Meet Alice Sarfati from Miami who moved to LA six months ago to pursue furthering her career as a TV presenter and producer.
Was there a particular reason you chose LA?
LA is the entertainment capital of the world and being a beach person (and Scorpio), the mix of Hollywood and beaches, made LA the right move for me!
What do you miss most from home?
I am half Cuban and half Romanian and I grew up surrounded by Cuban culture in Miami. What I miss most about Miami (other than family and friends, obviously) is having the stimulus of Cuban accents, music, food, and Cuban coffee around me all the time! (I love to say that the best thing about Miami is that it’s so close to America!
What was your first impression of LA and has it changed since? If so, why?
My first impression of LA was that it lacked soul and edge but as I’ve explored the city more and met new people, I’ve come to discover that this city has many stories, cultures and vibes and truly has something for everyone.
What do you find the biggest difference is living here versus Miami?
LA is a big city with so much to offer! I love trying new things and this city provides a lot of wonderful opportunities whether outdoors (hiking, surfing, skiing, hang-gliding, horse-back riding) or indoors (comedy shows, Broadway shows, tech talks, museums) so the biggest difference is that each section of the city can be explored as if it is a city in itself!
Do you have a hidden gem in LA that you want to share with us?
Downtown LA has so many hidden gems to offer…The theater at the ACE Hotel is a stunning space and they always have fun and unique performances. The Clifton Cafeteria is just down the street from the ACE Hotel and has multi-levels of the most visually stimulating and varying themed rooms…my favorite is the 1920s-era swing band live music room on the 3rd floor and the exclusive Tiki Bar on the top floor! Also, if you’re a history, music or movie buff, the Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo will transport you back to the 1920s for a throwback movie-watching experience!
What would you suggest to others who are thinking about making the move here?
LALA Land can be daunting if you don’t have a good support system…I recommend connecting with groups like Brits in LA or Meetups (www.meetup.com) based on your interests to find your tribe here. It can make it feel much more like home when you have like-minded people around you.
Lots of our members join our group Brits in LA seeking out words of wisdom – what is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
“The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers. ” -Thich Nhat Hanh. I also had the most life-changing experience this past summer at a Mindfulness Retreat at Plum Village in the south of France. My biggest takeaway from it was that being present is the greatest gift you can give another person, but most importantly to yourself. The key to happiness is to live in the now!
Lastly, how can we find out more about you? Are you working on anything at the moment?
I am currently working on a “marriage” between my passion/obsession with travel and my background in television production with a travel-related project about wedding traditions around the world. You can find updates on my professional projects at www.AliceSarfati.com and updates on my travels on instagram @AliceNWanderlust
