Drinking
- 100 Things To Try in L.A. Before You Die
- Top 10 Favorite Cocktails of 2008
- 2009 List of Fave L.A. Bars , 2008 List of Fave L.A. Bars
- Favorite bartenders
- Bar night: Radio Room at the Edison; Bigfoot Lodge West’s Whiskey Lovers Mondays
- Beer float: BottleRock Downtown
- Cocktail milkshake: 8 oz.’s off-the-menu Jameson milkshake
- Craft beer: Father’s Office 2
- Dive bar: Backstage in Culver City
- Grocery store budget wines: Fresh & Easy’s Vista Point Chardonnay and Trader Joe’s Charles Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon
- Happy hour: Copa d’Oro 5-8pm Tues-Fri, all day on Monday, $5 vintage cocktails and food specials; Bar Food’s all-night happy hour
- Happy hour to get blitzed: Cabo Cantina’s 2-for-1 from 4-8pm
- Liquid Brunch: Saddle Ranch Sundays
- Manhattan: 8 oz., Father’s Office Los Angeles, Osteria Mozza, Bottega Louie
- Margarita: Cadillac margarita at Casita del Campo
- Secret Bartender: Matt Biancaniello at Hollywood Roosevelt’s Library Bar
- “Speakeasy”: Roger Room
- Sports bar: South
- Theme bar cocktail: Ninotchka at Bar Lubitsch
- Westside bar: Copa d’Oro
- Wine bar event: White Trash Tasting at Colorado Wine Company
Food
- Breakfast: Salmon scramble at Toast, Shepherd’s scramble at Bread & Porridge, anything at Alcove Cafe
- Brunch: La Grande Orange in Pasadena and Santa Monica
- Burger: Father’s Office and The Counter
- Coffee: Intelligentsia Venice
- Cookies: Paulette Macaron
- Crepes: Creperie by Jack & Jill
- Cupcakes: Poshtachio Strawberry at Leyna’s Kitchen, Old School at Crumbs, Coconut at Auntie Em’s and Red Velvet at SusieCakes
- Date night restaurant: Osteria Mozza
- Dip sandwich: James Ranch Lamb French dip at Westside Tavern
- French toast: Starling Diner in Long Beach’s Broiled San Francisco Stuffed Toast with berries and whipped cream (also makes my favorite granola parfait with seasonal fruit)
- Fried Chicken: Honey’s Kettle
- Ice cream: Anything at Scoops and Milk’s ice cream sandwich
- Pizza: Mushroom, goat cheese, truffle oil pizza from Gjelina
- Ramen: Ramenya in West L.A.
- Sausages: Wurstkuche
Recreation
- Ass-Kicking Workout: Los Liones’ Alternate Route
- Bike route: Beach path from Playa del rey to Redondo Beach and back
- Hike: Hoegee’s Loop in Big Santa Anita Canyon
- Stairs: Wooden stairs on West Channel Road in Santa Monica
- Yoga: Santa Monica Power Yoga
- Weekend drive: Malibu Canyons
- Bar game: Bingo at Hamburger Mary’s in WeHo
- Karaoke in a booth: Zip Fusion Karaoke on Sawtelle (you can drink there)
- Karaoke on stage: Boardwalk 11 in West L.A.
Maintenance
- Facialist and waxer: Amy at Pacheco Salon
- Cut & color: Monica at Studio DNA in Santa Monica
- Nail salon: $40 Spa pedi/mani at Heather’s
- Eyebrows: Chroma in Beverly Hills
- Day spa: Olympic Spa in K-Town
- Massage: Massage Garage in Culver City
Miscellaneous
- Farmer’s market: Sundays on Main Street in Santa Monica
- Movie event: 21+ screenings at the Arclight
- Summertime pastime: KCRW World Concerts at the Hollywood Bowl
- Wine store: Colorado Wine Company and the Wine House
- Whiskey aisle: Wally’s in Westwood
- Sunglasses store: Fred Segal Eyes
- Party frocks: Vanity Room