It may be the last days of summer but instead of wiling it away by the pool, get out and do stuff, i.e. fight for a good cause, win a paddle boat race, take in an edgy striptease…. BTW, from now on I decided to include my fave video of the week in this post however random it may be.

Thursday, August 14

More Summer Sales: Rachel Pally and LF Stores
It’s almost the end of summer and that means sales! Two great ones kick off today: Rachel Pally’s warehouse sale where you can get 50-90% off her soft jersey tops and dresses and LF Stores’ seasonal sale with 60% off the entire spring/summer womens’ collection.

• Rachel Pally sale thru August 17. 2001 S. Santa Fe Ave., #F, Los Angeles (map). (818) 512- 9472. LF Stores sale at all locations.

Friday, August 15

Peepshow Deluxe Opening Night at the Viper Room
Enjoy a striptease with a rock-n-roll twist. Rock burlesque show Peepshow Deluxe premieres at the Viper Room, featuring the bump-and-grind stylings of the gorgeous Kitten Deville, Flame Cynders, Audrey Delux and Lucy Fur (love those names!) along with a DJ set of punk, soul and New Wave. Those of you may remember that the Pussycat Dolls started off as a burlesque act at the Viper Room. So this could be a big thing.

• 8pm. Tickets: $12 advance, $15 at the door. Viper Room, 8852 W. Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood (map).

Saturday, August 16

Love Honor Cherish Wine Tasting Fundraiser
Fight Prop 8, the anti-marriage Constitutional amendment, while enjoying wine tasting, music and hors d’oeuvres. This fun night goes down at the Angles Gallery in Santa Monica where you can enjoy wine provided by Silver Lake Wine and music by djBK. All of the proceeds from the event will go to EQCA Issues PAC. RSVP to RSVP [at] lovehonorcherish.org.

• 6:30-9pm. $65 at door. Angles Gallery, 2230 Main Street, Santa Monica (map).

Sunday, August 17

Pamper Yourself Fabulous
Treat yourself to a body bronzing by Sunset Tan, a mani by OPI, a massage by El Leon Spa and perhaps a makeover by Artform Studio. That’s just a few of the beauty treatment options you have at the Pamper Me Fabulous event held in Downtown’s Ford Brady Loft. Plus enjoy free-flowing champagne, food by Ciudad and sweets galore. Every guest also gets to take home a swag bag with about $300 worth of goodies! It’s $165 a ticket but if you enter “caroline” as the discount code (tickets must be purchased in advance) you’ll receive $30 off your ticket. 10% of ticket proceeds will go to nonprofit Step Up Women’s Network.

• 12-5pm. $165 regular ($135 with “caroline” discount). Ford Brady Loft, 718-720 North Figueroa Street, Downtown (map).

Echo Park Lake Paddle Boat Regatta
Another fun event for a great cause: 826LA is hosting a paddle boat race to raise money for its free writing and tutoring programs for the kids. Teams of two paddle boat racers will compete to be deemed “The World’s Best Paddle Boat Racers.” And the more money the team raises, the closer to the finish line they get to start! Sign up now and start your own team (there are limited space with 15 boats per heat and only 3 heats) or go online and donate to your fave team to better their chances of winning. Afterwards enjoy a post-race concert at The Echo, featuring The Damselles and Super Duper ($10).

• 4pm. Echo Park Lake, 1714 W Sunset Boulevard, Echo Park (map).

For once, my goal is to do EVERYthing this weekend.

Thursday, August 7

La Perla Summer Sale
Thanks to Billion Dollar Babes, glamor gals can get 75% off luxurious lingerie, swimwear and ready to wear. The sale starts today and ends on Friday.

• Thursday and Friday, 10am-8pm. 433 North Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills (map).

Friday, August 8

Les Miserables in Concert
My sister and I used to LOVE singing songs from Les Miz. OK, we’d sing the entire musical…while sitting in our apartment. I wish she was here now for this particular Bowl concert with its all-star cast. This would be even better if it was a sing-a-long. Anyone wanna go?

• Friday and Saturday at 8:30pm; Sunday 7:30pm. $10-$149. 2301 N. Highland Avenue, Los Angeles (map).

Saturday, August 9

SusieCakes’ 2nd Birthday: Free Red Velvet Cake
Brentwood cupcakery SusieCakes is celebrating its 2nd birthday by passing out slices of its luscious red velvet cake from 10am to 7pm at all of its locations: Brentwood, Calabasas and Newport Beach.

• 10am-7pm. Various locations.

Farmers’ Market and West 3rd Street Food Tasting Tour
Oooh! Food walking tour! So you can eat and walk it off at the same time. This tour takes you from the Farmers’ Market to Beverly Center and back via 3rd Street. There’s Toast, Joan’s on Third and the Cook’s Library. So many yummy places to check out from cafes to gourmet markets to cookbook stores.

• 9:30am-1pm. $49. Farmers Market, W. 3rd Street & Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles (map).

Sixteen Candles Cemetery Screening
Who DIDN’T identify with poor, little Samantha Baker? Everyone has had their Jake Ryan one time or another. This has got to be one of John Hughes’ best if not THE best teen angst movie. And everyone was so young back then — Anthony Michael Hall, Joan and John Cusack, Molly Ringwald. BTW, what ever happened to the actor who played Jake?

• Gates at 7:30pm, film at new time of 8:30pm. $10 donation. Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood (map).

Sunday, August 10

8th Annual Lucques All-American Rib Roundup
POST EDIT: SOLD OUT. Mmm, this Sunday at Lucques you’ll find a huge variety of ribs to chow down on. They’ve got St. Louis-style pork ribs, braised beef back ribs, spicy lamb spare ribs and some hot chicken wings thrown in there for good measure. To mix it up, sides include cole slaw, baked beans, greens and cornbread. Sounds like a good deal for $45. Make sure to wear pants with an elastic band.

• 1-10pm. $45. Lucques, 8474 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles (map). (323) 655-6277.

Time for that annual stocking up on low-priced designer goods! Clean out your closets today so you can fill it up with new stuff from Barneys New York Warehouse Sale tomorrow.

Enjoy 50-75% discounts off the original prices of designer clothing, shoes and accessories for the mens and the womens.

Prada shoes, Diane Von Fursternberg dresses, C&C California tees, so many good stuff. You know how this works; the earlier you get to the 10-day sale, the better your chances of scoring the good stuff.

Hours:

• Thursday, August 7 and Friday, August 8 — 8am-9pm
• Saturday, August 9 — 9am-7pm
• Weekdays 10am-8pm, weekends 10am-7pm

EVENT: THURSDAY, AUGUST 7 to SUNDAY, AUGUST 17

Barker Hangar at Santa Monica Airport
3021 Airport Avenue
Santa Monica, California 90405 (map)
(310) 777-5700

Sucks that rent day coincides with all these sales going on.

Friday, August 1

Virgin Airways Airfare Sale
They’re at it again with the uber cheap airfare: $79 one way to Seattle, $139 to NYC. In light of crazy-high gas prices, this is quite the deal. But book your flights before August 7 cuz that’s when this special ends…for now.

Saturday, August 2

Wine House Super Summer Clearance Sale
One of my favorite wine stores is having a huuuge sale and it’s not just on wine. At the Wine House this weekend you can get Riedel Glassware, Johnny Walker Blue, Dom Perignon in addition to over 750 wines at low low prices.

• Saturday 10am-7pm, Sunday 11am-6pm. Wine House, 2311 Cotner Avenue, Los Angeles (map).

West Third Street Sidewalk Sale
Nothing like strolling one of the prime shopping areas during a sidewalk sale. Enjoy discounts and refreshments from your fave retailers such as Flight 001, Joan’s on Third and Trina Turk, to name a few.

• 11am-6pm. Between Fairfax Ave. and La Cienega Boulevard, W. Third Street, Los Angeles (map).

City of Hope’s 10K Run/5K Walk Underwear Affair
This is sure to be quite a spectacle as runners and walkers hit the streets in their underwear to raise funds for cancer research. This will probably be the only time it’s OK to wear your undies in public so make it good. Bras, panties, briefs, Garanimals. It’s all in good fun and for a great cause. Afterward participants will be treated to a much deserved after party. Don’t forget to bring your ID!

• 5pm. $25 registration. 5801 Wilshire Boulevard (La Brea Tar Pits), Los Angeles (map).

15th Annual Long Beach Crawfish Festival
I’m drooling just thinking about this festival with all that crawfish prepared Louisiana style by Cajun chefs. Ooh and there will be ribs, beignets and some cocktail(?) called the Screaming Crawfish. Intriguing. Grammy-nominated Cajun and Zydeco artists will be performing to keep things festive.

• Saturday 12pm-12am and Sunday 12pm-11pm. $13-$33. Rainbow Lagoon, 400-403 Shoreline Village Drive, Long Beach (map).

Sunday, August 3

Pot Roast Sundays at Tender Greens
Tender Greens is probably my favorite restaurant in Culver City cuz of its reasonable prices, yummy food and nice beer selection. Well apparently it has this special pot roast dinner every Sunday! Ten bucks gets you a beef short rib “roast” braised in red-wine sauce, Yukon gold mashed potatoes, and either a salad or vegetable. What a delicious bargain!

• $10. Tender Greens, 9523 Culver Boulevard, Culver City (map). (310) 842-8300.

While you’re here enjoying Sprinkles’ new cupcake flavor, checking out that crazy all-day American Apparel flea market sale and enjoying Xanadu with the Angel City Derby Girls, I’ll be in Santa Barbara attending a dear friend’s wedding. Hm.

Friday, July 25

Sprinkles Summer Cherry Cupcakes
Cherry, cherry, baby! Sprinkles is celebrating cherry season with a very special cupcake, Summer Cherry. Made with pureed cherries both in the cake and frosting, this is sure to be your fave summer treat. Available thru August 3. Oh, and FYI, the chocolate marshmallow cupcake is seasonal no more. It’s now part of Sprinkles’ daily flavors!

• 9635 Little Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills (map). (310) 274-8765.

Roman Holiday and Seven Samurai Screenings in Old Pasadena
It’s his and hers night in Old Pasadena where the girls can enjoy Audrey in her Oscar-winning role as a runaway princess and the dudes can take in a flick about kick-ass samurais defending a village of farmers from bandits. All in a charming outdoor setting.

• 8:30pm and 10:45pm. Free. One Colorado Courtyard, 41 Hugus Alley, Old Pasadena (map).

Saturday, July 26

Global-Tronic Summer Sessions at the Getty
Say it isn’t so, the last of the summer sessions at the Getty? Well, it goes out with a bang, featuring electronica and world music. Check out DJs Zizek Urban Beats Club, Pacha Massive, DJ Hoseh as well as the 11-member Boogaloo Assassins.

• 6-9:30pm. Free, no reservations required. The Getty, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles (map).

Xanadu at Angel City Drive-In
OMG, this was one of my favorite movies growing up. I used to skate around the cul de sac I lived on with ribbons in my hair pretending I was Kira (Olivia Newton-John). Now you get to enjoy it with some real skaters as the Angel City Derby Girls will bring you your food. Drive-in and pay $10 or skate in and it’s only $5. Feel free to BYOB as well.

• Gates open 7:30pm, show starts at 9pm. $5 skate in, $10 drive in. Alexandria Hotel, 240 W. 4th Street (2nd floor), Downtown (map).

Sunday, July 27

American Apparel Factory Flea Market Sale
It’s a flea market! No, it’s a rave! Nope, it’s a carnival. Actually it’s all those things with an American Apparel sale (merchandise priced as low as $1) and Sebastian Tellier thrown in. There will be a slip-n-slide, snow cones, a dunk tank and a night time party dj’d by DJ Them Jeans.

• 2pm-12am. $5 (12pm early bird entry for $12). 747 Warehouse Street, Downtown (map).

Gnarls Barkley w/ Fallou Dieng and Deerhoof at the Hollywood Bowl
This show sounds like so much fun! Alternative/soul odd couple Gnarls Barkley with Senegalese popster Falloue Dieng and Bay Area group Deerhoof. Time to get up and dance. Hmm, maybe I can make it back from SB in time to hit this concert.

• 7pm. $10-$96. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N Highland Avenue, Hollywood (map). (323) 850-2000.

Since three’s the magic number, I thought I’d go big with this 3rd blogiversary by making CoC t-shirts and such for the occasion. Yeah, it felt weird at first, and vain, making T-shirts with my name on it (flashbacked me to when I was running for student body secretary in high school) but then I thought, why the hell not? This will be fun and it’s really the only time I’ve tried to market myself or make money off this blog. (Google ads just don’t cover cocktails.)

My favorite t-shirts of the bunch besides the CoC one is the Don’t You Know Who I Am? ones. I always thought that phrase would make a funny t-shirt and it does. If you have any suggestions for a good t-shirt or different colors or how to make these (and the shop) better, I’d love to hear from you.

Anyhoo, my dear crackheads, if you sport one of these babies during the partay and show off your crackhead pride, you’ll get five more entries for the giveaways during the event. There will be prizes sponsored by Leyna’s Kitchen, South, Citizen Smith and more so you’ll want to increase your chances to get the good stuff.

But thanks for all the support and I hope you vote for me for your student…oh, never mind.

Looks like it’s going to be an awesome weekend, folks. iPhone 3G, Audrey Hepburn and some jazzy grooves downtown. What to do? What to do?

Friday, July 11

iPhone 3G Goes on Sale
The moment all you technogeeks have been waiting for: The iPhone 3G goes on sale. Better, stronger, faster, it has GPS, doesn’t need a WiFi spot to browse the Internet and it’s slimmer, too! If you want to be one of the first to show it off, Apple store doors everywhere open at 8am.

• 8am, various locations.

Zagat Los Angeles Nightlife 2008/2009 Goes on Sale
And for those of you who don’t have or want an iPhone, these little books are always handy to have in your glovebox. This updated Zagat guide ($14.95) specializing in L.A. nightlife lists the best bars, the hottest dance clubs, etc. based on the opinions of over 2,500 in-the-know Angelenos.

Outdoor Screening of Breakfast At Tiffany’s at Old Pasadena Film Festival
Before there was Carrie Bradshaw, there was Holly Golightly. Enjoy this film classic about a very stylish girl while sitting outdoors in charming Old Pasadena. Breakfast At Tiffany’s kicks off the Friday and Saturday night outdoor screenings of Audrey classics to take place through July 25.

• 8:30pm. Free. 41 Hugus Alley, Pasadena (map).

Merlin’s Night of Jazz, Soul and House Grooves
My ol friend DJ HollaBack Merle aka Merlin is hosting an oh-so special night downtown. Special guests Helios Jive and Eric Jag will keep you moving and grooving and $5 soju cocktails will keep you happy. Best part is that it’s free before 11 and only $3 after.

• 10pm-2am. Free before 11pm, $3 after. e3rd Steakhouse and Lounge, 734 E. 3rd Street, Downtown (map). (213) 680-3003.

Saturday, July 12

3rd Annual LA Wine Fest
Winos unite, the LA Wine Fest goes off this weekend. 500 wines from 14 different countries, special wine tasting sessions with Riedel Glassware and a panel of master sommeliers and winery owners. Best part is the festival encourages its attendees to bring designated drivers, only charging $10 for the DD (no wine glass included of course). For advance tickets and to receive a $10 discount (courtesy of City Sip LA) off general admission, email your name and contact info to Joel Fisher at Joel [at] Lawinefest.com. This discount is only for advance purchases.

• Saturday and Sunday 2pm-6pm. $45 day pass, $35 with discount. Raleigh Studios, 5300 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood (map).

Sunday, July 13

Valley Girl Cemetery Screening
And before OMG there was “Like, oh my gawd! Gag me with a spoon!” Enjoy this Romeo and Juliet love story between a Valley Girl and a Hollywood punk whilst sitting in a cemetery sipping bubble gum soda and popping Pop Rocks. Remember those? This was when Nicolas Cage was cute, before he got all weird and stuff. And remember, no tall chairs.

• Gates at 7:30pm, film at 9pm. $10 donation. Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood (map).

A swap meet, bikinied girls in gorilla masks and horchata martinis, sounds like it’s going to be an interesting weekend.

Saturday, June 28

2008 Summer Swap-O-Rama-Rama
I’ve never been to a swap meet before but this one in Venice sounds so fun, and it happens to coincide with the Venice Eco-Fest as you do a little recycling of your own. Just bring a bag of your used/unwanted clothes, pay the $5 admission and then go through the piles of free clothes that everyone else brought. You can take home as much as you can carry out. Sounds like a great excuse to do some spring/summer closet cleaning…and to refill your closet again. What’s left over after the swap will go to Out of the Closet. There will also be DIY workshops to teach you how to transform your new used clothing.

• 11am-5pm. $5 if you bring a bag of clothes, $10 without. Venice Center for Peace with Justice and the Arts, 2210 Lincoln Boulevard, Venice (map).

2nd Annual No Cookie Left Behind Bake Sale
If you have a sweet tooth that can’t be denied, check out this special bake sale (part of Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale) that will feature scrumptious goodies like banana caramel cake, homemade chocolate peanut butter cups and a chocolate Guinness cake, to name just a few. Drool! Everything is created by local caterers, cookbook authors, local bakeries and food bloggers. The kicker is it’ll take place in L.A.’s favorite ice cream shop, Scoops! So if you are still jonesing for sugar, try out one of owner Tai Kim’s amazing and unusual ice cream concoctions. Feel good about every purchase you make as every dollar goes to fighting childhood hunger.

• 12-4pm. Scoops, 712 N. Heliotrope Drive, Los Angeles (map). (323) 906-2649.

Bronx Zoo at La Cita
I’d say an awesome way to pass a Saturday afternoon is sipping cocktails and sketching bikini-clad girls in gorilla masks. That’s what’s going down at the Bronx Zoo summer party series at La Cita. You heard me, girls in gorilla masks who come out every hour on the hour. I know that’s why I want to go. The only thing that sucks is no cameras or photography are allowed. Boo. But if you’re game for taking this eccentric art class bring your own paper, clipboard, charcoal, pencils, etc. The series will go on each Saturday through September.

• 2-8pm. $5. La Cita, 336 S. Hill Street, Downtown (map). (213) 687-7111.

Sunday, June 29

Ortega 120 Sunday Afternoon Grand Opening Fiesta
What’s a horchata martini and where and how can you get one, ya ask? Ortega 120, a new Mexican restaurant in Redondo Beach, is celebrating its grand opening this Sunday with cocktails, food and live music. Try out that horchata martini or perhaps the Caipirinha de Fruta or how’s about the Ortega 120 “liquid gold” margarita? Call (323) 792-4120 to be added to the invite list as there is limited space.

• 3-6pm. Ortega 120, 1814 S. Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach (map).

Bar 107 Yard Sale
Oooh, a yard sale with cocktails. Yes, you can rummage through clothes, knickknacks and even old VHS tapes with one hand and enjoy your $2 Bloody Mary or mimosa with the other! All proceeds go to a school for kids living on Skid Row. Here’s the flier thanks to Thrillist.

• 10am-2pm. Bar 107, 107 4th Street, Downtown (map). (213) 625-7382.

Duude, lots going on this weekend and it’s going to be a hot one. What to do? What to do? BTW, I had to include the above New Kids on the Block video for this post. Hey, it’s about the summer.

Friday, June 20

Taschen Warehouse Sale
When I used to work at Book Soup on Sunset, I came to know Taschen books as those huge but affordable coffee table books about quirky and questionable subjects. If you’re looking for a gift for your weird, arty friend or something to dress up your coffee table, you’ll want to check out the Taschen semi-annual warehouse sale in Beverly Hills. Thousands of slightly damaged and display copies are available at anywhere between 50-75% off the cover price

• Friday 10am-7pm, Saturday 10am-7pm, Sunday 12-5pm. The Taschen Store, 354 N Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills. (310) 274-4300.

Splendid and Ella Moss Warehouse Sale
Aww man, I heart Splendid and Ella Moss clothes and now they’re going to have a warehouse sale downtown where shoppers can save 50-70% off. That’s on stuff for both gals AND guys and even kids from Splendid, Ella Moss, Splendid Little’s, Splendid Mills, Splendid Girl and Ella Moss Girl. Cash and credit cards only.

• Friday-Saturday 9am-4pm. Cooper Building, 860 S. Los Angeles St., 8th Floor, Downtown.

LA Irish Film Festival Mixer at the Edison
Into Irish films, Irish whiskey and Irish food? Check out this mixer at the Edison where Old Bushmills Whiskey is hosting a party for the LA Irish Film Festival; the festival takes place in Beverly Hills in the fall. No movie screenings, but there will be a traditional Irish band and lots of fine folk to chat film and whiskey with and perhaps dance a jig with. And can’t forget about the food — fish and chips, braised beef, and bread pudding with whiskey sauce. Mmmm, whiskey.

• 7-9pm. Free. The Edison, 108 W. 2nd Street #101, Downtown. RSVP: aidan [at] edisondowntown.com

Saturday, June 21

Make Music Pasadena
Even though it’s going to be a hot one this weekend, music fans will flock to Downtown Pasadena as over 300 concerts will be going off on World Music Day for the first ever Make Music Pasadena. And, get this, all the concerts are free! Yes, it’s going to be SoCal’s largest free music festival. The huuge bill includes everything from new local talent to Grammy Award nominees. You’ll want to check out The Raveonettes, Autolux and Dengue Fever, to name but a few.

• 10am-10pm. Free. Old Town Pasadena, Holly Street between Fair Oaks Avenue and Raymond Avenue; One Colorado Courtyard; and Playhouse District on El Molino Avenue between Green Street and Colorado Boulevard.

Hamburger Mary Celebrates Gay Marriage
Gay marriage is finally legal in California. Huzzah! That calls for a celebration and Hamburger Mary’s in West Hollywood knows it. So all weekend you can enjoy a glass of champagne for one dollar. For the hard-core celebrants among us who require a stiffer one, Jager shots are $3 and tequila shots are $1. BTW, you don’t need to be married to partake of the special.

• Hamburger Mary’s, 8288 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood. (323) 654-3800.

Sunday, June 22

Sangria Sundays at Cafe La Boheme
Enjoy your summery Sunday afternoons on Cafe La Boheme’s outdoor patio, sipping red or white sangrias and taking in the tunes spun by the dj. Small plate dishes like salt and pepper calamari with lemon basil aoli, shrimp toast with chili dipping sauce and the La Bohème burger will be available to nosh on between sips. Word of warning to nonsmokers, though, there are also in-house Cuban cigar rollers, so if you don’t like cigar smoke this may not be your thing.

• 4pm-7pm. Café La Bohème, 8400 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood. (323) 848-2360.

Flickr Shot by dotsara

Gosh, how I LOVE summer. All the fun things you can do only when it’s warm out, as this weekend looks like it’s going to be. Mmm, 80-degree weather. Unfortunately/fortunately I’ll be up in NorCal for some river rafting this weekend but you folks have fun!

Friday, June 13

Free Hot Dogs at Hot Dog on a Stick
Gotta love the freebies. Hot Dog on a Stick, the funny hat folks, will be giving out free hot dogs on a stick from 5 to 8pm at any of their locations. One per person but that’s probably all you need.

• 5-8pm. All Hot Dog on a Stick locations.

Saturday, June 14

Heal the Bay L.A. River Cleanup and Korean BBQ
If you missed your chance to be a good environmental citizen during Earth Month, you’ll get your chance now. Help tidy up the soft-bottomed Glendale Narrows section of the Los Angeles River along with Heal the Bay, several other organizations and about 2,000 other volunteers. No cleaning experience necessary. Just bring a hat, drinking water and some sunscreen. Afterward all volunteers will be treated to a Korean barbecue. Mmm, galbi and a good deed.

• 8:45-11:30am. Griffith Park Recreation Center, 3401 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles (map)

Bedhead Pajama’s Warehouse Sample Sale
Who wears PJs in the summer, ya ask? Hopefully dads do. Get your dad some fancy designer pjs just like the ones Mr. Big wore in Sex and the City. Bedhead Pajama’s is having a huge warehouse sample sale where you can save 50%-80% off PJs, loungewear and accessories for men, women and children. Cash and credit cards only.

• Friday 11am-6pm, Saturday 9am-6pm. 3305 Motor Avenue, Los Angeles (map).

Sunday, June 15

Neighborhood Barbecue Night at Wilshire
Nothing like enjoying a barbecue during summer nights. At Wilshire Restaurant’s Neighborhood Barbecue Nights every Sunday you can enjoy such bbq goodies as grilled baby back ribs with a side of corn on the cob, oh, and of course there are the summer cocktails.

• Sunday nights through August 31. Wilshire Restaurant, 2454 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica (map). (310) 586-1707.

Sunday Cinema in the Backyard
Enjoy gourmet movie fare like curried popcorn with candied peanuts, house-made corn dogs with stone-ground mustard, and chocolate-covered bonbons while watching the fashionably fabulous flick The Devil Wears Prada poolside at the W Hotel in Westwood. So chic! You can either laze about on a chaise lounge to watch the big screen or enjoy the movie on your own flat screen in a cabana.

• Free. 8pm. Sundays through September 28. W Hotel Westwood, 930 Hilgard Avenue, Westwood (map). 310-208-8765.

OK, I know this doesn’t really have anything to do with L.A. per se, but I’m really proud of my little “project.” Ya see, I’m trying to win a Vespa from ThisNext and I have to make a gazillion product recommendations to increase my odds of winning it.

The Vespa contest requires that people in the ThisNext community (i.e. anyone who makes a recommendation; you can be a new member) make recommendations and just tag each one “TN Vespa.” The more recommendations you make the better your chances of winning the random drawing. The actual Vespa giveaway is this Friday at the TN HQ in Santa Monica so I only have a limited amount of time left and am recommending things like a fiend, even going so far as to forsake my blog AND work. Oy!

Anyhoo, instead of making BS recommendations, I’m really picking things that I like (which needless to say is slowing me down). But it seems I’m running out of things to recommend so any suggestions you have about stuff you’ve come across and liked would be much appreciated. Any cool shopping blogs you know about?

In the meantime, feel free to browse my 268-and-growing recommendations. The side effect of this little project, of course, is that now my covet list is soo lonnnng. I want that Flip Video Mino Series Camcorder and that Dior skull ring and this Coach bag!

Since the Sex and the City movie is opening this weekend (woo!), I dedicate this weekend roundup to fine desserts and sample sales, and an art walk thrown in for good measure.

Friday, May 30

Theodor Tea Tasting at Jin Patisserie
Mmm, a tea tasting at fancy-schmancy Jin Patisserie. French tea taster Guillaume LeLeu, proprietor of Theodor teas, will present a selection of white, green, and black teas to go along with pastry chef Kristy Choo’s tea-flavored macaroons and tea-infused truffles. Lovely lovely!

• 4-7pm. Free. Jin Patisserie, 1202 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice (map). (310) 399-8801.

Saturday, May 31

Billion Dollar Babes Spring Sale 2008
Huge sample sale involving over 40 designer duds at up to 80% off, an open bar and beauty services galore. Your (and my) favorites! Plus admission is free. At least the Saturday sale is. Friday is for BDB VIPs. RSVP asap at www.billiondollarbabes.com. Cash and credit cards only.

• 9am-5pm. Free. Smashbox Studios, 1011 North Fuller Avenue, West Hollywood (map).

Shopaholic Sample Sale 50-90% Off Retail
On the other side of town is another huge sample sale at the Pasadena Convention Center. No open bar here but this one features designer brands like For Joseph, Ben Sherman, Plenty by Tracy Reese, Paige Premium Denim, and many more, all marked 50-90% off retail. Cash only.

• 9am-7pm. Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green Street, Suite 211, Pasadena (map).

3rd Annual Artwalk Culver City
Tour over 40 art galleries in six (eight with a select few) hours. Can you do it? You can give it a try at the 3rd Annual Artwalk Culver City. The arty area’s art galleries will open their doors to cultured public. You can also enjoy the live jazz in the Culver City Art District and the special promotions of neighboring restaurants. That’s all well and good but what happened to the after party? Last year’s was crazy crowded…and those free Absolut cocktails!

• 12-6pm (Select galleries will stay open til 8pm). Located where Washington and La Cienega Boulevards intersect, Los Angeles. Click here for the artwalk guide.

Sunday, June 1

L.A. Cupcake Meetup at Lark Cake Shop
I met Tara from When Tara Met Blog at last week’s cupcake challenge and my cupcake world opened up. L.A. has a large cupcake community and its members like to meet up at different cupcakeries on occasion. This Sunday, the L.A. Cupcake Meetup Group is descending on Silver Lake’s Lark Cake Shop where they will enjoy the shop’s many cupcake flavors including vegan chocolate cupcake and old fashioned ice box cupcake (available in three sizes of mini, regular and jumbo). You pay for your own goodies but the conversation and new friendships are included.

• 1pm. Lark Cake Shop, 3337 W. Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles (map).

Ice Cream Sundays at the Scene Bar
Chill out at the Scene Bar this Sunday where you can exploit the $3 well drinks and $3 domestic specials but gorge yourself on the free ice cream and boogie down to the stylings of resident DJs Shalyce and Joaquin. Photos will be taken by Magnum XL.

• 9pm-2am. Free before 10pm, $3 after. The Scene Bar, 806 E. Colorado Street, Glendale (map). (818) 241-7029.

This weekend there’s plenty going on: Venice Art Walk, Cuban Music Festival and that Cupcake Challenge that I’m doing. In case you still have lots of empty slots on your social calendar, here are the following.

Friday, May 16

Planet Funk’s “Additional 50% Off Already Marked Down Items” Sale
How does Planet Funk make a sale price even better? By taking an additional 50% off the already marked down sale price! Yup. So brands like Rock & Republic, Frankie B., and Citizens of Humanity are actually affordable to cheapskates like me!

• May 16 through May 26. Online and at Planet Blue stores.

Ford Male Model Search at the Beverly Center
For those who like to look at pretty and/or hot boys, or if you ARE a pretty/hot boy, you may want to make your way down to the Diesel store at the Beverly Center where they will be having a male model search. I’m sayin’! To participate, you need to be (apart from gorgeous) around 18 to 25 and between 5′11″ and 6′3″ tall. The winner gets a contract with that Ford modeling agency and a cover on VMAN Magazine.

• 4pm-8pm. Diesel in Beverly Center, 8500 Beverly Boulevard, West Hollywood (map).

Saturday, May 17

Fashion Elements (fem) Spring Glam Designer Shopping Event
Sometimes don’t you wish that clothes stores had in-store bars? How cool would that be? Until that happens, though, you can content yourself with Fashion Elements’ Spring Glam shopping event where there will be lots of discounted (up to 60% off retail) designer brand shopping and cocktails, plus music and gift bags. You can buy VIP tickets through Goldstar for $10.50 (regular is $15). VIPs get complimentary cocktails and dibs on all the good stuff before the general public. Gen public tickets are just $2.50 (free + $2.50 service charge) through Goldstar. Designers include Nanette Lepore, Marc Jacobs, Emilio Pucci and Ella Moss to name a few.

• 12pm-5pm. $2.50-$15. Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood (map).

LACMA Muse’s ArtWalk After Party
This LACMA ArtWalk after party sounds like fun. What’s the perfect thing to do after a day of taking in free art from over 40 galleries? Why partake of the open beer and wine bars, of course. Plus there will be light hors d’oeuvres to keep you sated and live music by the Brent Canter Trio and C.R.A.F.T. Club. Also if you’re still jonesin’ for art, you can visit the modern art galleries in the Ahmanson Building.

• 8:15-11pm. $40 general public ($10 off when you order online and enter promo code “Artwalk 2008″). Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles (map). (323) 857-6000.

Sunday, May 18

KROQ Presents The Raconteurs at the Henry Fonda Theater
Just got an email from KROQ saying this show for the acclaimed rock band, The Raconteurs, was just added and tickets ($23 each) don’t even go on sale til tomorrow at noon. You can only score them online at Ticketmaster so ferget about lining up at ticket outlets. Oddly enough, though, you can’t print them out using Ticketfast and have to instead pick ‘em up at the theater’s will call. There’s a two-ticket limit. The band is touring to promote their second album, Consolers of the Lonely.

• Doors open 7pm. $25. Henry Ford Theater, 6126 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood (map).

The urban jungle is the sort of place you don’t want to get caught unprepared, especially at night. Here are a few recommendations on what every girl needs to get through our city’s nightlife — how to get a stronger cocktail, what to do when you’re tired of holding your purse, how to survive in heels all night and how to get past the bouncer to name a few. And, yes, I carry a very big bag.