I am nearing the end of my High Desert adventures, devastating I know, but there still might be a video in the works! Looking through my photos I realized how many radical things I saw and experienced while in the Mojave in 2012. The above shot was taken at Nomad Ventures, a rock climbing shop located near the Joshua Tree entrance off Twenty Nine Palms Hwy. I have always been fascinated with the idea of climbing rocks and this piqued my interest even more. I’m looking into rock climbing classes if you’d like to join me!

The following three photographs were taken at the eerie spot known as Kriblin Jihn Kabin, a structure that was originally used to house defeated heretics. The story is way too long to go into now, but check out that site and be utterly confused. Note the bible scriptures lining the destroyed walls and 9-point compass etched into the floor. This kabin as of 2004 became a part of the High Desert Test Sites.

Drake & I in the desert. Enough said.

If your jaw dropped when you read World Famous Crochet Museum I promise you that you’re not alone. When I stepped into this bubble of wonderment my curiosity reached record levels. Created by local artist Shari Elf and located on a patch of residential land off Twenty Nine Palms Hwy, this magical museum will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Yet again a special place to experience in the High Desert. Another great addition to the High Desert Test Sites (HDTS), which I’ve almost seen all!

Shari happened to be on location and was kind enough to tell us all about her crochet creation, give us a tour of her studio and open up her rad gallery for us to take a peek. She’s been collecting crocheted pieces for quite some time and in addition to running the show here, she sells her art at the Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea Market. Now, take a look at her amazing collection.

Which little friend is your favorite?

World Famous Crochet Museum
61855 Highway 62
Joshua Tree, California
(just east of the Joshua Tree Saloon)

My favorite spot to eat in the High Desert, aside from Sam’s Indian, is Natural Sisters Cafe Joshua Tree. Whether I need a freshly made juice in the morning or a gluten-free sandwich for lunch, I head to this sweet little spot which serves up positive vibes and some of the freshest food on HWY 62. Having gone there on my last three desert adventures, I can say this spot is tried and tested by yours truly. The people who work there have a permanent smiles on their faces, great recommendations and something sweet to say. They’re baked goods are always fresh and ever-changing, from coconut chocolate muffins to vegan pies.

So what do I like to order? One of my favorite drinks is the Rock Climbers Revenge, a hearty smoothie made with soy milk, bananas, cashews and dates. This is most definitely the desert’s healthy version of the famous date shake. If I want something lighter, I opt for the Green Goodness, made with apples, celery, spinach, parsley and wheatgrass. After an early morning yoga class this is the way to go. Absolutely refreshing! For total nourishment, I always order a Create Your Own Veggie Sandwich made with gluten-free bread (they offer sourdough, rosemary loaf, rye, whole wheat, sprouted) packed with avocado, sprouts, lettuce, tomato and vegan cheese. This sandwich is a must and I promise you’ll love it after an early morning hike!

One last must at Natural Sisters Cafe, order up the Eggless Tofu Sandwich, a creamy tofu blend piled high and guaranteed to hit all the necessary spots. As someone who loves her egg salad sandwich, this vegan alternative definitely impressed my taste buds.

Natural Sisters Cafe Joshua Tree
61695 29 Palms Hwy, Suite B
Joshua Tree, CA 92252
(760) 366-3600

Each time I head out to the high desert I make it a point to see something I haven’t on a previous adventure. This time I had Bristol Dry Lake, also known as the chloride fields south of Amboy, at the top of my list of things to experience. I had the pedal to the metal on Amboy Road as we were racing to this site before the sun completely set! The road brought many twist and turns but barely a car in site. I am usually such a by the rules driver but this open road and landscape begged for a rental car gone rogue.

Bristol Dry Lake is home to 60 million tons of sodium chloride. From the road it appears you are gazing at a snow-covered field but when you arrive at the site, you begin to walk on what feels like coral, only it is salt. The colors of the lake are absolutely stunning and I was in awe every inch I walked of this stretch. With each step marks a crunching sound on the salt, the only audible thing you will hear in this part of the Mojave.

Bristol Dry Lake
From Twenty Nine Palms
Turn left onto Godwin Rd
Turn right onto Amboy Rd & drive approx 50 miles

It just so happened that both Tania and I had our nails done before our retreat in Joshua Tree. Her nails, beautifully painted by Kleur, were absolutely stunning and perfect for the Mojave landscape. If you live in L.A. and aren’t hip to the ladies of Kleur, let me be the first to tell you that they have mad skills. If you need nail art designs that will impress your friends, visit Kleur asap.

My nails, for those of you who sent me messages dying to know, are what I call my new addiction: gel nails! The brand is Gelish and unfortunately I don’t remember the color name/number. What I can tell you is that my last gel manicure lasted one month and I might never go back to the regular stuff.

Digging the Vena Cava beverage cozy?

As you read this, I am probably still in the high desert soaking up the sun. With all my trips to the Mojave recently you might just think I said goodbye to Los Angeles for a life off the grid. Not yet, but don’t think the idea hasn’t crossed my mind. My last batch of photos from Joshua Tree inspired my friend Tania to take her very own retreat and I happily accepted to be her guide. We have been at The Joshua Tree Retreat Center & Institute for Mental Physics a couple of days now and to say I don’t want to leave would be an understatement.

There is so much to report here from Joshua Tree but in the mean time, please enjoy these snaps from our adventures thus far. Photo #1 My new desert pants, Photo #2 Field Notes: California, Photo #3 Us ladies at The Integratron, Photos 4 & 5 Wonders at the Sky Village Swap Meet, Photo #6 Braving the windstorm at Salvation Mountain

My love for beauty products has grown exponentially since introducing this bottle of Aesop Fabulous Face Oil into my routine. My skin had been feeling less than fresh so I needed a boost and quick! I began massaging this moisturizing serum into my face after each time I washed it and the immediate improvement was recognizable. My dryness has disappeared and all of my friends have exclaimed that my skin looks like it is glowing. I must admit that being single has definitely added to my fresh face as well.

Dull skin no more, this combination of nut oils and floral extracts has me officially addicted, if not for the smell alone! The Aesop Fabulous Face Oil is preservative free to boot.

Last week I went on an excursion that would best be called as my very own Art Tour Los Angeles, which was kindly provided by a former professor of mine. Believe it or not, I once flirted with the idea of going to art school to study printmaking (particularly stone lithography) but realized it wasn’t the right fit for my academic desires. My love for art is still present and it was great to explore a few places to see what was popping.

Our first stop was Gemini G.E.L. where I was privy to a private tour of the facility. Ellsworth Kelly was on display and it was fascinating to peak in on the people who actually produce his prints. Upon entering Gemini’s Frank Gehry designed gallery, I was immediately drawn to this Ann Hamilton piece (above). Incredible, right? We also swung by the new Matthew Marks Gallery in West Hollywood to check out some more Ellsworth Kelly (last photo). Our final stop was at LACMA as I wanted to check out RODARTE: Fra Angelico Collection before the exhibition closed. My art date was not impressed but I was dying over the incredible colors, shapes, and dimensions of the gorgeous gowns. C’mon, just look at that dress below!

Which piece is your favorite?

The long-standing Sky Village Swap Meet located in sunny Yucca Valley garnered a bit of the limelight when featured on the No Reservations High Desert episode last year. Having driven by this desert bonanza every time I visited The Integratron, I figured it was time to see what this dirt mall had to offer. My friend and I pulled up one brisk Sunday afternoon with no idea what we were getting ourselves into. An old sign read “Welcome to Sky Village” thus marking the beginning of our adventure.

To say this swap meet offers all sorts of vibes would be an understatement. When browsing the various tables, booths, and stands, I couldn’t help but think this was the place where dreams went to die. I snapped some photos of some treasures, but most items for sale couldn’t even be classified as junk. For this reason, do not have your hopes high if you’re looking for some rad tchotkes but rather, come for the experience. There are some good folk, definitely a lot of characters, and even a caged iguana! And if you even think you’re going to leave with that turquoise necklace, think again, the owner priced it at $2,000. Pssssssh, I think he was a jewelry hoarder.

Lastly, if you swing by this Yucca Valley destination, arrive early so that you get to take in the full picture. This spot is also listed as a High Desert Test Site, so make sure you check out Bob Carr’s magical work: Arachnia and The Crystal Cave. (image below)

Sky Village Swap Meet Yucca Valley
7028 Theater Road – Just off Hwy 247
(760) 365-2104

The High Desert Test Sites (HDTS) has long been on my list of conceptual art to explore while out in the Mojave; fortunately my friend Martine also had this as a priority on her desert agenda. “Scattered along a stretch of intimate yet diverse desert communities that include Joshua Tree, Pioneertown, Wonder Valley, Yucca Valley, and 29 Palms, the sites provide a place for both fleeting and long-term experimental projects.” We stopped by the HDTS headquarters in Joshua Tree, picked up our site map and hit the road with bright eyes and bushy tails. Currently on the list are 10 various experiences, sculptures, and sites to see across the beautiful desert landscape.

Already crossed off the list was the Sky Village Swap Meet (more on that later), The Integratron, and HDTS Headquarters. We studied our map closely and decided to scope out sites #2 Andy’s Gamma Gulch and #5 Behind Bail Bonds.  I was most excited about site #5 (photo above) because I knew it was going to be absolutely beautiful. Seeing this incredible shape contained between boulders definitely held up to the internal hype I created. Site #2 located just past Pioneertown proved to be a true adventure. A bit of off-roading paired with hiking in a land of cactus under the sun allowed me to momentarily feel like a true explorer. The photos below are what we found while scouring the desert.

Which piece is your favorite?

The Joshua Tree Retreat Center & Institute for Mentalphysics is where I stayed during my most recent trip to the High Desert. Excitement was building as I told my friends that I was venturing off to a secret place in Joshua Tree and could not wait to share it with them. Technically this spot is not a secret, nonetheless, I have yet to meet anyone else who has heard of or much less been to this mystical destination.

Designed by world-renowned architects Frank Lloyd Wright and his son Lloyd, most of these unique buildings were built using sacred geometry around 1941. The energy at this center is known to be unique and healing. The land on which it was built rests upon a aquifer (a running river), “producing an intriguing magnetic effect on those who enter this ancient and sacred space.” My friend Martine and I cozied in an apartment on the grounds, shown below, and enjoyed every minute of our stay. Our space was modest, so if you’re bougie this is probably not the place for you. On the other hand, if you love walks in the desert sand sounded by Joshua Trees, incredible architecture, labyrinths, late-night jacuzzi runs and most of all, great vibes, then this place should be added to your must list. Rooms range from $55-$75 a night, plus a $8 pool/jacuzzi fee. The retreat center also has a great book store, offering an amazing collection of Mentalphysics books, a few of which I happened to pick up.

If you are anything like me and enjoy all things mystical, mid-century modern, and full of love, then I encourage you to take some time out for yourself at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center & Institute for Mentalphysics. There is so much more I want to share, but I’ll save it for the book!

Joshua Tree Retreat Center & Institute for Mentalphysics
Twentynine Palms Hwy
Joshua Tree, California 92252
(760) 365-8371

What is The Integratron? Is the question I get most, so it is my pleasure to share with you what has become one of my favorite destinations. The Integratron is an acoustically perfect tabernacle and energy machine sited on a powerful geomagnetic vortex in the magical Mojave Desert – the official description. When I describe it to friends I say it is a beautiful dome in the desert, showcasing an interior constructed with a marvelous amount of wood. The dome acts as a sound chamber which allows each individual to experience vibrations in various ways.  When a sound bath is conducted, the reverberation emanating from the crystal quartz bowls are felt through your entire body. The peace and clarity that comes from the combination of mediation and sound is one I hope everyone can experience some time in their life. If you’d like to go with me sometime, just let me know and we’ll plan a date!

The Integratron
Landers, Mojave Desert

Believe it or not, I am heading back to the high desert for a couple of days. I am leaving town in a few hours with my friend Martine and I am especially excited as we’ll be staying somewhere I have never been. The mystery place just might be magical and I cannot wait to share it with all of you.

Looking forward to an afternoon soundbath, warm weather, and simply being surrounded by magnetic energies.

Your best bet is to order the taco sampler, a plate stacked with their most popular tacos: Steak Picado, Bistec en Salsa Roja, Tinga de Pollo, Mole Poblano de Pollo, Cochnitia Pibil, y Chicharron. With this colorful dish, your taste buds are allowed a variety of Guisados’ taco talents and experience a variety of true Mexican flavors. The corn tortillas are freshly made, just like abuelita used to make, and you can taste it. The meats aren’t like your typical taco stands in L.A. (which I love) but reflect more of what I have tasted in Mexico. The Cochnito Pibil and Mole Poblano tacos were my favorites, for two very different reasons. The former had the spicy burst of flavor I so desired, while the mole had a smokey cream-like consistency that made my mouth tremble with delight.

Get to know your city better and take a trip to bustling E. Cesar Chavez Avenue. Don’t forget to order up a refreshing agua fresca and tell them I sent you!

Guisados
2100 E Cesar Chavez Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90033
(323) 264-7201