Stop 1
Explore Disneyland for Italian Foodies
5pm to 7pm
As you slowly ascend the spiral staircase to Eataly the stress of the holiday shopping season floats away while the aromas of the various cucinas take hold. The espresso bar then the bakery wait, a pizza bar, hold on, a prosciutto aisle…oh the prosciutto aisle! Resist the urge to spend an hour checking the thousands of Italian delicacies and queue up in the main restaurant area. Sample as much grana padano as possible, exchange stealing pasta from each other’s plates and sip on some prosecco or chianti classico. When you feel like you’ve toured the Italian countryside one fork at a time it will mark the moment to head outside to walk off those carbs.
Alternative: If Italian and Eataly aren't your thing I highly suggest the high end Mexican joint Javier's.
Stop 2
Explore Westfield Century City
• 7pm until you’ve found that random gift for your secret santa •
The cool Los Angeles winter night pleasantly joins your evening stroll through the newly remodeled Westfield Century City. Beautiful shrubbery adorns the spaces between floating beds, bubbling fountains and intricate furniture pieces. Unfinished window displays sit side by side with couture brands and LA classics as this mall’s $1 billion facelift chugs toward completion. Maybe grab a healthy cookie from Beaming and lounge while discussing holiday plans or strike up a conversation with the people from Tesla. The mall is your oyster but all roads lead to your final destination, a counter in the back of Nordstrom guarding World War era sewing machines.
Stop 3
Customize it!
• after the exploration until you’ve chosen your own design •
On your mission you’ll pass all the Nordstrom standards: make up counters full of hopeful beauties, jewelry salespeople showing of their latest gems and elderly men nodding off while their wives try on heels. For men, head to the third floor to pick up a $10 t-shirt from Topman. For women, the second floor. On that second floor in the far corner is a counter with embroidered jean jackets, yarn of all sizes and sewing machines older than most people in the mall. The amazingly friendly artists are from Lot, Stock and Barrel, a custom embroidery collective from 3rd St. who are holding shop here until the end of the year. Their mission is to embroider anything you’d like (up to 10 letters) on most anything you purchase from Nordstrom. These are truly talented individuals who are more than accommodating for any weird concept you think up. Within minutes your custom shirt will be in hand, a style less seen in this day and age from a machine and mall reignited in the modern era.
Bonus: If it feels like it's time for a drink then you're in luck! Head to Javier's for a world class margarita.