LAMill Coffee & Handsome Coffee Roasters

by Crystal // May 3, 2012 // 5 Comments

When you think coffee, LA isn’t usually the first place that comes to mind. We don’t have the indie vibe of Seattle or the chic atmosphere of Paris, but LA is developing a coffee culture all its own. It’s just... Continue reading →

Transitory Tales: Earning the Right to Love Beijing

by Crystal // April 20, 2012 // 4 Comments

It’s been almost three years since I made the big jump to live abroad, and I can now safely say that I have “settled” into a bi-continental lifestyle that I can navigate pretty seamlessly. These days, a lot of my... Continue reading →

Favorite Things: Creative Cartography

by Crystal // March 29, 2012 // 2 Comments

1. Lucius Art / 2. Studio KMO / 3. Restoration Hardware / 4. Best Made Company / 5. Reiters / 6. These Are Things / 7. The Map Shop One of my favorite things to collect on my travels are maps. My walls are adorned with the likes of London on... Continue reading →

Off the Beaten Path: Salton Sea

by Crystal // March 1, 2012 // 5 Comments

I grew up in sunny Orange County, California, a place defined by manicured lawns and cookie-cutter houses. There are few places that are more comfortable, but truth be told… well, one could say it lacks character. Since I became a... Continue reading →

LA’s Food Trucks

by Crystal // February 23, 2012 // 5 Comments

Food trucks are as quintessential to LA as delis are to New York or cafes to Seattle. Hundreds have popped onto the scene in the past few years and can now be often seen cruising along (well, in traffic) on... Continue reading →

Brunch at Bottega Louie

by Crystal // February 16, 2012 // 4 Comments

I’ve just arrived in Beijing in the dead of winter. One step outside and I’m left wondering why I ever left the eternal warmth that is Southern California. While I do appreciate seasonal changes, the California native in me still... Continue reading →