Now that Spring break is over and the kids are back to school (almost), treat yourself to a break by coming over to another special sample sale event with +Beryll in Santa Monica this Wednesday, April 10! Sip a little bubbly, indulge on some snacks and stock up on some stylish jeans and more. We would love to see you there.  Please share and forward the information to all of your friends too! RSVP to showroom@beryll.com.

When: April 10, 10am-6pm

Where: 908 Colorado Ave, Santa Monica, 90401

Just in time for the holidays, this Wednesday, November 28 from 10am – 6pm, we will be having a holiday sale with +Beryll! You can receive up to 80% off apparel and accessories! We’d love to see you there, and if you can attend, please RSVP to showroom@beryll.com. Happy Shopping!

Just opened this year, Tar & Roses brings an element, we feel, the West Side of LA had been missing – a spot where you can enjoy the tastiest and unique foods in great company. Santa Monica-native Andrew Kirschner is the new Chef and Owner of the new small-plates spot conveniently located on 6^th & Santa Monica. We recently just visited the restaurant ourselves and were blown away. This unconventional restaurant is a hit for their unexpected combinations of foods and unique flavors. Start with their unique take of popcorn at the bar. This organic popcorn is mixed with a smoky and spicy mix of bacon, brown sugar and  chili. The LA Times described it as “a bowl of Cracker Jack with chewy cubes of bacon instead of peanuts.” And if you are still feeling like stepping outside the box for dinner, we highly recommend ordering the Wood Roasted English Peas with a side Charred Octopus. Or if you go the more conventional route, try the Grilled Asparagus and a Hanger Steak. Make sure to take a peek at the dessert menu too, you won’t want to pass up the Affogato!

No matter what item you choose off the menu you will not be disappointed. Considering the quality and the amount of food we ate, we felt the prices were quite modest. And we especially got a kick at the end of our night, when we received our bill. We were handed a manila envelope with “The Damage” stamped on the front – talk about a fun finale to an amazing night of food. Tar & Roses is a must for the next time you want a trendy yet comfortable night on the town, but don’t just take it from us, go experience it for yourself!

With the holidays upon us, it’s getting kind of late to do holiday shopping online. An inventory problem or Fedex snafu might spell disaster.  Instead, get out this weekend and support your local boutiques! If you can, find a walkable shopping neighborhood near you. That way you can burn off the cupcakes you ate at the company holiday party and avoid the parking nightmare at the mall. Here’s a shopping guide for one of our favorite areas of LA – Silverlake, Echo Park, and Highland Park:

CLOVER has a really friendly staff and a fun selection of gifts and coffee table books for all ages, along with women’s clothing and denim.

LAKE is a comfortable, approachable boutique with accessories, gifts, apothecary products and women’s clothing, generally made by small manufacturers. It’s right next to the Silver Lake Reservoir and perfect for a stroll.

After you’re finished at LAKE, head next door to LAMILL Coffee Boutique. The owners are obsessed with coffee, and serve only on the finest beans and the latest brewing techniques. The iced coffee is the best in the city. You can also enjoy a small but excellent menu of snacks and lunch items from chef Michael Cimarusti in a hip, modern dining area.

For the man in your life, swing by GLORY, a great store with a wide selection of jeans, motorcycle gear, vintage tees, and boots.  Some really cool women’s apparel, too.

If that’s too far, there are tons of other walking friendly shopping spots in LA, including Montana Ave. in Santa Monica, Larchmont Village, Abbot Kinney in Venice, 3^rd Street in West Hollywood, and Old Town Pasadena. What’s your favorite area?

One of the most inspiring charities we’ve encountered in LA is a Santa Monica based non-profit called Upward Bound House. While many non-profits tackle the issue of homelessness, it’s a deliberate effort to help homeless families that makes UBH special.  Most people think of homelessness as a problem that affects individual adults, but in fact there are many homeless families in the United States, including over 6,000 homeless children in Los Angeles County alone. The issue is significant enough that Sesame Street even touched on the problems affecting impoverished families by introducing a new “food insecure” character named Lily on an episode over the weekend.

 With transitional housing facilities in Santa Monica and Culver City, UBH dedicates its resources to help homeless families find affordable housing on the West Side of LA. As UBH Director David Snow told us, “We’re fantastically successful because of the 3 P’s – program, population and partnerships”. In addition to providing housing, UBH offers a number of community programs to tackle root causes of homelessness, for example a money management class, which teaches clients personal finance and savings to help them break the cycle of homelessness in the long term.

 While many people are keeping their wallets closed in the currect economic climate, there are many ways to get involved. Upward Bound House offers a number of volunteer opportunities, in addition to accepting the usual donations. We think they are worth the effort.

Fashion’s Night Out is rapidly approaching, and this year you’re invited to join us at hip’tique, our favorite beachfront shop in Santa Monica, on September 8^th from 6PM to 11PM. The event is hosted by celeb stylist Toni Ferrara, and we’ll be on hand doing a HABITUAL denim trunk show, with 20% off all styles. hip’tique has also arranged refreshments from Stella Rossa Pizza Bar and M Street Kitchen, music by DJ Miss Bliss of the Viper Room, and giveaways all night long.

hip’tique – 2727 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405 – 310.399.6106

You can also visit the Fashion’s Night Out website to find other LA Fashion events and plan an itinerary for your own Fashion’s Night Out.

Fisker Automotive, the passion project of former BMW head Henrik Fisker, is soon opening its first LA dealership in Santa Monica.

Fisker is an American premium hybrid electric vehicle manufacturer based in Anaheim, CA. The company’s first release is the 2011 Fisker Karma, a luxury 4-seater that looks much closer to an Aston Martin than a Nissan Leaf.  The beautiful lines speak for themselves, Fisker has definitely solved the problem of the ugly hybrid, and with zero emissions, it actually pollutes less than a prius. The car burns no fuel for the first 50 miles after a charge, and then operates as a normal hybrid until it maxes out at 300 miles. On the performance side, the car does 0-60 in 5.9 seconds and achieves a top speed of 143 mph (95 if you want to stay electric-only). The company has been offering test drives to car editors, and reviews have been positive, and the base price is surprisingly competitive given its sex appeal and eco status – the base price is about $95,000.  It seems like a crazy bet to start a car company when so many auto manufacturers are struggling to stay afloat, but they already have over 3,000 pre-orders.

While many of the vehicles will be manufactured in Finland, the design and engineering are done right here in the States, and the company recently purchased an assembly plant in Wilmington, DE. We’re especially excited that they are launching a convertible version of the Karma next year called the “Sunset.”  Can’t wait to see it on the road.

Don’t forget, Mother’s Day is on Sunday! If you’re like we are, there is a good chance you haven’t made the brunch reservation yet. Before you do, here are a few recommendations (to LA readers) for a nice meal to celebrate everything Mom does for you.

Tavern – Brentwood – We were eating here way before the wait staff had to do background checks for the President’s recent fundraiser. This is the third restaurant from respected LA chef Suzanne Goin of Lucques and AOC fame. If you aren’t the brunching type, order to go from The Larder, a coffee and pastry shop located up front.

Fig – Santa Monica – Inside of the Hotel Miramar in Santa Monica, Fig uses fresh, local ingredients, and overlooks the lovely pool. The menu has something for every person in the party, with classics like Eggs Benedict and a Chopped Salad, along with originals like Kegs and Eggs (any brunch item with an endless pint) and the Bacon Waffle a la Mode with Trockenbeerenauslese Syrup.

One Pico – Santa Monica – Yes, another hotel restaurant, this one down the street at Shutters on the Beach. You really can’t beat the view here, which overlooks the boardwalk and the Pacific. The food is just as good as the people watching. A perfect place for the East Coast Mommy; the luxe cape architecture and décor feels more Rhode Island than Rodeo.

Fraiche – Culver City –  Fraiche is a bit more casual than the other options, so it’s a good choice for the Mom who isn’t fussy. After brunch you can hop across the street to Pacific Theaters and catch a screening of Water for Elephants. Or Thor.

Tasting Kitchen – Venice – For the hip mom, The Tasting Kitchen is on Abbott Kinney and has seen rave reviews from Jonathan Gold at LA Weekly, Alan Richman at GQ, LA Times and Gourmet.com. Now that typewriters are officially dead, we are particularly fond of the menu. And don’t miss the morning cocktails.