L.A. Diary, Day 2: Beverly Hills

    An unusually cold and wet day thwarted my plans for a morning of retail therapy along Rodeo Drive. So I pushed up my personal training session at The Bunker (www.beverlyhillsweightlosscenter.com, 310.860.0909) to 10:00am and decided to extend my morning of physical fitness to a grueling two hours. 

   The Bunker is a private, innovative workout studio. Trainer Adam Ernster may be easy on the eyes but he’s relentless when it comes to his tailored workouts and helping his A to D list clients achieve their goals. Adam’s “paparazzi-proof” clandestine studio makes him a favorite for celebs training for intense roles – like Ben Affleck in The Town, Bruce Willis for Die Hard 4, Sylvester Stallone for Rambo 4. I admit that I was there for a private vanity party – to treat myself to the gospel of a true fitness guru and learn a fabulous workout routine to fit my crazy travel schedule. Adam left me delightfully crippled from our in-house session and all the wiser for keeping the body beautiful with the most random of objects in hotel rooms around the world!

   The rain had not stopped by early afternoon so I ventured to the Spa Montage (www.spamontage.com, 310.860.7840) to relax the muscles I had so recently abused. I was scheduled for the signature “Surrender Experience,” which basically means that a highly trained “Surrender Therapist” creates a bespoke treatment based on personal preferences. I arrived an hour early to have the full spa experience and to relax in the co-ed mineral pool and enjoy a bit of time in the steam room. I wanted to treat myself to a deep tissue; and no doubt, my therapist, Rachel, stimulated the deepest of deep tissue. Her hands were absolute magic. I’m talking possibly the best massage I’ve ever had in my travel-writing career. You bet I’ve already booked a second treatment for later in the week …

   The sun peeked out by early evening, so I made my way back to Rodeo drive for my appointment at the House of Bijan (www.bijan.com, 310.273.644). On a street that defines exclusivity, Bijan stands out as ultra-exclusive. This internationally recognized, by-appointment-only store offers the latest menswear designs for the most discerning shoppers. The color coordinated upstairs private collection is displayed like a masterpiece of contemporary art – even the fresh flowers of these hyper-organized thematic closets match the intended color palette. Throughout his store and window displays, Mr. Bijan pays homage to the myriad countries and world leaders who have shopped at the House of Bijan. I was so caught up in the haute couture and perfume-bottle bling that I lost complete track of time during my designated hour. But alas nightfall was approaching and I was eager to consume the calories I had so desperately burned earlier in the day. Next stop: Dinner at The Belvedere at The Peninsula Hotel.

 

 

 

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The Private Collection at House of Bijan: a vignette in green…

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… and purple …

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… and classic Bijan Yellow (not an actual Pantone color—yet—but it is the color of his Bentley, Rolls and Bugatti Veyron)

 

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