7 Ways to Treat Yourself in LA

Or a friend or family member, it's gifting szn after all

As a product of entering holiday season + having a very busy past few months, I’ve been craving rest and relaxation. I don’t think I’m alone in this.

Whether you personally need a moment of peace orrr you know someone in need (it’s gifting season, after all) - here’s 7 ways to treat yourself in Los Angeles:

1. Contrast Therapy - I tried the sauna > cold plunge trend this weekend and I hate to say it but I kind of loved it? I dare you to try it - you really might surprise yourself, it’s fun to see how long you can last in the 45 degree water :O and I felt amazing afterwards!

   1. I personally tried Pause (multiple locations) for my first go - P.S. they are doing a Black Friday sale right now on all of their services - but here are a few other places that offer contrast therapy: Den Mother (Venice), Liv (WeHo), RVIVL (Playa Vista)

2. Art as Therapy - On my most recent trip to New York, I had the dreamiest experience at an “art cafe” called Happy Medium. You reserve a spot just like you’d make a dinner reservation, and you’re presented with a “menu” of art projects once you’re seated. The cafe is cozy, everyone is hanging out making art and listening to music, everything is perfect. I am hoping and praying LA opens a place like this soon. In the meantime… here are a few places that give a dose of art therapy:

   1. Crafting at a Tea House - Tea at Shiloh- Shiloh offers a variety of creative events, but their standard “Late Night Tea” provides a number of art supplies to craft with as you sip on a cuppa tea.

   2. Painting (Soberly)- Color Me Mine - CMM is having a bit of a comeback and listen… I’ve been influenced - like look at this girl just vibin’ and making her Pinterest inspo come to life!

   3. Painting (Tipsy) - Paint & Sip Studio LA has a variety of events throughout the city, peep their website for locations + themes!

   4. Pottery - I have yet to dip my toe into pottery (I think I’ll be bad at it so I’ve avoided it TBH) but a couple studios friends have recommended: Bitter Root Pottery, Still Life Ceramics, Claytivity

   5. Sustainable Art Supply Shopping - Resurfacing this newsletter covering a couple recycled art supply shops in SoCal! The browsing alone is therapeutic, but also recommend if you need a few things and want to craft at home.

3. Japanese Scalp Treatment - Was this also all over your FYP a few months back? I am FASCINATED and need to make an appt ASAP. Here’s hoping ~the hype~ has died down and we can all get a time slot. If you’re unfamiliar - here’s a Refinery29 video featuring my friend Carly trying out the service!

4. Massage/Facial/Spa - You can never go wrong with a spa moment, and LA is full of ‘em. Here are a few that aren’t $$$ - WiSpa (K-Town, very budget-friendly!), The Now (several locations), Den Mother (Venice), Best Face & Body (Woodland Hills), Milk & Honey (Brentwood & Culver), HeyDay (multiple locations), Burke Williams (multiple locations)

5. Fancy dinner for 1 - Nothing makes me feel more posh than sitting at a bar solo, sipping a glass of orange wine, people watching, and ordering a few plates all for myself. Yeah, it’s usually expensive, but girl math tells me it’s worth it because I get to bring home leftovers and turn 1 meal into 2 meals. Some of my favorite solo dinners this year: Bar Chelou (Pasadena), Mother Wolf (Hollywood), Bibi Ji (Santa Barbara), SY Kitchen (Santa Ynez)

6. Grab a sugar-filled snack and take a Hot Girl Walk - This could be it’s own list but a few spots off the top of my head -

   1. Jellyman Boba / Sunset Junction - Jellyman is Donald Glover’s first foray into the food space and truly, this man can do it all. Love the space and the menu is impressive - classics + new fun inventive flavors

   2. Just What I Kneaded Pop Tart / Frogtown - JWIK has an overflowing pastry case every day (and posts the list on IG stories every morning), but I ALWAYS get a pop tart. Their current seasonal flavors - brown sugar and pumpkin!

   3. Levain Bakery Choc Chip Cookie / Larchmont - Larchmont is rapidly transforming and I literally cannot keep up (see: Sua Superette, Cookbook Market). Grab a cookie at Levain and scope out all the new spots for me! Bonus points for a Sunday visit so you can catch the farmers’ market

7. Browse and buy something cute/delicious/colorful at a shoppy shop - ICYMI, I shared 100+ shoppy shops in LA earlier this year - full list here. The latest and greatest shoppy shop - Carla’s Fresh Market in Highland Park - just soft opened yesterday! Cannot wait to see it in full force in the coming weeks, this one’s been 4 years in the making.

What did I miss? What other wellness treatments do I need to know about? Drop in the comments (if you’re reading on Substack) or reply via e-mail (if you’re on the weekly distro!) See you next week… until then, I’ll be on TikTok.

Ticket to Sarahdise Event Digest - Week of 11/20

Every week, I’m sharing events you should be checking out in LA. Here’s this week’s download!

• Friendsgiving Block Party - Okay, FUN. HiLo Liquor and e-bike brand Wombi are throwing down this coming Saturday 11/25. Sip on some drinks and test ride some bikes, neat!

• Sound & Vision - A Music-Focused Pop Up - In Sheep’s Clothing Hi-Fi & DubLab have opened a pop-up surrounding all things music at Row DTLA. The launch party was this past Friday, but the shop will be open for the next few months!

• For Italians Only, Capiche? - Giving you guys advance notice on this one because I have a feeling resys will go FAST. Donna’s is hosting a feast of the seven fishes on 12/13 - EPIC!! Stay close to their IG for the drop