What to Love in L.A. This Weekend

Free Festivities: Officially, Whole Foods doesn’t turn 30 until Monday, September 20th, but this weekend Whole Foods stores all across North America and the UK are celebrating with all sorts of birthday festivities. The Whole Foods nearest me is celebrating with raffles throughout the entire weekend. They’ll be raffling off all sorts of things, from goody bags to gift cards to bicycles (oh my!). Other activities going on include Texas-themed barbecues (in honor of the store’s roots in Austin, where the flagship is located), birthday cake, cupcake decorating, wine tastings, various kids events, and more. Find the Whole Foods nearest you to see what’s happening at your store.

What to Love in L.A. Today

Free Alcohol: If you find yourself craving a drink at 10 pm on a Tuesday night but are low on cash, head to CineSpace in Hollywood. Created by two MTV staffers, CineSpace is a hybrid nightclub, lounge, restaurant, event venue, and movie theater. You could have a full night on the town and never even leave the building. Does that seem wrong? Or so, so right? To quench your thirst, CineSpace offers free vodka every Tuesday from 10 pm to 11 pm. Vodka is my alcohol of choice (must have something to do with my Russian blood) and it tastes even better when I don’t have to pay for it.

CineSpace, 6356 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles; Tuesdays, 10 pm to 2 am.

What to Love in L.A. Today

Free Extras: If you haven’t heard of Fashion’s Night Out by now, then you must not like shopping very much. If this is the case, my condolences. Before this year, though, Los Angeles shoppers had to sit by while their New York counterparts were plied with free food, drink, and entertainment, all in the name of shopping. No more do Angelenos have to do without. Today, the City of Angels officially hosts its first-ever Fashion’s Night Out. Head to the FNO LA website to check out what’s happening at several key shopping destinations around the city, including the Beverly Center, Melrose Avenue, Abbott Kinney, Robertson Boulevard, West Third Street, and Westfield Topanga. Happy shopping!

Fashion’s Night Out, http://fno.lacity.org; 4-10 pm.

Happy Rosh Hashanah!

What to Love in L.A. Today

Free Movies: If you find yourself near Miracle Mile today around 1 pm, head to LACMA’s Bing Theater to check out this week’s Tuesday matinee, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. You can see this Academy Award-nominated film, which features two of the 20th century’s most iconic performers (Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor, if you’re having a brain sneeze), for only $2. That’s way cheaper than going to the movie theater, and you don’t even have to wait for Netflix to mail it to you. If you’re like me and you take your time getting around to seeing classic movies, $2 is a great motivator for two hours’ entertainment.

Bing Theater, LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles; 1 pm; $2, $1 seniors.

Mini Architecture Tour of N. Rossmore Avenue in Larchmont Village

On my way to cute Larchmont Village (read my review of Larchmont Beauty Center here), I walked along the stretch of North Rossmore Avenue bounded by Melrose Avenue to the north and Beverly Boulevard to the south. Highlighted by City Walks: Los Angeles, the 1920s-era apartment buildings reflect a variety of architectural influences. I particularly liked the art deco elements, as well as the medieval turrets of castle-like 540 N. Rossmore. The El Royale, which has hosted some famous residents, is also located on N. Rossmore. For more information on and photos of the El Royale, check out the Houses of Hancock Park blog. While you’re there, take a look at all of Woody's other great pictures of beautiful Hancock Park architecture. Julia Stein of California Writer also has a great post on the Larchmont Village area.

Here are the highlights of my mini architectural tour.




The above photos are actually of the same building.



*sigh* I would love to live in a castle.

What to Love in L.A. This Weekend

Cheap Deals: If you arrive at the L.A. County Fair this Labor Day weekend between 10 am and 1 pm, admission costs you only $1. Yes, $1! If you don't believe me, watch the fair's promo video above. Since regular adult admission is $17, you should seriously think about setting your alarm. But if 10 am to 1 pm is just too early for some (especially if your family, like mine, includes people who keep vampire hours), the fair is also running specials throughout the day, including discounts on food and beverages and $1 carnival rides from late afternoon to early evening. Just think, spending only $1 on admission means you could get yourself an extra fried Oreo or two. I can feel my arteries clog just thinking about it.

L.A. County Fair, 1101 W. McKinley Avenue, Pomona; Labor Day weekend hours, Sat-Sun: 10 am to midnight, Mon: 10 am to 10 pm; admission $1 from 10 am to 1 pm.

What to Love in L.A. Today

Free Museums: I hardly need to tell you about how great the Getty is. If you live in L.A., you’ve probably already been there, and if you’re a tourist, the Getty is probably on your list of things to see. The museum regularly features a variety of exhibitions, and as an Angeleno, I always check in from time to time to see what’s showing. The exhibition that caught my eye this time was “From Line to Light: Renaissance Drawing in Florence and Venice,” which features drawings by Titian, Raphael, and a variety of other Italian artists. I like the simplicity of drawings; I find it fascinating what a person can do with only a writing instrument and paper.

Admission to the museum is free, but parking is not ($15). If you’re going to drive, do not go alone, because once you hand over your arm and leg for parking (seriously! $15!) you’re going to need some help getting around the museum.

Getty Museum, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles; Tues–Fri, Sun: 10 am to 5:30 pm, Sat: 10 am to 9 pm; free admission.

Independent L.A.: Larchmont Beauty Center

I have a small obsession with beauty products. Well, maybe a medium, somewhat-higher-than-average obsession with beauty products. Okay, okay, I love them!!! I routinely slather myself with every body and face product there is, and I cleanse, scrub, exfoliate, moisturize, and do anything else there is to do.

Thus, when I entered Larchmont Beauty Center in Larchmont Village, I was in heaven. In one sense, it’s a good thing that I don’t have a job or I would be tempted to spend a paycheck (or two) at this small beauty emporium. Since I put so many products on my skin, I’ve been trying to buy natural/organic stuff. This store has a great selection, including Fresh, Jurlique, California Baby, Burt’s Bees, Ole Henriksen (I’m in marry-me-forever love with Ole’s truth serum), mop, and Tom’s of Maine. If natural/organic isn’t your thing, Larchmont Beauty Center carries many of the salon brands as well. Besides hair and skin care products, you can also find perfumes, nail polish, all kinds of beauty tools, and a small selection of makeup.

The store itself isn’t very big, but the shelves are jam-packed with beauty goodies. The shelf housing what seemed like the entire Kiehl’s product line was even bowing a little. I carefully backed away from that shelf, visualizing a repeat of an unfortunate incident in Hawaii that ended with me showered in small tiki idols (it wasn’t my fault!).

Several products even have testers à la Sephora so you can try them out before buying. I tried some of Jurlique’s Sun Lotion SPF 30+ on my hands. Since I’m deathly pale, I appreciate any product that contains sunscreen. The staff was friendly, and there is a small salon in the back of the store that offers full-salon services such as body treatments, waxing, hair and nails, makeup, and even massage.

If you’re a beauty product junkie, it is quite easy to spend all day in Larchmont Beauty Center, but at least try and drag yourself out after an hour or two. The surrounding shops and restaurants of Larchmont Village are well worth checking out.

Larchmont Beauty Center, 208 North Larchmont Boulevard, Los Angeles; Mon-Sat: 8:30 am to 8 pm, Sun: 11 am to 6 pm.

What to Love in L.A. Today

Free Screenings: As part of the Taste of Beverly Hills Food & Wine Festival taking place this weekend, the Paley Center for Media is screening popular TV cooking shows in the museum’s John H. Mitchell Theater. The program, called Who’s Cooking @ Paley Center, kicks off today with Baking with Julia Child, Two Hot Tamales (hosted by Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken), and Cooking Live (hosted by Sara Moulton).

Paley Center for Media, 465 North Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills; 12:30 pm, Sept. 1–8; free.