Cafe Wha?

We at SpeedLA Dating take great pride in providing our clients with the absolute, hottest venues in town. One such hot spot is the newly opened Ivan Kane's Cafe Wa s on Vine & Sunset. Now before you cry bad grammar on the name, Cafe Wa s is cleverly named after the sign in front, which would read 'Always Open' if some of the lights weren't burned out. Cafe Wa s strikes a balance between whimsy and logic, theatrical in spirit, at once chic and yet bohemian, located in the heart of Hollywood. Ivan Kane, the legend behind 'Forty Deuce' at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, ups the ante and brings fine dining to an entirely new level.

This bi-level supper club boasts a grand piano in the middle, three bars, mini lounge areas upstairs, and a large patio. The ambiance is both comfortable and awe-inspiring. Few restaurants have personality... And Ivan Kane's Cafe Wa s has a personality you can't get enough of. From the Staircase to nowhere, the rotating piano, to the feeling of being invited to someones mansion, albeit, someone slightly off his or her rocker, this is the ultimate first date spot. If the date is going well, than the atmosphere is intoxicating. If the date is going badly, one can take the time to figure out 'where exactly does that stairwell go to?'

One important aspect and in these times, incredibly important, is the fact that you get to be taken to a place out of this world...without breaking your bank. Cafe Wa s is a French Bistro with a very reasonable menu. I especially love the canapes. At $3-5 each... one can order to impress. Each is just a few bites and each makes you want another. The Tuna Tartare canape is my personal favorite.

On the Entree front, the Steak Frites at $27, is a organic premium cut of the day with Cafe Wa s signature fries. If you are feeling especially flush, then the Filet au Poivre at $34 is a must have. If you have blown all your money on the dreamy canapes, then the Bistro Burger at $15 is a delight with sirloin, prosciutto and those 'Can't get enough' Cafe Wa s fries.

We typically don't boast about our fabulous venues in our blog as to not gloat too much, but then again, Cafe Wa s is anything but typical.

SpeedLA Dating @ Ivan Kane's Cafe Was * February 24th 2010

Ivan Kane's Cafe Wa s - Hollywood

Written by: SpeedLA Dating

Victoria's Secret...On the first date?!?!

Most of us associate Victoria’s Secret apparel with something we’d wear on the third date. You know, something black or pink (or PINK) and lacy or sheer – something sexy. Before writing this blog post, I knew from stealing my roommate’s Victoria’s Secret catalogue that the company also sells clothing. But the website blew me away! The top of the homepage includes links to bras and panties (we knew that), sleepwear and lounge attire, clothing, shoes, swim, beauty, sales and specials, and PINK wear. This is a Victoria’s Secret like I’ve never seen it – I had no idea that they had so much inventory and selection!

The homepage and website as a whole is easy to navigate and set against a crisp, clean white background. The space on the page is well-designed and aesthetically pleasing. The homepage features sales, specials, and news, such as swimwear sales, free bonuses with purchase, and fall fashion previews. The bottom of the page includes a variety of relevant and helpful links, including “Check Order Status”, “Customer Service”, “Request a Catalogue”, “Find a Store Near You”, and “Angel Card”. The homepage itself matches the brand, and successfully straddles the line between sexy and pragmatic.

With Victoria’s Secret offering more than just third-date apparel, I wanted to find out what my user experience on the site and product variety would be if I wanted to find a cute top for a first or second date. I clicked on “clothing”, and was directed to a new page in which “Tops & Tees $14 & Up” was featured most prominently. In a sidebar, items were grouped into categories: Sexy Steals, Features, Destination Summer, Dresses, Tops & Tees, Shirts & Blouses, Sweaters, Pants, Yoga & Loungewear, Shorts, Denim, Skirts, Suit Separates, Jackets & Coats, and Handbags & Accessories. The sidebar remained present on each page of Women’s Clothing.

I followed the “Tops & Tees” link, clicked on a babydoll tee, and used a size chart to determine the correct size for me. After that, I selected one of the many available colors, as well as the quantity, and added the shirt to my bag (adding to a wishlist was also an option). Following the add, I was given a suggested list of items “we think you’ll also love”.

All in all, I really enjoyed the Victoria’s Secret site. Its design was organic, well organized, easy to navigate, and subtly sexy throughout. I was impressed by the wide variety of merchandise (fifteen pages of tops & tees, and over twenty new styles of denim!). I believe it would be fun, easy, and overall enjoyable to select a first or second date outfit using the site, not to mention an outfit for the beach, a night out on the town, the perfect pumps, or a lip gloss for the perfect pout. Check out the site today, and soon you’ll be the sight to be seen!

Victoria's Secret

Written by: Lauren Blackwell - SpeedUSA Group Resident Blogger

The Sweet Escape

We’ve all been there. That magic moment when the candles are flickering, the music is tinkling, the perfume is wafting and you’re gazing into your date’s eyes, daydreaming about the future. Or, more specifically, daydreaming about all the terrific Tivo you could be taking in if you could just make your escape.

Nothing is worse than getting stuck on a bad first date. Especially if you’re stuck making small talk through three courses of awkward. That’s why I always opt for first dates with an easy out and a set time limit. Activities like coffee and cocktails certainly provide the perfect opportunity to suss someone out without committing to multiple courses. But, the downside to the whole drink-as-date plan is that it’s a pretty obvious ploy. That’s why I’ve found something even better -- frozen yogurt.

With fro-yo shops popping up on every corner, the tasty treat is totally the new Starbucks, especially when it comes to dating. Frozen yogurt gives you the same grab-and-go benefits that meeting for coffee or cocktails does, but it also provides both a tasty topic (toppings, anyone?) and an excuse to indulge your inner child. Both of which can come in handy to cool you down when you’re stuck in the pressure cooker that is a first date.

Lucky for you, LA just happens to be fro-yo mecca, with shops of all sorts showing up all over the city like, well, Starbucks. So, without further ado, here are my picks for the best places to treat your first date to a little frozen fun.

Cantaloop Yogurt (7095 Hollywood Blvd) is a sweet self-serve yogurt bar, where you can fill up your cup with flavors ranging from birthday cake to dairy-free pomegranate, pick and pour your own toppings and enjoy the whole thing on a gorgeous walled-in patio. And, if you get bored discussing your date’s decision to combine gummy bears and cookie dough, there’s a well-stocked magazine rack full of cool catalogues to keep you occupied. So, even if you don’t agree on toppings, you can always find out you share the same taste in Crate & Barrel.

If your date is more into pumping iron than piling on the cookie dough, you might want to try Ce Fiore (http://www.cefiore.com/index.php). This franchise has creamy, calorie-conscious combos like their Golden Cherry flavor, which combines acerola cherries and blood oranges to create something that’s sweet, tangy and a little tart – which is exactly what a good first date should taste like. They have locations all over the place, but be warned that the ones I’ve been to are big on the bright colors and bumping bass, so if you’re looking to actually converse with your date, you might want to plan to savor your sweet treat while you stroll somewhere.

While Cantaloop and Ce Fiore are my personal favorites, no discussion of fro-yo in our fine city would be complete without mentioning PinkBerry. Which is, of course, a universal fave for a reason. Personally, I’m a fan of the green tea yogurt with cocoa pebbles and the location at the intersection of Sunset and Fuller, which has some of the best people watching around.

So there you have it, my take on the coolest new craze in quickie dating, the fro-yo first date. Of course, sharing my fave frozen yogurt joints was the easy part. If you can get me to actually share a spoonful of whatever combo happens to be in my cardboard cup, then you know you might just be on track for a second date.

Cantaloop - 5 Locations throughout Los Angeles

Ce Fiore - Loads of locations all throughout California and the US

Pinkberry - So Cal Locations

Written by: Mollie Vandor - SpeedLA Dating Resident Blogger

If You Seek Audi: Yuppie Cruising

If you seek yuppie, then Audi your way on over to Manhattan Beach, a yuppie hotbed. Manhattan Beach breeds its own unique brand of yuppie, think 80s Gordon Gekko with a splash of surfer mentality. "Greed is good....bro." Greek is also good...bro, so if you're swooning a new yuppie, give her that champagne on the beach treatment and whisk her away to Petros Greek Cuisine and Lounge (451 Manhattan Beach Boulevard, Manhattan Beach). Petros is an incredibly inviting and intimate atmosphere; one feels as though he's wafting through his own Greek Villa as opposed to a fussy, conventional establishment. Cozy up to a table in the refined indoor area or on the romantic outdoor patio. Either way, total high class, zero sass ambiance. Note that the austere interior complements the explosive food.

The extensive menu features all of your favorites (pizza, pasta, chicken) yet in delectable authentic Greek form (translation: add a smorgasbord of eggplant, feta cheese and olives...gotta get that boom boom Greek). In today's trying economy, even yuppies have to pinch pennies (in yuppie speak: "pinch Porsches") so no need to bring your big fat Greek wallet. Instead, relax at the bar and order a couple of Espresso Vittis and give the Nikos Saganaki a whirl. What a whirl it will be - feta cheese coated with sesame seeds and sprinkled with honey. Despite sounding like exotic bird food, its divine human food and after just one taste not a morsel of Nikos Saganaki shall be spared..or often times shared! Mama mia!

Post-Nikos Saganaki devouring spree, saunter 15 feet across from Petros patio (when prowling for yuppies, always be in saunter mode) to Sashi Sushi and Sake Lounge (try saying that three Espresso Vittis fast) at 451 Manhattan Beach Boulevard in Manhattan Beach. There couldn't be a sharper contrast between the humming, classic Petros and the buzzing, vibrant Sashi. While both are glamorous, Petros draws an elegant Yale-esque yuppie while Sashi welcomes an exuberant USC-ish yuppie. Further, Petros is more first date whereas Sashi is more first bait. Be prepared to get charmed over BMW 3 series small talk as single yuppies of all ages ready to bite line the walls of this scintillating Asian-inspired restaurant/lounge. It boasts a dynamic sushi menu and heavenly drinks. At Sashi, one absolutely must partake in the the drink de yuppie, which is the mint mojito. It tastes as though you're drinking gummy bears. Gimme gimme more (gummy!) So saddle up in your six cylinder and enjoy yuppiedom.

Petros Greek Cuisine - Manhattan Beach

Sashi Sushi and Sake Lounge - Manhattan Beach

Written by: Meredith McKenna - SpeedLA Dating Resident Blogger

Romance Anyone?

Setting the scene for that special night out or any night when love is in the air, there is truly no other spot in LA that can capture the moment like Il Cielo in Beverly Hills. A twinkling canopy of lights, twining vines and flowers create a romantic courtyard setting quite unlike any other. On Burton Way just east of Doheny lies this country cottage where you can enjoy dining under the stars in the breath-taking front patio, the fountain garden with its retractable glass roof or by the wonderfully cozy fireplace.

Voted "The Most Romantic Restaurant in LA" by Los Angeles magazine, Il Cielo is more than a restaurant, it's a landmark. With a divine Tuscan menu, any dish you choose is sure to please. With a seasonal menu and seasonal Prix Fixe offering, those looking to sample the freshest of the day, while saving a few dollars, will find their Prix Fixe offering just the ticket. Although a bit on the expensive side, you absolutely get what you pay for. From the romance in the air, to the delightful Lobster, Filet and dreamy Truffle Pasta, you won't mind the splurge one bit.

Il Cielo is everything you have heard it was and more. Easy on the eyes, easy on the heart and not so easy on the wallet.

Il Cielo - Beverly Hills

Written by: SpeedLA Dating

Something For Him...

So it's time for something for him. Well ladies, we knew this would happen eventually. I've got a great spot sure to tickle the car bone in even the toughest of guys. I offer you, The Peterson Automotive Museum on Wilshire in Los Angeles.

Covering four floors, the facility features permanent exhibits on the first floor that trace the history of the automobile. Visitors are invited to walk through, not by, exhibits and dioramas and experience settings of early Los Angeles where the world’s first shopping district was designed. The second floor presents five rotating galleries with state-of-the-art displays of racecars, classic cars, vintage motorcycles, concept cars, celebrity and movie cars, and auto design and technology.
The May Family Discovery Center is located on the third floor. Designed to spark interest in science by way of the automobile, the 6,500 square-foot, interactive “hands-on” learning center teaches children basic scientific principles by explaining the fundamental functions of a car. Like scenes in a romantic comedy, children's area in museums can create some of the sweetest date moments in any relationhip. Have fun, see how you look in Vivien Leigh's convertible and most of all... nod a lot. Men seem to like that.

Peterson Museum rotate their exhibits regularly and offer such an array of exhibits you are sure to find something that strikes both your fancy.

The Peterson Automotive Museum - Los Angeles

Written by: SpeedLA Dating

Turn Your Hipster On

In the 90s, Los Angeles was a gangster’s paradise. Today, it’s a hipster’s paradise. A reported two in four people are hipsters…an alarming statistic as the hipster pandemic is only intensifying, especially acute in LA’s eastside neighborhoods. Turn your swagger on? Sorry, Soulja Boy – time to turn your hipster on.

Looking for Mister or Mademoiselle Hipster in all the wrong places? First, you must identify which degree of hipsterness you are seeking in that special someone. Let us explore the aesthetic hipster, the Euro hipster and the everyman’s hipster.

Some ladies like a man in uniform, others like a man in eyeliner. If you are the latter, look no further than “Beauty Bar”, located in the eclectic Cahuenga Corridor neighborhood of Hollywood (1638 N. Cahuenga Boulevard, Los Angeles). Welcome to the aesthetic hipster jungle. As soon as you enter the Bar, you’re not sure if you’re in an actual bar or in the Breakfast Club. The décor screams 80s while the crowd screams mgmt’s “KIDS.” You’re engulfed by a tsunami of plaid scarves, neon tights and yellow skinny skinny skinny jeans, and that’s the men. It is incredibly easy to strike up a conversation with your hipster/ette of choice, undoubtedly because there are no fire marshal restriction signs posted anywhere so there are about ten people per square inch. Even though at times you feel more cramped than a smart car, Beauty Bar’s DJs keep the party roaring until closing time with blaring music ranging from the Black Eyed Peas to the Bruce Springsteen so enjoy that boom boom pow while dancing in the hipster dark.

Perhaps you’re over the dance party scene and instead you’re looking for the Euro Hipster aka someone who can wear a hooded sweatshirt and still look sophisticated. Someone who updates his facebook status with Jean-Jacques Rousseau quotes. Someone who isn’t afraid to order a crepe (there are close to 30 featured on the menu, so crepe it up). Aha…time to check out Solar de Cahuenga (1847 N. Cahuenga Boulevard, Los Angeles), a Euro-ness hipster café. Despite being a couple blocks north of flashy Hollywood Boulevard, Solar de Cahuenga has a whimsical Parisian feel to it. Bring a date or a laptop (don’t be shy to get a little geeky, in fact there are 2.21 laptops per customer) and curl up on one of the inviting floor pillows or stake out a seat in the bustling outdoor sidewalk area. If crepes aren’t your forte, offer to share some parsley French fries with that Euro femme fatale sitting solo and voila, instant hipster soiree!

If the aesthetic-flavored or Euro-inspired hipster is not for you, then consider dating the everyman’s hipster. The everyman’s hipster can be identified by two telltale signs – they possess a kickback attitude and wear regular black jeans (as opposed to skinny black jeans). Head to “The Griffin” (3000 Los Feliz Boulevard, Atwater Village) for your dose of everyman hipster. Instantly become enchanted by the cozy ski-lodge interior, as deer heads adorn the walls and fireplaces pop up intermittently. It’s a little slice of Aspen without the attitude – a must for summer 2009. Note that it takes a bit of effort to chat up these everyman hipsters; for once planted in a coveted fire-side bench they don’t dare risk leaving their prime territory. However, the layout features two separate bar areas where scores of everyman hipsters congregate so pounce on the opportunity to schmooze it up under a deer-headed ceiling (where else in LA can you do that?). Regardless of your hipster preference, go put on a fresh plaid hoodie or your fav pair of skinny black jeans and get out there. Happy hipster-ing.

The Beauty Bar - Hollywood

The Griffin - Atwater Village

Solar De Cahuenga - Hollywood

Written by: Meredith McKenna - SpeedLA Dating Resident Blogger