Silver Lake's Pazzo Gelato is promoting its newly expanded hours (they used to open at 11 a.m.) with 2-for-1 coffee and tea items from 7-11 a.m. While you're there, sample the homemade treats -- it's never too early for gelato. Pazzo Gelato / Sunset & Hyperion / 90026 | photo by e-ta-i via flickr.......

Afternoon tea is a delightful tradition that has morphed into its own stateside genesis of elegance and indulgence, complete with lots of food and, of course, tea. Here in Los Angeles there are many places to go for tea service that cover all aspects of the spectrum, from the casual to the hip. LAist Featured Photos contributor kristi.nicole recently enjoyed an afternoon of tea and treats at Venice's Jin Patisserie and gave us this......

Alain Giraud is a charismatic guy. He is the picture of a merry chef, walking through his restaurant in his whites, with a warm smile, raking his fingers through a pristine silver hairdo that only a Frenchman can pull off. And even when he whispered (politely) to me, “Madame, please don’t take pictures of the restaurant”, I could not help but smile and say, alright then. He is just that, how do you say… geniale.......

Photo by S.C. Asher via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr READING Janet Sarbanes and Marisa Silver read excerpts from their new short story books Army of One and Babe in Paradise. Both authors will be available for signings after the readings. 6 p.m. // The Hammer Museum // 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles // (310) 443-7000 // $5 TEA If haven’t finished celebrating Mother’s Day, stop by Vroman’s Bookstore for a special......

Afternoon tea is a perfect way to spend a Friday afternoon. / Photo by motograf via flickr. Is your bff in town this weekend? Looking for fun, girlie things to do? Then this edition of “Pencil This In” is for you. (Don't worry guys, you can do these things, too. Except probably item #3.) TEA Sometimes you just find yourself in the mood for the smoky flavor of lapsang souchong tea, scones with cream......

Bettina Korek and her For Your Art crew did it again -- another fantastic art opening slammed with people. Actually, they have been sizzlin' hot all weekend with the first LA Art Weekend (with more events today), which has highlighted some of the city's newest gallery spaces including last night's opening of Royal/T, the nation's first Japanese "Maid Cafe," and the pop up Storefront for Architecture and Art on Friday. Royal/T is a shop, an......

Photo by brainylagirl via flickr LA Mill finally (soft-)opened its "boutique" in Silver Lake last Friday and we were lucky to get there in time to sample the goods -- for free. The space is impressive but the environment -- almost pretentiously over the top. But let's discuss the coffee: I had two clover-style (filtered French drip) cups, one Kenyan, was an average medium-dark blend, with an acidic yet moderately rich, roasted coffee bean......

The anticipated LA MILL COFFEE boutique opened this morning in Silver Lake on its eponymous boulevard between Sunset and the Reservoir (they close at 6 p.m. tonight and are only serving bar drinks and clovers until then). Eater LA takes in the decor: "Custom-made French wallpaper, faux crocodile, ostrich and sharkskin chairs in dark teal, sky blue and red, black Lucite tables. A dramatic brass chandelier hangs in the main room." Definitely not a......

The sweetened, spiced tea drink we know as chai originated as a hot drink in India. Traditionally it’s a combination of looseleaf black tea, spices, sweetener, and hot milk. The chai latté has become a recognized staple in restaurants and hipster cafés throughout the western world these days, served hot or iced. There are many ways to make a chai latté, and the ubiquity of readymade pre-sweetened mixes makes a chai composed of unprocessed ingredients......

I don't know about you, but at this time of year, I'm a fickle morning brew-drinker. I'm sick of winter's hot and heavy lattes, but not at all ready for the chilly weightlessness of iced coffee. And so I turn to my Ol' Faithful of hot, caffeinated beverages to lift my spirits: Indian tea, Sequeira style! It's nothing too fancy -- you'd find similar brews at every Indian-run shop in Dubai (where I grew up),......