I love LA! No, really, I do!! {Osteria La Buca and The Bazaar}

We spent this past weekend in Los Angeles celebrating B’s birthday a few days early.  We scored a great deal on airfare through Virgin America and just couldn’t pass up the chance to get out of Seattle’s already declining weather.  So, we headed for sun, smog and a whole new world of restaurant opportunities. 

Friday night, we had a chance to have dinner with two of my favorite people from Oxy, Jen and Ashley.  Ashley chose Osteria la Buca on Melrose for dinner. 

It's a very cute little Italian spot with two levels and warm decor. According to Ashley, it's not in the best neighborhood, but once people figured out how good it is, they were willing to make the trip. They also have short-distance delivery on a very cute little Zero bike with a wooden crate attached to the back.

Happy Birthday to B! The Local Vine Returns and Trophy Cupcakes

We had a lovely surprise Monday evening.  En route to Donna Moodie’s Marjorie, we decided to detour down 12^th St. in Capitol Hill to see how the new home of The Local Vine was progressing.

The Local Vine closed their Belltown location at the end of July, shortly after learning the building they occupied would be demolished due to safety concerns. B and I were devastated.  Everyone has that go to spot… whether it’s your favorite pizza place or your neighborhood bar…  it's that place where you celebrate, drown your sorrows or just visit because you’re feeling too lazy to make dinner.  The Local Vine was, hands down, that place for us. For our first three years in Seattle, we lived in the same building they occupied.  This is why we first visited.  We kept coming back, though, because we loved the wine, the fabulous food and because we came to really love the people who worked there.  We looked forward to slow nights when we would sit at the bar for hours, drinking wine and chatting with the friendly, interesting people who comprised their staff.