April 5, 2011

April MBF Favorite Picks

Los Angeles is a city famed for it's Hollywood stars and year round warm weather. As the west coast's favorite city for entertainment, food, and fashion, LA is an exciting city with a lot to offer. So this past weekend, Stacy, one of our staff members, took a short trip to escape New York's chilling temperatures and with the help of locals, compiled her list of things to do and places to see in the other side of the states.

Kicking off the month of April, we celebrate this month's picks with the best of Los Angeles.
If you ever make a trip out there, or are a LA native, we'd also love to hear your favorite spots!

photo via: LA Weekly

1. Ray's Restaurant and Stark Bar
LACMA's Ray's Restaurant and Stark Bar is barely a month old, but the place already has a huge following of both Hollywood's It crowd and local Angelinos. The eatery is named after Ray Stark, the late filmmaker and producer of iconic films such as Steel Magnolias and Funny Girl. Although the museum is really where all the art is, with an interior designed by the well-known architect Renzo Piano and a drink menu compiled by the world-famous "barsmith" Michel Dozois, the restaurant is equally as attractive as the museum's artworks themselves. Executive Chef Kris Morningstar, who's background includes top LA eateries such as District, Mercantile, AOC, Patina, and Blue Velvet, the Mediterranean farm-to-table menu is based on seasonal, local ingredients and the restaurant's wood burning oven and grill. This is what we call a perfect marriage of fine cuisine and fine art.

photo via: RGC Shows

2. Sunday Flea Markets
Traditionally, Sunday is the day of rest, but for those in LA, it's better known as the day of flea markets. The Melrose Trading Post, located in the parking lot of Fairfax High School, takes place every Sunday -- rain or shine. With over two hundred vendors and live music and street food, it is a great place to stroll around after a Sunday brunch. However, if this isn't enough for you, there are also bigger monthly flea market events such as the Rose Bowl Flea, which boasts over 2,500 vendors, and takes place on the second Sunday of every month or the Pasadena City College Flea Market, with over 500 vendors, taking place on the first Sunday of every month. Whether you are looking for old records, vintage dresses, or antique furniture, you will be sure to find something unique at a great price.

photo via: Coachella

3. Coachella
The annual three-day music extravaganza is on every music lovers' calendar months before the actual event. Fans from all over the nation gather in Indio, California to celebrate, have fun, and listen to some great live music. With camping grounds located adjacent to the concert area, this long weekend event starts from early morning and doesn't end till late at night. This year's lineup includes Kings of Leon, Kanye West, Arcade Fire, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and Ratatat, just to name a few. And if you're looking to hitch a ride, H&M is offering the Conscious Bus Service to forty lucky fans.

photo via: Travel Channel

4. LA Food Trucks
Los Angeles birthed one of the most popular trends today in food culture -- gourmet food trucks. Serving every type of food, from Mexican, Korean, Greek, Spanish, to Indian, the cuisine is as diverse as the city itself. This new type of mobile cuisine offers creative and high quality food in a convenient and affordable setting. Komodo Food Truck, Nom Nom Truck, The Grilled Cheese Truck, and the Kogi Korean BBQ Taco Truck are amongst the more popular. Located near large office buildings or busy streets, these trucks often have long lines with hungry fans. But don't be fooled, the line moves quickly and you, and your stomach, won't regret it. Most food trucks can be followed on Twitter. Click here to find your favorite!

photo via: Space 15 Twenty

5. Space 15 Twenty
On the corner of Cahuenga Boulevard lies a mini-mall that can easily be overlooked. However, this hidden shopping center includes a court yard, book store, several boutiques, and one of LA's best burger joints, Umami Burger. Their current pop-up store is TOMS Give Shop & Gallery. Debuting their spring collection and hosting various community-focused events with art and live music, the shop is definitely one-of-a-kind.

photo via: Forage

6. Forage
Simple food, local ingredients, communal dining is the general concept behind one of Silverlake's newest restaurant addition, Forage. As all ingredients are delivered fresh from small local farms, the menus are constantly being updated as they are dependent on what's available for the season. The "P Belly Sandwich," however, is one of their year-round staples and a crowd favorite.

photo via: THVM

7. THVM 
Denim label, THVM recently opened their new retail space in downtown Los Angeles. Besides their own line, the boutique also carries avant-garde labels such as Raquel Allegra, Moonspoon Saloon, and Annie Costello Brown, just to name a few. The label recently collaborated with artist Krissy Morrison to produce limited edition organic hand dyed jeans treated with unusual materials like rain water, onion skin, kamala flower seeds, and indigo.

                                    

8. MOCA presents Rodarte: States of Matter
Los Angeles' museum of contemporary art MOCA's current exhibition presents the fashion and costume designs of Pasadena-based designer sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte. The collection features selected pieces from their past runway collections as well as original costumes from the feature film Black Swan.

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