Monthly Bike Rides & Gems of South LA: Tacos Locos

I seem to be a month behind on blog posting.  Oh well, better late than never!  

Awesome friend @stokesauce aka Sarah plans a monthly bike ride here for our dear little South LA community.  Believe it or not, I went from an avid bike rider as a kid growing up, riding my bike all over my neighborhood in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...to being AFRAID of riding my bike in LA as an adult!  Crazy, huh.  Riding bikes in LA is definitely a different beast 'cause frankly, LA drivers do NOT look out for bike riders very well.  Sorry, LA drivers, but it's true.  I'm confessing that because I'm one of them...I've almost hit bikers before!! 

Anyhoo, I got over that fear when I bought my bike from none other than my very favorite SONSHINE SHOP THRIFT STORE!!  I started riding my bike to work to get a little more exercise (back when I used to live south of Exposition Blvd) and I got over my fear, but always always as vigilant as possible for cars.  Be smart or be dead, LA bikers!

Anyway, I love biking in groups, it's a fun social thing and we always have a great destination to get to, to hang out, eat something delicious, and play.  We have such great weather year round here in So Cal, and these days NO RAIN...so biking can happen anytime!  In March, we took about a 10 mile bike ride round-trip downtown to Grand Park.  

Here we are, all sweaty and squinty from the ride.  Good old John hanging with the women!  Until Tony showed up later.  Grand Park has these fun pink chairs and tables throughout the park.  If you ever steal them, we'll know that they're from Grand Park!!

We threw the frisbee around a bit, and then went to the Starbucks on the top block of Grand Park.  The park spans three city blocks.  

On our way, of course I noticed this lovely little mural painting with an oh so true message!  Adorable, eh?

And you can't resist a roll in their fountain at Grand Park.  The tiny little boy running in the WAAAAY back behind me in his undies taught me a lesson...to play freely like a child often!

Other friends frolicking in the fountain!  

And now for the latest GEM OF SOUTH LA--Tacos Locos located on Venice and Harvard.  Technically not South of the 10 freeway, but close enough and damn good.  What's better than eating a delicious plate of tacos, beans and rice for second breakfast after working up an appetite after a bike ride?  The answer:  NOTHING.  

John eagerly awaiting the deliciousness.  He and Jess ordered huevos rancheros.

Their food.

My food.

Jess is happy.

John is happy.

And I was very very happy.  Now go bike more, enjoy Grand Park, play frisbee, roll and play in fountains, eat delicious food at Tacos Locos, and shop at Sonshine Shop Thrift Store (like us on Facebook!) and Sonshine Shop Vintage!  (I acknowledge that there are only FIVE items on the Etsy site, but I promise that will change VERY SOON!  Photos and posts to come about some amazing new vintage items!)

Peace.

Gems of South LA: Bacaro LA

When I moved south of the 10 freeway, I moved into unfamiliar territory.  As part of my renewed love for the neighborhood, the last two years or so have been ones of discovery--discovering the beauty in South LA.  Many hear "South LA" and make automatic assumptions about what they think they know about this area.  I won't lie, before I moved here, I made the same assumptions.  

I've spent many hours and walked many miles, and basically falling in love with South LA.  Sounds cheesy, I know, but that's a big deal, especially when I wanted to leave South LA so badly a couple of years ago.  I hope that this blog series, Gems of South LA, captures some of the love that has been renewed for South LA.

One of the restaurants that I first heard about from people at my church was Bacaro LA.  They called it "the date place" because it was the nicest restaurant in the area where couples could go on dates.  

I want to be mindful of gentrification in South LA as I want to advocate for our indigent neighbors.  Bacaro LA is not what I would call a "cheap eat" restaurant, but I still want to highlight it because they are mindful of the community.  It is a splurge to go there, so it's especially a treat.  Anytime they have a groupon or Living Social deal for Bacaro, I always snap it up.  

It is a quality restaurant with delicious and creative tapas, or small dishes.  Enjoy and go try Bacaro LA sometime, especially when you want to get dressed up and look swanky on a date!

Outside shot.  Love this entire little strip mall.  Bacaro LA owners also run the coffee/tea place down the street called Nature's Brew.  That's for another Gems of South LA post.

Inside shot with fun chalkboard walls with wine menus, etc.  It was pretty crowded that night as usual, lots of USC students.

We ordered my usual favorite tapas that are of course, gluten free.  I'm a gluten free gal in case you didn't know (more future posts on getting AFFORDABLE gluten free), so it can make eating out a bit of a challenge at times.  From top to bottom: caprese salad, pork belly skewers, polenta with eggplant puree, cauliflower with amazing chipotle sauce, the Bacaro burger on a bed of greens, and hanger steak.  All delicious!

My friend and date for the night, Lindsay Modrow!  Amazing woman!

This post would not be complete without some outfit pics.  A night at Bacaro LA called for sparkly tops (from the clothing swap), my vintage silk pants, gold wedges, and of course the amazing beaded bag (it was my mom's!)!

Enjoy your weekend and PEACE.