Ideas for an Anti-Social Day in LA - Part III

When you need some solo time but can't sit inside while the sun is shining

Hello!!

Happy Mid-July to you all, woah! How did we get here? But also… us lucky LA folks have plenty more summertime to enjoy.

Today, I’m back with Part 3 of my “Ideas for an Anti-Social Day in LA” series. You can find Part 1 HERE and Part 2 HERE. It’s been almost exactly a year since I wrote the last installment, so I guess I always feel some social burnout around this time of year! After 4th of July travels and doing lots of socializing during the week AND on the weekends, your girl is very tired! However, I’m nearly incapable of sitting inside on a beautiful summer day - queue revisiting my anti-social LA activity list.

There’s something to be said for getting outside and experiencing something for yourself, but still keeping it low key and low energy commitment. Minimizing your social moments to a brief encounter with the barista at the coffee shop, or the museum docent you’re purchasing a ticket from. Some of my favorite days from recent memory are these kinds of days.

I love experiencing new things with my friends and family, but I find a different type of joy in experiencing something for only myself. There’s no time limit, I’m not worrying about if the other person or people are having fun, I am present with myself and my thoughts only. All of these elements creates a certain level of ease and relaxation for me, even if it takes a little bit of effort to get to my destination.

So! Whether you are socially burnt out from summer activities like I am, or work has been stressful and you need a solo reset day, or whatever it may be - here are some anti-social LA activity ideas for you!

Ideas for an Anti-Social Day in LA - Part III

1. Coffee + a pastry at Sightglass and tour the galleries at Jeffrey Deitch - I loveee the Sycamore District in Hollywood. Probably the only part of Hollywood I enjoy TBH!! Sightglass is so fun to wander, and their pastries are delicious. The exhibits on view at Jeffrey Deitch are always free, and I got to check out their latest last week - Monuments, on view now through August. Highly recommend!

2. Picnic + read at The Getty Center - Fun fact, you can bring in your own food and drink to the Getty, just no alcohol! Pack a picnic and enjoy those beautiful gardens and views. Admission to the galleries is free too!

3. Grocery shop or farmers’ market with no time limit - The absolute bliss of grocery shopping without any time constraint. Stroll the aisles and find new snacks or an ingredient you don’t normally use in your cooking. At the FM - stop at every single stall, have a little chat with a stranger!

   1. Bonus points - I always shop at a specialty market when I’m sick of my usual food staples. A few favorites: Mitsuwa, Vallarta, North Gate, Silom

4. Pick up some yummy food and visit a new beach (or one you don’t visit as often) - we have so many stunning beaches in LA (and yet I’m defaulting to Ocean Park every weekend). Pick a beach you don’t usually visit and find some fun food to pick up on the way! Here’s a few ideas -

   1. Two Guns Espresso / Manhattan Beach - Get the Stanwich at Two Guns and thank me later

   2. John’s Garden / El Matador, Malibu - The most impressive sandwich menu, and chip selection too. And El Matador is divine!

   3. Lady & Larder / Ocean Park, Santa Monica - My usual, and it’s a treat every time!

5. Try a new coffee shop and work on a personal project - even if you’re just turning your phone on DND and doodling in a journal, hanging in a coffee shop can be sooo lovely. Here are a few go-to’s for working & hanging -

   1. Dinosaur Coffee / Silver Lake

   2. Bluey’s / Mar Vista

   3. Paper or Plastik / Mid-City *no laptops on weekends!

   4. Civil Coffee / Highland Park

   5. Jurassic Magic / Mid-City

6. Go on a longgggg walk in a pretty neighborhood, then grab a sweet treat after

   1. Larchmont - Jeni’s ice cream or a pastry at Clark Street after

   2. Silver Lake Reservoir area - LAMILL after <3 OR Burgers Never Say Die :)

   3. Palisades Park / Montana Neighborhood - coffee at Primo Passo or froyo at Pinkberry after (Van Leeuwen coming to Montana in Sept, TG!!)

Where do you spend your time when you wanna be outside solo? Reply directly to this email or drop a comment on Substack with your faves! <3 See you back here soon… in the meantime, I’m posting way too many fit checks on TikTok. BYE!