Blue Bird Bake Shop- 5 Stars

Cozy and sweet, Blue Bird Bake Shop is the place I love to go for a treat! Located in Audubon Park, it is a place I hope you will also soon call a favorite.

Cupcakes, scones, brownies, cakes, cookies, ice cream sandwiches, coffee...whatever you're craving, Blue Bird has you covered. What to try first, what to come back later for? It is definitely a hard decision. But, no matter what you choose, you will be completely satisfied! My stomach has always left happy.

The few times I have visited so far, Blue Bird has exceeded my expectations. To start, the customer service has always been great. You are greeted the moment you walk in the door with a smile and a welcome that is genuinely sincere. The staff who work here thoroughly enjoy their job. First time, no problem! Just mention it, they love to tell you about the sweets and coffee they have to offer. Customer service will never disappoint you here!

Marsh Nutter and Tuxedo Cupcakes

Their sweets are just as great as their customer service. I have been twice so far and have loved everything I have tried. My favorite cupcakes so far are the Red Velvet and the Marsh Nutter. Red Velvet is always there, but the Marsh Nutter is one of their specials. Check the top shelf for their daily specials. Get them when you see them, because they are only offered for a short time (sometimes just that day). I am so glad I went last week and got to try the Marsh Nutter; it is by far one of the best cupcakes I have had.

Want something different or a Cup of Joe to go with your cupcake? No problem. They have several different varieties of muffins, scones and cookies. Looking for a Banana Chocolate Chip or a Strawberry Streusel muffin? Or maybe a Lemon Cherry or Mocha Chocolate Chip scone? Maybe you would like a Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake cookie? It all looks amazing. I think you will be happy.

Now onto that Cup of Joe. Their coffee is called Top Hat. It is 100% Organic and Rainforest Alliance-certified. The beans are grown in the highlands in Nicaragua just for their store. They have Dark, Light, and Decaf, or if you'd prefer a specialty drink, they have that too. I am definitely going to get a cup on my next visit!

If your mouth is not watering for a taste of Blue Bird yet, then check out their website (http://bluebirdbakeshop.com/) or stop on in. I am confident that you will not walk out empty handed.

Visit Blue Bird Bake Shop and give yourself, friends, or family a sweet treat! 

(Don't forget to mention Local Girl Eats sent you to try their sweets.)

Cafe 906 - 5 Stars

Looking for a new place to try? Cafe 906 is the place to go! Authentic, charming, and delicious; I have not been disappointed yet.

What to eat, what to try? It is definitely hard to choose once you step in the door! They offer many different choices from crepes, omelettes, croissants, quiches, eclairs to lunch choices like soup, salads, and sandwiches. Want a good cup of Joe to accompany your breakfast or sweet? They have great coffee...or mimosas. 

             Croque Madame                 Eclair with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc

Service is also great. The owners and staff have always been friendly and helpful when it comes to deciding on new things. They have even offered to do Gluten Free choices again, once a month, for people like my mom who have Celiac Disease. 

And best of all, you cannot beat the view! Outside seating offers a great view of Lake Baldwin. When the weather is right, outside is the place to sit!

Cafe 906 is a great place for breakfast, lunch, dessert, or brunch...to stop in alone, pick up to go, or enjoy with friends or family. Located in downtown Baldwin Park, it will quickly become a favorite, just give it a try. Don't forget to mention Local Girl sent you! Bon Appetite!

      Paris Crepe                                          Almond Croissants

For more information or for updates check out their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cafe-906/253770161327543

The Smiling Bison- 5 Stars

The Smiling Bison​ is a great place located in Baldwin Park off Bennett Rd. If you are looking for a good burger, I'd say try here. Their burgers are delicious!

My first visit was a couple months ago, in January. I went with some friends, after a run, to celebrate a birthday. The place was busy and parking was difficult, but to me that is a good thing. Busy means it is a good place. After walking in, I noticed right away I was going to like the place. They had a live Jazz band playing and the ambiance was casual. Definitely a place to go with friends or even on a date.

Bison Burger with fries

The food. I decided since it was my first time, and that they are known for them, I should try a Bison Burger. I was definitely pleased. It is hard for me to find a place that cooks a burger the way I ordered, and they did. The burger was cooked perfectly! The bread, Texas Toast, is a favorite of mine. It makes the burger taste even better. Imagine a group of people who are chatting, having a good time. Then the food comes out, and everyone is quiet. That's how good the burgers are. We all were definitely enjoying them!

Along with the burgers, they have many other options as far as food goes. Don't want a burger, no problem. They also have a roast beef, smoked chicken sausage, or crispy fish roll sandwich. Prefer a salad, pizza, ravioli, ribeye, or a small plate (like meatballs), they have that too. There are many choices when it comes to dinner. Don't forget dessert, they have a few that sound delicious. I am looking forward to trying the Mascarpone Brownie next time I go.

On Sundays they have brunch from 11 am to 3 pm. For brunch they offer anywhere from fish & grits, banana bread french toast, biscuts & gravy, to a breakfast burrito, basic breakfast, or brunch poutine. I have not been for brunch yet, but the menu looks really good.

Drinks? There are many choices of beer and wine to choose from. Happy hour? Every weekday from 5:30-7 pm. Special events/music? They have a calendar on their website: http://thesmilingbison.com/.
Check it out to see what's happening each month.

Great food, good time, & definitely a hidden gem, The Smiling Bison is a place I will visit again! And it should be a place you visit soon and frequently. Let them know Local Girl sent ya and recommends the Bison Burger.

Don't forget to try the pickles! They are so good, I bought a jar to go.

Hotel Angeleno- 5 Stars

Everyone at Hotel Angeleno​ is the best! The moment my family and I drove up, the staff was nothing but extremely helpful and nice!

I stayed at Hotel Angeleno in Los Angeles February 15th through the 17th with my brother, sister in law, and niece. We had just arrived in California earlier that day and had reservations with a different hotel in Venice Beach. When we arrived at the first hotel (we booked it online before our trip), we realized very fast we had been scammed. We left. My brother immediately got online and found Hotel Angeleno and called. We went to check it out. From the outside it looked very nice and like a great place to stay. My brother checked out a room (we were not going to book anywhere anymore without seeing the rooms) and came back down. We all agreed to stay.

When I got out of the car, I was immediately greeted by the Valet/Bellhop guy, Forte. I knew from the greeting and help he offered, we had chosen much better this time. I went and checked in while Forte got the bags out of the car. When I got to the front desk, Day was so awesome! He could tell I had not had a good start to my birthday (the 15th) and told me right away they were going to make it better. While checking in, my brother found a deal online for the hotel and Day gave us the deal without hesitation. I have never had such awesome customer service at a hotel before!

When we all went to our room, we were definitely thrilled to see how clean everything was, even the elevators. We finally all sat down to relax and sighed with relief because it had been a long day.

Later that evening my brother's and my friend's came to celebrate my birthday. We went upstairs to the restaurant/bar, West. It is definitely a nice place! The view is amazing. It was Happy Hour, so we definitely indulged a little. The food was absolutely delicious. The bartender was very nice and thoughtful. He added ginger extract to my ginger ale to help calm my stomach; it was still a little sick from the plane ride and chain of unfortunate events earlier in the day. Later that night when I went to my room I found a birthday gift from Hotel Angeleno in my room. That made me feel so special; they literally made my day! All in all, we had a great night and my birthday was definitely saved.

Hotel Angeleno is pretty much the nicest hotel I have ever stayed at! It is very clean, quiet, and roomy. To top it all off, included with your great night's stay you also get a heated pool, fireplace and lounge chairs to sit around the fire, gym, cafe, a free wine hour daily from 5:30-6:30 pm, and free valet parking. Free parking is hard to find in LA!

I have nothing bad to say about this hotel. Customer service can make or break your experience. I had the best customer service I have ever had, at this hotel. Whenever I travel to LA again, I look forward to staying here!

For more information or to book a room, you can visit their website at: http://www.hotelangeleno.com/. You will not be disappointed! Make sure to say hi to Day and Forte for me!

Here are a couple pictures of my amazing experience:

It is a very beautiful hotel!

 Such a nice, thoughtful surprise!

Breakfast is really good at West too.