Tipple & Brine in Sherman Oaks, CA

T-shirt by Chaser. Shorts by Levi. Belt by Hardware. Bag by Aldo. Bracelet by Armani. Shoes are vintage. 

In high school, I had a friend who lived in Sherman Oaks. He threw the best parties because there really wasn't much else to do around the area. When his parents weren't home, we would reluctantly relocate to the Bowling Alley next to Jerry's Famous Deli (o the good ol' days). As I grew older and moved away to college, I returned to a completely different world. Sherman Oaks was actually hip! 

It is no secret, for the past few years several areas of LA have been developing rapidly into trendsetting areas which offer great restaurants and shopping. Sherman Oaks is one of them!

Over the past weekend, I visited Tipple & Brine, a new seafood joint in the Sherman Oaks area. Though the farmhouse chic decor has been done five ways from Sunday, I can't fault them for trying to hold in with the pack. The atmosphere was lively and the food fresh! Though a little daring, it was perfect for my palate. My motto is try everything once! I like how many dishes involved seafood into American favorites such as sea urchin toast, and seared calamari salad. Of course they also have your typical market fish and oysters; several options are non seafood, and include delicious entrees, salads, and sides. I tried the oysters, brussels sprouts, and sea urchin toast. Everything was scrumptious! 

The service was not perfect, but luckily we were too busy enjoying ourselves to care. If you come, request to sit by the window, and enjoy your meal while you people watch. Apparently there is life over the canyon! 

Cafe Roma in Beverly Hills

T-shirt by Disney. Skirt by Highway. Shoes by Iro. Bag by KC Jagger. Ring by Guess. 

Although today is officially the beginning of October, if you reside in Los Angeles you would argue that it still feels very much like summer. Granted we don't have much of the season weather many other regions are accustomed to, I love that slight shift in the weather where you can feel the climate actually changing. It cools down a little in the evenings, and you can finally enjoy dining outside without sticking to your seat. 

One of my favorite places to enjoy the scenery as much as the food is Cafe Roma in Beverly Hills. Located on Canon Dr., this little cafe features delicious Italian food and award-winning cocktails. I'm not kidding about the "award-winning" part either, one of their cocktails actually placed first in a Tuscany contest (and those Italians know their food and drinks)! On weekend nights, they also have a DJ playing top hits to liven up their happy hour scene. Be aware the clientele is slightly more mature--many divorcee and silver fox types. 

Either way this eatery is upscale yet the atmosphere is relaxed and not too pretentious. Ask to be seated on the patio (they have a separate outdoor space for quick bites and dinner) and bask in the glory of this amazing weather. Order the "The Best" if you like gin, and breathe in that Beverly Hills air (surprisingly it's free). Don't forget to take a walk down Canon Dr. or the famous Rodeo Dr. a block away-- glimmering lights, beautiful people, it's called Tinseltown for a reason! 

Fork Restaurant on Sunset Blvd.

Top by Laila and Savannah. Skirt by Miss Me. Shoes by Jeffrey Campbell. Bag by KC Jagger. 

I am a huge fan of Mediterranean food, but unfortunately it is not a very popular cuisine on the LA scene. Most people actually shy away from the the flavors and exoticism of these dishes. Thankfully I now have a solution for these deprived souls and it's called "Fork" on Sunset Blvd., a new and tiny gem of a restaurant combining American and Mediterranean food. Fun fact-- it is owned by Roy Handler (celebrity chef and Chelsea Handler's brother). 

This new and unique eatery offers indoor rustic chic decor, as well as outdoor diner ambiance. The set up seems to be a little confusing at first, but I like the idea of being able to sit outside while ordering from the indoor bar (indoor seating is also available).  It is intimate enough for a date spot, yet open until 4AM for those late night munchies after the bars and clubs. Now on to the most important part-- the food! Le Grand Formage, Mediterranean Tacos, Baklava Cheesecake, I kid you not that my mouth is watering as I am writing this. I can also concur the dishes are as delicious as they sound! Stick a fork in that and nix the kale (for now)! 

Toca Madera Restaurant and Bar

Blazer by Forever 21. Pants by Mango. Shoes by Pour La Victoire. Bag by Aldo. 

Earrings by Alexis Bitter. Brown Gem Necklace was a gift. California necklace purchased at the Fairfax Flea Market. Body Chain by Forever 21. 

Organic, vegan, gluten-free, Mexican, yep you guessed it's in LA, and a new hotspot in West Hollywood called Toca Madera. Don't take my word for it just drive by 8450 3rd Ave. on a Saturday night and look for the endless line building up at their front door. You can try your luck at scoring a dinner reservation but if that fails entry to the bar may be just as tricky. There's actually a bouncer at the door-- this is the first time I've seen this at a restaurant!

We were lucky enough to try this place for ourselves due to a few connections and here are the deets-- muy caliente clientele, eccentric and funky yet beautiful decor, an attractive female DJ spinning the top 40, and the most delicious drinks! Sorry no comment on the food just yet-- still working on that reservation! This is by far the place to come see and be seen, and this leads to an extremely overcrowded space-- which slightly lowers my motivation to return. If you do crave a look for yourself, make sure to ask Juan the bartender to mix you up something special, you will not be disappointed! 

Fringe Benefits

Top by Zara. Skirt by Hot & Delicious. Belt by Joie. Shoes by Dune London. Bag by Michelle Fantaci for Lauren Merkin.  

Seeing as fringe is popping up everywhere from magazine to street style, I was so excited to debut my fringe skirt last night. What better time to do so than my girlfriend's country-western themed birthday party. I came across this little number shopping in Santee Alley in Downtown Los Angeles last week (will be doing a post on this shortly) and fell in love! I paired it with a simple striped tee to let the skirt stand out. Generally it's important to keep accessories simple when an article of clothing is very unique, or you want to let it pop. Here is a link to a few great ideas for wearing a fringe skirt via Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?rs=ac&len=2&q=fringe+skirt&term_meta%5B%5D=fringe%7Cautocomplete%7C0&term_meta%5B%5D=skirt%7Cautocomplete%7C0

Zanzibar Lounge in Santa Monica

Top by Chaser. Shorts by BCBG Max Azria. Shoes by Tracey Ross. Bag by Vince Camuto (link at the bottom of the page). 

I was literally catapulted back to the late 90's/early 00's this past Saturday when visiting Zanzibar in Santa Monica. I know EDM is all the rage in every club, but sometimes it feels good to actually listen to music you can dance to (not jump to). Nonstalgia was the theme of the night as the DJ spun tunes from my middle and high school days, and how good it felt to bring back my "Homecoming" dance moves. 

Although if rap and r&b are not your cup of tea or more appropriately cocktail of choice, this lounge varies music genres based on the day of the week, i.e. they offer Salsa lessons and dancing on Mondays (adding this to my iPhone calendar).  Though I had an absolute blast, I have to point out the decor of this place is extremely outdated or possibly just tasteless. Candles, tiki masks, and various tribal and cultural artifact thrown together with no real theme is a rather strange setting. Needless to say it attracts an eclectic crowd of all ages and walks of life. If you're just looking for a place to dance the night away like the good ol' days this is your spot, but don't expect much more than that. 

AOC Wine Bar and Restaurant

Top by Lush. jeans by Forever 21. Shoes by Tracey Ross. Bag by Marciano.

As a neurotically punctual person I really hate to admit that I am super late to the AOC party. This wine bar/restaurant has been around for over 10 years and sadly this is my first visit! Granted when it first opened it's modern small plates and farm to table approach didn't receive the same praise as it does now. I guess I will use the excuse that 10 years ago I wasn't 21, and certainly culturally clueless. Fast forward to today, no stranger to tapas and a bit of a wine enthusiasts, I am happy I stumbled upon this place when searching for a parking space. O the joys of discovering LA, seriously do people come across restaurants like this in other cities? 

I noticed there to be a slightly more mature crowd, meaning late 30's and up, not to mention well dressed; even the hostess looked like she should be dining at this spot. Hence they also close earlier than similar counterparts-- we arrived around 10PM and by 11 they were winding down and many patrons had left. They have a fabulous selection of wines (not to the state the obvious) and various cheeses. My boyfriend also ordered the market fish which was delicious! My only con was service was a tad bit slower than usual, although very attentive. Make sure you're not in a rush when choosing to dine here! An old friend once told me slower service is synonymous with the LA culture-- and this place very much has that LA vibe, a mix of farmhouse chic and tinseltown glamour. Ask to sit in the garden if available, it will enhance the experience! 

Perch Restaurant and Lounge in Downtown LA

Top and Shorts by Forever 21. Bag by KC Jagger. Shoes by Pour La Victoire. 

My favorite part about downtown LA is the history and culture which radiates through the streets, buildings, and culture. Nestled atop a beautiful, historic building (not to mention two antique elevator rides later) is the modern and romantic Perch Restaurant and Lounge. The first floor is boisterous, overflowing with delicious food and drinks as well as laughs and stories of its patrons. Walk up (or take the elevator) one flight up and you find yourself "perched" amidst downtown's shiny lights and tall buildings. The view is unprecedented for Los Angeles!
Unfortunately I can't comment on the food as we only came for drinks, but a few friends have raved about their brunch! I had the "Spicy Concombre" which satisfied my zesty cocktail desire (I'm not too sure why I have been gravitating towards jalapeño infused drinks lately). The atmosphere was buzzing with after-work shenanigans and date night sweet whispers. It was one of those warm summer nights, with a tantalizing light breeze, made even more perfect by the fabulous seats we scored next to the mini fire pit.
If you're an LA local and haven't been, put this gem on your radar, especially if you have newbies visiting from out of town. This is the only building I've (ever) seen which has a 13th floor-- that's Instagram-worthy don't you think?