San Diego

So, after all those holiday cookies and hangovers, CLEANSE and DETOX appear to be the buzz words of the month. (And judging by the fact that two local Borders stores were sold out of Dr. Alex Junger’s “Clean” book, I think all of L.A. has jumped on the bandwagon.) Prompted by my curious husband (who despite feeling sluggish after the new year was suspicious of the detox trend), I enlisted us in a cleansing experiment: 5 days of raw-food-eating and 2 days of Lori C. Kenyon and Marra O. St. Clair’s Ritual Cleanse — an Irvine, Calif.-based juice cleansing program designed to “reset” the body.

Now, I know, some people do “Beyonce’s maple syrup diet” for well over a week, and many follow Dr. Junger’s advice (endorsed by Gwyneth Paltrow) for at least three weeks, but honestly, feeling faint, weak, mucus-y and stuck with a headache is not my idea of a good time … no matter how skinny, light or euphoric I’m supposed to feel. One week of abstaining from all the things I love about food — caffeine, all meat, refined sugar, dairy, alcohol, soy, wheat, gluten — was about all I could stomach. That’s why I chose this route. With raw food, we got to eat a bunch of vegetables and feel full; and with Ritual Cleanse, we didn’t have to prepare meals (vegetables are time-consuming!) and worry whether we did so correctly.
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A few weeks ago in San Diego, I had the chance to eat at Grant Grill- the fine dining restaurant of the US Grant Hotel and I loved it!  The venue is  beautiful in a Mad Men-esque, 1950s glamour way- so much that San Diego Magazine described it as a place Audrey Hepburn would be seen. I’m still working on a full review of the restaurant but couldn’t not let all the San Diegans and visitors know about their special menu tonight to celebrate the centennial of the iconic hotel.  Starting from 7:10pm onwards, cocktails that are regularly $12, are now only $1.91 and we’ve got the preview menu above to show you!

So be sure to channel your inner Holly Golightly and raise a glass to the US Grant tonight!

There are few things more refreshing after a long flight than to walk into a luxurious hotel suite that feels like it could be home. Well, that is, if my home were a swanky pad furnished with custom Italian furniture, floor-to-ceiling stone wall spa bathrooms, Brazilian walnut hardwood floors, and the most luxurious bed adorned with fine linens and down pillows. That’s how I felt last Friday night- as if I had walked into a chic dream apartment, when I checked into the Sè San Diego after a six hour flight from New York City.

Located right in the heart of downtown, the Sè San Diego is just a few minutes away from the airport and within walking distance to most of the city’s attractions, restaurants, clubs and shops.  The building is rather unassuming on the outside, but the moment you walk through the 9000 lb bronze pivot door, you’re transported into a luxurious world of art, design, comfort and decadence. If I were to pick one word to describe the hotel it would be sensual- as the entire experience is designed to envelope all five senses. (more…)

With Valentine’s Day in such close proximity to Presidents Day, why not celebrate love, life and happiness with a luxury getaway that’s fit for a president — or in this case, fit for 14 presidents? My husband and I were fortunate enough to check out a Signature Suite recently at the Old World French- and American Indian-inspired U.S. Grant Hotel — voted one of the 100 best hotels in the world — in downtown San Diego, Calif. And let me tell you, whether alone or with a sweetheart, this is one romantic place for glamour-lovers to steal away this weekend. Here’s why:

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Only a hop, skip and a jump from Los Angeles, San Diego makes for a great weekend escape – and I find myself down there fairly regularly. Whenever I’m in the Hillcrest neighborhood, one of my favorite stops is Cathedral. Launched in 1995, Cathedral has become a must-have shopping destination for the San Diego style scene over the years. There’s no other place where you can find such a gorgeous and carefully curated selection of merchandise for your home.

Owner/ founder Amy Capano originally launched Cathedral to be San Diego’s premier candle boutique – and since then, has added personal care products and home accessories to her wonderful store. She carries some of fabulous lines like Voluspa, Kai and Jonathan Adler – all of which I adore. Right now, I’m over the moon about these porcelain Peony figurines by Roost and stunning Todd Boontje garland lamps. I also can’t wait to pick up and try these diffusers by Aqueisse on my next trip.

If you are in the San Diego area, make sure to stop by Cathedral, located at 435 University Ave. (between 4th & 5th Ave) in Hillcrest, and then go across the street to have lunch at one of my favorite bakeries! If you can’t make it to San Diego, head over to their virtual boutique at ShopCathedral.com to get your fix.

Jet Rhys, colorist extraordinaire, is one of our favorite beauty experts. She’s the owner of Jet Rhys Salon, which opened its doors in 1992; before that, she was the Assistant Head of Color at Vidal Sassoon in New York. Her innovative coloring techniques and hair treatments have garnered her recognition from publications including Allure and Self, among many others. In fact, her clients are addicted to her – because of both her adorable personality and amazing skills. (She also was responsible for introducing this editor to the wonderful world of hair color – and warned me that it would be addictive. It is.) We asked Jet what she’s obsessed with this spring and here’s what she said: (more…)

Extraordinary Desserts is an absolute must if you are ever in San Diego. It’s my favorite bakery/ dessert establishment and I make sure it’s on my list of stops whenever I’m there. Let me tell you why.

First, the established Extraordinary Desserts produces exactly what its name says it does — extraordinary desserts that are so insanely delectable that they’re absolutely worth obsessing over. Award-wining chef Karen Krasne, the mastermind behind Extraordinary Desserts, has serious pastry credits under her belt; she’s Cordon Bleu-trained, with a masters from Le Notre and Bellouet Conseil. She uses locally grown or organic ingredients whenever possible – and her attention to detail is flawless. The desserts are often topped off with flower petals or gold leaf, for over-the-top decadence. (more…)