Egg House, a funky egg-themed pop-up, has opened its third location amid the boutiques and cafes on Melrose Place. Unlike the previous two stops, the LA location will run for one month only, without any extension. Or so they say at this time but we'll see ;)

You’ve seen it in the news everywhere – there is a beautiful superbloom that the state of California is experiencing right now thanks to the heavy rainfall received this year. People are posting pictures and media has covered it far and wide – flowers as far as the eye can see in orange, purple, yellow and other shades typically unaccustomed for the desert state. For those habituated to the dry green landscape found in the southwest, these are welcome sights to behold. But the superbloom is attracting attention from locals and visitors alike and many parks have already restricted visitation due to the masses flooding the area. Protecting the habitat is essential. 

The second annual Santa Barbara Restaurant Week Feb 22 - March 3 is your chance to experience and explore the best of Santa Barbara's food scene at a fraction of the cost. The 10-day event will showcase the vast culinary world that exists in Santa Barbara with restaurant options that will apply to all tastes, ranging from Asian to Farm-to-table to Vegan, and more. The participating restaurants offer a prix-fixe menu, which includes a $25 2-course lunch and a $40 3-course dinner option, along with local wine tasting rooms offering special tasting experiences.

Growing up in India and Oman, I knew of this person named Martin Luther King who was famous in America because he fought for the rights of black people in the country. He gave speeches everywhere and the black community held him in high esteem. He did a lot of work to promote equal rights for black people in society. His famous speech was "I have a Dream"...then one day he was shot and the world mourned his loss. This is literally everything I knew about him/learned at school until I moved to the US at the age of 25. I expected more out of MLK Day in the US other than it being a holiday for government employees and a few people mentioning him on the news. This resulted in some reading up on him and his story to understand the true importance of MLK Day here in he U.S and globally. Here’s a note from contributor Shannon Luders-Manuel on this day and how people can learn more of his efforts and legacy…

Beverly Hills’ BOLD Holidays launched this month with the debut of interactive artist Alexa Meade’s whimsical and innovative art exhibition, Immersed in Wonderland. Meade has transformed nearly 3,000 square feet of space located at 262 North Rodeo Drive into the pop-up, featuring three-dimensional painted holiday vignettes, which create the illusion of a two-dimensional painting when photographed. You can explore these vignettes, interact and touch them, and become part of the artwork. Each vignette offers a different color theme and its own matching painted clothing and accessories that can be worn. 

Recovered from the Thanksgiving weekend yet? If you've still got holiday shopping on your mind then you'll be glad to have this on your calendar! District La Brea is hosting its Holiday Shop & Stroll event December 1st from noon to 4 p.m. and retailers are offering special in-store promotions, gifts-with-purchase, and giveaways. There are new holiday pop-ups as well as a holiday-themed “parklet” created by Ben Goods. While shopping, enjoy FREE entertainment ranging from interactive selfie stations to a live DJ spinning festive holiday tunes.

Months of hard work and planning by Japan House LA staff culminated in a grand opening celebration Friday August 24, 2018, that witnessed actor George Takei as master of ceremonies with musician and celebrity Yoshiki performing on the occasion and LA Mayor Eric Garcetti addressing the gathering. 

I live down the street from here so I have to share the latest - Hollywood & Highland, Los Angeles’ iconic shopping, dining and entertainment destination has launched a VIP ACCESS CARD with insider access, offering exclusive savings and complimentary items at 18 of the center's popular eateries, shops and entertainment venues. For the full Angeleno experience! 

As of this month, you can pick up the card on Level 2 at L.A. Visitors Center and present it to participating retailers. The card will be a continuous offering at the center with new savings and free items available on an ongoing basis. No special fee or RSVP required. 

Whether a movie buff, foodie or shopaholic, the deals in VIP ACCESS cater to all types of interests and feature offers like Dolby Theatre Tour’s $5 off each regular ticket; Jinya Ramen Express’ complimentary two-piece Crispy Chicken Topping upon purchase of any Ramen order; Quay Australia’s 15% off full price sunglasses and accessories; and Cabo Wabo Cantina’s free appetizer with the purchase of two entrees; among many others. 

Hollywood & Highland is the entertainment center of Los Angeles for tourists and locals alike, featuring the Dolby Theatre, home of the Academy Awards. ® Just steps away from landmarks like the world-famous TCL Chinese Theatre and Hollywood Walk of Fame, it is usually the place for a Hollywood tour beginning or ending. 

With contemporary fashion and beauty brands, over 20 restaurants, unique entertainment attractions, movie premiers and celebrated live theatre, it’s the ultimate entertainment destination. I can vouch for it because I am there half the time - they have great sales and their summer concerts are so fun!

All month long, head to Beverly Hills for it Open Later Days with energizing nightlife, shopping and festivities until 8 p. m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Enjoy live entertainment, art installations, restaurant specials and more on Rodeo Drive and throughout the Golden Triangle. 

Rodeo Drive will kick off its second annual BOLD Summer on August 2 from 6 p.m.–9 p.m. You can experience live music, fireworks, delicious food and more. Step into a world where flash floral installations take over Rodeo Drive, monogramming booths leave you with a personalized take-home memory and live painting performances bring art to the forefront on the iconic street.

Nothing beats summer in Los Angeles and the folks at The Sofitel at Beverly Hills have some fantastic offers in store!
 
Riviera 31 now offers a new summer mixology collection, created by their very own Mixology Master Frederic Zemmour. The new beverage lineup highlights the vibrant colors of the blooming flowers on the restaurant’s patio and the magical flavors of their herb garden. From cilantro to thyme, from coconut to apricot, all the way to yuzu and roasted bell peppers, expect the unexpected to play on the flavors and strength of mezcal, bourbon, cognac and other robust liquors. 
 
Eclectic Jazz Nights are in every Monday and you can stay on till the wee hours of the morning. Opt for a VIP experience to hear the unparalleled sound of Ryan Cross and his band. If they aren’t pretty badass themselves, there is also the lure of celebrity sightings to consider. We hear Imagine Dragons took the stage in an impromptu performance one time! The open mic format means that celebrities can show up and sing covers or their own songs or for hidden talents to be discovered during the night. Every Monday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Call ahead to reserve, I can say fro experience the place gets packed pretty quick and usually has a standing crowd only situation. 
 
Cattle & Claw is the new pop-up eatery onsite and the one-stop destination for all things burgers and lobsters! By popular demand, C&C just launched a brunch menu that features waffle + lobsters and lobster bloody marys! Think lobster tacos & lobster toast bites & lobster beignets...you get the picture. Sofitel LA’s outdoor patio is the perfect setting to experience the new pop-up. No reservations allowed, and we are not talking about space. 
 
They also have Salsa Nights on Wednesdays, Blues performances for French Quarter Fridays and female DJs for Saturday night shenanigans. Check out the Sofitel today and let me know if you enjoy any of these experiences there!

Here’s a quick rundown of some of this city’s offerings for Mother’s Day celebrations. I’m too far away from mom to take her out but if you are treating mom to a special day/s, then these local suggestions should come handy!

What are your plans to celebrate mom on her special day this month? Here's the first in a series of recommendations as we run up to the occasion!

This Mother's Day, enjoy a scenic brunch, taking in views of the Marina at SALT Restaurant & Bar at Marina Del Rey Hotel. Executive Chef Mark Gold has carefully curated a special Mother's Day menu that will be offered during brunch hours on Sunday, May 13th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00pm. This specialty menu provides the perfect selection and pairings to come together to celebrate Mom and highlights Chef’s authentic California cuisine.
 
The exclusive Mother’s Day menu will include many specials and favorites, including the Smoked Salmon plate (Norwegian smoked salmon with whipped cream cheese on a toasted bagel) and the Beausoleil Oysters, served with SALT’s very own house cocktail sauce. Be sure to try Chef Gold’s delicious Japanese Hamachi, hand cut sashimi with fresh citrus yuzu kosho and olive oil, served with cucumber ‘ceviche’. For the main course, try Chef Mark Gold ’s flavor-packed Halibut, served with whole roasted cauliflower straight from Tutti Frutti Farms.
 
Also on offer are SALT’s signature cocktails such as the “In Bloom” a mix of Vida Mezcal tequila, pineapple liquor, hisbiscus agave and lime juice, or “The Salt” consisting of sauza tequila, grapefruit liquor, lime, agave, and orange bitters. If you’re a wine enthusiast, SALT offers an extensively curated wine list including sparkling whites, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Rosé, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Merlot ranging from wineries along the California coast. Cheers to mom!

Andaz West Hollywood will be displaying collections from two young up-and-coming artists in its next Salon art exhibit opening March 29th. Both artists also happen to be Andaz employees! The collections will be unveiled with an exclusive event at Andaz West Hollywood on March 29, 2018 from 6-8pm that is open to the public and free of charge.

Los Angeles based sustainable seafood mealkit company Trashfish has partnered with home delivery produce boxImperfect Produce to create a five course dinner elevating underloved produce and seafood. The dinner will take place on Sunday March 25 from 7-10pm at the Feastly Kitchen in Venice. The meal will consist of five courses, starting with a “toast to the imperfect” at 5pm. Long time Los Angeles chef Huntley See will run the meal with help of seafood and produce experts from the two companies.

This dinner is intended to expand diners’ seafood and produce palates and celebrate the produce and seafood that too often gets left behind. From wild caught California bycatch and bait fish to produce considered too "ugly" to make it onto our plates. The cost is $50 with an optional $12 organic vodka shooter with two local oysters. there will also be handmade pasta with opah carbonara and seasonal citrus uni butter as well as whole pacific sardines over an Imperfect Citrus Salad.

For dessert, enjoy an imperfect fruit spread and vanilla ice cream topped with coffee caviar, made from cold brewed organic coffee that bursts in your mouth. The two companies already share a deepy aligned mission, and now they’ll share a kitchen!!

Support their venture and learn more about their efforts - tickets are available and on sale now on eatfeastly.com  - use code “trashfish20” for 20% off tickets AND if you've never tried before, new members can use the code “imperfectfish” for a discount off the first Trashfishbox or Imperfect Produce box!!

Los Angeles has a few festivities on offer for the Irish event of the year. Take your pick from some of these options for your March 17 shenanigans!

With the intention of celebrating a time-honored holiday tradition while staying true to modern sustainability efforts, Long Beach restaurant Roe Seafood is presenting a Feast of the Seven (Sustainable) Fishes dinner series from December 17-24, 2017. Chef/Owner Arthur Gonzalez is one of the area’s foremost figures in the sustainably sourced seafood movement. He is consistently innovating with his menus at Roe Seafood, a community fixture recognized for its elevated cuisine and convivial atmosphere.  

A Grain Conference isn’t exactly how one envisions spending a beautiful Sunday morning in Los Angeles. Received an invite to this daylong event and thought it was intriguing – a whole day’s worth talking about grain? Then they added this was only the second year but the first time they were opening attendance to consumers. Any time a trade event opens doors to consumers – they are looking to educate and make aware. So I signed up!

I am off to my trip to India today and I have been looking forward to it! The last time I saw my family was in early 2015 so it has been a good while since I got to hug mom, sis, dad and bro. Speaking of which, this trip also includes a special event - my brother is getting married! So if you'd like a dose of South India, Chennai specifically, (and from a local's pint of view might I add) and like to check out a South Indian Muslim wedding, follow here on the blog. I am also excited to fly Singapore Airlines for the first time, if memory serves me right I've never flown that airline so hoping to experience the great quality of service everyone talks about. There will be a short trip to Mumbai as well, and possibly a trip to a third location that I am going to have to keep undisclosed for the moment! 

Heading home is always a thrill, and to have a wedding in the family added to that is simply wonderful. I look forward to showing you more of the city where I was born, studied some in, and finally worked in for a bit before I moved to the US. I can't wait to see what's new and what's changed. I can't wait to meet some of my friends who are still there. But, most importantly, I am just thrilled to pieces to see my family and hold them and love them and have long nights of conversation and food and fun. 

I will be gone for a month so rest assured there is a lot that you will have to keep abreast of. Follow me on Instagram mostly as I will be posting tons there. And sign up for my newsletter here or check in frequently to read more about my India adventures. Off I go now!

I’ve been a member of Travel Massive while I was in Atlanta and decided to join the group here in L.A as well. Much as I’d like to be a regular attendee, life takes over and the number of events I’ve been able to attend have been few and far between. This month’s event though was held a few blocks from where I live at posh co-working spot NeueHaus and I couldn’t miss it. Especially since the destination is Buellton, CA which is just about 2 hours’ drive from L.A and considered an underrated but promising area for wine lovers, city escapes and such.
 
I loved the cloth map bag attendees received at the entrance.  A great idea and a useful conversation starter as well. On the rooftop at NeueHaus, the event was set up such that wineries, breweries and distilleries had sampling stations where you could meet the makers behind these fantastic libations. I met a couple of interesting businesses and the images should cover a few – doubt I made the rounds to all to learn about their offerings.
 
The best part of the evening though – for me – was winning the grand prize via their Instagram contest onsite! I am now the happy chica who won the 2 night stay at their new Santa Ynez Marriott property along with a Bottlest winery tour and dinner as well as an area winery tour and ostrich farm visit. If you know me, you know how happy this makes me. Another travel adventure awaits. Stay tuned here to read all about that trip. Probably in a few months’ time!

Another fantastic event pulled off by the International Spa Association team! Attended as their guest for the first time last year and loved the experience. Was happy to be invited back again this year and got to try some of the treatments offered onsite by several spas and resorts. Not only is it a great experience meeting spa professionals in a casual setting but you are also in an event space and not at their workplace which gives you a whole other perspective on the folks that take care of your wellness and health, and the opportunity to converse with them at leisure, which might not necessarily be an option when you are at the specific spa or resort. Got to learn about new programs, treatments, industry trends and more. Read on!

The City of Beverly Hills launched their summer City of WELLTH campaign today at Alo Yoga in Beverly Hills to promote the city as a wellness and health destination for locals and travelers alike. WELLTH ambassador Christie Brinkley, author Jason Wachob, yoga teacher Caley Alyssa, chef Matthey Kenney, feng-shui expert Dana Claudat, founder of Bodyism James Duigan, and meditation expert Charlie Knowles were in attendance and spoke to guests on different aspects. 

​Beverly Hills transforms into a festive wonderland for the holiday season, offering exciting events, stunning décor, new community initiatives and holiday cheer for all, beginning officially with the City’s annual Rodeo Drive Lighting Celebration, Sunday, November 20, 5:00 p.m., and continuing with a number of activities through December 24, 2016.

Attended a pretty rad design event and didn’t even know how rad it was until I got there, perks of subscribing to local neighborhood newsletters I guess! This one-day event in its fifth year is called DIEM Talks Design and hosted by the West Hollywood Design District. This year’s theme was Co-Everything and I loved how they had branded each session as such to focus on the ‘Co’ aspect of each topic of discussion. The format was essentially an art walk or pub-crawl style event where you started at one location and ended at another, walking to multiple locations en route, and each location hosting a specific session.