What's going on in Los Angeles

There are still people who haven't heard of xiaolongbao, the Shanghai specialty occasionally called XLB, or, most commonly, soup dumplings. When you explain the dish to those who aren't familiar, they'll have one of two responses: either "... ther...

There seem to be two scents associated with discount theaters — Lysol and vomit. The Academy Theater on Colorado Boulevard has neither, although years ago, in its Academy 6 incarnation, its lobby did betray disinfectant accents. The Academy has al...

There's a high tech (in beer terms, at least) system that keeps each beer at its ideal temperature (ales at 38 degrees, imperial stouts at 48 degrees), a digital camera so you can monitor what beers are available on tap at any given iPhone moment,...

If you have even a passing interest in Peking duck, you would do well to become acquainted with the aptly named Duck House, L.A.'s premier location for one of China's most famous culinary contributions. The restaurant's version of the dish arrives...

Situated in the 1928 Art Deco Oviatt Building, Maxwell DeMille's Cicada Club keeps the glamour of the '20s through '40s alive with vintage orchestras and Old Hollywood entertainment and dining. Grab the prix-fixe menu for $49 a person on Sunday ni...

It calls itself a steakhouse/bar/saloon/live venue, but that's probably just to keep Long Beach's best-kept secret—the Prospector's twice-a-week karaoke nights. Every Wednesday and Friday, regulars make the pilgrimage to this broken-in cowboy boot...

Most hat stores carry dozens of different styles and brands. Kangol Venice features dozens of different styles and one brand — one dozen dozen styles, in fact, of Kangol in all of its many-splendored variations: berets and Mau caps, trilbys and pu...

Want to feel like the King of Hollywood? More specifically, want to feel like the Japanese King of Hollywood? Technically that would make you emperor. Or do you just want to chill out in one of L.A.'s most opulent and fortuitously situated restaur...

With help from Sex and the City, this is the bakery that kicked off the gourmet cupcake craze. But we still like it. Magnolia specializes in three flavors, vanilla, chocolate and red velvet (with either chocolate or white frosting in assorted colo...

If the Marquis de Sade and Queen Elizabeth joined forces to design a sex shop, it would be Coco de Mer. This upscale little jewel box is owned by Sam and Justine Roddick — the daughters of the English woman who created The Body Shop. It's a luxuri...

"It ain't your 50 cent cup of coffee" was how a delighted but slightly overwhelmed Huell Howser described his experience at LAMILL on an episode of California's Gold. Indeed, LAMILL goes out of its way to upscale the café environment, billing itse...

Don't be intimidated by the uber-chicness of avant-garde fashionista favorite Opening Ceremony. The sales associates, while impossibly hip, are friendly and will mostly leave you alone to browse if that's what you desire. The store — actually seve...