Beverly Hills "Spanish Steps"

Have you been to Beverly Hills? I've been there several times and it is truly luxury personified! One of my favorite spots is the "Spanish Step." The Spanish Steps ascend from Wilshire Boulevard to Via Rodeo, which was the first new street built in Beverly Hills in 76 years, and Two Rodeo, arguably the most exclusive “mini-mall” on earth. This cobblestone pedestrian street, completed in 1990, is lined with some of the world's most exclusive shops and eateries, including Tiffany, Badgley Mischka, Versace, Porsche Design, and more. Happy shopping!

Alice

Beverly Hills "Miss Easter Bunny" Contest

My mother thought organized religion was one of the problems with the world; this extended to the Girl Scouts and the PTA (a somewhat convenient belief for a mother of four, since you can't ask someone to go against their beliefs). She also believed that children shouldn't be allowed to act.
I have never quite understood how I talked her into letting me enter the Beverly Hills Miss Easter Bunny pageant when I was 8 -- one of the prizes was a screen-test -- but I did.
I don't know what I was thinking. I think I thought it would be fun to ride down Beverly Drive in an old white Cadillac with the top down sitting next to the Mayor of Beverly Hills and wave at the throngs of people I imagined would be lining the streets. I think I thought I was going to win.
Little did I know, the fix was in. My dress was perfect. Did I sing? No, I think I recited an Emily Dickinson poem. I don't remember. I remember feeling TALL. And somewhat awkward. Pretty. But somewhat awkward.
And Janie Roberts won. Janie Roberts (who may in fact have been a more appropriate Miss Easter Bunny since she was 3'1" to my probably 4'7", even at the age of 8). Janie Roberts' mother owned Taffy's Dress Shop. And Taffy's was the sponsor of the Beverly Hills Miss Easter Bunny Pageant.
And my mother was indignant.
"You don't honestly believe that the Miss Easter Bunny Pageant was rigged, do you?" my father asked her.
Yes, of course, that's exactly what she believed and she turned her nose up certain she was right about it and that organized religion was the problem with everything and organizations (and contests) were better not to be entered.

Courtesy: Amy Ephron, Huffington post

Beverly Hills Unusual Home

We think of Beverly Hills as a mecca for luxury of the most lavish kind. But look at this house! I'm not sure where it is in Beverly Hills or how it came to be built but I think it's fascinating and thought you might enjoy seeing it too!

If you know anything about it, please let me know!

Spend Valentine's with your Sweetie in Beverly Hills

Take advantage of Alice's Sweet Valentine's Offer!

Click Here. Time limited!

Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills, Calif.

It doesn't get more romantic than cozying up in one of the shell-pink bungalows hidden amid 12 acres of tropical foliage at this landmark. Perhaps Bungalow #5, where Marilyn Monroe holed up with Yves Montand while filming Let's Make Love (and, for the record, while still married to Arthur Miller) and where Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton stayed (and where they had a standing order for two bottles of vodka for breakfast and two more for lunch). Tinseltown couples such as Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Brad and Angelina, and Demi and Ashton have trysted in the "Pink Palace."
From the La Prairie Spa, couples see the iconic swimming pool into which Katharine Hepburn once dove, fully clothed. Over cocktails in the legendary Polo Lounge, they can commune with ghosts from Hollywood's Golden Era.
Score a corner table in the trendy new Bar Nineteen 12 or indulge in a romantic dinner for two (complete with white-glove service) in the privacy of your own room.
Rates begin at $450 a night. 9641 Sunset Boulevard, Beverly Hills, Calif. 90210. (310) 276-2251 or www. beverlyhillshotel.com.

Planning a visit to Beverly Hills?

Planning a visit to Beverly Hills to check out the stars, the mansions or the luxurious way of life? Then may I suggest a few nights at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Here's a little infornation I thought you might enjoy:

The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows
9641 Sunset Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California 90210, USA Tel: +1 310 276 2251, Fax: +1 310 887 2887

The Beverly Hills Hotel is a luxury, five-star hotel, located on Sunset Boulevard in the center of Beverly Hills and surrounded by 12 acres of lush, tropical gardens, exotic flowers, and private walkways. Providing privacy and tranquility in a truly residential setting, The Beverly Hills Hotel is within easy access to the business and entertainment centers of Los Angeles, Century City, Rodeo Drive, and many of the Hollywood studios. The hotel is just a 35-minute drive from Los Angeles International Airport.
Referred to locally as "The Pink Palace" The Beverly Hills Hotel is a place to see and be seen, to catch glimpses of famous faces, or to revel in splendid luxury. What makes The Beverly Hills Hotel stand out is its superlative combination of service, a location that offers guests privacy, yet in the heart of a city, and a refreshed facility that, while faithful to the hotel's architectural and interior design traditions, is more dramatically beautiful than ever.

Beverly Hills New Year's at the Avalon

Are you thinking now of going to the Avalon tomorrow night for their fabulous New Years Eve package? A couple days I gave you the menu for the first dinner seating. The second one is 8:30-9:00, costs $99 and has the following menu:

New Years Eve Menu – 2007
First Course
~Amuse Bouche~
Baked German butter potato, crème fraiche, domestic caviar
Second Course:
~choice of~
Butternut Squash soup, butter poached lobster, shaved black truffles
~or~
Celery root-roasted apple agnolotti, sage brown butter
~or~
Oysters two ways
Third Course:
~choice of~
Organic greens, frisee, Belgian endive, shaved parmesan, citrus vinaigrette
~or~
Beet Carpaccio, truffled capers, goat ricotta, champagne grapes, honey-rosemary
vinaigrette
Fourth Course:
~choice of~
Duo of Beef : Petite Filet Mignon, crushed fingerling potatoes, sauce bordelaise
Slow~ Braised Short Rib, truffled brussels sprouts
~or~
Roasted Maine Lobster Tail with Blue Crab gratin, local winter vegetables
~or~
House~made Rainbow Swiss Chard Gnocchi, wild mushroom ragout, ricotta cheese,
roasted vegetable nage
Fifth Course:
~choice of~
Strawberry gateau, genoise, fresh mint
~or~
Chocolate champagne cake, hazelnut dacquaise, raspberries

I would love to go there but we've already made other plans. Think about it though if you live in the area.

New Year's Eve in Beverly Hills

Do you have plans for New Year's Eve in Beverly Hills? If so, let me recommend the fantastic restaurant to you. It's in the Avalon Hotel and is called "blue on blue." Of course you'll need reservations and the first seating is from 5:30-6:00. The price is $85 per person, but look at what you get:

New Years Eve Menu – 2007
First Course:
~choice of~
Butternut Squash soup, butter poached lobster, shaved black truffles
~or~
Celery root-roasted apple agnolotti, sage brown butter
~or~
Oysters two ways
Second Course:
~choice of~
Organic greens, frisee, Belgian endive, shaved parmesan, citrus vinaigrette
~or~
Beet Carpaccio, truffled capers, goat ricotta, champagne grapes, honey-rosemary
vinaigrette
Third Course:
~choice of~
Duo of Beef : Petite Filet Mignon, crushed fingerling potatoes, sauce bordelaise
Slow~ Braised Short Rib, truffled brussels sprouts
~or~
Roasted Maine Lobster Tail with Blue Crab gratin, local winter vegetables
~or~
House~made Rainbow Swiss Chard Gnocchi, wild mushroom ragout, ricotta cheese,
roasted vegetable nage
Fourth Course:
~choice of~
Strawberry gateau, genoise, fresh mint
~or~
Chocolate champagne cake, hazelnut dacquaise, raspberries

Stay tuned for tomorrow I will present to you the second seating information. I'm going to seriously consider this!! :-)