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...