The Last Word from LA

Mo and I leave LA tomorrow morning and I have to say, I'm relieved. Though we did miss out on below-freezing temps in New York the last couple of weeks, the weather hasn't exactly been balmy and fabulous here. And I really miss my home, family, boyfriend, and kittle. On the lifestyle front, though, we did a lot of fun things. The next time you head to LA, you must do the following:

1. Get a spray tan at Portofino.
Yes, stripping down to nothing in front of a complete stranger and being sprayed with a cold layer of chemicals is an odd experience. But the result is a chic, deep tan without the bulbs--and a good week of looking tan without having damaged your skin. (Check them out here)
Recommended service: Custom airbrush spray tan
Wallet damage: About $100 with tax, tip, and a bronzer

2. Take a drive in the Hollywood Hills.
The roads are long and winding, the view is spectacular and the houses are glorious little secrets tucked into the lush landscape. We had such a great time racing around in our rented little red Mini Cooper, top down, Diet Cokes in hand, sun streaming over one of the most famous neighborhoods in the country. If you go slowly enough, you might even spot some celebs in the hills!
Recommended vehicle: Zippy little red car
Wallet damage: Zilch, sans gas.

3. Hit up Wasteland high-end consignment shop.
New York has its fair share of great thrift and consignment, but nothing like what I saw at Wasteland. There are a few locations, but the best one is in Studio City. I won't regale you with all the gory details, because my mom and boyfriend would likely kill me if they knew, but let's use this shining example: Helmut Lang skirt, tags still on from Bergdorf's, original price $220, Wasteland price $40.
Recommended time: After work, early Sunday morning, and everytime you go there will be more new stuff!
Wallet damage: Astronomical. But worth every single penny.

4. Indulge in steak at Boa.
After reading about the meat-lovers hot spot in the weeklies so much in recent months, Monique and I had to head to Boa. The ambiance is so LA--from a clean, lush interior with high ceilings, dim lighting and large leather booth seating, to a sprawling outdoor dining section complete with upscale wicker furniture, C-list celebs shmoozing, and great music blasting. Bonus: the food is great. Caesar salad is prepared tableside to your specifications (heavy or light on the garlic? extra croutons? no problem!). Steak comes with a selection of several sauces and rubs, and the sides are to die for.
Recommended dishes: Wedge salad, Petit filet blackened with Boa's signature sauce, truffle cheese fries.
Wallet damage: What you would expect for a steak hot spot in Hollywood. A lot.

5. Ask the paparrazzi who they're waiting for.
In this business we deal with celebrities on a daily basis, but when the really good ones come out, it's still exciting. In New York you rarely find the paparazzi hanging out around the front door restaurants. If you were to, it would be over someone huge. I think the funniest thing about LA is the way celebrity is approached. Sure, the paps might be waiting for Brad and Angie, but most likely, it's the Donna D'Erricos of the world. And it's always worth a laugh!
Recommended spots: Anything on Hollywood Blvd, anything Asian fusion--Katsuya, Koi, etc.
Wallet damage: Gratis.

Showing off those spray tans at our QVC Red Carpet Event: Friday 2.25.