Splurge on pretty + scrimp on the reception?

dear esb,

There's something in the water in west Australia at the moment, I've been to seven weddings already this year, and another of my closest friends just got engaged, and being the super organised type A personality that I am, I've been hired as de facto wedding planner. This is all wonderful, I'm happy to help, I love her etc.. but I've hit an area where I'm a bit out of my depth / could you use some advice/backup.

The couple are living in england, but are getting married in perth (they're both natives). So, they're on a pretty tight budget once you factor in their airfares, and the fact that they don't want to spend gazillions of dollars one day. My friend wants to splurge on her dress, the videographer (a peculiar expenditure, but this guy is amazeballs) and general 'prettiness.' She wants to scrimp on the reception, but still have an awesome party, and still have it look pretty and romantic. (not really scrimping, more just keeping cost per head down because they're expecting about 200 people)

She's also over the whole sit down at designated seats thing, as she thinks it's been done to death, and it doesn't promote interaction between guests. In fact, the only downside she sees to not having a sit down is that she can't strategically seat her single friends next to each other (her own words). So I suggested to her that they have a cocktail reception instead... food costs less, people mingle a lot, you need fewer decorations, and it is more conducive to that 'party!' vibe she seems to be wanting.

But then, my friend raised the concern that people secretly hate cocktail receptions (and this is where I need advice). Do people feel ripped off that they don't get a proper meal? do they feel like it's gauche to not have a full meal with two hours of speeches and alcohol by table service? Do people get annoyed at the fact that they have to stand up for five hours or so (there would of course be some chairs, but everyone knows they are monopolised by the over 65 crowd pretty early in the evening)? Nice people aren't likely to say anything about it, just whimper softly and shift from stiletto clad foot to foot.. but will they secretly be really pissed if it's not your typical wedding reception sort of gig?

Any advice you can offer would be absolutely grand!

Love,
Amateur Wedding Planner

Oh, PS: one last question.. there is an 95% chance that at the time of the wedding, the temperature will be upwards of 95F... this is fine for us perth locals, but is it likely that people coming from an english winter will be able to tolerate this, or should my friend try and find indoor reception/ceremony venues? I know you're not english... but it's pretty cold in some parts of america, right? (:

*****

Designated seats are "done to death" because they WORK. Old people and pregnant people and SHY PEOPLE don't have to fucking MINGLE like CATTLE with two hundred fucking people they don't know, and you can seat the bride's dad across the room from the groom's mom, who he can't stand.

And yes, you get to seat your single friends next each other. ORGANIZED MINGLING. Much more civilized.

p.s. 95 degrees is way too fucking hot.

Wild Clematis Flower Crowns by Amy Merrick via Anabela Carneiro via Catbird

Take Sunset

You may or may not have noticed that I have a new sponsor.

Take Sunset is a site focused on "real estate, architecture and things to do in los angeles," and the proprietors have excellent taste.

For example. Did you know that Claire Vivier and jewelry designer Kathryn Bentley just opened a teensy, gorgeous new store in Silver Lake?

Or that Heath Ceramics makes house numbers?

Me neither.

I also had no idea how many bungalows there are for sale on the east side. I just hopped over to the Take Sunset blog to pull a few images for you guys, and I spent two hours shopping.

Quick question: Is it legal to style an east-side garage with a surf board? Should I be embarrassed that I kind of fall for it?

Photos 1 + 4 from Rob Kallick's listings at 1330 North Coronado and 1310 Mohawk Street in Silver Lake/Echo Park.

all right, I'm calling it.

Dudes were all over the map at the beginning, but the MAN POLL: Should your lady rock a caftan? results have been holding steady at 60% Drum Circle/40% Hell Yes since I went to bed last night.

That was thoroughly entertaining. We will clearly have to do it again.

What should my viking wizard officiant wear?

My wedding is in November. I am having my best friend of over 20 years get ordained so she can marry me and my FH!

Problem is I have no idea what she should wear? She describes herself, and I quote, "I AM A PRIESTESS..., viking wizard, spiritual warrior, breakbeat loving yogini, tribal queen." Yes, this is her description on her blog. She is amazing and beautiful, I just can't have her show up in an outfit she would wear to Burning Man. Although if we were getting married out there, I would love whatever she wore. I need your help here-PLEASE!

Thank you ESB!

*****

Would a caftan be too Burning Man?

Photo: Carmen Freudenthal + Elle Verhagen courtesy of Dazed and Confused

MAN POLL: The Caftan

This poll is for men only.*

If you see a man in the vicinity, please drag him over to your computer and make him vote.

Butterfly Caftan by EmersonMade
______________________________

*We'll just go ahead and assume that women who like women will like the caftan.

tiny polka dot band

omgeee!

satomi kawakita at catbird

hello, RAD bridesmaids' dresses

Hand-painted silk shift dresses by Rachel Rose.

Via holli kristina via lauren

in case you needed MORE UGLY HATS

This slideshow, with analysis from a millinery expert, is hilarious.

The expert says Kate Middleton's hat "looks like a potato chip — that's the only problem." But she thinks "a lot of thought went into making it not look like a flying saucer."

Photo: Anwar Hussein/WireImage; Indigo/Getty Images. Via kidchamp

And the bride wore.... A HAT?

Dear ESB,

I've been going back and forth on whether I should wear a hat at my wedding in September, and now is the time to decide. On the one hand, wide-brim hats make me feel instantly glamorous. On the other hand, I don't want to look like I'm emulating Fergie's daughters (or the royal wedding in any way).

In the end, the practical consideration that trumps trendiness is that the wedding will be held outdoors at 4 p.m. in early September -- and I have this problem where if I'm out in the sun for any amount of time without a hat in the summer, I get a migraine. So basically, I need to set up a tent or shaded arbor, carry a parasol, or wear a hat.

Here is my dress. I'd like a hat that serves its core hat purpose (not some silly fascinator), but is a little nicer than your standard straw (though I have and love the purple one you can find in these pics). I'm thinking grey or silver, to match the dress's ribbons at waist and knee. I would be very open to color, but we don't really have wedding colors other than that the bridesmaids' dresses all have some green in them. Finally, I would rather not spend more than $200. I realize that this may be a fantasy, but do you have any leads?

Thank you!

*****

I really wanted to say don't wear a fucking hat. I mean. You're the bride. Make some SHADE for fuck's sake. Leave the hats to the quirky guests.

But then I remembered Bianca.

And so, with the help of the twitterverse, I looked at EVERY HAT IN THE ENTIRE INTERNET.

And I concluded that you really ought not wear a hat. They're all stupid ugly, and besides, if you use a hat to shield your face from the sun you'll also be blocking your face from your guests.

Make some shade. (Did I say that already?) Visit the ceremony site at 4pm a day or two before the wedding to see where the sun is falling and plan accordingly. There may already be a spot of shade you can set up the altar in.
______________________________

Fallback: This is the least worst thing I found in your price range, but unless you get something custom-dyed there's a pretty good chance it'll clash with your dress.

Please help me find a bathing suit!!

Dear ESB,

Next month, I'm getting married and going to South America for our honeymoon in the Andes mountains. This won't be a beach-y vacation by any means, but there will be some occasions to wear a swimsuit (hot springs, and maybe a pool).

I'm an athletic, hourglass size 10 - I am pretty comfortable in my skin and I'm not trying to find a suit that creates the illusion that I stopped drinking beer or eating pie after I got engaged (I did not).

Last spring, I bought one of those Jantzen vintage-inspired one-pieces thinking that hey, finally a suit for the busty pale lady with a small waist. But I bought it in turquoise (because that color was the most discounted) and I am pretty sure it reads matronly and not vintage-hot. Also, I had it hanging to dry in the bathroom and a girlfriend remarked on it and asked (innocently!) if my mom was visiting. I was crushed.

Can you help me out? I don't really care for precious details, no bows. And I would rather show my cellulite than wear a suit with a skirt on it.

Thanks!!!

*****

Feel like shopping, you guys?

Are there even any suits left now that it's August??

Photo: Jean Patchett by Serge Balkin for Vogue (1950) via myvintagevogue

I feel like I morphed into one of those girls...

Hey esb,

I'm tsk tsk-ing myself because I have yet to contact you about MY wedding details and/or conundrums.

I mean, hello you're the effing hbic when it comes to honesty/shaming, dispelling Wedding expectations and making sense of all the minutiae of pre nuptial Craziness.

I've been lucky to rely on my 2 bbffs, who have both gone down the aisle, for most things. I'm now 71 days (thanks silly knot ticker) from our day. I'm standing back all of a sudden and I'm surprised w how traditional I've gone w things. Like, I always imagined my wedding to be so out there or at least one of a kind... But I fear I got sucked into all the blogs and crafty diy madness that saturated the hipster bridal scene.

Anyways, is this a normal feeling? Have I had an overdose of wedding identity stress?

I feel like I morphed into one of those girls and i'm not just following my instincts. Months of looking at super staged, perfect wedding "inspired" shoots got to me.

I should just say fuck it to the "sparkler send off" and just offer explosive rats.

*****

first: delete your knot profile RIGHT FUCKING NOW. didn't i teach you better than that?

second: i think you'll regret it if you don't start following your instincts and let a few weird-y details in.

if not an exploding rat send-off, then what about found-object favors?

(Geneva Hopson via Arthouse at the Jones Center)

we're counting on you to be a tastemaker.

Illustration at top by Aleksandra Kopff 

What should Pasty Minnesotans do in LA? (WEST SIDE EDITION: Part 3)

This is it. Le Grand Finale.

THE BEACH.

And the next time a reader emails me to ask, "What should I do while I'm in L--" I'll have five (count em, FIVE) places to point her.

Here's Paige on Santa Monica + Venice, those neighborhoods you're actually thinking of when you think of capital-L capital-A:

In my opinion, the west side doesn't go east of the 405, but I have to cover the neighborhoods slighted in the previous posts. I'm breaking it down by location and categories for easy reference in case those Minnesotans can only hit up a few neighborhoods. All of these recs have been tried and loved by me and mine. 

Santa Monica

Eat.

Rustic Canyon for food and wine for foodies and winos.

The Original Father's Office for the blue cheese burger and draft beers.

Huckleberry for the excellent counter service salads, sandwiches, and baked goods.

Umami for the juiciest hamburger you will ever eat. (multiple locations in the city)

Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery - get The Godmother.

Tacos Por Favor that takes out Yuca's on the east side. 

Via Veneto for great Italian and romantic quaintness. 

Lares for tasty, sloppy Mexican food with a mariachi band.

Shutters for breakfast for WASPy Nantucket design and a view of the ocean. 

Santa Monica Seafood for oysters and oogling the fresh fish. 

Head up the PCH to Reel Inn for fresh fish cooked anyway you like it. 

Shop. 

Fred Segal. Look it up. 

Hennessy and Ingalls for art, architecture, and design books.

Arcana for more rare of the same. 

The 3rd Street Promenade for people watching and a smorgasbord of stores, all outdoors.

Peek for cute, beachy kids clothes. 

Only Hearts for sexy but comfortable lingerie.

Morgane Le Fay for fashionable dresses. [Editor's Note: And FABULOUS WEDDING DRESSES. Hello.]

Planet Blue for the likes of hip casual wear.

(Morgane Le Fay)

Do.

Beach.

Harvelle's for dive bar and live music.

Angel's Piano Bar and Supper Club for live music and good happy hour.

Farmer's Market on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. Every celebrity chef in town and best produce around.

Rent bikes at Ocean Park and cruise the boardwalk from SM pier to Venice pier. 

Brian Kest power yoga for a true SM workout, guru style. And it's by donation.

Venice

Eat.

Gjelina for wood fire oven pizza, amazing duck confit, great atmosphere, hipster waiters. 

Shima for sushi. This is a hidden gem with no sign. Modern interior, beautiful fish.  

Picollo for a romantic, alley-way dive. outstanding northern Italian

Jin Patisserie for macaroons, chocolate and fine tea cake. 

The Tasting Kitchen for specialty cocktails and gourmet Americana soul food.

Abbott's Pizza company - get the salad pizza.

La Cabana for amazing homemade tortillas, open till 3am. 

Mao's for their salt and pepper seafood. Great chinese long beans too. 

3 Square for brunch, get the fried avocado and pretzel rolls.

Abbott's Habit or Intelligentsia for coffee.

(Abbot's Salad Pizza)

Shop.

Basically, hit up Abbott Kinney.

Tortoise for amazing, curated, Japanese scultpures and tchotchkes.

Urbanic for cute paper goods.

Mollusk for surf design from your board to your britches. 

Undrest for jewelry, panties, and swimsuits.

El Vino for a wine tasting and good, cheap european wines.

A + R for contemporary objets.

Surfing Cowboys for California finds.

The Stronghold for custom made jeans and suspenders.

Linus Bike for just that.

Waraku for imported sneakers.

Gotta Have It Vintage for retro dresses.

Steven Alan for classic Americana.

Do

Speakeasy at the top of The Stronghold. 

Pick up cheap sunglasses, visit the skate park, and people watch at the boardwalk.

Visit LA Louvre and L&M Arts, both great galleries.

Poetry reading at Beyond Baroque.

Go surfing.

Walk the canals. 

Eat at some food truck that will be parked on Abbott Kinney.

(Venice Skatepark via The Landless Farmer)

Be sure to browse Part 1 + Part 2 of Paige's West Side guide.

Top Photo by Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin for Vogue Paris August 2011

Blog of the Week(ish): Tomboy Style

Am I a tomboy?

I've honestly never thought about it before. But all of this style is working for me.

Jacqueline Bisset (1967) courtesy of Mirrorpix/The Everett Collection, Joan Jett and Alexa Chung by Thomas Giddings

Seeking: A Not-Too-Girly Flower Girl's Dress

Hello

I am in need of some help! My wedding is in a month and i still have not found a flower girl dress. She's not really a flower girl, she's holding a sign that says "Here comes the bride." The problem is she is more of a tomboy and doesn't really like the dress I like. I'd rather put her in something we both like.

This is what i'm thinking of but she says it's too girly. Any suggestions?

*****

I have a radical idea. Why don't you let her wear PANTS?

Caramel Baby & Child has some cute trousers (see above).

And it turns out J. Crew is not a bad place to shop for girls' pants, which are not easy to find. There's a lot of legging-type bullshit out there, and there are jeans and there's some sweat-pant-y stuff, but there are not a lot of straight-up good pants. Even an 8-year-old needs good pants.

For the uber-tomboy, J. Crew even has a "borrowed from my brother" section. Which means they're listing the boys' clothes in the girls' section so you feel okay about buying them for your daughter/niece/flower girl. Hey, whatever it takes.

Miranda July's The Future

Last Thursday, H and I went to a preview screening of Miranda July's new movie.

We giggled our pants off.

And then we learned in the Q&A afterward that it was supposed to be very sad.

Most of the people there found it sad.

Is there something wrong with us?

Please go see The Future and report back.

p.s. I wore my white jeans and my granny sandals, sure that Miranda would wear granny sandals too and we would meet on a higher plane of granny-sandal-dom and be best friends for ever and ever. She wore platform clogs.

Can I email my thank-you notes?

Hey ESB,

My invites are going out electronically and people are RSVP-ing on our wedding website.  

Can I do email thank you notes or should I do paper and snail mail? The email thank yous would include a message that is personal to the recipient along with a couple photos.

Thanks!!

*****

Are people EMAILING YOU YOUR PRESENTS, or are they perhaps utilizing snail mail/ups?

Photo courtesy of Nasty Gal via Clara Spencer-Phillips

What should Pasty Minnesotans do in LA? (WEST SIDE EDITION: Part 2)

When I first posted What should Pasty Minnesotans do in LA? Paige Appel (aka The Ambassador of Fun) busted me for being east-side-centric.

Hello.

I still wouldn't want to live on the west side. But this series does make me want to cross La Brea a little more often.

Here's Paige on Westwood/West LA + Brentwood:

In my opinion, the west side doesn't go east of the 405, but I have to cover the neighborhoods slighted in the previous posts. I'm breaking it down by location and categories for easy reference in case those Minnesotans can only hit up a few neighborhoods. All of these recs have been tried and loved by me and mine. 

Westwood/West L.A.

Eat.

Apple Pan for the longest running mom and pop burger house in the city. 

Westside Tavern for chicken liver mousse and a great Sazerac.

Native Foods for vegan twinkies and flavorful brown rice bowls.

Junior's Deli for potato latkes and matzo ball soup.

Stan's Donuts for the peanut butter and chocolate filled monster donut.

In N Out near UCLA for the design and burger.

Sunnin for Lebanese amazingness.

Shabu Shabu, Ramen, and Sushi on Sawtelle. 

Diddy Riese for the UCLA student gawking and overrated cookies. 

(Stan's Donuts)

Shop. 

Wally's for wine, handcrafted liquors, and gourmet cheeses.

Children's Book World for a vast curated selection of kids books.

HAMMER Museum book store for art books. 

Buy rare movies at Cinefile.

Buy rare used books at Alias Books

See + buy the most beautiful bonsai trees at the nurseries on Sawtelle

Do.

HAMMER Museum for the best contemporary art shows in the city. See Paul Thek now.

See local live theatre at The Geffen Playhouse.

Movies at The Fox and The Bruin, the dying breed of the huge single screen theatre.

See the Farmer's Classic tennis tournament live at UCLA every July. (ya know, if you like tennis)

See the best midnight movies (aka THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH) at Landmark's Nuart

Fall asleep on a leather couch eating chocolate with sea salt at Landmark's Westside Pavillion

Paul Thek Untitled (Meat Piece with Flies) at The Hammer

Brentwood

Eat.

Tavern for butter crumbed eggs and brisket hash.

Sugarfish for no frills, high quality sushi.

FARMSHOP for a considered, but light lunch in the mart.

Reddi Chick for cheap and good fried chicken and BBQ sauce.

Sweet Rose Creamery for small batch, homemade ice cream. Get the Basil, Salted Caramel or Black Sesame Soy.

Pressed Juicery for fresh concoctions straight from the cold press. Fave is pear ginger pineapple mint.

Osteria Latini for spaghetti bolognese straight from Northern Italy.

SusieCakes for sour cream cheesecake and whoopie pies.

Luxxe Cafe has the best beans and best espresso drinks in the city. (yes, I'm claiming that) Mr. Appel has had the acclaimed versions at Intelligentsia, LAMILL, and the likes and demands Luxxe is as close to Italian coffee as he has ever had in the states.

Shop.

Compartes for geometric and tasty chocolates.

Selima et Benjamin for sunglasses. 

Poppy for well-made, unique, european kids clothes.

Turpan for curated eclectica.

Union Made for Steven Alan-esque menswear. 

Post26 for new and vintage fashions.

James Perse for linen Repetto flats and what else? James Perse.

Diesel bookstore. A disappearing breed of books.

Broken English for interesting jewelry.

Trading Post for a post office straight out of Mayberry complete with unique sundries.

(Broken English)

Do.

Drive up Kenter Canyon to Crestwood Hills Park and on the way marvel at the cluster of Case Study post and beams.

Obviously, go to the Getty. 

Hike Mandeville Canyon.

Have a drink at the top of the Hotel Angeleno for a breathtaking view. 

Walk, shop, eat. See above.

Ride bikes down San Vincente to Ocean Blvd. 

Be sure to catch Part 1 (West Hollywood + Beverly Hills) and Part 3 (Santa Monica + Venice)

Top Photo by Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin for Vogue Paris August 2011

pie AND ice cream

well we had had key lime pie, red velvet whoopie pies AND ice cream. I was too blissed out the day of to notice the ridiculous tank top the ice cream boy had on that day. Interesting wardrobe choice.

Also I am the girl who bought the Emerson Made white tux jacket to wear over my dress. It ended up being so nice out it was not at all necessary. Did I suspect this would be the case (June in Brooklyn) and just wanted a good excuse to buy it? Possibly.

-sofia

(Photos by Oh, Darling!)

speaking of ANIMAL.....

How did I miss these photos from Vinny Dotolo of Animal Restaurant's wedding (catered by Prune)?

PIGS IN A BLANKET!

Also: We have confirmation that pie is officially the new cupcake. Which means it's time to move on to the next thing, obvio.

May I humbly suggest ice cream?

Photos by Charlotte Jenks Lewis via 100 Layer Cake via Grub Street Los Angeles

What should Pasty Minnesotans do in LA? (WEST SIDE EDITION: Part 1)

I thought Paige Appel was rad before she made me this offer....

I may be stepping over the (east side) line here, but when I read What should Pasty Minnesotans do in LA?, I noticed an absence of cooler side locations. (cooler meaning ocean breeze, don't get all up in arms) so I have taken it upon myself to educate all you east siders on the jaunts west of la brea.

But HOLY SHITBALLS do I think she's rad now.

I also think Paige's talents may be underutilized. I mean, sure, Bash, Please and The Cream are all that and more. But shouldn't we be lighting a fire under her ass to do a little more blogging?

Note: I was all ready to post THE WHOLE SHEBANG when blogger broke down in tears, so I've decided to break it into three parts. (I'll thank myself later when I'm driving around the west side scrolling through my own blog on my phone.)

Also, I fear we're too late to be helpful to the actual Pasty Minnesotans at this point, so "Pasty Minnesotan" will stand in for Everyman.

Without further ado, here's Paige on West Hollywood + Beverly Hills:

In my opinion, the west side doesn't go east of the 405, but I have to cover the neighborhoods slighted in the previous posts. I'm breaking it down by location and categories for easy reference in case those Minnesotans can only hit up a few neighborhoods. All of these recs have been tried and loved by me and mine. 

West Hollywood (La Brea to Doheny)

Eat. 

Repeat: Animal. Oxtail Poutine and done. BEST RESTAURANT IN TOWN. 

Comme Ca. Handcrafted cocktails (get the Ramos Gin Fizz at brunch), French bistro fare executed properly, and talk to the affineur (aka the cheese guy).

Tower Bar. Get a cozy booth with a view and order the burger. You will probably see some old Hollywood people having 3 hour dinners kissing each other's ass.

Tinga Buena. Short rib tacos and Arroz con crema. Agua fresca. Dirty Horchata. 

Dan Tana's. Old school italian, great steak, likely to see a few washed up Playboy bunnies. 

Angelini Osteria. Best Italian in the city. Sorry Mozza. 

O! Burger. Fast food made organically and deliciously. Best crinkle fries and veggie burger I've ever had with no hormones and yucky stuff. 

The Bazaar at SLS for cotton candy foie gras comedy that tastes really fucking good. (ex employees from El Bulli)

Roger Room for drinks.

(The Bazaar's Cotton Candy Fois Gras via Wine Stained Cloth)

Others to mention (all exceptional) Lucques, BLD, Terroni, Eva, El Carmen, Eveleigh, Loteria at the Farmer's Market, Golden State. Joan's on 3rd for ham and butter on baguette with cheese and sweets to go. Hugo's for "california" food, meaning vegetarian, vegan and flax seed friendly folk.

TIP: don't let the endless lines at TOAST fool you. OVERRATED, UNDERWHELMING.

Shop.
OK. Quirky, beautiful, vintage and modern design. [Editor's Note: We did our wedding registry here -- can't recommend them highly enough.]

Douglas Fir for men's clothes and shoes. Classic masculine. Also, stop into Esquivel behind Douglas Fir if you have a hankering to drop a mint on a fine pair of handmade shoes.

Noodle Stories. Minimalist high fashion for the ladies.

Opening Ceremony (do I need to say anything?)

Le Labo for the nicest (and hippest) smelling perfume on the planet.

Roseark for the diamond encrusted arrowhead necklace that everyone needs. Or a pair of moccasins.

Plastica for Danish design and cute baby onesies.

Table Art for just that. 

Heath Ceramics for classic earthen and home goods.

Ahead Stereo for the audiophile. 

Du Vin for winos.

Book Soup for bibliophiles.

American Rag for vintage and good shoes.

(Esquivel Shoes)

Do.
Repeat - LACMA

Art galleries - Regen Projects, ACME, Marc Foxx. (and then head south on La Cienega to Culver City to hit up Blum & Poe, Susanne Vielmetter, Cherry & Martin, David Kordansky, Honor Fraser among others on the row)

People watch at Chateau Marmont lobby. 

Visit the MAK center to tour the Schindler House.

Get beaten by eucalyptus branches (platza) at under the radar Russian spa Voda.

See an indie move that is never going to come to Minnesota at Laemmle Theatre.

See an old, new, or camp (awesome) movie at revival house New Beverly Cinema.

See an avant garde, or sometimes ironic film at The Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theatre.

Beverly Hills 
(You may cringe when hearing the 90210 moniker, but there are a few redeeming spots worth a see.)

Eat.

The Fountain Coffee Room for a basement breakfast in the notorious Beverly Hills Hotel.

Bouchon by the one and only Thomas Keller. 

Matsuhisa for Nobu's original sushi restaurant.

Red Medicine for awesome Vietnamese.

Papa Jake's for cheap and good hoagies.

Graffeo for coffee.

Mulberry Street for new york style pizza.

Shop.
Unless you love high-end chains via Rodeo (which I admittedly get sucked into Prada, Margiela and Miu Miu), don't bother.

(Coldwater Canyon Park via Travelin' Local)

Do.
People watch with cocktails on the patio at the Beverly Wilshire.
Picnic in Coldwater Canyon park next to the wading stream under the big oak trees. 

Drive up Coldwater Canyon to Mulholland and hike Franklin Canyon or visit TreePeople. 

Visit the Museum of Television and Radio. 

Museum of Tolerance for a real upper. weeeeeee.

Stay tuned for Parts 2 + 3.

Top Photo by Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin for Vogue Paris August 2011 via I KNOW WHAT YOU WORE LAST SEASON