Parking, Plates, and a Pool

There are a few pleasures in Los Angeles that make living here close to being in Heaven; finding easy parking, eating fabulous food without having to fight for a table, and enjoying a poolside lounge on the shore. What if you could have all three? Would that make Los Angeles the utopia that everyone sees in the movies?

There are many places I don't even bother going because of the lack of parking, and that goes for events too, especially when there is a sold out event at Staples Center or the Nokia Theater. Park Whiz now has a lot downtown which guarantees you a prime parking spot for $20, and you don't have to worry about having cash or finding a free spot. You reserve your space online for the date you want, print out the receipt and show up at the structure with your prepaid proof. It is nice to know in advance you have a space and that it is already prepaid; it just makes it so much more enjoyable to attend any event downtown.

Getting good food is easy, but can be pricey and time consuming, especially if you are trying to lose some weight and eat properly. Z.E.N. (Zero Effort Nutrition) is a food delivery service that provides breakfast, lunch, a snack, and dinner delivered to you for whatever your dietary desires dictate (say that three times fast). You can choose to lose weight, gain weight, avoid certain foods because of allergies, stabilize your blood sugar, or lower your cholesterol. It all costs about $50 a day and they offer discounts for mutiple day packages ranging from 5-90 days. The beauty of this service is that it is tailored for your needs and tastes (is you hate beans, there will not be any in the meals) and they provide fresh and tasty meals that are delivered so you don't have to fight traffic to get your food. Considering that dinner and lunch out could easily cost $50, this deal not only provides more food (breakfast and a snack), but food that is designed with your body's needs in mind.

People come to Los Angeles all year around because the weather is so good, after all, where else can you sunbathe on the beach in December? Casa Del Mar is the restored bath house on Santa Monica Beach which is now home to a hotel with a pool. How fitting that locals can now buy pool passes for a year of use (no blackout dates) through Club Casa De Mar. You also get access to the fitness center, 25% discount off spa services, and one night in the Penthouse with breakfast and 2 massages. All this luxury is yours for $2,500 a year, which is less than $7 a day, and you probably spend more than that on your vente soy lattes.