Loading

Summer Editors’ Picks Need fun ways to fill your summer days? Look no further than these recommendations from the incoming Spyglass Editorial Board!

Ilena M. ’24, Editor-In-Chief

:Looking for a fun outdoor activity for a sunny summer afternoon? Every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the massive weekly food festival Smorgasburg LA takes place in an old-warehouse-turned-shopping-center in the Downton Produce District. The events feature dozens of local food trucks, restaurant stalls, and independent businesses selling everything from vintage clothing to outrageously expensive soap. Bring friends, dress up in your Hawaiian shirts and denim jackets to fit in with the hipster crowd, and enjoy the overwhelming selection of tasty treats. Most vendors show up weekly—I like the vegan bungkus (which is like a delicious little explosion of savory flavor nestled in a banana leaf) from Balinese street food stall Bungkus Bagus and the garlic noodles from ManEatingPlant. After you’ve eaten your heart out, spend some time bopping around the surrounding shops at Row DTLA.

I did, indeed, stuff my face at Smorgasburg. (photo credit: Ilena M.)

Eliza W. ’24, Managing Editor

:I recently began rewatching Freaks and Geeks, a show which follows two groups of kids, you guessed it, the freaks and the geeks. The freaks are composed of stoners who skip school and play in a band, and the main plot of the show begins when Lindsay Weir (Linda Cardellini), a previously straight-A student and Maththlete, becomes friends with the freaks. At the other end of the spectrum, you have Lindsay’s younger brother Sam (John Francis Daley) and his two friends who are part of the AV Club, bullied in and out of gym class, and falling for girls way out of their league. While the show was made in the late 90s and supposed to take place in the early 80s, many aspects, including Lindsay's way-too-big green cargo jacket which, like me, she wears almost every day, connect with my life. Plus, the killer soundtrack, including the opening credits song Bad Reputation by Joan Jett and songs by The Who and Queen, make it an energizing and fun way to start your summer.

Tanvi C. ’25, Staff Editor

(photo credit: Time Out Magazine)

:One of my favorite summer pastimes is attending cooking classes around Los Angeles. I especially love visiting Milk Bar in Melrose to make their classic birthday cake, and then promptly devour it. The instructors are always so sweet and energetic, and they teach you how to make the perfect cake in simple steps. Instructors teach you how to perfectly cut the cake, soak it with vanilla milk, frost with funfetti icing, and finally top the cake with birthday cake crumbles. There are a wide variety of cakes you can make and some of their flavors are seasonal. After you’re finished with the cake, the instructors teach you how to use leftover cake scraps and icing to make cake truffles. The first bite of the birthday cake is magical—you’re hit with so many textures and flavors that you can’t help but take another bite.

Reed D. ’25, Staff Editor

:Have you ever asked someone where they got their jeans from, expecting a straightforward answer, only to have them smugly reply that they thrifted them? What about driving to the nearest Goodwill, finding absolutely nothing, and giving up all hope for thrifting? Well, here’s some advice: go to the Silverlake Flea Market! Open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Silverlake Flea Market serves as a fun, affordable, and interactive daytime activity during the summer. Enjoy the unique offerings of jewelry, clothing, shoes, crystals, art, and more that you can’t find at any other store (or thrift store!). Because of its heavily curated selection, the Silverlake Flea lends itself to both seasoned and inexperienced thrifters, guaranteeing great wardrobe additions for everyone. If you want to get lunch or a dessert after thrifting, there are many great restaurants and shops within walking distance. So, if you’re looking for a place to upgrade your summer wardrobe and hang out with friends, look no further than the Silverlake Flea Market! (photo credit: Time Out)

My friend (on the left) and I walking to get ramen after thrifting at the Silver Lake Flea Market last summer (photo credit: Reed D.)

Sophene A. ’25, Staff Editor

(photo credit: Berolina Bakery)

:Summer is the time when the foodie in me comes out. You can find me eating bowls of in-season fruit, making refreshing snacks like my favorite two-ingredient watermelon sorbet, and spending my time trying nearby, family-owned restaurants until I find one I absolutely love. Over the years, I have discovered Berolina Bakery in Montrose. Its delicious iced coffee, wide assortment of danish and croissants, and freshly baked bread that make for the best sandwiches have kept me coming back. With an outdoor seating area that allows customers to enjoy the summer weather, Berolina Bakery is my favorite place to enjoy a drink, snack, or meal during break. Their Caprese sandwich made with olive bread, Greek salad with various fresh veggies, princess cake with the most decadent marzipan, and perfectly-filled almond croissant are my go-to orders. Although there is almost always a long line, when I find myself with one of Berolina's cold, refreshing drinks in my hand and a flaky, sweet dessert in front of me, I know that summer is here.

Florence J. ’25, Staff Editor

:One of my all-time favorite summer albums is Blind by The Sundays. I discovered it last summer, and I now heavily associate it with lazy summer afternoons in late July. My top songs from the album are “I Feel,” “What do you think?”, and their cover of “Wild Horses” originally by the Rolling stones. If you are a fan of dream pop, indie rock, Mazzy Star, or the Cocteau Twins, then I recommend this album if you are looking for something new to listen to this summer!

(photo credit: discogs.com)

Katie S. ’23, Staff Editor

(photo credit: LA Taco)

:It’s a hot summer day, and you can’t decide whether you want an ice-cold boba, a huge scoop of ice cream, or an acai bowl topped with some of your favorite fruits. Well… look no further because you don’t have to choose at Blossom Market Hall. Get your boba, ice cream, and acai bowl plus more at this charming food hall located in San Gabriel. Open every day except Tuesdays, the hall boasts a variety of food vendors. Walk around and try some Southern BBQ, a strawberry cheesecake crepe, or a steaming platter of bulgogi dumplings. If you come in the morning, grab a coffee at AK Fresh Roast, and in the evenings, listen to live music. Even try wandering to the second floor and check out an art gallery featuring work by local artists.

Daria H. ’24, Staff Editor

(photo credit: Los Angeles Daily News)

:I recently visited Lost Books in Montrose, and absolutely fell in love with the store. Lost Books is a small bookstore filled with plants, vinyl, and CDs. Personally, all of my favorite things. Although the most attractive thing about the store is probably the design, with copious plants, a spirally maze of bookshelves, and a fish tank, something that makes it extra special is their mix of used and new books. During my recent trip, I picked up On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, The Secret History, and Flowers for Algernon.

Hailey T. ’23, Website & Social Media Manager

Here’s an image of my Sim talking to a cow. (photo credit: Hailey T.)

:Here’s something a lot of people don’t know about me: I’m a hardcore gamer. Over long school breaks (like the summer… or the weekend), I can spend hours staring at my laptop, attempting to beat Dream’s speedrun for my favorite game of all time: The Sims 4. I haven’t yet been able to complete a speed run for The Sims 4 (maybe I need to learn how to set a toilet on fire?), but that won’t stop me from spending hours a day to figure out how to win. This may sound lame, but I can assure you the game is worth the time; I can spend an entire day customizing a Sim before I even start to play. The Sims 4 has solved all the problems I’m too lazy to solve in real life—don’t have enough money to buy a Lump of Clay? Cheat the game and buy yourself a Lump of Clay! Not handy enough to upgrade your fridge? Cheat the game and become handy enough to upgrade your fridge! Don’t have friends to talk to because you spend all your free time hanging out with your Sims? I’m actually not sure how to solve that problem yet, but I’m sure I can ask Reddit to help me out. Regardless, if you find yourself with an overabundance of time over the summer, take a shot at playing The Sims 4—you won’t regret it.