Ah yes, New Year's Eve is almost here and some congratulations are in order. You've made it through another whirlwind season of holiday parties, family reunions, and survived the Mayan apocalypse. But now comes the even trickier part — figuring out the how's and where's of ringing in 2013. Your mental checklist has already been planned: You must be somewhere where you'll have zero problems rallying your friends…Read more
Just because SoCal's chances of a White Christmas are disappointingly low, doesn't mean L.A. residents skimp on the tinsel and trimmings. If anything, it's added incentive to be ultra-festive when the holidays roll around. And, one quick drive around Lala ("quick" being relative to your proximity to the 405) and it's plain to see that the local store owners take their window displays just as seriously as they…Read more
We like to think we're experts when it comes to sugary confections, but it's safe to say that few people know sweets the way Doron Petersan does. The owner of Sticky Fingers Bakery (and winner of Food Network's Cupcake Wars) specializes in concocting delectable indulgences that are free of animal products, but her Columbia Heights outpost is a favorite stop among vegans and omnivores, alike. Since the season…Read more
Of all the the holiday songs released by big pop artists over the years, Wham!'s "Last Christmas" may be our favorite. Underneath George Michael's upbeat sing-along, a dour undercurrent lurks: This is a man whose heart was broken and on Christmas nonetheless! What could be worse than that? The xx, masters of all things sad and spooky, have now tapped into the song's bleak undercurrent for a live version performed…Read more
They're the couple whose Facebook statuses are always some version of Here ✈ There. They're the ones you swear spend more time on a beach somewhere than in their own apartments. They're the ones you call first when you get the lastest season of No Reservations on DVD. So, for your globe-trotting friends, a coffee mug just ain't gonna cut it — a gift should aid them in their adventure-having. From great…Read more
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