The year-round couch crashers from all over the country are a constant — and sometimes annoying — reminder of just how good we have it with our endless summers here in SoCal. But that doesn’t mean we don’t still get giddy as Memorial Day approaches, whispering promises of warm sand between our toes, outdoor shows, and maybe even a fetching fling or two.

And, since we take this season extremely seriously here at R29 L.A. (Summer Fridays, holla!), we’ve highlighted the meat and potatoes (or beets and kale) of what this time means to us. Like when your steering wheel practically gives you a third-degree burn and the only cure is a Coolhaus ice cream sando. Or when your pool-crashing plan gets the kibosh and you've gotta make a quick BFF for a backyard dip.

Consider this list of 29 hot summer indicators your alert to bust out those dusty bikinis, pretty picnic blankets, and faux tanners, because you have one long staycation ahead of you, folks.

Got SoCal summer memories you care to share? Don't hesitate to let us know the things that spell out the season for you in the comments!

Although some people's idea of a dream eve out is a crazy gourmet meal at Bouchon, we're looking for something a bit more left of center to knock our socks off. And, you know, sometimes we don't even know what we want (even though you'd never catch us admitting it!).

So, to conquer that panicked indecision the next time we all get a text to the effect of, "What's up for Saturday," we've formulated some tried-and-tested excursions for a truly novel night out. From stargazing in Griffith Park to biking on the Boardwalk, these ideas are the epitome of cool courtship, and the building blocks of a sweet love story (think rehearsal-dinner fodder, ha!). Follow our lead, and we'll promise you this: By the time the goodnight kiss rolls around, you'll have way more to remember than just a hot make-out sesh.

We hope you've noticed that we've been revving up our fitness-related sitch on the site lately. And, well, we know all of you don't live right here in the heart of L.A., so the latest installment to our healthy living guide to SoCal is for the SD peeps (holler!). And if you don't live way down South, we're sure you'll plan a visit soon (that zoo is worth a trip alone, and don't get us started on Sea World, ha!). No matter where you dwell, we've got some helpful hints to keep you cleansed and in tip-top shape, whether you're on vacay, or just getting through the daily grind.


Photo: Via Bar Method San Diego

Break A Sweat

The Bar Method San Diego
Located in Point Loma, the Bar Method is perfect for those of you looking to get a quick dance conditioning class in, while on the run. We've hit up these interval training courses in Lala, and noticed our muscles feeling longer in just a few sessions. (They bump such great tunes, too!).
The Bar Method San Diego, 2751 Roosevelt Road, Suite 200 (Between Historic Decatur and Cushing roads); 619-226-2301.

Evolve Health & Fitness
This gym's guaranteed to have something for everyone with spin, Gravity (they call it "Pilates on Steroids"), and fusion strength-training classes. And they only allow nine participants per class, so you know you're getting hands-on help. The best part? Your first entrée is only five bucks!
Evolve Health & Fitness, 1618 West Lewis Street (between Stevens Street and Palmetto Way); 619-550-7378.

La Jolla Sports Club
Picturesque La Jolla is always first on our list of places to stop when visiting the San Diego area, and this sports club is just as posh as its surroundings. They have differing levels of membership depending on your budge (and realistic gym-going goals), and even offer nutritional counseling to pair up with your exercise plan.
La Jolla Sports Club, 7825 Fay Avenue (near Silverado Street); 858-456-2595.

North Park Fitness
This sweat lodge is one of the most affordable we've found in the area, and the $29.99 per month price beats any quote we've ever gotten in L.A. — we're actually kind of jealous! They have top-of-the-line equipment, extended hours for busy gals about town, boxing classes, and even Zumba (have you tried it yet? Obessed!).
North Park Fitness, 3049 University Avenue (at Grim Avenue); 619-255-4830.

L.A. is a city built on lunches. Come one o'clock, practically every seat from the beach to the Rose Bowl is filled with finance kids negotiating, agents powerbrokering, actors reading scripts, and even us plebs just looking for a yummy meal. But, what do you get when you don't want to brown bag it, but also don't need to walk away with a $50 check? You turn to your trustiest lunchtime staple: the sandwich.

And in this city, you won't be stuck with ham and cheese or turkey on rye. To mix it up, we've rounded up the most unexpected and hunger-inducing combos that exist between two slices of bread. Whether it's a deli classic, a local vegetarian specialty, or a spicy number hailing from Spain, these delicious options have you covered from Santa Monica to Glendale. Just don't let food coma (or carb overload) take you down—there's still work to be done, kiddos!

When it comes to the L.A. mindset on getting trim, there are two types of girls. There's that bright-eyed and bushy-tailed babe hitting the gym in the wee hours every morn, eating endless amounts of kale, and getting her B12 shots bi-weekly. Then, there are the chicas (and we happen to fall into this category) who get their health kick where they can, and mostly prefer to nosh on pizza and candy. For the lasses in the latter group — we hate to break it to ya — but those bikini-required heat waves are nigh, and it's high time to hustle your bustle to get that tush in gear. (We'd hate to see you get out-flaunted by those Stepford-style Precor bunnies!).

In all seriousness though — and for obvious reasons regardless of the season — we all could use a little health-nut action in our lives. That's why we've rounded up a slew of our fave butt-kicking workouts, sweat palaces, and healthy eateries to help you get serious about your physique and long-term wellness plan. Don't worry, we threw in a few spas to reward your hard work, too. Think of 'em as dessert!


Photo: Via Los Angeles Athletic Club

Break A Sweat

L.A. Athletic Club
This downtown space boasts squash courts and the most beautiful 25-yard lap pool in all of L.A. (they keep it at 82 degrees!). If you're looking to shake things up, those are certainly two workouts you don't find everywhere!
Los Angeles Athletic Club, 431 West 7th Street (Near South Hill Street); 213-625-2211.

Crunch
Perched atop Sunset, Crunch really offers one of the best bangs for your buck. They've recently had their own makeover, and it's looking squeaky clean! The best part? Here's just a small sampling of their eclectic classes: What You Knead, Pound, Cardio Tai Box, Lower Body Glide, Beach Body, Hip Hop, Funk, Afro-Brazilian Dance.
Crunch, 8000 Sunset Boulevard (Near North Crescent Heights); 323-654-4550.

Easton
This incognito mini-gym on Beverly is the workout haven for scenesters who prefer not to be seen in their sweats. And you know it's gotta be legit if founder Harvey Easton was the original celebrity trainer for Old Hollywood giants like Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, and Kirk Douglas.
Easton Gym, Easton Gym, 8053 Beverly Boulevard (Near North Crescent Heights Boulevard); 323-651-3636.

Equinox
Quite the opposite of the last gym, Equinox is where you'll find the city's movers and shakers looking to meet and greet while they tread that mill. Better pack your perfect little lululemon ensemble for this Weho hotspot; you may just score a buff date! (Sidenote: Grace Lazenby's Rockin' Model Workout is the best thing to hit the studio since Jazzercise!).
Equinox, 8590 West Sunset Boulevard (Near Sunset Plaza Drive); 310-659-3620.

Spectrum
Not many people know about this Palisades gym, but almost every machine overlooks the sparkling Pacific, taking the edge off of that faux-mountain you're climbing on the elliptical! It's a hop, skip, and a jump off PCH for any of you SM, Brentwood, and Venice dwellers. Another beautiful aspect: You won't have to wait a year for equipment like you would at so many other spots. Oh, and their smoothies are delicious, too!
Spectrum Club Palisades, 17383 Sunset Boulevard (Near Castellammare Drive); 310-459-2582.

Coffee has the uncanny ability to reinvent itself every decade, almost more frequently (and some might say even more seductively) than the Material Girl. When the '90s brought us Starbucks and Coffee Bean, the java-swilling masses thought they'd died and gone to heaven via ice blended Fraps. But these days, if you're a true connoisseur, the corner Starbucks looks about as good as Folgers instant coffee. And if you're like us, you're potentially less than thrilled about suffering through long lines and wait times for that perfect pull of espresso, or single cup drip at an artisan brew house.

Ready to take your perfect-cup compulsion to a slightly more comfy, but just as gourmet, level? Bring it home with these brewers, beans, and gadgets that make getting a delicious fix as close as your kitchen door. With so many great tools to pick from, the only thing you'll be stressing about is deciding will be which method to employ.

Sure, we’ve seen a crazy number of collabs come and go, and truth be told, we aren’t necessarily stirred when we hear the news of just any ol' team-up (it takes a lot to shock us, you know). But, we’ll go out on a limb and say we were pretty surprised when we caught wind of street artist Shepard Fairey and starlet Drew Barrymore working together — on a vino venture.

The two impresarios have joined forces to craft up a luxe label design for Barrymore’s brand of Pinot Grigio — which hits Cali stores soon. Such an unexpected, yet cool combo! The aptly named alcohol (it's called Barrymore) will feature a large, decorative “B” (Drew’s family crest), but revamped with Fairey’s illustrative style, natch.

We’re not sure how we feel about Drew hopping on the beverage bandwagon (hey, Bethenny made gajillions!), but we do dig that she brought Shepard on board to work his artsy alchemy. We just hope the booze inside the bottle lives up to the pretty packaging. But we're willing to do a taste test, should anyone be offering.



Photo: Via Oh No They Didn't

We’re sure you’ll be stuffing yourself with tacos and margs galore this Saturday, but if your taste buds are left yearning for more, after all of that, we have a yummy event for you to pencil in. Explore the culinary gems of Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz, and Eagle Rock this Sunday at the Taste of the Eastside’s finger-lickin’ festivities. Here, you’ll nosh grub and sip wine from restos like freshly launched L&E Oyster Bar, Little Dom's, renowned roaster Intelligentsia, and so many more (over 30 eateries are involved).

There will also be handy-dandy cooking and cocktail demos for all you DIYers out there. Plus, you can get your groove on while you snack — KCRW's DJ supreme Garth Trinidad will be spinning on-site. Oh, and we left out the best part: All profits benefit the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Barnsdall Art Park, Rose Scharlin Nursery School, and SEE Los Angeles. A good time for a good cause? Yep, sign us up!

When: Sunday, May 6, 12 to 5 p.m.
Where: Barnsdall Art Park, 4800 Hollywood Boulevard (at North Berendo Street); 323-660-4254.
Price: $35-$75; Buy tickets here.

Photo: Via Little Dom's

We're super revved-up over the most recent addition to already gastronomically sound Silver Lake, L&E Oyster Bar. It brings something completely new to the L.A. scene — a restaurant wholly embracing oysters on the half-shell. Intimate and cozy, not too pricey, and churning out delicious food and vino, it has fast become our must-visit spot for a plate of fresh shellfish and glass(es) of crisp Albariño. Lacking hipster pretension and created by the guys behind Bar Covell, this is a great spot for noshing with pals or casual date dining. Just don't dash without ordering the "Daily Dozen," a selection of the best oyster offerings — although…you wouldn't be wrong to order the Blackened Catfish or the Cajun Shrimp Pie, either.

For this culinary underwater adventure, we recommend embracing that not-spring-but-not-yet summer vibe with a playful palette, lighter fabrics, and since you're on the Eastside, some experimental trends. Why not find inspiration in Raquel Allegra's dip-dyed blazer and a sick shark-tooth necklace that transcends seasons? Throw your tresses into a messy top knot, sweep on some colorful liner or tangerine nails — et voilà! — you've perfected the Silver Lake-meets-seaside vibe.

L&E Oyster Bar, 1637 Silver Lake Boulevard (near Effie Street); 323-660-2255.

From left: Raquel Allegra Tie Dye Silk-Linen Jacket, $785, available at Rachel Allerga; Otte Signature Tank in Lipstick Red, $125, available at Otte; Annie Hammer Shark Necklace, $300, available at Max & Chloe; Zara Basic Sandal, $49.90, available at Zara; Topshop Rib Panel Knicker, $40, available at Topshop; Kotour Espey Gold Burma Leather Clutch, $450, available at Shirise.

Photographed by Ellen Rehak

Sometimes, the shape of a cocktail glass is enough to make you want what's inside. For example, tall cylinders for beer, wide globes for wine, and the simple geometry of a classic Martini glass when done right are enough to make lushes out of the best of us. While we usually spend that spare 15 minutes before a movie at the Grove browsing Zara, not Sur La Table, we've found that a few strategic upgrades to a bar cart can go a long way.

We road-tested our theory just to be sure, and guess what? It's true: We love our after-work brew even more when sipped from a special stein. Turns out the same holds true for some of our other favorite libations, too, so we've gone ahead and done the footwork for you. Here, we've matched seven delicious drinks with their perfect glass complements. So, go ahead, dive in and say salut in style!

Pull out your flapper gear and start practicing the Charleston — it’s time to pay homage to one of our all-time favorite eras: the '20s. Bar Noir at Maison 140 (founded by silent film star Lillian Gish) is transforming into a legit speakeasy. From the décor to the menu, Bar Noir is channeling the Jazz Age all month long, and its classic drink list is thematically on point. Drinks range from the "Southside," which has its roots in underground gin making, to a sassy-sweet honey-laced concoction named “Bee’s Knees,” and everything’s served in historically accurate teapots.

If the modern world is feeling a little much, or if you just want to kick it back old school, make your next drinks date at the Bar Noir Speakeasy. The Eighteenth Amendment might not be in effect anymore, but that doesn’t mean we can’t down a drink like the lads and lasses of the Prohibition era.


When: Now through April 30
Where: Bar Noir at Maison 140, 140 South Lasky Drive (at Durant Drive); 310-281-4000.

Photo: Via Bar Noir

Sometimes you've just gotta get your Glee on, whether in the privacy of a small room with friends or in front of a crowd at the dive-iest of watering holes. Lucky for us Angelenos, there's a karaoke bar for every kind of crooner in town: small and intimate, loud and rowdy, and even a few spots that serve up Soju and hand out tambourines, ensuring you can show off your mad singing skills, 27 Dresses-style, at any kind of joint.

And not to worry if the idea of performing in front of strangers gives you the willies, there's plenty of liquid courage to go around. From Santa Monica to K-Town and back, this list has you covered with all the best places to party down and sing your heart out. So, grab a brush, and practice your best Diana Ross impression in front of the ol' mirror — it's karaoke time!

Photos Via (clockwise from top left): The Good Nite Bar, Feel Karaoke, Happy Ending Bar, and Backstage Karaoke.

Backstage
For happy hour well drinks and a rowdier crowd, head to Backstage in Culver City. The atmosphere is decidedly un-hipster, dive-y, and just the place to dig into a slider while watching someone go full-on Cindy Lauper. Make sure to get your name on the list early and often, as it can get pretty crowded.
The Backstage, 10400 Culver Boulevard (At Motor Avenue); 310-839-3892.

Max Karaoke
You will want to make a reservation for this Little Tokyo-adjacent karaoke club. A happening spot on the weekend, Max Karaoke provides the perfect atmosphere for let you tap into your inner ScarJo, circa Lost in Translation. Unfortunately, a pink wig and Bill Murray aren't included.
Max Karaoke, 333 South Alameda Street Suite 216 (At East 3rd Street); 213-620-1030.

Coreoke at The Happy Ending Bar
What is Coreoke you might ask? It's three guys named Corey who play live karaoke, featuring classic rock and your favorite tunes from the '80s. It's silly, it's fun, and you can find them in Hollywood at the Happy Ending Bar and Grill every Wednesday night from 9 p.m. until Thursday.
Coreoke at The Happy Ending Bar, 7038 Sunset Boulevard (Near North La Brea Avenue); 323-469-7038.

Vermont Karaoke And Billiards
Enjoy private rooms, soju, and a little bit of billiards if you're not in a singing mood, here. This K-Town spot is great for a divided group. Some can sing, some can play pool, and some can just be flies on the wall.
Vermont Karaoke And Billiards, 191 South Vermont Avenue (Near West 2nd Street); 213-385-3337.

Other Notables:
The Good Nite, 10721 Burbank Boulevard (Near Denny Avenue); 323-899-3366.
Feel Karaoke, 600 South Harvard Boulevard (At West 6th Street); 213-385-2221.
Boardwalk 11, 10433 National Boulevard Suite 5 (Near Mentone Avenue); 310-837-5245.