Din Tai Fung's veggie dumplings - Photo by Mar Yvette

Budget-Friendly Food Finds

Top Lists 2 Jan 2012
The New Year has arrived and with it the resolution to spend less money. But as someone who loves going out for a fine meal on the regular, it can be a resolution that’s a little hard to swallow. Or at least that’s what you might think at first. Los Angeles is a pricey place to live, duh, but there are plenty of places where you can get your grub on (and do it well) without spending mucho bucks. Here are some of my favorite budget-friendly food finds in LA that will help keep you on a deliciously frugal path.
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Photo courtesy of Parker Palm Springs

Ask Mar: Weekend Getaways

Top Lists 20 Dec 2011
As someone who’s always out and about, I’m always asked to name my favorite restaurants, the hottest new place to get a drink or some secret spot to impress a visiting guest. Hence, the “Ask Mar” series where I share these Q&A’s with the rest of you. It's been a while since I've posted one of these, but I thought today's query was a pretty good one. A colleague contacted me looking for local getaway ideas that don't require a plane ticket. Here’s what I had to say …
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Casa Del Mar's HydraFacial

Spa Deal: HydraFacial by the Beach

Stories 15 Dec 2011
In a holidaze? Need to treat yourself to a little pampering? Well, I'll let you in on a little secret. The Sea Wellness Spa at Hotel Casa Del Mar is offering a special deal on their latest treatment called the HydraFacial, now until January 17. It's a totally easy, breezy facial that promises to leave your skin glowing with no signs of redness or the usual post-facial spots. PS: If you book now, there's a free gift involved. And it's a really, really good one.
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Street's curried mussels

New Year’s Eve in Los Angeles

Top Lists 14 Dec 2011
A Mayan Apocalypse replete with fire dancers, go-go boys and warrior sacrifices? A Moulin Rouge cabaret that will transport you to 19th century Paris in the middle of LA? An extravagant ball with Cleopatra herself? Yes, kids. It's New Year's Eve in Los Angeles. So if you didn't get enough role-playing at Halloween or just want to send off 2011 with a bang, here's where to go for New Year's Eve in Los Angeles.
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Osteria speck pizza

Christmas Day Pizza Party!

Stories 13 Dec 2011
Hey, home slice. Feel like some pizza on Christmas Day? Well, then. Your holiday plans have just been made. Osteria La Buca, that loft-like neighborhood kitchen on Melrose that turns out delicious Italian eats, is ready to bring you glad tidings with their first Christmas Day Pizza Party. At 5pm on Sunday, December 25, Osteria La Buca will fire up the ovens and whip up all manner of pie along with plenty of wine, beer and cocktails. It's time to eat, drink and be merry.
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Freddy-Smalls bruschetta - Photo by Mar Yvette

10 New Restaurants in LA

Top Lists 12 Dec 2011
The great thing about LA and its mythical allure is that even when the world seems to be falling apart there is never any shortage of dreams. Case in point: The fact that new restaurants just keep showing up every day like so many would-be stars. And being that we are in the what’s-hot-now capital of the world, here are 10 new restaurants in Los Angeles that are making a buzz.
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Birdman - Photo by Marleta Laatz

Q&A: Street Art with Birdman

Stories 8 Dec 2011
Graffiti, sculpture, stencils, stickers, wheat pasting, installations, posters, murals. Call it vandalism or call it urban commentary, but street art is here to stay. Documenting this ever-evolving scene for the past several years, Birdman (Bryan Mier) is one of street art's most esteemed photographers who has done everything from climbing walls at 2 o'clock in the morning to watching his back (literally) in order to get the right shot. And now the photographer is stepping in front of the camera to share "Wish You Were Here," his first solo exhibition at Novel Cafe in Downtown LA. I recently caught up with him to talk shop and find out what it's like to break the law for the sake of art.
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Macarons from XT Patisserie

Giving Back: Restaurants with Holiday Spirit

Top Lists 7 Dec 2011
Family, friends and warm, fuzzy feelings. It's what the holidays are all about. This time of year also reminds us that there are a lot of people out there who aren't so fortunate and could really use our help. And one of the easiest ways you can actually make a difference is by eating, drinking and being merry. Seriously.
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Taberna's cochinita pibil - Photo by Mar Yvette

Hot New Pick: Taberna Mexicana

Stories 2 Dec 2011
When I first heard that there was a new Mexican restaurant in Beverly Hills, immediately I imagined it to be an overpriced, watered down experience. Well, after sitting down for dinner at Taberna Mexicana I now know that this place not only turns out flavorful Mexican food punctuated with pleasant surprises, but it is also affordable, especially when you consider it's smack dab in the middle of the 90210. (And FYI, the daily $4 happy hour is the best deal in town.) I'm already planning my next visit.
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For better or wirst: Wirsthaus

Food, Brews, Jewels & Tattoos

Stories 1 Dec 2011
Want some ink with that drink? Wirsthaus, LA's latest German restaurant and beer garden, is hosting its 1st Annual Holiday Market on Sunday, December 11 and everyone's invited. Not only will there be sizzling sausages, schnitzels and hot spiced wine, but Wirsthaus is setting up shop with an entire area devoted to local vendors who'll be selling jewelry, clothes and other little knick knacks. There's also going to be chair massages and yes, even a tattoo artist for those who really want to mark the occasion ... for better or for wirst. (Sorry, just couldn't resist.)
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oliverio-truffle-pizza

Best Pizza in Los Angeles

Top Lists 28 Nov 2011
The best pizza in LA? Ask someone where to find the best pizza in LA and the answers are so passionate, so philosophical, so varied you'd think you were asking about the very meaning of life. Pizza purists might say the best pizza can only be found at a pie-only joint that devotes its entire kitchen to the creation of the doughy cheesy stuff. In which case, purist I am not. That's because it is my strong opinion that some of the best pizza, at least in Los Angeles, is found at restaurants that just so happen to do great 'za. Here are just 5 places where I have found my own version of the best pizza in Los Angeles.
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Rosenthal wine - Photo by Mar Yvette

Sunday Magic & Wine in Malibu

Stories 18 Nov 2011
Psssst ... I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. It's something I didn't even know about until recently, and the crazy thing is that it's been going on for a few years now. And it's fantastic. (And I'm not just saying that because Johnny Depp and a bunch of other famous people have pretty much said the same thing.) Three words: Wine, food, magic. What more could you want?
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Deck the hals: Mar Yvette & a few gay Santas

“Santa” Monica Pub Crawl

Stories 17 Nov 2011
Deck the crawl with lots of drinking ... fa la la la la, you know the rest. If you're one of the many who likes to toast the holidays with a cup (or two) of cheer, then the 3rd Annual SANTA Monica Pub Crawl is where you'll want to be on Saturday, December 17. Fast becoming a Westside tradition, the all-night party is your chance to get out, drink up and chow down at more than 20 restaurants and bars all while playing Santa and raising some much-needed funds for the Westside Food Bank.
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Photo courtesy of Unique LA

Shop Local @ Unique LA

Stories 16 Nov 2011
Never mind Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It's all about conscious consumerism at the Unique LA Holiday 2011 shopping and socializing spectacular going on all weekend long at the California Market Center in Downtown LA. The largest "Made in America" indie shopping event in the country, Unique LA is a one-stop shop for curated design, fashion and art with 325+ vendors selling everything from incredible hats and wood ties to soaps, stationary, kids clothes, home decor, jewelry, pet stuff and just about anything else you never imagined. It's like Etsy come to life.
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Beer Belly's Lucky Charms pancake with Fruity Pebbles whipped cream

One-Cent Brews for Canned Food

Stories 14 Nov 2011
Want to indulge your love of beer and spread some holiday cheer all at the same time? Then get ready to give thanks, do good and drink up. Beer Belly, the much ballyhooed bar in K-town, has committed to collecting more than 400 pounds of food for the LA Food Bank by November 27th and in order to meet this goal, they're asking you to bring in any canned food and in exchange they'll hand you a delicious craft beer for one penny.
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Komida tacos

Komida’s 12 Tacos of Christmas

Stories 12 Nov 2011
On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me ... a taco with roasted turkey?? That's right, baby. Forget the partridge and a pear tree. Just-opened Komida restaurant is kicking off the “12 Tacos Of Christmas” on Thursday, December 8 and will continue the tasty ode every week until Friday, December 23. If you've ever wanted a green bean casserole rolled up in a tortilla or secretly wondered what a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer taco might taste like, consider your foodie wishlist fulfilled.
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