starts with a walk with Dasha and the ability to wear new shoes. Hello Valentino. I love you. 

A red convertible ride on christmas day? Why not.

Four Seasons Brunch, a West Indies Santa, smiles and a special birthday boy. What more could you ask for?

 

 

 

Manifest Equality has taken a dilapidated building that used to be home to Big Lots on Vine Street in Hollywood and has turned it into a temporary home for art that exhibits the importance of equality, love, sex and the need for equal rights, right now. Instead of taking this call of action to the streets with protests and petition signing, Manifest Equality brings myriad artists together under one roof to exclaim, bring awareness, and aid LGBT’s (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) fight for equal rights in America.

Last night, we were lucky to be invited to the pre-opening night by Nunu Deng along with a couple hundred purveyors. Bright florescent lights, colorful images leaping off of various canvases, a shattered glass sculpture, and accurate photographs covered the walls and hung from the ceilings. My favorite installation was in the right side of the building in the very back - “It’s Complicated” by Mike Murphy takes water, light, audio, a transducer, a mirrored dish, an amplifier and a video projector to create a beautiful piece of art. From the water in the dish dancing to the sounds of the song playing through the amplifier to the heart moving in rhythm on the wall - for me this installation truly embraced the idea of equality and love. Demonstrated here: http://www.mmike.com/index.html.

Manifest Equality opens today to the public. Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 through Sunday, March 7th, 2010 between the hours of 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM with extended hours Friday - Sunday. 1341 Vine Street, (between Hollywood & Fountain) Los Angeles, CA 90028-8141.


Bring awareness for the necessity of equality for all Americans not just the ones who prefer the opposite gender. Whether you are straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender get in line for this wonderful exhibition and take part in this art fight for what is right.

 

Halloween is upon us - the time of painted faces, bare asses, and an over abundance in cleavage. This year I will be leaving Los Angeles and celebrating in Mexico City. Although I am sad to be missing the right to walk the streets half naked without getting arrested I am excited to see how DF observes one of my favorite holidays. This year before my travel plans were even contemplated, I had decided my costume would be Charlotte Rampling’s character in The Night Porter - the famous scene where she dances for her Nazi captures in suspenders, black gloves, a military hat and Jodhpurs.

 

Due to the scant quality of my costume, I only needed to find the military hat, black gloves and pasties. Hollywood offers a variety of stores for every Halloween need. First there is Hollywood Toys & Costumes located at 6600 Hollywood Blvd – this is a place that has everything. Fake skin, a wig department, and costumes for children to adults; it is a great place to find everything and anything Halloween. Although I am positive they increase their stock around Halloween, they still have an abundant supply of everything costumes during the rest of the year.

 

For those that prefer that bit sexier approach; there are several places on Hollywood Boulevard that usually host stripper and hooker wear but turn into great sexy Halloween costume spots. Only problem is that, there are bound to be doubles of your costumes when you step out on the holy dress up night…. so beware.

 

Forplay @ 6434 Hollywood Blvd.

 

Bizzy B @ 6548 Hollywood Blvd.

* They have great cheap swimwear throughout the year.

 

Bed Behavior @ 6507 Hollywood Blvd

*Great sexy bedroom wear throughout the year, not to mention some great toys. Wink wink.

 

I was able to get all that I needed sans the military hat but lucky me, Supply Sergeant – a military surplus store is also located on the same strip. Found at 6664 Hollywood Blvd and my costume was complete.

 

And even if the former doesn’t complete your Halloween costume, there is American Superior Vintage Clothing and Iguana Vintage Clothing on Hollywood Boulevard also located in the 6000’s to peruse for that perfect costume.

 

Trick or treat, enjoy. 

As an early birthday celebration before my two-week trip I rounded up some girlfriends for some good old fashion horse back riding. I grew up on a small horse farm and the appreciation for riding a horse has increased, as I have grown older. Surprisingly, finding a stable to ride at close to Los Angeles isn’t that hard.  Finding a quality one is another story.  Ask my girlfriend HanNah and Dina, how their bruises and bumps are doing…

The importance of getting away from the usual, putting a huge beast in between my legs and galloping into the sunset delights me. And although my boyfriend suffices to that routine often enough, horseback riding is a nice change.

But to focus on the much more important question: what does one wear when they ride?

Each season there seems to be a new variation of equestrian in fashion. Either it is in a flat or heeled styled equestrian boot or leggings that are quite similar to riding pants. Where do you find equestrian fashion in Los Angeles? Well, if you are looking for the real deal, you need to check out LA Saddlery located at 480 W. Riverside Drive, Burbank, CA. It is one of the best tack shops in the Los Angeles area. They carry saddles and tack along with footwear, helmets, and apparel. You can also browse their selection on www.lasaddlery.com. I visited the store to get a pair of paddock boots about two years ago. I had a specific idea and a monetary limit. The sales woman was great. She was an experienced rider herself and was able to find me the correct paddock boots within my desired price range. Friendly and knowledgeable service!

Although a lot of deals can be found on the Internet, LA Saddlery has great prices and a great range of products. If you choose to buy off the web, it is a good idea to check out a tack shop before ordering. Especially if you are unfamiliar with what you need to have, it is always better to go to the store and try it on and speak with a salesclerk. I have found at almost every tack shop I have been to, in the Los Angeles area and beyond, the people working there will be quite versed in horseback riding and therefore be able to point you in the right direction.

And for those who wont be getting on a horse anytime soon but love the equestrian boot look: Barney’s is carrying the new Christian Louboutin Cate Leather wedge boots in black and in brown. The chain detail goes around the heel. 

Similarly, the Givenchy Chain Link Knee Boot has chain links but on each side of the shaft. This boot is only available in black. Both go beyond the one thousand dollar limit I give myself on shoes and boots (actually my limit is lower) but are great examples of a simple riding boot turned into an everyday boot. Who wants to go riding?

A pleasant surprise in my inbox today hidden among the spam: Billion Dollar Babes is back!!!!!!!!

Another brilliant idea that started in Hollywood circa 2001 - a sample sale that turned into an online retail store that now hosts three high-end designer sales per week, each lasting 48 hours and featuring discounts of up to 85%. Much like Gilt, Hautelook, RueLaLa, etc… Up to last year, they held their actual sample sales twice a year in Los Angeles but then went exclusively online. But surprise - they are back November 6-7, 2009 at the Petersen Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036. This is not to be missed. RSVP here.

If you are not a member of Billiondollarbabes.com you will have to register. There is also an option to become a VIP member.

Personally, I probably wont go VIP but it does offer an excellent deal on shipping. So if you buy through their online store often, it will most likely save you $ in the end. But either way... hope to see you there, just not with what I want in your hands or violence may ensue.