There were tasty edibles including smoked salmon crostini and shrimp ceviche lettuce cups, which I’m guessing were from Caulfield’s (the hotel’s chic restaurant that looks like something you’d expect in NYC or Paris) as well as cocktails made with Owl’s Brew, a tea crafted especially for cocktails.

Of course, other than finding the food, the first thing I did was put our names on the list to get a manicure and brow threading. The colors they were offering from Bellacures salon weren’t exactly my scene (either too bright or too dark for my skin tone) so I ended up with a nice shade of red from Essie. There was also hair braiding and hairstyling, which I didn’t get done since I was wearing a hat, and brow threading from my fave, Ziba Beauty! I even did a TV segment on the salon in Little India. I met Glenn, their latest and greatest brow threader direct from Vegas. I was thrilled to get in his chair and have him work his magic on me. The best part? He’s now located at the new Ziba salon inside Fred Segal Santa Monica — I’m seeing him next week!

It was a great day of meeting new people, catching up with those I hadn’t seen in a while and just having a good time. Because when your mani is fresh and your brows are working, everything just seems to be alright, right?! xo

Located in a nondescript area of Boyle Heights along Cesar Chavez Avenue, Candelas Guitars is a family workshop, retail space and one of LA’s hidden musical gems. Third-generation guitar maker Tomas Candelas and his family have crafted Classical, Spanish, Acoustic, Mariachi, Flamenco and Bajo Sexto guitars for musicians around the world including Los Lobos, Jackson Browne and Jose Feliciano. In fact, Tomas’s uncle created guitars for Walt Disney and the original Mickey Mouse Club. (You can see the black & white photo–along with countless others–hanging on the wall in the shop.)

The list of clients is pretty impressive, but Tomas and his small staff welcome anyone to come browse the shop, take a one-on-one class (even if you’re a beginner) with master guitarists or simply stop in to say hello. I love this place because of the great history and also because Tomas is actually making these instruments right there. In the back room. By hand. Every day.

You also never know who might run into. On the morning I filmed a segment at the shop we had mariachi guitarist Jesus Hernandez from the famed Sol De Mexico, renowned performer Ukulele Bartt and guitarists Kenneth Del Rio and Gregg Lum. Music to my ears!

Watch the Video: National Guitar Month at Candelas Guitars

More info: www.candelas.com

Cicada – www.cicadarestaurant.com
This Downtown LA ode to 20-style Art Deco opulence is an obvious choice for Gatsby indulgence. Whether it’s the Lalique glass, 30-foot gold ceilings or plush bar and lounge, Cicada oozes with the excess of the era. The enormous venue is not only an Italian restaurant, but it’s also a place where you can dress up and really get into character. On most Sunday nights Maxwell DeMille’s Cicada Club takes over with vintage dance orchestras and popular jazz entertainers like the Dean Mora Quintette.

1920s opulence lives on at Cicada

Gallery Bar & Cognac Room – www.millenniumhotels.com/gallerybar
For a quintessential 20s experience check out the Biltmore’s Gallery Bar. Order one of their signature martinis at the polished granite bar under the watchful eyes of carved angels above the polished granite bar. (They’ll remind you of those famous eyes from the book’s original cover art by Francis Cugat.) Or retire to a couch in the adjacent Cognac Room and order the 20s-style shrimp cocktail served on original hotel silver. And don’t forget the live jazz and blues every Friday and Saturday night when you can really party like it’s 1922.

Sitting in the lap of luxury

The Edison – www.edisondowntown.com
This sprawling underground space conjures up the alluring decadence of a speakeasy during the Prohibition era, which is exactly when “The Great Gatsby” took place. I can totally imagine Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan slinking downstairs for some saucy entertainment and illegal imbibing into the wee hours here. The handcrafted cocktails and weekly shows are a real draw, so make sure to dress to the nines (or at least to the eights) so you can get past the doorman.

The New Recessionaires have a monthly residency @ The Edison

Classic Limos – www.classiclimos.com
So you won’t be roaring through the roads in Leo’s yellow Duesenberg, but you can still have some of that Roaring Twenties glam with a rental from Classic Limos. Although I can’t speak from experience, you’ll probably have the most fantastic time in the backseat of one of their cars (just like their famous clientele).

On the road again…

Golyester Vintage – www.golyester.com
You could do the obvious and head to Tiffany and Brooks Brothers for Gatsby-worthy baubles and threads — Fitzgerald was a fan of both. But if you want that handsome straw boater hat or pixie-cropped flapper look on a lower budget, you might want to check out this quiet vintage emporium on La Brea. Golyester is where to get those age-old garments and textiles dating from the teens to the 1970s. There’s also a selection of men’s wear along with an array of costume jewelry, handbags, shoes and accessories to complement your greatest Gatsby ensemble.

Say there, old sport — that hat would look mighty fine on you.

Harding Municipal Golf Course – www.golf.lacity.org
Golfing is what the rich and bored do in “The Great Gatsby” and if you’re going to get on the green, you may as well do it at this golf course that’s been open since 1923. (Just a year after the novel takes place.) It’s open daily from dawn to dusk and, according to the website, it’s a “beautiful, tree lined, well established course.”

A little golfing, Gatsby style

Greystone Mansion – www.greystoneparkmansion.org
OK, so there won’t be any champagne-soaked soirees brimming with bathtub gin fizzes, dirty martinis and even dirtier deeds, but this historic manse perched in the storied and scenic Hills of Beverly imparts a wow factor not unlike Gatsby’s estate. And there are plenty of fun activities here minus, you know, the depravity. The Beverly Hills Farmers’ Market has partnered with the Institute of Domestic Technology to offer a variety of classes on the property including “Cocktail Crafting – Bitters, Liqueurs and Cocktail Basics” on June 7 from 6pm-8pm in the Speakeasy. Cool, right?

Just another day in the life of the Great Gatsby

Related Link: Boardwalk Empire in LA

Caravan Book Store – Downtown LA
If you didn’t know better you’d think this place was a movie set for a bookstore straight from the early 1900s. Instead, Caravan Book Store is the real deal, remaining almost identical to how it looked when it first opened in 1954. It’s owned and operated daily by Leonard Bernstein (his father started it back when Downtown actually had a Book Seller’s Row) and every musty nook and cranny is filled with what feels and looks like a piece of history: antique books, vintage postcards, model ships and endless other oddities. A real gem.

Every Picture Tells a Story – Santa Monica
This top-notch children’s bookstore has as much appeal to adults as it does to kids. In addition to the bookshop there is an entire gallery of original works of book-related art, signed lithographs and illustrations. They recently moved to a larger location just up the street on Montana, so there’s even more space to hang out, stop by during a book reading, author signing or other event.

Family – Fairfax Village
I make it a point to never use the “h” word. (Hint: Rhymes with dipster.) But this awesome little shop in Fairfax Village with its neat stacks of pop culture, alterna-lit and undergroundish books, zines, small-press journals, indie artwork, graphic tees and smattering of CDs and vinyl is just the kind of place that those h-types looooove. But don’t hold that against it. Family has real value.

Read … or else

BookMarc – West Hollywood
Not exactly sure if this cool shop on Melrose Place qualifies as an independent bookstore since its part of the Marc Jacobs empire, but it’s definitely not a B&N-type deal and manages to have an indie sensibility that makes you want to support it. Contrary to what you might think, this is not a fashion and coffee table book place. You can find those here, but buyer Jennifer Baker has done a fine job filling the neat, welcoming space with diverse sections ranging from cooking, civil rights and classic lit to art, LGBT, feminism, music, poetry as well as rare and out-of-print editions that can cost anywhere from $65 to $5,000. Beck was recently here to help launch his friend’s photography book. And, of course, this being Marc Jacobs, you can get all those cutesy little $3 rings, $7 key chains, $10 necklaces and other gifty things. Bonus: The staff is really friendly and helpful.

Book Soup – West Hollywood
Book Soup is as much a Sunset Strip icon as the Roxy or the Whisky. Ever since it opened in 1975 it’s been the place for a book launch with big names and big crowds. The space is cramped and cozy with lots of recommendation tags on the shelves to help you in your quest for literary satisfaction. Maybe that’s why the staff is usually a bit aloof (at least that’s been my experience every time I’ve been here)–they figure why bother them when they’ve already provided written suggestions? Guess I’m a little bit like those gluttons for punishment over in the S&M section … I keep coming back for more.

Skylight Books – Los Feliz
Their Facebook page says it best: “Fiercely independent bookstore in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles.” Great selection of imported and hard-to-find magazines, LGBT literature and other art & culture stuff.

Piece of the past, here and now

Book Alley – Pasadena
If you don’t like the big-box feeling of Vroman’s (even though it is an indie), you’ll probably dig Book Alley, which touts itself as Pasadena’s finest used bookstore. They have a large selection of books on all subjects and also carry the largest selection of art, architecture, and photography books in the area.

Traveler’s Bookcase - Los Angeles
Go around the world and back again without ever leaving LA. This great bookshop on the pedestrian-friendly stretch of West 3rd Street is quaint, a touch musty and wonderfully stocked with all sorts of fun travel books and a good selection of birthday and whatever-occasion cards.

Hennessey + Ingalls Art Architecture Books - Santa Monica & Hollywood
Don’t bother trying to spell the name–just get inside this store that carries the absolute best selection of books on the visual arts. The OG location is right around the corner from the Third Street Promenade and claims the title of largest art and architecture bookstore in the western United States. (The family-owned biz also runs a small publishing division, producing about six titles a year.) If you can’t make it to the Westside, check out the newer location at Space 15 Twenty in Hollywood.

Dawson’s Book Shop – Larchmont Village
Opened in 1905, Dawson’s Book Shop is the oldest continuously operating bookstore in LA. Now in its third generation of family ownership, the book shop–connected to the Michael Dawson Gallery–specializes in rare and out-of-print books about California history, Western Americana and photography. The gallery also has an extensive selection of fine vintage and modern art photography with regular events going on.

Love is in the air at Larry Edmunds Bookshop

The Secret Headquarters – Silver Lake
With a name like that it’s no surprise this indie bookstore specializes in comic book culture with primo graphic novels, trade paperbacks and monthly titles. In 2008, the Guardian named it one of the ten best bookshops in the world, the only American bookstore on the list. Kinda cool, right?

Edmunds Bookshop – Hollywood
Lest you forget, we’re in Hollywood, baby. So when you’re in the market for anything Tinseltown related, remember this name: Larry Edmunds. The store has been in business longer than any actor’s career (70+ years) and the shelves are stocked with 500,000+ movie photographs, 6,000+ original movie posters and 20,000+ books on movies, theatre, actors, acting and anything else about the art of entertainment.

Williams’ Book Store – San Pedro
Damn you’re old. Hey, it’s a huge compliment when talking about a bookstore. And there’s almost no one older than Williams’ Book Store, the venerable San Pedro shop that’s been around 100+ years. In addition to all the general interest stuff that goes on forever, there are also hard-to-find books on San Pedro and Palos Verdes history, flora and fauna.

Vroman’s – Pasadena
It may look like Borders, but Vroman’s is still going strong as Southern California’s oldest and largest independent bookstore. (It was originally founded in 1894 by Adam Clark Vroman.) Sprawled over two floors, replete with a cafe, seating area for readings, children’s zone and countless shelves of hardbacks, paperbacks, magazines and other reading paraphenelia, Vroman’s is like the Ameoba of bookstores.

Storyopolis – Encino
A wonderland of children’s books in the Valley, Storyopolis is also a resource for antiquarian children’s books and illustrated book art. And don’t forget those famous book gift bushels–creative baskets filled with themed books and toys.

Vroman’s … and that’s just the fiction section

Libros Schmibros
A lending library and used bookstore in Boyle Heights with a punny Spanish name. How great is that?

Distant Lands – Pasadena
Bound for safari in the Saharan Desert or a relaxing weekend in Santa Monica? Either way, this Pasadena mainstay is loaded with an enormous selection of books and maps for those with a major case of wanderlust. There’s also an adjoining travel gear shop so you can get everything you need for wherever you’re going.

Alias Books – West LA
Drive and you might miss this nondescript bookstore on Sawtelle that’s been buying and selling used books since 1959. They stock thousands of titles in a wide variety of subjects with an emphasis on art, literature, academic and scholarly books.

A few from my own personal collection

Stories – Echo Park
This Eastside hangout is perfect for those who like a side of organic fair-trade coffee with their Bukowski. You’ll find a well-stocked selection of new, used and rare books with a special emphasis on fiction, history, LA arcana, art, photography and philosophy as well as regular book readings and music performances.

Angel City Books & Records– Santa Monica
This is probably Santa Monica’s best kept bookstore secret. Just don’t let the Pier address fool you—it’s not physically on the Pier, it’s located off of Main Street on Pier Avenue. Once you find it, you’ll enjoy a surfeit of used books on everything from philosophy and spirituality to sci-fi, mystery and general interest literature. And lots of records, too.

Once Upon a Time – Montrose
A real neighborhood bookstore, Once Upon A Time is just the kind of quaint shop you’d expect to find in this area with a great selection of books aimed toward kids and the family. Bonus: It’s located next to Zeke’s BBQ.

The latest incarnation of the Last Bookstore

Half Off Books – Whittier
The charming, sprawling space formerly known as the Little Old Bookshop was saved from sudden death last year when a Nebraska transplant bought the store. Now called Half Off Books, the literary mainstay is where to find tons of new and used books, CDs, DVDs and other media. Uptown Whittier wouldn’t have been the same without it.

Small World Books – Venice
Freaks and geeks. Yes, folks, believe it or not there’s a great general bookstore right on the Venice Boardwalk. Small World is a good-sized shop with a wide selection of titles published by both major and small presses.

Books & Cookies – Santa Monica
This new children’s bookstore and bakery in Santa Monica is a one-stop shop with three distinct areas: Bookstore/Interactive Reading Room with classics and new must-reads for babies to tweens along with an iPad learning station; Kids Cafe with sweets and other treats; and an Activities & Events space where regular readings and other goings-on are held. What more could you want?

The Last Bookstore – Downtown LA
What started as a small bookstore in a Downtown LA loft in 2005 has now grown into a 10,000 square-foot space at 5th and Spring Street complete with a record store and coffee bar. Add the regular musical and literary events, Buy Counter for books/CDs/DVDs/vinyl and growing DTLA community and it looks like the Last Bookstore won’t become a self-fulfilled prophecy any time soon.

Related links:

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Vinyl Revival: Record Stores in LA

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