Welcome to Happy Hours & Hikes #003

There’s a lot of speculation across L.A. about air quality, and while it may be years before we know the exact health repercussions, there is a Reddit user (note the username is NSFW) who has in-depth posts about AQI, VOCs, and even polled folks about their thoughts. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and while we are not medical professionals, our rule of thumb is to wear a N95 mask when AQI is above 100. Purple Air has a real time map for air quality, but it’s important to note that the map includes both indoor and outdoor sensors. So, make sure to double check whether it’s an outdoor sensor! While we are not sponsored by Purple, they also have a Portable Air Quality Monitor available for pre-order (shipping begins mid-March). So, stay safe and informed L.A.!

Happy Hours

The Penthouse

Take the glass elevator at the westside of The Huntley Hotel lobby to get panoramic views on your way up to The Penthouse. The cocktails ($12) and appetizers ($15) are solid, and those Happy Hour prices help offset the high cost of the regular menu. For indoor rooftop vibes, this is a stellar choice on the Westside.

HH&H Recommendation: Crispy Rice Salmon Tartare

Esters Wine Shop & Bar

Esters Wine Shop & Bar is a spacious, picturesque wine bar in the heart of Downtown Santa Monica. The space, a former telephone building built in 1937, is warm and inviting– cozy yet chic. Part of the Rustic Canyon Family, Esters does not disappoint especially for their Happy Hour! The friendly staff is eager to assist you in navigating their expansive global, sustainable wine menu with both classic and untraditional options by the bottle, glass or to take home. There is also a full bar with an interesting array of cocktails (my favorite is the Fizz’d Out). Happy Hour drinks include a house red, white, and rose ($12) and a Cocktail of the Day ($14). While their HH oysters are on the pricier side ($4.5 each) they are always fresh and delicious. Light snacks, cheese board, and charcuterie options are also offered for HH. Esters is an ideal first stop for girls’ night or a pre-dinner date.

Hikes

Mount Thom

Mount Thom is a steep hike, and proper shoes as well as poles are highly recommended. Per AllTrails, Mount Thom is a Hard 3.7 miles hike with 1,853 ft of elevation. We didn’t end up doing the whole loop with Garmin Connect ending with 3.14 miles, 1,362 ft ascent, and 2:35:00 total time. Parking was easy, but Brand Park was very popular on a Sunday.

Finally, we sincerely hope that you’ll consider giving directly to GoFundMe initiatives that we shared in our last newsletter: Moonshadows Malibu and The Little Red Hen Coffee Shop. You can also donate directly to the LAFD Foundation here.

As this is our first attempt curating a newsletter, we’ll be aiming to publish twice a month on Thursdays in 2025, and we are always open to comments, feedback, and questions!

We love L.A.

J + L