Heather Hope-Allison is an event producer from TIL Events in Los Angeles. She and her husband, Steve, created and produce the Los Angeles-area outdoor movie event series Street Food Cinema, which incorporates local food trucks, live music, and interactive games; the concept has also expanded to Phoenix and San Diego.
To Get Away for a Quick Trip
Because a large portion of our events are during the summer, we try to do quick trips. Catalina Island is perfect, and it takes [about an hour] to get there [from Los Angeles]. Most of the island travels by golf cart, so it’s a much more relaxed pace. You can literally feel yourself decompress as soon as you get off the ferry. The must-have signature island cocktail is the Buffalo Milk. The best place to stay is Hamilton Cove, because every condo comes with a golf cart, and there’s a private beach and pool just for the cove.
To Savor a Bagel
Hands down, Ess-a-Bagel has the best bagels anywhere. I lived in New York for three years, and every time I return, this is the place I must go to before I leave. Recently I took my daughter there, and I let her know that this bagel would set the bar for all other bagels in her life.
To Soak Up New Orleans Culture
I love when a city has a distinct style and personality all its own, like New Orleans. My husband and I were married at Preservation Hall, an intimate jazz hall with a revival church-style feel surrounded by jazz history in the heart of the French Quarter.
To Watch a Concert
The Hollywood Bowl is an iconic venue and such a great place to watch concerts and performances. I just took my daughters to see A Chorus Line, and it was so awesome to see their reaction to the experience. I love that you can bring your own picnic and enjoy being outdoors as well.
To Enjoy Art and a Garden Setting
My mother, who was an artist, loved the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens and their art collection featuring Thomas Gainsborough’s “The Blue Boy,” so it’s very sentimental to me. It’s so easy to spend the day there with its picturesque array of gardens—my favorite is the Japanese—and afternoon tea.
For Memorable Events
The Carondelet House is my favorite event venue in Los Angeles for intimate and large events. It has so much rustic beauty punctuated with charming antiques, and decor needs are really minimal. If I could live there, I would.
For Wine Tasting
Less than two hours from Los Angeles, Temecula has several charming, family-owned wineries that are fairly close together, so it’s easy to go to several in one day. My favorite is Thornton Winery, which has a beautiful estate for events. The wine tastings are intimate, so you learn a lot about the wines and pairings.
To Have Breakfast
The breakfast at Millie’s Café is awesome. I remember when it was a small café that always had a line. It has expanded, and so has the line. But it’s worth the wait.
