Pack up the Roquefort, dust off the old picnic basket and head out west for the wine. If you’re in the mood for an alternative to a candlelit dinner this Valentine’s Day, we have the perfect road map and it has you headed toward the beach. No, we’re not suggesting surf lessons or a sandy supper; we’re sending you on a scenic wine tasting adventure, well above the beaches in the lush canyons of Malibu—yes, Malibu.

In December, J.Crew’s President and Executive Creative Director Jenna Lyons, had a fling with some of Los Angeles’ most esteemed landmarks. The outcome: a Hollywood affair to remember, which is splashed about in the mega label’s just-released spring 2011 catalog.

Norbert Wabnig, epic owner of The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills conducts gourmet show-and-tell sessions at the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

Inside the historic property’s signature restaurant, The BLVD—home of the “Tiffany Blue” martini and a lavishly decorated dining room that constantly resonates with live piano tunes—Wabnig offers informal cheese and wine tasting tutorials Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings. By “informal” we mean no real instruction takes place; Wabnig simply crafts traditional made-to-order plates, chooses the appropriate garnishes, and selects a wine, while guests sit back and devour firm and creamy selections from around the world.

SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills’ posh factor will rise again come Feb. 1 as Los Angeles powerhouse hotelier/restaurateur/nightlife extraordinaire Sam Nazarian of SBE welcomes globally known, celebrity hair stylist Sally Hershberger into his 297-room palace.

Coachella’s 2011 lineup announcement caused quite a stir yesterday. A new kind of earthquake hit Los Angeles, along with its population of music devotees, after news of performances by Kings of Leon, Lauryn Hill and Duran Duran exploded across the Web.

January feels like summer out here in Los Angeles, which means us locals are soaking up all the rays we can get and bragging to our East Coast friends via constant Facebook updates with news of frolicking along the beach and hiking in 80-degree weather.

A few years ago when I became a Westsider I felt some disappointment, mostly due to the lack of restaurants over here. Sure I love The Apple Pan and do enjoy the occasional trip to Huckleberry, but knowing how horrible the traffic is I nearly cried during my exodus from WeHo.

For a few hours each year Los Angeles’ rapidly beating heart slows to witness two celebrity-studded events; one of them being the Golden Globes.

This Sunday, Jan. 16, brunette bombshells and delicate blonde actresses will line the red carpet in wine colored gowns, while dapper gentlemen of Hollywood don tuxedos. It’s a formal, no-frills affair that pays tribute to the cinema’s classic elegance.

Field trips to the legendary learning center will once again be of great prestige. The Otis Booth Foundation has signed on to donate a generous $13 million to the Natural History Museum’s comprehensive “NHM Next” renovation project.