Results tagged “shopping”

The upcoming holidays are about giving, and for many of us that means both giving gifts to our loved ones and to those in need. One way to help out in both areas comes via Chicago-based retailer CB2, who opened up a branch of their home decor store in a segment of the onetime Virgin Megastore space at 8000 Sunset this April.

Two interesting sales going on today: Flutter in Pasadena hosts a Minnie Rose, Christopher Fischer, Eze Sur Mer and Tag Jeans Trunk Show today from 11 am-5 pm. And various showrooms at the California Market Center Downtown are opening their doors to the public today for pre-holiday sample sale shopping.

The start of 2009 brought with it sad news for friends and fans of Book Soup, the much-cherished bookstore located on the vibrant Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, when its longtime owner Glenn Goldman passed away just a day after putting the shop on the market.

Pet hotels, pet groomers, pet spas, and pet boutiques cater to the needs of dogs and cats--or rather their owners' needs--for the finer things in life. The OC Register profiles Carrie Hyde, the owner of The Spaw, which is a a dog daycare and grooming business in Tustin, as she preps to open up her latest pet-venture, which is described as a "Whole Foods for dogs and cats."

                     

Monsters from "Where the Wild Things Are" are popping up everywhere. Cool Hunting compiled an impressive list of tie-ins, merchandise, and projects associated with the premiere of this Spike Jonze directed film. Images inspired by the movie are found in costumes, apparel, Kubrick toys, limited edition skateboards, and a whimsical pop-up shop at Space 15 Twenty in Hollywood. We headed over to the pop-up shop to see the installation, Urban Outfitters accessories, clothing, and other monster merch. Max's room is the ultimate kids' fort covered in a tapestry of blankets. The wild things world is created out of a twig cave forest and a hollowed out tree trunk filled with pillows. Christian Joy's created exclusive costumes will be donated to 826 National programs.

The US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has declared that in light of the fact that "farmers markets are important nationwide outlets for agricultural producers," and that thousands of markets "across the country offer consumers affordable, convenient, and healthful products sold directly from the farm in their freshest possible state," and beacusw of the numerous economic and health-related benefits of getting food from them, that August 2-8 is National Farmers Market Week. Huzzah!

You want to eat fresh seasonal produce that's grown by area farmers. You want to help your local economy and not line the coffers of corporate America. You appreciate that an Oxnard-grown strawberry--one that's softer, smaller, redder, riper, and sweeter--is about a thousand times tastier, better for you, better for the environment, and better for your fellow Californians than the one that's bigger, harder, paler, less flavorful and found in a big plastic box inside the store that feels like a big plastic box.

                     

Inspired by a panel we caught at the recent Dwell on Design conference, and some time spent ogling recipes in three beloved cookbooks (The Santa Monica Farmers' Market Cookbook, The San Francisco Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market Cookbook, and Fresh From the Farmers' Market) last Thursday we headed over to Glendale to check out their weekly market. Occupying a stretch of Brand Boulevard, the market was focused mostly on multiple tables of fresh locally-sourced produce, and enriched by the presence of folks with breads, nuts, and fresh juices. It's a modest market, but we were able to work our way from one end to the other efficiently, sample some of the best items the growers had to offer, and fill our bag with what wound up being a week's worth of fresh produce (and bread) for less than $20.

Two Downtown locations of Famima!! want to pass on a secret involving a sweet treat. The convenience chain will be carrying Beard Papa's cream puffs at their stores on 6th Street (Pacific Center) and at 350 S. Grand Avenue (California Plaza) until the end of the month weekdays between Noon and 5 p.m., and they want to give you a taste for free. Between 10 a.m. and noon today through Thursday if you tell the Famima!! counter clerk "I don't have a beard" they'll give you one--one Beard Papa's cream puff, that is. There's a limit of one per customer for the freebie, mind you.

The folks at DineLA take us on a quick look at the close-to-home vibe of Locali, the convenience store in Franklin Village that emphasizes consumer consciousness, locally-sourced products and ingredients, the spirit of community and environmentalism. Soon after they opened in January we were happy to report they carry vegan condoms, and with the mobile food trend and summer temps on the rise, we're even more happy they've put their unique frozen treats-mobile, the Icycle, on the street.

LAist is stoked about the three-day style and design event Dwell on Design, taking place today, tomorrow, and Sunday. Exhibits, panels, and special events are taking place all over town, and while we're most excited about some of the on stage speakers and panels this weekend and tomorrow night's movie & mobile food event, things get underway today at the Convention Center for the Dwell on Design Exhibition, open to Trade and Dwell Conference Plus ticket holders only until 8 p.m.

Long known as a beach volleyball Mecca, Manhattan Beach has, over the last several years, also been cultivating itself as a destination for boutique shopping akin to trendy locales like Robertson Blvd. and Sunset Junction further north, but with the laid back feel of the beach. We stopped in at Cami on Highland Ave. this weekend and found a treasure trove of jeans (marked down to $70), maxi dresses ($175-390) & gauzy summer shirts ($69-125) on offer, as well as eye-catching jewelry and accessories, including a wall of handbags worth making the trip down to the South Bay for.

You (hopefully) heard it here first: The Fresh & Easy Hollywood store will begin to stock beer and wine starting Monday.

The Orphans West Symposium, a weekend film series dedicated to home movies, amateur and educational films, industrial and sponsored films, experimental films and newsreels, concludes today at the Silent Movie Theatre. The theme of the 2 pm screening is “On Location: Place and Region in Forgotten Films” and features “Space Explorations: Scott Stark,” “Building the Hollywoodland Sign” (1923) and Early Middle Eastern Films. The 4:30 pm screening is dedicated to “Science, Industry and Education” and features segments on “Sex Mis-Education: The Sex Ed Film in the Moving Image Archive” and “Science in Action (CAS 1952 - 66): Spectral Uses of Kinescopy.” Tickets for each show are $13.

With the event a few days away, Sonja took the time to speak to LAist about the importance of conscious consumerism and community building, promoting downtown LA and it's thriving art and fashion scene, volunteering and the amazingness that is LA's taco trucks and fruit stands.

                     

Once upon a time, Angelenos flocked to 8000 W Sunset Blvd to buy CDs at the Virgin Megastore's US flagship. But since no one seems to buy actual discs anymore, the Virgin Megastore fell prey to economic hard times, and, following on the heels of iconic Sunset Strip music retailer Tower Records, closed up shop for good over a year ago.

       

Automated luxury store, U*tique, just opened up its first location ever in Fred Segal Santa Monica. It's lux-o-matic, interactive, insta-matic…just don't call it a vending machine. Although that's basically what this fancy-schmancy machine does. Except instead of dispensing cheesy puffs, it sells 50 upscale beauty items, indulgences and lifestyle products like Aira mink eyelashes, Bliss triple oxygen mask, David Kirsch Wellness detox kit, GoSmile smile brightening system and ModelCo tan in a can to name just a few.

Today is the second annual Record Store Day, and event put together by the Music Monitor Network, the Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS), Alliance of Independent Media Stores (AIMS) and Newbury and sponsored this year by NARM (National Association of Recording Merchandisers). All over the world in over 1,000 independent records stores, people will be celebrating he profound impact indie music retail has had on the music heard today.

Annette Yeomans, a 51-year-old woman from the San Diego area, turned herself in at the jail in Vista yesterday. The former bookkeeper got herself booked, on charges related to the grand theft and embezzlement of $9.9 million from her former workplace, according to abc7.com.

Nothing like a fresh breath of uptight air to balance out our state's rep as being full of left-wing nutjobs: Shoppers in Mission Viejo are lodging complaints with The Shops, a mall that includes the A/X Armani Exchange store. They're upset about the store's current window display, a giant red heart behind these words: "Give Love Get Love" and "Practice Safe Love Armani Exchange supports National AIDS Fund." What's wrong with that? Oh, wait--if we mention AIDS we must be talking about sex, right? Yes, kids, that heart is "made of hundreds of red, packaged condoms," explains the OC Register. It's not clear what the specific nature of the complaints are, just that they began last week, and have been shared between mall management and the store, who are not violating mall policy and may opt to keep the display up if they wish.

...and another one bites the dust: Yankee Candles' Illuminations stores have announced they are shutting down all 28 of their retail locations as part of a large financial restructuring plan. The stores are located in 9 states, but half are here in California, including ones in Anaheim, Brea, Canoga Park, Costa Mesa, and at the Westside Pavillion. Illuminations joins the growing number of retailers with stores in the LA-area shutting down, such as Circuit City, Expo Design Center, and Mervyn's--not to mention the growing number of retailers implementing layoffs. So get your stinkin' candles now; Illuminations expects to be fully shuttered by the end of April.

If you are a decaf coffee drinker* and you like to grab your jitter-free java at Starbucks, get ready to cut your consumer hours...or up your wait time. The world's largest coffee chain has announced plans to save some bucks--"$400 million by September," according to USA Today--by having brewed decaf sitting ready only until noon. After noon, customers who want a cup of decaf will have to request it and sit tight; a 'bucks spokesperson said "it takes about four minutes to brew up a fresh cup." The stores wind up wasting product by brewing pots of decaf continually since the demand decreases in the afternoon, and these days, even for the coffee maven, saving a few bucks can go a long way. (*Seriously, what's the point?)

Late last week brought the opening of Locali, a small convenience store on Franklin catering to consumers' need for all animal-free products. For some, like blogger Quarrygirl, this store is a godsend, who says "seriously, this place is too good to be true, and exactly what this city needed."

I recall a point early in the Bush Administration where I overheard an in-the-know friend dub Los Angeles “home of the $1,000 t-shirt.” I then heard it a few more times. It made me curious. But not curious enough to seek the pinnacle of casual couture. If a four-digit price-tag could be found attached to a t-shirt, I thought it best be discovered by someone else.

An article in today's Telegraph.co.uk touts the recent adoption of Twitter by British-based Tesco's Fresh & Easy grocery stores. Although the article focuses on the rarity of a Brit business using what's more popular with American businesses, F&E's web-watchers Fresh & Easy Buzz point out that the Tweets are coming from California, not England:

Fresh & Easy's presence on Twitter.com isn't being maintained by a Tesco Fresh & Easy company employee based out of its Southern California headquarters or by a Tesco PLC employee in the UK. Rather, the Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market Twitter site is maintained on a regular basis by SallieB, who is a social marketing expert with Tesco Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market's public relation's firm, ABCO International.

Though perhaps not gripping correspondence, Twitter does help to establish loyalty by giving customers an active way of communicating with the company's management. [...]

Continue reading "Does Your Favorite Grocery Store Use Twitter? Should They?"

Next month's issue of Food & Wine magazine takes a look at chocolate, and just in time for Valentine's Day. Their pick of the ten best bites of chocolate in the country represents a wide variety of tastes and kinds, from the more low-rent, like Nestlé's 100 Grand Bar at #9, to the more refined and artisanal. Coming in at #4 is Los Angeles-based chocolatier Compartes with their Plantain Truffles. We think Food & Wine did well in picking Compartes, having nibbled on them back in the summer of 2007 at the Dessert Decadence event. If you plan on picking up some sweets for your sweet to celebrate V-Day next month, you might want to skip See's (or the supermarket) and head to a local chocolatier like Compartes or some of those LAist sampled not too long ago at the Luxury Chocolate Salon, and support local small businesses while indulging a sweet tooth.

Today's Daily News takes a look at one of Los Angeles' main streets, Ventura Boulevard, and how it's faring in the current economic crisis. Not surprisingly, things are not going well for business owners whose shops are located on "the San Fernando Valley's most robust commercial strip."

Tough night in Torrance: Thing got hectic in one part of the popular Del Amo Fashion Center last night. According to the Daily Breeze, "Mallgoers were evacuated Saturday evening from the entertainment wing of the [mall]. A police helicopter and police units from Torrance, El Segundo, Gardena and Redondo Beach responded. The cause of the brawl is being investigated. Details are pending." The big draw to the mall is not necessarily its shopping options, but its "outdoor entertainment promenade featuring an 18 screen AMC Movie Theatre plus 9 restaurants," and the Lucky Strike Lanes. They dubbed it the "Lifestyle" area when it opened in September 2006, and CurbedLA pointed out that it "has all of the accoutrements of a modern shopping experience: 'inviting' outdoor walkways, 'upscale' retailers, and a 'unique experience.'" We're tempted to concur with their tongue-in-cheek emphasis; it is just a mall, after all...and a great place for an "inviting," "upscale," and "unique," brawl, apparently.

Macy's today announced that they will be closing 11 underperforming stores, including one in the Los Angeles area. This means clearance sales next week! "These closings are part of our normal-course process to prune underperforming locations each year in order to maintain a healthy portfolio of stores," said Macy's Chief Executive Terry J. Lundgren in a statement. Ahem, there's nothing normal about this. The locally affected Macy's is downtown in the Ernst & Young Plaza at 735 S. Figueroa St.