Spotlight

This Weekend: Events for All Ages Across Los Angeles

BY KAREN YOUNG MUSEUMS FREE-FOR-ALL: Los Angeles museums are banding together for Free Admission Days this weekend. January 28 and 29. The list of museums includes The Getty, Skirball, The Autry, Californa Science Center and more. Click here for the full list. SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL: It’s a musical Dr. Seuss with an inimitable cast of characters. The Cat in the... (more)

Tasty Tidbits: DineLA is Back; More Restaurant and Food News in the San Fernando Valley

BY KAREN YOUNG Are there restaurants you’ve been wanting to try, but haven’t because of cost? Now’s the time because DineLA Restaurant Week is back and celebrating its bi-annual run —  this week through January 22 and January 29-February 3. This is an opportunity to indulge in a selection of three-course prix fixe meals for lunch and/or dinner at a special... (more)

Back to the Kitchen: The Cozy Comfort of the Perfect Stew

BY GWEN KENNEALLY We just enjoyed bit of rain and I’m now hearing that the temperatures will go up.I am not really complaining, but it can be challenging to decide if you want a winter roast or a BBQ. When the weather is a bit cooler, it is a wonderful time for stews and chilis. No matter what the temperature, there’s great ease when ingredients can be placed  in... (more)

Nesmon Cafe and Boutique: A Little French Oasis on Ventura Boulevard

BY KAREN YOUNG There are those times when I walk into a place, whether it be a garden, restaurant, or hotel, and just think to myself, “ I could live here.” Nesmon Café in Sherman Oaks is one of those places. Nesmon Cafe is a casual French eatery with a boutique selling vintage wares and select gourmet goods. Photos: Karen Young Nesmon Café quietly opened just over... (more)

Back to the Kitchen: The Magic of the Misunderstood Beet

BY GWEN KENNEALLY Last Sunday, as I walked through the open-air market and perused the abundance of winter fruits, I stumbled upon the misfit — the misunderstood vegetable known as a beet! Winter root vegetables lack the vibrant shade from the skin, but once peeled the beetroot is magnificent with intense texture and color. Uncooked they are crunchy but the transformation... (more)

Enchanted Parties, Daily Playtime Events and Shopping Fun at Lollipop Dream

BY KAREN YOUNG On the outskirts of Westfield Sherman Oaks Fashion Square on the parking lot side near Bloomingdales is Lollipop Dream — a combination of magical party venue, daily fun activity zone for children ages 2-8, and retail shop where imagination and creative play soar.  It’s just the place I wish would have been around when my kids were small.  (And... (more)

Kids Book Corner: A Fresh Start to Reading in 2012

BY JO PERRY “…I’ll continue to see things as a child. It’s not so far to fall.”― Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth A beautiful and inspiring book for readers 4-6 years old. There are always loose ends, aren’t there? Second thoughts, changes of mind. And never a completely tidy ending except in books. Here are a few notable, lovable titles... (more)

Gourmet Dining For Less: Ramsey’s at the Club

BY ALISON FREEBAIRN-SMITH Excessive holiday eating and spending has led many of us to tighten our wallets and watch our diets,  so we’re eating more meals at home. But, what if I told you I know a place where you can dine in style, eat gourmet food in a resort-like atmosphere—and it will cost less than it would to make the same dinner at home? Moreover, it’s right... (more)

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