Wilson's "Where To" Guide

Where To Travel: The Urban Wine Trail @ Santa Barbara

2013-05-05T14:16:00.000-07:00

The Destination: 15 tasting rooms in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, mostly all within walking distance of one another

The Vibes: Adventurous, informative, educational, fun

Good for: Trying wine from local wineries, at your own pace

When-To-Go: Year-round

The $ Factor: $$; It’s $10-$20 to sample 5-8 tastings at each tasting room

I’ll Be Back…: Because I haven’t been to every tasting room yet!

The 4-1-1: In case you don’t want to worry about finding a designated driver and/or dealing with hassling for taxis, there are several train options that leave from the downtown L.A. Union Station and drop you off two blocks from where the Urban Wine Trail starts in Santa Barbara.

A recent day trip to Santa Barbara reminded me how much I adore this coastal city. With its sleepy small town feel and picturesque tree-lined streets, although it’s only a couple of hours north of L.A., it's such a welcomed contrast to the hustle and bustle of our mega-metropolis. Santa Barbara simply oozes with character and charm, from the juxtaposition of the expansive Pacific coastline and the rugged Santa Ynez Mountains, to the scores of renowned restaurants and tasteful shopping boutiques.

It also has another fascinating feature: the Urban Wine Trail!

Concentrated in the downtown area only a couple of blocks from the coast and from the main drag State Street, approximately 15 wine tasting rooms scattered along the "trail" offer tastings, wine accessories and a wide variety of special events. Each tasting room has an incredible selection of wines, whether you’re looking for whites, roses, reds or something else (and since wine can be so subjective, I’ll decline to say which wine I liked the best and instead encourage you to try as many as possible, and let me know what you think!).

Each tasting room also truly has its own distinct feel. There are some, like Corks and Crowns, that have over-sized, comfy chairs to plop into, right next to roaring fireplaces. Others, like Kunin, have a sleek, modern feel, and then there are still more like Oreana, which features live music on its patio on weekends. No matter the style – traditional or modern, relaxed or lively, colorful or monotone– you will most likely find one place that you enjoy.

All of the tasting rooms I visited also had superior customer service, with staff who are knowledgeable, professional and courteous, without being too overbearing.

I also appreciate that you can tailor your experience on the Urban Wine Trail to your preference. Spend the morning at one tasting room, grab lunch and check out another one in the afternoon. Or, spend your entire day trying to cram in as may stops as you can. Or, spend an entire day at only one. The decision is totally up to you, and there are no restrictions on how you choose to do it.

In closing, here are a few of the tasting rooms I that I’ve gone to and enjoyed a lot:

Kalyra – Located on State St., this tasting room has a very relaxed, earthy atmosphere, with tiki masks hanging from its walls and other tropical accents. I like Kalyra because it has a more social and lively ambiance than some of the other tasting rooms. It also sells a lot of one-of-a-kind wine knick-knacks that I haven’t seen anywhere else.

Corks and Crowns gets a nod for offering more than wine tastings; it also has beer tastings and Sunday champagne and cupcake tastings. The sweets are miniature cupcakes from Sugar Cat Studio, the 2011 Cupcake Wars winner. Flavors vary weekly, but the staff informed me that they are always unique and creative. On my last trip, I tried the Salted Caramel with Buttercream and the Chocolate Chip Cheesecake with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting (below, the third and fourth photos, respectively).

Santa Barbara Winery has the classic wine tasting room feel, with an expansive wine bar in the middle of the room, and a barrel room in the back. It also has so many good wine gifts.

So the next time you’re looking for a quick getaway from L.A. and also up for some wine tasting, I highly recommend traveling to Santa Barbara to experience its phenomenal Urban Wine Trail.

See you there soon!

For More Information:
Urban Wine Trail, Facebook, Twitter

Where To Eat: Spooning After Dark @ The Serving Spoon

2013-04-29T07:23:00.000-07:00

The Eats: Late night/early morning soul food

The Location: Inglewood

The Vibes: Lively – it’s like the party continues from the club into this restaurant

Good for: Those times when after functioning all night long, you need some quality food that will hit the spot

When-To-Go: While it’s open normal hours daily, Fridays and Saturdays, special hours are 10 p.m.- 5 a.m.

The $ Factor: $; Entrees average about $10

I’ll Be Back…: For the wings, fried to perfection

Drive by The Serving Spoon on any given Sunday, around 1pm, just after church let out, and you will see everybody and their aunties/cousins/grandmamas/friends/other family members in line, waiting to squeeze into the doors for its spectacular Sunday brunch. True, many may have heard about how good this quaint Inglewood eatery is for brunch, but I'm here to talk about how good it is for those late night, after-the-club cravings!

I’m sure you’ve experienced it before. There's nothing like being forced to evacuate a nightclub at 1:30/2 a.m., and then thinking about nothing more than grabbing food ASAP.

And while Jack in the Box and McDonald's definitely are viable options, they most certainly don't have anything on The Serving Spoon's late night menu!

In the wee hours of the morning, The Serving Spoon still features its widely popular, heart-warming soul food. Both breakfast and lunch options are available, and they taste just as good at 2 a.m. as they would at 2 p.m. The omelets are big and fluffy, and the fried wings – I’ve never had any like them – they’re delicious. And, I can't fail to mention how fantastic the fried catfish is, pictured below.

But it's not just The Serving Spoon's late night access that makes it noteworthy: it's also the very lively rambunctious environment. It seriously feels like you never left the club in the first place. It’s packed with a whole lot of interesting characters to spark conversations with, even at 3:30 a.m.

So the next time you find yourself in dire need of soul food in the wee hours of the morning, I highly recommend The Serving Spoon. It has great food and an even better ambiance. See you there soon!

For more information:

The Serving Spoon, Facebook, @theservingspoon

Where To Be Merry: Karaoke @ The Backstage

2013-04-15T06:38:00.000-07:00

The Merriment: Karaoke Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights

The Location: Culver City

The Vibes: A very down-to-earth, dive bar

Good for: A lively place just to hang out, with inexpensive booze and appetizers and great entertainment

When-To-Go: Happy hour 4-7pm daily; Karaoke Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights; Trivia World Sundays; $5 Burgers and Fries Mondays; Taco Tuesdays; and live music on Wednesdays

The $ Factor: $; Drinks are $3-$9 and food during happy hour is $3-$5

The Menu: See drink menu here

I’ll Be Back…: To watch the karaoke performances, which vary from love ballads to hard rock, rap, 80s pop and Top 40 hits

The 4-1-1: Directly across from Sony Studios, this neighborhood bar has been around for more than 75 years

Why it’s on #WilsonsGuide:

The Backstage is one of those bars that’s great to go to no matter what day of the week it is. Many elements add to the wonderfulness of this place – the fact that it’s never a hassle to get in, the strong libations, the satisfying food, the many activities to do (pool, trivia games, karaoke) and last but not least, the dapper crowd – an eclectic, energetic mix of Angelenos who are always down for a good time.

For the karaoke. The karaoke, by far, is the best aspect of Backstage, in my opinion. You never know who’s going to take the stage next, but you know it’s going to be a good performance. We’ve all been to karaoke joints where the performers are either absolutely horrible or they take themselves way too seriously. But here, singers have the right balance of talent and carefree swag. I’ve found myself sometimes laughing, sometimes clapping along, sometimes staring and thinking “what is going on,” and always, always, always extremely amused and entertained.

For the appetizers. At any given dive bar, you’d expect greasy, over-salted food to be the norm, but here, while they still serve standard bar snacks, everything just taste like it’s golden fried to perfection. Some of my favorites include the spicy buffalo wings and beer battered onion rings, and you absolutely have to get a side of garlic fries.

For the cheap cocktails. Backstage’s cocktails are very reasonably priced, especially for how strong they are. I also appreciate the creative names, i.e., the Culver City Slut, Absolutely F**king Fabulous and Day of the Dead. But, of course, most importantly, they’re strong and cheap. Plus, they’re always having specials of the night and some sort of chilled shots.

So the next time you’re in the mood for a little karaoke and a lot of fun, I highly recommend this Culver City hangout destination. See you there soon!

For more information:
The Backstage; Facebook; @BackstageCC

Where To Drink: Happy Hour @ Tortilla Republic

2013-04-07T16:12:00.000-07:00

The Drinks: Margaritas and 40+ tequilas

The Location: West Hollywood

The Vibes (for the patio): Airy, vibrant and lively, but calm

Good for: Spending not a lot of money to get top-notch, sophisticated and refined Mexican food and margaritas

When-To-Go: Happy hour: Monday 5-7pm, Tuesdays-Sundays 3-7pm

The $ Factor: $; Food items are $2-$6 and drinks are $4-$6 during happy hour; select appetizers are normal prices.

The Menu: See menu here

I’ll Be Back…: For the Cucumber Lavender margarita, with a house-made lavender syrup and muddled cucumbers.

The 4-1-1: Opened in March 2012 by the owners of another great restaurant, Taste on Melrose (John Halter, Morten Kaag, Mina Azami)

Why it’s on #WilsonsGuide:

For the margaritas. Tortilla Republic margaritas have a great balance of taste, visual aesthetics and tequila. The $6 House Margarita is the perfect blend of sweet and sour, and is refreshing and light, leaving you feeling in quite a pleasant mood after the last drop. Bartenders also seem to be flexible and accommodating; one time a friend and I wanted to share a few different margaritas, and our bartender proactively offered to split our two margaritas into four glasses, so we didn't have to make a sloppy mess trying to do it at our table. We appreciated that!

For the tortillas. OK, yes, I know it’s named “Tortilla” Republic, I get it. But I was still pleasantly surprised to find that all of their tortillas have distinct tastes! The light and crispy tortilla chips in the $2 Salsa Tasting are distinctly different than the tortillas in the $6 Nachos, which are thicker and crunchier, and are dusted with spices – completely distinct from the soft, flour tortillas in the $6 Quesadilla BBQ Chicken (pictured below). I highly recommend picking a few different appetizers, simply to sample and compare tortillas.

All in all, Tortilla Republic has the perfect balance of hospitable customer service, stellar Mexican food, a refined but welcoming ambiance and most importantly, delicious margaritas. I love that the restaurant puts so much care into the details, whether that means preparing hundreds of tortillas in unique, distinct ways, or adding colorful garnishes to the margaritas. I also can’t forget to mention that the quality of food is phenomenal. The tastes, the seasonings, the presentation…this isn’t greasy Mexican food that will leave you in a food coma; it’s as fresh as it is vibrantly colorful and beautiful to look at.

So the next time you find yourself in West Hollywood on any given evening, hungry and in the mood for a margarita, I think you should head to the patio at Tortilla Republic. See you there soon!

For more information:

Tortilla Republic, Facebook, @iloveTRweho

And Where Do You “Where To?”: An Evening of Fashion + Libations @ The Chivas Brotherhood's "The Art of the Suit"

2013-03-26T18:46:00.000-07:00

Last March I covered a Chivas-sponsored Pre-Oscars gala, and I was beyond excited to cover yet another Chivas Brotherhood 1801 event last Thursday. The brand is hosting a plethora of private tastings almost every night until next Monday at its 1801 Club in Hollywood.

This time around, I covered “The Art of the Suit” soiree, a swanky invite-only event in collaboration with Modern Man, Artful Gentleman and Blind Barber. Highlights of the night included complimentary haircuts for men, displays of tie collections and evening gowns, a sultry jazz performance by Jill Lamourex, and of course, free-flowing Chivas-based cocktails.

But by far, the best part of the night for me was hobnobbing with guests on the black carpet. They ranged from film directors to recording artists and actors and journalists and even WWE wrestlers, but they all had a few things in common: they knew good fashion, good libations and good L.A. bars and lounges:

Terrell Tilford
Executive Producer of Broken Roads; Actor in TV series Single Ladies

Fave Spring Piece: “You know, although it’s springtime, especially here in L.A. or all my travels, I get a little bit cold anyway in the evenings, so I like a light scarf. A light silk scarf or just a nice, lightweight cotton scarf or something like that. That works for me.”

Fave Libation: “It really depends on the mood of something, but any night, a Cabernet for me. A full-bodied Cabernet always works fine. A Louis Martini, something like that. Maybe a bourbon sour as I’m getting dressed. Or I may switch it up for like a gin gimlet. I’m an equal opportunist across the board.”

Fave “Where To Drink” Destination: “My favorite bar is actually at home, but my favorite restaurant, I have a number of them. A friend of mine, Andre Royo, he and his wife run a restaurant called Canelé that’s in Atwater Village that’s really great. Eva, which is on Sunday nights, right up on Beverly. Terroni on Saturday nights – great southern Italian over there. So I kind of make my rounds at a few other places.”

Alicia Fox
WWE Wrestler and Model

Fave Spring Piece: “I love the really crazy cuff earrings. I don’t know if they’re so new for this particular season, but I’ve seen them evolve into more of an artistic statement. I think that jewelry can either make or break an outfit, and I think the ear cuffs are one of my favorites, because they’re lightweight. You can throw them on, dress them up, dress them down…anything that’s versatile. That’s my kicker for spring.”

Fave Libation: “My drink of choice would probably be Belle Glos red wine, like the Pinot Noir. Liquor-wise, I guess there would just be a vodka-water – something skinny – anything skinny. The skinner, the better!”

Fave “Where To Drink” Destination: “I’m just recently coming to L.A., so I haven’t made the full-blown move, but from what I’ve seen so far – this is not upper-class or crazy fancy – but I love that Pink Taco place. We don’t have those on the East Coast and I think they’re so fun. They’re so L.A. to me – fun, fresh, new – I just love it. We were there today, we went somewhere yesterday…There’s so many cool things here. I can’t wait to try them all. It’ going to take me quite a long time!”

Marcus Shirock
Actor and Director; Currently working on Warriors and Beasts (“300 meets Lord of the Rings meets Gladiators,” Shirock says) and The Gold Rush Boogie (“Godfather meets Boogie Nights meets old Chinese movie,” he says)

Fave Spring Piece: “Well look at me [laughs].”

Fave Libation: “I’m a man. I like whiskey if I’m going to drink. I’d go for some Jack [Daniels whiskey] and Coke. I like a little sweet. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Fave “Where To Drink” Destination: “Actually I do have a couple of favorite restaurants. One of my favorite, favorites is – it’s been around since 1972 and before that, it was around since the early ‘50s – it’s where Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio first met and had their first date. It’s called the Rainbow now, and it’s up on Sunset. That’s my best place, then my second place is Boa…Café Primo for a nice coffee. And for a good burger, Five Guys.”

Paul Coy Allen
Executive Producer of R&B Divas Season Two, R&B Divas L.A. and an upcoming television show with Destiny Child’s Michelle Williams.

Fave Spring Piece: “I’m a Claiborne, Donna Karen type guy. That’s my vibe. I’m definitely more into the jackets. I don’t do the tie as much, because of the weather; maybe more in the winter, I’d throw on a tie.”

Fave Libation: “Grand Marnier. They had a brand NAVAN that was just discontinued that I was really into. Cognac is my drink.”

Fave “Where To Drink” Destination: “Katana. That’s where you’ll mostly find me.”

Fallen Riviera
Newly released album, Another World; newly released Those Times are Gone music video; upcoming spring and summer tours

Fave Spring Piece seen while on tour:
Steve Ornest (far left, guitar): “I’ll tell you – the thing that intrigued me the most actually was the fashion in Portland, just because I’ve never been there before. I mean, it’s a city where it rains all the time and people are so fashionable. It’s something that’s outrageous.”

Will Parry (middle, vocals, piano): “I would agree. I’m English, so I love being in a coat. I wore one tonight [laughs].”

Fave Libation:
Steve Ornest: “We love scotch.”

Matthew Denis (far right, bass): “I’m a scotch man for sure.”

Fave “Where To Drink” Destination:
Matthew: “I’m kind of a fan of Toi. I like that place. It’s got that rock vibe and it’s pretty good food, too. And they have a great beverage menu.”

Hermione Way
Bravo TV Journalist

Fave Spring Piece: “I’m into my watch. I think it’s interesting because we don’t need watches anymore because we all carry iPhones. But I still think you should always wear a watch. It looks classy.”

Fave Libation: “I’d drink everything. Anything. Beer, whiskey, wine…give me them all. Seriously.”

Fave “Where To Drink” Destination: “I gotta say Chateau Marmont, just because everyone says it, but also because I just moved here [from San Francisco]. I’ve been there for a couple of meetings, so it’s really nice.”

Fave San Francisco “Where To Drink” Destination: “I like Twenty Five Lusk. It’s a really nice bar.”

** Photo credits: Tulani Watkins.
Interviews have been condensed and edited for length purposes.

Where To Eat: Taco Tuesdays @ Fiesta Martin

2013-03-17T18:50:00.001-07:00

The Eats: $1 tacos, every Tuesday

The Location: Inglewood

The Vibes: Festive, colorful, casual, packed

Good for: Those nights when you want to splurge on food, without spending a lot of money

With whom to go: Families, dates, friends, co-workers jam into here at all hours in the evening - it's truly a neighborhood restaurant

When-To-Go: Tuesday evenings, until 10:30pm

The $ Factor: $; $1 tacos and $5.49 margaritas

I’ll Be Back…: For more of the hard shell tacos!

Like myself, I'm sure you appreciate an irresistible deal ever so often (or always), which is why I'm an avid fan of Taco Tuesdays. Of course, Los Angeles doesn't have a shortage of places to pick from, but here's another Taco Tuesday destination to add on your radar: Fiesta Martin Mexican Grill.

Located on a bustling part of La Brea Ave. in Inglewood, this casual neighborhood eatery offers unbeatable deals in a festive ambiance.

This is one of the few places I've been where there's not only soft shell taco deals, but also discounts on the hard shell tacos. And you don't have to go with one or the other - pick only soft shells, only hard shells, or mix and match the two - there are no limits!

The toppings are quite expansive, ranging from several different sauces and salsas, to colorful garnishes and sides like pickled carrots. There's also a diverse selection of taco fillings: chicken, steak, marinated beef, shredded pork, BBQ pork, tongue...and even potatoes or beans, if you're ever in the mood for meatless options. I would almost recommend sampling them all, but they're so filling that most people I know only get through about three or four. As hard as I try, four is my personal max.

The ambiance makes this a great destination as well. The space itself is not big by any stretch of the imagination, but it feels cozy and warm and intimate, as if you're dining with 40 of your closest friends. At random points of the night, a mariachi band walks in and plays beautiful, melodic songs, taking requests for a nominal fee as well.

But most importantly - what makes this a great Taco Tuesday destination - is that everything is mad crazy cheap. $1 tacos. $5.49 margaritas. $1.50-$3 sides. A friend and I came here one time and got 8 tacos, 2 margaritas and a beer, all for like 20 bucks. Now that's what I call #winning.

So the next time you need to turn your Tuesday evening into a Taco Tuesday evening, head down to Fiesta Martin. The tacos and margaritas are delicious and cheap, and the ambiance relaxed and lively.

See you there soon!

For more information:
Fiesta Martin Mexican Grill; @Fiesta_Martin

And Where Do You “Where To?”: FREE Giveaway/Contest Winner

2013-03-15T08:18:00.001-07:00

This past week, I offered the following giveaway:

**Two tickets to see The Build UP for this Sunday, March 17th, 6:30-9:30 p.m. If interested, simply tweet “#BuildUP” to @WilsonsGuide no later than this Thursday, 11:59 p.m. PST. Winner will be selected randomly and announced on Friday morning.**

And, a winner has been selected:

Congratulations to @DreamUndeferred for winning!

Thanks to everyone who entered - I wish I could give each and everyone of you a ticket.

Have a great day!

Where To Be Merry: The Build UP @ "The Castle"

2013-03-10T15:07:00.000-07:00

The Merriment: Site-specific theatre: a theatrical production that takes place not onstage, but in multiple rooms of a Hollywood Hills mansion called “The Castle”

The Location: Hollywood

The Vibes: Creative, adventurous, hilariously entertaining, extremely fun, suspenseful

Good for: Anyone 21+ and open to an atypical theatrical experience

When-To-Go: Shows run every Sunday in March, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

The $ Factor: $; $25 per ticket (includes wine and beer)

I’ll Be Back…: To enter another room that I didn't have a chance to enter the first time around

The 4-1-1: The Build UP is an unforgettable experience, in every sense of the phrase!

The night commences with a van picking up guests at a designated pick-up/drop-off location. Guests are whisked away to “The Castle” for a mini-reception with complimentary wine, beer and water. After the reception, the show begins on the ground floor and takes place in several different rooms for about 45 minutes, before everyone ends up on the rooftop patio, with a full-out “party” and jam session by the band.

Aside from being a classy, well-produced affair from start to finish, the real highlight of the evening is the performance style itself.

There’s no stage. Not one.

Instead, actors move through the kitchen, living room, bathroom, upstairs bedroom, downstairs balcony and hallways, using the spaces as if the audience wasn’t even there. In turn, the audience fills up areas not occupied by the actors, squeezing against the wall, sitting on the floor and in chairs, and sometimes, even standing directly next to the actors themselves. It’s a very exciting, unusual sensation, and it almost feels slightly voyeuristic, as if you’re peeping in on something private that you have no business watching.

As if that wasn’t already out-of-the-box enough, the play has another twist:

Remember those choose-your-own-adventure books where you picked between two or more options on how the story continued? That’s exactly what happens with The Build UP. For the first scene, everyone starts in the kitchen. But in the second scene in the living room, at one point, some of the actors remain there, while others move to the balcony…then some actors stay in the living room while others go upstairs. For an indecisive Gemini like myself, it was a little nerve-wrecking to have to make on-the-whim decisions on where to go next. Do I hear what’s going on at the balcony? What’s all that commotion upstairs – should I have gone that way instead of staying downstairs?

I don’t want to give too much away, so I’ll simply say this about the story itself: it’s about a wife who’s on the verge of losing it all – her marriage, her ambition, herself – and what happens when her husband and a handful of colorful characters unexpectedly show up to their home one glamorous Hollywood night. I applaud the actors for their incredible performances. They stayed in character the entire time, which I could only imagine would be extremely difficult, with an audience continually shifting around and breathing down their necks.

So the next time you're in the mood for a nontraditional play and a spectacular way to spend your Sunday evening, I highly recommend checking out The Build UP. Just make sure to either take a friend so you can both split when actors go in different rooms and then recap to each other what each one of you saw, or, just go see the play more than once.

See you there soon!

**Heads up: I’m giving away two tickets to the Sunday, March 17th, 6:30-9:30 p.m. performance. If interested, simply tweet “#BuildUP” to @WilsonsGuide no later than this Thursday, 11:59 p.m. PST. Winner will be selected randomly and announced on Friday morning.**

For more information:

Ticket Sales; Three Peas Production, LLC

The cast, from left to right: Chris Mollica, Taro Morita, Tina McDowelle, Alex Dawson (seated), Peppur Chambers (writer/director, seated) Erica Peeples (seated), Shakir Chambers (creator, producer) and Daniel Ball (loungin' on the ottoman).

Photo credit for cast photo and last photo: Adenrele Ojo Photography

Where To Be Merry: To Be Young, Gifted and Black @ The David Schall Theatre

2013-03-04T08:34:00.000-08:00

The Merriment: a theatrical production celebrating the life and legacy of Lorraine Hansberry, produced by the Actors Co-op Theater Company

The Location: The David Schall Theatre on the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood campus

The Vibes: Complex, celebratory, thought-provoking, poetic

Good for: Anyone who appreciates or is interested in learning more about Lorraine Hansberry

When-To-Go: Show runs until Sunday, March 17th: Friday and Saturday shows – 8pm; Sundays shows – 2:30pm (with conversations with the actors immediately following the show)

The $ Factor: $; $30 GA; $25 seniors; $20 students

I’ll Be Back…: on a Sunday to speak with the actors after the show!

The 4-1-1: “A Raisin in the Sun” is one of those slivers of ingenuity that’s woven itself into the consciousness of our country’s being. It is just as “American” as apple pie, as baseball, and as the cry for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

But who was the writer behind it,
and what were her experiences that inspired such a poignant story?

“To Be Young, Gifted and Black” creatively answers this question, by revealing the many sides and inner thoughts of playwright Lorraine Hansberry, from her childhood until her untimely death at age 34. For two hours, eight actors intricately weave together excerpts from her diary, plays, letters and other writings to give us an idea of who Hansberry was, and her defining moments, her insecurities, her accomplishments and so much more.

The manner in which this is done is unique in itself. Yes, there’s a clear beginning and end like a traditional play, but scenes don’t fluidly flow into one another. Instead, one scene ends, and the next scene – not necessarily related to the previous one – quickly picks up. Another nontraditional aspect is that actors switch roles frequently. There’s not just one “Lorraine Hansberry” – there are multiple ones, and there’s not always an announcement that there’s been a shift. It leaves you on the edge of your seat, making sure you're paying close attention to every minute detail, so as not to miss anything.

The actors themselves also do a phenomenal job. The lack of props – just a bare black stage – gives them the opportunity to showcase how talented they really are, through lively gestures, vivid facial expressions and excellent diction. They add a sense of depth and dimension to Hansberry’s works that’s surreal. Watching them, it’s easy to forget at times that they’re performing works – letters and diary entries – that at the time they were written, were never meant to be performed; they were just the musings of Hansberry. But the way they’re presented is so natural and organic that it feels as if they were written specifically for each actor.

All in all, “To Be Young, Gifted and Black” pays tribute to an important American playwright in a pleasantly unconventional manner. It is at times quite complex, addressing harsh realities like classism in the African-American race and abortions, but it is also beautifully poetic from start to finish. It depicts the environments that shaped Hansberry, and thus helps us understand the woman behind so many timeless masterpieces.

I highly recommend that anyone who is interested in learning more about Lorraine Hansberry’s life see “To Be Young, Gifted and Black.” Perhaps I’ll catch you at the next show soon!

For more information:

To Be Young, Gifted and Black

Watch the video trailer here!

Photo Credit for 3rd and 4th photos: Lindsay Schnebly

And Where Do You “Where To?”: Actor Brandon Bell

2013-02-25T07:52:00.000-08:00

Late one weekend night, I had a few friends from college over to catch up. Sipping our wine and flipping through TV channels, we did a double take when we landed on Nickelodeon’s "Hollywood Heights."

Wait a minute.

Who was that guy?

Was that Brandon Bell? The same Brandon Bell who we went to college with?

It was!

Clearly, a lot had happened since our dorm days, so being my inquisitive self, I reached out to him to find out what he had been up to.

And, it’s been a lot. Not only was there his reoccurring role as Jake Madsen on "Hollywood Heights," but there’s been national commercials with companies like Coors and Samsung, and tons of appearances on shows like "Switched at Birth," "The Family Tools," "2 Broke Girls" and "Revenge." He was kind enough to share what having a career in Hollywood has been like, and of course, his favorite “where to” destination right here in L.A.

Read on to hear what he had to say!

Miss Wilson: How did you first get into acting professionally – what launched your career?
Mr. Bell: Although I’ve been doing theater since I was about 10 or 12, I got my first paid acting gig in high school. I played Walter Lee Younger at this community college’s (MCTC) portrayal of Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun” and was a Shepherd Boy in Pebumbra theater’s annual “Nativity” story starring Jennifer Holliday. The money wasn’t great but it definitely felt good to get paid for doing what I love the most, which was motivation in my desire to take it to the next step via moving to L.A. to pursue a Bachelor of Art in theater at USC [University of Southern California].

I was also surrounded by professional adult actors who gave me so much advice and insight about what it takes to be successful in such a fickle industry. I give all credit to my incredibly supportive parents as far as launching my career goes. They wanted my siblings and I to be exposed to the arts, sports, etc. so we could make an informed decision as to what interested us and what to pursue later in life. I was always told to do what I love and the money would follow.

Miss Wilson: What is the most challenging aspect of working in Hollywood?
Mr. Bell: The most challenging aspect is the constant rejection, which is a big part of this industry. You’ve got to be patient and know that your time will come when it comes. If you don’t have faith in yourself and your purpose, you can get easily overwhelmed and intimidated. A friend once said it best in that “It only takes one decision in this industry to change your life forever.” This is something I’ve always kept in my front pocket no matter how slow or down or distracted I’ve gotten.

Miss Wilson: You currently have worked on a lot of television series; do you have any interest to get more into theater or feature films?
Mr. Bell: I would definitely love to transition into film. Films can allow an actor to evolve from role to role versus playing one role for a period of time, although that perspective can easily change when one hasn’t worked often. Theater is my first love and I can’t wait until the right opportunity presents itself. There’s absolutely nothing like performing live for an audience. It’s a breathing organism that is so delicate and exhilarating because there are no "take 2"s.

Miss Wilson: What’s a typical day like on set when you have a recurring role?
Mr. Bell: Show up early, eat something – which is funny because when I first started and as a lover of food I’d try EVERYTHING that one could eat! Then you go to hair/make-up, change into your wardrobe in your trailer or room depending on your set up, run lines and sign contracts. Then, you’re called to set for a rehearsal where you meet the other actors in your scene(s). After rehearsal you wait until your scene is up, which could be right away or take hours. Hitting up the craft service table for snacks is fun too!

Miss Wilson: On your website, you have a quote from Marlon Brando: “To grasp the full significance of life is the actor’s duty, to interpret it is his problem, and to express it, his dedication.” What’s the significance to you behind it?
Mr. Bell: Such a profound quote and one of my acting heroes. He was almost mad in his approach, but he wanted to truly do what the quote says, which takes so much dedication, yet the good actors/actresses make seem easy. It’s a reminder to me that amidst the rewards and challenges I do this art for that reason. It sums up my philosophy on acting and couldn’t have been said more eloquently by one of the most revered actors of the past generation.

Miss Wilson: What's an accomplishment you want to achieve during your career?
Mr. Bell: To have someone say that my performance changed their life or made them a better more open person or understand/appreciate my character’s life journey is the ultimate goal.

Miss Wilson: I understand that you played soccer for seven years, traveling to France and winning the USA Cup Gold Medal…did you ever consider pursuing a professional soccer career?
Mr. Bell: I did. It was a huge part of my life for most of my adolescence and high school life. I met life-long friends and truly learned the value of competition. But I think God had another plan because I eventually and literally left it all behind one day. I still enjoy watching and playing occasionally and have so much respect for the game and professional athletes of all sports.

Miss Wilson: Do you have any words of encouragement for aspiring actors trying to make it in Hollywood?
Mr. Bell: First be clear on your goals and why you want to act. If it’s just for fame and money...I’d choose a different/easier route. Patience and persistence along with hard work and dedication seem to be the necessary ingredients to create opportunities to work, at least for me. Luck is key too, but longevity requires the above qualities, which can create its own type of luck. Also, never compromise who you are.

Miss Wilson: Where is your favorite “Where To” destination in L.A. (i.e., your favorite restaurant, lounge, museum, nightlife or social destination, etc.)?
Mr. Bell: So many great places to find good, healthy food in L.A. Recently I’ve been exploring places in downtown L.A. like Perch and Bottega Louie with friends. I’m a homebody at heart so good music, getting food or seeing a movie with close friends is always a better alternative to me. I love museums and highly recommend the Cleopatra exhibit at the Science museum by USC. LACMA, the Getty and Grammy museums are candy for the soul if you appreciate all art. I’ve finally started traveling to beaches more in Malibu and Hermosa and enjoy a good hike or bike ride too.

For more information:
Brandon Bell, @HerculesBell

Where to Travel: Brown Sugar Kitchen @ Oakland

2013-02-18T12:27:00.000-08:00

The Destination: Brown Sugar Kitchen, Oakland, CA

The Vibes: A casual eatery with a welcoming ambiance

Good for: Those moments when you’re in the mood for food that’s flavorful, filling and made from local/seasonal/organic ingredients

When-To-Go: Breakfast and Lunch, everyday

I’ll Be Back…: For the macaroni and cheese and the beignets

Before making my way up to Oakland, as a SoCal native, my knowledge about the city was pretty limited. I knew that E40 and Too Short claim it, and that it's been portrayed as a dangerous place in the media.

Luckily, I have a few friends who are from and/or have lived there, so they were able to give me an "insider's look" into the heart of Oakland when I visited for the first time. And what I discovered was a vibrantly burgeoning city with a disarmingly edgy yet attractive charm!

One place in particular that left a lasting impression on me was Brown Sugar Kitchen. Located in an industrial part of West Oakland, its exterior is unassuming: a one-story, wooden building; a rectangular sign indicating the restaurant's location; a handful of warehouses, factories and concrete buildings nearby...and its interior: a clean-cut design that's modestly welcoming and reminiscent of an updated retro diner, with hints of subdued yellows and muted greens that give it a throwback feel.

The setting serves as a great backdrop for the delicious soul food made by Executive Chef and Owner Tanya Holland and her team. The kitchen’s specialties include traditional soul food recipes that have a fresh, modernized twist to them. For example, the Creole BBQ Shrimp pictured below has steamed basmati rice and garden-fresh baby spinach.

The dishes here also have a lot of unique character and originality. Each entrée (and I was up in everyone’s business, seeing what they ordered) has its own special appearance and most importantly, their own unique tastes. It was quite a pleasant surprise to have a dollop of "Spicy Cabbage Slaw" on my pulled BBQ Pork Sandwich, pictured below.

The beignets are seriously some of the best I’ve had in the nation. They're gigantic, moist, fluffy and sprinkled with just the right amount of confetti sugar.

The Smoked Chicken and Shrimp Gumbo is also delicious. I had some of my friend’s, and found it to be hearty and very tasty.

Also, no matter what you get – a sandwich, a bowl of gumbo or whatever else – definitely order a side of the macaroni and cheese. It’s creamy and just simply amazing.

So the next time you find yourself in the Bay area - whether that's Oakland, San Francisco, Berkeley or somewhere else nearby - do yourself a favor and head to Brown Sugar Kitchen. I guarantee you'll leave immensely satisfied.

See you there soon!

For more information:

Brown Sugar Kitchen, Facebook, @BrownSugarKitch

With Executive Chef and Owner Tanya Holland (2nd from the right)

Where to Drink: The Juicing Experience @ Sustain Juicery

2013-02-11T08:06:00.000-08:00

The Drinks: detoxifying juices, whole fruit smoothies, energy boosting shots and wellness cocktails

The Location: Downtown L.A.

The Vibes: A tiny juice bar in a nondescript building, at the edge of the Jewelry district, past Broadway

Good for: When you need a *healthy* energy booster – a great alternative to caffeine, coffee and Coke

When-To-Go: Mon.-Fr. 8am-6pm; Sat. 10am-6pm; Sun. 10am-4pm

The $ Factor: $$; smoothies and juices are $7 each, wellness cocktails are $5 and shots are $2

I’ll Be Back…: For the “get glowing” shot, comprised of burdock, honey, mala and cinnamon that is supposed to boost the immune system

The 4-1-1: Recently, I got a new addition to my family: a juicer. And let me tell you, it’s been life-changing. I’ve never eaten - well, actually drank - so many delicious beets/carrots/celery/chard/kale in my life, and most importantly, I feel extremely invigorated and full of energy.

But on the flip side, juicing an absolute nightmare. It takes a huge amount of ingredients to make one reasonable glass of juice, and it can be costly buying so much veggies and fruit. Not to mention, it's a workout – it takes a lot of arm strength – and, it’s difficult and time-consuming to clean the machine.

After spending $500, burning 2,500 calories and cleaning for four hours to literally make like two glasses of juice, I thought to myself: there has to be something easier than this, right?

There is. It’s called Sustain Juicery.

Open for a little over a year, this juice bar has a variety of different drinks made exclusively with all natural ingredients, and a slew of drink enhancers, like chia seeds, vegan protein and powders. The menu changes seasonally.

The first thing I noticed about this place was the smell. It smells like a garden, probably because of all of the produce displayed in the open. All fresh everything. It was quite a pleasant surprise, especially after trekking down 6th Street and being bombarded by the sights and smells of an urban, concrete metropolis.

Secondly, you must try a wellness cocktail. A straight up shot of wheatgrass intimidates most people, but the wellness cocktails incorporate this misunderstood plant along with other ingredients to take the edge off. My “green lady” cocktail had apple and burdock, and even though I didn’t do it, I felt like running 20 miles after having it.

Other drinks to try: “the classic green” (more savory than sweet, but still flavorful); “the emerald,” (delightfully sweet, with mint, ginger, pineapple and even dandelion); and the “juice recovery” (with kale, Asian pear, lemon and ginger). Interestingly, there’s also cleanses available, ranging from 3 to 7 days, and from $126 to $294. I’m planning to try that in the near future, so I’ll let you know how that goes.

Since I’m new to this whole juicing thing, I have no idea if Sustain Juicery is the best juice bar ever, but I can say that it came to me highly recommended by multiple people and I’ve had positive experiences whenever I’ve gone. The staff has always been helpful, giving great advice on what to pick, and stopping by here takes a fraction of the time that it would take me to make a juice at home.

So the next time you’re looking for all of the benefits of juicing without the mess, I highly recommend stopping by Sustain Juicery.

See you there soon!

For more information:
Sustain Juicery, @sustainjuicery, Facebook

Where to Be Merry: The Incredible Rooftop Experience @ The Hotel Wilshire

2013-01-27T20:46:00.000-08:00

The Merriment: A rooftop filled with weekend brunches, a pool, lounge and restaurant; a hotel that’s LEED-certified with superb guest rooms and suites

The Location: Mid-Wilshire

The Vibes: Upscale and modern, yet still very chill and low-key

Good for: When you want to “wow” someone with an authentic “L.A.” experience or when you want a quick weekend getaway, without leaving the city

When-To-Go: Weekends, evenings and of course, 24 hours if you plan to stay there

The $ Factor: $; Cocktails are about $12; Entrees (depending on when you go) range from around $10-$30; and room rates are $225-$1200

The 4-1-1: The hotel recently celebrated quite a few milestones. Not only did it celebrate its one-year anniversary and become LEED-certified (yay for environmentally-conscious boutique hotels!), but it also joined the Kimpton Hotel family, which also includes Hotel Palomar in Westwood

I’ll Be Back…: To lounge by the pool with a good book and a few endless mimosas

L.A. doesn’t have a shortage of great rooftops to enjoy, to suit all tastes and expectations. But by far, my favorite right now is the rooftop at The Hotel Wilshire. It’s my getaway of choice that I’ve been ranting and raving about to everyone.

The biggest seller, in my humble opinion, is the aesthetics. An uninterrupted sweeping view of the city, from the West Hollywood Hills to downtown L.A. is right before your eyes, immediately after exiting the elevator. This view literally takes my breath away each and every time I visit. The space itself is very sleek, with clean lines and edges, and contrasts of dark woods and bright colors. The area has a restaurant/bar called The Roof on Wilshire, a small pool surrounded by dining tables with chairs and a few booths, and a sunken-in lounge area featuring an impressive fire pit. The rooftop is on the smaller side, so it feels inviting and intimate, especially under such an expansive sky. While it can get packed, it’s never too, too cramped or crowded. There’s always enough room to spread out and chill.

You might expect a high-end place like this to be snobbish or filled with a snooty clientele, but what I love is that it’s quite the opposite. It’s relaxed and unpretentious; everyone is all about enjoying themselves and the ambiance.

I also love that there are so, so many ways to enjoy the rooftop.

First, there’s the pool area. I’ve never seen anyone dive right into the pool – they’ve only put a foot or two inside (maybe I’ve gone at the wrong time?). But, I’ve seen many lounge by it, and you don’t have to be a hotel guest or pay any fees to do so. One Sunday morning, I posted up on a lounge chair, ordered a carafe of endless mimosas and read a book for a couple of hours. It definitely turned my day a funday.

The Roof on Wilshire serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and an amazing weekend brunch. I haven’t had a bad meal – or cocktail – here, and I’ve been for brunch, lunch, appetizers and dinner. The Wilshire Grilled Cheese is one of their very popular dishes, with thick Gruyere, a sweet marmalade and roasted peppers between two lightly toasted sourdough bread slices. I also highly recommend something called a Pancake Lasagna (pictured to the left) that’s three layers thick of fluffy pancakes, piping hot eggs and flavorful sausage soaked in syrup, served during the weekend brunch. And don’t forget those bottomless mimosas!

The rooftop is also great place in the evening, watching the sunset, or at night, by the fire pit. While it can get crowded, it doesn’t feel overly crowded, and it’s easy to have a quiet conversation over a few cocktails. Speaking of cocktails, this past fall, I was loving their mules (pictured to the left), made with house-made ginger beer and a two-day preparation process. It looks like they have a list of winter drinks now, so try one of those for me, and let me know what you think.

The last thing I’ll add about The Hotel Wilshire is that I definitely enjoy their rooms. Simplistically modest and understated, they cater to both the savvy leisure traveler and to the renaissance business traveler, with the functional necessities – cleanliness, comfy bed, ample space – and also added touches, like fluffy robes, iPod docking stations and large flat screen TVs. Plus, the location is only minutes away from business centers like Century City, and from attractions like Museum Row, scores of restaurants and bars and the Miracle Mile area. It’s easy to walk to many places and to catch public transportation.

I honestly don’t think there’s ever a bad time to visit The Hotel Wilshire, whether that’s for a weekend brunch, an evening of cocktails or a mini-weekend getaway. I guarantee you’ll love the rooms and the rooftop – there’s just so much to see and do. I’ll catch you there soon!

For More Information:
The Hotel Wilshire; Facebook

And Where Do You “Where To?”: FREE Giveaway/Contest Winner

2013-01-20T15:09:00.000-08:00

In honor of my newest “Where To Travel,” blog section, last Sunday I asked the following question to enter to win some great swag from #Eventbrite LA and #ThreePeasProductionLLC:

If you could travel to one place in 2013, where would it be?

Feel free to share why you want to go there and photos of the location,
although optional, are always welcomed.

Now, before I announce the lucky winner (selected at random) I just have to say, I was completely floored by all the fantastic responses! Forget typical beach and European vacays; people had plans to travel to so many places off the beaten track. And the reasons behind why they wanted to go there were so diverse, inspirational, fun and at times, even touching.

And before I announce the winner, let me just recap what the winner will win:

Courtesy of Eventbrite LA:

Two tickets to the Grilled Cheese and Beer Night!!! on Friday, Feb. 1st at Andrew's Cheese Shop in Santa Monica
An Eventbrite Grey Sweatshirt (pictured to the left)
An Eventbrite Duffle Bag … to pack all your belongings in when you go on your trip!

-- and --

Courtesy of Three Peas Production, LLC:

Two tickets to the new play "The Build UP, " a unique, intimate, interactive experience on Thursday, Jan. 24th at a private venue in Hollywood

And one more thing before I announce the winner, I’d like to thank everyone who participated - I hope that each and every person is able to make it to his/her travel destination this year!!

Read entries below:

Alaia: “There are many places I want travel to this year (hopefully it will be a big travel year for me). The place I'm most excited about going to is Puerto Rico - the plan is to attend an amazing women's retreat there. I think it would be super fun!”

Anonymous: “I want to go back to Maui Hawaii. Enjoy the water falls and good food. Perfect place for relaxation and nature.”

Bo: “I would love to travel to Bora Bora. Staying in an overwater bungalow has been at the top of my list for quite a long time!”

@Chhchh: “I'd love to go to Chile - - such great food and wine!”

@cml926: “Australia!”

@Creque: “Santorini, Greece... specifically in an infinity pool overlooking the Sea!”

@Emerald Embroidery: “Back to Roatan or Honduras and I'd like to do it with $1 million to pay for the children to go to school.”

Emma: “Prague! I regrettably missed it on my last Eurotrip and it's been at the top of my list since.”

@gourmetpigs: “Cambodia! I've always wanted to see Angkor Wat!”

Joy Liani: “Back to Hawaii, I'm out!!”

@lwrocks: “Ibiza!”

Marceia: “Dubai”

MR: “id travel to the moon. and since i dont have enough money yet to do so, id go to spain."

MRSSEXYONE: “paris!!!! Time to get my passport.”

Nancy: “I was born in Guatemala, came when I was 13. And been here ever since !! And love it here but with my mom we use to go every year to visit the rest of the family !! I am now 45 and mom past away 3 years ago a month after she died of cancer my daughter had a stroke ( she was only 15 and lost her kidneys but before that a year my son develop schizophrenia and they did not notice by the time they did it was to late he jump a bridge, because he heard voices that he could fly , he survived but it's Been a long 6 years total of hospitals, pain tears finally we got a little brake so hopefully this year we can go back to Guatemala and take a vacation from all of this!!”

Nicola: "This year I'm dying to go to Japan. Cherry blossom festivals and Harajuku girl gawking - sounds perfect to me."

Nicole: "The one place I plan on traveling to in 2013 is Tanzania. I'm training to hike to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro to prove that people like me (African-American women) can accomplish anything they put their mind to. I hope to inspire other people to travel to Tanzania and hike Africa's tallest mountain so that when I Google images of Mt. Kilimanjaro I can see more women of color conquering this peak!"

Roderick: “Cuba”

Serena: “I would love to visit Jamaica in 2013! I've never been and the thought of white sandy beaches, jerk chicken and Caribbean music makes me what to buy my ticket today. My friends have all visited and only have amazing stories to share when they return. It's definitely on my list of must see destinations!”

@soliddiscjockey: “I would take the family and travel to the Isla de Cozumel, Mexico”

Tamla: “Tuscany”

Tamyah: “I would travel to New York.”

@Thegoddesstyle: “I would love to travel to Brazil and play fresco ball on the beach, have tasty eats, and hi-5 everyone I meet!”

The Hot One: “This year, I would love to go to Europe...or New York. I miss my friends there :)”

@TheWorkoutGirl: “A. Bali!!!!”

@WinewithoutBS: “A: Azerbaijan, looked amazing during the Eurovision song contest & I'd be the only person I know whose been there! :)”

@YawpLA: “If I could travel anywhere this year, I would take a small boat expedition down to Antarctica!”

And finally, the moment we've all been waiting for: the winner (selected randomly) is…

@debmophoto:
“I'd love to visit Napa Valley! I've never been and plan on going for my 30th b-day!
#napavalley #wine”

Congrats!

Thanks to everyone who participated, and look out for another giveaway/contest soon!

And Where Do You “Where To?”: Giveaway #9

2013-01-13T11:47:00.002-08:00

In honor of my newest “Where To Travel,” blog section, I'm asking this:

If you could travel to one place in 2013, where would it be?

Feel free to share why you want to go there and photos of the location,
although optional, are always welcomed.

While I may not be able to offer you two round-trip airline tickets to your destination of choice,
what I can offer are the following fabulous prizes:

Courtesy of Eventbrite LA:

Two tickets to the Grilled Cheese and Beer Night!!! on Friday, Feb. 1st at Andrew's Cheese Shop in Santa Monica
An Eventbrite Grey Sweatshirt (pictured to the left)
An Eventbrite Duffle Bag … to pack all your belongings in when you go on your trip!

-- and --

Courtesy of Three Peas Production, LLC:

Two tickets to the new play "The Build UP, " a unique, intimate, interactive experience on Thursday, Jan. 24th at a private venue in Hollywood

All answers can be left in the comment box below, emailed to wilsonsguide@gmail.com or tweeted to @WilsonsGuide on Twitter.

One lucky winner will be randomly selected and announced on next Sunday, January 20th, so check back then to see who’s won.

Since this contest only runs for a week, what are you waiting for?? Hurry and enter! Can’t wait to hear where you want to travel and to give these great prizes away – best of luck!

A very big THANKS to Eventbrite LA and Three Peas Production LLC for providing the giveaway prizes!

ABOUT EVENTBRITE LA
Eventbrite is an online service that people everywhere use to create, share and join any event imaginable. We enable event creation, promotion and ticket sales. We help people discover events that match their passions. And we let everyone share the events they're creating or joining, bringing more people together around the world.

Leila Najafi is the LA Marketing Manager with Eventbrite and your go-to gal for what's happening in the City of Angels.

To be in the know about LA events, you can subscribe to the BriteLA newsletter here and/or follow Leila on Twitter @BriteLA or Facebook.

ABOUT THREE PEAS PRODUCTION, LLC
Conceived by siblings, Peppur, Darnell and Shakir Chambers, Three Peas has set out to present entertainment that stems from each of their sensibilities: Music, Theater and Film.

Three Peas germinated due to the family knowing they needed their own production company to produce not only the events they created, but to nurture the talents of other artists with whom they'd come into contact over the years. Their overall goal is to produce feature films, unique live theatrical stage shows and live concerts.

Thus far, they've produced "Lights, Camera, Action" (an artist showcase series); "Reparations" (a short film); and now "The Build UP" (a site-specific play that ends in a musical performance).

For more information, visit their website and their Facebook page

ABOUT “THE BUILD UP”
The Build UP is a theatrical piece that is part play and part musical performance. The story, to be performed by five main actors in an LA mansion/private home known as “The Castle,” is about a female filmmaker, KALIEGH who is feeling neglected both by her film career and her husband CHRISTOPHE as he tries to find himself in his new career as a music manager after being downsized. As a result, she confides in a cute plumber who happens to come for a house call. The Build UP is an intimate, yet powerful performance that will literally take place in the kitchen, the living room, the upstairs bedroom and finally the roof top where the story Builds UP to a climax that ends in Christophe’s band performing live. The audience will be up-close and personal with the actors and move from room to room. The audience will also have the opportunity to stay in one room with the actors or follow the story to another room (think: “MadLibs”!)

OFFICIAL RULES:

· Contest goes until next Saturday, January 19th, 11:59 p.m. PST. Winner will be announced on the #WilsonsGuide blog on Sunday, January 20th.

· This giveaway/contest/drawing/competition is free and open to anyone over 21 years of age.

·All received entries may be potentially retweeted and/or posted on www.wilsonswheretoguide.com at a later date. If an entry is posted and/or retweeted, only the entrant’s received first name, nickname or Twitter username will be posted in conjunction with the entry.

· Once selected, winner will be given specific instructions on how s/he will receive the swag bag and event tickets (Please note: winner will need to provide his/her full name, email address, mailing address (to send sweatshirt and duffel bag) and sweatshirt size in order to receive the prizes.

· For “The Build UP,” a complimentary shuttle will provide access to the venue. More details can be found here.

Where to Eat: Seafood in a Bag @ The Boiling Crab

2013-01-06T17:59:00.001-08:00

The Eats: Seafood…in a bag!

The Location: Four in the Greater L.A. region: Koreatown, Rowland Heights and two locations in Alhambra; this post is about the Alhambra Main location

The Vibes: Very, very casual

Good for: An unrivaled way to eat your seafood

With-Whom-To-Go: Groups of friends, dates, the kiddies, out-of-towners; anyone who wants to experience food in a completely different way

The $ Factor: $$; While it’s about $10 per entrée, the real goods – the seafood – are marketprice by the pound, so it all depends how much you order

The 4-1-1: I would highly advise opting for the bib and not wearing clothes that you care about; it can get messy

I’ll Be Back…: For those incredible King Crab Legs (pictured above)

Typically, I don’t drive an hour to go to a restaurant, nor do I wait an hour to be seated. And I tend to eat my food with plates and forks and knives, and not with a big, plastic bib draped around my neck.

But I will make the exception to my rules for The Boiling Crab, a lively eatery way, way out in Alhambra that’s always packed to the brim with customers and delicious seafood with a Southern, Cajun flair.

The Boiling Crab gets major props for two major reasons: for the presentation of its food and for the food itself.
Upon arriving, waiters hand out bibs and roll out gigantic pieces of butcher paper to cover your table. The orders of crab, shrimp, crawfish and other seafood items come by the pound in bags, soaked in spices of your choice: Rajun Cajun, Lemon Pepper, Garlic Butter or The Whole Sha-Bang, which is a mixture of the other three flavors. Dump the bag on the table and dig right in – with your fingers. Peel that shrimp, crack that crab, suck that crawfish. Fingers become stained with seasonings, hundreds of napkins are used and remnants get smeared on cheeks and chins. And, it’s worth it.

The real kicker here though, is the food itself. Everything is seasoned so well, from the seafood to the fried platters, like the catfish and Cajun fries in the Fried Catfish Basket (pictured to the right). Ordering a bag of the King Crab Legs is a must (those bad boys are big!) along with the Cajun fries. Also order a cup of gumbo. It’s some of the best gumbo I’ve had outside of New Orleans. And best of all, everything comes in large portions and is easily shareable.

So the next time you’re in the mood to toss out the forks and pick up the bib, I highly recommend trekking out to The Boiling Crab. Order the seafood and let me know what you think.

See you there soon!

For more information:
The Boiling Crab, Facebook

Miss Wilson’s Words of Wisdom: Top 12 of 2012

2013-01-01T19:20:00.002-08:00

2012 certainly had its share of newsworthy events…

and #WilsonsGuide had its share of newsworthy happenings, too!

Take a trip down memory lane with my Top 12 of 2012 “Where To” List and make note of places you visited, wish you visited, or just might need to visit in the New Year!

#12) Opposite L.A. Thursdays was one of those amazing functions that took place in Hollywood, but was “opposite” of Hollywood in every sense of the word. No long lines, no tyrannical bouncers, no crazy cover charges…just a teeny tiny neighborhood dive bar, strong drinks and a good dose of R&B, hip-hop and old school hits. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the last Thursday of every month, but sadly, this function shut its doors early fall, so we’ll have to relive those good times in our memories…

#11) The Passport to Prana Yoga card launched, offering yoga enthusiasts a novel way to experience this beneficial practice. The $30 card gives access to more than 30 yoga studios in the L.A. area – an irresistible bargain, considering that one yoga class could easily cost $20. Whether in search for an introduction into the discipline or for a home studio, grabbing this passport was a great way to sample yoga studios, from Santa Monica to Pasadena. Fortunately, since the card is valid for 12 months from the date that it’s activated, it can still be enjoyed in 2013, just as it was in 2012.

#10) Produce-driven dishes at unsuspecting locations were also big this year. Sure it’s no surprise to find leafy vegetables at farmer’s markets or premium salad bars, but at delicatessens? Or gastro pubs? Two specific places caught my attention – Freddy Smalls and UMAMIcatessen for not only catering to our insatiable appetites for libations and calorie-rich foods, but for also making sure we got our daily servings of fruits and veggies by offering dishes with beets, Brussels sprouts, roasted carrots, squash and more.

#9) Seven Inspirational Interviews ensured we didn’t have a shortage of motivation. Actors, singers, entrepreneurs, fashion designers, magazine editors and rising moguls shared their secrets of success, and of course, where they “where to” in L.A. and around the world. Several of the noteworthy people who stopped by include: actress Brely Evans (pictured below), singer Donnie McClurkin (pictured below), fashion designer Luka, entrepreneur and caterer Aleya Desne and a few celebs during the Oscars weekend and the BET Awards weekend.

#8) Guest Bloggers – The aforementioned weren’t the only ones who made a mark on the #WilsonsGuide blog; for the first time ever, two guest bloggers made spectacular contributions. Brook Turner, a rising filmmaker and creator of a very uplifting website called Thankful for a Million and fashion designer/author Michael Ferrera both wrote about their favorite “where to” destinations in the city.

#7) Perch, a new Downtown lounge impressed many of us all year long. While many restaurants struggle in their first couple of years in operation and may even go under, this rooftop lounge that opened in 2011 had an extremely successful year. Perch was a popular destination not only for its Parisian themed décor, drinks and food, but also for its killer view of downtown L.A. There aren’t too many places that match its charm and its panoramic sights.

#6) Good ole dependable – and affordable – drinking holes also still proved they shouldn’t be forgotten in favor of newer establishments. Damon’s Steak House in Glendale proved just why it had been around for more than 80 years; for its $5 Mai Tais and Chi Chis. With this whole Fiscal Cliff scare, I most certainly felt it critical to make mention of one place that’s been making strong, delicious – and cheap – drinks since forever.

#5) While in some cities, locals wouldn’t be caught dead in hotel bars, quintessential L.A. hotels proved that they’re not only for out-of-towners, offering a great ambiance and creative thirst quenchers, like the sub-zero martini from Shade Hotel (pictured below) and the Apropos from Hotel Shangrila (pictured below).

#4) Biking in L.A. is a lot more relaxing and calming that driving in L.A. I found this out when earlier in the year, I met the owners of a very fun, tour guide company, Bikes and Hikes LA. I discovered a great new way to explore the city: on a bike. Forget a car, forget the big red double-decker bus – this tour is a great way to not only see various neighborhoods like Larchmont Village and the Fairfax district, but to also get informative and entertaining facts about them.

#3) Weekend Brunches are kind of a big deal – as big as the entertainment industry, the beaches and the 405 on a Friday night. Paying homage to an activity that many Angelenos partake in quite frequently, I spent a good portion of the spring and summer on a valiant quest to find those brunches that offered unique experiences. My search led me to places like Luca on Sunset, which offers inexpensive yet fresh, organic items in a casual atmosphere, and to Sunny Spot in Venice, which colorfully blends of snippets of Caribbean, Korean and American cultures into its tasty dishes.

#2) Yamashiro may have been around for decades, but its Happy Hour just launched in October. It's a great program, too, with $4-$6 small plates, especially considering that normal dinner prices stretch well into the $40-$60 range. Add a touch of live music into the mix, and Yamashiro's lounge is now not only a dinner destination; it's a happy hour one as well.

#1) Where to Travel – The number one happening on the #WilsonsGuide blog for the year was the introduction of a new section, “Where to Travel.” We went out of the city into the beautiful tropics of Hawaii, recommending Mama’s Fish House. But we didn’t stop there; we took it internationally to France, featuring a quaint droguerie in Montpellier. Watch out, world! We're not only covering L.A. – we’re moving globally, too!

2012 was a great year, but 2013 will be even better.

As always, there will be weekly posts of where to eat, drink and be merry, so look out for them, and stay tuned.

See you in the New Year!

And Where Do You "Where To?": Foundation for Second Chances and Board President Tara Davis-Quarrie

2012-12-23T01:18:00.004-08:00

Anyone who knows me know that as passionate as I am about eating, drinking and being merry,
I’m even more passionate about giving back to the community.

And, even more importantly, I’m insanely passionate about my peers doing the same thing! My fellow college alum Tara Davis-Quarrie recently became President of the Board of Directors for the Foundation for Second Chances (FFSC), an extremely active nonprofit that provides community and educational resources to inner-city youth in the Los Angeles area, and which has also been selected as an official charity partner of the 2013 L.A. Marathon.

She invited me to cover FFSC’s 3rd Annual Leadership Awards Brunch earlier this month at Hollywood’s Premiere Supper Club. Proud of her for taking up such a noteworthy cause, I packed my camera, pen, pad and recorder with the quickness, excited to head over and learn more about what she and this organization are doing.

The brunch gathered about 50 movers-and-shakers and moguls to pay homage to the theme of the year, “A Beacon of Light.”

“We wanted to honor people in the community that have acted as a beacon of light in areas that don’t necessarily get a lot of light,” Ms. Davis-Quarrie explained to me. Award recipients (pictured below) included:

Service in Arts & Entertainment Award
Faith Evans, GRAMMY artist

Community Service Award

Alejandro Menchaca, Esq., attorney and community activist
Volunteer of the Year Award
Su-yin Kok, Education
Service in Business Award

Brad Johnson and Govind Armstrong, Post and Beam
Service in Education Award

Fernando Pullum, Musican/
Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center

The brunch was quite a classy affair and included an informative video that explained why Founder/Executive Director Melissa Wyatt launched the NPO eight years ago, brief speeches from the honorees and even a guest appearance from GRAMMY artist Estelle to discuss an upcoming collaboration project with her own NPO, the All of Me Foundation.

As moving as the brunch was, it was even more meaningful to exclusively talk in-depth with Ms. Davis-Quarrie about her involvement, minutes before showtime.

Here’s what she had to share – read on!

What everyone should know about the Foundation for Second Chances: “I would just let them know that although there are many foundations in the Los Angeles area, the Foundation for Second Chances really prides itself on taking personal initiative and personal investment into all the programs that we do,” says Ms. Davis-Quarrie. “We have really, really dedicated volunteers. We make sure that the people who do volunteer with us are familiar with the organization prior to even offering their services, and a lot of people that we have onboard and on staff have grown up in the Los Angeles area and have a connection to it. For instance, we have a board member whose – her own nieces and nephews went through the program when they were young, so she has a very deep connection to it.”

The foundation’s programs: “We do after-school programs, mentoring, tutoring,” says Ms. Davis-Quarrie. “We also have the reading wheels program, which happens once a month, where we read to kids in the local area.”

“And our most recent program,” she adds. “We partnered with GRAMMY-winner Estelle’s foundation, the All of Me Foundation. We’re really excited to work with her on a number of projects, because her foundation focuses on empowerment of young girls, which is an area we have not tapped into yet. Although some organizations do like to focus on one thing, we like empowering youth in as many areas as possible.”

Biggest accomplishment for 2012: “[Partnering with the All of Me Foundation] was our biggest connection,” says Ms. Davis-Quarrie. “We have always been looking to partner with different organizations that are doing the same thing. We don’t believe that we can do everything to help the youth in L.A., but we’re always looking for people who are like-minded and organizations that are like-minded. And to find someone with that kind of reach and that kind of dedication to her own program was definitely a big thing for us.”

2013 expectations: “We’re looking to have more involvement with the community,” says Ms. Davis-Quarrie. “We really want to get people to different mixers and what not, just to let people know this is who we are – this is what we do. If you want to be a part of it, you can, and it doesn’t mean that you have to be a board member. You could even be a volunteer. You could come read to kids one day a month.”

How she first got involved: “I realized that I was at a point in my career where I really wanted to get some board experience, and I reached out to a number of organizations that were looking for people; anybody that was really willing to help someone new,” she says. “I met with Melissa Wyatt, who’s the executive director. We had quite a few conversations before we decided that we would each be a good fit for one another, and that’s how I came onboard.”

Her stance on nonprofits and young adults: “There’s not a lot of young people on boards in the Los Angeles area,” she observes. “If they are, they’re looked at as the token young person, which I hope changes over time because we have plenty of ideas. And I think our generation right now is the biggest. We’ve created the biggest jump in nonprofit employment over the last few years. I think it’s important for us to get that experience, and to enjoy it.”

Her thoughts on the brunch: “All of our awardees today really exemplify to us what it meant to be a beacon of light in a small area,” Ms. Davis-Quarrie says. “Sometimes people forget as big as L.A. is, there’s small pockets, and sometimes those need a little bit of extra light shone on them. We wanted to do something intimate. We didn’t want a huge, big party – that’s not really what our goal was. We have events like that, but we really wanted to just gather a small group of people and say thank you so much for what you do in the community because we help the same community.”

Her “Where To” destination: “I really like Corkbar, downtown L.A.,” Ms. Davis-Quarrie admits. “Have you ever been there?”

[Miss Wilson inserts: “Love that place.”] “I love Corkbar,” she laughs. “That’s one of my favorite places, definitely. And I like doing stuff kind of off the beaten path. I’m a big museum girl, different exhibits and what not. There is so much to do in L.A. – so, so much to do, and you can go – there are some museums I can go to over and over and over: the Getty in Malibu, the Villas in Malibu – that’s one of my favorites…”

“So yeah…I don’t really go out too, too much,” she concludes, laughing. “But when I do, other people usually make the decision. That’s why I would have to read your blog to find out!”

For More information and to get involved:
Foundation for Second Chances, Facebook, @2ndChancesInc

* Editor’s note: This interview has been edited and condensed for reading ease.

Where to Travel: La Droguerie Vitroly @ Montpellier, France

2012-12-16T15:08:00.000-08:00

This international post is provided by my dear friend, Ann-Sofie Perier,
who currently lives in Paris and is originally from Montpellier, France.

The Location: Montpellier, France

The Vibes: Ali Baba’s cave

When-to-Go: Open from 10a.m. to 7p.m. every day; closed on Sunday and Monday

The $ Factor: $ to $$

The 4-1-1: If you’re nice and smiling, the owner André may invite you for a coffee in the café next to the boutique

She'll Be Back…: "Every time I want to find an original gift, or to refill my tea collection"

Montpellier is the most vibrant and youngest city of southern France. Not only is it sunny and cute, but people are amazingly surprising, with their accent and their typical Mediterranean kindness.

La Droguerie Vitroly, one of the oldest shops in the city, stands in the city center, on one of the most charming squares of Montpellier, the Place Castellane.

When you arrive on the square, the store stands out immediately, thanks to the multitude of objects in the window and in front of the door, and for its wooden facade, typical of the twenties, when the shop is closed (pictured to the right). This store is so unusual that it is sometimes the background of film sets! Indeed, it’s full of charm and reminiscent of ancient times…

Monsieur Estoul started to run La Droguerie in 1920, as a place where vineyard owners came to buy copper sulphate, women lipsticks and bigoudis [hair curlers].

In France, a “droguerie” is a store where you can buy all sorts of everyday things, and it is in this spirit that the shop has grown, and has been recognized over the years by the Montpellier inhabitants. The drugstore was the place where everything could be found.

André Vitroly, the current owner of the shop, is the 3rd Vitroly to manage this magical place. He obviously went on with the tradition of “you-can-find-anything-here,” but expanded to offer elaborate gifts. Thus, for more than 20 years, La Droguerie has helped its customers to discover new objects, whether boat collections, fine teas or fragrances.

The interior of the shop reveals fabulous products - “Made in France” branded - like Mariage Frères teas or Esteban’s home fragrances.

This place is a diverse and charming universe, with its old wooden floor and all the atypical and offset objects. In addition to the beautiful products offered, André and Danièle will surely make you want to come back!

Make sure you don’t miss La Droguerie when you travel to southern France!

For more information:
Facebook

**Photos provided by Ann-Sofie

Where to be Eat: Produce-Driven Small plates @ UMAMIcatessen

2012-12-09T19:08:00.000-08:00

The Eats: Swine, burgers and produce-driven small plates

The Neighborhood: Downtown

The Vibes: Woodsy dining hall style; casual, Top 40 music

Good for: A chance to taste seasonal autumn fare

With-Whom-To-Go: Popular date spot; accommodating for large groups

The $ Factor: Literally all over the board, ranging from sides that start at $3 to complete dinners that are $65

The 4-1-1: UMAMIcatessen is the creation from the Umami Burger team. Opening downtown earlier in 2012, the space Is actually the combination of five different kitchens, a bar and plenty of eye-catching contraptions...

I’ll Be Back…: For the macaroni salad

When I first heard about UMAMIcatessen, I thought: Wow. This place has a lot of...pork.

The restaurant says it uses every single part of the pig, and I believe it. I mean, swine manages to finagle its way in everything: fries, burgers, appetizers – even alcohol (the Bourbon Pig cocktail is a must to try, even if it's just to say you tried it).

But this fall, UMAMIcatessen introduced several new produce-driven – and pork-free – small plates to its menu.

Having a chance to experience the new items last month during a special invite, I was quite impressed with what I found.

The eight new dishes each had their own little personality, each incorporating very distinctive seasonings, spices and flavors. I also thought they were well-proportioned; ordering one to two nicely compliments a burger as a healthier alternative to fries, and getting two to three makes a pretty hearty, complete meal. And just as importantly, their price point is competitive – they're $3 to $5 bucks.

I tried all eight, and below are the ones I personally thought were the tastiest:

The Roasted Beets: incorporates three types of beets cooked two different ways that are rich ruby red, golden yellow and pale pink. They're very tender and flavorful, and the creamy dill creme fraiche adds a subtle flavor.

The Macaroni Salad: is not traditional macaroni salad. It has a flair to it, with a light Japanese dressing and raw veggies, including carrots and cabbage.

The Brussels sprouts: It's so stunning to me that Brussels sprouts have been so in this season. UMAMIcatessen sprinkles theirs with a light Parmesan cheer and lightly coats them in a honey mustard sauce.

The Quinoa Salad: It's hard for most people – including chefs – to make quinoa well, but the chefs here have succeeded. They've blended it with bell pepper, chickpeas and other veggies, and tossed it all in a citrus vinaigrette.

I applaud UMAMIcatessen for not only catering to the ravenous carnivore, but to the ravenous vegetarian/vegan as well. So the next time you're looking to please all palates, I highly recommend this downtown eatery. See you there soon!

For more information:
UMAMIcatessen; Facebook, @UmamiBurger

Where to be Merry: Lounging @ Delfini Citta

2012-12-03T07:19:00.000-08:00

The Merriment: A restaurant-lounge that’s the perfect backdrop for events

The Vibes: Rustic meets urban meet contemporary

Good for: Those moments when you want to feel grown and sexy

When-to-Go: Evenings and nights

The $ Factor: Standard L.A. lounge prices; Cocktails average $12-$16

The 4-1-1: Delfini Citta is the sister restaurant to Caffe Delfini in Santa Monica

I’ll Be Back…: For those colorful martinis

Delfini Citta first fell onto my radar when I learned about its Thursday evening summer jazz sessions. When I went one breezy August night, listening to the sounds of a Brazilian samba band and sipping on my martini and sampling a few of the chef’s appetizers, I kept thinking to myself:

“This would be a great place to host an event.”

Clearly, I wasn’t the only one with that conviction because this past fall, I’ve returned to this Beverly Hills restaurant-lounge again and again for a plethora of exclusive events, ranging from birthday parties to alum mixers and a few “Good Fridays.”

I think what makes it such an attractive space is its ambiance. It’s intimate. It’s inviting. It’s quaint and cozy, charming in its own distinctive way. The exposed brick walls, green foliage and shiny wooden floors give it a metropolitan vibe, but the additions of lipstick bright red and teal blue couches gives the lounge a very unique, one-of-kind, creative feel that’s all it’s own.

As for the cocktails, they have a list of specialty cocktails made with premium liquors and fresh fruits that are just as colorful and eccentric as the interior seating. The True Romance (below) is a widely popular one and is definitely as dazzling to look at as it is to sip.

I’ve also been to functions where the bar has crafted special event drinks,
like the USC margarita, pictured below.

And while specialty and special event cocktails are all fine and dandy, I did want to see if the bartenders could handle an ordinary request. To my delight, the key lime martini I ordered was quite delicious.

It’s also the little things that count: there's plenty of seating on. I know we’ve all been out and there’s been no seating whatsoever, or, it’s all “reserved,” with gnarly bouncers protectively lurking over it as if they were guarding the White House. But I appreciate that there are bar stools, couches and even chairs next to plenty of tables.

So the next time you find yourself on Wilshire Blvd., in need of a good cocktail and looking for that lovely lounge experience, I say head to Delfini Citta. See you there soon!

For more information: Delfini Citta

Facebook, @DelfiniCitta

Where to Drink: Made-to-Order Cocktails @ Library Bar, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

2012-11-25T17:10:00.000-08:00

The Drinks: Individual cocktails crafted precisely to your likings

The Vibes: Classy and classic

Good for: When you fancy a beverage that fits your sensibilities exactly how you imagined it

When-to-Go: Evenings and nights

With-Whom-to-Go: A great date spot, with friends, alone

The $ Factor: Standard Hollywood prices; Cocktails average $17

The 4-1-1: Ask for the sugar cane; it’s soaked and infused with different alcohol, like tequila and rum

I’ll Be Back…: To see what the bartenders can conjure up for me next

This past summer I ran a post about all of the fabulous drinking and eating establishments
at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, which included a section on the Library Bar.

Yet a recent trip back to the Library Bar (thanks to an invite to the “20K Soiree” cocktail party – very fun indeed!) left me strongly compelled to expand upon the fabulosity of this bar. The 200 words I originally wrote just didn’t cut it, so lo and behold, this post was created!

Let's dig in:

For starters, one of the bar’s best aspect is its produce.

The veggies, fruits and herbs – bell peppers, peaches, basil, etc. – aren’t just carelessly schlepped onto a dark shelf, forgotten and only brought out when someone needs a celery stick for her Bloody Mary. No, they’re proudly displayed on the bar, greeting you when you first enter, their aromatic scents boldly drifting throughout the air. It literally feels like you’re walking into a farmer’s market.

The produce, along with other foodstuff (like marshmallows) and more traditional bar items (like bitters) are used in abundance in the cocktails. While definitely on the stronger side, the cocktails themselves pick up the flavors of the fresh ingredients they’re made with, rather than the alcohol itself.

The fun part: there is no menu. It’s all based on a verbal exchange between you and the bartenders. Let them know the alcohol you want as a base, the tastes you prefer (bitter, salty, sweet, spicy, sour) and anything else that you like, then they’ll whip something up.

On my last trip there, I said I wanted something with rum that was sweet, so they made me a fruity blend with blueberries:

On the next round, I asked for something with a little kick in it, so they kept the same base and added a few kickin' jalapenos:

I recommend heading to the Library Bar when you want more than a beer or a standard cocktail that any bar can make. Go for the experience, and to see what kind of inventions you can come up with. Will it be with herbs? With fruit? Perhaps both? The options are endless. I’ll see you there soon to find out what you pick!

For More Information:

Library Bar

And Where Do You “Where To?”: 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Edition

2012-11-22T09:05:00.002-08:00

Every Thanksgiving, I like to take a break from all of the complaining, moaning and groaning to spend 24 hours giving “thanks” for all of the places that we’re thankful for.

Since I’m always sharing my favorite spots each week, on this day (and this day alone), I call on friends, associates and industry folks to in turn share their picks that they’re ever-so grateful for.

This year, I’m doing it a little differently and compiling a list of picks from people that I’ve interviewed throughout this year so far. There were soooooo many intriguing recommendations, that I thought they were noteworthy enough to mention once again.

So please, read on, and if you’re inspired to do so, drop a note in the comment section on what you’re thankful for this Thanksgiving holiday as well.

See you at one of these places soon!

Brely Evans, Singer/Actress (Sparkle)
Where She “Where To’s”: “I love Viceroy [Santa Monica] because when I come here, I feel like I’m out of the country. I’ve had the pleasure to do a lot of traveling, and this is one place that when I walk into the door, I forget I’m in LA. I feel like I’m somewhere else. The décor, the friendly staff…the food is amazing, the drinks are great. I just love being in a place that exudes high society and high class, yet still has a real urban side to it, where it’s attainable.”

Donnie McClurkin (GRAMMY Gospel Singer)
Where He “Where To’s”: “Oh yes, there is some place that I do go. I go – there are two places that I go to find peace, to find fellowship and camaraderie. I go to West Angeles Church of God in Christ and I go to City of Refuge in Gardena! Those are the two places that I go, when I am here to find escape, relaxation.

Because if I go to West Angeles, ain’t nobody going to bother me there! I’m not Donnie McClurkin there. I’m just Donnie. If I even go to Gardena and I go to Noel Jones’ City of Refuge, ain’t nobody going to mess and ask to sign no autographs. Because we’re all in there worshiping together. Those are my getaways. It’s not a beach. It’s not a restaurant. It’s not a museum. It’s West Angeles Church of God in Christ and the City of Refuge in Gardena.”

KD Aubert, Actress (Turning Point, Percentage)
Where She “Where To’s”: “You know, I’m on this weird vegetarian kick right now and I don’t really know where it came from, because I started it right before Thanksgiving, which is really weird, and then I went even further and did the organic raw. So the SunCafe. But, I had a steak the other day, so I don’t what I am now [laughs]. And then the other thing is, it’s like, I have favorites and I have different genres. Like for Jamaican food, We Jammin’ is the best, but then my friends own Coley’s, so I probably shouldn’t say that [laughs].”

Luka Prado (Fashion Designer) Where He “Where To’s”:
For the best drinks: Village Idiot

For the best nightlife scene: Cobras and Matadors

To find the best late night food: Toi on Sunset Blvd.

To have the best brunch: Toast on 3rd

To be inspired: Coffee shops, museums, walking around the city with my dog

All-time favorite place to hang: Chateau Marmont

Aleya Desne, Executive Chef & Owner (Culinary Princess Catering)
Where She “Where To’s”: “I love Pete's Cafe in Downtown LA. It may not be ultra swanky, but the food is great and the environment is comfortable. Plus, I have a crazy schedule and they are open really late.”

George Blodwell, Gen Lux Editor and Fashion Stylist
Where He “Where To’s”: “I like the Petite Ermitage. I like Chateau Marmont. And there’s a little place in the Valley I like to go called Tony's Darts Away. It’s a vegan bar that has lots of different homebrews – different beers and vegan food. I’ve been vegetarian for 40-odd years. I love being at home and having lots of good friends over, some celebrities and such. I’m a stylist. I dress people and I’m editor of fashion magazine, so I get around [laughs].”

Brook Turner, Writer/Filmmaker (Thankful for a Million, One Day Too I Go Fly)

Where She “Where To’s”: “I know what you’re thinking: 'Art Walk only happens once a month.' Well, you’re right. However, a number of these galleries hold regular hours and will open up if you make an appointment. My favorites include: drkrm and Robert Reynolds Gallery. drkrm has more traditional prints and Robert Reynolds Gallery has a number of installations. The work displayed in both is bound to get your creative juices flowing.”

Where to Eat: Fried Brussels Sprouts @ Freddy Smalls Bar

2012-11-11T19:10:00.001-08:00

The Eats: Fried Brussels Sprouts!!! … and other eclectic options

The Vibes: Gastropub, bar scene; always chill, although it can get crazy packed some nights

Good for: When you’re up for taking a trip on the culinary wild side

When-to-Go: Open 6pm-2am; also a 5:30-7pm Monday-Thursday happy hour

The $ Factor: Standard LA prices; Cocktails average $10, meals averages $15-$25

The 4-1-1: Parking is kind of a pain; sparse street parking scattered along side streets and Pico Blvd.

I’ll Be Back…: For those Brussels Sprouts and the Cheeseboard

I don’t know about you, but I love me some hip-hop.

And no, I don't mean Lil Wayne (commercial rap) or J. Cole (rap), although they're cool too, but I mean real hip-hop: The Pharcyde, The Roots, Blackstar, Outkast, old school Common…Rza, Zion I, Dead Prez, Digable Planets...

That’s why last year when I heard about a new bar opening up that strictly plays hip-hop, my heart did a little leap of joy. I could get my eat and drink on and hear “I Used to Love H.E.R.” blasting from the speakers? Brilliant!

But while the music might have initially drawn me into this gastropub, one thing in particular has kept me coming back to Freddy Smalls: the Fried Brussels Sprouts.

I know what you’re thinking: what? Brussels Sprouts? Word? For real?

Yes, for real!

As you might have noticed, Brussels Sprouts have been making a big debut this season, and I’m not talking about grandma’s soggy, overcooked, boiled Brussels Sprouts. Nowadays, this vegetable is being pan-fried, sautéed, roasted, thrown in with cheese, nuts, sauces and more.

But in all fairness, Freddy Smalls was one of the first restaurants I saw taking Brussels Sprouts to a new level by featuring them on the menu last year, and Smalls continues to remain a top contender in the game. Tossed with smoked goat cheese and an apple cider glaze, these bad boys are light and crunchy, slightly sweet with earthy undertones. I’ve never had anything like them before, and they are really worth getting at least two orders.

Aside from this dish, Smalls offers some pretty avant-garde options that I haven’t seen anywhere else. There’s the Buffalo Deviled Eggs with hot sauce and chicken skin…and then the open faced smoked trout club (pictured below), which includes smoked trout on top of a bed of crushed avocado, garnished with tomato and basil.

Even the smoked fingerling potatoes (pictured below) have somehow been turned from standard to unconventional, with a tangy dipping sauce made with the fiery espelette pepper.

Probably one of the most "normal" items I've seen on the menu is the cheeseboard (pictured below), which is actually one of my favorites - after the Brussels Sprouts, of course - as well. Aside from a variety of types of cheeses ranging from soft to firm, bold to subdued, the board features great breads, spreads and fruits.

So the next time you’re in the mood to listen to some classic hip-hop and to get your five servings of veggies along with a few different kinds of unique dishes, I say head to Freddy Smalls. It's a great atmosphere, great food and of course, great music. See you there soon!

For more information:
Freddy Smalls , Facebook, @FreddySmallsBar

And Where Do You “Where To?”: Aleya Desné of Culinary Princess Catering

2012-11-04T17:13:00.000-08:00

As we inch into autumn, millions of holiday affairs are starting to sprout up. I thought about all of the Christmas parties taking place in restaurants and hotels – the holiday functions being catered at banquet halls, work offices and homes – and one particular person popped into mind: Aleya Desné.

Aleya Desné is the Executive Chef & Owner of Culinary Princess Catering (CPC), a successful boutique catering business that creates specialized dishes for a variety of clients and events, ranging from holiday gatherings to wedding buffets and food preparation and delivery.

Over the past few months, I’ve seen her articles pop up in local newsletters, greedily ogled and drooled over the dishes she’s posted online and learned a lot about food (like the benefits of Brussels sprouts) from reading her blog. So, I decided to reach out to her to learn more about how she launched her business – especially in an economic time like this – and to find out what it’s like being a young entrepreneur.

Perhaps I’m a bit biased because she’s a fellow USC Trojan and she’s also a member of my sorority, the amazing Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., but I don’t think so. Aleya truly has an inspirational story that’s realistic and not sugar-coated about what it’s like to step out on faith and to follow one’s passion...

Continue reading to find out how she got started, what her most popular mouth-watering dishes are and what fabulous pearls of wisdom she has to offer!

Miss Wilson: What prompted you to launch your own catering business?
Aleya Desné: I discovered my passion for cooking in a non-conventional way. After working in the apparel and cosmetic industries and then being laid off, I made a conscious decision that I wanted to do something with my life that made me truly happy every day. After exploring my creativity by doing things like scrap booking, writing poetry and reading, I was still direction-less. I prayed and asked God to show me what I should be doing with my life. Boom: Cooking happened. I had always enjoyed cooking, but had never thought about making it into a career before. I decided to attend Le Cordon Bleu and combine my cooking knowledge with by undergraduate degree in Business from USC to build a life for myself where I could continue to strive for my passions daily and build a legacy for those who follow me.

I actually wrote a blog post on why I made the switch from corporate to culinary when my journey first began (mostly so people wouldn't think I was crazy). It might fill in some of the gaps: http://culinaryprincesscatering.com/2011/05/page/4.

Miss Wilson: Did you ever think about joining a restaurant or an existing catering team prior to launching your own catering business?
Aleya Desné: I had never even thought about opening my own business prior to starting Culinary Princess Catering! My focus was on Marketing and Public Relations. I thought that I would have more stability by working for someone else. That was proven to be incorrect when I was laid off on a whim. I do not have plans at this time to open a restaurant, but I will continue to grow my catering business, including the private chef and in-home cooking class components.

Miss Wilson: Is it a balancing act to manage both the business/operational side and the creative, culinary side?
Aleya Desné: Yes! It definitely keeps me busy, but I enjoy both the analytical and creative sides of my business. I get to design amazing dishes and then play my own devil's advocate by asking myself questions like, "How much is that going to cost?" and "What type of ROI will that yield?" I will admit that it is easy to get bogged down with routine tasks. I can't wait until I get a bit bigger and can hire more office support so that I can focus on the strategic vision to drive my company forward.

Miss Wilson: How did the current dishes end up on your menu – what was the selection process like?
Aleya Desné: All of my dishes start with my favorite foods. Usually, if I don't like to eat it, it will not appear on my menu. I test out dishes prior to revealing them to the public and if it makes me say "Mmmm," then it is a winner. I also enjoy being inspired by seasons, new ingredients I find at the farmers market and past experiences. Some dishes are created to evoke a good memory or feeling. For example, the Baked Dijon Ranch Chicken reminds me of dinnertime with my mom and my Curry Chicken is inspired by my father. My menu is forever evolving and improving, which is part of the beauty of being in the culinary industry: Your art grows as you grow.

Miss Wilson: I noticed that you mentioned on your menu that the Ginger & Scallion Crab Cakes with Sweet Basil and Lemon Aioli (pictured to the right) is frequently requested. What would you say is the top favorite amongst Culinary Princess Catering clients – is it this one?
Aleya Desné: That is definitely one of them. Other CPC Client favorites include Mint & Basil Brussels Sprouts, Sauteed Spinach with Elephant Garlic and Shallots, Shrimp Puffs, Dijon Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb and Roasted Beet Salad.

Miss Wilson: What about you – do you personally have a favorite dish off your own menu?
Aleya Desné: Usually, when people ask me what my favorite dish is, I respond, "food" lol! What I enjoy eating usually depends on my mood, but one of my favorite comfort foods is Boeuf Bourguignon (pictured below).

Miss Wilson: What has been your greatest accomplishment so far?
Aleya Desné: My greatest accomplishment has been being brave enough to step out of my comfort zone and go after what makes me happy. I used to be very set on relying on the corporate structure for stability. Now, I feel more empowered and much stronger as a person.

Miss Wilson: Do you have any words of encouragement for aspiring chefs and aspiring business owners?
Aleya Desné: Keep going! Starting a business can be a very daunting task. Setbacks can take a toll on you physically, emotionally and financially. However, if you keep working your passions, you will be successful. Infuse your day and your vision with positivity and purpose. Post inspirational quotes, bible verses and encouraging messages around you, and surround yourself with people who believe in your goals. My relationship with God has been critical in propelling me forward and keeping me encouraged. I would also recommend building your network with people within the culinary industry and outside of it. Join professional organizations, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF) and learn from your peers. There is no "right" way to do anything, but by listening to the experiences of those who came before you or those who have concurrent journeys, you can better form your own way.

Miss Wilson: Where is your favorite “Where To” destination in LA (i.e., your favorite restaurant, lounge, museum, nightlife or social destination, etc.)?
Aleya Desné: I love Pete's Cafe in Downtown LA. It may not be ultra swanky, but the food is great and the environment is comfortable. Plus, I have a crazy schedule and they are open really late.

For more information:
www.CulinaryPrincessCatering.com,
Facebook, @CulinaryRoyalty