In this edition of the LA Shopping Map, we spurn the pedestrian shopping malls and centers in favor of truly haute couture mecca in Los Angeles. We hesitate to call it a shopping district or anything really with the word "shop" in it because we are not so sure that's what goes on here. After all, does anyone really go on a shopping spree at Carolina Herrera?
Nevertheless, to experience some of LA's best fashion designer offerings head to Melrose Place.
Yes, Melrose Place in Aaron Spelling's world consisted of an apartment complex of 20-something-year-olds who slept with each other and then cried about it. Either that or they went completely postal on each other.
But the real Melrose Place is probably the preferred shopping--eek we had to say it--street for celebs, even more so than Rodeo Drive. Why? Because the design houses are cooler, the offerings unique, the experience is much more private (each store is like a private little home) and there's little to no tourists. (That is until we just told you to go there.)
OMG, how crazy was that "Hills" finale this week? Could you believe LC joined the Peace Corps and left for Tuvalu, and Justin-Bobby revealed he was going to become Justine-Roberta?
Nah, not really. But Heidi Montag really did give an impromptu performance to paparazzi at Los Angeles' Koi restaurant on Monday night, as we were learning her fate after she and Spencer eloped to Iceland. (Wait, that didn't happen either.) Heidi shouldn't worry so much about staying in the spotlight; given the writers' strike, "The Hills" might be alive again sooner than MTV planned.
We aren't quite sure how we ended up at the Viper Room on Sunset Boulevard last night. It could have been the lone margarita we had with dinner, or it could have been the fact that we're slowly approaching 30. But since we had never even been to River Phoenix's deathspot in the 5 years we have lived in Los Angeles, we decided it was time.
Our friend invited us to see this band, The Ruse, who went on last night at about 10pm. As we were waiting for the show to start, we noticed at least two cameras set up in the corners of the room and two more people walking around with monitors. We just assumed it was for a music video.
But no. Just before the music started, a man with an earpiece escorted two people to the front of the audience: Audrina and her maybe-boyfriend Justin Bobby from The Hills.
Audrina looked pretty in a short dress, black strappy heels, a low pony-tail and a cropped black leather jacket that matched one that Justin Bobby was wearing.
Justin Bobby is the weirdest person ever but there's something not quite authentic to his weirdness. And Audrina, while she looked much prettier in person, is still sort of a robot who robotically nodded to the music but for the most part looked like she wanted to leave.
As for whether they are on or off, we couldn't tell. They leaned into each other a few times to talk but since it was pretty darn loud, we doubt they even heard each other. It was about then that we realized we're probably too old to be seen in the background on an MTV reality show, so we headed for the exit.
Last week, we hit up Sunset Boulevard to try out Ketchup, the latest hip restaurant from the guys at Dolce Group.
These guys are the proprietors behind other celeb-spotting spots like Dolce, Geisha House and the nightclub Les Deux. So we had a good grasp on what kind of crowd we would find sitting in Ketchup.
When a friend took us to dinner last night at Blowfish Sushi we honestly thought it was just another cleverly-named sushi joint in a strip mall in Hollywood. But when we told our other friends that we were checking out Blowfish Sushi, they said, "Oooh, that place is supposed to be cool."
Indeed, it's not just another strip mall sushi joint. But those looking for a traditional sushi dinner won't find that here either. Blowfish Sushi is more an Asian fusion restaurant which is pleasing for those who can't (or won't) eat raw fish. It's also a small chain with spots in San Jose, San Francisco, and Auckland, New Zealand.
Some nights out require a more intimate setting -- whether you're trying to romance a shy new flame or planning on getting back together with an ex. That must have been what Justin Timberlake and Cameron Diaz were thinking last week when they met at the exclusive Whiskey Bar in West Hollywood's Sunset Marquis Hotel.
According to People magazine, Justin was having dinner with Martin Scorsese -- whose Irish mobsters in "The Departed" might have found the bar more amenable to doing business than the Indian grocery stores and porn theatres they used -- and slipped away with Cameron sometime after 1 a.m., after which they left the bar together.
Bar entry is restricted to hotel guests and assorted other A-listers, but if you book now you can stay Easter weekend (April 6-8) starting at $250 per night for a "junior suite." Ex-boy-band member not included.
Looks like the hottest club in Hollywood right now is the new joint Privilege (formerly Shelter), which has played host to everybody who's anybody in LaLa Land recently.
US Weekly reported that Kirsten Dunst was there two weeks ago with Leonardo DiCaprio--Jake who?--while Ted Casablanca dishes that Paris Hilton, Stavros Niarchos III, Justin Timberlake, Cameron Diaz, Nicky Hilton, Kirsten Dunst (again!) and Tara Reid were all there recently drinking and dancing away their "talent". Those must have been some very busy bathrooms.
The celeb-friendly Hollywood hotel, The Argyle, has just opened its own salon and spa. The 6,600 square-foot facility has it all--including Botox, Restalyne, teeth whitening and all sorts of laser treatments (this is Hollywood, after all.) You can also get treatments in private cabanas and suites.
And the treatments, you ask? Try the Royal Romanian Mud Mask that uses Lake Amara's mud to polish up your skin. Afterwards slip into the authentic Hammam (that's the Turkish steam room, ehem.)
And if you're a spa-phobic male don't think they don't have something for you: there's a full barber shop with hot towel/straight razor shaves and a shoe shine.
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by juliana
Looks like the hottest club in Hollywood right now is the new joint 
The celeb-friendly Hollywood hotel, The Argyle, has just opened its 
