Join Karen + Greg
August 8, 2021
to celebrate their weddingThe Proposal
Greg had a plan. For months, he hatched a plan to make sure that when he proposed, both his and Karen's
families were
there. But Karen's a planner too. She likes to know when everything is happening so she can continue to
make MORE plans.
Not knowing when and where this proposal would take place was extremely difficult. It's hard to pull off a
surprise when
the person you're supposed to surprise looks for EVERY detail. There were a couple of times she thought,
"Hey. Maybe
tonight?" Alas, it was not "tonight."
Thanksgiving was approaching and still no proposal. Karen was set to fly home to Chicago, and Greg was
off to Boston
and New York, as per usual. At one point, Karen thought, "Maybe?? MAYBE he'll show up at Thanksgiving. But
no way. That
would mean flying from LA to Boston to New York to Chicago and BACK to LA in a week. No. Way."
Thanksgiving was
celebrated and when Greg didn't show up to dinner, all thoughts of a proposal fled Karen's mind for the
time being.
Friday morning, Karen was running around the house trying to get home videos ready for when the cousins
came over for
brunch. She was so distracted by the files not playing and finding the right cables, she didn't take much
notice that
Greg hadn't been in touch that morning. But Black Friday is a VERY important shopping day for the
Goldstein/Blocks.
There was no coming between Carla and her Black Friday shopping. The Hoffmans and Agostinos were all
gathered in the
kitchen when Karen caught a glimpse of... could it be? Is that Molly Block walking to the front door...
A LITTLE ABOUT THE BRIDE AND GROOM
Karen is like a golden retriever; selfless, always loving, and LOVES a good back scratch. Her bright smile lights up the whole room, while her wise words captivate everyone around her.
Greg is my bear. He is warm, gives the best hugs, and is very protective. He looks out for others and is always down for a good time. He's a cheerleader for me and our friends, and would love to sit down and discuss your new business idea. He has so much love to give, and hands it out expecting nothing in return.
Ceremony
+
Reception
Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel
1700 Ocean Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Traveling to Los Angeles
The most convenient airport for Santa Monica is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). You'll find the most flights, and they're more likely to be cheaper than surrounding, smaller airports. It's about 8-12 miles to the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, depending on your path. The most important thing to know when traveling to LAX is the new shuttle system for Taxis, Ubers, and Lyfts, LAXit.LAXit is a shuttle service that will bring you to a satellite lot near Terminal 1 (Southwest) in order to pick up a Taxi, Uber, or Lyft. You catch the shuttle outside of baggage claim and it will drop you at the lot, or you can skip the shuttle and walk. There are PLENTY of employees there to direct you to your chosen mode of transportation. It can be a little confusing the first time, but we PROMISE that it's doable. Check out the LAXit website for more details.
Drop-off at LAX is still allowed at the terminals. LAXit is only for rideshare pick-ups.
Other Airport Options
Burbank Airport (BUR): ~25mi from Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel
John Wayne Airport (SNA): ~50-60miles from Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel.
Not recommended because of distance, but an option if you want to rent a car or take a long cab/Uber/Lyft ride.
Where To Stay?
Loews Santa Monica Beach hotel
Check back soon for a link to book in our block!1700 Ocean Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90401
The Georgian Hotel
Call their front desk and let them know that you're going to a wedding in Santa Monica and they'll give you a 15% discount1415 Ocean Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Places to eat in Santa Monica
SUGARFISH
One of our favorite sushi places in the city.~1 mile from the Loews
Uovo
Pasta restaurant by the same group that owns SUGARFISH.~1 mile from the Loews
El Cholo
Great Mexican food and we've seen Dustin Hoffman there!~2 miles from the Loews
Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery
Make sure to checkout the Godmother sandwich or the Chicken Parm sandwich.~1 mile from the Loews
Ippudo
INCREDIBLE ramen!~1 mile from the Loews
Venture Into Los Angeles
Want to get out of Santa Monica?
Izaka-Ya by Katsu-Ya West Hollywood
THIS IS OUR FAVORITE SUSHI IN LA! Make sure to check out the Spicy Tuna over Crispy Rice, Karen's gateway sushi! They also have a location in Manhattan Beach! Reservations recommended for weekend evenings.~11 miles from the Loews
Spartina
One of our favorite Italian restaurants in Hollywood! The Short Rib Tortellini is a must!~12 miles from the Loews
Gracias Madre
Looking for vegan? This mexican-style vegan restaurant is fantastic! Making a reservation is HIGHLY recommended!~10.5 miles from the Loews
Joan's On Third
The Chinese Chicken Salad with grilled chicken is voted one of the best salads in LA! This market-style restaurant is close to lots of shops and other cute restaurants! Third street is very close to The Grove, outdoor mall. Great stop for a day in Hollywood!
~11 miles from the Loews
Guerilla Tacos
AMAZING Tacos! Worth the venture into Downtown LA!~17 miles from the Loews
Killer Noodle
Greg's favorite ramen down the street from our apartment! Get ready for spice AND numbness! Sawtelle area is great for Ramen, Udon, Sushi, and more!~5 miles from the Loews