Eat out on Feb. 24th...and help a good cause

Its a win win....you get to eat out...which you most likely will be doing anyways...
but your dollars are going to suppor the Serra Project.  The Serra Project is a 24 hour care group, hospice for those who are battling destitution due to HIV/AIDS.  In other words...they are better then we are...and they need our help.

So check out this link...pick one of the many places to go eat...and well...GO EAT.


Heres a few places that are among the many choices:

Astro Burger
DarMaghreb
Hamburger Marys
Mexicali
Old Venice
Taste on Melrose
The Foundry on Melrose
and
Vincenti Ristorante

there are many more places...

You have no excuses!!!!


Hope you are having a nice rainy day LA!!!!!
I kinda like it... I love waking up to the sound of rain on the roof.

Favorite Things- Coffee at the pig

Okay... Los Angeles has hundreds if not thousands of coffee shops... and that is not including Starbucks and Coffee Bean... both of which I am a patron at.... but I do love being able to support the little guy....

I have a bunch of coffee shops I like to give my business too...depending on what area of the city I am in.

Today... lets talk about one in particular...
The Bourgeois Pig.  (it took me a long time to figure out the spelling on that one... I felt so accomplished I bought a coffee.)

They dont have a website...so check out this link to Chowhound that has hours and address and such...
Now... they make a mean cuppa joe...and of course they have all the teas and fancy coffees you could want...
what I love is that if you get tea, you get a pot with all the fixins... love it!!!!

Also... this place is magic... in the back they have a pool table... but in the back there is also  a doorway...that leads to a forest... I am serious... a dark room with couches and antique foresty looking furniture...
my favorite spot in this room... is a little cove to sit in... its a tight squeeze but its got room for two...and its like a tiny little playhouse.... its hard to explain.. you have to go...and check this place out....
its magic.

Favortie Things- Wine!!!!!

Okay... rainy days got you down?  Need a couple hours to do what you want?
Well... wine tasting is not so far away... Malibu has great wines... I did a whole post on it a few months ago... for any of you who are actually reading my blog.


But... need a good bottle of wine... but are not sure you wanna spend that much on a bottle without tasting it?
Cornell Wine tasting room... in Malibu.... in the hills...a nice drive... a beautiful old rustic building... an afternoon to do something for yourself before you continue shopping for others, working, going to parties....

Plus wine is always an acceptable gift... people love wine... so if you are looking for a gift for a hostess, or a white elephant party or just want to bring something with you to a holiday dinner... consider wine... and consider a good bottle....

Cornell will not dissapoint... plus next door is a fancy steak place...oh and down the street is  a little deli with an outdoor patio if lunch is on the menu but you do not want to spend that much....!!!!

Oh and wine is easy to wrap... just throw it in a gift bag, or just wrap a ribbon around it... people love it!!!


PS- if you see the elusive white peacock... send me a pic... I saw just a glimpse of her when I was there... shes amazing.

Favorite Thins- Tender Greens

Okay... so we blew our diet at Umami... but I dont feel like cooking and could really go for something healthy to make me feel less guilty.

Helloooooo..... Tender Greens.... a salad place... well thats what I call it. They have other foods...like sandwhiches, soups, meat entrees...but man they make a great salad....

LA is very lucky cause there is a Hollywood location as well as a Culver City location...so you can be practically anywhere in LA and be within half an hour of Tender Greens.

So... you feel guilty cause you have been baking and eating all those cookies and fudge...and candies...oh wait thats me....yes I am a grazer...and really obsessed with those peppermint Hershey Kisses that are out... they taste soooo yummy and look really festive on my cookies.

Anyways... feeling guilty about all the holidays foods and beverages you have been eating and drinking lately? and still you are not motivated to cook something healthy at home?
Quick.. get in your car... get to Tender Greens...let them take care of you. You will not regret it.

I promise.

Favorite things- Work out apparel

Okay...so I may not be the most athetic or in shape person... but I do understand the importance of having high quality athletic apparel.  I love yoga... I think it is hard but something you do at your own pace and each class you are allowed to push yourself farther then you think you can go.

I love finding out wow you are stronger than you think you are, you can do that pose...and you can hold it...and next time... you can push the pose even farther.

LuLu Lemon makes great apparel for yoga as well as other exercise you do.  Dancers..you should come here too.

Its a bit expensive, but the clothes last forever and are very comfy, and high quality.  Plus yoga pants give you the nicest looking tush...so worth it.  Oh and this is not just for ladies...they have stuff for guys too...

and accessories like yoga mats, water bottles, gloves and bags.

So check out their website...they have stores locally or you can order online... if you still need to buy for the loved ones in your life...or yourself... cause really...this place is awesome... who could pass it up?

Favorite Things- shopping for others

Okay... so we have probably finished most of our holiday shopping... but for those few friends and family members who are hard to buy for... who we keep twiddling our thumbs over... how about popping into...

Mindful Nest.  They have locations in Burbank, and Santa Monica.  They are an awesome boutique that sells goods made by individual artists.   They have everything from jewelry (rocking jewelry by the way) to kitchen sink stoppers to lotions to garden sculptures to paintings to handmade stuffed animals.

A few of you have been lucky enough to receive gifts from me from Mindful Nest.

I love shopping there they ladies who work there are so nice, and I get a good feeling inside when I know I am helping support someone... one person...not a huge corporation.

More Favorite Things

Have you ever wanted to send a really nice thank you?  or write a letter to your grandma on paper that she will treasure?




I know handwriting is going out the door.... due to emails... but sometimes it is so nice to open up that mailbox and find a letter mixed in with all the bills and junk mail...

So why not send a few letters this holiday/new years season.

My suggestion... splurge on some really nice paper... at Soolip.  Soolip is a beautiful little store in West Hollywood that sells amazing stationary and wrapping, and stamps and all that great stuff to make a letter beautiful and personalized.

I have given gifts from Soolip to many people... always with great reception. They have many gifty items as well... journals, candles, nice pens.

So do it... spend a bit of money on some really nice paper, and help support an independent business!!!!

Candy... when is candy not a splurge?

Candy is awesome in so many ways.  I can't even tell you about how great candy is.
And I am sure I dont have too... we all love it...and hate it.  We all grew up on it... we all have our favorites...but do you remember your favorites from when you were a kid?  I do too... buttons.... the wax soda bottles with the liquid in it, those packs of sugar...with the sugar stick?  Remember?
Maybe not.....
but Rocket Fizz does...
and
Rocket Fizz.... ROCKS!!!!!
It's a small candy chain...that has classics, and new candies, as well as its a soda shop, they have tons and tons of bottled sodas.  The last time I was there I had a chai soda!!!!  It was super yummy.

So... check out Rocket Fizz... its a great place for stocking stuffers and to spend an hour...they have a patio on the back so you can enjoy your soda and candy there if you like...

Did I mention they have all kinds of Salt Water Taffy flavors???
they do.


So... Rocket Fizz is a splurge...cause its pretty affordable...but if you buy a bunch it starts to add up... but its worth it!!!!

Check it out there are locations popping up all over the city, the one I go to is in Burbank, but check out their website for the location near you!!!!

Mid Week Reminder

Hey all...

So just a friendly Wednesday Reminder....
that Saturday will be the Silverlake Art and Craft fair.
They will have some food trucks and some local handmade goodies.

Please go support your locals.   You can find some great stuff here, the hubby and I go and are always amazed at the deals we find.

We always find some records we were only too happy to scoop up.
I have found some great used books, last time I went I bought an adorable pillow shaped like an owl.
My friend and I bought a pretty swanky baby blanket for a friends baby boy.  It was pretty badass.. it had griffins on it...and was made of satin. 

A dear friend of mine has been known to go and sell her vintage salt and pepper shakers... they are rockin... you really start to find yourself going...  I could use 3 more sets of salt and pepper shakers... and trust me you find ways to justify.  I mean who doesnt want salt and pepper shakers that looks like: clogs, mushrooms, a coat rack where the hats are the shakers, and beer steins. 


So please think about buying something from someone local...

Culver City Oktoberfest

Okay... So by now you probably understand a few things about me...
Alcohol is a big part of my life...and I wanna share that with you.
Please dont be offended... its just that a lot of awesome things seem to go on about alcohol.


Other things are happening too... but in todays post... well... it is about beer.

This Wednesday night... Culver City will be host to their very own Oktoberfest....
Downtown Culver City with all its cute shops and restaurants will be a hopping.
There will be music, and prizes and food.
There will be discounts and free stuff too!!!!! yay!!!

There will also be wine tastings and free classes, such as pole dancing lessons.

Not to mention all the beer tastings you can enjoy, many of them seasonal and artisanal.

For more info... check out their site!!!!

Pasadena Wine Festival

Hey...so Saturday is the Pasadena Wine Festival.

There will be 100+ wines to try
Food Trucks
and
Live Jazz and Salsa under the stars


FUN!!!!
Love it!

Plus... it will be at the beautiful L.A. County Arboretum.  If you have never been you should go just to see the awesome grounds.

This sounds like a nice calm way to spend a Saturday afternoon/evening.
It will make you feel like you live in one of those small towns that actually has a "community" feeling.
Sadly this is not one for the kiddies....its 21+ only.

Tickets are between $28-$85 depending on what kind of wine experience you want.
Check out the website for more info.

Improv in Los Angeles

Hey all...

So todays post is about Improv.

You should go see some.
It is hilarious.

So let me tell you why I am all about Improv.
I was a theater major, in College and I stopped acting a few years after I graduated.
So recently I have been feeling very uncreative.  So I started to go see some improv, and I started to take classes.  Improv is scary...but its a rush.

Anyways, in this time of... unstableness in the world, where people are being a little bit tight with their money it is important to go out and spend money on the arts.  But... I know what you are saying... you get burned a lot when you go see shows.

There IS a lot of bad theater in Los Angeles. I won't lie to you.  But this is why you should consider the art of improv.  It is funny.  There are soo many schools around Los Angeles, and the prices are really low to see a show.  You could say to yourself... I feel like seeing some improv and you could find 2-5 shows to choose from that day, thats how much improv is around...and these are just the schools I am talking about.

Here are the links to some of the top improv in the city.  Check them out....go to a show... have a laugh.
Plus we need to support the arts!!!!

Upright Citizens Brigade
Comedy Sportz
IO West
The Groundlings
ACME Comedy Theatre

Santa Monica Wine and Food Festival

Its tomorrow!!!!!

It sounds like a lot of fun!!!!
A nice afternoon on the beach, eating and drinking what is not to like?

So heres some info on it:

This festival celebrates the independent restaurants.  No chains are allowed, and they are really putting a strong emphasis on fresh foods.

There will be live music and dancing as well as cooking demonstrations.  One of them is one that I am super excited about... my favorite cupcakery will be doing a demonstration.  Tiffin Soforenko the Executive Chef at Yummy Cupcakes will be showing her stuff!!!!

Yummy Cupcakes is awesome by the way, they have a location in Santa Monica as well as Burbank.


There will also be several other cooking demonstrations as well.

So.. there will be tons of restaurants and wineries there.

Tickets are a little bit pricey... but its worth it cause it includes your tastings, entertainment, drinks, and cooking demonstrations.

General Admission: $40
VIP: $60- I would totally splurge on this event and go for the VIP tickets.

Oh and they are donating a portion of the proceeds to the following charities and groups:

Boys and Girls Club of Watts/Willowbrook
The Heritage Education Group
and
The Special Olympics of Southern California

I pasted the links for all the above groups so you can check them out for yourselves, and maybe give something to them... money, time, stuff.


I mean just check out the website for the event and look at all the businesses that are involved....

So... to recap:
Got nothing to do tomorrow?
Head to Santa Monica...and go enjoy being near the ocean with some great food and wine.

Fall is almost here!!!!

So Fall is kind of upon us... its just so hot out its hard to tell.
Well...
I think that means it is time to go Apple Picking!!!!! I mean how Fallish is that!!!!!??????
I have had friends who go every year... it always sounded so East Coast to me...and I twinge of jealousy would set in that I was never invited... so I decided to do some research and find some info on Apple Picking in SoCal!!!!

and I hit the Jack Pot!!!!!

Sky Meadow Farms!!!! in some place called Leona Valley....
was not sure where that was... so I mapped it... it's near Lancaster and Palmdale..so not too far away.

Sky Meadow sounds awesome, its family owned and operated, and they have all kinds of stuff you can pick yourself:

Cherries- June
Apricots- June/July
Apples- August- November
Peaches- September- October

So... we are just in time for Apples and Peaches!!!!!

Sky Meadow is open Sat and Sun only from 9am-5pm, but ask that you call before you head up just to confirm their schedule, and make sure they are open that day.

So I cannot wait to go pick some apples!!!! I imagine they taste so much better if you pick your own!!!!


This is a perfect fall activity and would also be a great annual event.

The Long Beach Street Food Festival!!!

OH MY!!!!!
I cannot wait... its like Christmas in early October!!!!!

So... I missed out on the LA Street Food Festival... and it nearly crushed me... my dear food trucks were there... and I have been dieing... okay so my blog is telling me this is spelled wrong.. but it won't give me other optins... dying? dyeing? di-ing?  whatev's.... I have been dieing to try The Grilled Cheese Truck... I mean COME ON!!!!!!
How awesome does that sound... who doesn't like a grilled cheese... I even like it with cheap bread and fake super processed cheese.... imagine how it would taste with quality ingredients?

Okay... so back to the post at hand....
The LB Street Food Fest!!!!
Yippee!!!!
Cannot wait... gonna go... wish it was today cause I would be there!!!!

Okay so here is the deal....
25+ food trucks including:

The Grilled Cheese Truck
Nom Nom Truck (super excited loved them on The Great Food Truck Race)
Crepes Bonaparte
India Jones
CoolHaus (amazing, we ha them come by set on a show I worked on)
Munchie Machine
Greasy Wiener( I am excited about this one cause I am a child...and think its name is funny)
Fresh Fries LA
Ahn Joo (had this before, FABULOUS!!!!!! and the nicest people)
Knock Out Taco
Slice Truck

there are so many more trucks!!! These are just a few of them.



Okay... so when is this and whats the info about it?

Okay so  here is a link to the website.
This day of glorious food on wheels is Saturday Oct. 9th.
10:30am-5:30pm
At Rainbow Lagoon Park in Long Beach
If you buy your tix ahead of time its $6, or if you wait... $8 at the gate.

I have a wedding to go this day... but you know what I am so committed to food trucks... that I am going to get up early... drive down to the LBC...and get something greasy and then go home and get all perty and have a great day.... that is how I roll.

I know you are saying...this girl knows how to party.  I do.



Alright...so go to this... check out the site for all the info on the food trucks...cause your fav. food truck is probably gonna be at this.

Wine in LA... Con't.

Okay... So... for those of you who did not read yesterdays post... you should read yesterdays post... or you will be sooooo lost... okay not really... but I really enjoyed yesterdays post... so maybe you will too?


Okay... so as promised....
The second stop on the Malibu Hills Wine tour.

Cornell Winery.

I am driving with my friend Trent.. we were of course blasting music from my Ipod driving through the hills in my Mini...and felt like we had left the city...and entered some crazy town where people say hi to each other...and will slow down for you to cross the street.
We came down Mullholland Hwy, and saw tons of motorcyclists...and I was like... hmmmm... maybe we made a wrong turn?  this is a bit crazy... I mean there were hundreds of motorcycles...half of which were in front of what looked like a barn converted into a bar...but then there were also people... lots of them just standing outside mingling and laughing.  We started to wonder why we were not a part of this...and what world do you have to be from to be a part of this... Jealousy almost started to strike...
until I remembered that we were moments from wine.  This thought alone consoled me.

So... a few curves of the Mulholland Hwy later, and Trent and I are pulling up to a barn that has been converted into a fancy Steak House?  (Apparently a lot of barns were in the area).
Right next door is this fabulous old house, that is now.... Cornell Wines.  I look over...and there is a white peacock!!! Where am I?  An all WHITE Peacock...?????

Okay.. so tons of motorcycles, super curvy road, tons of converted barns, and now a freakin white peacock?  This place is magical... and I never want to leave... please bring on the wine...and the day will be perfect.


So... I finally get convinced to go inside rather then chase the peacock...and it was a good thing... inside was just as magical... you walk in and there are tons of bottles for sale, set up on fabulous displays.  Go a little bit further in and you see a tall counter with people pouring wine.

We had seven in our group so they asked us to go back to a long table... it felt very important.  We had our own space on this amazingly long table, with a chandelier and candelabras spread out on the tables.   On the walls are beautiful photos for sale.

And then... the wine comes... 8 tastings for $12... pretty good deal.... and they had some great prices as well.

The wines you taste are from several different vineyards around California.  Another cool thing... each week they change the wines you taste... so you can go back each week.. and pretend you are in another world... cause really... you are.  This place is so random...and magical.

Because... we just had a tasting at the fabulous SIP..and now 8 tastings later... I was done.  I want to be safe as well as have a great time...
So.. we sat outside on some wooden lawn chairs...and let the wine where off before heading out!!!

Now.. I did not go into the steak house... but I am definitely going back to Cornell...so I have plans to stop by the steak place, which is actually called The Old Place.  And I have to say their history is quite interesting, and their menu looks great.  Their breakfast does too.... it would be fun to have a late brunch here and then go taste some wine.

SilverLake Art, craft and Vintage Flea Market!!

Go here!!!
Its a lot of fun... and there are food trucks!!!

Go...shop...eat...support your locals.

Swap yo stuff this weekend!!

Okay,

So summer is here, and we probably did not do our spring cleaning.

Which means, you have stuff you want to get rid off.

This Saturday at the Noho PAC (Performing Arts Center)

will be a Swap Fest, The 2010 Frugal Festival Summer Swap if you want the official name!!!

Okay, so here is how it works

You got stuff: lightly used: shoes, clothes, CD's, DVD's, video games, jewelry, accessories, books, home decor

You want more stuff, cause we are human, and thats what we do.

So you bring your stuff, between 10am and noon on Saturday, and $5 and you can come in and swap stuff with others.

If you dont have stuff to swap... but you want more stuff.... then you bring $10 and you get stuff.

Everyone is given a reusable bag to shop with, YAY!!!!!

and there are a lot of prizes and such.

Not to mention this is good for Los Angeles.

All items not swapped at the end of the day will be donated to GoodWill.

Cheap day, shopping, free stuff, chance at a prize and doing good!!!!! My day is completed.

Oh and some of the prizes that will be raffled off are:

and Ipod

a 2 night stay in a Santa Monica Hotel, a nice little weekend by the beach!!!!

a Manicure

plus many more items.

Oh, and click the link above for directions, address, times and any other questions you have!!!

Melrose Market!!!!

This weekend!!!
Get out there and go spend some money people!!!!

The info is below, regarding this awesome shopping oppurtunity.

MELROSE MARKET is a two-day pop-up market featuring 24 independent, up-andcoming
designers showcasing the best Los Angeles has to offer in fashion, t-shirts,
accessories, art and more. Come find great deals on the latest work from LAʼs most
talented undiscovered artists while enjoying finger foods and cocktails by Chef Eric
Greenspan (The Foundry on Melrose). A portion of all purchases will go to Art Share
LA, a community arts incubator that promotes cultural excellence and shapes lives
through, art, education and community action. Presented by Entropy Apparel.
This event is free to the public.
EVENT DETAILS
What:
Young designers pop-up market, free to the public
When:
Saturday and Sunday, August 8th & 9th from 10AM to 4PM
Where:
The Foundry on Melrose
7465 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Who:
Local, independent designers showcasing the best Los Angeles has
to offer in fashion, jewelry, t-shirts, art and accessories and selling it all
directly to the public.
• Finger food and cocktails by The Foundry on Melrose and Chef Eric
Greenspan.
• Portion of proceeds go to Art Share LA, a community arts incubator that
promotes cultural excellence and shapes lives through, art, education
and community action.
• Presented by Entropy Apparel.
For more information, email info@melrosemarketla.com
www.entropyapparel.com www.artsharela.org www.thefoundryonmelrose.com
www.melrosemarketla.com


I think that pretty much covers it...
but if it doesnt, heres the website.

Rose Bowl Flea Market!!!

Next Sunday, June 14 the Rose Bowl will be hosting its once a month Flea Market.

Flea Markets are usually not the big... but this one... It's huge!!!!
The Rose Bowl Flea Market gets vendors from all over Southern California... and it makes
for quite a flea market.

There are tons of vendors selling:

Vintage clothes, antiques, art, food, furniture, new clothes, homemade goods and tons more!!!!
There are over 2500 vendor booths!!!!

I love going to flea markets, cause you never know what you are going to find. I have gotten some great art, jewelry and records at flea markets.
Some vendors will take credit cards... just make sure to take some cash for those smaller purchases!!!!

The flea market goes from 9am-3pm tickets are $8
For those heavy hitter flea marketers you can get in at 8am for $10
or even enter at 7am for $15...
But for the serious collector... for $20 you can go in at 5am...
THATS DEDICATION!!!!!! I love to shop... but not at 5am...

The Rose Bowl Flea Market is held every month, on the second Sunday of the month, so if you cannot make this one... there are lots more!!!!

The next one is July 12th!!!!