Click It. BEAT picks of the week: the last minute guy's gift guide.

An always-stylish (and delicious) bottle of Hendrick's Gin. BevMo! also carries 50 Ml mini bottles that would make cute stocking stuffers!

A sleek cocktail shaker.

Chocolatey treats from Dean & Deluca.

A masculine candle from Molton Brown.

A classic scent from Penhaligon's.

A subscription to GQ magazine.

Sperry boots.

Cool sunglassses.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: ginreviews.com

Click It. BEAT picks of the week.

The Washington Post just published a roundup of some great summer cookbooks, including the Meat Free Monday Cookbook. We're not vegetarians here at the BEAT, but are always interested to try delicious meat-free meal options.

Häagen-Dazs pistachio ice cream for dessert!

See it: Bernie -- a fascinating and very funny movie starring Jack Black and Shirley MacLaine, based on a shocking true story.

A great striped dress for the office or the weekends.

I got a mini version of this Fresh Sugar Rosé Tinted lip balm from Sephora for my birthday, and it looks and tastes so good! Coral is the latest shade from the collection.

Summer sandals.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Kyle Books

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day from the BEAT of young los angeles! Some ideas for celebrating ...

Try Real Simple's recipe for Ale-Braised Corned Beef, Brussels Sprouts, and Carrots (above).

Or Bon Appetit's Grilled Corned Beef and Fontina Sandwiches ... and for dessert Chocolate Stout Cake.

Guinness Cocktails

Wear: Pleated tank dress by Parker in green, from Intermix

Soundtrack: U2: The Best of 1980 - 1990

-- the BEAT

Photo credit: Real Simple

Click It. BEAT picks of the week.

Happy Holiday weekend!

How amazing would it be to see Woody Allen and his jazz band perform? He'll be at UCLA's Royce Hall January 29.

A good Bûche du Noël makes Christmas that much better.

Perfect classic ballet flats.

A new Atwater/Glendale spot for microbrews.

A deliciously decadent French Toast Casserole I like to make on Christmas morning (it would be a nice start to the new year on Jan. 1 too!).

I love this Breakfast at Tiffany's sleep mask I got as a birthday gift this year - a must for long flights!

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: nederlanderconcerts.com

Check It. National Ice Cream Sandwich Day.

National Ice Cream month may be over, but today you can celebrate an entirely (ok, maybe not entirely) different holiday, National Ice Cream Sandwich Day.

Tofutti Cuties chocolate ice cream sandwiches are a really satisfying and guilt-free treat. They are great for vegans, or people with allergies, as they are dairy-free. Even as a non-vegan myself, I really enjoy the flavor, just like I enjoy some soy chocolate milk once in awhile. Each sandwich has 6 grams of fat - a far cry from some ice cream bars out there.

If you'd rather go the more traditional route, there's always Klondike. Or Diddy Riese if you're at all near Westwood Village.

Enjoy!

Tofutti Cuties are available at supermarkets, such as Gelson's, HOWS, select Ralphs, and at natural foods stores.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Tofutti

The Monthly BEAT: Pasadena. 21 Choices.

A delicious frozen yogurt is a great afternoon treat, and/or perfect for a nighttime stroll. Old Pasadena's Colorado Boulevard is a beautiful street for a drink, dinner, and window shopping--especially with some fro yo in hand.

The options are endless at 21 Choices--it's like Cold Stone Creamery but with frozen yogurt, so any flavor can be combined with any toppings (and they have a TON) and it's all mixed together to make your own unique (or not so unique, just make it chocolate chip, if that's your style) dessert.

Enjoy!

21 Choices is located at 85 West Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena. Info: (626) 304-9521

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: la.eater.com

Check It. Southern Biscuits.

Nathalie Dupree and Cynthia Graubart's new cookbook, Southern Biscuits, is out just in time for strawberry season. Strawberry shortcake is definitely a favorite spring/summer dessert, and fluffy fresh biscuits make all the difference.

In this gorgeous southern cookbook, chapters include Easy Biscuits, Traditional Biscuits, Embellished Biscuits, and even a condiment chapter, "Gilding the Lily", that has recipes for citrus butter, fig jam filling, and sausage-bacon gravy, among others.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: nathaliedupree.com

Eat Out. Crepes.

I love a good crepe. My best crepe memories are cold afternoons in Covent Garden's outdoor market, where there was a crepe stand at the right corner entrance. They were hot and delicious--just what you'd hope for on a bone-chilling (or rainy) London day.

The strawberry jam breakfast crepe photo above was taken last month at the Jean Philippe Patisserie at the Aria in Las Vegas. They make a great crepe, but right here in L.A. we have some pretty good creperies too.

The French Crêpe Co. has locations at Hollywood and Highland, and the Farmers Market (as well as in Downtown Burbank). I like the Farmers Market location, but the quality shouldn't vary too much across all three.

A great Long Beach restaurant that Lauren introduced me to when she was living there is La Crêperie Café. It's a really cute breakfast spot, but they're also open for lunch and dinner. We had a lovely long breakfast there one time with a couple other friends, where we all drank endless amounts of Lavazza coffee. Most girls at our table opted for savory items, but I couldn't resist the Maple Madness crepe (banana, walnuts, maple syrup, powdered sugar, and whipped cream).

Bon Appétit!

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: the BEAT

Eat In. Trader Joe's candy cane / cookie ice cream.

So, apparently (according to a radio ad I heard this morning), there's an ice cream that has these in it. At Trader Joe's. A quart for $3.99.

Definitely on my Christmas grocery list. Or maybe even a 'this weekend' grocery list.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: thekitchn.com

Eat In. Key Lime Pie.

After Thanksgiving in Key West (including several delicious slices of various pies), I have Key Lime pie on my mind.

While I haven't made one myself, Gourmet has a classic recipe, and Nellie & Joe's Famous Lime Juice is available quite widely (West Hollywood's BevMo! for example).

Or you can just go to Houston's - whose Key Lime pie, I can now say with experience, rivals the island's.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Getty via rickbakas.com

Eat In. Bittersweet Chocolate Pecan Pie.

With Thanksgiving around the corner, I think everyone is getting excited about the feasts full of roast turkey and sweet potatoes on the horizon. One thing about Thanksgiving desserts is, there's usually not a lot of chocolate involved. If the chocolate lover in you wants to change that, try this Bittersweet Chocolate Pecan Pie from the November 2007 issue of Gourmet Magazine.

Full recipe here.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: gourmet.com

Eat In. Red velvet brain cupcakes.

Now that just sounds delicious, doesn't it? Halloween sure is a great excuse to get creative, and the fun doesn't have to stop at your costume. Think about all the fun, creepy-crawly foods and desserts you can think of -- the bloody punch, the grape eyeballs.

But while getting creative, you want to make sure the food tastes good too! I nabbed this recipe from the Food Network's latest star, Anne Thorton of "Dessert First with Anne Thornton." Her show is set to premiere this Sunday, but if you want a taste of what's sure to come, here's her fun take on red velvet cupcakes. Brain-licking good?