New hotels around the country

I’m back in Los Angeles, once again swapping homes with my friend Jihan Zencirli. While I’m staying in her lovely Laurel Canyon abode, I’ve been revisiting some of my favorite Los Angeles neighborhoods, like the east side hipster enclave of Silver Lake.

My first encounter with Silver Lake was in the mid-aughts, when I moved to my second of five apartments in LA. I lived in a little bungalow on pedestrian-only stretch of Micheltorena Street: the only way to access the apartment was by climbing a set of stairs built into the hills that began on Sunset Boulevard.

It was around that time that Silver Lake developed a name for itself as the hip, emerging neighborhood to watch. In the years since, it has solidified its status as a distinctly cool place to live, and it now boasts some of the best restaurants and retail destinations in Los Angeles.

Over the weekend, I had a full day of escapades in Silver Lake, reacquainting myself with the local classics and discovering some recent additions to the neighborhood. Sunset Junction, a must-visit cluster of retail and food establishments, where Cafe Stella (along with its charming cocktail bar) and the coffee institution Intelligentsia are longstanding favorites, anchors one end of the sprawling area. A block away, Mohawk General Store is a seller of trendy designer duds for men and women, and a visit always puts a dent in my bank account.

Nearby, on Griffith Park Boulevard, the fast food-style smashburger at The Win-Dow is a sort of high-quality replacement for In-N-Out. That little corridor is also home to beloved Taiwanese restaurant Pine & Crane, a lively Mexican joint El Condor, and new Spanish hotspot Bar Moruno. This area in particular has had a serious glow up since I lived here.

On the northern stretch of the neighborhood, sitting next to each other on Hyperion Avenue, are Counter Space, a home goods and antiques store, and Gift of Garb, a curated luxury consignment shop. Broome Street General Store on Rowena Avenue is a one-stop-shop that features many of my favorite fragrances, cookbooks, apothecary, coffee, and other household items.

On Silver Lake Boulevard, the neighborhood’s epicenter, LAMILL Coffee and Botanica, my favorite cafe in the area, continue to be go-to spots, while Virgil Avenue, the most far flung pocket of Silver Lake, has exploded since Sqirl arrived there a decade ago. Now Courage Bagels, the wine bar Melody, and Voodoo Vin, a minimalist wine shop and restaurant featuring a to-die-for beef tartare tartine, accompany it. Needless to say, the neighborhood is alive and well.

Favorite links this week

EMP’S FAIL

When Eleven Madison Park announced its new vegan menu, the celebrated fine-dining establishment was met with praise. But bad reviews, as well as allegations of food waste and labor issues, have overshadowed the hype. Bon Appétit examines what exactly went wrong.

LEAN ON ME

Statistically, it’s likely you currently do or eventually will have a friend going through a divorce. Katie Heaney wants to help you navigate this sensitive situation gracefully, so she spoke to a handful of experts for tips on how to support a friend who’s consciously uncoupling.

WHAT TO WATCH NOW

While in I’m in LA, I'll be catching a screening of Almost Famous at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Watching a classic film in the famous graveyard is one of my favorite pastimes, but I’m also looking forward to seeing a handful of new summer movies on this list from Vogue.

A YEAR OF JUNE

Win a year’s supply of Long June Everyday Drops face oil

Natural skincare brand Biography, known for its active face oils, creates harmonious products that give your skin the power to change: to alter the narrative, to add a chapter, or to revise history for the better.

Biography oils are composed of the finest natural ingredients, with actives featuring in operative roles — here for effect, not for show. Every element has been sustainably sourced, harvested, rendered, and their oils are now staples in my medicine cabinet.

I’m partnering with Biography to give away “A Year of June” — one year’s supply of their Long June Everyday Drops. All you have to do is follow @biography_nyc on Instagram before the end of the month, and a summery, dewy, glow-up could be yours all year long.

Follow @biography_nyc

EXCITING HOTEL OPENINGS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

In the past few months, I’ve fully returned to my pre-pandemic travel routine, bopping all over the world for both work and play. I’ve stayed in some incredible hotels, which makes me excited to add the following new properties to my wishlist.

Nine Orchard

I’ve already visited Nine Orchard, Downtown NYC’s newest luxury hotel, for the incredible food and beverage program by the team behind Estela and Lodi. Now I’m lusting after a stay in one of the 116 guest rooms, which are housed in a Lower East Side Beaux-Arts landmark originally built in 1912.

Hotel June

My LA schedule is packed, so I’ll have to wait until my next trip to check into Hotel June, a private enclave of mid-century bungalows in Malibu. The dreamy hotel gives guests access to the iconic Southern California surf culture found on Point Dume, where dramatic seaside cliffs give way to rocky coves and secluded beaches.

Tributary Hotel

I’ve never been to Oregon’s Willamette Valley, a world-class wine destination featuring some of my favorite domestic Pinots. With the debut of the Tributary Hotel, an eight-suite property in a century-old building in downtown McMinnville, I have a good reason to make the trip. The in-house progressive culinary experience ōkta, which celebrates the PNW bounty, is calling my name.

1 Hotel Nashville

Next time I’m in Music City, you can bet I’ll be staying at 1 Hotel Nashville. With a lush ivy facade that captures CO2 and generates fresh oxygen, the 215-room urban sanctuary was constructed with the planet in mind. The interiors are nature-focused, too, with native potted plants, organic linens, and reclaimed materials.

The Bungalows at Kenoza Hall

I adored my first stay at Kenoza Hall, a 22-room, lakeside Catskills property near the Pennsylvania border. Now, the restored 1880s boarding house is accompanied by 10 luxury bungalows that are available to book if you’re looking for more privacy. With private porches and exclusive amenities, the little cottages are a secret oasis.

Villa Mara

For a chic getaway on California’s Central Coast, I have my eye on Villa Mara, a 16-room boutique hotel perched above the bluffs in Carmel-by-the-Sea. With coastal-inspired interiors by Lisa Koch Design and panoramic views that extend to the famous Pebble Beach Golf Links, it’s a ideal for a relaxing vacation.

Missed an edition? View past newsletters here.

If you know someone who might love this newsletter, they can sign up at agnp.co. As always, I love hearing your thoughts, whatever they may be. Drop me a line anytime, and I’ll see you here next week.