"I Love L.A."

As we exited the car, we walked up a row of stairs leading to lofts belonging to artists, architects, and R-23. My boyfriend had made reservations for us so we just moved right into the restaurant, past the outdoor crowds of people waiting for seats and talking, smoking, and drinking sake. The restaurant is open concept, with brick walls and hardwood floors. The walls have large Gauguin-inspired paintings and the tables come with Frank Gehry corrugated-cardboard chairs. R-23 is dimly lit and therefore very romantic.

The food is good and the Japanese cuisine artfully presented. Dungeness crabs are the favorite dish of a friend, however, I would recommend the shimeji mushrooms, yum! Although the sushi isn't at all bad, the Japanese cuisine is definitely more impressive.

The restaurant has a varied group of customers ranging from hip artists to architects and Japanese business men. I love that you can overhear people at the next table talking about when they'll be going to Japan next.

This may all seem very impressive and you might think you have to dress up in some elegant designer outfit--you don’t. If you show up in something casual and hip you’ll be fine.

I would recommend this restaurant highly for its ambiance but not so much for its sushi. Although I do have to say that, if you're a romantic like me, you'll have to visit here.

The one thing that you’ll find about Sushi Nozawa is that you absolutely do not want to order a California Roll or any such gentrified concoction. Nozawa is sometimes called the Sushi Nazi and with good reason. He will throw you out if you order any Americanized sushi. Nozawa is that serious about his sushi. Don’t be too alarmed though, there is a menu and you can order the chef’s special. That way you won’t feel out of the loop if you aren’t already familiar with "Nozawa Correct" choices.

There is usually about a 10 to 30 min. wait at the door. The place is fairly small. However, you may find that your company during the wait is really rather good. Being in Studio City, who knows. You may run into a celebrity or two. I have spotted a few. Overall, even though this is not an elegant place to dine, it certainly is a really memorable one. Happy Sushi! Konpai!

The 101 Coffee Shop doesn't attempt to make a caricature of an old Hollywood coffee shop it almost feels as though The 101 Coffee Shop has always been there. Tastefully renovated by restaurateur and coffee-shop aficionado Warner Ebbink who was running some of the Los Angeles’s hippest, hottest restaurants Swingers, Jones, Good Luck Bar, Bar Marmont. Ebbink apparently was a fan of the architectural firm that created the look for the famed restaurant Ships. Ships was a landmark in Los Angeles that was sadly torn down in the early nineties to build a gas station. Fortunately, The 101 Coffee Shop has recreated an element of that mid century era.

The location, location, location of the coffee shop is also such a great piece of history. Franklyn Avenue is the divide between those who have made it and those who are struggling in Hollywood. Beachwood Canyon, like most other canyons in Los Angeles, is known for being a haven for screen writers and actors. Below Franklyn are the seedy parts of Hollywood that the artists grapple with on a day-to-day basis before finally breaking it into the biz.

The visitors to the restaurant reflect both sides of the spectrum which makes for a colorful experience for any on looking vacationer. Power lunches and late partied out breakfasts are both staples at this non-greasy greasy spoon.

The chef that Ebbink chose is Cajun so you will find a lot of southern cookin’ on the menu. This is great for Southern California because you wouldn't expect to find this in any old diner. The breakfast and lunches are reasonably priced and I have never been disappointed. The early bird special is a good staple and cheap, under $5.

The deserts are beautiful and large. Just the way they should be. A’ la mode please. You'll love the 101 Coffee Shop. I know I did. I'll be going back and I am sure if you venture out that way you will too. Happy eats!

The Grove is located at Fairfax and Third next to one of my favorite Hollywood landmarks, the Farmers’ Market. The great thing about the Farmers’ Market was that it was mostly frequented by old retired people who would play bridge in the sun and grab a drink at the outdoor bar. Now that the Grove has taken over, it is far too busy for the true FM crowd. I actually saw an SUV almost hit an old lady attempting to cross the street from Kmart over to the Farmers’ Market. The Farmers’ Market used to have that old ranch feeling that Hollywood was famous for back in the day. My father used to take my brother and sister and me around L.A. and tell us stories about all the different "important places," and the Farmers’ Market had that appeal. It had the feeling of a drive-in movie theater or a country fair, which is quite rare for the middle of West Hollywood. Now that it’s next to the Grove, it has lost a lot of that feeling.

I can’t stand the Grove; it has ruined everything. I have much more respect for the Beverly Center. The Beverly Center has authentic history. It hasn’t borrowed from a timeless icon shamelessly. The Beverly Center revels in its real, unashamed materialism. The Grove offends its patrons by pretending to provide you with an experience. The Grove is a big fat liar. The Grove is sad. The Grove is like a TV version of a great poem. Please don’t go there, but if you have to, please spend your money elsewhere.