Last night, the two bad boys of L.A. lit, Bret Easton Ellis and Jonathan Gold, sat down to discuss culture, cuisine, and this fair city of ours. This meeting of minds was orchestrated by the Armand Hammer Museum’s “Conversations” series, which pairs notables in fields such as science, music and art to discuss current events.

Dumplings appear in one form or another in most regional cuisines, from the Mid West to the Middle East. However, it must be said that the Chinese have got these stuffed pockets on lock and dim sum is the ultimate way to sample a variety of these sweet, spicy and savory treats. Whether you’re a dim sum expert or novice, let the following 5 restaurants be your guide to bun in the sun.

In Hollywood, there are two notes of consequence when checking out real estate. Where the home is located (Does the neighborhood end in Hills?) and who owned it first.

Somewhere in the latest flurry of nouvelle molecular gastronimacal innovations and gourmet gut tracks, an important dining experience got lost. Whatever happened to the neighborhood joint?

Searching for a weekend plan? It can be hard to know where to go and what to do. Los Angeles is rich with options so I’ve tried to whittle down your weekend list. Here’s what my iCal has in store for me come 6:00pm. TGIF!

Considering that the Mediterranean Sea stretches along numerous countries in 3 continents, pinning down a definition of Mediterranean cuisine can be a bit tricky. Let these 5 restaurants help you refine your definition of the global fare and fusion foods that this region inspires.

Every lady I know loves to get her hair done. But with the majority of hair products boasting a list of impossible to pronounce (read: toxic) ingredients, not to mention recent reports of stylists giving clients Brazilian blowouts while wearing gas masks, one has to wonder if a trip to the salon is worth the price.

For some strange reason, despite a plethora of sushi spots, you don’t find too many raw bars in Los Angeles. Which is incredibly bizarre considering that the city is perched on the edge of the Pacific Ocean. That said, the following restaurants boast raw bars that will give any other town’s take on the oyster a run for their money.

You work hard; you play hard. You’re in good shape, you watch what you eat, you exercise. Still, yours is a hectic life, filled with the hustle and bustle of business and play and every now and then, you can’t but feel the stresses of your active life. Maybe you’ve been ignoring that crick in your neck or maybe you feel just a little too young to know that the rains are a comin’ due to the sharp pains in your shins. Maybe you just feel lethargic and cranky and frankly, not yourself.