an inexpensive mani/pedi at your local nail place. Go see a movie. (Popcorn and candy allowed.) Go on a hike in a place you’ve never gone before (SO many of those in the LA area). Take a long bath.
One year, I made no plans for my bday and a new friend randomly called up and asked me to a dinner, not knowing it was my bday. I went, still telling no one it was my bday, and ended up sitting next to and chatting with Mr. Big the entire evening on my bday. Yes, THAT Mr. Big from Sex and the City (Chris Noth). And yes, he’s very much Mr. Big in real life too. It was SO fun and funny.
You never, ever know what life will bring—especially when you’re open, trusting and celebratory. After all, it’s your birthday in the City of Angels…anything can happen…
Wherever you are and whatever you decide to do, HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY — May it be the very best year yet—one of joy, fulfillment and AMAZING EPIPHANIES galore!
Much love,
