the monthly BEAT: Silver Lake. Broome Street General Store.

A fantastic new addition came to Silver Lake this summer--the Broome Street General Store. They serve New York's Gimme! Coffee, and make a mean scone too.

From Rifle Paper Co. cards to Morris Kitchen ginger syrup, this is the best west coast place for great east coast goods!

2912 Rowena Avenue in Silver Lake, (323) 570-0405, facebook.com/broomestgeneral

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Broome Street General Store via facebook

Check It. Umami Burger's upcoming expansion.

We love Umami Burger here at the BEAT, so we're thrilled to hear the news that there's major expansion planned, in partnership with SBE Group. First, a flagship location at the Grove will open this fall, and then 35 more locations will open nationwide within the next three years.

My favorite is the truffle burger, cooked medium (vs. the standard medium-rare) and I hear the truffle fries (how decadent!) are pretty fantastic, too.

We told you about the Los Feliz location's great happy hour last year, and it's still a solid bet, especially on a warm summer evening.

Congratulations, Umami! My hometown burger hero.

The five current locations are listed here.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Ringo H.W. Chiu / for the Los Angeles Times

Eat Out. Paradis.

I think I've found my new favorite ice cream spot. And considering the vast variety of ice cream and frozen yogurt and gelato places that L.A. has to offer, I know it's pretty bold just to pick on favorite. But Paradis has completely won me over.

Paradis is a popular chain of shops in Denmark, offering homemade and freshly made ice cream. It only opened its first store in the United States (in Montrose) about two years ago, and earlier this year, it opened its second location, in Los Feliz Village (replacing a former Pinkberry). And it's prime to keep on expanding (in case you too get addicted).

The shop offers about 20 flavors at a time, with the usual chocolate and strawberry as well as coffee chocolate chip and Ferrero Rocher (which just happens to be my combination pictured above). And if you're in the mood to go all the way, opt in for chocolate marshmallow to put on top -- it looks devilishly delectable. Either way, though, the ice cream you'll enjoy will be incredibly smooth and creamy, and the flavors amazingly on point without being too sweet. It'll be difficult to go back to any other ice cream after Paradis, trust me.

Paradis is located at 1726 N. Vermont Ave. in Los Feliz.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: the BEAT

Do It. Celebrate Kate Spade and Current/Elliott in Century City.

This event at the Century City Kate Spade shop on Thursday night sounds like a lot of fun! Creative director Deborah Lloyd is hosting, celebrating the 'Westward' collection, which is a collaboration with Current/Elliott designers Emily Current and Meritt Elliott.

I first heard of Current/Elliot a couple years ago when a lot of fashionable celebrities (Reese Witherspoon, Katie Holmes) were wearing their "Boyfriend" jeans. They're bringing their laid-back west coast style to the typically preppy NY-based line, and it's working--for me anyway, but that could just be the Malibu in me. There are six styles, ranging in price from $245 (wallet) - $1,295 (duffle).

Meet the designers and shop the collection Thursday night!

Thursday August 11, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Kate Spade Century City, 10250 Santa Monica Boulevard (in the mall).

RSVP - rsvp@starworksla.com

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Kate Spade

Do It. Amoeba's Monday Movies at Space15Twenty.

Free movies every Monday at 8pm, all month at Space15Twenty. Grab a burger at Umami and sit back and enjoy the show, or stop by early and check out the racks at Urban Outfitters, What Comes Around Goes Around or Hennessey + Ingalls. Since Amoeba is sponsoring the screenings, be prepared for music-themed movies: this week it's an advance screening of Magic Trip : Ken Kesey's Search For A Kool Place, featuring never-before-seen-footage; next week it's a fun mix of Beastie Boys films and music videos.

Check out the rest of the lineup here.

Amoeba's Mondays Movies are screening at Space15Twenty, located at 1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd. in Hollywood.

-- Chau Tu

the monthly BEAT: Silver Lake. Sunset Junction 2011.

For August's edition of the monthly BEAT, we're focusing on Silver Lake, which actually just so happens to be my own new neighborhood. It's a land oft-known/ridiculed for its hipsterism, but that mainly just means there are a lot of newer, younger places popping up around town that, while carry a hype machine, could be worth your visit.

But there are also some institutions already in place, a la Malo, Intelligentsia, and of course, the Sunset Junction Music Festival and Street Fair. Taking place at the end of the month at -- where else? -- the Sunset Junction, the musical lineup includes bands and artists both local and not, both big and small. Think Bobby Womack, the Melvins, Hanson (yep), Art Brut, the Butthole Surfers, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Dum Dum Girls, alongside the Soft Pack, Lesands, Hands, Oh Darling and more. And then there's the market and food and fair stuff and general fun galore.

Tickets are only $20 per day, get them here.

The Sunset Junction Music Festival and Street Fair takes place Aug. 27-28 at Sunset Junction, located at 3700 to 4300 Sunset Blvd. (between Edgecliffe Dr. and Fountain Ave.) and 4000 to 4200 Santa Monica Blvd. (between Sanborn Ave. and Hoover St.).

-- Chau Tu

Do It. Breakfast at Tiffany's cemetery screening.

There's a Cinespia cemetery screening this Saturday night that you won't want to miss: Breakfast at Tiffany's. Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly is beyond charming in this iconic role.

Arrive early, and bring plenty of food and drink--melba toast and cottage cheese (Holly's go-to), martinis, or croissants and good coffee.

I also highly suggest the book.

Saturday August 6 - gates open 7:00 p.m., film at 8:30 p.m. $10 cash at entry gate.

6000 Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood. Info: cinespia.org

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Paramount, via filmreference.com

Do It. See Andy Warhol's 'Soup Cans' at MOCA.

There's nothing quite like seeing a Warhol in person. And though you've surely seen his iconic Soup Cans printed in books and magazines or on the Internet, seeing the intricate detailing of all the names and labels on the cans in person makes the art piece really something else. It brings a deeper appreciation to the little things, the simpler things. Beauty in what is, even if it's just your dinner for the night.

Andy Warhol's Soup Cans is being shown until Sept. 19 at MOCA, located at 250 S. Grand Ave. in downtown. This is the first time the entire collection has been shown in L.A. since its original showing (at the Ferus Gallery, 49 years ago).

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Andy Warhol Foundation/MOMA

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

Check It. 'Stroked' [The Monday Download].

Warning: this post will probably make you feel very old.

The Strokes' Is This It is now officially a decade old. TEN years. !!! It's been ten years since you first heard those oh so familiar and now oh so classic first chords of "Last Nite," ten years since Julian Casablancas oh so distinct mumble-drawl caught your ears, ten years since you couldn't get this New York, too cool for school, leather jacket- and skinny jean-wearing dudes out of your brain. A lot has been said about the garage rock revival that The Strokes helped to revolutionize those years ago, and a lot more has been said about what has happened to them since.

But neither here nor there, it's time to reminisce. Or maybe even better -- pay tribute. Stereogum's put together another one of their cover compilations, this time honoring none other than Is This It. And as usual, they've got some pretty great names and bands contributing, from Real Estate to The Morning Benders to Peter Bjorn and John to Owen Pallett. Everyone's got their own feelings about cover songs, but either way, they do serve their purpose: making you rethink the original in a new and fresh way. And the notes the musicians gave on The Strokes and their songs are pretty interesting as well.

Worth your time and listen -- at least until you're ready to spin the original again. Listen and download here.

-- Chau Tu