PopSugar Los Angeles

Saladish: Newly Freshening Up Old Town Pasadena

Melody Nazarian — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:06:04 PDT

I enjoy strolling old town Pasadena's Colorado Boulevard, especially on a warm day, but to be honest, the walk was starting to feel a bit stale lately. How many times can I eat at Yardhouse and Cheesecake Factory? The block was lacking a fast and easy and simultaneously healthy lunch and dinner spot until Saladish (12 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, 626-304-3100) debuted with a soft opening on Friday.

The decor isn't entirely ready - there was a man on a ladder putting the vines on the ceiling when I popped in - but you can still enjoy its menu of specialty salads and wraps like the Maui waui (ham, pineapple, red pepper, and cashew nut croutons) and blooming apple (chicken, bacon apple, candied pecans, and bleu cheese). It also features a build-your-own salad bar with toppings like artichoke hearts, mandarin oranges, and a handful of cheeses. This place is mainly health-conscious but also has a little something for those who aren't concerned with calories: oven-baked potatoes, particularly the taco potato with chili, green onion, jalapeno, sour cream, and cheddar cheese. Old town is starting to feel new and yummy again.

Gerry Blanck's Martial Arts Center : Self-Defense Taught by Nationally Recognized Professionals

Melody Nazarian — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:31:17 PDT

Do you want to be kick-ass by kicking ass? Then Gerry Blanck's Martial Arts Center has a spot for you. But before you sign up, be forewarned: this place isn't for the meek. Here you learn literally how to kick butt through sweaty and fun kickboxing, karate, and mixed martial arts classes. They even offer private instruction in yoshukai karate, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, judo, and self defense. One of the most popular sessions - thanks to its focus on tightening up bellies, arms, and butts - is Saturday morning kickboxing with Jennifer Cassetta, a 3rd degree black belt and creator of the Stilettos and Self Defense DVD series. All the instructors here are nationally recognized martial artists, including founder Gerry Blanck, a former world champion kickboxer and a seventh degree black belt who once gave Brooke Burke a private lesson when she was on Dancing With the Stars. Other celebs who pop in for private sessions are Pamela Anderson, Tom Hanks, and Sugar Ray Leonard. So not only will you be getting a celebrity style workout at Gerry Blanck's, but a champion-style one, too.

Bellacures: Beautiful Nails in a Spotless Salon

Melody Nazarian — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 07:40:02 PDT

When it comes to your hands and feet, there should be two priorities: beauty and cleanliness. At Bellacures you're guaranteed both. While most places clean their tools, sterilization is a serious subject here. You won't find the typical spa chairs because the pipes can attract bacteria; instead, they use spacious tubs with plastic liners. All technicians wear latex gloves for further protection, and each customer is given a personalized supply kit to bring back next time. But the big beauties are the sterilization chambers that doctors and dentists use to disinfect metal tools. Beyond spotlessness, Bellacures is all about beauty and restoration. Nail services - like the exfoliation walnut manicure, the gelicure, microdermabrasion pedicure, and softer soles pedicure with a sea salt scrub and clay foot mask - leave your hands and feet looking bella and feeling cured, just like the name says. Also part of the beautifying process at Bellacures are waxing, nail extensions, and seasonal specials like the Spring essence mani and pedi. Goodbye bacteria, hello beautiful.

Geisha House

Melody Nazarian — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 12:38:06 PDT

Some spots are so hot, they don’t need an introduction - Geisha House is one of them. Sushi and nightlife lovers have likely crossed paths with the modern Japanese restaurant-slash-sushi-bar-slash-sake-lounge in its six years in business. But this isn’t your average sushi house with California rolls as the main attraction. Here, it’s all about sushi with a sultry twist. Names like Marilyn Monroll, Smokehouse, Octopussy, The Hollywood, and Frightened Geisha make it all the more thrilling to bite. Not a fan of sushi? Not a problem. A bevy of hot and cold dishes, udon noodles, tempura, salads, and shishito peppers are also noteworthy. But the food isn’t the only standout here: models dressed as geisha girls, hip DJ tunes, chic black and red décor, and sake-infused martinis elevate the sophistication. Whether you plan on spending the entire evening here or just prepartying it up, count on Geisha House to get you in the mood for a sexy time.

Friandise Pastries Inc.

Larkin Clark — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 08:00:21 PDT

There are cupcakes, and then there are Friandise cupcakes. Winners of LA's Fourth Annual Cupcake Challenge, these epicurean delights come laced with flavor combinations only a master could dream up. That’s where Kirby Galli comes in: a former pastry sous chef at The Jonathan Club and Chateau Marmont, she’s channeled her talents into Friandise Pastries Inc., her latest brainchild and LA's bake shop du jour. Made fresh to order, Friandise's cakes, pies, tarts, and petite sweets are carefully handcrafted from the highest quality ingredients and come in vegan and gluten-free varieties. Cupcakes are presented in a slew of flavors (who can say no to red velvet and salted caramel?) and get fun toppings like marshmallow frosting and candied bacon, which helped Friandise's candied sweet potato cakes win the Cupcake Challenge prize. On the petite sweet menu, stunners like orange flower macarons and abuelita's chocolate cake pops make it impossible to have just one.

DMH Laser & Aesthetics

Larkin Clark — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 08:00:32 PST

Whether you want a little lift or a total transformation, DMH Laser & Aesthetics will help you to look your best. From its brand-new office on North Larchmont Boulevard, this cutting-edge medical practice uses the newest FDA-approved technologies and equipment to perform nonsurgical treatments like injectable enhancements, laser hair removal, and more. Helmed by Sunset Cosmetic Surgery founder Dr. Steven Svehlak MD FACS, it's known for safe, professional service and a relaxed, nonclinical atmosphere. Want porcelain skin that lasts? Try an IPL skin rejuvenation session and get the complexion you've always dreamed of. With a Lumenis M22 intensive pulse light laser tool, your technician will target and remove red and brown discolorations such as broken capillaries, rosacea, freckles, and sun and age spots. Performed in just 10 to 15 minutes by Dr. Svehlak, who is double certified in both plastic and general surgery, or a registered nurse, the treatment can permanently correct imperfections if followed with a diligent sunscreen regimen. Clear skin in less time than a coffee break? Sounds like a done deal to us.

Green Denim Initiative

Larkin Clark — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 08:00:06 PST

Here’s some news for you: the best blue jeans are actually green. No, we're not going colorblind – we've just fallen for Green Denim Initiative, a Santa Monica shop that keeps premium denim fresh, chic, and – most importantly - eco-friendly. Here, duds and accessories are hand crafted from natural raw fibers and manufactured with minimal impact on the environment: chemical and energy usage are kept at a minimum, while cold water washes reduce coal and gasoline consumption. All of this, and Green Denim Initiative doesn’t sacrifice style. Its own line is supplemented by other buzzworthy brands like Charlotte Ronson, Only Hearts, and MOL Knits, creating an eclectic mix of must-have items to fit any wardrobe. That’s what we call taking initiative.

LONG-TIME-LINER Beverly Hills

Larkin Clark — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 08:00:13 PST

What if you could work out, go swimming, and even sleep without ever having to touch up your makeup? Reapplication is a thing of the past at LONG-TIME-LINER Beverly Hills, the world's leading technology for long-lasting makeup. Founded in Munich in 1986, the company is known for its innovative Conture Makeup micropigmentation method, which uses a sterile, one-time use needle to apply medically regulated makeup pigment to the first layer of the skin. A great way to conceal problem areas and highlight existing features, it fills sparse eyebrows, sets eyeliner, and contours lips in just two sessions. Want to add definition to your pout? Get Flawlessly Colored Lips with Contured Makeup, a virtually painless procedure that defines lips for one to three years. During your first session, a specially trained Linergist will carefully select a color from the LONG-TIME-LINER palette that complements your natural skin tone and meets your requests. Then, she’ll draw your perfect lip shape with a Conture Makeup pencil, ensuring it's just right before pigmentation takes place. A topical analgesic is applied to remove potential discomfort (though you won't feel more than a gentle scratching), and an hour later, you'll emerge with fuller, more beautiful lips. Come back a week later for touchups, and your look will be flawless. Kiss kiss to that.

Demitasse Jewelry

Larkin Clark — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 08:00:47 PST

Think tableware is reserved for dinner parties? Think again. Thanks to LA-based designer Rachael White, ornate dining utensils are reborn as Demitasse Jewelry, a line that's garnered buzz from the likes of W, Lucky, and People magazines for its fresh take on adornment. Drawing upon antique flatware and artistic culture as inspiration for her quirky-yet-chic collection, White reassigns the reverence once reserved for opulent implements to a luxe collection with undeniable personality. On our wish list? The Fairy Absinthe Spoon pendant, inspired by a piece originally created for famed artist and bohemian Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec: intricately crafted and handmade in the US, this piece is at once classic and unexpected. Or, sport a Demistache - a hip nod to the Dada movement, the mustache-shaped pendant has earned a following of celebs, stylists, and Movemberists alike. We'll take another serving of that.

XO Studio

Larkin Clark — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 08:00:44 PST

You don't have to walk the red carpet to want to want a buzzworthy look. At XO Studio, a Westwood Village beauty hub, owners Tracy and Cristina help clients shine – whether they're keeping things low key or going out on the town. Featured on PopSugar's BellaTV for its expert lash tinting services - the lash/brow tint and brow shaping Trio is a customer favorite - XO Studio polishes patrons with a variety of services, from preservative-free facials to professional makeup application. Its Brazilian waxing has wooed countless repeat clients; performed quickly and efficiently, it leaves skin calm and smooth for weeks. Want to put in some face time? Ask for Divine Intervention, a hydrating facial, or Skin O'licious, a renewal peel, performed with all-natural Sircuitskin products. Tracy and Cristina are known for their fun, friendly vibe, so you'll feel relaxed, confident, and beautiful from start to finish. XO to that.