Monthly Archives: February 2009

Film Review: He’s Just Not That Into You

OK, I LOVED the book. I admit it. When I was single, He’s Just Not That Into You was a much needed wake-up call. OF COURSE! Why do I always make excuses for these guys who basically treat me like shit? Why do I do all the work to make things happen? Why the stress of deciphering every little email, phone call, date?

And then by just reading the title of the book, I had my answer. Of course, you really don’t need to read the 165 pages to figure out that if it’s too much work then you and him ain’t happening. But you read it anyway because it’s easily digestible fun and, like most romantic comedies, that’s why you’d go and see the movie version.

This Weekend: Saturday Morning Cartoons, Belgian Beer Tasting, Shiny People

Christian Bale’s NSFW dance remix. I could so dance to this.

What don’t you f*ckin’ understand? It’s the f*ckin’ weekend people! Now go out and have some f*ckin’ fun! (I felt like I just had to censor myself after hearing that. Heh.)

Thursday, February 5

Barneys Warehouse Sale
Yup, that time of the year again: The Barker Hangar becomes the Barneys Hanger. Hope you’ve recovered by the holidays by now and are ready to buy yourself a bunch of pretty things. Here, you can save 50-80% off designer clothes, accessories, shoes for men and women. Cash and credit cards only.

  • 2/5-2/16. Barker Hangar, Santa Monica Airport, 3021 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica (map). (310) 276-4400.

Friday, February 6

Saturday Morning at Urbanic Paper Boutique
Remember those wonderful Saturday mornings when you were a kid? You’d wake up and spend those early hours of the day in your pjs and playing video games or watching morning cartoons? Since Friday nights evoke the same sort of excitement now that you’re an adult, Urbanic Paper Boutique is throwing a party where you can once again partake of those childhood joys. They’ll have Atari video games, cereal by Flake Cereal Bar, cartoons as well as OJ and coffee.

  • 6-10pm. Urbanic Paper Boutique, 1644 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice (map). (310) 401-0427.

Saturday, February 7

Shine Like a Diamond in the Sky Party at Royal/T
Oooh! Shiny! Shiny! What’s this? A whole party dedicated to sparkly, shiny, glisteny things! You’re expected to dress in your blingiest outfit — sequins, rhinestones, gold lame — and have some fun at this JapanLA 18+ event. There will be jumping photos, live music, and contest prizes for the shiniest people.

  • 9pm-1am. Free. Royal/T, 8910 Washington Boulevard, Culver City (map). (310) 559-6300.

Sunday, February 8

31st Annual Los Angeles Chinatown Firecracker 5k/10k Run
I’m doing this! It’s going to be my first time and I can’t wait. There’s going to be lion dancers, 100,000 firecrackers and live music in addition to a pleasant run. Quite a spectacle. If you haven’t registered yet, you can still do it at the race beginning at 6am.

  • 7am. $30. Central Plaza, 940 North Broadway, Chinatown (map).

Belgian Beer Tasting Class at Wurstkuche
And maybe after the race you’re gonna want a beer. Beer author Tomm Carole will go over 10 favorite Belgian Trappist and Abbey ales which you can enjoy with Wurstkuche’s delicious artisan sausage.

  • 3-5:30pm. $49 in advance, $75 at the door. Wurskuche, 800 E 3rd Street, Los Angeles (map). (213) 687-4444.

The Curious Palate: Frou Frou Lunch but in a Good Way

The Raj

The Raj (Photo by Caroline on Crack)

Seems like there’s a sudden influx of eateries/venues raiding the fresh produce available at local farmer’s markets. The Copa d’Oro Bar and The Fig Restaurant in Santa Monica for starters. Or has that been around and I’m just now noticing it. In any case it’s still nice to come across some new ones.

Thanks to Daily Candy I found The Curious Palate, a self-professed food lover’s paradise in the form of a farm-fresh café/market in Mar Vista of all places. It’s actually next to the post office which is next to the Sunday farmer’s market on Grand View. Quite handy for the quaint eatery as they get most of their food ingredients there.

Stopping in for lunch on a weekday, the place was blissfully chill. No lunch rush and lots of empty tables. I immediately felt at ease and then overwhelmed by all the goodies on the menu board. Every sandwich listed was so different and some came with ingredients that I didn’t recognize. What’s guanciale bacon…or Jidori chicken for that matter?

Pond Skipping on the Cheap: $109 One Way to NYC

Flickr Shot by Lori Greig

Flickr shot by Lori Greig

Duuude! Virgin America is just getting better and better in my eyes. Cool mood lighting, personalized in-flight entertainment, and Richard Branson just might steal Sully away from U.S. Airways. But $109 one-way airfare to NYC or Boston to boot? Oh, also $59 each way from LAX to San Diego, Las Vegas and Seattle!

Just book your flight before Sunday, February 8 for travel completed by April 1, 2009. The only catch is that you have to fly on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday…and the Virgin Web site seems to be running really slow. Tried to book a flight just now and it keeps coming back with a “Sorry, could not complete your request message.” Hm.

Sweets for the Sweet: L.A. Valentine Dessert Roundup

Hearts in the window

Looking to get your sweetie something better than the usual boring box o’ chocolates this Valentine’s Day? Surprise your Valentine and secure some V-day night sugar of your own (wink, wink) when you present them with the following goodies which range in price from the very affordable $2 chocolate strawberry to a $90 sweets extravaganza.

To really blow your Valentine away, present them with a L’Amour Hatbox from Boule. This decadent gift ($90) contains every sweet tooth’s heart desire — a limited edition Valentine six-piece box of chocolates that includes two guava pink peppercorn, two rose caramel and two honey lavender chocolates; a box of vanilla Sables or Korova Sables; 20 handmade fleur de sel caramels; a bag of pink chocolate dusted and enrobed almonds….deep breath…a box of milk or dark chocolate rochers; two strawberry violet dark chocolate truffle pops; and even a personalized note made of chocolate. Whew!

Mmmm, Lovvvve Nuts. You’re probably going to want to keep these gourmet goodies for yourself because they sound too good to give away or even share. Compartes Chocolatier’s Love Nuts are nuts hand-roasted with real Tahitian vanilla beans, sprinkled with sea salt, layered with Venezuelan chocolate and then covered with French cocoa powder. Drooling yet? $9.95 for a bag of pecan, macadamia, almond or cashews; $21 for gift set.

Leave that ratty heart-shaped candy box behind and present your love bug with a basket of treats from Joan’s on Third in Mid-City West. Valentine cupcakes, Linzer heart cookies, pecan shortbread hearts and chocolate sandwich cream hearts go for $3 each. Or after your romantic dinner, whip out a decadent Be Mine chocolate heart-shaped cake that’s layered with raspberry filling ($15 serves two). Awww!

If you’re wondering where you can get some chocolate-covered strawberries, check out Milk on Beverly Boulevard. This Valentine treat is presented in a special box and runs $18 for a dozen or $2 each (available February 12-15). And who doesn’t love red velvet cake, especially when it’s red velvet ice cream cake made of vanilla ice cream, raspberry sorbet and red velvet sponge cake ($22 for 6-inch cake)?

Why mess with a good thing? Sprinkles in Beverly Hills is once again celebrating V-day with its festive XOX dozen box containing red hot velvet (Southern red velvet cake with spicy cinnamon cream cheese frosting), chocolate marshmallow, dark chocolate and vanilla cupcakes decorated with XOXs and hearts. $36 a dozen. From February 6 to 15.

Sweet Susina Bakery in West Hollywood has the cake to melt your honey bunny’s heart: a heart-shaped chocolate molten cake with a gooey chocolate ganache center ($5). Or several heart-shaped cakes in red velvet, vanilla, or chocolate ($25 for a 6-inch cake, $40 for 8-inch).

You know Vanilla Bake Shop in Santa Monica will have some of the cutest cupcakes for this Hallmark holiday. Woo your sugar muffin with a red velvet cupcake with a red heart, vanilla bean with pink sanding sugar and a red heart, bittersweet dark chocolate with a red heart and/or chocolate vanilla bean with red sanding sugar and a red Heart ($3.25 each). The adorable cupcake babies are three for $5 and would be an excellent bonus present.

Posted on LAist.

Dear Caroline on Crack: Restaurant for Parents’ Anniversary?


Dear Caroline on Crack,

My parents’ anniversary is coming up. We are looking for a restaurant my whole family (10 people) could go to celebrate for probably like $75 a person anywhere from the Westside to downtown. Open to any cuisine, meat or fish. What do you think?

Thanks,

The Good Daughter

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