Whether you’re traveling the world this summer or staying local to uncover new hidden gems in your city or town, you can always bring your TRAVELER’S notebook with you on your adventures.
In this year’s summer Staff Diaries, TRAVELER’S COMPANY USA staff member Job ventures to a local favorite street in Long Beach called Retro Row, a vibrant few blocks along Fourth Avenue in downtown Long Beach. It’s home to many small mom-and-pop shops, such as bookstores, thrift shops, vintage stores, and local eateries. Let’s go on a trip!
Today’s adventure starts on a sunny Friday morning. Retro Row is such a quirky street, and many different events are held there frequently. It’s a great place to visit in Long Beach if you’re in town. Today, I thought I would stroll down Retro Row, get a bite to eat, do some drawing, and, of course, grab a cup of coffee!
Our first stop is Alder and Sage, a famous brunch spot on Retro Row serving great coffee and bites. Since the weather was warming up and the summer sun felt so nice on my skin, I opted to sit outdoors to enjoy the beautiful patio. While waiting for my food, I took out my TRAVEL & SKETCH SPIRAL RING NOTEBOOK, which I’m currently keeping in my TO&FRO organizer.
The lightweight material of the TO&FRO organizer case works for both my TRAVELER’S notebook and SPIRAL RING NOTEBOOK because it doesn’t add too much bulk when I’m out and about in the city.
On today’s Retro Row field trip, I thought I would create some watercolor sketches in my TRAVEL & SKETCH SPIRAL RING NOTEBOOK. The sketch paper inside the notebook is great for drawing and doodling, especially when using mixed-media supplies like watercolor, markers, or colored pencils. I began sketching the patio area with my fine-liner pen and then decided to add some watercolor!
When my food arrived, I took a break to mindfully enjoy my brunch, which consisted of a grilled chicken burger and Alder and Sage’s fries topped with herbs and some punchy raw garlic. The meal was so satisfying that I had more energy to finish adding watercolor to my sketch.
Taking time to slow down and capture a scene or a beautiful vignette you’ve seen on your travels is a great way to pause and take in all of the beautiful sights you encounter. Although I’ve been to this restaurant and café multiple times, taking time to slow down to draw and paint the beautiful patio felt like seeing this space in a new way.
The shadows drifting across the patio tables and chairs felt strangely comforting as I kept drawing. The summer sun poured through the trees above, and the leaves created soft, dreamy patches of light and shade. In Japanese, that dappled light and shadow has a name: komorebi. I learned about this term while watching Perfect Days, one of my favorite Japanese films, which is a powerful movie about noticing the beauty and contentment in ordinary moments.
Once I completed my sketch, I packed up all my materials in my TO&FRO organizer and started my walk down Retro Row.
As a SoCal transplant, seeing the local foliage and plants in Long Beach still brings me so much joy. I saw this huge agave plant and paused to take a photo of my TRAVELER’S notebooks near it.
I continued my stroll across Retro Row. I ended up carrying both my TRAVELER’S notebooks (Regular and Passport size) in my Olive TO&FRO Compact Bag as a way to carry my essential items so they’re easy to access. I can simply slip my TRAVELER’S notebook out of the bag and add a stamp or store some ephemera I found on my walk.
I first walked to the Assisted League Thrift Store to find any thrift deals. I loved this vintage luggage that would look lovely at the office.
My favorite bookstore, Bel Canto Books, was closed today, but as I was walking by the shop, I saw a familiar face: Jhoanna, the owner of the shop. Jhoanna invited me into the shop as they were doing their summer inventory. It was fun to walk through the store and see the staff in action as they reset the store. It reminds me to freshen up my home and living space for the summer months, too.
I continued my walk down Retro Row and saw more of my usual haunts. Little Coyote Pizzeria has affordable and delicious pizza that can be purchased by the slice. Park’s Antiques is a quirky thrift store carrying kitschy memorabilia and vintage goods, like film cameras and other analog tools.
After bopping in and out of different stores on Retro Row, I made a stop at Coffee Drunk. The summer heat was definitely ramping up in the late afternoon, so a cold drink and some respite from the sun were necessary. I got an ice-cold ube latte to cool down while I thumbed through my TRAVELER’S notebook ROAD TRIP Edition. Having my TO&FRO Zipper Case in my TRAVELER’S notebook makes it easy to bring my essential items, like my TRC BRASS ROLLERBALL PEN and other ephemera.
I had such a fun and relaxing time strolling around Retro Row on this sunny Friday. Taking time to focus on my hobbies, like drawing and checking out cafes, always feels like a fun getaway, even if I’m just exploring my city. This summer, go on a short trip, even if it’s in your own city or town, and document what you see and do. You never know what new food or sights you’ll find.
Have a nice trip!
