Although it's not yet officially winter, it has been so cold and crisp in L.A. it feels more like London or D.C.!
So it isn't exactly L.A., but Detroit Bar is an excellent adventure into the O.C. 
This new book, Unposed, from photographer Craig Semetko, is a great Christmas gift idea for the photography lover in your life--or for your own coffee table.
I was mesmerized the first time I watched Pan's Labyrinth -- the imagination, the creepiness. And even though I'm not usually a fan of horror movies, I'm curious enough to want to look into Guillermo del Toro's past works, the horror films that, despite never reaching popularity like his later Hellboy films, are widely acclaimed by critics.
After Thanksgiving in Key West (including several delicious slices of various pies), I have Key Lime pie on my mind.
Forgive me, but I actually can't recall ever actually reading an article or piece from National Geographic. But I have a good excuse! -- those photographs. Those strikingly gorgeous photographs of places and people that make you feel so grateful for living in this world. Sometimes it doesn't even feel like this world.
A local group based in Long Beach, Katie the Pest is a recent find for me. 
Happy Thanksgiving, readers! We're so thankful for you.
For us sunny-weather-spoiled Angelenos, Thanksgiving weekend is what often marks the beginning of the 'cold' season. And what we've been blessed with this year is a round of rainstorms just prior to it. Why so fortunate? Because rain down here just happens to mean that a couple thousand feet up, in Big Bear and Mammoth Mountain, is fresh, fluffy snow -- and the perfect getaway for your long weekend.
Makeup palettes are fun and convenient - especially when all the colors in one are appealing.
Getting in the holiday spirit, rapper Talib Kweli is having a free record release show for his latest album "Gutter Rainbows" at The Roxy Theater this Wednesday.
Considering that the Hammer Museum in Westwood is still putting together hip and cool exhibits, and hosting fun nights like sleepovers and free concerts, it can be difficult to believe that it's already turning 20 years old this year. But it's keeping up with the fun by offering free admission for 20 days, starting this Friday, Nov. 26 until Dec. 18.
If you want an alternative to the creamed corn dish at Thanksgiving, humitas are an amazing corn dish that is native to Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. 
During an afternoon of shopping at Glendale's Americana at Brand on Saturday afternoon while the boys were at The Los Angeles Gun Club, Mrs. Elizabeth Katz (Hank's lovely sister) and I popped into Deluca's for a bite to eat.
Bar Marmont is one of the quintessential L.A. bars. I have friends/family in town from New York this weekend and am looking forward to taking them out to one of my favorite spots from my old neighborhood.
I don't think it's jumping the gun to say that it's time to seriously start considering what to get people for Christmas. 
Time to get your fanboy on, because it is officially time to get excited for Tron: Legacy. And that's thanks to the fact that the Tron pop-up shop opens at Royal/T today.
Not only is tomorrow Friday, it's also the day presale tickets for Beach House at the Music Box in Hollywood go on sale. Starting at 10:00 a.m. (until 10:00 p.m.) tomorrow, you can go to ticketmaster.com and use the password "ZEBRA" to get tickets before they go on sale to the general public.
Can you believe it -- that little white cartoon kitty is turning 50! And you know she has to celebrate in style.
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.
Eyeglasses shopping can be pretty stressful -- not only do you want a pair that looks good on you, but you want something you can actually afford too, and glasses aren't really something you can or want to go cheap on. You need something reliable, and you need something nice-looking, and it honestly feels like a victory when you can find one that works.
I saw these Nalgene water bottles at Target last night and they reminded me of Lauren and our L.A. Times days. She was so good about carrying it around the newsroom, and refilling it throughout the day--drinking plenty of water, something most people struggle to do. Then I saw a label that said something along the lines of "drink more water, feel better". What an easy way to feel better! I was sold. Aside from just daily sipping, the simple bottles would also be great for any kind of outdoor activity.
Tonight the Long Beach City Council will be deciding the fate of the Colorado Lagoon by voting on measures that will affect the restoration of this part of the greater Los Cerritos Wetlands. 
By now, most everyone in L.A. knows about the Cinespia screenings at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Sadly, the movie screening season is over, but the cemetery is still alive -- ha!
I was halfway through my Sunday brunch when I realized I should blog about it.
It's been about a month since Mad Men's shocking season finale, which means..you're probably going through Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce withdrawals right now. But not to fear -- as always, Roger Sterling has got your back.
So according to Gizmodo, Facebook is launching a new email feature, premiering today, that will blow Gmail, Hotmail, and Yahoo!'s email system out of the water. 
I'm so excited about this event, I'm blogging on the weekend.
So after Wednesday's post, I went ReadyMade crazy, and found a DIY solution to having your clothes dry cleaned. Dry cleaners are expensive in various ways both a.) financially and b.) the cost on the environment is ridiculous.
I admit, I've had my fair share of Jamba Juice. But we all know there are better smoothies in town. BodyFactory is one of them. And they're open late (till 11:00 p.m. Monday - Saturday and 10:00 p.m. Sunday)! A perfect spot for after an evening workout.
What could be more fun than the prospect of a scavenger hunt? Add in the fact that it'll take place in this wonderful city of Los Angeles and you'll be helping out some local charities, and you really can't go wrong.
When Golden State first opened, they were definitely trying to ride the L.A. burger-hype wave. And while those burgers -- and all the other food on the menu, from the fries to sandwiches to potato salad to the Scoops ice cream! -- are absolutely delectable and fresh-tasting, I've come to realize that what the restaurant really needs to be known for is its booze.
The money-saving site Groupon announced yesterday that it started covering the Inland Empire, so folks who live there or visit can save their money, too.
David O. Russell's The Fighter screened at the AFI Fest 2010 last night at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, and it was fantastic. 
Every one in New York is crazy about David Chang and his Momofuku empire of restaurants, and after hitting up the Milk Bar in July, I can understand the hype. But you won't have to buy a plane ticket anymore to get a taste -- Momofuku Milk Bar is coming to your house.
If you're ever yearning for a simpler life without all the clutter (and if it's too early in the morning to get any real productive work done) ReadyMade Magazine, the DIY mag, has some really interesting blog posts including the recent Week Without Stuff. 
Before he did Rosemary's Baby and Chinatown, Roman Polanski created tons of short films that will be shown tonight at Cinefamily, presented by the Polish Cultural Institute and accompanied by a live score.Sza/Za Penne God from Maciej Puczyński on Vimeo.
Every once in awhile, you read a news story that absolutely breaks your heart. I had this experience yesterday, reading Scott Gold's Los Angeles Times piece about Aaron Shannon Jr., a 5-year-old who was shot and killed in South L.A. on Halloween, while wearing his brand new Spider-Man costume, a gift from his grandfather who didn't want his grandson to have to be a bumblebee two years in a row although money for a new costume was tight.
Anyone who's ever seen LCD Soundsystem live knows what an incredible experience it is. There's an added energy and fervor that come from James Murphy and Co. that just can't be felt through their recordings (lthough of course, those recordings are already amazing as they are). But there's just something raw and fierce and undeniably fun when the band gets out from behind the computers to embark on their instruments and get into it.
Clocks "falling back" is such a luxury just when it's appreciated, in mid-fall. What did you do with your extra hour on Sunday? I slept!
I recently went to this nice coffee, pastry shop with my roommates who loved the curtain pictured above. When we got home they went to work quickly recreating this giant curtain for our apartment. 
A Blonde Redhead show I went to years ago at the Music Box (then most often called "the Henry Fonda") was one of the best concert experiences I've had. Beck and his wife were fellow audience members if that helps to put things in perspective. I was so fantastic in fact that my friend Christina and I then listened to their Misery is a Butterfly CD in my car the whole way home--after the show!
I definitely am of the opinion that making Christmas presents beats buying them hands down. It takes patience and quite a bit more time than perusing the isles of a store, but homemade goodies are personal and thoughtful. And, if you're one of about 12% of Californians who are registered as unemployed, or painfully underemployed, making your presents for the holidays can save you a bit of crucial cash. 
Some say the cupcake craze in L.A. is over, but all that means is that you probably haven't had enough cupcakes lately. So get prepared, because you'll get more than your share on Nov. 20th.
Reminder: The Red Hot Chili Peppers book signing event at the Grove's Barnes & Noble today at noon.
When the Lakers won the NBA Championship last season, it seemed like no one was more thrilled than Ron Artest. The quirky forward has become infamous for his strange but endearing acceptance speech, and that all makes his next move even cooler.
How cute are these? I love J. Crew ballet flats, and the preppy retailer always seem to come out with new styles even though they are all so classic. They're made in Italy, and reasonably priced for the level of style and quality you're getting.
