At six months postpartum, I spent my first night away from my daughter Naomi to attend a wedding in Santa Barbara. If the bride hadn’t been one of my dear friends from childhood, I probably would’ve skipped out, unwilling to leave my firstborn. With my second baby, Juna, I was ready for a getaway much sooner. On Mother’s Day weekend, for a glorious 24 hours, I had a beautiful suite at Hotel Erwin in Venice completely to myself.
As a resident of East L.A. for the past 15 years, I don’t make it out to the old stomping grounds of my teens and early 20s as often as I’d like, so when I first checked into the SoCal beach hotel, I was delighted to see how close it was to both the vendors of the famous Venice Boardwalk and the stylish boutiques and cute cafes along Abbot Kinney Boulevard. Despite the hotel’s laid-back SoCal vibes, my brain was buzzing with all the things I wanted to do with my precious 24 hours before my husband and daughters joined me the next day.
A trip up to the High Rooftop Lounge, Hotel Erwin’s open-air restaurant and bar, for a bite, a glass of wine and ocean breezes was just what I needed to calm my racing mind — and to remind myself of a recent meditation: Just be here, now.
After the best night of sleep in more than a year, I woke up ready for breakfast at the hotel’s Erwin General Café downstairs, followed by a run along the Venice boardwalk. Between the fresh air, people watching and iconic views (and no small children begging for my attention), I ran all the way to the Santa Monica Pier!
My husband and kids weren’t set to arrive until evening, so after freshening up I decided to take myself to lunch at another old haunt, The Rose Venice, which has fed locals and visitors alike since 1979. Passing a bickering couple with their young kids waiting for a table, I was both wistful for the chaos of my family and grateful I got to spend part of my Mother’s Day enjoying a sparkling wine and salad at the bar alone.
After lunch, I took a leisurely stroll down Abbot Kinney, Venice’s mile-long block of boutiques, restaurants and bars. With an entire afternoon at my disposal, I took my time, beginning at Artists & Fleas, Venice’s weekly outdoor makers market featuring vintage clothing, handmade jewelry and original art. I popped into Gjusta Grocer for a well-earned chocolate chip cookie and browsed the fresh farmers market produce, specialty pantry items and curated beer and wine.
The clock was counting down to when my husband and children would arrive, so an afternoon pick-me-up was in order. Around the corner from the hotel, I popped into Menotti’s for its popular vegan Spanish latte, which I savored during my final moments of peace and quiet.
The next 24 hours was a very different scene, but Hotel Erwin’s family-friendly vibe was still the perfect backdrop for our weekend. Within minutes, my hotel room floor was covered in Jenga blocks and dominos. For a moment, I tried to clean up the game pieces and strewn shoes and jackets, but then I remembered: Just be here, now. Back at the High Rooftop Lounge, our family took over one of the large outdoor couches. Naomi was thrilled by an entire bowl of fries and Juna shared my fish tacos. We were messy and loud, but no one seemed to mind.
The following morning, while enjoying her pancakes and scrambled eggs, Naomi blurted, “This is the best vacation ever!” Leave it to our kids to truly know how to live in the moment.
