Regardless of how you really feel about the holiday, Valentine’s Day arrives in all its splendid pink and red glory every February 14th. However you acknowledge it, here’s a sampling of ways to express your love, or current liaison, in the City of Angels…

Surprise your special other with a local-ish getaway just 20 miles north of Santa Barbara. Book the Romance Retreat package, enjoy a gorgeous drive up the coast together, then settle in for some camping El Capitan Canyon-style. Guaranteed to satisfy both your outdoorsy and amorous spirits, relax for two nights in one of the signature creekside cabins ““ complete with king size bed, roomy two-person soak tub and cozy fireplace.

Available through March 31st, this El Capitan package also includes champagne flutes, French truffles, keepsake blanket and other romantic treats to sweeten your escape.

To check availability, call 866-352-2729 or go to http://elcapitancanyon.com.

Kick off the touchy-feely holiday with a Couples Massage Course at The Sports Club/LA on Sunday, February 13th at 4:00 PM. Acclaimed expert in the art of bodywork, Nami Ishimori will teach her student couples how to explore the intimacies of massage in a private event environment. Bonus: Each couple graduates with a gift of massage oil.

To make a reservation, call Matt Lee at 310-473-1447 x109. The Sports Club/LA |1835 South Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles

Not looking for a getaway just yet, but want to up the ante with an exceptional dinner?

You can never go wrong with a reservation at Koi, but on Monday the restaurant will be honoring St. Valentine by offering a special tasting menu with dishes like The Lovers: Surf & Turf and Cupid: Tuna Tataki. Or share a signature Koi Kiss nightcap (vodka, strawberry puree, lemon, and splash of champagne) by candlelight at the bar.

Koi Restaurant Los Angeles | 730 N. La Cienega Blvd | 310-659-9449

Already armed with a perfect plan, but still looking for some rich chocolaty finishing touches?

No one knows dessert like Sweet Lady Jane and she never disappoints when it comes to chocolate. Put in a call now and order a few Chocolate Raspberry Tarts ““ delectable pastries filled with whipped ganache, fresh raspberries and chocolate cylinder curls.

Or stop by the shop and share a slice of show-stopping Old Fashioned Chocolate cake. Irresistible to even the most luke warm-dessert lover, layers of dark chocolate cake are flawlessly filled with French chocolate buttercream, then frosted with Belgian chocolate ganache and mounds of imported chocolate curls.

Sweet Lady Jane | 1631 Montana Ave, Santa Monica | 310-254-9499

Just looking to grab a drink or two?

Stop by Bar NINETEEN12 at the Beverly Hills Hotel for some posh fireside ambience and heart-shaped jelly shot cocktails, featuring floral ingredients from violets, elderflowers, hibiscus and roses.

For a more beachy-cas environment, cruise over to the Malibu Lumber Yard patio and cozy up with one of the various hot chocolates at ChocolateBox Café.

On a tight budget”¦ Notsomuch looking to wine and dine, but still want to pay homage to cupid?

Sure you can stop by Fred Segal Santa Monica or Satine on West 3rd, but if you want to save 40% (for a limited time) on a Samantha House bauble, make it a point to visit her website and type in LOVE at checkout. If she adores wearing cocktail rings and you aren’t quite ready to buy the ring, check out the Asteroid Rings ““ sexy, edgy, and fun. Just like her!

And if you’re planning a simple dinner under the stars or just kickin’ it homestyle, spice things up with some satin sheets from Anna’s Linens. Swap out your ordinary picnic blanket for a sexy red satin sheet, or surprise him with a bed made in sultry chocolate satin. Whatever shade(s) you choose, you’re sure to stay well within the love budget.

However humble or grandiose you decide to do Valentine’s Day, may you spread the love in style…

xo

To culminate October, fashion industry VIPs, media and celebrities came out to Rock Fashion Week Los Angeles ““ a two-day event joining fashion, art and entertainment at the Peterson Automotive Museum.

Opening night was Gen Art’s 12th annual legendary “Fresh Faces in Fashion” presented by Plastics Make it Possible and hosted by CBS’s Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco. Celebrities sitting front row included: Monet Mazur (Castle), Ashley Palmer (Paranormal Activity), director Rupert Wainwright, Hayley McFarland (Lie to Me), Meagan Martin (10 Things I Hate About You), Kirsten Prout (Kyle XY), Sofia Vassilieva (Medium), Alistair Tober (Universal Recording Artist) and Amanda Lutrell Garrigus (E!).

Plastic exhibits filled one side of the tent and reality shows were filming in every corner. Models pranced throughout. Very LA.

The runway presentation showcased five emerging talents including womenswear designers Leyendecker, Valerj Pobega, Seneca Rising and Rory Beca, as well as menswear designer MG Black.

The following night Rock Fashion Week Los Angeles closed with back-to-back runway shows featuring designers Tristan and Trista, Boy Meets Girl and Biatta Intimates. The Pink Dress Collection benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure, made its final showing after a three-city tour in NYC, Miami, and Los Angeles. The dresses will be auctioned off online to benefit the charity. Carolyn Hennesy (Cougar Town), Megyn Price (Rules of Engagement), Tamala Jones (Castle), and Megan Joy (American Idol) all showed their support walking in the collection. The Hills’ Lo Bosworth hosted the show and joined director Rupert Wainwright, socialite Michael Dean Shelton, Cupid Hayes and Jazmin Whitley in the front row. Rock Fashion Week Los Angeles closed with a rocker-themed show by Biatta Intimates and a closing after party to celebrate the event.

For more info on the event and LA Fashion week, check out http://www.rockfashionwk.com.

A new collection has just hit the streets of LA, and well, it just couldn’t be more “LA.” Limited quantities of statement-adorned tees make up this casually dramatic Alp-n-Rock debut collection. The tees are warm, perhaps even a bit too warm for many of our So Cal days, but the cool eco-friendly material is reason enough for us to ignore a little shvitzing.

The tees proclaim personal messages of everything from “Heart Broken,” “Damaged” and “Temptation” to “Don’t Fall in Love with Me” and “Give Back”. Messages are also translated in hand-stitched German, Italian, and the like. About 10 different designs make up the edgy and reversible collection ““ plus a few mens’ styles as well.

The small line screams (almost literally) of laidback luxury”¦ and isn’t that what Los Angeles is all about anyway?

Check out http://www.alpnrock.com or Jakin & Boaz ““ 323.735.1777.

What’s the ideal way to celebrate a successful day of boutique shopping? How about a crisp Cabernet or a refreshing Riesling with your girls at a swanky lounge? Finding such a spot in L.A. can be tricky, especially finding somewhere that isn’t overly crowded or hyped. That’s why I was ecstatic to find Morry’s of Naples, a chic but not too well known wine bar in Long Beach.

Experienced wine coinsurers, new wine drinkers, and self-proclaimed winos will all find something to love about the freshly reinvented, hip wine bar at Morry’s of Naples. Unassuming from the outside, Morry’s appears to be simply a trendy wine shop/boutique but once inside, patrons will find their hidden gem, The Backroom. Offering nightly wine tastings from 5-10pm, special Thursday beer tastings, and themed Sunday afternoon/evening tastings, the exquisite wine bar at The Backroom serves up a flavorful, intoxicating adventure for every palette.

Did I mention they serve food? Oh yeah, super scrumptious food too! Their menu of cured meats, artisan cheeses, and seasonal salads are perfect compliments to their extensive wine list featuring wines from around the world. Not to mention, you get to consume all these goodies in luxurious surroundings; the bar’s décor includes plush couches that are mixed with high tables, and there’s plenty of ambiance.

I don’t know about you but I’m craving a glass of vino right about now. Check www.Morrys.com for their complete menu and calendar of events.

What: The Backroom Wine Bar at Morry’s of Naples
Where: 5764 East Second Street – Long Beach (Naples Island), CA 90803
When: 7 Days a week, 5:00pm-10:00pm
Phone: (800) 539-8011 or (562) 433-0405

We may be three months into 2007, but the Chinese New Year is just beginning. The celebration kicks off with a parade in Hollywood and will be followed by a spectacular show at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Nearly 200 Beijing-based dancers, acrobats, stilt walkers, singers, and other performers will put on a spectacular two-hour show to ring in the Year of the Pig. This show is like no other! You can take the entire family to see colorful and intricately designed costumes, listen to a performance by the Beijing Opera Troupe, and watch the traditional Chinese folk dance that uses symbolic red ribbons to ward off evil spirits that may appear during the New Year’s Eve celebration.

The cost of the event is included in the price of admission to Universal Studios Hollywood. You can get more information and purchase tickets online at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com.

When: March 3rd
Time: 4 – 6pm
Where: Universal Studios Hollywood

If you’ve watched the SciFi Channel lately, then you’ve probably noticed one of their commercials about a dress that sprouts quills when a man gets too close to the woman wearing it. Guess what””it really does exist! See the real thing at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) where J. Meejin Yoon’s Defensible Dress contains a motion detector that makes the dress’s quills rise when someone gets too close.

The current show is about the intersection of architecture and clothing. It has ten main sections, and four of them are thematic: clothing/buildings reflecting “Identity,” “Shelter,” “Geometry,” and “Creative Process.” How the items in each section fit the theme is up to the viewer to decide. I personally felt the section called “Creative Process” worked well when it featured the methods of architect Frank Gehry along with fashion designer Narciso Rodriguez.

You might also want to check out the Russian Doll collection“”a model is dressed from spare sackcloth undergarments to multiple layers of dresses and coats. In this exhibit, separate mannequins showcase each layer, and a video of the process runs on a loop to show each layer as it is applied to the model.

I also liked how practicality, purpose, and aesthetics were built into many of the garments, and this is where I think architecture and fashion can meet. Isabel Toledo’s Packing Dress may well be an example of the future in which clothing and luggage are one in the same.

But I’m still not quite convinced about the intersection of architecture and fashion at this show. Yes, some garments, such as Yedhee Tang’s Infanta 2-Circle dress could easily go from garment to tent. But then there was Diller Scofidio + Renfro’s shirts folded like napkins through a process of “mis-ironing.” This looked more like origami than architecture.

However, in the future, I predict that land will become so expensive that most of us will not be able to afford a place to live, and so we can utilize some of the architectural designs of clothing in this show to create all-purpose garments that go from dress to dwelling””all in three easy steps!

I highly recommend this show to fashion lovers and those interested in architecture.

Winter has officially arrived and as the temperature drops and summer tans fade, you’ll need a quick solution to maintain that healthy, sunny glow.  Portofino Sun Spa & Boutique located in Beverly Hills not only gives us a natural and safe solution for our pasty skin, it pampers you in the process!

Founded in 1996 by Jennifer Phillips, Portofino has become the “it” self-tanning place for the Hollywood elite.  Celebrities like Brittany Murphy, Paris Hilton, Jenny McCarthy, Giselle, Mariah Carey, and Hilary Swank utilize Portofino’s numerous services to get that all over natural looking glow, no matter what season it may be.

Portofino Sun Spa offers the newest techniques in air brushed tans which includes their Custom Tan (55$-75$)- twenty-five custom blended tanning colors based on your eye, skin, hair and even outfit color- definitely a celebrity must have!  Their Contour Tan (10$ per area) produces muscle tone and dimension by creating an illusion of a more toned body- good news for those of us that have been less than inclined to work out over these holiday weeks.  Portofino also offers the Clear Tan, an airbrush tan that goes on clear without staining clothes or sheets.  And just to add some icing to the cake, they offer up a line of products that allow you to customize your tan with over twenty-five scents and thirty shimmers and glows.

So as those lazy beach days become fewer and farther between, remember- there is no need for pasty skin this season OR a streaky drug store “do it yourself” job- a safe and perfectly customized glow is just a hop skip and jump away on little Santa Monica. 

Portofino Sun Spa of Beverly Hills is located at
9431 Little Santa Monica Boulevard, at Canon Drive.  
For an appointment, call 310-276-8855.
 

It isn’t everyday that we can celebrate the launch of a brand spanking new tomato.  Well, rejoice Angelenos, Dulcinea Farms of Ladera Ranch has just introduced the Rosso Bruno Tomato to the City of Angels. The Rosso Bruno tomato is a hybrid cross of two wild, European tomato lines and is ready-to-eat when the color is a rich, beautiful brown with hints of green. Although its unique color really makes the Rosso Bruno stand out from other tomatoes, the rich, flavorful taste is truly memorable.

 
The Rosso Bruno tomato has higher levels of two significant, good-for-you ingredients:
 
-          2g of fiber per tomato versus 1g in regular tomatoes
-          45% Daily Value of antioxidant vitamin A versus 15% in regular tomatoes    
 
Promising a perfect balance of sweet and tart, try the Rosso Bruno brown tomato sliced in salads or on sandwiches.  Available at Vons markets.

When Haley Thompson and Dara Weinberg began decorating their slip on sneakers with paint, fabric, bleach, and some crafty ingenuity, they had no idea that an entire business was about to come to life. Based in Los Angeles, Enchanted Royals’ one-of-a-kind hand embellished sneakers have got it all: beauty, individuality and a sense of humor. Haley and Dara, both 24, had been creating clothing and accessories for themselves and their friends for years. It was their mutual appreciation for all things crafty that led the girls to join forces and create something on a grander scale. The classic reliability and timeless cool of California’s omnipresent solid slip-on sneakers were the perfect canvas for Haley and Dara’s stylish and unusual touch.

Thus began Enchanted Royals; Haley and Dara working out of their apartments in Santa Monica and Sherman Oaks. The designs for the first two pairs – fabric Cupcakes with scalloped corduroy bottoms and sparkly pink felt for frosting and The Black Forest, hand painted with rose-shaped buttons sewn to the branches – were painstakingly reproduced dozens of times over, and continue to be two of their best sellers. The ideas kept flowing from all kinds of sources; be it homesickness (The Enchanted City), a friend’s undying love for cheeseburgers (The Royale With Cheese), or another friend’s desire for the ultimate in geek chic (Sara J. Molecules). Indeed, many of the styles that have become a part of Enchanted Royals’ permanent repertoire started out as one-of-a-kind requests, all beautifully hand-crafted with that signature tongue in cheek quality. The aforementioned designs, in addition to The Enchanted Galaxy, are available at the boutique Lavish on Melrose, a new kid on the block that showcases many local talents in design and crafting, located at 6917 Melrose Ave. in Hollywood.

While Haley and Dara have a soft spot for their perennial styles, they live for creating one-of-a-kind pieces by request. Recent one-offs include a pair bearing the image of a couple’s silhouette on the beach in front of the Santa Monica Pier that was given to them as a wedding present and another pair with an intricate painting of a sailboat. Most recently they have expanded into baby-wear, featuring the signature felt cupcake and hamburger designs on onesies and baby tees. There’s no challenge too great for these crafty ladies; they relish the opportunity to rise to any request.

Whether you desire a pair of sneaks that reflect your innermost interests or one of the more established designs, your delight is guaranteed. To get your own personalized pair, visit Lavish on Melrose or contact Haley and Dara directly at EnchantedRoyals@gmail.com.

For more information, visit www.enchantedroyals.com or visit their MySpace profile, which houses the only complete collection of photos for Enchanted Royals’ one of a kind styles (www.myspace.com/haleyanddara). Pairs of Enchanted Royals sell for $105 at Lavish on Melrose. Special orders are priced upon request.

Sure””home cooked meals are nice. But why not take a break on Turkey Day. Stay out of the kitchen and make reservations instead. Just go to these two French restaurants for fine-dining. Who knows, you may start a new tradition.

La Cachette has gained quite an impressive reputation since premiering in Century City in 1994. Chef / Owner Jean Francois Meteigner redefines French cuisine with his signature “cuisine naturelle” style of cooking which uses little or no cream or butter. Thanksgiving dinner starts at 4:30pm with a set menu of three courses and dessert. They’re not exactly cheap, but think of all the time and cleanup you’ll be saving. Visit www.lacachetterestaurant.com for more details.

If you’re closer to Studio City, check out Pinot Bistro. Rated as one of the best restaurants in the Valley by Zagat’s Guide, they offer an intimate and relaxed destination for traditional French cuisine. Thanksgiving reservations are available from 3-8pm where you can choose from traditional turkey dinner or meat or fish. Log onto www.patinagroup.com to make reservations.