Happy New Year

On New Year's Eve, you get in that mood to think about how you can do it better, be even more, live a life fulfilled next year that teems with infinite possibilities.

It's the universal day to reflect on what has been, and go a mile a minute toward what may be.

A day where anything in the coming year, and I mean anything, is attainable.

With that, Happy, Happy, Happy New Year!

We Bought a Zoo

Last night I had a special date. With my parents.

We started out at Rudy's Tacos for, well, tacos and root beer, cream soda for me, and then dashed into the windy night to catch a 7:20 PM showing of the Cameron Crowe movie, "We Bought a Zoo."

Grams and gramps, you were right -- the movie was great! Matt Damon is spot-on as a widowed father who moves with his two kids to a country house to bring to life a dilapidated zoo. If you want a flick with some magic, inspiration, big laughs and tears, this is for you.

I'm still pondering this cool quip from Damon's character, Benjamin Mee:

"You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it."

This way of thinking is on my radar for 2012...

* The movie is based on this memoir by the real-life Benjamin Mee

Ho, Ho, Ho: Scrabble, Scrabble, Scrabble

Christmas is one of the best days to play a game of Scrabble. You're super relaxed and in high spirits, with a fabulous homemade meal just around the corner. Life is sublime and your game face is O-N!

Here's our Scrabble game from this afternoon -- I'm in first place, but we still have a few more rounds to play following dinner and pre-apple pie.

Here's hoping the rib roast and red wine hasn't softened my wordsmith edge...

Merry Christmas!

Hot Toddy

I made like a ski bunny on Sunday: I had my very first hot toddy.

Loved everything about it -- the hot tea consistency, splash of lemon, cloves.

Will repeat again. Soon.

Style Icon: Anna Karina

I love this photo of French New Wave actress Anna Karina. And her glasses are divine.

I wish more women stayed on the natural route -- something that is real is always more beautiful, less ordinary, one of a kind to me.

She gets it!

'Tis The Season...

Each Thursday, just before lunch, a Departures Dispatch e-newsletter zips into my e-mail inbox. I click on this digital arbiter of good taste, anxious to see what five "musts" the editors at Departures magazine recommend I know about for that very week.

Departures and its five things are kind of special. One of a kind. Neat!

The below Christmas tree at Claridge's hotel in London appeared in last week's e-newsletter -- and it made me smile. So jolly and fun and bright.

How can you Bah, Humbug! the holidays when this is what you see?

Seconds, Anyone?

I survived the sprawling, delicious feast my mom made for Thanksgiving Day. The home-cooked meal was pretty rad, and yes, I had seconds. And then a teensy bit.

All the usual suspects were devoured, including turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes with homemade gravy, green bean casserole and rolls (two kinds). A fruit salad with blackberries, blueberries, pineapple et. al kept it a little "healthy," and the cabernet sauvignon was aplenty.

Pumpkin pie is an all-time favorite, and ours was fantastic. No store-bought crust here, but a flaky, golden crust made from scratch.

It was a wonderful meal! Thank you, mom.

Bright Lights, Big City

It was riveting, a book I just finished called "Bright Lights, Big City."

I was two when it came out in 1984, and only recently learned about it, how it was the seminal debut novel from twentysomething writer Jay McInerney.

Though he skyrocketed to the status of bonafide literary star, I'm not sure his subsequent stories ever outdid the big hoopla of "Bright Lights." I'd like to read more of his books, but haven't decided which one I'll jump to next.

A book snapshot can be found here. In short, we follow a cool but confused young man -- he works as a fact checker at a prominent magazine and his wife recently left him while on a modeling job in Paris -- during a week in Manhattan where his life begins to unravel as illusion and reality collide.

It's a quick read, and I learned a lot about Manhattan during the hedonist '80s days. Besides, now I know to check out the classic French bistro, The Odeon. Great French onion soup there, I hear.

A New York Stroll

I know, I was a little MIA this month. A flurry of work travel...

Here I am in New York in October -- Central Park, to be exact. It was a crisp, sunny stroll through the world's most spectacular urban park.

I had just come from Mario Batali's Eataly cafe and artisanal Italian marketplace, a few metro stops away in the Flatiron District. At this moment, I'm feeling like a local with my grocery bag, iPod and subway navigation skills. I'm pretty sure Van Morrison's "Tupelo Honey" came on just about now.

It was a warm, cozy fall moment.

Unexpected Arkansas

Arkansans are crazy about their Razorbacks football.

Last week I went to the Fayetteville area -- or Northwest Arkansas, as locals like to say -- for a planning and brainstorm session for a client. Outside of accomplishing a lot workwise, our group experienced the charming and super-friendly terrain of Bentonville, where Wal-Mart is based, and Fayetteville, home to the University of Arkansas.

I was taken with Arkansas, as people are as sweet as their iced tea and towns have quaint squares that harken back to the good 'ol days.

We ate like locals on the Bentonville square, including at the new, industrial-chic Tusk & Trotter where I ordered baby back ribs.

A highlight was getting a sneak peek tour of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art that will open November 11 as one of the most seminal collections of American art. The exquisite museum campus is tucked in the woods near hiking trails, and the head curator led us through the hefty art collection while framing the key works of art, artists and movements in context with the evolution of America from colonial day to present.

Of course, there was also Razorbacks football. Our Friday ended with a surprise tailgate party where a blow-up Razorbacks mascot supervised our revelry. The game day tailgate came with Miller Lite, pulled pork sandwiches and a nearby pep rally with the cheerleaders and marching band.

The Razorbacks beat the Auburn tigers as we all "called the hogs" with a spirited "Wooooo Pig Sooieee!" Arkansas was a happy state that day.

Malibu

I went up to Malibu over the weekend, for an art cocktail party at a modern house perched above the ocean.

There were some photographs on canvas that I liked, but perhaps the most compelling thing to gawk at was the sea that swam into the horizon.

What a view!

Someday...

Feels Like Fall in Park City

I visited Park City, Utah, for the first time last week and adored the crisp, fall experience that awaited me -- leather boots weather, locally-brewed Wasatch beer and cups of chili, and glorious mountains splashed with reds, oranges and bright yellows that reminded me of Golden Delicious apples.

It was just the "Hi, fall" feeling I needed, coming from season-less L.A.

I'm working with a fantastic ski resort there called Canyons Resort, and I look forward to more adventures in this cozy pocket of mountain paradise.

Behold fall, Park City style:

Jane Goodall & Mr. H

"Jane's Journey" blew me away. It's a documentary about Dr. Jane Goodall and her quest to save the chimps in Tanzania, Africa, before going on to champion the conservation of natural habitats, cultures, people and animals around the world.

Dr. Goodall attended the screening and did a Q&A afterword. She's remarkable -- like Wonder Woman meets Mother Teresa.

Her answers were kind and measured, sprinkled with simple wisdoms pulled from the great truths of the universe. Her voice was light and hopeful as she relayed that children are our hope for a peaceful, prosperous world.

I was able to get a photo with Dr. Goodall in the lobby of the theatre after the Q&A. Up close, she was petite but mighty. She held tight to her dear stuffed monkey named Mr. H who was enjoying a banana.

Here's Dr. Goodall with her sweet Mr. H:

Hibiscus Flower

I got an e-mail from my grandpa titled "Flower." Attached was this photo along with a note: "Here is a perfect Hibiscus flower!"

It made me smile. Life's a little better when you look for -- and see -- all the beauty and goodness that surrounds you. Every day.

Thanks, gramps.

A Perfect Sunday

It was the kind of Sunday I dream about -- biking Balboa Island in Newport Beach, then margaritas and Mexican at the clifftop Las Brisas in Laguna Beach.

It was that simple. And perfect.

Fashion's Night Out

Thursday was Fashion's Night Out, the third annual after-work shopping celebration that Vogue magazine started to encourage folks around the world to support fashion during the recession.

It's skyrocketed into an A-list event, with stylish celebrities, top models and designers putting their star power to cocktail soirees and in-store events.

"Its like trick-or-treating for big girls," I said as a friend and I came across throngs of fabulously dressed women as we crossed famous Melrose Avenue to get to the Alexander McQueen shop. Many carried swag, or gift, bags from the various stores they had popped into along the way.

We spent most of the evening at the 3.1 Phillip Lim bash on trendy Robertson Boulevard, just up the street from The Ivy where stars lunch and a few steps south of The Abbey that's the most famous gay bar in L.A.

The modern boutique with Lim's cool clothes hosted a hip, young crowd and a great concert by new indie band, Cults. Their hit song, "Go Outside," sounded excellent live. I love the xylophone!

We had a great Fashion's Night Out, no swag bag required!

Janet!

When I heard Janet Jackson was playing L.A., I knew I had to see her live.

Janet and I go way back -- I grew up wearing out her songs on cassette tapes, my black boom box and the CD player, all well before today's iPod. Friends and I tried to master her funky "If" dance, and my dance team tryout routine in middle school had a cool breakdown of "That's The Way Love Goes." Her music videos? Legendary.

This week's concert at the outdoor Greek Theater lived up to the hype.

Janet gave a show-stopping performance of hits from then to now, across two electric hours. My friend Molly and I went back to the '80s with songs like "Let's Wait Awhile" and one of my favorites, "When I Think of You," and jammed out to "Escapade" and "All For You" and everything in between.

She's still got the iconic moves, the smile. She made us boogie down and tear up during poignant moments like the final song, "Together Again," which was dedicated to Michael Jackson and saw photos of the famous two dominate stage screens.

What a party it was!

One of my favorite Janet looks -- from the "Love Will Never Do" music video

Lovely Fall Shoes

Plum suede peep-toes for fall. Why yes, I think I may...

Shoes from Anthropologie

Simple Man

A song called "Simple Man" by Lynyrd Skynyrd came on as my dad and I drove a stretch of highway that hummed between patchwork fields and big, sturdy barns.

An amber hue had fallen on the countryside, and this simple song fit the scene like a pair of worn-in boots.

"Forget your lust for the rich man's gold.
All that you need is in your soul.
And you can do this if you try..."

It was a poignant soundtrack for a ride home.

Edible Chicago

Chicago is really buzzing right now.

I think people are especially talking about the Windy City's culinary scene, in large part due to the restaurant Alinea that has elevated the molecular gastronomy concept to the highest level of surprising, edible art.

I just enjoyed very memorable meals at two hot spots: First there was oysters, fish tacos and King crab legs at GT Fish and Oyster that's in a slick, modern space in the River North.

Then came a crispy chicken torta sandwich with black beans and tomatillo-avocado salsa, piping hot chips with homemade guacamole and cinammon churros with bitter chocolate at chef Rick Bayless' XOCO that celebrates Mexican street food.

Both were a real treat, very well worth the extra pounds.

For what to do in Chicago now, check out this destination story on Vogue.com -- my friend Erica and I found it incredibly on point!

Inspiration Board

I'm a fan of the Inspiration Board -- that spot where your momentos, ideas, cut-outs, photos and favorite "stuff" mix together to reflect a piece of you.

This is my work board, which has some respectable flair. Sometimes it's easy to take things for granted, and I'm grateful to work in a creative environment where people, ideas and the work go beyond black and white.

I need to get a move-on for an inspiration board at home!

Three Little Pink Bungalows

This spot looks just ... perfect.

Pictured are the beachfront, thatched-roof bungalows at Costa Careyes resort in Mexico -- rendered delightfully festive in a peppy pink hue.

Forget the roomier, more modern casitas that overlook the bay. These snug bungalows are the real deal.

Oh, Venice

L.A.'s Venice neighborhood is bohemian, a bit Euro, a lot funky, and all the way eclectic. It's the city's most intriguing burrough, a beachside stomping ground where anything goes.

I worked for three-ish years on the main drag, Abbot Kinney Boulevard -- back then, the rare vinyl collection at Equator Books was a gem, as was the lively bar scene at local favorite Hal's and wallet-friendly happy hours with tapas dishes at Primitivo Wine Bistro. The best baguette sandwiches and lattes were tucked away at the sweet French Market Cafe that I love.

While Venice has become more hipster and commercial these days, it's still turning out original and independent spots to eat, drink and enjoy.

Over the weekend I hung out at a ridiculously cool Prohibition-era bar called the Del Monte Speakeasy that is hidden underground, beneath the Townhouse bar that's a block from the ocean.

The speakeasy is the real deal from the '20s, and I hear the vaudeville-style drapes and the striped canopy above the dance floor are originals. Flickering candlight enhances the mysterious ambiance, and a wooden bar with vintage stools faces a tapestried wall of handsome leather booths.

The DJ played a fun mix of groove and dance songs that brought our group somewhwat into the present. A wonderful time was had by all.

Nostalgia, or Not?

Iconic fashion desinger Karl Lagerfeld said in a magazine he has no place for nostalgia, that he considers only the current moment. What's done is done, it seems.

What a novel idea, I thought. And how grey! When done in moderation, thinking to your best life moments is healthy, and absolutely necessary.

I can't imagine hiding away my stack of bright memories, or never using life's high times to pep me up or dish out some perspective today.

You have to live for now, but isn't it all more fun and satisfying when the golden nuggets get to shine on?

Nostalgia, or not?

Macarons

Voila, macarons!

They've got to be the most delightful, pretty little things of all time. I smile whenever I see, or taste, them.

I picked up this rainbow-hued box in Bordeaux last spring. There's a macaron shop a tad closer, here in Beverly Hills, called 'lette macarons -- it's pretty good, and a sleeve of six makes a fabulous gift.

For the ultimate inspiration and indulgence, though, it's Laduree all the way.

When Nothing Beats a Corona

When you live in Southern California, a skip away from the border, sometimes nothing beats a Corona -- light for me, with a spritz of lime.

I recently had my Corona moment at Cafe Habana in Malibu, a lively Cuban-meets-Mexican restaurant that opened last year as the beachside outpost of the New York original.

It's fun to saddle up to this low-lit bar that seems suited for a party town on Mexico's Baja Peninsula (Cabo, that's you). It has an energetic, low-key vibe where shorts and flips flops on Saturday night mean you'll fit right in. You may see a celebrity, but this isn't a place to make much ado.

We kept it simple with tortilla chips, salsa & fresh, delicious guacamole. Throw in my Corona Light, and it was a perfect summer evening.

Simple things really are the best.

A Simple Black Headband

Right now I very much want a simple black headband, a thick cotton one, that I can wear Brigitte Bardot-style.

It keeps hair from your face on breezy summer days, and more importantly, it's incredibly chic.

Brigitte is best known for the iconic black headband she wore in the French new wave film, Contempt, which played out in Rome and Capri and was directed by Jean-Luc Godard. Here's that famous look.

But the photo below is one of the most alluring I've ever seen of her. Reason #1 why I'd like a simple black headband, pronto.

Rodney Hunter has the Beat

It was late May when I first heard this song -- I was listening to KCRW, a remarkable station in L.A. that plays independent music, and had to turn up the radio dial.

The energetic beat, powerful and somewhat haunting vocal, the high-pitched instruments that soar above the baseline, the whole thing made me want to dance.

This song energizes me during the weekend, while running and even at work. It's called "Got 2 Give" by Rodney Hunter with Ola Egbowon on vocals.

Everyone Comes to Elaine's

When it happen in two's or three's, I pay attention. I was reading the new issue of Town & Country when I settled into a story about the iconic The American Hotel in Sag Harbor. The writer of the piece, the novelist and wine columnist Jay McInerney, painted a cool scene of this Victorian-era hotel on Long Island as a low-key hangout for New York's literary set.

The hotel's bar -- it has a moose head that appears to be puffing a cig -- is referenced as the seaside outpost, or version, of the legendary writer's bar in New York City called Elaine's. My curiousity was piqued.

That night, I happened to watch a classic Woody Allen comedy for the first time: Manhattan.

Woody plays a frustrated comedy writer named Isaac who is dating a 17-year old (life follows fiction here). This very Elaine's makes a memorable cameo, as the smokey bar where Isaac first hangs with his best friend and kid girlfriend -- discussing life, writing and all those meaningful things that drew famous novelists, journalists and actors to Elaine's night after night.

Elaine's closed this May, so I didn't get a chance to join that crowd. It sounds like my kind of place...

Allora, Limoncello!

The night of my birthday, a few days ago, I finished a wonderful meal with a tiny glass of Limoncello -- it followed the kir royales and zucchini fries, the tagliatelle pasta with meat ragu and artichoke-mozzarella duo and those diver scallops, arriving a beat after the dark chocolate fudge cake and cappuccino.

It was a rambling, awesome meal. And the lemon liqueur that is Limoncello was a delightful way to end it.

Allora, Limoncello!

The Mad Ones

I'm reading "On The Road," that classic Beat Generation novel by Jack Kerouac. I tried it some years ago, but got only about 100 pages in. I wasn't quite feeling it, even though I really, really wanted to like it.

It's good to keep an open mind, so I'm giving it another go. Here's a fabulous outtake:

"...the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles..."

This time around, there's even an iPad app for the book that launched in June as one of Apple's most popular book apps -- maybe I should invest in a little tech upgrade to go along with my dog-eared pages?

Hall & Oates at The Hollywood Bowl

My Fourth of July rocked -- I boogied to Hall & Oates at the Hollywood Bowl, then enjoyed the live orchestra medley and fireworks show.

Hall & Oates impressed me with how good, how spirited they sounded live. They played most of the real big hits, some backed by the orchestra -- starting with Maneater and including Out of Sight, She's Gone, Rich Girl, I Can't Go For That, and on and on. The live versions often started slow and soulful only to speed up to big, funky beats and the famous choruses. During some parts, the music sounded like Earth, Wind and Fire.

The motley crowd at this gorgeous, open air theater tucked in the Hollywood Hills was into it. I was singing (loudly) and dancing, too. When Hall & Oates returned to the stage and played Private Eyes for the encore, there was some mad hand clapping at all the right spots.

Thank goodness summer's just getting started.

On Days Like These: Malibu

Malibu is breathtaking anytime of year. But this cliffside beach town-meets-horse country just north of Santa Monica feels most alive in summer. Zuma beach, cool shops and sushi at Malibu Country Mart, Paradise Cove of Beach Blanket Bingo fame, and mojitos at Moonshadows' zen oceanfront sundeck -- you just want to go and hang out when skies are bright and hemlines a tad shorter.

Today I experienced a less-obvious side of Malibu in summer: A leisure drive on a narrow, country road that twisted up, up, up, turning through lush green ridges and dusty rock formations and past horse ranches with dramatic gates that seemed out of the old Wild West.

The view from the top was majestic. Hillsides loaded with tree tops dominated the foreground, beyond which the sky bled into a hazy cloud layer that hovered just above the sea. Though beachside it was a little cold, the sun was just right as we zig-zagged through this spectacular stretch of nature. "On Days Like These" started to play; the perfect song for a summer day in Malibu.

The Tour de France

The world's biggest bike race, the Tour de France, starts today -- it's fun to watch in July and somewhat marks the arrival of the heart of summer. Besides, if you're biking for three weeks anywhere in the world, I can't think of a more dreamlike spot than France. The whole country is pretty much perfect.

My grandfather tunes in every year, just loves watching the cyclists blaze up, down, all around the country. I remember being a student in Paris and going with friends to the Champs Elysees to see the final leg of that year's Tour. It was so festive, so fun. We watched Lance Armstrong win his fifth or sixth Tour. The whole thing felt like a national holiday.

Here's a map of this year's race. I look forward to staying tuned!

Bar Marmont

I can't believe I had lived in L.A. for six-ish years before I made it to Bar Marmont on Wednesday. But it was worth the wait: What a cool place, right there on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, but seemingly tucked worlds away.

I dug the vibe, the mojitos, the cozy banquettes and circa-1991 music. I went for a Genlux magazine issue launch party, and it was just fun. Next time I've gotta try those steak fries...

Summer Inspiration

June gloom is going away and it's starting to feel like summer here in L.A. I was listening to Astrud Gilberto earlier today, and it put me in a certain kind of mood. Super relaxed, delighted.

I'm daydreaming of a summer escape that looks something like this. Lush, natural, ripe with leisurely possibilities. I'm sort of obsessed with Verana...