Five almonds, a day of yoga, spa treatments and workouts later and you have experienced just a touch of what The Ashram has to offer. A combination of simple spirituality, loving punishment and camplike congeniality is what they claim but The Ashram is more than just that. It is a place of beauty, nestled into the Santa Monica hills that offers weeklong retreats where you feel as if you have gained a lifetime of health and relaxation. Hiking, massages, qi gong and yoga are all part of the program. Get your girlfriends or grab you guys and head to the hills. The Ashram will take you to a place where your mind is quite, your body is toned and your spirits are soaring.
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I guess you would have to be really lazy to have the yoga come to you but now that I have kids, work, life, there is barely enough time to brush my teeth let alone get in a workout. Roar Yoga can fix that. It’s an unintimidating and unpretentious yoga experience that is personal, invigorating, and affordable. Not to mention convenient: In addition to offering a number of regular classes around town, Roar Yoga will also come to you – wherever, whenever – and they can supply everything you need. Now that’s worth roaring about.
Love chocolate, hate calories. There’s help for that! Le Whif, a lipstick-shaped inhaler, imparts a sweet high from just a few tiny particles of chocolate. It comes in flavors including chocolate, mint, mango and coffee. Now that’s what I call the sweet smell of success!
I am going to attempt to remain equanimous in this review of La Terranea. Here goes nothing:
Perched on a cliff above the ocean, La Terranea has a location that begs for romance, beauty and relaxation. The bathrobes are the plush kind you want to steal away in your suitcase. The wine list is everything a Southern California wine list should be: extensive and expensive. The fitness center is practically perfect, although it faces the pool instead of the ocean (something that can be easily fixed by moving the machines 180). The spa was lush and everything spa whore such as myself would love. The facial and couples massage left me in a state of ahhhh.
But here is equanimity comes along. There are two things that La Terranea managed to do which I argue are rather inexcusable. We were there to attend a wedding…ie, wear a suit kind of wedding. When my husband sent his suit out for pressing and they sent it for dry cleaning instead, my hubby was left in sweats for the ceremony. No joke. Rather embarrassing. Second, when the hotel staff promised to arrange a rental car, the car arrived an hour and a half late. By that time I hailed a cab for the $120 ride to my next location.
So, here’s a tip for you La Terranea. If you are going to do it…do it right. And if you do something wrong, apologize. Instead of a nice apology, the manager whose name started with a Z (cant be too many of you, hmmm?) decided to get in a full blown argument of his story/my story. What happened to the customer is always right? Apology would have gone a long long way here buddy.
Think we will stick to Pelican Hill, Bacara or St. Regis next time we head South.
Forget about going to the Oscars! The parties are what I’m talking about. That glamour, the buzz, the fashion, the stars at their best. Not to mention the gossip about the night. Here they are….shhhhhh don’t tell!
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER COCKTAIL RECEPTION
Location: The Mayor’s residence, The Getty House
Dates: March 4, 2010 I 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m
WME OSCAR PARTY
Location: Home of Ariel & Sarah Emanuel
Dates: March 5, 2010 7:30pm
ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION PARTY
Location: Beverly Hills Hotel
Dates: March 6, 2010 6pm – 8pm
8TH ANNUAL NIGHT BEFORE PRE-OSCAR FUNDRAISER
Location: The Pool at the Beverly Hills Hotel
Dates: March 6, 2010 8pm
11TH ANNUAL IN STYLE VIEWING PARTY
Location: BLT STK
Dates: March 7, 2010 4:30pm
ELTON JOHN’S 18TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS VIEWING PARTY
Location: Pacific Design Center
Dates: March 7, 2010
4pm – Cocktail
5pm – Dinner
VANITY FAIR OSCAR PARTY
Location: The Sunset Tower Hotel
March 7, 2010 directly after the show
E! OSCAR PARTY
Location: Drai’s Hollywood, W Hollywood Hotel
Dates: March 7, 2010 8pm
Toast in LA is something special. Don’t let the wait get in the way of your attitude about this hip eatery. The menu is bible size and the food scrumptious and fast. Save a little room for the award winning cupcakes that are all the rage these days. Feeling a little unsocial? Order online and pickup for home. Cheers to Toast!
