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The Hill’s Stacie Hall: Getting Away From The Drama
Citybuzz Los Angeles blogger Jessica Ingber interviews Stacie Hall
How has the hills changed the way you view your city?
The Hills mainly focuses on Hollywood and the trendy places to go and hang out. Filming in different places really showed me there is a lot to do and see that's not just clubs and glamour.
Was some of your favorite hang outs filmed on the hills? If so which ones?
The best place we filmed on the Hills was obviously Malibu for the summer. We were so fortunate to spend our days on the sand and have beach parties at night.
What do you love about your city?
I love that Los Angeles has it all. We have the city with cool restaurants and shops and only 20 miles from that is beautiful beaches. There's not a lot of cities that have so many different things to do with very unique people.
What do you love about your city in the summer/fall?
Los Angeles has some of the most gorgeous weather. I love that everyone is very active riding bikes and going on hikes in the mountains.
What are some of your favorite neighborhoods? For eating? Museums? Nightspots?
I really like Hollywood and West Hollywood. I would highly recommend the Farmers Market for small restaurants that have a lot of character and have been around in Los Angeles the longest. The Griffith park observatory is also great and has great views of the city. My favorite Night spot is Teddy's located in the Roosevelt hotel that has been around longer than most cubs and always draws a big crowd and is never too trendy.
What is your favorite place to shop in the city?
I really enjoy the flea markets and farmers markets. You can spend your weekends browsing antiques and finding really original stuff. There's a great place to find fresh fruit and a lot of local business's at the farmers market near the grove.
What inspires you about your city?
I feel really lucky to be around so much history and old Hollywood glamour. Los Angeles is one of the places people can only dream about going and making there dreams come true.
Do you have an insider tip for tourists visiting your city for the first time?
If you're a first time visitor I recommend going to check out Hollywood and Highland were the man Chinese theater and the Hollywood stars are.
Are you a regular somewhere? Local hangout?
I like trying new places whenever I can but I cant seem to get away from Venice beach!!! There's always so much to do there including roller blading and riding bikes.
Do you have a secret spot in the city (to unwind, get away, people watch, read a book, escape) and why?
One of the most peaceful places is the top of Runyon canyon. It's a short hike up the mountain and has views all the way to the ocean.
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Body Factory: Smoothies That Do a Body Good
Thanks to celebrity followers such as Kim Kardashian, Halle Berry, and Playboy’s Jayde Nicole, the smoothies at Body Factory have become an after-workout essential and tasty treat for those looking to refuel.
The store, with locations in Hollywood, West Hollywood and Los Angeles, all feature endless amounts of health and nutritional products for at home cleansing and dieting. As for the smoothies, favorites remain The Body Fuel (The Hulk) and The Peanut Butter Vanilla (PBV) and contain heavy amounts of protein and antioxidants with a lower calorie count than most popular smoothie places in Los Angeles.
Though the one-stop-shop is perfect for grabbing a smoothie and loading up on goodies for your home, the smoothies are on the more expensive side which leads many people to buying the heavy bulk of protein powder to purchase and take home.
If the endless smoothie options and nutritional supplements don’t make you want to run to the gym, a glance at the Body Factory employees will most likely make you crave a six pack more than you crave a smoothie.
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Limonaia: Handmade Goods for the Home
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The Grove: Mall-ing Cali Style
West Hollywood's Grove kicks the regular American mall experience’s butt. Stores vary little, but here it is all about the extras and Disney-esque outdoor shopping. Water in the main fountain dances, as made famous in the blockbuster I Love You Man, and a Green Grove Trolley drives through the mall’s cobbled walkways. It's also always good for celeb spotting and the occasional Jonas Brothers concert. If opting for a teeny-bopper day, prepare for the included screaming girl stampede.
Big brand favorites reign at the Grove. Nordstrom and the Grove Movie Theater are central for staples like Anthropologie, Sephora, Crate & Barrel, Barnes & Noble, Apple, J Crew, Kiehls, Gap, Michael Kors, and more. Restaurants are familiar chains of upscale mall fare, like The Farm of Beverly Hills and The Cheesecake Factory, but California air and fountain entertainment majorly up the décor. Or for a little more local flavor, try LA’s famed Farmer’s Market adjacent to the Grove.
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Abbot Kinney for Everything Venice Beach
Venice Beach. The boutiques rule in Venice and big name brands are out, but don’t be fooled, style is less flip-flop mess and more artist casual. Here you can pick up summer dress ups and dress downs, a new favorite flannel at Steven Alan Annex, or dress your man in Stronghold jeans. Jewelry finds are always a little offbeat ranging from diamonds to antique typewriter keys. For home décor fanatics, Abbot Kinney shops like Floral and Plantation are frequent features in top design magazines.
And for those who work up an appetite from carrying around all those bags, Abbot Kinney has plenty of food options to finish off a successful day, but dining is anything but beachy. Options are fine and plentiful for any craving from Gjelina’s truffle pizza, Wabi-Sabi crazy rolls and Lilly’s French flavors to Hal’s famous cantaloupe martini. If hunger still strikes, LA’s most notable food trucks usually wander Abbot Kinney late night.
Insider's Tip: This is not to miss! First Friday of each month is where you can shop late, sample every truck in town and party the packed street all night.
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Get Mellow at Willow Spa
inspired massages, facials and scrubs, Willow Spa is similar to others offering over-the-top treatments in luxurious surroundings. Though most spas open the door for you and close it when you leave just as fast, Willow Spa explains the importance of living well, while also indulging in such treatments. One of the greatest things about this spa- other than its tropical feel and décor- are the packages they put together, such as the Thai "Balance" package that is like a small vacay to paradise, featuring a Tamarind body scrub and Flower and Milk foot soak; or the specialized Bride & Groom package that offers a week by week "to-do" spa and relaxation experience before the big "I do's."
If you are ready to roll your eyes about how expensive this “luxurious” treatment is going to cost you, you might want to clasp those rolling eyes and take a look at the price menu. An hour massage is less than a hundred dollars which is considered a bargain, especially in this city. So the next time you are driving down Santa Monica in bumper to bumper traffic, look for the Asian-influenced cottage offering a home away from home... or at least a well-deserved pit stop.
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Paradise Spa Escape at Four Seasons Westlake Village
Westlake Village is incredible. Just one spa treatment grants an all access pass to paradise.
For the perfect day, massages are just the beginning. Dive deeper into the zen with a stroll through the gardens, greenhouse, Asian inspired gazebo and koi pond. There's no need to ditch the plush robe for uncomfortable day clothes as the spa has a private pool just for patrons. For lunch, enjoy smoothies and sandwiches served poolside, while catching up on your perfect LA tan or relaxing in the robe. The meals are deliciously upscale spa-y health food that leaves you satisfied, and not famished. Cap the day with a steam, sauna, and whirlpool dip before showering and heading home. Returning to reality is hard, but this relaxed rejuvenation is truly hard to forget.
Insider's Tip: Book treatments when traffic is in your favor because it's a 40 minute drive out of the city, but book early enough to maximize the day there.
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Shake It Down Dog at Maha Yoga
The L.A. lifestyle is all about the body and how you get it. The secret to the city's high percentage of stellar bodies? Steve Ross at Maha Yoga leads some of the most popular classes in Los Angeles, combining a challenging practice with music that makes your booty shake.
The goal seems simple: walking out with a stronger sense of happiness. The task, however, is less so: a deepened body connection and a major extension of the body’s limits. Maha is a spiritual haven, frequented by mind and body notables (feminine sexuality guru Deborah Kagan) and the occasional celeb (Jeremy Piven), alike.
With over 20 years practice and four years as a Vendic monk, Steve unites a deep-rooted spiritual tradition with a playlist that makes the body bounce. Each lighthearted, high energy, 90-minute class keeps the focus physical and the mind off day-to-day worries. Shake it downward dog, but do not be fooled, the dance music does not deter serious yogis. Newbies and regulars alike walk out rejuvenated, but be prepared to feel it all over the next day!
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Rose Bowl’s Year-Round Fabulous Flea Market Finds
ege game. Though you’ve probably been there to see a concert or watch a live band, once a month the Rose Bowl turns into a plethora of sellers eagerly marking down prices on all of their things. If you are one of those people who think flea markets are for hippies and grandparents, you clearly haven’t seen this one.
From vintage gowns to silk scarves, you can pretty much find anything you want at this flea market. Buried under vintage t-shirts and old records can be designer bags at discount prices. With hundreds and hundreds of sellers, the Rose Bowl flea market is an all day affair. This flea market is truly the best in Los Angeles, but it only comes once a month so make sure to consistently check the schedule on their website to ensure you never miss a month!
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Kitson: Home of the Celeb Shoppers
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Love Yourself in Le Labo Perfume
If you have always wanted your signature scent and didn’t know where to turn, Le Labo Fragrances is an absolute must. The inside of the store looks more like a testing lab than a chic boutique, but the gentle details and eloquent touches give you a “Paris chic” vibe that the bustling streets of L.A. are missing.
One of the specialists in the store will walk you through your scent likes and dislikes, leaving you in charge to create your own signature scent. Though the bottles can get a bit pricey, they make great gifts that allow you to put your name and expiration date on the bottle.
If the idea of mixing lavender and vanilla all day long sounds unappealing, you can always opt for the other solution and purchase the perfumes on their website. Le Labo Fragrances on 3rd Street is one of those unforgettable places that makes you feel one of a kind, just like the perfume you bring home.
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LA’s “Original” Farmers Market
“Meet me at Third and Fairfax” is a phrase synonymous with the culinary elite and West Coast foodies. Since its conception 75 years ago, the Los Angeles Farmer’s Market is one of the most popular and highly trafficked markets of its kind. So popular, it is now considered a Los Angeles historic landmark.
Starting off with just a handful of vendors, the market has grown to mammoth proportions. It boasts 100 longstanding restaurants (even Starbucks has gotten in on the action) as well as eclectic and small farmers and grocers who sell everything from ingredients to homemade enchiladas. The Farmers Market has grown in size as well as diversity. There are many shops and specialty stores scattered throughout the ever-expanding corner.
Insider's Tip: Make a day of it with a short trolley ride to The Grove or to CBS Television City.
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Anastasia Beverly Hills
Anastasia (for whom the salon is named) is widely known in Beverly Hills as the go-to girl for the perfectly arched eyebrow. She has styled "forehead caterpillars" for everyone from Madonna to Penelope Cruz to Naomi Campbell, and that's a tough crowd to please. But perfection is what Anastashia does, which is why she has been written up in every fashion and beauty magazine out there.
This eyebrow wiz flaunts a client list that reads like a Vanity Fair party guest list! Anastasia also has a new makeup line designed with "Old Hollywood" in mind that she describes as "luxurious" and "elegantly old fashioned." In addition to her eyebrow expertise, Anastasia also branches off with other services including all kinds of facials, waxings, and makeup services.