Take a Beach Vacation in your own backyard!

Looking for a great place to spend your Memorial Day Weekend? The Inn at Playa del Rey, our unique Los Angeles bed and breakfast hotel, has some great rates for the weekend, starting at just $175 plus tax per night including breakfast and parking. Walk down the street for great restaurants, bars and the beach! We've got beach cruisers to ride, beach chairs and beach towels you can use. Forgot your sunscreen? We've got some! Get away without having to go too far - come to Playa del Rey!


Here are a couple of other activities, right in the neighborhood:


HABITAT RESTORATION VOLUNTEER DAY - FREE
9:30 am – Noon - Saturday, May 26, 2012

Come help the Friends restore the last coastal wetland habitat in Los Angeles County.Volunteers get hands-on experience while learning about wetland ecology. The Friends provide gloves and tools. Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Please download and sign our waiver. Minors must have the FBW waiver signed by a parent or guardian.

Where to Meet:
Parking lot behind Gordon's Market at 303 Culver Blvd, Playa del Rey.

NITE-WRITE GLO ART AT DOCKWEILER BEACH - FREE
6 pm -10 pm - Saturday, May 26, 2012

The mobile art studio, MobileMuralLab, in cooperation with the L.A. County Department of Beaches and Harbors and the L.A. County Arts Commission’s Civic Art Program, invites the public to “Nite-Write,” a luminescent, interactive multimedia art experience from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 26, at Dockweiler State Beach.

“Nite-Write” features the MobileMuralLab truck in Parking Lot 2 north of the concession/bike rental area at Dockweiler, the only beach in L.A. County with fire pits, making it a popular evening gathering place.

Event participants will give their creative input for a future mural display on the concession/restroom building at the beach by practicing with UV paints on one side of the “truck,” a step van with high sides that provide a large surface for art work. Guest visual artist Black Light King will provide inspiration with a live UV paint demo under black lights on the other side of the truck.

Participants can also go inside the truck to draw and write on iPads wired to project their creations onto the restroom building and the surface of the parking lot. Wearing white outfits that glow under the UV lights, P&tAGB, a group of artist-performers, will facilitate the creation of the interactive projections and encourage beach visitors to participate.

Under glowing tents near the truck, visual artist Faith Purvey will extract participants’ stories – where they are from, and what brought them to Dockweiler Beach. The stories she gathers will inspire what’s ultimately depicted in the permanent mural display.
A second “Nite-Write” will be held on Saturday, June 23, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The final mural on the concession/restroom building will be unveiled Saturday, September 29.

The event is free and open to the public. No reservations are necessary. Dockweiler State Beach is located at 12000 Vista del Mar, Playa del Rey, CA 90293.

Sothern California Colleges & Universities are graduating!

It is our pleasure to congratulate the upcoming graduates of our local colleges and universities! The Inn at Playa del Rey has rooms available to suit the budgets of most family and friends, and the comforts of home to please even the most discerning family members.

Loyola Law School Graduation - Sunday, May 20, 2012

University of Southern California (USC) Graduation - Friday, May 11. 2012

Otis College of Art & Design - Saturday, May 12, 2012

University of California, LosAngeles (UCLA) Graduation - Friday, June 15 and Saturday, June 16, 2012

Each of our uniquely appointed guest rooms has a private bath, fine linens, free wireless Internet access, telephone with voicemail, television with DirecTV & DVD player; we have a wide selection of movies.

Our rates start at $185 plus tax per night and include a full breakfast, afternoon tea & cookies, evening wine & cheese, use of our guest business center with high-speed Internet connection, and use of our bicycles for riding along the ocean.  We are walking distance to the beach and on-site parking is complimentary.

Los Angeles: Korean Day Spa - a review

A little something for the ladies here. The Olympic Spa, in Korea Town, is for women only, sorry gents. And what an experience!

The Spa itself is easy to find, about a 30 minute drive from the Inn at Playa del Rey. It's a nondescript building on a modest street in the heart of Los Angeles' Korea Town. We pulled in to the parking lot, where we were greeted by the valet and offered complimentary parking. Yes, please!

Upon entering, we discovered a more modern interior, nicely framed works of art and all kinds of yummy skin products for sample and sale. We checked in for our massage and reflexology appointments and had about an hour to enjoy the rest of the spa. A friendly woman gave us a tour and showed us to our lockers, which were stocked with towels and a robe. No swim suits are allowed inside the spa.

After changing, we ventured into the "pool area". There are multiple hot and cold pools, showers, steam and sauna rooms. There are also scrub stations around the room where women were receiving treatments. It's a bit unnerving at first - there is little privacy - but I quickly forgot about that once I showered and ventured into the first hot pool. The recommendation is to go from hot to cold, and I did that multiple times, enjoying the freshness each time. I also spent a few minutes in the hot steam area.

Soon I was called for my massage appointment and led through the interior restaurant (more on that later!) and upstairs to a treatment room. I got a 50 minute shiatsu massage and a 30 minute foot reflexology treatment. My therapist was very strong, expertly skilled and was able to knead her way into my tight muscles. The foot massage was so relaxing that I fell asleep for most of it. (I always do that during a foot massage! Grrrr...)

After I peeled myself off the massage table, I met my party back in the changing area and we rested on the heated jade floor (wow!). Pads are provided, and we took a few extra minutes to restore our well-rubbed bodies.

Good thing they have a restaurant inside the building, because I was really hungry after all that relaxing. The restaurant is small, seating about 20, but the food was extremely fresh, authentic and homemade. And delicious. I ordered off their order-by-number menu which has pictures and a brief description. Try the number 6, it was excellent.

Overall, the spa was very clean and easy to navigate. The staff was friendly, helpful and unobtrusive. The cost is very reasonable; my whole day, including treatments, tips and my meal, was just over $110. A wonderful way to spend an afternoon!

An afternoon at South Coast Botanic Gardens

Walking around this well kept and diversely populated oasis was a beautiful way to spend an afternoon. My mom came to town last week for a short visit, and I was thinking of “off the beaten path” options for us to spend the day. A guest had recently mentioned the South Coast Botanic Gardens, and I thought my mom would enjoy the scenery. The gardens are easy to find, and only a 30 minute drive from our Los Angeles Bed and Breakfast hotel. Parking is free, and admission is $8 (cash only). You are given a map of the gardens and walk through a small courtyard with a gift shop to enter.

The paved path is a one mile loop, with a variety of specialty gardens on the outer loop to explore. You can also go off the paved path and deeper into the interior of the park to see the little lake and other flowers and trees.  We stayed about two hours and walked the entire loop. We checked out the peaceful Japanese Garden, the Succulent or Desert Garden and the Garden of the Senses. There were exotic species of trees and familiar, sweet smelling flowers (I love the lilacs!) and even the blossoming Cherry Trees. There are some benches near the lake where we sat and enjoyed watching the ducks swim and play and laughed at the bold squirrels frolicking in the trees.

Afterward, we took a 15 minute ride to the coast and had lunch at Nelson’s at Terranea. Nelson’s is a low-key American bar & grill type of restaurant with a magnificent view of the ocean. If you go in the evening, you can sit outside and enjoy the firepits and watch the sun go down. Terranea has beautifully manicured grounds and paths, so we meandered a little more before heading back to the Inn.

All in all, a day well spent!

Facebook drawing - you can win a FREE night at the Inn at Playa del Rey!

Hey Facebookers! Are you a fan of the Inn at Playa del Rey on Facebook? If you haven't already clicked the "like" button here, please do. If we get 2,000 "likes" by March 26th, we'll enter your name into a drawing for a one night's stay at the Inn.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@innatpdr) for last minute specials and great recipes. We'll even keep you posted about exciting activities and happenings in Los Angeles.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Ballona Wetlands - the Inn at Playa del Rey's beautiful "backyard"

While the beautiful Ballona Wetlands is not currently open to the public, you can take guided tours through the Friends of Ballona Wetlands. They offer FREE guided tours every month! Click here for their schedule.

The Inn sits on the Salt Marsh, and the next tour will be held on Sunday, March 11 from 1-3pm. To enter the Wetlands, meet at the parking lot behind Gordon's Market located at 303 Culver Blvd. You can also visit the open house held on Saturday March 10 from 2-4pm.

Interested in getting your hands dirty? Help out at the monthly Habitat Restoration Day, held the 4th Saturday of the month, from 9:30am to 12 noon. Next Restoration day is March 24.

The Ballona Wetlands are part of a diverse watershed network that links all of Los Angeles. Check out this fascinating article for more information.

If you just want to enjoy the Wetlands without having to walk around, some of the best views can be had right from the Inn's balcony. Spend the night with us, and enjoy our nightly wine and hors d'ouevres hour by the glow of the sunset, overlooking nature's bounty.

Valentine's Day Special!!

Celebrate All Week (or More)

  At the Inn at Playa del Rey, Valentine's Day is our favorite time of year.  So, we are going to celebrate it all week long!  Book a room with us for a stay from now until February 16th and we will give you $25 off a Standard Room and $50 off a View room or Suite and include a bottle of Champagne to take home or enjoy.

  

*Valid through Feb 16th, 2012.  Must mention Valentine's Day special at time of booking to receive special.  Offer valid on full rack rate only, based on availability and subject to blackout dates.

OR...  

If this week just won't work for you, YOU pick the time.  Our Gift Certificates are the perfect solution! Call us today at (310) 574-1920.  

Save $25.00 for every $200 gift certificate you buy.  When you Purchase a $200 gift certificate you only spend $175- We can send your certificate to you via mail or email.   You can slip it in your Sweetheart's flowers or chocolates for a getaway that works with your schedule. Must purchase your certificate on or before February 16, 2012 to receive special.

Seashell! $129 Same Day special rate!

If you've dreamed of staying at our luxurious Los Angeles Bed and Breakfast, but were thinking you couldn't afford it, think again. Sunday through Thursday nights in January, say "Seashell" when you call the Inn and get the best room available for that same night for only $129 (plus tax)! You can even stay in our sumptuous Romantic Suite with the sunken-in jacuzzi tub for two!

Seriously, for $147.06, you'll get one night in one of our uniquely appointed guestrooms, a glorious breakfast in our sunny breakfast room, overnight parking, evening wine and cheese in our cozy living room and full use of our amenities like bikes and movies to borrow and free wi-fi. That's the best deal in town!

Call us at 310-574-1920 and remember to say "Seashell"! We look forward to seeing you tonight!

Christmas Breakfast - Eggnog French Toast

At our Los Angeles Bed and Breakfast, we pride ourselves on making something fresh and delicious for breakfast every morning - especially Christmas morning!

At home, you have a you have a lot of breakfast options- a slice of leftover pie, a scoop of leftover mashed potatoes, a bowl of cereal, cookies, candy - whatever! OR, you can prepare this easy and delicious recipe the night before and impress all of the guests who were too tipsy to drive home on Christmas Eve!

Cranberry Apple Eggnog French Toast

Preheat oven to 350

Spray a 9 x 13” ceramic baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

 

12 eggs

2 cups eggnog

2 Tbsp vanilla

3-4 medium green apples, sliced

1 cup cranberries (fresh, dried or frozen) - save a few to sprinkle on top!

½ cup butter, melted

½ cup light brown sugar

1 Tbs water

6-10 slices of white, wheat, or French bread

Cinnamon sugar

Directions:

Melt butter and mix in the brown sugar and water, set aside.

Thinly slice the apples and place them evenly on the bottom of the prepared pan. Top with cranberries.

Pour the butter mixture evenly over the fruit.

Cut the bread slices in half and place them, overlapping slightly, over the fruit covering the entire dish.

In a separate bowl, beat the eggs until light and fluffy, pour in the milk and vanilla, mixing until no yolks are showing.  Pour this mixture over the bread slices, making sure all have been saturated.  Cover and refrigerate over night.

Just before baking, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and place in a preheated 350 degree oven for 50-60 minutes or until golden.

Or, for the more experienced cook, who really wants to make something fancy, try this recipe:

Eggnog French Toast - With Cranberry-Apple Compote

4 cups Eggnog

4 Large Eggs

1 tsp Nutmeg

1 tsp Cinnamon

16 Slices Thick White Bread, sliced into ½" pieces

¼ cup Unsalted Butter, melted

Powdered Sugar

Directions:

Whisk first four ingredients in a large bowl.  Place bread slices in a single layer in two 13x9x2” baking dishes.  Pour custard over bread, dividing equally.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.  Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Butter 2 large rimmed baking sheets with some melted butter.  Using spatula, transfer the bread slices to the prepared sheets.  Brush bread with the remaining melted butter.  Bake for 10 minutes and the turn the bread over and bake until golden about 6 minutes more.  Remove from oven, place on a serving platter, and dust generously with powdered sugar.

Cranberry-Apple Compote

2 cups Apple Cider

6 Tbsp Light Corn Syrup

2 Tbsp Packed Light Brown Sugar

1 Stick Unsalted Butter

3 Granny Smith Apples, peeled, cored and cut into ½" pieces

2 cups Cranberries (fresh or frozen)

½ cup plus 1 Tbsp Sugar

Directions:

Whisk apple cider, corn syrup and brown sugar in heavy bottomed saucepan.  Boil over high heat until reduced to 1 cup, about 15 minutes.  Add 4 Tbsp butter, whisk until melted. Remove from heat.

Melt remaining 4 Tbsp butter in a heavy large skillet over medium heat.  Add apples and sauté for 2 minutes.  Add cranberries and ½ cup sugar.   Stir until cranberries begin to pop.  Stir in reduced cider mixture.  Bring to a boil until mixture thickens, about 6 minutes.  Stir in remaining sugar and remove from heat.  Transfer compote to a bowl and serve warm.

Free Friday-a guide to some free events in Los Angeles

One of the best things about the Inn at Playa del Rey is the location! Minutes from LAX, within walking distance to the beach and located in one of the most happening cities, Los Angeles.  There is never a shortage of things to do and places to see.  Only problem is..how do you choose?  Each Friday we will try and bring you a few FREE events for the weekend.  A chance to see the city we have come to love, and not hurt your wallet.  Enjoy and we would love feedback of the events that you have tried.

Friday, December 2nd | Nokia Plaza L.A. LIVE | 7-8 PM

A one-hour holiday celebration benefiting AEG's Season of Giving, an initiative designed to raise funds and generate awareness for non-profit organizations supporting hunger, homelessness and healthcare issues. KTLA will be broadcasting live as we light the tree at L.A. LIVE, featuring:

• Winner of the Voice Javier Colon
• American Idol Finalists Casey Abrams and Haley Reinhart
• The Backbeats from the Sing-Off
• II Volo featuring American Idol Pia Toscano
• Pop Sensation JoJo
• Patti Austin with Greg Phillinganes
• Gold Medalist Evan Lysacek
• Jessarae
• LA LA LA L.A. LIVE winner Matt Sanchez

Saturday, December 3rd | Free Metro Art Tour | 10am-12pm

The Metro Docent Council is committed to increasing awareness of the broad range of art in the Metro Rail system through public tours that provide insights into the artworks, the artists who created them, the processes it took to make them, and the communities they enhance.

Tours leave promptly at 10 am from the street level entrance to the Hollywood/Highland Metro Rail Station on Hollywood Blvd. near the corner with Highland Ave. No reservations required. Docents pass out a free, ride-all-day pass to tour participants.

Sunday, December 4th | Santa Monica Farmers Market | 9:30am-1:00pm
This is one of my favorite Farmers' Market in the area and one of my favorite places to people watch.   Bring a blanket, buy some delicious freshly made food from one of the many vendors, sit back and let the morning roll buy.  A side note: a good place to try and spot a celebrity.