Stories

If you've driven down The Sunset Strip, you've seen those giant Gibson Guitars lining the street. Now those 10-foot tall fiberglass Les Paul guitars are being auctioned off for charity from Bonhams & Butterfields. Each of the 18 guitars is a one-of-a-kind piece from artists like Shepard Fairey and Tristan Eaton and can be yours for $3k-$5k … not as much as I thought they'd be!! All of the proceeds from this auction benefit the “Arts Matter” campaign, which supports art and music education in LA public schools.

Lifestyle reporter Mar Yvette is on the court at Esther L. Walter Elementary School in Anaheim with The Harlem Globetrotters on Fox 11 News and Good Day LA (2/15/2013).

Today was a first in Weekend Roundup history as Marco Lopez surprised his longtime girlfriend, Ashlee Regan, with a marriage proposal on live TV!!! She honestly had NO idea this would become the most unforgettable Valentine's Day of her life - we did everything from turn down the TV monitors to taking away her phone to make sure the secret wasn't revealed. Of course, she said yes! Special thanks to Antonello Ristorante for giving the couple a fabulous V-Day dinner (you can enjoy your own Aphrodisiac Menu all weekend for just $35!) and indie-pop French band Nous Non Plus who set the mood with a gorgeous French rendition of The Beatles' "I Love Her." Ah, l'amour!

This morning I checked out The GRAMMY Museum with a look at the Whitney Houston exhibit (it's been extended til May 27) and a live performance by LA's own Grammy-nominated La Santa Cecilia... this place is great! And cheaper admission than the cost of a movie ticket!

I was with the total woofs on Friday for the Southern California Pet Expo in Long Beach where I had a chance to hang with Shorty Rossi, star of Animal Planet's "Pit Boss," and lots of adorable, beautiful pwesh!!!

The Super Bowl is over but the fun folks I featured are worth checking out anytime: Calle Tacos, the permanently parked food truck on Hollywood Blvd (it's open til 2am!), The Mixing Room at JW Marriott L.A. Live, and The Silver Lake Chorus - love these guys who do fab choral arrangements of the latest indie songs!

You know about the Santa Monica Pier and Third Street Promenade, but have you been to Montana Avenue? This tree-lined, pedestrian-friendly stretch in Santa Monica is dotted with a mix of locally owned and nationally-known boutiques, restaurants and businesses. I visited this charming area in my 'hood with a fun fashion show at Tribute Boutique (the ENTIRE store is 50% OFF in Feb!!!), one-of-a-kind organic hair treatments at The Broot, and an UPSIDE DOWN workout with Aerial Physique at M7 Fitness!

Today I braved the pouring rain to check out some Monster Jam action at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. We kept it to the parking lot (safety first) but rain or shine, the show goes on this Saturday, Jan 26 and again on Saturday, Feb 9. It was my first time getting in, on and around these 10,000 pound monsters and it was kinda fun. I'm a Prius driver though, so my only question is, do they come as hybrids?

If you've been meaning to check out a cool restaurant like The Parish (my fave new resto in DTLA) but are worried about how much you'll spend, now is the perfect time to do it. This Saturday you can also stop by Bock Fest in Hollywood with the world-famous Pink's Hot Dogs. And don't forget Vintage Trouble, one of my fave local bands who are now taking the world by storm!

Lifestyle reporter Mar Yvette is on a quest for the perfect cup of coffee at Urth Caffe in downtown Los Angeles on Fox 11 News and Good Day LA (1/23/2013).

Lifestyle reporter Mar Yvette features Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum and flight school in Compton, where kids as young as eight years old learn how to fly (1/18/2013).

Food and fun expert Mar Yvette features the EarthWe celebration with Daryl Hannah, and the Corner Door restaurant on the Good Day LA show (1/17/2013).

Everybody knows the new "American Idol" season premieres today, but there was another kind of singing competition going on today here in LA. I got to hang out with Tony-winning actress and "Dancing With the Stars" finalist Marissa Jaret Winokur at the soon-to-open DON'T TELL MAMA Los Angeles], the first West Coast outpost of the famed NYC piano bar & cabaret known for its Broadway caliber singers. Auditions took place this morning with dozens of performing hopefuls who had no problem strutting their stuff!

It was a cold, cold morning on the job today with freezing temps, closed roads and dirty porta potties!!! But I still had a blast! I was in Castaic at 5am where I reported on the Grapevine road closure, which brought to mind that Cake song "Long Line of Cars." I felt like a real reporter talking with the CHP and all that serious stuff. Thankfully, the roads finally opened up after the sun came out and the ice melted. Enjoy your weekend and stay warm!

Downtown LA Artwalk and Truckit Fest with the Wicked Kitchen Food Truck, M.A.K.E. Restaurant and Matthew Kenney Cuisine, the Grammy Museum and the Be Heard Artist Showcase with Adjoa Skinner on the Good Day LA show (1/10/2013).

It was lots of fun filming today's segment cos it was all centered around art and food. What could be better? I featured the bi-monthly CUR-ATE Dinner Series held at LACMA, a cool after-dark event that begins with a guided tour of the galleries with ArtBites art & food historian Maite Gomez-Rejon Trachtenberg who highlights the role of specific foods during the given era. Following the hour-long tour is a themed dinner from Chef Kris Morningstar at Ray's & Stark Bar that is inspired by the artwork. Delish!

Lifestyle reporter Mar Yvette is Out & About on Historic Main Street in Garden Grove where she visits Zlacket's Deli, the oldest deli in Orange County, and Azteca Mexican Restaurant & Crooners Lounge for a preview of the big Elvis Presley birthday celebration on Fox 11 News and Good Day LA (1/04/2013).

Food and fun expert Mar Yvette features Eat Well Week with Locando Del Lago, acupuncture at Ona Spa, and music by the world's first and only heavy metal mariachi band, Metalachi on the Good Day LA show (1/03/2013).

If you want to make good on that 'get fit' resolution, you may as well have a good time doing it. So of course I headed to the Venice Boardwalk to hang out with some colorful characters who make exercising fun! David Matz and Sam Spinnovation Tribble brought out the big Cyr Wheels, Nick Kane had his giant human-hamster wheel and Lenny Hoops ... well, he had his hula hoops and infectious personality that'll get you moving no matter what. #OnlyInLA LOVEZ!

Lifestyle reporter Mar Yvette features at home party planning ideas with Chef John-Carlos Kuramoto and owner Michael McCarty from Michael's Santa Monica restaurant on Fox 11 News and Good Day LA (12/28/2012).

Food and fun expert Mar Yvette features a New Year's Eve party with Photo Booth Pro, The Lash Factory, and Chaya Restaurants on the Good Day LA show (12/27/2012).

Lifestyle reporter Mar Yvette heads to Forever 21 at the Santa Monica Promenade for a New Year's Eve fashion show on Fox 11 News and Good Day LA (12/26/2012).

Lifestyle reporter Mar Yvette features the "End of the World" party at Hotel Maya in Long Beach on Fox 11 News and Good Day LA (12/21/2012).

Food and fun expert Mar Yvette features Noche De Rabanos (Night of the Radishes) at Mercado La Paloma, A Restaurant / A Market in Newport Beach, and the Herbert Bail Orchestra on the Good Day LA show (12/20/2012).