Caroline on Crack | December 2005

December 30, 2005

Xenii: Where Paris & Leo Party and You, Sir, Certainly Cannot

Written by Caroline on Crack in Los Angeles, Nightlife

OK, one of my NYE party girls mentioned Xenii (“Ex-ee-nee”) in passing as a countdown option, and having never heard of it before, it just went over my head like a mathematical formula. It wasn’t until I checked out Daily Candy’s New Year’s Eve guide that it sunk in. “A private members-only society, not open to the public”? Excuse me? You mean like the freemasons? Intrigued, I went to their site.

Yup, there it was in black and white: “Individuals are accepted into Xenii based on the strength of their relationships with trusted members and the qualities and attributes they bring to the Xenii community.” Which I found to mean, perusing their press clippings, “If you ain’t rich, drop-dead gorgeous or well-connected, go away.”

Xenii looks to be a secret society of partying A-list celebs and their various hangers-on in L.A.’s solution to keeping Jane Schmoes away from Leonardo DiCaprio and Average Joes from Lindsay Lohan. And no, you can’t talk your way into THIS party, invite only! Agents expense the membership fee and modeling agencies have their clients work the parties, all to keep the social circuit so fresh and so elite with a higher caliber of starfuckers.

And since it’s a traveling after-hours soiree with a new venue every time, these velvet rope dodgers never get bored with the digs du noir and party well into 5am, past the regular last call for the rest of L.A. For them, it’s only premium cocktails at all the best clubs where merely standing in the room raises your social standing up several notches.

So, countdown at a Xenii party? Er, right. Not when you have to be Paris Hilton or at least her bff Kimberley Stewart to get in. And who’d wanna?

If you feel like Xenii can benefit from your membership…and you have a referral from an existing member…and think you can pass the membership board’s scrutiny, apply here.

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December 29, 2005

Wilshire Restaurant: Where Scenesters and Seniors Meet for Drinks?

Written by Caroline on Crack in Cocktails, Los Angeles, Nightlife

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A friend was throwing an impromptu gettogether at Wilshire Restaurant. I had never been and quickly researched it, cuz, you know, that’s my thing. Hmm, organic food. That doesn’t sound like the usual sort of place where her and her friends like to hang. They like Hollywood “hot spots” i.e. the Cabana Club, LAX and Avalon. Why would they go to this former brats-and-beer German restaurant in Santa Monica for drinks? All the city guides that reviewed it raved about the menu and back patio but never said a word about the bar scene.

From Epicurious:

The wine list spotlights organic and biodynamic bottles. Hipsters love the setting, which includes fireplaces, a multilevel cigar lounge, and a huge alfresco dining area with towering trees and fountains. Dining with a conscience never felt so sinful.

But I found out why this was the watering hole du jour as soon as I walked in. The designer behind fab WeHo restaurants, Koi and O-Bar, did up this place. A brick wall covered with votive candles casted a warm flattering amber glow throughout the room. There were chocolate brown leather sofas and ottomans everywhere. And as soon as my two girlfriends and I swished through the door, a crowd of both young and old gave us the once-over and then turned back to their drinks.

It definitely had a Hollywood feel with respect to the attitude-y scenesters, but the occasional groups of old(er) men checking out the ladies around the bar made it feel very Santa Monica. The bar crowd was mixed with the collection of cute gay guys at the bar, the gaggle of PYTs lounging on the couches, the gang of urban cougars circling the room and the herd of gray-haired businessmen hovering by the door, all with the purpose of seeing and being seen…oh, and waiting for their dinner tables to open up.

Hoi Polloi Not feeling too lovely myself, I wasn’t up for this place. But the girls seemed to enjoy it and if I had known that I should have dressed for Sky Bar instead of a Santa Monica organic foodie restaurant, I might have, too. Nah! At least, the old guy with the stringy gray hair done up in a ponytail didn’t seem to mind my none-too-hip attire.In any case, here’s the quick and dirty: appetizers run from $6 olives to $8 truffled potato chips to a $15 cheese plate; Jack & Coke will cost you $10; valet is $5.50.

And as I had mentioned above, guides like LA.com and CalendarLive love the food and say the back patio scene is a must-do, especially for a date night. Very romantic apparently.

2454 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, California 90403
(310) 586-1707
Cross Street: 25th Street
Bar hours: Mon-Sat 5 pm-1 am
Sunday 5 pm-10 pm

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December 29, 2005

Predict Your Future in a Minute: MASH!

Written by Caroline on Crack in Los Angeles, Other

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With another year ending and a new one around the corner, I’m filled with trepidation about my future. Fortunately, there’s MASH to show me how everything is going to turn out for me.

Remember, Mansion Apartment Shack House? Where you come up with three options of whom you’re going to marry, what kind of car you’re going to drive, how many kids you’ll have, where you’ll live and what your job will be…plus the Shack-equivalent choices?

Apparently MASH can see the future! My sister dug up her results from way back in 2002 and 50% of her “predictions” came true by 2005. If that’s the case, I’m really excited about my results…well, except for the “shit load of kids” part:

Mansion

Silver SLR McLaren

Keanu

shit load

travel writer

San Francisco

And yes, I did include gag-inducing choices like an ex-bf and a pink ox cart. But how awesome is my future? I’d be happy with 50% of that–minus the kids part.

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December 28, 2005

What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?

Written by Caroline on Crack in Lists, Los Angeles, Nightlife

2 Comments

Big Ball

It’s only three days until NYE and plans are STILL not finalized. I’ve got the dinner plans down but where to countdown? My friends can’t make up their minds about where they want to go. And looking at all the “hottest” NYE events in L.A. I’m feeling overwhelmed myself and am this close to signing up for the Sierra Club’s New Year Hike & Party if it doesn’t rain. Not that that’s a terrible alternative.

Anyhoo, here are the options we narrowed the plans down to:

Gridlock 2006: This was the one the girls had settled on, even though I said with Pamela Anderson hosting and the Pussycat Dolls performing I have a feeling that this is going to be “scantily clad women and lecherous men” night. I know, it’ll be like that with EVERY NYE event, but this particular one has a 5,000-person capacity since it’s taking place on the New York City streets of the Paramount Studios backlot. Tickets range in price from general admission $125 to $1,000 where you get a backstage pass among other things. There will be four city streets and different music for each block ranging from ’80s to hip-hop to live performances. PCD hits the stage at the stroke of midnight and there’s an after party with them at the Avalon in Hollywood from 2 am to 9am. Party time: 9pm-4am.

Pros:

Cons:

Roaring ’20s Dollhouse NYE 2006: Now this is the one I had suggested we go to. It’s at the Day After Complex in Hollywood and it’s presented by the likes of Ed Hardy, MTV and Universal Pictures. There are four levels, 15 bars, five dance floors as well as casino tables and it’s all done up a la 1920s so that means there’s a $3,000 prize costume contest. Crowd capacity is 3,500 but hyped turnout is 4,000. Music ranges from European house, hip-hop to ’80s/old school, and tickets cost from general admission $60 to Renaissance VIP $2,000 which includes two nights at the Renaissance Hotel across the street. Party time 9pm-3am.

Pros:

Cons:

The Lobby Supper Club New Year’s Eve Bash: In my search I found this party so I haven’t discussed it with the gang yet but check out all the goodies: open bar, midnight champagne toast, balloon drop (wee!) and only a 700-person capacity (sigh!) at a hot club. Tickets are $100 and there is no VIP anything which is fine by me. The thing is, this party is said to be hosted by MTV and Kristin Cavallari of Laguna Beach and therefore promises an A-list hip Hollywood crowd. Will $100 get you in? Party time is 9pm-9am.

Pros:

Cons:

But, shhh, truth be told, I’d be happy spending NYE in front of the tube watching the ball drop with close friends, takeout and champagne.

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December 27, 2005

Soundtrack for L.A. Living: Watching the Ball Drop on New Year’s Eve

Written by Caroline on Crack in Los Angeles, Soundtrack for L.A. Living

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What: “The Sunshine Underground” by The Chemical Brothers

Who: Stay-at-home NYE revellers.

When: At 11:56 pm, a little before the countdown begins.

Where: Wherever there’s a broadcast of that big Waterford crystal ball dropping in Times Square.

Why: Hit “Play” at about 11:56:07 pm and you have a great soundtrack to the ball dropping. Trippy. The music almost seems to be in sync with the 696 flashing lights. There’s the buildup of the drums which sound almost tribal whipping you up into a frenzy, and then the transition in music seems to signal when the ball hits 2006. The song continues for another 4 minutes, but you’ll be dancing and jumping around in elation. Happy New Year!

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December 26, 2005

Elixir Tonics & Teas: Massage Your Body & Soul After the Holidays

Written by Caroline on Crack in Beauty & Fashion, Los Angeles

Say what?

After Christmas, I usually feel like I was run over by a truck. After the stress of holiday shopping, the grueling roundtrip in holiday traffic to NorCal, and family visits galore, I just want to do nothing but hit snooze well into the new year. Fortunately, friends told me about the little piece of heaven on Melrose, Elixir Tonics & Teas, right across the street from industry schmooze central, Urth Caffe.

Elixir has great tonic drinks and tea. I like the Depth Recharger, perfect for the terribly exhausted. Virtual Buddha is also good for a calming state. You can get these hot or sparkling cold and enjoy it in the zen sanctuary out back, complete with fountains and a Buddha statue.

Not only is Elixir well-known for its apothecary wonders and in-store herbalist, but this little tea house also offers reflexology and chair massages as well as tarot card readings.

Reflexology:

Chair Massage: Lean into a seated fetal position while the practioner releases the tension from your back, neck, shoulders, head and arms.

Tarot Card Reading: You have three psychics to choose from: a certified Reiki master/hypnotherapist, a studio reader for KIIS FM, and a clairvoyant whose readings have been likened to psychic massages.

Nothing sounds better to me than resetting myself for the new year by going over to Elixir for a sip of calming Virtual Buddha, a stress-relieving foot massage and perhaps a tarot card reading about what I’ll have to look forward to next year.

8612 Melrose Avenue
West Hollywood, California 90069
(310) 657-9300
store hours: Mon-Sat 9am-12am; Sun 10am-10pm
Mini-Spa hours: Mon-Fri 1pm-7pm; Sat-Sun 12pm-7pm

Price: for massages–$30 per 20 minutes, available in 20-, 40-, 60-minute increments;
for tarot card reading–$25 for 15 minutes

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December 25, 2005

A Blue Field of Dreams: The Blue Phase of Not a Cornfield

Written by Caroline on Crack in Art, Los Angeles

Say what?

If you light it up, they will come.

I keep hearing about this living sculpture in the middle of L.A.: a cornfield located on a 32-acre stretch of land north of Chinatown and south of Lincoln Heights. L.A. artist Lauren Bon created Not a Cornfield to “challenge notions of urban public space and inspire community action” (LACityBeat.com). Meant to last just one agricultural cycle, it’s now in its “blue phase” before the corn will be harvested in January. The fully grown cornfield awashed in blue light can be viewed for free nightly from 4pm to 10pm. Sounds like quite a sight to behold.

From LACityBeat.com:

…the interactive and evolving art installation has become a constellation, the fully grown stalks surrounded by towers of blue lights that map the stars in the current night sky. In addition, nearby buildings and landmarks are also bathed in blue tonight.

To volunteer to harvest the corn, check out their Web site.

Other Not a Cornfield events:

January 1st: Drum Circle + Working Sunday

1201 N. Spring Street
Los Angeles, California
(323) 226-1158

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For Your Fix on L.A.

Monthly Archives: December 2005

Xenii: Where Paris & Leo Party and You, Sir, Certainly Cannot

Wilshire Restaurant: Where Scenesters and Seniors Meet for Drinks?

Predict Your Future in a Minute: MASH!

What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?

Soundtrack for L.A. Living: Watching the Ball Drop on New Year’s Eve

Elixir Tonics & Teas: Massage Your Body & Soul After the Holidays

A Blue Field of Dreams: The Blue Phase of Not a Cornfield