No place better than Bodhi Tree Bookstore to start the new year on a spiritual note. The bookstore celebrated its 35th anniversary not that long ago. It has an online store and lots of workshops, though I didn’t see any that caught my eye. I did get caught up in all the beautiful wind chimes! I love that there’s warm, spiced Indian tea for anyone that wants some. They also have a great selection of harder-to-find items like ear cones, which help remove wax and prevent ear infections naturally.

I checked out various new books and the man behind the counter was very friendly. And on my way out, I ran into my friends’ Conscious Dancer magazine too – a nice surprise.

Urth Cafe next door was just as busy as the one in Santa Monica. Their food is pricy for a casual lunch but worth it! Too bad their website doesn’t feature the menu. I didn’t get their fair-trade, organic coffee. I tried the tomato rice soup, which hit the spot on a gloomy winter’s day. But their salads and sandwiches are better.