Over Labor Day weekend I attended The Taste LA at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles. The studio Backlot couldn’t have been a more perfect setting for a food festival. With the ambience of a NYC street scene, lights strung between buildings, tents set up featuring fare from local restaurants, and great music - we sampled bites from Eataly, Border Grill, Trois Mec, Granville, Stella Artois, Pacific Dining Car, and many more.

The scene for The Taste LA encompassed several “streets” on the Backlot of Paramount Studios with some of the “sets” open to showcase bars and shops, such as a Los Angeles Times cafe featured on site for the event. It was fun having access to and exploring the various streets during the event - all the while eating and drinking!

Stella Artois had two great set ups for serving their Belgium beer - one a cafe, a smaller location and another larger walk in serving bites and full glasses of beer on tap. It was so good - we went back twice!

Chef Bernhard serving up small bites at Stella Artois.

This year at The Taste LA honored a tribute to the Los Angeles Times own renowned food critic, Jonathan Gold.

Aperol Spritz had a super cute drink stand and these yummy drinks went down easy.

Drink Bai had a fun photo booth with GIF pics that we took pictures in.

Paramount Studios was such a great setting for the festive event.

Thank you to The Taste LA for including me at this years event! If you missed the LA event or looking for the next one, The Taste moves to OC next month. For more info and tickets, details are here.

As a designer, I love checking out well designed hotels and trendy boutique hotels with a fun design atmosphere. In the Fall of 2016 I stayed at a luxury boutique hotel in Madrid called Only You Hotels. It was a great stay - the hotel has an eclectic design aesthetic, several options for food and drinks, the rooms are modest yet comfortable, and the Madrid location is in a central neighborhood. I loved it so much that when planning a return visit to Madrid this past February while extending my Tile of Spain trip, I opted for Only You Hotels again. This time staying at their Atocha location.

The expansive entry level lobby of the hotel has several designated areas consisting of seating, check in, a cafe, restaurant / bar, and even a barber shop!

A cute little barber shop at the entry of the eclectic “industrial chic” boutique hotel.

Also in the lobby entry is a convenient small cafe for takeout or casual dining, our go to for coffee, pastries, and really good sandwiches.

The lobby elevators leading to the guest rooms. There is also a rooftop restaurant with an outdoor terrace, which overlooks the beautiful Atocha Railway Station.

The rooms are contemporary chic with an entry vestibule and built-in closets, a private bathroom, desk, and seating. Our room faced the main boulevard overlooking the Atocha train station.

A mid-century modern style desk with exposed brick in the guest rooms at Only You Atocha.

Really loved the bathroom and paid special attention to the tile, having just spent time at the Cevisama trade in Valencia, Spain on behalf of Tile of Spain.

A glimpse of art and the mirrored built-in closets at the entry of the hotel room.

Back in the hotel lobby, lounge areas with leather banquette seating wraparound bookcases filled with books.

A serving area in the restaurant section of the hotel lobby.

The hotel lobby check in with a very friendly helpful staff / concierge - and oh yeah, off to the left are goodies such as candy and champagne upon check in! I love Madrid, I love Spain, and I hope to be back at an Only You Hotels again soon!