I’m not typically the trendy type, but if there is one current fashion I can heartily endorse, it’s the slow cocktail movement—a.k.a mixology. Not too long ago, it seemed the only places Angelenos could find a reliable martini was at the Polo Lounge or Musso & Frank’s. Now, bartenders everywhere have caught the bug and understand the value of premium spirits mixed with fresh ingredients to order, making imbibing yet another exquisite culinary experience.

So many new places, people and things pop up around LA that it’s often easy to forget about those stalwart classics that manage to weather good times and bad, and soldier on. One we recently rediscovered is the Catalina Jazz Club, for decades one of the only places to experience live jazz in its natural setting: an intimate cabaret.

The joys of life in Malibu don’t need much advertisement. But even Colony living can have its drawbacks, particularly when it comes to accessing certain necessities. Which is why the McMillian Canale Salon in Malibu Country Mart is such a blessing.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of the month-long World Cup football (soccer) contest, broadcasting from Capetown, South Africa, which means most games will be live during early morning hours here in Los Angeles (often starting 4:30 AM). Typically, international football tends to be shown here in more grimy, no-frills working class bars popular with our city’s international communities. But for those fans who might enjoy a higher comfort level, HauteLiving.com has uncovered some nice places who have pledged to open early for the games–and even offer specials to encourage conviviality.

A yoga and spa retreat is one of the best ways to recharge the batteries and refresh the mind. But with busy lives, the travel time alone can add more stress than it promises to take away. Which makes YogaChef’s backyard events the perfect answer.

Summer is a fine season for enjoying wine in so many ways, whether dining, on a beach or picnic, at the Bowl, or so many outdoor social gatherings. For those seeking something beyond the typical Pinot Gris and Rieslings, we asked a few local Angeleno experts to offer new ideas.

Though their objectives are always praiseworthy, benefit events are so frequent in Los Angeles that one can blur into the next. Not this one.

On Monday, June 7, at the Roy and Edna Disney/Cal Arts Theatre (REDCAT), dance legend Mikhail Baryshnikov, 62, will make an extremely rare appearance as guest artist with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, as part of a special evening to raise funds for the Cunningham Dance Foundation.

Thanks to the explosion of farmer’s markets here—the world-famous Santa Monica one, and dozens more around the city—it’s never been easier to eat locally grown produce and protein. In some ways, listing a Haute 5 for “locavore” and Farm-To-Table dining is easy, because it’s virtually synonymous with the best dining in LA altogether. In another way, it’s hard because there are so many choices. Here’s a sampling:

Hot trend or not, the thought of waiting on line at a food truck sounds like the least luxurious thing in the world. Unless it’s the CoolHaus truck.