The nights are growing longer, meaning more time to wear those sexy black hose that you can’t wear to Summer brunch, more nighttime hours to savor a sophisticated cocktail and an elegant meal, and more opportunities to take in the sparkling city lights and your lover’s candlelit gaze. Here are some of my current favorite locals for such delectable activities:
Yamashiros, 1999 N. Sycamore – Perched up in the Hollywood Hills is this elegant restaurant/lounge, an L.A. anchor whose charm still hasn’t worn thin. Okay, the food’s still just okay for the price, when it should be fantastic, the drinks are fine though not particularly noteworthy, but none of that matters in light of the ambiance and the view. Wow, L.A. never looks so good as seen from here! This is absolutely one of the most romantic spots around, and if you take a date here it may be a very good night for you both. And after you stroll out, away from the serene Asian motif and the lovely koi ponds, wrapped in a warm soft buzz to ward off the night’s chill, amble across the driveway and take a stroll with your sweetheart, down the garden path overlooking the bejeweled magic of a city that looks so much more romantic when you’re high enough not to see the blemishes. Yeah, I know this place isn’t exactly cutting-edge trendy, but that kind of romance just doesn’t go out of style.
Inn of the Seventh Ray, 128 Old Topanga Canyon Rd. – Okay, since I seem to have fallen into a romantic theme, I can’t move on without mentioning this one. Yes, it means driving aaaall the way out to Topanga and up that windy canyon road (and take the PCH route, not the 101 – if you’re going to be stuck in traffic you might as well be looking at the ocean), and then making sure that somebody doesn’t drink too much to drive back down it afterwards, but the faerie forest ambiance here, with twinkling lights and tables nestled out among the trees along the creek, is irresistible. And if that’s not enough, the food is really good, and (not surprisingly) very wholesome, wholegrain, organic, fresh grown, etc. The offerings are interesting here, but not too weird. And though there are plenty of options for the vegetarian, The Inn also make a really good steak (grain fed, no doubt!). You feel good after you eat here. It’s truly Topanga, and I love it.
Mood, 6623 Hollywood Blvd. – Okay, I’m all for hip, but can’t we be hip without the major attitude?! I mean, think about it, if you’re reeeally hip, you can be secure enough in that hipness to be open and accepting of other lesser mortals, yes? And perhaps revel in the moment just a bit, rather than stand around self-consciously trying to decide whether you ordered the right drink to compliment the rest of your accessories. People here spend waaaay too much time wondering who’s watching them. In my opinion this place was hip for about 10 minutes but it’s over. Oh, and one more footnote: the window of “cool” is very narrow here, and if you’re over about 24, you’re pretty much a social pariah among this crowd.
So when you’re hung over from the night before at one of these charmed, fairy tale locals, and you just want to grab some comfort food, rent a movie, and curl up in your jammies, you can’t go wrong ordering pizza from Tomato Pie, at 7751 1/2 Melrose Ave., just east of Fairfax. Man,they make a good pizza, from your basic pepperoni , to such wacky California concoctions (which I love) as artichoke, feta, eggplant, broccoli, and what-have-you. And if a great pizza isn’t enough when you really want it, the guys there are also so totally cool.
On another note, if you happen to be out car shopping this weekend, as I recently was, I’d like to mention a NOT Hot Spot: Universal Nissan. Wow, what a bunch of shady operators! These loathsome guys give me a price on the phone, I even get a name (which I wrote down), and then when I get in there they tell me there’s “nobody there by that name,” jack up the price, and try to make me feel stupid when I object. Man does it piss me off when some slickster car guys think that I’m an easy mark just because I’m female, that all chicks are automatically stupid! I really made the rounds of the Nissan dealerships, some more pleasant than others, but nobody else gave me such satisfaction in getting up and walking out. The word “sleazebags” is far too polite to fully express what I think of this bunch. Okay, I’ve said my piece and you all stand warned, and for those of you who might lie awake wondering, yes, I did finally get my new car, at the promised price, at El Monte Nissan where they didn’t try to screw with me, and thank you very much!
