Firefly Blog

It’s hard to beat this hot summer weather we’ve been having on the westside for the past weeks (this must be when the weathermen go on vacation!), but the heat is making everyone around town a little more lethargic. I see it everywhere: people slowly strolling to lunch down Abbot Kinney instead of a quick pace; happy hours are filling up an hour later; friends take ten minutes longer to bike over than in the cooler winter months. Even my coffee buzz is taking twenty minutes longer to hit me in the mornings!  These are the dog days of summer, and here in Dogtown we only know one remedy to combat the sleepiness and take advantage of the heat: go to the beach! (Or Alaska. But the beach is much closer.)

Even in the 1920′s, the beach was the go-to place to beat the summer heat!

First thing’s first – you need to be prepared to spend a couple hours in the sand. You’ll need a good sunscreen, cute sunglasses, and…a comfortable (and cute) place to sit. We recommend these turkish towels – they’re easy to pack and easy to clean, plus they double as a warm wrap when the sun goes down! If a traditional towel is more up your alley, Pendleton makes fantastic patterns; try one in an easy-to-find color like orange or yellow. You’ll be able to spot it faster when you’re coming back from a wave surfing sesh. Every time I go to the beach, I like to have a notebook on hand just in case of random thoughts, making to-do lists, or getting some cute surfer’s number – this driftwood decomposition book by Michael Roger is the perfect size for purse or beach bag!

If you’ve got a little one with you, we’ve got them covered, too! Make sure they’re protected from the elements with a hat – we love the weight of this cotton sunhat! This little cotton onesie by Mixt Studio keeps your little beach bum’s bum covered, at the playa and at home. And who can resist a beach cruiser with a bell?

The best part of living in Venice? It’s easy to transition into evening mode straight from a day at the ocean – especially with these options! Try this mint tunic dress by Free People, with a pair of comfy yet classy flip flops; we love Tkees. It’s an outfit that looks at home at the boardwalk juice bar and at Gjelina! Make sure to pair it with a couple pieces of jewelry – my favorite is this sea urchin necklace by Alkemie. Nothing ruins a good time like a wet swimsuit, however, so make SURE you store your wet suit in this waterproof bag before you head off to dinner!

Need some beach tunes? We’ve been digging Pandora lately – try the Beach Boys, Vampire Weekend, or Beach House for some good stations. For bonus points, get some music by local favorites MK & the Gentlemen Enjoy!

posted 8/23/2012