Last-Minute Mother’s Day Gifts
If you’re after a last-minute gift, pamper mom with lovely and local products and packages.
May 11, 2012
Unique Accessories
For a truly personal touch, stop by the Beverly Hills location of Kendra Scott and create a custom piece from the color bar. An array of styles and colors are available for rings, bracelets, necklaces, and cuffs. You can even bring mom in to design her own piece. 9511 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; 810-888-8600
A New Take on Bouquets
Botany Flowers in The Brentwood Country Mart has fashioned a Mother’s Day menu of fragrant bouquets, spring wreaths, and herb garden boxes featuring the season’s freshest flowers. The spring wreath ($400) lasts two to four weeks. Minimum $75 delivery charge; call 310-394-0358 to order. 225 26th St., Ste. 41, Brentwood
Spa Services for Every Sort of Mother
Pamper mom like a princess at cozy Abbot Kinney cottage spa, Nitespa. Relaxing services such as organic facials, holistic massages, and amazing manicures/pedicures come with a complimentary glass of wine. The day/night spa also offers 25% off for moms or those expecting, plus 15% off products. If you’re in need of a pick-me-up spa session too, book an appointment for yourself and your mother, and mom will pay only half price. Open noon-midnight (by appointment); for booking and pricing info, call 310-396-5122. 1301 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice
Brunch Plans: The Charleston
Celebrity chef Jet Tila debuts delectable jazz brunch with all the fixings.
May 11, 2012
Jet Tila’s new gastrolounge, The Charleston, is now open early for weekend brunch. Known for his inventive culinary repertoire, the celebrity chef has combined live jazz and American comfort food for a fun-filled, 1930s-style experience.
The Richard Glaser Band takes to the stage to perform classic jazz stylings while guests tuck into bottomless mimosas and breakfast favorites, including bread pudding French toast, chicken and waffles, and brisket hash and eggs. Brunch menu is available Saturdays and Sundays, 10 AM-2PM. 2460 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, 310-828-2115
Petra Stunt’s Weekend-Perfect Stark Clutches
The British socialite and designer puts luxe touches on classic clutches.
May 10, 2012
Formula One heiress and fairly new LA resident Petra Stunt is revving up the luxury fashion market with handbags from her brand, Stark. Entering the design world around the same time she so famously purchased Candy Spelling’s mansion for $85 million, Stunt has been making a splash with her accessories company.
A reflection of her lavish style, Stunt’s latest pieces offer an over-the-top elegance with a modern edge. Made of exotic python skin and rich suede, the opulent mix of clutches come adorned with Swarovski crystals, gold buckles, and panther-shaped clasps. Stark clutches are the perfect statement-making carriers for dinner or dancing. Look for the collection at Saks Fifth Avenue. 9600 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-275-4211
Weekend Recommender: May 12-13
Shop an exclusive trunk show, sample a brand-new brunch, and treat mom to a makeup session.
May 10, 2012
Vanilla maple French toast at Bagatelle.
Cobra Society Trunk Show
Saturday, May 12, 12-8 PM
Designer Alex Davis scored a massive hit in the fashion world with her premier line of Cobra Society accessories. This Saturday the high-end collection of travel-inspired boots, loafers, and handbags will be available at an exclusive trunk show. Stop by for 80% off fall 2011 and 40-50% off spring 2012 collections. Must RSVP via rsvp@thecobrasociety.com. 5410 Wilshire Blvd., LA
Bagatelle Brunch Opens
Begins Saturday, May 12, 11 AM-6 PM; every Saturday/Sunday after
Get a jump on the Sunday Mother’s Day crowd at Bagatelle’s first brunch service. An offshot of Bagatelle's NYC brunch, this party-themed a.m. meal will definitely pack the house with its flowing Champagne and live DJ. Lobster Suzette, vanilla maple Bagatelle French toast, and green eggs and ham are some of the anticipated plates. Reserve a table by e-mailing LAreservations@bistrotbagatelle.com or calling. 755 N. La Cienga Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-659-3900
Mother's Day Special at Blushington Makeup & Beauty Lounge
Sunday, May 13, 10 AM-6 PM
Make mom feel her best today with a pampering session at Blushington in WeHo. A perfect mother/daughter bonding opportunity, the ultra-girlie beauty shop offers full-face makeup application for both you and mom, but for the price of one. Blushington will also help keep you touch-up-ready with a complimentary take-home Stila lipgloss trio. 8591 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-652-5874
Venice Art Walk & Auctions Combines Culture & Charity
A showcase of the best local artists and designers adds silent auction at Google LA’s legendary Binoculars Building.
May 09, 2012
Venice Art Walk & Auctions attendees will get a glimpse inside Google's legendary LA office.
Art and design enthusiasts—mark your calendars for the much-anticipated Venice Art Walk & Auctions, May 19-20. Since 1979, local artists and architects have opened their studios and homes as well as donated works in an effort to raise funds for the Venice Family Clinic, which provides free community health care to those in need.
In addition to annual draws like the Art and Architecture Tours and Angel Event (highlighting sculptor/painter Huguette Caland this year), 2012 brings a new and noteworthy contributor: Google Los Angeles. As host of the final day’s Silent Auction, the tech company will turn their famous, Frank Gehry-designed "Binoculars Building" headquarters in Venice into a mock art gallery. The silent auction offers a chance to bid on stunning collections from the best of the Southern California art scene, as well as enjoy gourmet food trucks, music courtesy of celebrity DJs, and more. For tickets ($50-$125) and further information, visit veniceartwalk.org.
Alicia Silverstone Launches Juice Beauty Line
The actress and organic beauty brand team up for five green products in pretty pink packaging.
May 09, 2012
A longtime vegan and environmental advocate, Alicia Silverstone expands her vast eco-friendly portfolio to include a new line of organic beauty products. A collaborative effort with Northern California skincare and cosmetics brand, Juice Beauty, the “Alicia Silverstone for Juice Beauty” collection launched on Earth Day.
The five-piece collection includes chamomile cleanser, pressed powder, nourishing moisturizer, glow highlighter, and purely kissable lip color in a universally flattering pink hue. Packed with antioxidants, essential oils, and fruit extracts, the offerings are held to the greatest ethical and eco standards and packaged in 95% recycled materials.
To commemorate the launch, Juice Beauty hosted a brunch at Cecconi’s in West Hollywood, where the actress addressed special guests and media on her involvement with the brand and her take on an eco-conscious lifestyle.
Silverstone said that being green was about keeping a healthy, beautiful appearance through the use of natural, organic products that don’t endanger the Earth. She went on to state that everything in the collection—from the eco-friendly packaging to the locally sourced ingredients—was created with that mantra in mind.
The “Alicia Silverstone for Juice Beauty” collection retails for $16-$36 and is available on Ulta.com and JuiceBeauty.com.
Kate Spade & Shutters Hotel Team Up for Exclusive Tote
Limited-edition, beach-perfect summer bag set to debut this week.
May 08, 2012
Shutters, the famed seaside hotel hangout for locals and out-of-towners alike, has collaborated with Kate Spade on a limited-edition tote set to launch this week. The beach bag ($198), adorned in a green and blue “Solar” print from Spade’s Florence Broadhurst décor collection and fashioned from waterproof, lacquered cotton, will be sold exclusively at the hotel’s in-house and online stores (shuttersbeachstyle.com). Pre-order yours now—only 100 totes will be produced. 1 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, 310-458-0030
Opening Soon: Sandast Flagship
Fashioning luxury leather goods since 2006, Sandast brings accessories collections to its first store opening this month.
May 07, 2012
Stepping into the new Sandast flagship in downtown LA, one will get the sense of the high-quality work and expert craftsmanship put into its line of leather goods. In an interesting ode to the brand’s vintage-inspired design philosophy, owner and artisan Milan Franeta chose to convert an old auto garage to stand as Sandast’s first store location. Blending that traditional premise with innovative crafting techniques, Franeta designs his USA-sourced leather bags to look aged, and its hardware to appear scuffed and well-worn.
The resulting collections, “American Rugged” and “Italian Vintage,” exude both elegance and toughness. Joining his two staple categories, Franeta has also launched a new “Artisan Collection”—everyday unisex bags and totes made with a new leather burnishing method. Complementary brands like Redwin, H by Hudson, Nudie jeans, G-Star, and Thom Browne sunglasses will round out Sandast’s namesake selections. Officially opening with a launch party on May 17th, Sandast will also feature a large workshop window for customers to view the entire bag-making process. 1205 South Hill St., Downtown LA; no phone at press time
Photographs Courtesy Sandast
LA Film Festival Announces Screenings
Favorites from the LAFF's recently released lineup.
May 07, 2012
Film Independent's Los Angeles Film Festival returns for its 18th year, June 14-24. The recently released 2012 lineup includes more than 200 features, documentaries, shorts, and music videos to be screened at L.A. LIVE’s Regal Cinemas and the Bing Theater at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).
This year, plenty of big-name talent lights up the silver screen. Opening night marks the North American premiere of Woody Allen’s To Rome With Love, in which he stars alongside Penélope Cruz, Jesse Eisenberg, Ellen Page, and Alec Baldwin. Many anticipated gala screenings are also on schedule, including Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, pairing Steve Carrell and Keira Knightley together in a funny yet resonant film about the final days of humanity. Passes on sale now at lafilmfest.com.
Photographs by Alexandra Wyman/WireImage, courtesy of Film Independent
Ritz-Carlton’s Garden-Grown Cocktails
Enjoy drinks crafted from ingredients in the hotel’s rooftop cocktail garden.
May 04, 2012
Farm-to-glass cocktails: Verbena Lemonade, Cucumber Martini, and Pineapple Mojito.
The Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles has revealed innovative spring/summer farm-to-glass cocktails for its WP24 Restaurant & Lounge by Wolfgang Puck and BLUE rooftop pool bar. Plucked from its own “cocktail garden,” mixologist Klaus Puck uses seasonal fruits, herbs, and plants to create unique cocktails
Meant to be enjoyed while taking in the hotel’s spectacular downtown views and perfect for a pre-dinner or poolside sip, the menu includes refreshing choices like the Verbena Lemonade (citron vodka, kalamansi, lemongrass, and verbena leaves) and the Ginger Crisp (Chambord vodka, sake, lime, and ginger). The cocktail garden will be changed up seasonally. 900 W. Olympic Blvd., Downtown LA, 213-743-8800
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MI&MO PHOTOGRAPHY
