aesthetic - LIT TIME TRAVEL

Posted on April 2, 2023January 24, 2024 by The Time Traveler — 2 Comments

Gray Loft Gallery: An Art Exhibit to Remember

Shades of Gray at the Gray Loft Gallery

This January, I had an opportunity to attend an art exhibit called Shades of Gray. No, it has nothing to do with the infamous novel by E.L. James. Rather, it was the “10th Anniversary Photography Exhibit” held at the Gray Loft Gallery in Oakland, CA from December 10, 2022 to January 21, 2023. Truth be told, I had never been to an art exhibit before, so I was extremely excited to attend the group photo exhibit, to say the least!

There was a banner outside the building to help first time visitors like myself find the entrance.

The Gray Loft Gallery was located inside a tall, multi-story building. You had to take several flights of stairs to get to the actual gallery with all the artworks.

As you can see in this photo, there were several artworks visitors could look at on their way upstairs. But since they weren’t part of the actual exhibit, I won’t show them in detail.

As I made my way upstairs, I came face to face with a lady and her adorable little dog that hopped down besides her.

I presumed her to be a family member or friend of one of the artists, and fawned over her dog as I passed by. To my surprise, the lady smiled and pointed out that I would soon be seeing her dog in the exhibit. I didn’t really know what she meant at the time, so I just smiled back and moved along. Boy, was I in for a pleasant surprise!

“Room 32”

Once I reached the floor where the exhibit was taking place (which, I believe was the third floor), I was met with a small table with flyers displayed:

There were name cards and such of the artists whose works were being displayed. Taking a few with me, I stepped inside Room 32 and officially began my Shades of Gray experience.

The gallery was basically a large room with dividers with artworks hung here and there on the walls.

The photographs were mostly in shades of gray, with a few exceptions. But as its name suggested, the exhibit was mostly a collage of black, white and gray.

Pleasant Surprises

Amidst the artworks and people casually conversing amongst themselves, there was a station serving wine and treats with these pretty light decorations.

Visitors had the chance to support the gallery by tipping cash in this glass jar (shown above) or they could purchase the actual artworks displayed. If I recall correctly, most of the prices I saw were in the hundreds. I did see that some works had been claimed, as they had these red circle stickers below them.

The red stickers below the framed works meant that the artworks had been purchased.

As I was cruising around the room with my drink in hand, I almost froze because I came face to face with the aforementioned dog. There it was, staring me in the eye!

*Untitled #5* by Ellen Shershow. To see more of this artist’s works, visit the official website HERE or the Instagram account HERE.

It was such a pleasant surprise to see the dog again! 😂 But I think the dog was cuter in person, hopping down the stairs next to its owner. And for some reason, it looks angry in the photograph. Well, anyways, I think I appreciated the artwork so much more after having actually met the dog beforehand.

(Some of) My Favorites

I’m not exaggerating one bit when I say that I thoroughly enjoyed viewing all the artworks at the exhibit. These photographs were not just simple photos; they were captivating images that all spoke different messages through objects and figures captured. Looking back, it’s fascinating how moving each of the still images were! But these are some of the ones that I remember vividly:

1. Rub my eyes 8 2022 by Francis Baker

This work was one of the few that were not completely in black and white. Yet, it fit the theme and the exhibit so well. For more works created by the artist behind this dreamy palette, visit the official website at francisbaker.com or on Instagram HERE.

**2. Gorongosa Solitude by Mark Overgaard**

This pigment inkjet print reminiscent of a page from The National Geographic caught my attention for its simplicity and beauty. But now, after discovering that “Gorongosa” means “place of danger” in the indigenous Mwani language and learning about the history of the land in Mozambique, I appreciate this work much more than meets the eye.

To learn more about the artist behind the work, visit his official website HERE and check out his “About the Artist” page. His story is fascinating as well.

**3. Three Fish by Susan West**

I remember looking at this work and thinking, “Shouldn’t the title be ‘Four Fish’?” Whether there are 3 fish, 3.5 fish or 4 fish (or 7 if counting the shadows), this work by Susan West is fun to look at, even now.

To view more work, visit the artist’s official website at: susanwestphotography.com.

**4. Dreams of Old Birches by Anne Rabe**

Another artwork that had palettes other than shades of gray, Dreams of Old Birches was memorable in that it incorporated a piece of an actual tree. And the title of the work makes you wonder what those dreams were. For more work by Anne Rabe, visit her official website www.amr-photography.com and Instagram account HERE.

5. Desert Spirit by Melina Meza

I actually had the chance to eavesdrop on what the artist was saying about this work. If I remember correctly, she said that the original colors of Desert Spirit was a conglomerate of colors found in the desert. And I actually found Desert Spirit in its colorful original HERE! Check out more of the yoga instructor/writer/teacher/photographer’s works on the official website: www.melinameza.com/fineartphotography.

**6. Armenia by Candice Jacobus**

This work I specifically remember because of the majestically eerie landscape accompanied by a speck of green. Back when I was at the exhibit, I assumed that it was taken in some magical place in Armenia. Upon research, I did found out that, indeed, the photograph is of basalt rock formations called the “Symphony of the Stones” and “Basalt Organ” in Garni Gorge, Armenia.

More works by Candice Jacobus can be found on the artist’s website at www.candicejacobusphotography.com and Instagram account HERE.

**7. The beginning of hope/The hope of beginning by J.M. Golding**

Not only was I blown away by the beauty of this photograph (I mean, a lake/pond of water touching the evening sky? It doesn’t get any more romantic or aesthetic than that!), but also I was taken aback by just how beautiful the title was. For more works by J.M. Golding, visit the official website at www.jmgolding.com.

**8. Butterflies of My Memory by Sonia Melnikova-Raich**

Butterflies of My Memory made an impression on me for a number of reasons. 1) As someone who values history and cherishes memories, I couldn’t help falling in love with the title and its dreamlike imagery. 2) The structure behind the butterfly silhouettes somehow reminded me of the Bay. As a traveler dwelling in the area, this work holds much meaning to me.

But I just found out that this photograph was taken in Mexico City during the artist’s visit to La Casa Azul where Frida Kahlo had lived in! It’s incredible how one can take any imagery and fit it to one’s own perspective and experiences regardless of what it actually portrays.

To learn more about the artwork, visit Sonia Melnikova-Raich’s website HERE or Instagram account at www.instagram.com/soniamelnikovaraich.

**9. Adriatic Tempest IV by Laurel Anderson Malinovsky**

Lastly but certainly not least, is the tempestuous photograph by the artist Laurel Anderson Malinovsky. I got to listen to the artist talk about her work, and I was told that she had taken this photograph while visiting Eastern Europe. She explained that these dark clouds suddenly filled the sky above her and she had never seen anything quite like this before:

The reflection of the glass doesn’t do the photograph justice. When you look at it in person, the contrast of the colors are quite striking. The shades of gray displayed in the clouds, to me, feel like an allegory for a turmoil of human emotions.

The artist’s photo card that I picked up on my way inside Room 32.

To look at more of the artist’s works, visit her official website at www.cipherartanddesign.com.

Conclusion

Though I was excited even before the event, I did not expect to have this much fun at the exhibit. And I think overall the Gray Loft Gallery did a great job providing a space for its artists to showcase their works. I especially appreciated the see-through curtains and this *mobile installation, which I believe was not an artwork but a decoration. It added a nice touch to the event:

*4/3/2023 Update: According to Gray Loft Gallery’s old Instagram post, this mobile was actually a mixed media photo based work by **Mary Curtis Ratcliff**! For more stunning works by the artist, visit www.marycurtisratcliff.com.

And the view out the gallery was phenomenal at sunset! To look out the window to find these splash of vibrant colors was a pleasant, artistic contrast to the shades of gray displayed inside.

All in all, it was a highly enjoyable experience. I wish they had held the exhibit longer than the 1 month and 11 days they held it for… I will have to visit the Gray Loft Gallery again for another one of its exhibits!

📝 Want to read more about the Shades of Gray exhibit? Visit Malcolm Ryder’s review of the event at www.malcolmryder.com/post/review-photography-at-gray-loft-gallery-dec-2022.

🎨 HERE is the link to Gray Loft Gallery’s official website! Check out their “Upcoming Events” for art shows you can visit when you’re in the area.

Posted on September 13, 2022January 24, 2024 by The Time Traveler — Leave a comment

Lightlark Overlays (Official Preorder Gift) + Final Commentary

It’s finally here! I received my preorder gift from Abrams Books: the six custom page overlays of characters from Alex Aster’s Lightlark:

The six overlays! Illustrated by the talented @kalisamiii

The overlays came with this card with the following message from the author:

Which has illustrations of the six rulers on the back, along with the prophecy from Lightlark:

Lightlark Overlays

I had to wait a few more weeks after receiving the book on August 24th for these overlays. Though I wished it had shipped with my preordered book, now I’m just happy to have gotten them! Here they are placed inside Lightlark. Aren’t they just stunning?

🥀 Isla Crown, the main protagonist of *Lightlark*.
Ruler of Wildling.

🌌 Grimshaw, aka ruler of Nightshade.
1 of the 2 love interests of Isla Crown.

☀ King Oro aka the Sunling ruler who is also the King of Lightlark. The other love interest of Isla Crown.

🌙 Cleo, the ruler of Moonling, who hates Isla Crown.

🌟 Celeste, ruler of Starlings and Isla’s best friend.

Kalisami did such a great job depicting each of the Lightlark rulers! They look just as they’re supposed to look, based on the descriptions from the book. And I love how she added in the different elements behind each ruler to show what powers they have.

Final Comments on Alex Aster’s Lightlark

As someone who actually preordered Lightlark and read it, I can say that I enjoyed reading the book. Though it wasn’t the best YA fantasy I’ve ever read or the best piece of fiction, I liked reading about the different realms, albeit some confusing parts that I still don’t fully get.

I especially enjoyed reading the plot twist. I knew something was coming but I certainly did not expect it to have unfolded the way it did. The last 100 pages or so were stunning!

However, I do think that the book was marketed with misleading information. Though it didn’t affect me much as I didn’t buy the book hoping it to be like The Hunger Games or A Court of Thorns and Roses, I can see why many people were/are upset. As someone who followed Alex Aster on Instagram for months, I did notice that some of the parts or quotes that were advertised for Lightlark weren’t in the novel.

Aside from the false advertisement and some editorial mistakes, Lightlark can be a great introductory novel for readers who haven’t read YA fantasy. Something readers can read before jumping into the world of YA fantasy.

Anyways, I’m happy to have read it, to have attended the wonderful Moonling event in San Francisco and to have these overlays to keep:

What are your thoughts on Lightlark?

P.S. To read about the Moonling event I attended in San Francisco, click HERE.

P.P.S. For the other preorder gift from Abrams Books (i.e. the sneak peek), check out the post HERE.

Posted on August 4, 2022January 24, 2024 by The Time Traveler — Leave a comment

MY Coffee Roastery: A Whimsical Cottage with Chill Vibes

Cute Café in Berkeley, CA

If you search “cute cafes to visit in Berkeley” in Google, chances are “MY Coffee Roastery” will pop up. And being the ever-tireless fan of cute cafes, I set my heart on visiting MY Coffee Roastery a few weeks ago. Sure enough when I got there, the café was a whimsical cottage sitting at the intersection of Addison St and Martin Luther King Jr. Way:

The café from across the street. It’s super close to Trader Joe’s on University Ave.

But when I got closer…

MY Coffee Roastery is CLOSED on Mondays and Tuesdays! I made the mistake of visiting on a Tuesday… Make sure you visit on any days EXCEPT Monday/Tuesday, from Wednesday to Sunday. And beware, this cute cottage opens and closes early as you can see from the photo below 👇:

Be aware of their business days & hours!

✨Straight Out of a Fairytale✨

Now being aware of the cafe’s hours, I successfully entered the cottage on a Thursday. It was like entering a whimsical cottage straight from a fairytale! The cafe reminded me of the little cottage in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. With its pretty iron fence, pots of plants and succulents, red flowers, cute bench cushions, parasols, blue and white mosaic tables and stony walls, MY Coffee Roastery was as lovely and unique as it could be. I mean, there were literally butterflies flying about in the outdoor seating area!

The entrance. Love the red bench and flowers! 🌹

Once I entered, I was immediately at the counter, where baked goods and coffee beans were displayed. I wanted to try their waffle, but as they had ran out of them, I ordered their almond croissant instead with a cup of iced Americano.

I think the cafe is owned and managed by a Chinese lady and her family – I’m not sure. But I have a hunch that she is the one behind the lovely cottage and its design. Even the interior is chic, with black chandeliers and stoned walls with wide windows that are left open.

The Menu

My drink and food came out quickly, as I wasn’t done marveling at the chic interior when they had finished warming up the croissant. Sitting outside in the patio area, I took a bite of my almond croissant and I must say, I like it better than other almond croissants I’ve had!

The delicious almond croissant & Americano. 🥐☕💕

It had sweet stuff inside – I don’t know what it’s called. Whatever it is, it made the croissant more flavorful and went perfectly with the iced Americano.

I personally wished there were more menu options, like sandwiches to eat for brunch or lunch, but the café is still great as is. I think their focus is on coffee, not so much the food.

Conclusion

In conclusion, MY Coffee Roastery is one of those chill cafes where you can get work done. They offer free wifi that works – they have the wifi password posted on the walls inside the cottage.

The inside seating area had the wifi banner with the password (see above). There was another wifi banner facing the front counter.

And with sufficient outdoor seating, it felt safe to eat and work there amidst the pandemic. Though cars drive by and many people frequent the cafe, it wasn’t distracting at all.

And the parasols create just the right amount of shade! ⛱

With friendly staff, good food and drinks along with aesthetic architecture and natural decor, MY Coffee Roastery is a cafe for students, professionals, and writers alike. It’s for anyone who appreciates uniquely chic spaces with chill vibes!

I can’t wait to go back to try their waffle. (And their latte, too!) 😊

P.S. To learn more about MY Coffee Roastery, visit their official website HERE. Or their IG account HERE.

P.P.S. And here are more aesthetic shots of the café:

P.P.P.S. 8/18/2022 Update: I revisited to try their waffle! But the waffles aren’t made at the cafe; they are premade waffles packed in wrapper that are unwrapped and placed on the display. Though it tasted alright, I wouldn’t deliberately come here to eat it again. Regardless, the whimsical cafe always has GREAT vibes✨ and good coffee.

Posted on June 8, 2022July 20, 2022 by The Time Traveler — Leave a comment

Ahoy, Scratch-Made Treats! Blackmarket Bakery 🏴‍☠️

Nestled in an eco-friendly retail campus surrounded by the 73, 55 and 405 highways is a glass building with a logo reminiscent of the pirate flag. It’s none other than Blackmarket Bakery!

Allow me to introduce you to the unique bakery serving scratch-made treats, fresh bread and savory sandwiches.

The CAMP at Costa Mesa

Blackmarket Bakery is a small, locally-owned business located within the CAMP, a green, eco-friendly shopping center in Costa Mesa, CA. It’s located near South Coast Plaza, LAB Anti-Mall, Mitsuwa Marketplace, and John Wayne Airport.

It really looks and feels like a camp in the middle of the city, with lots of wild plants, old trailers and camp-related decorations scattered about:

With around 25 stores that focus on healthy, active lifestyles, the shopping center hosts a bunch of events designed to bring awareness to the environment and the local community. (Plus arts & craft classes, free movie showings and drive-in concerts!) *For a full list of shops and services, visit the CAMP’s website HERE. For their calendar of events, HERE.

Now, back to Blackmarket. The bakery sits at the tip of the CAMP, right in front of the main parking lot that’s painted with feel-good messages in white:

I highly recommend choosing and parking at your favorite message! 😁

The Vibe

The first time I visited, I was taken aback by the exterior. From the outside, it didn’t look anything like a bakery with its modern glass windows and wild plants growing outside. I mean, I couldn’t see a single trace of baked goods. But the logo of a cake shaped like a skull, words “Bakery” pasted here and there plus these UFO-shaped cakes let me know that I had come to the right place.

It looks nothing like a bakery, with the only hint being the logo with the
Jolly Roger cake. ☠

Though it didn’t look at all like a bakery, it was plenty chic with its unique logo and vinyl stickers. As I entered, I expected the interior to be more “normal,” with clean walls in warm colors and baked goods neatly displayed in glass countertops like other bakeries.

But the interior was as eccentric and chic as the exterior:

The bakery was like an industrial factory with metallic lights hanging from above. I honestly didn’t know where to look with all these cool merchandise and aesthetic chocolate bars lying about. They had these cool periodic table lunch boxes, cookies shaped like dragonflies, metallic trailer displays and treats that all look good.

Menu & More

After being overwhelmed by all the products and standing dumbfounded for about a minute, I was able to make my way towards the counter to order. As I stood at the very end of the line, I got to watch bakers kneading the dough by hand:

Bakers kneading behind rows of freshly made breads.

When I moved a few inches closer to the cashier, I saw this huge menu board:

Visit https://www.blackmarketbakery.com/menus/ to view the official menu online.

Having witnessed all the tasty-looking cookies and bread at the entrance, I had confidence in all the menu items. In fact, I wanted to try everything on the menu plus all the treats displayed. But as I physically and financially couldn’t afford to do so, I narrowed down my choice to the Hot Potato Egg Sandwich, i.e. Hot Potato “Eggywich,” as called by the crew.

Along with the Berry Basque Tart and latte.

The Food

By the time I received my orders, I was too hungry to remember about blogging it. So… I devoured the Hot Potato Eggywich without taking any photos of it! 😫 But I remember and can say with confidence that it was good. The over easy eggs, bacon, and hash brown patty made it a hearty meal – an excellent breakfast. The pickled onions and garlic aioli sauce made it very savory.

Despite my overall satisfaction, I personally found the Eggywich to be a bit overwhelming. It was too much to eat the aforementioned ingredients with its butter croissant bread. I didn’t realize while I was eating it, but once I finished, I really was feeling overwhelmed.

The Berry Basque Tart was VERY good. It had a crumbly tart crust with fresh raspberries, thin almond slices, and lemony cream with powered sugar sprinkled on top. And the latte was smooth, with a good amount of foam. Both the tart and the latte were excellent. HOWEVER, I wouldn’t drive all the way to Costa Mesa just to have these again – especially with the insane gas prices these days. I would if I happened to be in the area and wanted some good tart and latte.

A few weeks later, I had another chance to visit Costa Mesa and so I went again to Blackmarket Bakery. This time, I ordered the Fresh Prince Eggywich. I liked it better than the Hot Potato Eggywich:

+ Update 6/18/22: I visited the bakery yet AGAIN and this time I got the Plain Jane. It wasn’t overwhelming with just cheddar cheese, eggs and brioche bun. It tasted great with fresh orange juice:

Delicious! I liked it better than the other eggywiches I tried.

A Bakery Worth Visiting

Blackmarket Bakery is definitely worth visiting – at the very least once. They’ve got good food and superb treats – made fresh every day. And equally importantly, they’ve got unique, clever decorations that you won’t be able to find anywhere else, like the metallic UFO cakes, chess boards painted on tables, and whisks hanging from above.

It’s a must-see bakery for photographers, bloggers and tourists alike who appreciate industrial chic decor with creative, artistic culinary touches.

More About Blackmarket Bakery

🏴‍☠️Fun Fact #1: The unique Blackmarket Bakery in Costa Mesa was founded back in 2012 by Rachel Klemek, a UCI alumni. Her first Blackmarket Bakery opened even further back in 2004 in the city of Irvine (now closed).

🏴‍☠️Fun Fact #2: Chef Rachel Klemek is a champion of the Food Network show Chopped! Watch her slay in the “Sweets Showdown: Cake!” episode (Season 43, Episode 10) on Food Network. Watch the full episode at: https://watch.foodnetwork.com/video/chopped-volume-3-food-network-atve-us/sweets-showdown-cake

🏴‍☠️Fun Fact #3: According to the founder herself, the name “Blackmarket” comes from the fact that baking fundamentals like butter, flour, sugar and eggs were only available via black markets during World War II. She says in an interview with OC Weekly that the name for the bakery was developed during the Atkins diet craze in the early 2000s when baked goods seemed culturally outlawed (read the full interview HERE).

What brilliant way to incorporate history to one’s bakery! 🤩

🏴‍☠️Fun Fact #4: There are currently 2 Blackmarket Bakeries: one in Costa Mesa and one in San Diego (with another San Diego store coming soon). They offer online ordering, gift cards, and loyalty cards that you can use to get free coffee:

The chic red loyalty card from Blackmarket Bakery.

Visit these links to learn more about Blackmarket Bakery!

🍪Get to know Blackmarket Bakery – from CAMP’s website

🍞Interview with Chef Rachel Klemek – from Great Taste Magazine

🍰Podcast Interview with Chef Klemek – from UCI School of Social Sciences

🎂Interview from Chef’s Insight – featuring Chef Klemek’s chocolate caramel tart + marshmallows

P.S. Visit their official Instagram Page HERE for seriously aesthetic cookies & more!

Posted on May 7, 2022July 5, 2025 by The Time Traveler — Leave a comment

Rendez Vous Cafe in Corona Del Mar: Best Beignets, Worst Latte 🥐

If someone had asked me where my favorite café was just three months ago, I would have readily answered: Rendez Vous French Bakery & Cafe in Corona Del Mar, CA! But now I can’t. Because despite their still delicious beignets and food, it saddens me to say that I’ve tasted one of the worst lattes there.

So let’s talk about Rendez Vous Cafe.

Heavenly Beginning

Rendez Vous French Bakery and Cafe is an “authentic artisan French bakery” and café where “everything is made from scratch” with the best ingredients. They serve breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner and offer catering.

I chanced upon this café when I was driving by Corona Del Mar one day. It has an eye-catching aesthetic exterior, with a blue and white sign and outdoor seating area adorned with garlands of pink florals.

When you walk inside, you come face to face with lovely Parisian decorations, including this beautiful wall of pink, white, red, and purple roses and a chic white cart displaying macarons and caneles:

Quelles jolies roses! 🌹🌹🌹 *Click HERE for another aesthetic café that abounds with roses.

Not to mention the tempting pastries and bread surrounding you when you stand at the cashier to order!

The first time I visited with my family, I ordered a French toast, veggie panini, cream filled beignets, and two cups of latte. And we remember it like it was yesterday: it was HEAVENLY. Everything tasted great – not too sweet, not too salty. Fluffy French toast with fresh fruits, flavorful panini packed with cooked vegetables and side salad, doughnut-like beignets packed with rich cream, and foamy, rich lattes.

I wish we had taken photos that day, but we were too busy devouring the food. Click HERE to see the official photos of their French toast and HERE for their cream beignets.

*Visit their IG page for more mouthwatering photos of their menu items💕💕

The heavenly taste continued every week we visited the café, and for the past few months, visiting Rendez Vous was our family’s little ritual. We would order, take the food and lattes, and watch the beautiful shores of Corona Del Mar:

Sunny or cloudy, the coast of CdM is always a delightful sight to behold!

The Ever-Changing Quality

But sometime around late March, things began to change. We were surprised to find our beloved Rendez Vous French toast, which had been fluffy and yellow, coming out too burnt to eat. Our lattes had become foamless and tasteless.

But we loved the cafe so much that we went back week after week, in hopes of tasting the gastronomical heaven we had experienced in the beginning. But the French toast always came out with black bits on the bottom, some weeks worse than others, while our lattes tasted different every week. *Sometimes, it would be like drinking hot water and espresso separately. Other times, it was like drinking lukewarm milk and espresso. Our lattes always came out with barely any foam, and the milk and espresso that should blend together came out tasting like they hadn’t been mixed.

*5/29 Update: Delicious foamy lattes are back!

And at times we would come home with the cream beignets only to discover that we received plain ones. 🙁

After weeks of giving the French toast and lattes multiple second chances, we gave up on our favorite items. So we had no choice but to find quality lattes elsewhere, which we did at Rose Bakery Café a few blocks away.

Rose Bakery Cafe’s ever delicious latte with foam. The great thing about them is that they are ALWAYS good, week after week.
Review of the café is coming soon!

Food’s Still Great Though 👍

But I’m happy to share that they always have great beignets and paninis.

Their chicken panini is delicious! (Comes with side of salad or fries. Their salad is always fresh, too)

The best beignets I’ve ever tasted!
The bread and the pastry cream feel thick & taste real – they’re not some cheaply made pastry.

And croque madame!

I’ve also tasted some of their pastries, including the fruit tart and pear almond tart. And they’re as good as they look! 👇😉👍

And the café is as chic as ever, with pink roses and decorations reminiscent of Paris itself. They’ve got great food and lovely, friendly employees. I recommend Rendez Vous Café to anyone visiting Corona Del Mar, CA but just be aware of their French toast and latte.

⚠ The French toast might come out very burnt on the bottom, and the latte might come out tasteless & foamless. Hopefully they go back to tasting phenomenal!

To wrap up, here are more photos of the chic interior & exterior:

Here’s the exact location:

P.S. To visit the cafe’s official website, click HERE. Like their motto, they really do have real food and real people! 😉

P.P.S. During Christmas, this pretty French café becomes even more aesthetic with a pink Christmas tree!

Pink boxes, ornaments, and roses galore!

P.P.P.S. Update 5/24: I visited again and ordered a panini with cream beignets for take out. The panini was delicious as always, but I was given plain beignets again… 😔

Posted on January 24, 2022July 20, 2022 by The Time Traveler — Leave a comment

The Other Cafe Lola: The Henderson Location

2021 came to an end a few weeks ago. Yet, there is still no sign of the pandemic coming to an end. Not even close. The pandemic, as everyone knows, has been terrible, affecting everyone across the globe. It has taken the lives of countless, disrupted the hopes of many. I dreamed of traveling after graduation, but such dream has been postponed indefinitely. Who knows when we will get to travel freely again? Without the fear of the virus? Until then, I plan to travel domestically, supporting small businesses and appreciating places within the states. And without further self-reflection, I reintroduce you to Cafe Lola, one of the most aesthetic cafes I’ve ever visited in the West – but this time, it’s the Henderson location!

*To check out my post on the Summerlin location (near Red Rock Canyon), click HERE.

Cafe Lola in Henderson, Nevada

The Cafe Lola I visited this time was located in Henderson, Nevada. To be honest, I’ve never heard of the city until now. But after a quick search, I was able to discover that it is located just 16 miles from Las Vegas. (I was able to see Vegas from Henderson on my way.)

Apparently, it was voted (back in 2018) as one of the top 50 Best Places to Live in America by Money Magazine and ranked by Forbes as the second safest city in the U.S. It was also named the Greenest City in Nevada. And here’s an interesting fact: Steve Aoki lives in Henderson, Nevada! 😎 For more info on the city, check out this blog post: https://www.retirebetternow.com/blog/living-in-henderson-nv/.

Henderson’s got a neat website, too! Click HERE.

It did appear to be a clean suburban city, with nice new buildings and homes. Cafe Lola was located in a neat plaza by a big hospital:

On the outside, the cafe looks neatly plain. But once you open the door and step inside, it’s a whole different world of florals and aesthetics:

The Interior

I happened to have visited the café in December, so it was extra pretty with a giant Christmas tree with sparkly pink ornaments and even a pink nutcracker. But I believe the beautiful crystal chandeliers, pink telephone booth, golden rose decals on inlaid white walls, and other aesthetic decorations all remain the same in the other months as well.

The Food

Although the main purpose of my visit was for the aesthetics, I couldn’t just take photos without ordering anything. So I ordered a latte and waffle to eat at one of the cute tables while snapping as many photos as I could.

The employee brought out my latte first, and I was surprised to find this placed on my table:

Take a closer look:

The letters below the smiling dog/cat reads “Merry X-mas.”

Isn’t it the cutest little latte foam? 😍

The food was exceptionally aesthetic as well, as you can see from the photo below:

Waffle with strawberries, strawberry cream, and strawberry jam.

Now, the fork and knife were kind of dirty – I couldn’t get whatever was stuck on them off with the napkin… But the food was delicious! Not the most delicious latte of waffles I’ve ever had, but nonetheless good.

Conclusion

Cafe Lola in Henderson, Nevada is a fun place to check out if you’re near Las Vegas and if you’re into pretty cafes. It also seems like a great place to hold birthday parties and meet your friends if you live nearby.

It’s a delightfully flowery café with rosy walls, pink telephone booth, and a bicycle to remind you of Paris and London at the same time. And despite some unsanitary utensils, you can enjoy a good drink and some good food all the while surrounded by pink roses.

🌺🌹🌺🌹🌺

And extra-lovely around Christmas time! 😉

Posted on November 21, 2021July 4, 2025 by The Time Traveler — 2 Comments

“Not Your Grandma’s Coffee Shop”: The One and Only, Coffee Dose ☕

Ever in search of aesthetic cafes, I came across an interesting coffee shop this month. It’s called, “Coffee Dose.”

Nestled between office buildings in Irvine (also located in LA and Costa Mesa), Coffee Dose is certainly “not your grandma’s coffee shop.”

Snapshot of their home page: https://www.coffeedose.cafe/.

They have coffee cups with words “Fuck Mornings,” “Anti-Bitch Club,” “Anti-Bitch Serum.” and a banner that says “No Karen, You Can’t Talk to the Manager.” With their pretty pink aesthetics and eye-catching slogans, Coffee Dose is a unique place to check out if you like their “cheeky” merchandise, “vegan + keto-friendly treats,” and all things aesthetically pink.

Coffee Dose (Irvine) one cloudy morning.

Some Basic Info:

Coffee Dose was founded by the couple – Jeni and Oscar Castro. They kind of remind one of the wife-husband team that founded Honey & Butter Macarons, as they’ve also started their shop in Costa Mesa. (Check out my post on Honey & Butter Macarons HERE.)

And from the fact that the shop now has three locations (from just one in Costa Mesa), their business seems to be a success. It’s not surprising – their stylish merchandise and cheeky slogans are bound to be popular, especially amongst young women who appreciate good coffee and aesthetically pleasing goods. It really is no wonder that Coffee Dose has made their marks at their Costa Mesa, Los Angeles, and Irvine locations:

Images of Coffee Dose in Costa Mesa, Los Angeles, and Irvine (from left to right) from coffeedose.cafe.

Coffee Dose in Irvine, CA

The shop I’ve visited is the one in Irvine. It’s located in the middle of a business park.

It’s literally placed right between two office buildings:

And so, on my two visits to Coffee Dose Irvine, there was always a group of customers. They were most likely a mix of office workers, influencers, and customers who so appreciated Coffee Dose’s unique menu and aesthetics that they drove all the way to the office park for them.

Once you get close to the pink container box, you’ll be able to see the menu and the cute merchandise they have out in front of the cashier.

This is where you order, buy merchandise, and receive your drinks. (Plus where the food menu is.)

The other end of the pink container where you get your food items. Plus where the menu for the drinks are. (On the right)

Oh, and they always have music playing out loud:

From my experience (which amounts to only a few visits), I found the lattes to be better than any other drinks. The cold brew was really strong and not to my taste.

But the latte? It was delicious! 😋

This is the menu they have out in the Irvine shop:

To check out the menu for the LA/Costa Mesa locations, check out their webpage here: https://www.coffeedose.cafe/la-cm-menu.

The Highlight: The Food

Now, this shop is a coffee shop, and I do think they have good lattes. But what I consider their best is the food.

I’ve tried a few items on their menu, including their cookie, banana bread, lemon bread from their bakery items, “The OC OG,” “Foxy Loxy,” “Jen & Berry’s,” “The Goat,” and “The Gentle Monster.” Wow. Now that I list them, I actually tried quite a number of their food items!

The Foxy Loxy (and the ever-strong cold brew that I couldn’t finish).

Anyways, they were all delicious, with top-quality ingredients. But my favorite of all has to be “The Goat.” 🐐🧀

“The Goat” is a toast with herbed goat cheese, figs, candied walnuts, saba and microgreens. And it’s EPIC.

I tried this only because I saw on Coffee Dose’s Instagram that “The Goat” will be available only until November. And I thought – why not give it a go before I can no longer try it?

It was such a good decision… Because it was the most delicious toast I’ve ever tasted! And the combination of goat cheese and figs along with the candied walnuts and other ingredients is genius; it’s an out-of-this-world tasting experience that belongs uniquely to Coffee Dose.

It was so good that I had to to-go another one before leaving.

Drawbacks

The only drawbacks of Coffee Dose (I speak only of the Irvine location) would be that it isn’t cheap. It’s definitely on the pricier side, as “The Goat” costs about as much as two cheeseburgers at In-N-Out.

And another drawback is that they don’t share your Instagram stories that you @ them at, as I’ve tried multiple times. I think they only share if you have enough followers to promote their brand. 😔

*Fun fact: There are Coffee Dose stickers you can use in Instagram to create your stories.

Regardless –

Visiting Coffee Dose Irvine was a fun experience. With the aesthetic surroundings and the unique, DELICIOUS food, I highly recommend visiting there at least once!

P.S. If you have any canine companions, you’ll definitely want to check this place out. The shop is dog-friendly with even “puppy cracks” for your pups!

Check out their website and Instagram for more. 😉

Corgi wearing sunglasses and scarf with "so fucking zen" Coffee Dose cup. — Photo from https://www.instagram.com/coffeedosecafe/

Dachshund licking the puppy crack cup at Dose in the Box by Coffee Dose. — Photo from https://www.instagram.com/coffeedosecafe/

Update #1: Look at their pretty holiday decorations! 🎅🎄❄

Christmas is coming… and Dose in the Box is ready!

Update #2: There’s a Coffee Dose app to order ahead, keep track of rewards, get VIP updates and more!

Posted on October 18, 2021July 4, 2025 by The Time Traveler — Leave a comment

Honey & Butter Macarons: Where Macarons Are Pieces of Art

A Special Occasion

Last Saturday on October 16th, Honey & Butter released macarons in collaboration with LINE FRIENDS (characters popular in Asia). According to their website, they will continue to release these special macarons for two more dates, on October 23rd & 30th. As I expected there to be much competition, I set out at 9AM, an hour before the store opened.

Honey & Butter Macarons is located in the city of Irvine, in a shopping center called Irvine Spectrum Center. This center deserves a post of its own, with its unique architecture and a plethora of good shops. 👍

As the center itself also opens everyday at 10AM, there was nobody there when I arrived.

Usually, there is always a bustling crowd at the shopping mall.
But not at 9AM in the morning!

Or so I thought.

Once I walked in deeper inside, I saw some residents living around the Spectrum Center walking their dogs and meeting their friends. But still, these were people who lived in the area; they weren’t headed towards the macaron shop. So I quelled my concerns and walked on to Honey & Butter.

A rare sight to behold at Irvine Spectrum Center.

And then I saw:

It was only 9:30 AM, and yet, there was a line already!

I thought I’d be the first or at least the third person in line for Honey & Butter Macaron’s exquisite macarons. But in reality, I turned out to be the 30th! 😳

Though I was disappointed to join the long line, I was still one of the first 100 customers who would get free stickers of the Honey & Butter Macarons X LINE FRIENDS collaboration. Hence, I was content to wait behind 29 fellow zealots of cute & aesthetic macarons.

The Wait

I waited for about an hour before it was my turn to order. While waiting, there were many passersby wondering at the long line so early in the morning. They stared and muttered while Honey & Butter Macarons employees took promotional pictures and videos of eager customers like me. It was tiring to wait, but all the hype and anticipation was fun to witness, as well as the satisfied customers coming out of the store with bagfuls of macarons.

*Plus, a Honey & Butter associate handed out flavor guides & wristbands to everyone waiting in line. The wristband system is their new way of preventing unfair purchases of creature (special character) macarons, which are limited in quantity.

*If you plan on visiting Honey & Butter Macarons to purchase creature macarons, check out their wristband policy HERE!

Finally!!!

When I finally got close enough to the store, I was able to see the cute decal stickers pasted on the clear glass windows. People (including myself) were busy taking photos of them while in turn being photographed by Honey & Butter associates.

When I stepped inside the store (at last!!!) the interior was as aesthetic as it could be, with puffy clouds hanging from above and photo booths in front of walls of plants and flowers. (Even a 🕷 for a touch of Halloween!)

Aesthetic photo booths set inside the Honey & Butter Macarons store.

The counter inside Honey & Butter Macarons decorated with LINE FRIENDS plushies beside a box of LINE FRIENDS X Honey & Butter Macarons pins.

Framed sign inside Honey & Butter Macarons showing the price for classic and creature macarons.

Plus there was the LINE FRIENDS X Honey & Butter Macarons wall, which was too cute not to share here:

They were selling their regular, non-character macarons for $3 each, and character macarons for $5 and $7 dollars each. It’s really expensive… It’s more expensive than a burger or a Chick-fil-A sandwich! 😫 But considering the amount of effort and artistry put into these macarons, I think it was worth it.

Here is a video of the macarons sold at Honey & Butter Macarons last weekend:

Close up of the creature (character) macarons! 🐻🎀🐰🐥🐸

I purchased regular macarons, creature macarons along with two pins (limited editions of Honey & Butter X LINE FRIENDS). I also got free stickers for being one of the first 100 customers and a postcard, too. And before heading out of the shop, the employees helped me take photos in front of the aesthetic photo booths. It was so much fun! 😁

When I stepped out of the cute macaron shop, it was 11:12 PM. And yet, there was a line still in front of Honey & Butter Macarons, as shown in the video above.

I spent an entire morning from 9AM preparing and waiting for this event. Plus, I spent way too much on the macarons. But it was a memorable day, with such artistic, charming little pastries for me and my family. It was worth the money and the wait!

I had to display the artsy macarons in the middle of my living room in all its beauty for my family to see. Aren’t they just…Adorable pieces of art? 😍💕💕

About Honey & Butter

From my knowledge (and online research), Honey & Butter Macarons was founded back in 2014 by Leanne and her husband Pawel Pietrasinski. Leanne was born in Vietnam and Pawel was born in Poland, and the couple met via a MMORPG game, Neverwinter Online. Sharing the same dream and passion, they created their own bakery. To read more about their unique story and journey, check out these links:

💜 The Vine Irvine City News 💜 Daily Pilot 💜 VoyageLA

Visit their Instagram account to see some of the macarons they’ve made in the past! They’ve made characters from Disney’s Frozen, Mean Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory, and Snoopy. Not to mention their Sailor Moon, One Piece, Naruto and BTS macarons! They all look incredible! 😍

I highly recommend Honey & Butter Macarons if you love aesthetic/cute things or French pastries, specifically macarons. If you are planning to purchase creature macarons though, be aware that they don’t have those everyday. I think they used to, but nowadays they are available only on special occasions like this or on days noted on their website.

P.S. Check out their official website here: https://www.honeynbutter.com/

To visit Leanne’s website use this link 👉 http://www.leannecake.cloud/ 💕

P.P.S. Follow their Instagram! Honey & Butter sometimes announces character macaron drops in their stories. They’re up for grabs till supplies last. Here are the ones that were released around noon on 5/27/2022:

They were as aesthetic and delicious as ever! 😉

(These macarons were wrapped in seriously cute packaging illustrated by kiraimai! 💕Visit the Japanese illustrator’s official website for more: https://www.kiraimai.com/)

Posted on October 13, 2021July 19, 2022 by The Time Traveler — Leave a comment

Bella Grace: Epitome of a Beautiful Magazine

Last week, when it drizzled in the ever-sunny city of my residence, I stopped by at a Barnes & Noble bookstore. For the past few years, I’ve been on-and-off writing my first novel, and I wanted to research the tone and style of recently published books.

As is always the case whenever I’m in bookstores, I was tempted to make a purchase. But reminding myself that I already have piles of novels and stories to read at home, I resisted all temptation to purchase another book. (Plus, after the pandemic, the libraries will reopen.) But when passing by the magazine racks next to the cashier, I had to stop and purchase Bella Grace‘s Issue 29. It was just too aesthetic!

Bella Grace Magazine

The front and back covers of *Bella Grace.*

The magazine was extremely costly; compared to an interior design magazine my mother purchased recently ($12.99), Bella Grace was a $19.99. It’s the most expensive magazine I’ve ever purchased!

But the content of the magazine is heartfelt and wholesome. It’s created and compiled by romanticists, optimists, and those who believe in the following:

“an ordinary life can be extraordinary, there is beauty in imperfection, and that magic can be found in the everyday.”
Bella Gracec

And their collection of writings and photographs truly reflect such beliefs and attitude toward life.

Some pages from the 29th issue of *Bella Grace.*

Submissions

And Bella Grace is looking for submissions! They’re looking for narratives, photography, lists, and Instagram collections from writers and photographers who share their beliefs.

“At Bella Grace, [they] believe that:

Every cloud has a silver lining.

An ordinary life can be an extraordinary life.

There is beauty and magic to be found everywhere.

It’s OK to embrace imperfection.

Life should be lived with a full heart and open eyes.”

As I share these beliefs, I submitted photographs and a poem to the editor a few days ago. I’m really happy to have found a magazine that shares some of my beliefs as well as aesthetics! ✨

If you are a writer or photographer, especially a romantic or an optimistic one, I highly encourage you to read Bella Grace. And even take part in their movement to share life’s beauties!

P.S. To visit Bella Grace’s official website, click HERE.

P.P.S. For submission guidelines, check out this link: https://bellagracemagazine.com/submission-guidelines/

Posted on October 7, 2021July 20, 2022 by The Time Traveler — Leave a comment

Cafe Lola Summerlin: An Aesthetic Café by Red Rock Canyon

This summer, I had a chance to visit Las Vegas with my family. But as we are in the midst of a pandemic, we chose to explore the outdoors around the city instead of lingering in the populous hub. As we had already visited Death Valley, Grand Canyon, and Sedona, we decided to explore Red Rock Canyon this time.

On our way to Red Rock Canyon. It was unusually cloudy and windy. It eventually rained when we arrived at the visitor’s center.

On our way to Red Rock Canyon, I proposed that we stop by a café to pick up lattes and whatnot. It was June but cloudy and chill; which means it was perfect to sip some warm drinks on the way. Besides, I had researched online and found out that there was an aesthetic café in the area. And I am all for anything aesthetic, especially cafes.

When we arrived in front of the cafe, the exterior was neat but nothing noteworthy. And as the sky was cloudy with rain starting to trickle, it almost looked gloomy.

But when my sister and I went inside, it was a feast for the eyes!

The interior was so pretty that I stood there gawking it all in. I had to collect myself before moving forward to the cashier to order. My eyes feasted further on the chic decorations set up all throughout the cafe.

I ordered Lola’s Signature Vanilla Rose Tea Latte (plus three macarons) while my sister got the Americano. The drinks weren’t bad, but they weren’t stellar either. I wouldn’t drive all the way here again for the drinks. But I definitely would for the beautiful interior!

The pink folder in the back is the menu.
The pink drink is Lola’s Signature Vanilla Rose Tea Latte.
The small pink cup with a rose is a decoration set on each table. ❤️

I highly recommend Cafe Lola to anyone who loves visiting aesthetic places. The interior, decorations, drinks, food, and everything inside the cafe were too pretty to not take photos of. If you’re ever visiting Red Rock Canyon, or Las Vegas even, stop by Cafe Lola! 😉

*NOTE: The location I’ve been to is the Cafe Lola in Summerlin. There’s another Cafe Lola in the Henderson area. They’re both in Nevada but the Summerlin one is next to Red Rock Canyon.

**UPDATE 7/19/22: Cafe Lola opened another shop at 7379 S Rainbow Blvd – in Southwest Las Vegas! Check out their IG post for all the deets!

Visit Cafe Lola’s official website here 👉 Café Lola

P.S. Check out my post on their Henderson location HERE. It’s as aesthetic as the Summerlin location! ✨