the BEAT of the week: Cinespia at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

It's back! You know summer's just about in full swing when Cinespia, the extremely popular and quintessentially L.A. film series, returns, giving Angelenos the perfect excuse to day-drink and parade in what's become our excuse for a park. As always, the line-up of movies offers something for everyone -- having already screened Lolita, Nightmare on Elm Street and Cheech and Chong. On the slate for this weekend: the classic Jack Nicholson flick Chinatown.

Cinespia's now offering presale tickets for $10 in case you're worried about sold out screenings, but most should still be able to get in by buying tickets at the door. Nevertheless, remember to show up early, bring lots of snacks, and a blanket for when the sun finally goes down. Happy almost-summer!

Cinespia screenings take place on Saturdays this summer at 9pm at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, located at 6000 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood. Check out the list of films here.

-- Chau Tu

Click It. BEAT picks of the week.

Ryan Adams (my favorite) covering Danzig's 1988 hit, "Mother".

A Los Angeles summer scarf from Madewell.

Discovery: Walmart sells Hard Candy nail polish. You better believe I have a brand new bottle of Sky.

Twelve Uncomplicated Summer Cocktails, by Mark Bittman.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Do It. AFI's Great American Movie Quiz with Alex Trebek.

If you're ticking off those last things to do before this summer ends and you don't have a barbecue to hit on Sunday, it might be the perfect excuse to head to the Hollywood Bowl. It's not your regular classical concert or even one of those contemporary concerts they've been having -- nope, Sunday night is The Big Picture: AFI’s Great American Movie Quiz Hosted by Alex Trebek.

How does that not sound amazing? Participate in the ultimate sort of movie trivia put on by the foremost film expert (AFI), hosted by the foremost kind of host. And the questions will be answered/performed live by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, as film clips are shown on screen. Perfect for the movie buff, or the non-movie buff (because hey, you'll learn something!), or just everyone in between looking for an inventive night out.

The Big Picture: AFI’s Great American Movie Quiz Hosted by Alex Trebek takes place this Sun., Sept. 4 at the Hollywood Bowl, located at 2301 N. Highland Ave. in Hollywood. Tickets are still available (ranging from $16-$168) and can be bought here.

-- Chau Tu

Check It. Coral pedicure.

Deciding what color to get for a summer pedi? Coral. It's an ideal compliment to gladiator sandals! Carey Mulligan was picture perfect on the Comic-Con red carpet last weekend, with Essie (our favorite) shades of Capri on her toes, and sheer Blushing Bride on her fingernails.

Other great shades of coral:

Girls Just Want To Have Fun, by Deborah Lippmann

Tart Deco, by Essie

Mango Bango, by Essie

Paint My Moji-Toes Red, by OPI

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: via mml pr

Check It. Gladiator sandals.

This summer, everyone and their mother are wearing gladiator-style sandals. I've been a big fan since a classic H by Tommy Hilfiger brown leather pair I got in college. Today there are countless variations, but I still gravitate toward the simple ones.

A few favorites:

Bernardo (Mistral Sandal shown above, their Mojo Sandal is great too.)

J. Crew (lots of options here. I'm loving my Salinas in black.)

Steve Madden (if you're not looking to spend big on this trend.)

Happy trails, and don't forget a pre-sandal pedicure!

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Bernardo

Drink It. National Iced Tea Day.

Get refreshed with iced tea today, National Iced Tea day!

Our favorites:

Honest Tea

Tazo "Zen" iced green tea

Homemade Southern sweet tea

Bottoms up!

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Southern Living

Etc. Happy Memorial Day.

Happy Memorial Day, readers!

Enjoy the day off, and remember all the men and women whose bravery has kept us safe and free.

A very American way to celebrate: a burger, a summer brew, and some Old-Fashioned Mixed-Apple Pie (can't go wrong with baked goods by Dorie Greenspan).

-- the BEAT

Photo credit: usmemorialday.org

Advance Notice. Calypso St. Barth for Target.

With Easter just behind us, spring is definitely in the air, and summer is just around the corner. Perfect timing for Target to feature their collaboration line with breezy designer Calypso St. Barth.

Target/designer pairings are always exciting, last summer we had John Derian to look forward to, and last fall, Mulberry.

I've spotted several items from the line I'd like to get my hands on--the natural sequins tote (online), the blue tunic dress/chic beach cover-up, the travel makeup cases, and maybe a couple rope bracelets for good measure. Oh, and then there's a home line with very cute cushions.

If you really want to go all in, pick up Calypso Marine perfume (a great summer scent) this week, and spritz yourself pre-Sunday shopping.

Calypso St. Barth for Target will be in stores Sunday May 1.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: blogs.babycenter.com

Advance Notice. Subscribe to the Hollywood Bowl's summer season.

Undoubtedly, this beautiful weather is making you dream of summer already. So you might as well start preparing.

Subscriptions to the Hollywood Bowl's 2011 summer season officially go on sale tomorrow. What better way to enjoy Los Angeles in the summer than a picnic, some wine and the gorgeous music at the Hollywood Bowl? And if you haven't seen the LA Phil's conductor Gustavo Dudamel at work -- this is the year to do it. He surely lives up to the hype, so don't miss out.

And don't think this means you have to stick to going to the Bowl every week of the summer or anything; there are a ton of different and flexible options. Check them out here.

-- Chau Tu

Check It. Plein Soleil.

If you love The Talented Mr. Ripley (and who doesn't, really?), you should check out Plein Soleil. The handsome Alain Delon stars as Tom Ripley in this 1960 predecessor to the 1999 Anthony Minghella film. Both are based on the 1955 novel The Talented Mr. Ripley.

As creepy as it is, it's also a fun summer movie, because the locations are beautiful. Sailing off the Amalfi coast with a perfect tan and an even more perfect wardrobe never looked so good.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: www.alligatorpapiere.de

Do It. The Orange County Fair.

County fairs don't get much excitement out here in California, but that changes whenever the Orange County Fair rolls around.

That's because it's so much more than a simple fair--on top of all the usual sketchy carnival rides, strange attractions, and fairway games, there are major events like the concert series, which this year boasts performances by actual household names like Faith Hill, Adam Lambert, the B-52s, Weird Al Yankovic and Blondie.

And of course, there's the food, which is nearly an event in and of itself! You can't hit a fair without indulging in something ridiculous and fried, and the O.C. Fair is nearly the best in combining the two. Oh there are those bacon-wrapped hot dogs and boxes (yes boxes) of fries, but how about deep-fried Oreos, deep-fried Twinkies and--apparently this year's big one-- deep-fried butter? Oh yeah.

So escape the city for a bit and have some carefree fun! You might want to have some antacids ready, though.

The Orange County Fair is located at 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa and runs until Aug. 15. Tickets are $10 for adults.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: OC Fair

Eat Out. Manhattan Beach Creamery.

Now that the sunny California summer is starting to appear, it's the perfect time to get some delicious hand-crafted ice cream and the Manhattan Beach Creamery serves up classic and creative flavors that are delicious.

MB Creamery is a vintage-looking ice cream shop, with memorabilia from Manhattan Beach's early days as a beach community. The ice cream here is really extraordinary, probably because its extremely creamy.

Some of their flavors include root beer, cotton candy, Nutella, and Apple Blackberry Sherbet. This place can take any flavor and make it delicious. I usually am not keen on bubble gum flavor, but the one here is excellent.

Since it's so close to the Manhattan Beach Pier I like picking up a scoop and taking a walk on the pier -- to me that's an ideal summertime afternoon.

Manhattan Beach Creamery is located at 1120 Manhattan Ave.

-- Lauren Williams

Do It. Santa Monica Pier Twilight Dance Series with Ben Lee.

Ah, no better time or place to take advantage of the SoCal weather than in the summer and on the beach. Add in a world-famous pier and some free music, and you really can't go wrong.

And that's why the Santa Monica Pier's Twilight Dance Series is a definite to-do for those looking for a classic L.A. summer experience. The annual concert series has been around for 27 years now, and is nothing short of a great tradition that brings free fun and great music to the masses. Admittedly, the musical line-up isn't the most hip or contemporary, but there are some fun options like former Rolling Stone Mick Taylor on Aug. 19 and Beatlesfest on Aug. 26. But my pick for the summer just happens to occur tonight, as "Australia Rocks the Pier!" brings groovy acoustic popster Ben Lee to the stage. Dancing and carefree sing-alongs sure to incur.

Australia Rocks the Pier! at the Santa Monica Pier begins tonight at 7pm. Don't forget the beach chairs and blankets!

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Santa Monica Pier

Check It. "All Summer" by Kid Cudi, Best Coast and Rostam Batmanglij [The Monday Download].

If you're already sick of hearing Katy Perry sing about Daisy Dukes, it's time to hit up Converse's website for a new summer tune perfect for open-car-window blasting.

Yes, Converse--the shoe brand that's provided your reliable foot wardrobe for decades is now regularly producing musical collaborations. Last year they got together Julian Casablancas, Santigold and N.E.R.D. for the rather bizarre "My Drive-Thru," but this time around, the random threesome of Kid Cudi, Best Coast and Rostam Batmanglij (of Vampire Weekend) has worked out a lot better.

It's still really random, and I still don't quite understand the point, but either way, "All Summer" is worthy of making the summer playlists this year. You can download the song at Converse's website or take a listen by streaming here.

-- Chau Tu

Eat In. Summer brews [Thirsty Thursdays!].

If there's ever a time for a refreshing beer, it's summer, and what better way to celebrate than with a seasonal ale from our favorite craft beer breweries. Often only available for the few summer months, and boasting light, invigorating flavors, summer brews are definitely a fun way to spice up your drinking routine. And they usually have some clever names, too--how summer-like. Here's a short list of some of my favorite summer beers:

- Blue Moon's Honey Moon Summer Ale: definitely a player in the cute name game. But so appropriate too--the ale has clover honey that sweetens up the Moon's signature citrus taste (there's some orange peel in this one). Available May through August.

- Sierra Nevada's Summerfest: this one's a lager, and has some extra hop bite to it. They use floral in the description, which I thought was funny at first, but there's really no other way to describe it.

- Samuel Adams Summer Ale: this ale definitely has some tanginess to it, with a strong aroma of lemon. Apparently they use something called "Grains of Paradise," or the Melegueta pepper, which is probably what gives it some bite. Available April through August.

- Pyramid's Audacious Apricot Ale: so this one isn't technically a summer ale because it's available year-round (and apparently there is an actual Pyramid summer brew, but I've never tried it), but the sweetness of this beer makes it a perfect hot-weather treat. Plus, 'Audacious'--come on!

Happy summer drinking! And if you know of any other summer brews worth trying, comment below--we'd love to hear from you!

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Samuel Adams

Check It. Summer movies.

I feel like this weekend, with Get Him to the Greek, is the start of the summer movie season. While these blockbusters likely won't take home many Oscar statues next year, they will definitely provide some much needed out-of-the-heat laughs. Take a look at what's in theaters this June (yes, it's June!) ...

June 4 - Get Him to the Greek (Jonah Hill, Russell Brand)

June 11 - The A-Team (Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Liam Neeson)

June 18 - Jonah Hex (Josh Brolin, Megan Fox, John Malkovich)

June 25 - the first month of summer wraps up with a double-hitter of A-list comedy, Grown Ups (Sandler, Spade, Rock), and Knight and Day (Cruise and Diaz)

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: aceshowbiz

Eat In. Easy Casserole.

Often in the summer months, the stovetop and oven can be forgotten about as means to make a good meal. Obviously no one wants to spend any more time around such a heat producer than necessary when the thermometer is rising, but a few simple steps can create a delicious hearty dinner that will last for days. Fusilli, lean ground beef, marinara sauce, and cheddar cheese are the three main ingredients.

You can find organic fusilli at Trader Joe's, I recommend a higher end market for the ground beef (such as Gelson's), and the grated cheddar, you can buy pre-grated or make yourself. Marinara sauce is easy, a big brand name like Classico won't let you down, or go with the Trader Joe's brand for convenience when you're buying the pasta.

Cook pasta (a little over 2 cups) according to instructions on bag - about ten minutes.

Put ground beef into a large pan until brown/cooked through. Drain excess fat. Pour in marinara sauce (1.5 cups) and stir together.

Mix meat sauce with cooked pasta, and make one layer on the bottom of a large Pyrex dish. op with grated cheddar. Repeat until dish is full.

Bake in oven for about 20 minutes at 325°F.

Enjoy!

Will last in fridge for about two days - typically four dinner size servings, but as portion sizes are rough, it could serve six if you had last minute guests.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Advance Notice. Cinespia.

This Saturday, May 15, marks the beginning of the Cinespia summer screening series at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The Wizard of Oz kicks off the 2010 season, a perfect film to bring a picnic to. May 22 brings The Thing, and North by Northwest is on the May 29, which may be worth waiting for.

I love that L.A. has this ongoing series, it really starts to feel like summer is here when the cemetery screenings start. But honestly I'd rather be at the ArcLight for a few dollars more. But if a combination of background chatter/drunken laughter, June bugs, and secondhand smoke is your thing ... just kidding (sort of)!

Gates open at 7:00 p.m. and the film starts rolling at 8:30. Arrive around 5:00 if you want a decent spot. I've been twice, and the second time played board games and ate my Whole Foods take-away in the sitting line outside and it made the wait bearable.

Location: 6000 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood. Entry fee - $10, cash, at the gate.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: cinespia.org

Advance Notice. Shakespeare in the Park.

Summer nights in L.A. are simply made for sitting outdoors, and adding a little culture sure doesn't hurt either. That's why Shakespeare in the Park, the annual summer fest in which the Independent Shakespeare Co. puts on free outdoor performances, is such a grand idea. The plays have become so popular in recent summers that they're being moved to the larger venue of Griffith Park this year, sure to make an even more picturesque time.

Shakespeare in the Park will remain free when performances begin July 8 (with Othello), but the company does need funds to put on those plays pro bono. To help out, catch the one-night-only show of Two Gentlemen in Verona on Sunday, May 16. Not only will you be able to see the performance in the festival's new venue, but it's a great way to kick off the summer just right, and make sure the rest of the season is filled with just as many wonderful shows. Tickets are $25 per adult, for $50 for two adults and children.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: examiner.com