Eat Out. Cheebo.

An excellent place for brunch in Los Angeles, Cheebo has a very tasty, affordable menu with all kinds of quirky tofu scrambles, sandwiches, and frittatas. I also remember being really impressed with their coffee. What's really nice about it though, the bright oranges and yellows give this place a very small restaurant, warm atmosphere. You'd never know it was off Sunset Boulevard.
Most meals here are about $8-$10 per plate and most of the dishes seem very healthy.

It's recommended to call ahead, but I've visited without reservations and got a table right away -- but I may have just been lucky.

Cheebo is located at 7533 W. Sunset Blvd. Their phone number is (323) 850-7070.

-- Lauren Williams

Check It. Fisherman's Friend.

When you have a sore throat, get your hands on these. They've been around since 1865, and aren't sweet or fancy like some cough drops, but these lozenges definitely get the job done better than any on the shelf. The small pale brown disks are powdery, like Altoids, but wider and flatter. Within about a minute of popping one in your sick mouth, you'll feel sweet relief.

Fisherman's Friend lozenges are made in the U.K., but widely available in the U.S.--at drug stores, supermarkets, and of course British shops.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: rsc.org

Check It. Family.

This is one of my favorite LA bookstores, Family on Fairfax Avenue across from Canter's Deli. Despite its tiny storefront, it's filled with excellent books, obscure artsy films, photography and comic books, music, and even has a gallery in the back.

Every time I come here I end up reading the first page of at least five or six really amazing sounding books, and regret when I have to leave.

They usually have several compilation books, including back issues of McSweeney's and the Best American Nonrequired Reading Series, as well as various Bukowski, Fante, Murakami, Sedaris, Miranda July. Basically any good book you may have been looking for is probably here. Each title that's for sale here is hand selected and must meet rigorous standards before getting placed on Family's shelves.

They also have really interesting movie titles from all around the world, and a good selection of CDs.

They also collaborate with CineFamily at the Silent Movie Theater and often have shows and literary events.

Family is located at 436 N. Fairfax Ave. and is open noon-9 p.m. daily.

-- Lauren Williams

Advance Notice. UCLA Live.

It's really difficult for me to try and plan anything beyond, say, this weekend, but I might have to give in and mark down some busy days for me six months ahead of time. That's because UCLA Live has just announced its 2010/2011 season, and some really great events are in the works.

For example, there's an opportunity to get into the genius minds behind popular satire newspaper, The Onion, when the writers host a multimedia discussion on politics and comedy on Feb. 10. Steven Sondheim, the masterful composer and lyricist of classics like West Side Story and Sweeney Todd, is stopping by on Nov. 8 for a surely not-to-be-missed engagement. And then there's David Sedaris. If you've never listened to the popular author speak or tell his stories in person, you're in for an absolute treat. He'll be at Royce Hall April 27, and it's definitely worth planning ahead for.

Tickets for individual events go on sale TODAY, so get to planning! You can also purchase tickets in series, or buy four individual events and get 15% off.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: UCLA Live

Do It. The New Santa Monica Place.

The New Santa Monica Place is really something. Showing absolutely no signs of its 1980's-style former self, it's a fresh, clean, ocean breezy, very 2010 and beyond place to stroll, shop, and eat.

The grand opening was yesterday, although all the shops and restaurants aren't yet open. I went this afternoon with my mom and it was really busy, and everyone seemed impressed with the new center. The third level is dedicated to dining, and has six sit-down restaurants, as well as even more fast-casual choices. We had a great Mexican lunch (after a 45 minute or so wait) at Richard Sandoval's La Sandía.

The Nike Store was the most impressive, but I'm still waiting for Nordstrom and their Blue Stove restaurant to open (August 27 at 10:00 a.m.)!

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credits: the BEAT

Do It. Free concerts at The Lab in Costa Mesa.

It's not even fair to try and compare the L.A. music scene to Orange County's, seeing as the latter is nearly non-existent, or feels like it should be. But just because O.C. has cookie cutter homes and strip malls galore doesn't mean it's a complete cultural wasteland.

Take The Lab for example. Located in Costa Mesa, just down the street from the shopping mecca known as South Coast Plaza, this small (parking is nearly impossible here, sadly, but we Angelenos are pretty used to that) complex calls itself the 'anti-mall.' Take that for what you will, but the Lab does house the hipper of shops, like Urban Outfitters, Buffalo Exchange and Commissary, along with cool eateries and bars like Gypsy Den and Habana.

But if you're still not convinced, maybe a little L.A. in the O.C. will assure you. The Lab is putting a month-long series of free concerts on-site featuring some of L.A.'s best local bands like Red Cortez and Voxhaul Broadcast alongside some of O.C.'s own offerings like The Union Line. Four bands a day, each Saturday in August, and it's all free (although donations, benefiting the Pablove Foundation, are appreciated). Guess it's time to take a trip down that 405!

The Lab is located at 2930 Bristol St. in Costa Mesa. The weekly concerts take place each Saturday in August from noon to 4pm. For more info, check out this website.

-- Chau Tu

Check It. Tea tree oil.

I've known about the wonders of tea tree oil for a while. It cures cold sores, canker sores, and I've heard that adding a drop to your shampoo can cure dandruff, lice, or just leave it squeaky clean.

But recently I put a dab of the stuff on a blemish and within an hour there was a noticeable improvement. Although it's oily when it first goes on, something in this wondrous oil started healing my skin instantly. Within a very short time, things were already looking better.

Tea tree oil is very versatile in treating all kinds of skin problems, definitely worth having a bottle for any kind of skin emergency.

It comes in small 1 oz. bottles at Trader Joe's or can be found at Whole Food's Markets.

-- Lauren Williams

Advance Notice. Terry Zwigoff at Amoeba.

There's a new Criterion Collection DVD of Crumb, and Terry Zwigoff (Ghost World, Bad Santa, Art School Confidential) will be at Amoeba to sign it next Saturday, August 14.

Crumb is the great and somewhat heartbreaking documentary following artist/illustrator R. Crumb and his family. He's the creator of comic book personalities Fritz the Cat and Mr. Natural. Last year he published an illustrated version of The Book of Genesis, which was of course a huge undertaking. Original artwork from it was displayed at the Hammer, and it was really amazing.

If you haven't seen Crumb, it's really worth checking out. And a signed Criterion DVD isn't bad either.

Terry Zwigoff at Amoeba Music, 6400 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, August 14 at 3:00 p.m.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Criterion Collection

Drink In. Sweet Tea Vodka [Thirsty Thursdays!].

Maybe you've seen the new ad billboards around Los Angeles for Smirnoff's new sweet tea vodka. Firefly is the original brand of sweet tea vodka, from South Carolina. I discovered it in Charleston, SC last year. It's a great simple summer drink that can be served over ice, or mixed with lemonade (Newman's Own is the best) for an adult Arnold Palmer. Aside from the original, flavors include lemon, mint, and raspberry.

Non-alcoholic sweet tea is one of my favorite drinks--unfortunately not widely available in L.A. like it is at nearly every restaurant in the south. Look out for a sweet tea recipe on 'the BEAT of young los angeles' next week.

Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka is available at West Hollywood's BevMo.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: parkwayreststop.com

Advance Notice. Up! in the park.

In the perfect season to have outdoors nighttime picnics, Long Beach is having a series of movies in various parks around Long Beach. Among the highlights on the docket, are Up! and Toy Story (the first one) -- two excellent Pixar movies.

Up! will be shown on Monday Aug. 23 in Signal Hill Park, which is on a hilltop in Signal Hill and has an amazing view of Long Beach including the Queen Mary, Spruce Goose, and the port -- kind of an eyesore during the day, but at night it's pretty impressive.

Toy Story will be at El Dorado (also an amazing park) Sept. 1.

-- Lauren Williams