A Smattering of Silver - Beverly Hills

Rodeo Drive

My mother and I went in search of sales in what my bf lovingly refers to as the "high rent district". It was almost entirely picked over! Just as well, even when Bev Hills is on sale it's a little beyond my meager means! Doesn't cost anything to do a little window shopping though. Everything had a sort of silver (or should I say platinum?) cast to it...

fountain at Piazza Rodeo

A trinket in the window at Bvulgari

 tree at the entrance to Tiffany's

A palm tree adorned with crystals and an early Frank Gehry building in the background

shoes in the window at Miu Miu

 a miniature carousel in the window at Tiffany's

Prada.

Tell me - any plans for New Year's Eve?

Christmas Buffet

This post is a sampling of Christmas activities in the last few days. I've been partying sans camera as of late - it's so ginormous I've been leaving behind. Glad I've managed to document at least a few good times! This Christmas season is everything last year's was not. Despite the absence of my father I have managed to be filled with joy. Words and photos cannot express how very grateful I am...

A tradition among my closest circle of friends is dinner at one of LA's oldest restaurants - The Tam O'Shanter Inn, also known as The Tam-O. The Tam-O was designed to look like an old Scottish inn and this being LA, was constructed by movie studio carpenters in 1922. It was established by the founders of Van de Kamp Holland Dutch Bakeries who went on to found the Lawry's restaurant chain - everyone knows Lawry's knows meat!  It is wonderful year round but especially festive at Christmas...

"Strike the harp and join the chorus. Fa la la la la la la la la"

This is why we come! The Prime Rib is exquisite! I get the California Cut, which is the tiniest cut but you can have bone-in, generous cuts or even request a crispy end piece like my sister who is the most carnivorous person I know!

 Another great tradition - photos in front of the Christmas Tree

moi avec Maman

 Amy avec Maman

Amy et Bryan - in front of the flocked tree

Nonna with Aria and Talia

 So, after I photographed Bryan and Gabriel's flocked tree I just kept going...  a la Selby!

 Bryan's previous dwelling was an apartment downtown and was photographed for Apartment Therapy. Have a snoop here. He and Gabriel now live in an adorable bungalow in Silver Lake.

... and they are incredibly gracious hosts! 

Merry Christmas! 

Gilded Touches - Christmas at Bottega Louie

Gold-Dusted Egg Nog Macaron

 Bottega Louie is where I come to be naughty. Sinful wood-fired pizzas, tempting pastries and macarons...  Since my mother, sister and I were shopping in the neighborhood we thought we'd check out what Creative Director Leah Faust and her team of elves have been up to. Seems they've been busy gold leafing/dusting goodies, building towering macaron topiaries, and compiling wonderful gift boxes all in an effort to tempt us to be nice. It worked - I grabbed a few last minute gifties!

I just love the way the egg nog macaron coordinates with my outfit!

the windows 

Got that right - the wood burning pizza oven is indeed a gift to us all

Don't worry, a pizza was present but I thought I'd show you some other options for once... If you need some serious food porn shots however, take a peep here!

 Fettucine Belmondo - roasted garlic, arugula, cherry tomatoes, shaved Reggiano parm

Super-stylish patron sporting Louboutin loafers

My mother and I

(I'm wearing vintage jacket, Holt Renfrew gloves, Ana Sui for Anthropologie blouse, vintage bag, Prada Baroque Cat Eye sunglasses, Jeffrey Campbell Woodies, JBrand Martini jeans)

Hope you are all enjoying the delights of the season! Don't hold back - gorge yourselves!

Sparkle and Shine - Warehouse District

Jill (from Those Ghosts) and I had yet another adventure last week. This time we explored the Warehouse District neighborhood just southeast of downtown. While it looks like we are in some forgotten section of the city, it's anything but! Manufacturing, food processing, cold storage and the like continue to thrive in the area. In the 1970's some crazy artists began to occupy the spaces. It was illegal to live in the buildings until 1981 when the "Artist in Residence" ordinance was passed.  Now everyone wants in on the act - living the lifestyle while driving up the prices. The neighborhood is now more commonly known as the Arts District and is slowly becoming gentrified.  Galleries and a few shops and restaurants bordering Little Tokyo are awaiting your discovery! Read about my first brush with this hood here and don't forget to check out Jill's take on our adventure! (And special thanks to her for doing such a great job playing my photographer)

 Many of the old warehouses are available as movie location rentals. I eased into the shoot wearing a Helmut Lang cashmere sweater over my sparkly number...

Aldo booties

These shoes work just as well for the Christmas season as they do Halloween

Then I pulled out all the stops! Vintage dress circa 1985

All hail Andy

When I bought this dress at the Rose Bowl Flea Market the lady who sold it to me asked me where I might wear such a sparkly dress. I told her I'd wear it to the supermarket or some such place. In other words - I think sequins are more unexpected and exciting at the market than a holiday party and are suitable year round... That's why I think this urban setting worked so well - the tension of opposites!  That said, we all love a little sparkle and shine at Christmas time...

Are you going to sparkle this season?