The Grove

The Grove is a shopping mall in the district of Fairfax, Los Angeles near Park La Brea and Beverly Hills.  It is a large outdoor shopping mall that has an aspect of whimsicality to it. An historic free trolly runs through the middle of winding streets marked with notable store brands and beautiful cafes.  One road looks like it could almost be a European side street (except much cleaner and newer and generally more American).  One of these cafes, the Marmalade Cafe (a local chain in the Los Angeles area), was the site for a birthday celebration of my new friend Katie.  It was her twenty-first and we had a wonderful waiter who both brought out the cake her roommates had bought at the right time with lighted candles and an ice cream sundae from the restaurant (new ice cream and cake dance?).  I was also able to try this wonderful pear flatbread.  Savory pears? Yes. On warm flatbread with cheese and balsamic drizzle.  It was simply delicious and much more affordable than the gargantuan bowls of pasta they offered.      

View from my spot on top of the 1759 Historical Trolly Ride!