Where to Chill Out This Month & Still Have Fun 🧖♀️
Jan. 16, 2025
Hi Y'all!
This year already feels like a lot to most, and it's important to figure out how to take care of yourself and feel good, so I'm dropping links to my favorite books HERE to keep you lighter, 10% happier, breathing the right way, and understanding how stress can ruin your body far more than a pile of sugar. I started my year off with friends at a relaxing resort in Arizona, where I adopted the idea of writing down one happy thing each day and putting it in a jar, and will read them all in December to reflect on my great year — 16 down... so many to go, but I haven't missed a day! I have organized all my files, donated clothes at ByGeorge for the LA wildfire victims (which is at capacity now, but you can still donate locally at this drive on Jan. 26!), and donated to the LA Fire Department Foundation here if you want to join me, plus this donation match program looks like another great way to help. I hope this letter brings some health and joy to your end of week!
~AR
SPECIAL DINNER REC
Justine's Winter Tent
Every winter, it’s my first priority to visit Justine’s after their art department designs and puts up their special winter tent because I love the energy it brings, especially alongside the stylish diners, this time of year. The theme is Les Bêtes Nocturnes, inspired by night creatures and the magic of the nocturnal world, so there are animals everywhere, red and gold draping, beautiful chandeliers, and wine and oysters on the back bar. I went on a Saturday with cousin Emily and her friend, and we cozied up at the oyster bar with the jaguar statues, sipping on wine and chatting with the lovely bartender Ian before being lured to our table inside. I still love their mussels, crab salad, and had a bowl of French Onion Soup all to myself, which is perfect for a winter evening, in an effort to eat something a little lighter after Christmas. By lighter, I mean not the burger. The Crab Salad and the Burger, which holds such a large patty that you can really only eat half, is always a memorable order. This is the one place I take my friends visiting from big cities — not because they have the best food in the world, although I’m always satisfied by what I eat, but because I love the style of everyone who comes to Justine’s and all the people who work here. A favorite memory is the time I sat at the inside bar next to a man who was visiting town and we ended up sharing our meals. It’s just a place that makes me feel like I’m in NYC, LA, or Europe with people from all over the place in the tight quarters! The tent is still up for a bit so it’s the time to go, and you can make a reservation on OpenTable for groups of six or more. P.S. The individual bungalows are gone outside of the tent.
JEWELRY REC
Nina Berenato
Nina Berenato just launched her new collection of Vision Board necklaces, a really creative way for an artist and jewelry designer to start the new year. When you visit her store, start by choosing a silver or gold chain, then select charms that come with personalized tarot cards to create essentially a vision board that you can wear. I picked the shell for feminine energy, the rose quartz for attraction, and the sun to shine bright, before putting the charms on the chain, and I went with the silver because it looked so good on Nina! One thing I love and respect about her is everything she makes is so personalized, tells a story, and you know she creates her designs with care. If you go to a corporate jewelry store, there’s no feeling or connection like this there, but Nina has so much passion for her craft that shines through in everything she makes and that you will wear. I brought my friend Clementyne with me for the experience, and this would be so fun for the new year with friends you need to catch up with — to make jewelry together and start the new year with intention.
NEW RESTAURANT REC
Kalimotxo
Owned by the Emmer and Rye group, this Spanish wine bar was previously located at Hestia, but late last year, they moved to the old Vixen’s Wedding, a space I love because I worked on the opening, which is right across from Whisler’s. The menu at this true Spanish restaurant is broken down in sections of Pintxos (individual bites), Raciones (meat and cheese), Tapas (medium plates to share), Platos (large plates), and acompañamientos (sides). Pick how many items of each that you want in the first section because, like a true Tapas experience, they are one bite each, and we loved the Piquillo & Cheese Tosta Pintxo, which is essentially peppers and melted cheese on toast. My favorite tapa was the Tuna Crudo, and the Patatas Bravas really reminded me of my study abroad days in Barcelona — we got two orders of potatoes for three people just in case, ya know? We didn’t try the Pan con Tomate, but I remember it being incredible at the first Kalimotxo. The Bomba Rice and Mushrooms and the Prime Texas Ribeye were both enjoyable, but maybe a bit too salty and heavy, which I felt later, or maybe because we’d eaten plenty already. Of course, I loved the Whole Grilled Fish with mussels, pil pil sauce, and guindilla peppers. This place is known for their Basque Cheesecake, and the Churro Sundae is incredible too, obviously because Tavel is such an amazing pastry chef who was recently honored as one of the pastry chefs of the year by Esquire Mag! The room felt pretty empty and not quite as fun as it could be, as I like a bustling restaurant where we’re all enjoying something together, so while I loved my meal with Eleanor and Ryan and the Spanish food, it might be more fun to go on a weekend when it would be more lively!
WELLNESS REC
Milk + Honey Facial
My friend Kelly and I caught up recently with a morning walk around the lake, and then bopping over to Milk + Honey’s Loren location right off the trail for some special treatments. I went for the Signature Facial, which can be customized with add-ons like CBD oil, red or blue light therapy, gua sha, and dermaplaning. The waiting room here feels like a place you want to sit and talk for hours (which we did after) with its airy design, instead of a waiting room you’re trying to get out of before or after your treatment. It just feels like a room you would desire to make up in your house with plants and books and light coming in off the street. The Hydrafacial I previously had at Spa Sway really made my skin super glowy, and I don’t think this one gave me quite as shiny of results, but it’s a simpler and more comfortable treatment and I loved the whole experience here. This is also the first time I took home some of their branded Milk + Honey products, and I have now been clinging to their Cleanse the Day Away balm that feels like lotion instead of some cleanser you pump to wash your face with, and their moisturizer. It smells SO good. If you’re looking for a fun way to connect with a friend and take care of yourself, this is the spot!
ON THE BLOG
Civana Resort and Scottsdale, Arizona
Over the holidays, my friends and I were looking for a health and wellness resort where we could connect, laugh, move our bodies, clear our minds, and not have to plan too much, and ended up booking a trip to Civana Resort in Carefree, Arizona — yes, I can’t believe that is the town’s name either. There is really no need to ever leave the property as they have so many wellness-inspired activities, like numerology classes, yoga sculpt, bikes, manifestation workshops, dance, and two onsite restaurants. We also treated ourselves to some time at the spa on January 1, which was my best idea yet, where I got a Biodynamic Bodywork massage, hung out in the sauna, steam room, cold plunge, hot tub, and then enjoyed the outdoor pool, watching the sunset to complete the first day of the year. We skipped to Scottsdale on New Year’s Eve to splurge at a fun dinner at the newly opened Bar Bambino, and after we left Civana, we checked into The Scott Resort & Spa for one night, which blew me away design-wise and had an actually amazing Cuban-style restaurant in The Canal Club. I suggest visiting Arizona if you are looking to chill, relax, disconnect, reconnect with yourself, and have fun with friends, and you can get all the recs you need to plan your trip in my new travel guide detailing this whole trip and itinerary.
PR + MARKETING
Leona and FISH SHOP in Austin American Statesman
Our biggest news as we start 2025 are two exciting openings coming this spring — FISH SHOP and Leona Botanical Café and Bar! FISH SHOP, from the husband-and-wife team of Chef Justin Huffman and Nicole Rossi, will open on the east side to serve rare West Coast and Half Moon Bay seafood species like Spiny Lobsters, Half-Cracked Dungeness Crab, and Raw Clams! Chef Justin has worked in kitchens in Austin such as Uchi and Uchiko, and most recently with his wife and business partner Nicole at Justine’s Brasserie. You also probably recognize the duo from their famous Le Beef Burger pop-up, which is actually how we met because it quickly became my favorite burger after I tried it years ago. Austin is in serious need of high-quality seafood, and we are so excited to work with the FISH SHOP team to bring their vision to life. For our next opening, the hard-working family behind Veracruz All Natural and Veracruz Fonda and Bar is joining forces with the DEE DEE Thai team to open Leona in south Austin this April. The café and bar will feature Veracruz All Natural, DEE DEE, and another to-be-announced restaurant (could it be you?) on 5 acres in Sunset Valley, with a beverage program featuring coffee, cocktails, and drinks highlighting the cultures of Thailand and Mexico. Thank you to Matthew Odam and the Austin American Statesman for revealing our big news!
WORKOUT REC
Studio Three
I tried out Studio Three with my friend, Amanda, who works out there religiously, and we took an early 2000s theme “3x3” class. The music took me back to my party days in New York, so much so that I found myself singing out loud while working out, and the teacher loved it. The 45-minute class is in a pretty yoga studio, which is important to me as I prefer an airy, natural light-filled space versus a pitch black blaring hole — I think that’s why I like the new hOM so much. In the heated class, we pumped different sequences with weights and core work, and I liked how the teacher created her own sequences to the music. This is me digging at CorePower as the instructors there are robotic and don’t really pay attention to you or create their own programming. During this 3x3 class, the moves felt self-explanatory, so I never thought I was going to overdo it or twist in a weird way, something that has crossed my mind at CorePower. Their other classes include Hot Mat Pilates, Cycling, and Intervals like Barry’s. You can get a smoothie and hang out downstairs, street parking was easy because, you know me, I park far away and walk, and they also have locations in Miami and Chicago. I’m always looking to try new studios that are authentic and real, and I’m happy to report that this is a winner. Anyone have any new spots I should check out?
PARTY REC
Magia Papel Piñateria
As you can see, I like to plan parties and create events for clients, so when it was time for me to host my own small Hanukkah party, my intention was to create a fun activity for a group of people who didn’t all know each other. I reached out to this local piñata maker on Instagram and asked her to make a menorah, which she had never done before (ha!), and she did an incredible job! Just send her a picture of what you want, and she'll create it with three weeks' notice. The cost ranges from $40 to $60, and metallic colors are a higher price. I LOVED her work, how gold it was, and overall, this little extra party trick just made me so happy! Communicate with her via Instagram, and pick up your piñata on the east side. I filled mine with a bunch of Christmas candy, plus some cans of Fishwife sardines, and I guess people liked that because the fish was gone at the end of the party, and I found some Reese’s on the ground still. This added sparkle to the group cohesiveness , and the piñata really made the party. If you decide to support her, tell her I sent you!