Shot of Afternoon Tea at the Biltmore (not under $20)

I love it when my friends ask me for advice. This one came via IM.

New Mama: Advice, Ms. Crack? (Yes, my friends still refer to me as “Ms. Crack.”)

Me: k

New Mama: My sister is throwing me a baby shower. I wanted something tea-like. small hotel garden or some shit like that. But my sister just moved here and knows of zero, so i’m trying to help her out (although technically i’m not supposed to, but who cares). About 15-20 people.

Me: Well there’s Huntington Library ($24.95), Biltmore ($28 Victorian Tea; $32 with sherry, Kir or sparkling wine; $48 with Laurent Perrier champagne). But let me dig around.

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Hey Caroline,

Looking to find a cool place to throw a little shindig for a friend’s birthday on a Friday, Saturday or even a Sunday. Somewhere in between Hollywood and the Westside (Venice or SM) would be great. Not too mellow or crazy — but dancing the night away isn’t a bad idea either. We’re in our early to mid 20s and the guest list is somewhere around 10-15.

Previous birthday event locations:
Mor Bar, Circle, Bar 217, Arsenal and Starshoes…

Would very much appreciate your input on this!

Thanks!
Groovy in the Heart

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Hiya Caroline,

I’m writing because I have a first date tomorrow night, and I want it to be a good one. I’m looking for a moderately-priced restaurant (up to $25-30 per entree) in the Westwood/Brentwood/Century City area, because that’s where my date lives. Any ethnic cuisine is good (I was thinking maybe Persian food since there are a ton of places near Westwood) but I don’t eat fish or seafood. Some place with a patio would be great to take advantage of the warm weather, but barring that, a place with low-light and no children would be great, too.

OK, now that I’ve defined my parameters, I’m hoping you can work your magic! Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide me, and I promise to let you know if date #1 leads to a second!

Hope you’re having a great weekend,

~The Bachelor

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Somehow, I stumbled upon C on C & yea!!

I realized we’ve only just met, but I have this huge(ish) dilemma: Time to get married….I am a longtime LA/Downtown/Hollywood oldie, a little off my game this last year (moved from downtown to Pasadena a year ago), so your site has stirred my juices & renewed my excitement for putting together something interesting. Basically we are 40-50 people, looking to do cocktails/snacks somewhere nice/elegant but fun/unusual. I realize nowhere on your site do you mention “event planner” but I thought i’d stop by & throw it out there…. just to see if something came to mind.

Plus, I searched & it seems you have yet to visit the Blacklite…What gives?

~Would-Be Smug Married

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Hello Caroline!

I hope this email finds you doing well. I met you during the Wine Tasting Tour and ever since I’ve had the fortune of getting your newsletter.

Now, I need your help; my sister is planning her birthday party for Friday and she’s looking for a place, around downtown, with a patio where she could host this. Do you know of any place that would fit this description? We want to dance and drink, of course.

Thank you in advance for your attention.

~ Downtown & Dirty

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A nice side effect of writing this blog? People asking me for advice about what to do in L.A.

Hey Caroline,

I read your blog and I figure that being the socialite you are, you would be the best person to ask this question. My friend’s b-day is coming up next week and my other friends and I were thinking it would be fun to go for a dinner and mystery somewhere in L.A. We’re a group of fun-loving, witty, mildly geeky (with a great sense of humor) individuals, ranging from 25-35. Do you have any recommendations for a dinner and a mystery place in L.A?

~ Velma and the Scooby Doo Gang

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