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. Travel candles.

Sometimes you need a little extra comfort from you're away from home, and travel candles are a great way to fill a foreign space with a scent, and therefore a mood, that you love.

I recently picked up this cute (and great smelling) Fleurs de Nuit travel candle at Catbird on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn. The beauty of a travel candle is it's lightweight, has a lid, and is a cute small size that's just right so you don't end up wasting (or toting around) a half-candle's worth of wax.

Anthropologie also has great travel candles.

Barneys too.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: the BEAT

Check It. Atlas Obscura.

Ahh, June. It's beginning to feel like summer, no? In any case, hopefully many of you are beginning to plan some trips and vacation. If so, time to bookmark your new favorite travel site.

I recently discovered Atlas Obscura through the travel issue of Brand X, and I've been scouring the various city entries ever since. The site is aimed all compiling information on all the fascinating and wonderful areas of the world, acting as a great guide for the traveler hoping to go beyond the tourist traps. All the info is provided in usual wiki fashion, meaning anyone can contribute their own finds, and others are encouraged to join and edit. It provides a great first-hand account of many of these places, and also often features insider local knowledge that you might not otherwise be able to know about if you're simply traveling through. I even enjoyed the fun entries the site had compiled for Los Angeles. Take time to explore your own area, or learn about something fun in your future vacation spot. And even if you're not going anywhere this summer, visit the Atlas Obscura blog for random interesting picks and lists. You're sure to discover something new and fun.

And if you're in need of another cool travel site, Wikitravel is always a favorite go-to of mine.

-- Chau Tu

Etc. Holiday Travel Tips.

If your travel plans are all in order, and a major storm hits your region, you're outta luck. Lucky for us in L.A. this is a rarity, so as long as a few simple steps are followed, it should be smooth sailing ...

DO check in online (and as soon after you're allowed to as possible, to get in one of the first boarding groups. you're usually allowed to check in online 24 hours before departure.)

DO fly direct if possible

DON'T check a bag if you can avoid it

DO make a "packing" checklist that includes everything from socks to hairbrushes to deodorant, or anything that you are prone to forget

DO arrive to the airport early - holiday security lines are unpredictable and if you encounter a large slow crowd, you'll appreciate the extra minutes

DO bring a sweater or small blanket on board, if you want a nap, it will be much cozier if you're not freezing

DO have a toothbrush easily accessible for your post-nap mouth

DON'T wait until the night before a morning flight to do your laundry - 1:30 a.m. up alone folding T-Shirts is not ideal if you have a 5:00 a.m. wake up call

DON'T wrap presents before flying--security may have to unwrap them if they decide to have a peek (or more) through your belongings

DO pack for the weather of your destination

DO bring a camera

and lastly, DO have fun!

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: www.bostonherald.com