Since the Sex and the City movie is opening this weekend (woo!), I dedicate this weekend roundup to fine desserts and sample sales, and an art walk thrown in for good measure.
Friday, May 30
Theodor Tea Tasting at Jin Patisserie
Mmm, a tea tasting at fancy-schmancy Jin Patisserie. French tea taster Guillaume LeLeu, proprietor of Theodor teas, will present a selection of white, green, and black teas to go along with pastry chef Kristy Choo’s tea-flavored macaroons and tea-infused truffles. Lovely lovely!
- 4-7pm. Free. Jin Patisserie, 1202 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice (map). (310) 399-8801.
Saturday, May 31
Billion Dollar Babes Spring Sale 2008
Huge sample sale involving over 40 designer duds at up to 80% off, an open bar and beauty services galore. Your (and my) favorites! Plus admission is free. At least the Saturday sale is. Friday is for BDB VIPs. RSVP asap at www.billiondollarbabes.com. Cash and credit cards only.
- 9am-5pm. Free. Smashbox Studios, 1011 North Fuller Avenue, West Hollywood (map).
Shopaholic Sample Sale 50-90% Off Retail
On the other side of town is another huge sample sale at the Pasadena Convention Center. No open bar here but this one features designer brands like For Joseph, Ben Sherman, Plenty by Tracy Reese, Paige Premium Denim, and many more, all marked 50-90% off retail. Cash only.
- 9am-7pm. Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green Street, Suite 211, Pasadena (map).
3rd Annual Artwalk Culver City
Tour over 40 art galleries in six (eight with a select few) hours. Can you do it? You can give it a try at the 3rd Annual Artwalk Culver City. The arty area’s art galleries will open their doors to cultured public. You can also enjoy the live jazz in the Culver City Art District and the special promotions of neighboring restaurants. That’s all well and good but what happened to the after party? Last year’s was crazy crowded…and those free Absolut cocktails!
- 12-6pm (Select galleries will stay open til 8pm). Located where Washington and La Cienega Boulevards intersect, Los Angeles. Click here for the artwalk guide.
Sunday, June 1
L.A. Cupcake Meetup at Lark Cake Shop
I met Tara from When Tara Met Blog at last week’s cupcake challenge and my cupcake world opened up. L.A. has a large cupcake community and its members like to meet up at different cupcakeries on occasion. This Sunday, the L.A. Cupcake Meetup Group is descending on Silver Lake’s Lark Cake Shop where they will enjoy the shop’s many cupcake flavors including vegan chocolate cupcake and old fashioned ice box cupcake (available in three sizes of mini, regular and jumbo). You pay for your own goodies but the conversation and new friendships are included.
- 1pm. Lark Cake Shop, 3337 W. Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles (map).
Ice Cream Sundays at the Scene Bar
Chill out at the Scene Bar this Sunday where you can exploit the $3 well drinks and $3 domestic specials but gorge yourself on the free ice cream and boogie down to the stylings of resident DJs Shalyce and Joaquin. Photos will be taken by Magnum XL.
- 9pm-2am. Free before 10pm, $3 after. The Scene Bar, 806 E. Colorado Street, Glendale (map). (818) 241-7029.