NOTCOT’s Favorite Places ~ here’s a new series of posts sharing some of my favorite places in (and around!) Los Angeles! This content series is brought to you by the All-New 2011 Kia Sportage. Welcome to the Next Level.

AVOCADO FRIES! and PRETZEL BURGERS! Did that get your attention? Because they really are quite a fascinating treat. SO, this is the final installment of my Favorite Places in LA ~ as sponsored by the All-New 2011 Kia Sportage (Thank you, Kia!)… which is kind of sad, since there are so many more i could share with you, but the weather and timing have been a bit against us the last few weeks! So i’ve been showing you things i really end up doing (even with the raininess we’ve been having on and off) ~ but maybe i’ll keep it going… it’s made me far more conscious of the things i take for granted near home that i seldom write about!

3 Square Café + Bakery
1121 Abbot Kinney
Venice, CA 90291
310-399-6504 (P)

So for today’s installment ~ take a peek inside the deliciousness of 3 Square Café + Bakery ~ i strongly suggest the avocado fries, mint lemonade (its like a super minty non-alcoholic mojito), and the sampler… the presentation is just adorable and perfectly matching the 3 Square logo as you’ll see! Nothing like sitting outside on the patio enjoying the woody decor, adorable dogs walking by, and a mini Shrimp Grilled Cheese, Pretzel bread burger, and Ceviche in a shot sized bread bowl! Take a peek at it all on the next page!

SHARE! Feel free to comment some of your favorite spots near home that are worth checking out if in your town/city!

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Tags: Favorite Places w/ Kia - food - los angeles - restaurants - travel

NOTCOT’s Favorite Places ~ here’s a new series of posts sharing some of my favorite places in (and around!) Los Angeles! This content series is brought to you by the All-New 2011 Kia Sportage. Welcome to the Next Level.

Have you heard? LA weather has been pretty heinous lately ~ gloomy grey raininess is upon us! So sad, since some of the favorite spots i wanted to show you are definitely more fun outside! So here’s one to mix it up a little ~ though an LA native, and having ended up back here ~ i spent quite a few years on and off living in San Diego! And being a mere 2 hours away, and loving a good drive to clear my head, one of my favorite things to do while in LA, is just pop down, sometimes for a few days, sometimes just for a day trip! And inevitably hit up a few nostalgic spots… this saturday, i popped down to get some much craved Carne Asada Fries (though apparently sometimes referred to as Mexican Poutine as i just found out ~ though they are far better!) from Cotixans… and checking out the harbor seals that haul out at Casa Beach in La Jolla. There is something so incredibly blissed out about the way the pups look when sleeping! So this favorites post is dedicated to some nostalgic comfort food and a dash of nature… it’s also just so calming to be on the edge of the sea as it crashes into the rocks and beach as tide comes in… See awesome pics of seals and fries that Tasteologie editor, Jackson, took on the next page!

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Tags: animals - Favorite Places w/ Kia - food - nature - roadtrip - san diego - sea - travel

NOTCOT’s Favorite Places ~ here’s a new series of posts sharing some of my favorite places in Los Angeles! This content series is brought to you by the All-New 2011 Kia Sportage. Welcome to the Next Level.

On favorite spots in LA, i had to share:
Fred Segal Santa Monica
420 & 500 Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90401

Thinking through favorite LA spots ~ this one’s nostalgic! Fred Segal Santa Monica’s benches out front as one of my childhood memories! Sadly, my favorite one used to be a grown up and a kid silhouette, which is no longer there! But there are still two others! My mom used to take me there when i was in a stroller ~ and we even used to sit on the bench together on the silhouettes… and as much as this shopping haven has evolved and grown over the last 20 years, there’s still something comforting and fun about the patio out front ~ not to mention the shopping inside! An array of little boutiques housed the buildings across 5th St and Broadway ~ everything from fashion to beauty to gifts to purses to jewelry and some delicious food as well ~ it’s a nice little haven that i pop by every time i’m back in LA. So take a peek at a few snap shots we shot while there tonight on the next page!

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Tags: Favorite Places w/ Kia - los angeles - shopping

NOTCOT’s Favorite Places ~ here’s a new series of posts sharing some of my favorite places in Los Angeles! This content series is brought to you by the All-New 2011 Kia Sportage. Welcome to the Next Level.

First up on favorite spots in LA, i had to share:
A+R
1121-1 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
310 392 9128
Tuesday - Sunday 11a - 7p

I told you when they first opened their Venice store that it is like NOTCOT in person. Well a few years later, and that is still true ~ and they even recently expanded to take over the space next door, and now even stock FURNITURE! Which makes it filled with delectable temptations for not only gifts and smaller items, but some really lovely chairs and desks and lighting even! So beyond what you see of their goods online at AplusRstore.com it’s far more fun to play with it all in person… popping by today i totally gave in to this awesome Brasafire Tabletop Eco-fueled Fire Lamp… go take a peek inside the space and some of the amazing products on the next page!

TO PAGE 2 of "Favorite Places: A+R"! ----->

Tags: Favorite Places w/ Kia - los angeles - shopping - store