A to Z USA- aka a lazy Sunday in Azusa CA

Nestled in the San Gabriel foothills, just 32 miles east of Hollywood, is the town of Azusa. A to Z usa is how it got its name. A small town that has a touch of the frontier and a dash of early and mid  20th century architecture. Sleepy little neighborhoods filled with Eicher-esque houses framed by elaborately pruned ficus bushes. 

This Sunday took us to Monrovia, just west of Azusa, on a work errand and since we were on that side of town needing breakfast we quickly looked to yelp for a greasy spoon. We headed to the best sounding breakfast joint on the list, Flappy Jack's Pancake House. How could we go wrong?! Well, there were dozens of people waiting outside for tables. We cut thru the parking lot and redirected ourselves to Flo's Coffee Shop on the historic Route 66. 

It was just what the doc ordered. Simple classic food in what looks like a former Mexican Restaurant. Handwritten signs advertising specials and Corona banners decorate the walls. We could have been roadside anywhere along Hwy66 and this would have fit in. Forget the hipster $14 Benedicts and bottomless mimosas, sometimes all you need are pancakes, eggs and coffee in a white ceramic mug. 

Bellies full of vintage style breakfast we decided to go vintage shopping as we stumbled upon Nit Pickers, an adorable vintage store on Foothill in Azusa. 

Inside we explored racks of vintage clothes and tchotchkes. I even found a gorgeous orange Bonnie Cashin coat from the 60's.  Win! 

Next time I head out east I'm going to make sure it's Saturday so even more of the awesome thrift and vintage stores are open. 

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What in the heck? Window shopping in hell. Aka Weho

Oh jeez wewhores is there no end to the design travesties? Found myself on the wrong side of town, the center, on my way to the Improv to see Jen Kirkman. And right there in the middle of Melrose  Sigh

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Proof- foofy pastries and killer coffee

Don't you love typing a huge wit laden blog post or email only to have it disappear as soon as you quickly check an email or take a photo? Take 2:

I found myself in Atwater Village today hungry and uncaffinated. I usually hit Bon Vivant or Kaldi on Glendale blvd just east of the 5fwy. But for today I thought I would finally try Proof, open for a while now but with hours that I do not tend to be in the area. 

As soon as I walked in the smell of coffee wrapped me up in it's promise of roasted chemical relief. A small number of pastries stared at me, no single one saying "girl you know I'm the one." So of course I settles on two- pain au raisin and almond croissant, my go-to choice. 

I knew that any establishment that smells like this must have perfect regular coffee. I save espresso for places that I don't trust to make a good cuppa. I was right, the coffee was that perfect brew, not too Britney and bitter and not to fruity sour. You might say Goldielocks picked the right mug today. As for the pastries, you raisin was a hit. Flaky but not the kind of flaky that ends up all over my shirt, almond croissant is probably deep within my cleavage. The raisins were sweet and plump. Win. Not enough almond in my almond croissant though. I like to know I'm eating almonds. I want a thick creamy layer of almond between buttery pockets of pastry. Sorry guys but no go on that one. Too dry and not enough punch for the $4 ticket price. In fact my only criticism is that all this cost me $10. An that's not even a prepared barista drink. Next time I'm just having the coffee. 

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