Los Angeles has always been part of our work rhythm, but this time it offered something gentler. Between meetings and moments, vinyl hunts and shared meals, the city, this time, became one that quietly balanced our work, creativity, family time, and the year turning over.
We landed in Los Angeles around December 22, just as the city was easing into its holiday rhythm. LA is familiar territory for us. We’ve been here countless times, usually led by work—but this trip felt different from the start. It still revolved around meetings and schedules, but it also gave us something rarer: time. Real time. With family, with ourselves, and with the things that quietly inspire us.
Our days settled into an easy pattern. Most mornings, except December 25 and 31, were dedicated to meetings. That’s how we usually plan our travels—work first—but this time, the balance felt right. Afternoons were slower. We went out for lunches, revisited places we love and ticked off new spots we’d been meaning to try. Rodeo Drive was frequented more than once, including a return to one of our favourites at 208 Rodeo, a place that always feels like coming back to something familiar.
Evenings were intentionally unhurried. Some nights we stepped out together, and on others, we stayed in and cooked at home as a family. Those moments—setting the table, sharing food, talking about everything and nothing—became some of the most grounding parts of the trip.
December 24 was special. We went out for dinner at Mi Piace, a quiet, comforting way to ease into Christmas. The next day, which was a holiday, we, of course, kept completely free. No meetings, no plans. We wandered through a Christmas market in LA, soaking in the atmosphere and letting the day unfold naturally. It was simple and festive, and exactly what we needed.
One of the highlights of this trip was music. We’ve been into vinyl for a while now, and wherever we travel, record stores have become our thing. LA is a destination for vintage vinyl, and this time we explored some incredible record stores—digging through old records, discovering new artists, and losing track of time in the best possible way. There’s something deeply satisfying about that search, about finding music you didn’t know you were looking for!
The city fed our creativity in other ways, too. We watched The Nutcracker one evening. Watching the show felt like stepping into a world of fantasy–and one where movement came together to remind us why classical storytelling never loses its magic. On another night, we attended a ballet that truly stayed with us. It sure sparked ideas in us that we will translate into something we create in the near future. We also caught a music play, Stereophonic, which was a wonderful glimpse of how a play can blur the line between music and theatre, immerse us in sound, tension, and creativity in a way that felt raw, intimate, and unexpectedly energising.
In between, there were small, joyful pauses: watching Anaconda in a theatre one day, cooking together at home, revisiting favourite spots, and simply being present.
December 31 arrived quietly. We had a meeting in the city earlier in the day, and in the evening, we spent time with Antonio Esteban and Inessa Shak from Style PR. Later, over Mexican food, we welcomed the New Year peacefully—no noise, no rush, just gratitude.
When we left on January 2, it felt like LA had given us exactly what we needed: inspiration without pressure, work without burnout, and family time without compromise. A reminder that the best trips don’t choose between purpose and pleasure—they make room for both.