BIG NEWS! Tree Kisser is going on the road, to London & Dublin in March!  First I’ll be spending a week in London with Chelsea, one of my favorite people in the world.  We worked on “The Details” together (and another disastrous indie film years before that), and are in the process of creating a script that deals with European misadventures.  Hence, I’m considering it a “research” trip so as not to feel too guilty about leaving all my Californian responsibilities behind.  After London, I’m venturing solo to Dublin- for the entirely cliche purpose of experiencing St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland.  I’ve always been neurotically obsessed with St. Patty’s, and as an Irish girl I’ve (with one glorious exception) always felt slightly let down by American celebrations.  I’m sure I’ll end up spending the day surrounded by drunk American tourists, but hopefully at least the bartenders will be authentically Irish!

Fortunately my trusty vegan guide QuarryGirl has spent a lot of time in both of these magical places (especially London), but I would still love to hear advice/anecdotes from you Irish and British followers (I think there are a few of you!) about where to dine, drink, celebrate, and explore!  In London I’ve heard Manna and Saf are not to be missed, and in Dublin the best I’ve heard is Cornucopia, but more advice would be much much appreciated!  I’ve seen London hailed as the most vegan-friendly city in the world, but it’s hard to imagine anything being able to rival Los Angeles! I entirely hope to see this claim proven true.

I know a few things for sure, one being that I will absolutely have this breathtaking British cocktail (@Saf) in my mouth before the end of my trip:

via QuarryGirl

…and also that I will absolutely be checking out London’s Secret Society of Vegans, which I’ve been hearing about for years.

In conclusion, I cannot contain my excitement enough to even write a logically organized blog post about this- hopefully I’ll eat enough food, take enough photos, and have enough adventures to entertain you for weeks on end upon my return!

(Yes, I’m posting this at a crazy hour because it’s not such a crazy hour across the Atlantic Ocean)

So- Suggestions? Cautionary tales? Offers to let me stay with you in Dublin because I still don’t have a place :)?

Heart of the Ocean - Gaelic Storm

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to everyone!  I wish I could upload my whole St. Patty’s playlist for you, but if you’re looking for some Irish magic, check out everything by Gaelic Storm (especially Drink the Night Away- which was being feisty and wouldn’t upload).  They’re sure to get you in the mood to hunt for four leaf clovers, don some emerald garb, and kiss some Irish people (they’re asking for it, after all)

Alright, we’ve officially passed the two week mark. St. Patrick’s Day is upon us.  In January when my job became nonexistent, I thought, “I shouldn’t admit this to anyone, but I secretly would be okay with still being unemployed by St. Patrick’s Day so I can celebrate from dawn ‘til way after dusk”.  Well, be careful what you wish for because it just might come true.

St. Patty’s happens to be one of my two favorite days of the year (I won’t deny Christmas is better. Of course it is. But this is right behind it).  Last year my cousin was in town, and we celebrated our Irishness by going downtown early in the morning to partake in festivities.  We ended up in a glorious Irish bar, running into old friends, meeting new friends, pretending we know how to do an Irish jig, drinking green beer, taking photos with elderly Irish men decked out like giant leprechauns, etc etc.  It was fabulous.  We came home around 3 pm, napped, then went out for round 2 at night.

Upon commencing my research, I was devastated to discover that the parade is cancelled this year.  I can only assume racism against my freckled people, and I take offense.  However, we are a resilient bunch, and I am fully confident that we can still rock this holiday.  Here’s my plan for the day:

10/11 am- show up to Casey’s Irish Bar & Grille downtown.  Sure, there must be more local options that would suffice, but I don’t want to risk messing with last year’s magic. You walk down the front stairs into an open air patio where Irish music is pleasantly deafening, your feet are soaked in green liquids but you love it, and every patron has that St. Patty’s twinkle in their eye.  Getting there by 11 should hopefully guarantee swift if not immediate entry.

(look how happy I am!)

2/3 pm- probably about time to head back to Westwood to shower and regroup.  And walk the dogs.  And maybe nap.  And wait for my employed friends to get out of work.

After this I’ll have to make the decision between traveling Eastward to Tom Bergin’s or staying on the Westside and perhaps exploring Finn McCool’s in Santa Monica.  To be honest, last year ended at Saddle Ranch- SO not Irish, but still an amazingly good time.  So really, as long as you have the Irish spirit, a good sense of alcohol moderation (you don’t want to fall apart too early in the day), an abundant amount of green clothing, spontaneous fun-seeking friends, and a bit of luck in your step, you’re sure to have a good time.

How about you, Los Angelites- advice/anecdotes/invites?