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Juicy Couture is soooo 2 years ago, but juicy fruit arrangements are now all the rage.
Sending flowers is always nice, but when you really want to impress, it's all about the fruit basket. Gone...
Juicy Couture is soooo 2 years ago, but juicy fruit arrangements are now all the rage.
Sending flowers is always nice, but when you really want to impress, it's all about the fruit basket. Gone are the boring plastic-wrapped concoctions of spotty bananas, waxy apples, and mysterious sausage and cheese combos, these days you can have your bouquet and eat it too. While those flowers may die, a fresh and delicious fruit bouquet from Edible Arrangements will be DEVOURED. Designed to look like floral bouquets, Edible Arrangements' creations are pieces of fruit skewered into elaborate displays. Pineapples, melons, apples, grapes, and dark chocolate covered strawberries are available in several different styles, and are not only a sure-fire way to knock the socks off of your clients and co-workers, but a fast, healthy, and easy way to add color and flavor to your parties and events. Just call to place the order, and wait for the arrangement to show up wherever your party is.
Efficient and personable service from my personal friend Scott Greenberg, and of course there is always guaranteed deliciousness. Plus, if you're ever in the neighborhood and walking by to place your order, you might be surprised with a free chocolate covered strawberry or apple. Those get me placing orders left and right, and I'm sure they'll do the same for you.
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If only.
If only college towns across the nation knew the magic that is Diddy Riese. Imagine a late night of (dare I say) substance consumption, you know, "relaxing after exams" and topping off...
If only.
If only college towns across the nation knew the magic that is Diddy Riese. Imagine a late night of (dare I say) substance consumption, you know, "relaxing after exams" and topping off the evening with the perfect snack. I'm not often in Westwood, but I was there this week when a friend suggested we get an Ice Cream sandwich. No way was I breaking my "diet" for any ordinary ice cream sandwich, I said, but as soon as this Diddy Riese cookie phenomenon was in my hands, I couldn't argue.
First you pick your cookies--all varieties from Chocolate Chip to Peanut Butter and Cinnamon Sugar (better known as the Snickerdoodle for Southerners, don't ask). If cookies weren't enough, then you pick your ice-cream flavor, and they've got all the standards plus a few wild cards. Then they mash it into a gooey sandwich and you hand them just one dollar, and the dribbly goodness begins.
One dollar, people. Nothing costs a dollar anymore, especially in L.A. And if it does, it sure aint a globbledy gloop of sweetness like they're serving up at Diddy Riese.
Go. Now.
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What? You haven't heard the latest hip-hop album to come out of France? Okay, me either, so I headed up to my new favorite record store of all time, Amoeba Music, on Sunset. With everything in...
What? You haven't heard the latest hip-hop album to come out of France? Okay, me either, so I headed up to my new favorite record store of all time, Amoeba Music, on Sunset. With everything in stock, from Britney Spears to Brit Pop, you will always find what you want, and my guess is, probably walk out with more than you planned on.
If you can't find your favorite, for some reason, their amazing staff will immediately come to your rescue. The loudspeaker can often be heard asking for help on finding things-- "Japanese Techno-Bluegrass from the late '70s anybody got a clue??" The staff, sprinkled throughout the store, hard at work, really care about music, and they care even more that your experience with music is all it can be, whatever your tastes. Don't be intimidated by something you're not sure about and want to try, the vibe here is so non-pretentious and welcoming that you'll leave feeling cooler than you walked in, regardless of what's in your bright yellow shopping bag.
Amoeba opened its first store in Berkeley in 1990, inspired by independent record stores of yesteryear. Now with huge additions in San Francisco and Hollywood, they maintain that small specialty store vibe despite the towering walls covered in vintage concert posters and old LP covers, the second floor of DVDs and soundtracks galore, and the friendly security bag check in front.
Low on funds this month? Remember that 'NSync CD you bought to listen to in college before you went out for a night on the town? Yes, yes, treasured memories, but they're worth money, to someone out there, and you can sell them to Amoeba for cash, or a few dollars more of credit. They'll even take your old DVDs, LPs, and VHS tapes. Not sure what to do with that cash? Amoeba's helpful staff is once again to the rescue. They put out a self made paper 'zine of their favorite staff picks called "MUSIC WE LIKE" and it's free, so you've no excuse.
They're also known for their free concerts held on the store's stage for those in the know, so for more details, directions and dish, head to the store immediately or check out their site. This is a definite treasure trove worth digging around in. Bring a protein bar, you might end up there all day...
Amoeba Music
6400 Sunset Blvd
Hollywood CA
323-245-6400
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Eating well and healthy is very easy in this town, especially with the opening of M Cafe, the latest offshoot of hotspot Chaya. Shigefumi Tachibe has created a menu rooted in macrobiotics but...
Eating well and healthy is very easy in this town, especially with the opening of M Cafe, the latest offshoot of hotspot Chaya. Shigefumi Tachibe has created a menu rooted in macrobiotics but flavored with everybody's favorites, and caught my eye as a perfect place to catch up and grab a bite with a friend before heading out for the evening.
It was so nice being able to pull up into a parking lot instead of valeting or circling the block dizzily only to get ticketed in a resident zone later. Unassuming and modest at first, this little cafe surprised us with its wide selection of sandwiches like the vegan muffelata (can you believe it?), sushi (both fish and vegetarian), rice bowls, hearty salads, and savory soups. I had the Lotus Root and Sweet Corn Chowder and Madras Tempeh (pressed soybeans) wrap, and washed it down with some organic chardonnay.
We sat at a sweet little table outside, feeling peaceful and filled thanks to our excellent cuisine and feng shui balanced surroundings, but couldn't help but stare back in past the glass at the multitude of desserts they had on display. Truffle varietals, cookies, cakes, pies--they had it all, and all free of refined flours and sugars. We figured we owed it to our bodies, really, healthy desserts are hard to come by. Convinced by the friendly and welcoming staff and the little chocolate balls in the window, we ended an amazing meal with a sweet finish.
M Cafe de Chaya
Open 8am to 8pm
7119 Melrose Avenue
Hollywood
323-525-0588
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Old-School glamour never died, it just moved to Redondo Beach at Ultra Lux Beauty Lounge, a hip-kitten joint that is begging you to go platinum and rock some baby bangs. And even if you're not ready...
Old-School glamour never died, it just moved to Redondo Beach at Ultra Lux Beauty Lounge, a hip-kitten joint that is begging you to go platinum and rock some baby bangs. And even if you're not ready for such a dramatic change, maybe you are....
A fan of Elvis?
A fan of leopard print everything?
A fan of pretty pink beehives?
A fan of having your hair cut, colored, and coiffed by someone who TRULY knows what you want and won't make you look like a sadder version of yourself one hour ago?
A fan of.....ice cold Heinekens enjoyed to the tunes of No Doubt and The Doors?
Please, please, please look no further.
Once again I was in need of a change. Staring at my limp locks in the office bathroom is bad enough USUALLY, but today it just broke my heart. I made a last minute appointment (I was just plain lucky, so you should book ahead) at Ultra Lux for a cut and some BANGS. Yes readers, it was time again. The gorgeous and intuitive Jaclyn Jean was able to fit me in, and I couldn't recommend her more. The whole staff is charming for that matter. It was like stepping into another time zone, but maybe not even one that's come and gone before. Vintage beauty supplies line the walls, posters of '50s housewives toting new products and perfect prettiness, antique dressers serve as hair stations, and I felt reassured to see a photo of Marilyn Monroe tucked into one of the mirrors as inspiration.
So in taking a check in with myself...
Hair: awesome
Mood: elevated
Sass Factor: watch out for me, "I'm Sassy!"
And the price? Very nice.
Rock out with your Locks out at
Ultra Lux Salon and Lounge
1312 Aviation Blvd. Suite 101
Redondo Beach
310-372-3332
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I'm always nervous before a hair appointment, so Rumba Hair Studio won me over immediately with a nice glass of red wine as Julie and I discussed the great transformation that was about to take...
I'm always nervous before a hair appointment, so Rumba Hair Studio won me over immediately with a nice glass of red wine as Julie and I discussed the great transformation that was about to take place.
I was born a blonde. I started growing up a blonde. I've always thought of myself to be a blonde. But in highschool, something gross and mousy brown started happening to me, so I denied it. I got into my chemical time machine made by Clairol and kept on denying my roots, so to speak. When I moved to California, I thought, "yes! the perfect time to go ultra-blonde!" And it might have been, had I had the good sense to pay a professional and not try to do it myself and end up with an orangey mess with dark brown roots making their way through as to say "Liar!"
I knew it was time to start getting real, and start being good to my hair. I don't want to be one of those old ladies that has to go to the "beauty parlor" (said "beauty pah-lah") and get my hair rolled into a white helmet once a week because it's that stiff and crunchy. I decided to go "back to my roots." Not the roots of myself as a 3 year old towhead, but the roots I kept dyeing that were desperately trying to breathe. I said to Julie, "Let's go brunette."
Rumba's salon is upscale, but not uptight. Their laid back staff is relaxed but professional, and all do their part in making you feel like a star. The low key evening atmosphere is what I'd recommend, and the music and wine mellowed me into that dryer chair where I found a great mag selection and anxiously awaited the results.
Hair turned out great, cut and color, and now I'm back to a color that I'll never have to do anything with ever again, much to the dismay of the talented Julie. I'll be back there for cuts though, and I'll recommend her to all my color-challenged girlfriends, and hopefully they'll pass on the good word as well. You too!
Rumba Hair Studio and the Lovely and Talented Julie (her coworkers are great too!)
1830 S. Elena Avenue
Redondo Beach
310-791-1711
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As a girl who loves planning parties, it angers me to feel like I don't have the time I used to for flower-picking and crafting hand-made decorations, much less one of my super-delicious...
As a girl who loves planning parties, it angers me to feel like I don't have the time I used to for flower-picking and crafting hand-made decorations, much less one of my super-delicious cakes.
Step in Sprinkles Cupcakes in Beverly Hills to come to the rescue, creating drool-worthy cupcakes perfect for parties such as a surprise one I had coming up in which I had no time to plan let alone bake for.
I love cupcakes, and so do the fine folks at Sprinkles. They have 20 flavors, a few of which are featured by the day, and listed on their website or on one of the handy daily flavor cards you can pick up at their Little Santa Monica Boulevard location. Keep one with you at all times for cupcake emergencies!
Usually I'm drawn to cupcakes on purely their cuteness factor, so I opted for a dozen of their lemon coconut lovelies. The moist and sweet lemon cake with coconut icing was devoured by my party guests, and everyone declared them a success. Oh how I wanted to take credit for them, but no one would have believed me.
Yes they're in Beverly Hills, so yes they're a bit pricey, but YES, YES, YES they are amazing and will help you turn your baking time into basking time as you reap the praise of all your sweet-toothed friends.
Don't believe me? Pop in and try one for yourself. Bet you'll bring home a dozen.
Build your dozen with a few of each flavor offered for the day. All of one kind sure does look pretty, but one of each will please EVERYONE on your list. And they also deliver (in pretty pink boxes)!!
Sprinkles Cupcakes
9635 Little Santa Monica Blvd.
Beverly Hills
310-274-8765
eat@sprinklescupcakes.com
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