The city buzz is about to make you scream, and if the do list gets any longer there is plausible brain implosion. That’s worse than an explosion (take a clue from the Big Bang). You want this (see below). Not another TPS report.

On Big Bear lake, nestled in the mountains hidden within towering pine trees and a gourmet breakfast each morning lives a bed and breakfast so unique- I wanted to share it with you first. I give thee: The Fawnskin Inn Bed & Breakfast.

Owned for 10 years by Bill and Nancy Hazewinkel, The Fawnskin Inn is finally the ultimate sabbatical for Angelenos who need a well earned hiatus to turn off the iphone, gmail and simply zen out. The moment you arrive, Nancy greets you as a mother would with open arms, and her husband Bill follows with witty comments dubbing himself the “butler” bringing you a beer in a frosty glass. Not off to a bad start. It felt like I was coming home to see family, but with the beauty of no obligations. They’ll give you the tour, put another beer in your hand and let you know not to miss Nancy’s home cooked breakfast when you wake.

Breakfast is served at 9 am- and it’s worth getting up for (I know how you wanna party in a cabin till the wee hours), but DO IT. From the goat cheese veggie frittata to the brioche croissant almond french toast, this is home cookin’ at it’s finest. And all you need to do is walk out of your room to the dining room table. Other guests (five bedrooms total) will accompany you for a family style breakfast around the table, with Nancy and Bill at the head. 

We checked out Big Bear village and ate at Sweet Basil- which is a WIN in my book. It’s a cozy joint Italian joint with the best homemade mini donuts with chocolate, caramel and strawberry dipping sauce. Hello happiness. Hello love handles. 

Seeing that it was near 70 degrees, and that I hail from Colorado- I wasn’t up for boarding in melting ice chards. So take a cue from our trip and go for a stroll around the lake, or if you get the Garden Suite (the best room and well worth it), heat up that jet spa with some candles, a bottle of cab and then throw on the cozy robes to watch a movie. It’s vacation after all.

Check out the video below with Nancy telling how she decided to own a bed and breakfast. Oh, and she’s an accomplished singer. And she has a cookbook. Now I just feel lazy. 

Here’s a photo with Bill & Nancy. 

Porch painting….

HITLIST TIPS:

-When driving up there, I suggest taking the route via Highway 38 (from LA) through the Red Lands . The other route (which we took there) via highway 18 was a little intense with the curves. Doing both routes, I prefer Hwy 38.

-The Fawnskin Inn is a quiet B & B. It’s definitely good for a couple’s getaway but not a crew to go boarding. Different type of vibe. It’s also 10 min away from Big Bear so you do have to drive if you want to get food/check out the city.

- Get the garden suite as far as rooms go. It has a piano (take it away, Stevie), jet hot tub, king bed, nice patio, and a sitting area. Plus it’s the only one downstairs and you will wake up to smell of bacon being cooked. Mmmmm bacon.

Details on The Fawnskinn Inn

Website: www.FawnskinInn.com

Contact: 880 Canyon Road, Fawnskin CA 92333/ 1-888-329-6754. Info@fawnskininn.com.

Tell them Haely @ The HitList LA sent you!

Nothing like a little sexual innuendo to catch your attention. When I set out to do this this blog about LA’s little secrets- I had intended to search out everything in nightlife, food and local escapes.

Never did I imagine I’d be blogging about a grocery store. But here I am so listen up- because I’m only going to blog about a grocery store ONCE. I give thee: Fresh & Easy. Sure you’ve heard the commercials “I don’t get paid to do this commercial, but I want to anyways,” and seen the signs plastered all over LA and thought, “What exactly is that?” Why stray from my tried and true Trader Joe’s and two buck chuck?

Because you deserve to nosh like a socialite and not pay Whole Foods-did-I-just-drop-50 bucks-on-fruit-prices. Not only do they have a lavish pre prepared section (great salads), they also have items that are prepared to cook, with the sauce, veggies, etc for under five bones. Ohmygh the pineapple chicken I had last night was … NOM NOM NOM. The produce is better than Trader Joe’s, but I’m still opting for most of my fruit/veggies at the Farmer’s Market.

The idea is simple: You do self checkout and save the bucks in the end.  (Side note: I don’t have a future as a checker as I move at the speed of a turtle with down syndrome.)

Nuff said. Check it out, and get easy. Just don’t be easy.

LOS ANGELES LOCATIONS:

-Hollywood/Sycamore: 7021 Hollywood Blvd

-Olive/Verdugo: 1615 W. Verdugo Ave

-Vanowen/Sepulveda: 15230 Vanowen St.

HIT LIST TIPS:

-Find an employee to validate parking- it’s easy to forget when you don’t have a checker.

-Check out the meat section- great steaks, filets, fish and chicken in various stages of prep if you’re like me and cooking just means putting it the pan. (Pull a Cher in Clueless and pull it out of the oven as if you had been slaving over it for guests)

- GREAT prices on wine. I did happen to try the 1.99’ers and they were better than two buck chuck. Just sayin. 

Tucked away at the side of the PCH past Zuma beach lies a turn off for El Matador State Beach. It’s a quick left so be aware, and park in the dirt lot and venture down the path to your mini vacation for a day.

As you inhale the (seemingly) smogless air, you’ll hike down overlooking the cliffs and small caves carved out from the ocean that line the beach. It’s not uncommon to stumble upon a photoshoot as the model slinks across the sand. Sure, it’s California but for a moment it resembles a world far far away.

Bring a picnic (I’m a sucker for snacks), a big blanket to get cozy on, and a jacket for when the sun sets and it cools down. These photos are from when I was last there, on a Sunday in February- you’d think I jetsetted to Hawaii, eh?

HITLIST TIPS:

Directions: Take the PCH past Santa Monica, Malibu, Zuma Beach. After you pass Zuma you will see Paradise Cove Cafe. (A great place to stop on the way home for a mojito with your feet in the sand, btw). 

After Paradise Cove* keep your eyes peeled and after a few miles you’ll see a brown sign on the right hand side of the road that lists the state beaches. El Matador is the first. 

It comes quick and is a sharp left turn off. You will see the sign, turn there and park in the lot. Then- forget about your to do lists and get your zen on. 

Om, baby, Om.

*Stop in before or after at Paradise Cove Cafe. Grab a mango mojito and sip it on the beach whilst making fun of the pelicans. 

Thanks so much for the link. Awesome tumblr. Wish I lived in LA and could take advantage of all the info. 

-Alex (PCB)

Yeah you saw Drew Barrymore and Ellen Page posing as roller derby broads in Whip It, but did you realize this actually exists? Here in the heart of tinsel town?

They call themselves The Derby Dolls, and with names like Ryder Strong and Laguna Beyatch these dolls get down n diiirrrty but don’t take themselves too seriously. I mean, it’s roller derby after all, and the most refreshing thing is they almost make fun of themselves while simontaneously gaining your respect with each beating. (See: Wall of Pain). This ain’t your grandma’s derby.

You can purchase tickets in advance via their website, or nab ‘em when you get there. Regardless when you arrive you’ll see a line that, yes, even if you know “the guy”, you have to wait too. This isn’t My House, ladies. It’s extremely organized however and you’ll shuffle up to the front where you purchase tickets for 20 bucks. They will offer you a “VIP” ticket which = your “own” restroom (aka not a port-o-potty) and bleachers you sit on. I’ll pass. Besides you want to stand to be close to action to talk shit (as if you had any idea) as they fly by.

It’s a fairly small arena, which houses the rink, Derby Doll merch, keg beer and mediocre merlot by the glass (read: bring a flask). I do recommend the food truck outside. We scored some delish California sliders and sweet potato fries. 

It’s not everyday you can see girls clad in fishnets and rollerblades smashing into each other. I appreciated the announcers too- they take it seriously in the sense that they don’t take it seriously at all. Does that make sense? I hope so-keep up. 

You’ll leave feeling a little tougher than when you came, and not so worried about that nail you broke earlier. 

Godspeed.

HITLIST TIPS:

-Get there early. You want to get a good spot to watch, as it gets crowded and you don’t want the evil eye.

-Bring cash. Tiks/food/booze are all cash only.

-Go on a warm night. Because it’s open air, it can get freaking cold (for LA, yeah we’re wusses here)

-They will check your purse before entering. Inside pocket, I repeat inside pocket.

-Girls: wear comfy shoes. It’s standing only and you don’t wanna be asking for piggybacks from strangers.

-It’s port-o-potties outside for restrooms. I had a childhood incident and am deathly terrified of these. So do whatever you need to ah, do, prior. 

-See the season schedule here .

Rumor mill has it “Whip It” was based on these lassies, and they held their party for the film’s premiere at the rink. Sa weeeet.

You know it’s time to get the hell out of dodge when both your Blackberry and Droid won’t stop vibrating, and the 405 resembles something out of the armageddon. It’s Friday (cue Rebecca Black song that won’t escape your brain) and you’ve have consumed far more cocktails this week thanks to schmoozing for that promotion. Saturdays forecast says 75 and sunny and you need to see nature, not boob jobs.

Bottomline: You want an adventure. You want to rock a sweatband and climb on rocks and glide down a waterslide. Hard find? Think again, Tarzan.

I give thee Monkey Canyon. You won’t find this on any map, and it’s known by word of mouth. I personally have been there 3 times now, and each time it’s a helluva adventure. Think: rock climbing + swimming + a natural rock water slide (yeah I’m serious) + cliff jumping, all within an hour of tinsel town.

Side note: This is not for the weak of heart, but if I could conquer this, there is no doubt you can too. Here is the low down.

1. Directions are a MUST. Be up for a full day, cowboy. Pack snacks/water/sunscreen and wear a swimsuit. (See directions at bottom of this post)

2. Wear Tevas/Aqua socks. Invest the 4 bucks at Rite Aid, and just do it. I donned Converse last time and hated myself for it. Rocks in your socks ain’t fun.

3. Limit what you bring as sometimes you will have to swim across the crevasses and can’t carry it with you. If you can hold it above your head and swim then you’re golden.

Follow the directions below, and you will park along the road. You will first hike down using ropes provided into swimming holes. There is some graffiti, but get past it and it will be worth it.

Directs coming from Hollywood:

-Take the 101 S to CA-2/Glendale Blvd. 

-Follow CA-2 and exit 20 for CA-2/Angeles Crest Hwy

-After 6 miles you should reach the main turn out for Monkey Canyon. Keep an eye on your odometer.

- Park here if you have a parking pass, otherwise keep going for 1.8 miles.

-Stop at the cafe and ask for a day parking pass for 5 bucks.

-Head south on the Angeles Forest Highway for 1.8 miles and park at the turn out.

On the north side of the street you’ll see a couple openings in bushes. Take one. Do it. Use the ropes to help you down the hillside, along the big log and down the slippery wet rocks. Once you hit the creek bed turn left and head into the creek. 

Exit the creek bed as soon as you can and go over the boulders like a MAN! Eventually you’ll use the boulders to cross over the creek to the ride side of it. (this sounds complicated, trust me its not)

It will open up to a canyon, where you may here the sounds of a rainstick (yes someone actually brought one once as I observed) and people jumping off the side of the canyon into the water.

HITLIST TIP: Once you make it to the cliff diving area in the canyon, climb up the ladder. Walk up along the rocks (as if headed back toward where you came) and follow it around until you see the waterfall. It will be on the right. This is a natural rock waterslide and is SAFE (I promise) and the-best-time-of-your-life. Sit on your booty and push yourself down, you will glide down the waterfall and into the water.

Swim past that section and that is when it really gets pretty. Most people don’t know you can go past there, but you can and I suggest checking it out if the water looks safe. 

If you go, hit me up with photos, and let us know how you did and thoughts for future adventure hunters.

Blaze on my monkeys…..