Vanity Fair: The Portraits
Imagine if Madonna, Fred Astaire and Miles Davis got together in your living room. It’s not as far-fetched as you might think thanks to the book Vanity Fair: The Portraits. Snapped by photographers such as Edward Steichen and Annie Leibovitz, these images offer a glimpse into the personalities behind the icons. Currently, a number of the book’s shots are on display at LACMA. $65. LACMA Gift Store, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., 323.857.6000. lacma.org
Sponge
For those who want the best for their bodies, Sponge utilizes more than 30 years of research to find nature’s most powerful plants and herbs from Greece and incorporates it into its skincare products. Using a unique chemical-free extraction process, all Sponge products act directly on the skin, blood and lymph circulation, rejuvenating suffering skin and giving it a healthy glowing and youthful appearance. Must haves are ladi avokanto (1.7 oz., $100), an essential for radiant skin; jambes lourdes anti-fatique leg cream (3.4 oz., $110) and aromatotherapia basiliko sweet basil aromatherapy mist (1.7 oz., $45). Barneys New York, 9570 Wilshire Blvd., 310.276.4400. spongeskincare.com
Lady Absinthe Fountain
After being banned in the US for nearly a century now it’s not only the hottest trend to sip on an Absinthe cocktail at a host of LA bars, Barkeeper in Silverlake equips any aspiring tender in style. From silver slotted spoons, to Perigord water glasses. WhereLA.com’s pick is the four-spout Lady Absinthe fountain, a reproduction of Vintage 10th Century Belle Epoque fountains. $264. Barkeeper, 3910 W Sunset Blvd., Silverlake, 323.669.1679. www.barkeepersilverlake.com
MUSC 25
The exclusive fragrance formulated especially for LA. MUSC 25 radiates a luminious, musky aroma that is surrounded by a somber devilishly dark core. Le Labo boasts that “it wakes up your inner demons that are anchored in sin and in animalic notes that are sensual, sexual and decadent.” All perfumes at Le Labo are compounded, bottled and the label personalized when you visit. (15 ml., $104; 50 ml. $260; 100 ml. $400). Le Labo, 8385 West Third St., Los Angeles, 323.782.0411. www.lelabofragrances.com
Ernst Benz by John Varvatos Limited Edition Chronoscope
It’s time for take-off: Any guy who has ever nourished dreams of flight will surely appreciate the Ernst Benz by John Varvatos Limited Edition Chronoscope. Inspired by the watches worn by World War II pilots, these self-winding Swiss timepieces boast oversize, dashboard-style details. Their classic colors and vintage aviator vibe give them a certain, well, timelessness. $6,800. John Varvatos 8800 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 310.859.2791; Malibu Country Mart, 3825 Cross Creek Road, 310.317.8487. johnvarvatos.com
Guitar Hero: World Tour for xbox 360
Family fun doesn’t have to be an oxymoron—at least not with the Xbox 360 console. You’ll like this gift as much as your kids—if not more—thanks to its ability to stream Netflix videos and the latest TV episodes (The Office, anyone?). As for Xbox’s host of video games, we like the new Guitar Hero: World Tour game best for bonding: It comes equipped with songs from throughout the decades so you can rock out to The Beatles while your kids flaunt their riffs to Fall Out Boy. (Xbox 360 console, $199; Guitar Hero: World Tour, $60). Best Buy 11301 W. Pico Blvd., L.A., 310.268.9190. xbox.com
Veuve Clicquot City Traveler
Champagne wishes can come true with the Veuve Clicquot City Traveler. A glass of bubbly is an arm’s length away thanks to this playfully colored carrier, which enables Champagne to chill at its ideal temperature. The tote comes with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label and two Champagne flutes. Cheers to that! $80. Mel and Rose Wine & Specialty Food 8344 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 323.655.5557. veuve-clicquot.com
Lola and James Concert Tees
Lola and James make it easy to dress your tot cute with a cutting edge. The Ramones Tee Bandana dress is made from an actual concert tee and the sleeves and hem are fashioned from either red or pink bandanas. The Jimmy Hendrix concert tee with cowboy shirt sleeves are cut and resized for babies and the buttons are replaced with snaps. La La Ling also carries similar styles featuring additional bands such as the Rolling Stones and Guns and Roses. ($80 shirt, $86 dress). La La Ling, 1810 N. Vermont Ave., 323.664.4400. lalaling.com
Garnazelle Paris at Harriet Dorn
Showcasing new and established jewelry artists, Harriet Dorn blends a dozen distinctive collections into a truly unique and beautiful shop. Currently this is the only shop in the U.S. showcasing exquisite, unique pieces from Garnazelle Paris. Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-6 p.m., and by appointment. 1211 Montana Ave., 310.393.0191.
Boule’s holiday hatbox
For those who won’t settle for sweets of the supermarket variety, Boule’s holiday hatbox makes the ideal treat. It contains chocolates in flavors such as fig cassis, Korova sablés, peppermint marshmallows and more. $80. Boule 408 N. La Cienega Blvd., L.A., 310.289.9977; 413 N. Bedford Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.273.4488. boulela.com
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You definitely don’t run out of things to do Los Angeles, at least if you stay connected to what’s going on. When you get down to it, there’s so much to do in Los Angeles that keeping up on it all can be a full time job. In fact, it’s our full time job, the very reason we love to return to work every day. Let us keep you up on the hottest events going on in Los Angeles. If you’re bored and watching cable TV, don’t blame us. There are plenty of things to do Los Angeles. Leave it to us to tell you what Hollywood is raving about.
When it comes to things to do Los Angeles, LA is one of those towns where your favorite band can roll in and play for free anytime, anywhere. Take the Cure for instance. It’s not every day that Morrissey plays with his original band, and definitely not every night he does it for free, but when the Cure plugs in for a free show, they’ll do it in LA.
We’ll not only tell you where it’s going on, but how you can get tickets before anyone else. If you’re looking for things to do Los Angeles, check us out frequently, subscribe to our RSS feed. There’s always something happening to write about in our the LA scoop. Let us be your Los Angeles Hollywood connection.
You’ve read the tourist brochures and still aren’t impressed? What’s truly hip, adventurous and offbeat in Los Angeles? We’re glad you asked. You could just tour all the regular museums or take a tour of the stars, or you could try something grand and original for once. Step back to the future with a visit to the Time Travel Mart, a store you have to see to believe. The entire store is dedicated to rare artifacts from the past, from dinosaur eggs to Craigs List ads for cavemen. The store serves as a non profit for writing and reading proficiency, so time travel can be educational.
Your Hollywood Connection for Things to Do Los Angeles