Good news, cyberspace. Our "recession" has been upgraded to "general shit storm," though after Heidi Montag's performance at the Miss Universe Pageant, I would rather just call our current times an apocalypse. So a celebration is in order, and what better way to celebrate a breakup with our old economic label than with a real estate shopping spree?

 

Let's start at Fifth Avenue, the third most expensive street on our humble planet, trapping tenants for a healthy average of $7,500 per square foot. Not good enough? Jump over to the world's most expensive shopping district, Severn Road in Hong Kong, where spaces go for about $11,200 per square foot. Still not impressed? Fuel that jet up for a trip to Monaco and point your Royce towards Avenue Princess Grace where local royals, Russian billionaires, and privileged Middle Easterners soak up homes listed at a whopping $17,750 per square foot, on average... More >> ..

Meet Tamsin Lonsdale. Blonde, extroverted, well mannered, and fashionable. So fashionable that she once worked as a stylist for Italian Vogue. She sounds lovely, yes? Indeed. Her description also matches those of hundreds of other well-coiffed blondes out there.

 

But Lonsdale is different, deserving of a second look. Make that a third, fourth, even a fifth look. In fact, all eyes, especially those of Los Angeles' elite, are on her. Why? Simple. Because they want in at her club. The Supper Club, to be precise.

 

No, she hasn't made the career move from Vogue stylist to L.A. club promoter. The Supper Club is not a nightclub in any way, shape, or form. It's a private, members-only traveling dinner club, created by the London darling through dinner parties thrown at her own home. And while The Supper Club isn't L.A.'s new Thursday night hotspot, it does have quite a wait list (currently 700 people deep in L... More >> ..

Even the lucky ones who stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua will want to venture off hotel grounds to experience other island adventures and fresh island food.

 

A Luau is a must, but there are so many options. For first time luau-ers seeking an authentic performance, the Old Lahaina Luau, held along the water's edge, is perfect. You will be greeted with a fresh lei and tropical drink, and the drinks keep flowing! As the sun dips below the horizon, feast on traditional Hawaiian cuisine, including Kalua Roast Pork and Lomi Lomi Salmon. As you nibble on Chocolate Macadamia Nut Brownies, enjoy the story of Hawaiians as hula dancers begin with the history of Polynesian Migration and continue with ancient and modern hula.

 

Lahaina's newest restaurant, David Paul's Island Grill, is making waves. Chef David Paul has been creating Hawaiian masterpieces for over thirty years, turning a teenage passion into a career... More >> ..

As Weekend Getaway Week nears the end, we explore Maui for the last two days. When visiting Maui, you must stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, located on the western edge of the island, if for nothing else to catch the incredible sunsets.

 

More than breathtaking views, The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua offers visitors a unique experience on one of Hawaii's most popular islands. Like all Ritz-Carlton properties, the guest rooms at the Kapalua location are luxurious, with dark wood floors and flat screen televisions, but these rooms also have a local flair, as Hawaiian inspired artwork livens the rooms and spacious lanais (a.k.a. balconies) extend the living space.

 

More impressive is the resort's location-- built near a century old pineapple plantation, the resort personifies Hawaii, overlooking five bays and three white sand beaches. Coconut palms and sundecks line the 10,000 square foot tri-level swimming pool, and guests who prefer saltwater can relax on D... More >> ..

Nestled amongst the Topa Topa Mountains, Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is our choice for the absolute Best Weekend Getaway, regardless of which coast you call home.

 

Honoring the town of Ojai's history, the Inn's Spanish Colonial Style architecture delicately enhances the lush green beauty rolling through the property. Sprawling the grounds, multiple white buildings with red clay roofs house the 308 rooms and suites; the interiors are decorated with the palette of Southern Spain and colorful Moroccan accents.  Many of the guest rooms have private terraces and intimate fireplaces, and each room casts views over the breathtaking landscape, including the George C. Thomas, Jr. designed 18-hole championship golf course. All guests have complimentary access to the driving range and a seat at the 19th hole-Jimmy's Pub, where the burger is a must!

 

As though the scenery is not calming enough, Ojai Valley Inn & Spa offers an outlet for everyone... More >> ..

We drift from the City in the Desert to the Town on the Lake. Originally intended to serve as part of a major waterworks project to provide irrigation water to the San Bernardino Valley, Lake Arrowhead now serves as a playground for residents and visitors. In the winter months, travelers pack skis and snowshoes, but in the summer months, they desperately seek friends with rights to the lake.

 

Fortunately, the Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa is situated directly on the lake with a private beach and dock. After the $20 million renovation, all 162 rooms and 11 suites are classically upscale and rustically laidback. With neutral hues and dark wood furniture, the rooms, many with lake views, are an extension of the surrounding nature. When you are ready to explore the lake from outside the resort's property, you can walk into the village.

 

Lake Arrowhead's charming village has quaint shops and local eateries, including Belgian Waffle Works, home of the perfect waffle... More >> ..

The quintessential quickie destination, Las Vegas is the first stop during our Weekend Getaway Week. Sin City is about a four-hour flight from New York and a short hop from Los Angeles, but McCarran International Airport is accessible by all.
Towering high over the middle of The Strip, The Palazzo Las Vegas, the world's largest Silver LEED certified Green building, is a perfect headquarters for your three-day stay. Brilliantly colored oversized umbrellas welcome guests to the Singing-in-the-Rain-like lobby, and strategically placed ringing slots lure curious patrons from Las Vegas Boulevard. Even the simplest guest suite, decorated with deep chocolate and splashes of color, includes a sunken living room with a cozy L-shaped couch, and the marble-appointed bathrooms include a bath tub, spacious shower, and flat screen television.

 

Three days provide enough time to experience all sides of Las Vegas, but for those who wish to stay close to home, the Palazzo Las Vegas has everything you could possibly need... More >> ..

In desperation, I've looked for any signs that the recession's grip has begun to loosen: thermostats set to 65 degrees, homeless with iPods, top shelf bottles in the recycling bin of a dive bar. These are signs of hope.

 

Though I'd rather see a high-budget sex tape to ease global financial worries, Paris Hilton's latest frivolities inspire economic inspiration. Except I want to shake her until all her diamonds, all her pregnancy tests, all her forgotten 100-dollar bills spill to the floor.

 

The infrared-porn-star-turned-socialite's latest purchase was a giving one for her (count 'em) six dogs Tinkerbell, Marilyn Monroe, Prince Baby Bear, Harajuku, Dolce, and Prada. The 300 square-foot pooch palace stands in the shadow of Paris' Beverly Hills mansion, after which the K9 shrine was modeled. Inside, designer dog wear with names likes Jimmy Chew, Pawda, Sniffany & Co. and Chewy Vuitton, fill the space, inspiring the-similar-yet-different pet narcissism of the rich and famous... More >> ..

Imagine one of the best restaurants ever- it doesn't require a reservation, it's affordable, and it's healthy enough to eat there many times a week. To top it off, it is animal-friendly!

An impossibility, right? Wrong, my dears! No further daydreaming required. This incredible restaurant truly exists, goes by the name Native Foods, and is obtainable at five Southern California locations.

I frequent the Westwood location, the only one in L.A., and I have been eating their delicious home cooking for two years. So what makes Native Foods different from all the other healthy restaurants? The food served here is strictly vegan, which means they do not use any animals or animal by-products in their cooking. For all of you with qualms about the healthy stuff, Native Foods is definitely the place to get the good stuff. They specifically cater to vegans, but even meat-eaters will enjoy their creations because they use animal alternatives such as tempeh and seitan (both full of protein) to re-create familiar dishes in an animal-friendly way... More >> ..

Downtown is quickly earning a place on L.A.'s Most Fabulous Culinary Neighborhoods list. L.A. Live came to life with the lighting of last year's Christmas tree, and now that all of the new eateries are open, it's a gastronomic dream. From Hollywood transplant and sushi haven Katsuya to Beverly Hills borrowed The Farm of BH, L.A. Live's collection of restaurants is going strong. Good bye, Restaurant Row, hello Restaurant Square?

 

Restaurants came to L.A. Live from all over Los Angeles, not just north of the 10 freeway. Your favorite Manhattan Beach restaurant, Rock'n Fish, serves a range of fresh seafood and quality steaks that are sure to satisfy you, even if the other Kobe can't. Especially delicious? The Seafood Jambalaya includes a hodgepodge of clams, shrimp, fish, and andouille sausage swimming in a spicy Cajun cream sauce. Customers can choose to have the dish with linguini, but we recommend going with the rice... More >> ..

Looks like Stephen Baldwin wasn't getting paid much for his stint on "I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here"-the actor filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New York on Tuesday, citing more than $2.3 million in debt, while his New York property is only valued at $1.1 million.

The 43-year-old actor, brother of "30 Rock" star and Emmy winner Alec Baldwin, owes about $1.2 million for two mortgages on his property, $1 million in taxes, and thousands of dollars of credit card debt. Maybe it's time for Stephen to call in a favor with his wealthy siblings.

Stephen seems to be having a tough time these days-first he finds out that a homeless man he had allowed to live on his property was trafficking heroin there, then he learns that the lending bank is foreclosing on his house, then he pulls a Heidi/Spencer by abruptly leaving his spot on the reality TV show "I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here" (apparently due to "extreme bug bites"), and now he's filed for bankruptcy... More >> ..

I have never seen Cirque du Soleil live, but I have seen a YouTube video, subsequently ensuring that even after a few yard-long cocktails from Fat Tuesday, I probably still won't accidentally stumble into one of these freaky spectacles. Call it prejudice, or call an albino man in a zebra leotard- either way I still can't quite put my finger on what keeps them in business.

 

Ah. Money.

 

The Cirque du Soleil empire, no matter how twisted, has managed to maneuver into a billion-dollar empire. With the Americas, Asia, Middle East, and Las Vegas pillaged, the French-Canadian company has Hollywood's Kodak Theater in its crosshairs, but needed a boost from the local government to adequate the performance space. A five-person committee from the Los Angeles City Counsel unanimously approved a $30 million loan to fund 368 shows a year and produce 858 jobs in the Hollywood & Highland complex. Council President Eric Garcetti noted, "This is really going to be, outside of the Academy Awards, the landmark show in Hollywood... More >> ..

By calendar, summer is coming to an end, but that doesn't mean it is time to hide behind your baggy turtleneck. Get skinny at The Spa at the Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey as the Get Skinny treatment focuses on the limbs that will be seen and sunned most this summer and into the fall-your arms and legs.

 

A sky blue, eucalyptus-scented paradise, the spa is a calming oasis in the bustling marina, so plan accordingly and bask in luxury before, during, and after your treatment. There's a state of the art fitness center adjacent to the spa, and the cardio machines overlook one of L.A.'s only water front pools.

 

Once the treatment begins, an exfoliating scrub is massaged over the target area followed by an application of cayenne pepper gel, a unique, cellulite-fighting Murad serum. The cayenne reacts with your skin to create a subtle tingling sensation. After ten minutes the serum is removed with a warm, moist towel, and a Vitamin C moisturizer is massaged into the skin to lock in the effects of the serum... More >> ..

Once the block long lines grew old, conscious consumers questioned the $3 and $4 cupcake. Yet years later, it seems the cupcake won as the wallet slims and the hips widen. Another perceived loser in Battle Cupcake? The cookie. What happened to the simple pleasure found in gulping a glass of cold milk while devouring a warm chocolate chip cookie? And I am not talking about microwaved Chips Ahoy.

 

Lydia Shayne, owner of Highland's DeLuscious Cookies + Milk, refuses to let the cookie crumble into nothingness. Offering 16 classic flavors, including Oatmeal Raisin, Peanut Butter, and Chocolate Chip, which happens to be Entourage Creator and Executive Producer Doug Ellin's personal favorite, DeLuscious bakes a cookie for everyone's taste buds. Using only premium chocolates, grade AA sweet cream butter, and pure cane sugars, Lydia and her gifted crew bake all cookies fresh to order. Angelinos are lucky because they can take advantage of local delivery and literally bite into a warm and gooey cookie... More >> ..

Deep in the suburbs of Memphis, Tennessee, something with potential has been discovered, polished with millions of dollars, and predicted to pioneer a newer, hipper generation. No, we're not talking about Justin Timberlake circa 1996, per se, but rather his latest investment, which has an eerily familiar path towards stardom.

 

In a town called Millington outside of Memphis, Timberlake saved Big Creek Golf Course from hungry real estate developers with a $16 million purchase, intending to spruce up the defunct space. Anticipation regarding the facelift-- aimed to make the establishment modern and economically friendly-- has peaked since Timberlake's 2007 purchase. Only recently, sources confirmed the site will reopen as Mirimichi Golf Course on July 25th.

 

Though Timberlake hasn't visited since spring, Mirimichi's Golf Director, Greg King, assures the new putt-putt palace will bring sexy back... More >> ..