A Review of Murphy’s Ranch Trail

Murphy’s Ranch

I visited Murphy’s Ranch about a year ago on a Sunday with a friend. I was prompted to go after getting a little too absorbed in a listicle, 18 Beautiful Places You Probably Didn’t Know Were In Los Angeles. This article was fantastic despite being so quintessentially Buzzfeed style. It prompted a flurry of Pinterest activity, as I reminisced about the places I had seen (Descanso Gardens) or thought vaguely about future plans to visit those places that I had not yet seen (Bradbury Building).

I was struck my images of Murphy’s Ranch, a former WWII militarized bunker turned 60s artists colony, which is now abandoned and covered entirely by vibrant spray paint. This set of buildings is striking for its appearance but also for it’s strange history, as it’s essentially an abandoned Nazi camp. An article on the blog California Through My Lens does a great job of articulating the controversial history of Murphy’s Ranch.

This technicolor wonderland is an oddly dystopian juxtaposition to its environment in Rustic Canyon. There have been rumors about Murphy’s Ranch being demolished for years because it’s unsafe, this may have actually happened in February 2016! I’m glad that I made the trek while the estate was still standing. We used this trail guide for recent reviews and I loved this video tribute to Murphy’s Ranch.

Gate to the compound, designed by architect Paul Williams

Murphy’s Ranch water tower

Murphy’s Ranch inside bunker

Murphy’s Ranch outside bunker

Murphy’s Ranch path

Go Get ‘Em Tiger

Reviews

The first scorching weekend of summer was the perfect day for brunch at Go Get ‘Em Tiger, the tiny coffee shop nestled in Larchmont Village.

Soft scrambled egg biscuit and avocado toast

We shared two items off the menu, choosing from a list scrawled in pastel colored chalk on a blackboard. The soft scrambled eggs were piled on a cheddar biscuit, accompanied by blistered cherry tomatoes, chopped chives, and tomatillo salsa. The lightly toasted slab of brick toast was topped with avocado, sliced radishes, parsley, heirloom cherry tomatoes, and a squeeze of lime juice.

We sat outside and in the sun. I soaked in the beams on my face, loving the dazzling heat that defied the fact that it’s barely Spring.

What could make a double shot iced latte and cold brew coffee even better? Drinking these coffee confections from a mason jar and through a bent metal straw.

Infamous GGET iced latte

My deep adoration for GGET lies in the details – the stenciled floating astronaut motif, complimentary sparkling tea as an aperitif before an espresso shot, and the ever-unexpected soundtrack! This visit, GGET spun 2000 jams, the highlight being N SYNC’s “It Makes Me Ill.”

Astronaut stencil mural at Go Get ‘Em Tiger

GGET roasts G&B coffee (developed in part by US barista champion Charles Babinkski, who works there) and homemade almond macadamia nut milk. The coffee has a complex flavor and medium body, and was clearly crafted by true coffee aficionados.

If you’re charmed by whimsy and bold coffee, GGET will not disappoint!