Santa Barbara, California

sexy DESTINATION - SANTA BARBARA



The Santa Barbara Mission

















The Santa Barbara Marina

sexy FASHION - AMERICAN APPAREL

1019 State Street, Santa Barbara

(805) 564-1830

http://www.americanapparelstore.com/

American Apparel is a leading basic brand, with both wholesale and retail divisions globally. The company is known for cutting edge advertising and product branding. It's "Made in Downtown LA" operations have contributed to significant brand awareness and cult status worldwide.

When in Los Angeles I love to visit the store on Robertson before having breakfast at “The Ivy” or if I’m in Santa Barbara I’ll visit the store on State Street for some American Apparel comfy classics prior to lunching at Bar Cliff and Baire for some delicious home cooked cuisine.

American Apparel sportswear has a rainbow of colored cottons for women, men and dogs. Everybody needs t-shirts, socks and sweatshirts and what better place than getting them soft, sexy and cheap.

My favorite items are the white leggings, white sweatshirt and the t-shirt mini dresses, which I have in red, black and nude. Recently I saw in the social pages of People Magazine a young European princess wearing their red t-shirt mini-dress – I suppose the rich and blue blood also like a sexy bargain.

sexy DINING - EPIPHANY
21 West Victoria
Santa Barbara

(805) 564 7100

http://www.epiphanysb.com/

Epiphany is my favorite restaurant in Santa Barbara right now and they have the most enjoyable outside bar. Owner Michelle hand picks a superb selection of lounge music. If Epiphany was a boutique hotel I would have stayed many nights just to enjoy the music the wine and the atmosphere.

I can’t rave enough about this restaurant. Michelle and Alberto Mastrangelo’s Epiphany have their heart in this gem of an establishment – a 1920’s Victorian house brimming with epicurean style and flair.

Dishes I love :

Appetizer - Watercress and white asparagus salad with truffle oil.

Main - White fish with fava beans.

Desert - Cheesecake – I’ve never a cheesecake that melted in my mouth like the one here at Epipany.

Bar food - Gruyere grilled cheese sandwich.

sexy DINING - TRE LUNA
1151 Coast Village Road,
Montecito, CA 93108
(805) 969-2646

Tre Luna is hands down the best Italian restaurant in town (Montecito). Owner Gene Montasano creator of Lucky jeans owns this fabulous Hollywood style upscale restaurant.

Dishes I love:

Appetizer - Mozzarella and Caprese (for a uniquely soft Mozzarella).

Main - Spaghetti and lentils.

sexy FILM - THE GRADUATE (1967)

(one scene filmed at the historic Miramar Hotel)

Santa Barbara pictures courtesy of Flickr.com (photographer Matt- mistergoleta).

Las Vegas, Nevada

sexy DESTINATION - LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

Neon Lights, Debauchery, Money and Gluttony - Las Vegas is a sinful adult Disneyland.

In the initial year of The Las Vegas Strip, "no" was a big word - no cover, no minimum, no state speed limit, no sales tax, no waiting period for marriages, no state income tax and no regulation on gambling as it's known today. In modern times about the only "no's" remaining are no state income tax and no waiting period to obtain a wedding license.

sexy LOUNGE - THE HOUSE of BLUES FOUNDATION ROOM "MANDALAY BAY"

(inside the Mandalay Bay)

3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd

(702) 492-3960

(866) 80-SHOWS

The House of Blues Foundation Room at the Mandalay Bay is one of the most exclusive clubs in Vegas. It is usually a members only venue but it's open on Monday to everyone. Guests staying at the Mandalay Bay and The Hotel are also welcome guests.

The Foundation Room has an exotic mysterious ambience. A private elevator takes you up 43 floors to the top of the hotel. A Buddah awaits and the sweet aroma of incense beckons one into a seductive caven. A patchwork of beautiful Persian rugs leads one into a variety of darkened, private rooms, screening rooms and several bars that have been adorned by artifacts from India and Tibet.

A Chocolate Martini is a heavenly after dinner cocktail to enjoy while in front of the fireplace in this relaxing and easily conversable atmosphere.

Don't miss a chance to enjoy the warm desert breeze on the terrace overlooking one of the best views of "The Strip" in Las Vegas.

"The Flamingo"

sexy POOL - HUGH HEFNER SKY VILLA - "THE PALMS HOTEL"

http://www.palms.com/

sexy EUROPEAN STYLE POOLS

Las Vegas has several new European style sunbathing (topless) that have become popular. The pools are:

1) Moorea at the Mandalay Bay Hotel

2) Tao Beach at the Venetian Hotel

3) Venus at Ceasars Palace - I love the pools that have been inspired by Roman baths.

4) Bare at the Mirage Hotel

sexy ARTIST - DALE CHIHULY

http://www.chihuly.com/

Glass flower ceiling at The Bellagio Casino

sexy FILM - CASINO

Martin Scorsese's "Casino" is celebrating it's 10th anniversary

sexy MUSIC - CASINO (SOUNDRACK)

sexy JEWELS - DAVID YURMAN


http://www.davidyurman.com/

South Sea pearl earrings.

I love these earrings and the cable braclets at David Yurman - a beautiful site worth the visit.

sexy PHOTOSHOOT SITE - NEON BONEYARD

Neon Boneyard is a 3 acre site of disgarded neon Las Vegas Signs that I think makes a perfect setting for a movie or photoshoot.

sexy NEON LAS VEGAS SIGNS

Photographs courtesy of Flickr.com - photographers: lostamerica, roadside pictures, jeroen 020, chris j, oli "en vaccaciones", mil8

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

sexy DESTINATION - SAN MIGUEL de ALLENDE, MEXICO



































Today the center of town is void of traffic signs, stop signs, billboards or neon signs.

San Miguel de Allende is a perfectly romantic, ancient Mexican city - a place to loose your self and fall in love.











Charming cobblestone streets, fragrant heady flowers and sonorous churchbells.















Earthen toned Colonial buildings illuminated by the golden sun, majestic mariachi music and spicy cuisine.

San Miguel de Allende is a special place that you'll wish you could stay forever.




sexy HOTEL - CASA SIERRA NEVADA
Hospicio No. 42, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico
+52 (415) 152-70-40
Toll free 1-800 701 1561
www.orient-express.com












Casa Sierra Nevada is a luxury boutique hotel owned by the Orient Express Hotel Group. It's set in the heart of historic San Miguel de Allende and has 31 deluxe rooms and suites that are distributed between four mansions.

This charming hotel has cooking programs ranging in one hour to week long culinary packages, offering the finest in traditional Mexican cooking.


Casa Sierra Nevada bedroom
















Casa Sierra Nevada dining














sexy DINING - LA CAPILLA
(behind the church)

La Capilla offers the finest Mexican cuisine and incredible views of the city. If you’re lucky a large white owl will greet you and fly above you at twilight. It nests in La Capilla (the chapel).




















Flanking the entrance is an overwhelming fragrance of the pungent flower tuberose. Two large candle altars illuminate the cantera stone entrance and are so typical of Mexico.


sexy VODKA - ABSOLUTE PEPPAR





















Absolut Peppar is a vodka made with Mexican Jalapeno chillies. This vodka was introduced as Absolut's first flavored vodka in 1986.


















Absolut Vodka is a Swedish brand of vodka that was introduced in 1879. In March 2008, the Swedish government owner of Absolut through it's Vin and Sprit (V&S) Group, sold Absolut to the French firm Pernod Richard for about $9 Billion U.S. The Swedish government is trying to sell various consumer product companies it owns to reduce the country's debt.

Absolut is the third largest brand of alcoholic spirits in the world followed after Barcardi and Smirnoff.




sexy FILM - LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE

"Passionate and sensational"





















sexy FILM - Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN

"Raw emotions"
























sexy FLOWER - MEXICAN TUBEROSE



















The legend of the tuberose in France warns that young girls should not breathe in its fragrance after dark for fear that it would put them in a romantic mood. In India, tuberose is known as rat ki rani, (The Mistress of the Night) for similar reasons.



sexy CANDLE ALTER

"Typical of Mexico"

Santa Monica, California

sexy FASHION DESIGNER – YVES SAINT LAURENT
1926-2008
http://www.ysl.com/



















Legendary fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent who revolutionized fashion by putting women into elegant pantsuits and redefined how a modern woman dressed died June 1st 2008 at the age of 71.

He was hailed the last of the towering figures of the 20th century fashion that included Christian Dior, Coco Chanel and made Paris the fashion capital of the world, with the Rive Gauche, or Left Bank as its elegant headquarters.

Yves Saint Laurent was one of the most influential and enduring designers of his time creating the ever present Y.S.L tuxedo, his trim pantsuits, to sexy see-through blouses, safari jackets, and glamorous gowns that have all become instant classics that remain stylish decades later.

While Coco Chanel gave women freedom, Yves Saint Laurent gave them power.

As far as I’m concerned there’s nothing sexier than empowering a woman by dressing her stylishly and Yves Saint Laurent did it perfectly by putting a woman in a man’s tuxedo.



sexy HOTEL – THE VICEROY
1819 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica
1-800-670-6185
http://www.thekorgroup.com/






















The Viceroy, Santa Monica is a boutique hotel that combines contemporary chic with classic sophistication. A fresh palette of chartreuse green, dark slate and refreshing white have been the distinctive color pattern designer Kelly Wearstler has used for the “modern colonial” motif.

Ideal for business of pleasure, The Viceroy is located within walking distance of the Santa Monica Pier and approximately eight miles from the L.A International airport. This location is also nine miles from Beverly Hills, 15 miles from the Hollywood Walk of fame.

When I stay at The Viceroy I feel like I’ve stepped back into a Hollywood era of the 50’s. The comforting foyer leads to a help yourself library on the ground floor that’s filled with books on design.

I always book a mountain facing room rather than the Pacific room as it tends to get a little glary from the sun. Also the mountain side rooms have bathtubs and cost less.



sexy DINING – WHIST / CAMEO – THE VICEROY














Whist is an acclaimed restaurant that has never disappointed – the Sunday brunch is outstanding and can be enjoyed in the restaurant or outside by the stylish poolside cabanas enjoying unlimited champagne.















The Cameo Bar is perfect to sit and unwind and enjoy the gourmet selection of the finest cheeses. Perfectly paired with an oaky California Chardonnay, the exotic array of sophisticated flavors, deliver unexpected surprises accompanied with various chutneys, jams and honey.



sexy DINING – CAFÉ CREPES
1460 Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica
(310) 576- 0499

Since I’m not in Paris, I can pretend I am when I visit this corner café that offers sweet and savory crepes.

I love the spinach and feta crepes and have them almost every time with a large cappuccino. The banana and nutella (hazelnut and chocolate spread) is delicious but so rich it’s better to share this sweet crepe.

This busy little European style café needs every minute it can spare to serve its full house; so don’t be in a rush when you eat here, it’s worth the wait.



sexy MUSIC – THE MAGIC of MARILYN




















The multi -talented Marilyn Monroe had a beautiful, sexy, breathy screen voice. The Magic of Marilyn CD features many songs from her marvelous films, Gentleman Prefer Blondes, Niagra, There’s no Business like Show Business, River of no Return, and Let’s Make Love.

I purchased this CD from Hear Music the other day while strolling down the Third Street Promenade. They had sold out of the CD but this music store allows you to make a copy.

I play it every time I get in the car and haven’t taken it from the disk player since I bought it. My favorite songs are, Diamonds Are a Girls Best Friend, When Love goes Wrong, and My Heart Belongs to Daddy - Is an absolute must buy for $12.99




sexy PERFUME – ALLURE by CHANEL

http://www.chanel.com/




















Allure perfume by Chanel was introduced in 1996. Since its arrival I’ve faithfully worn this superior fragrance containing citron, rose, and jasmine. It’s accented with honeysuckle, oak moss and the male arousing sent of yes; VANILLA.

Eau de Parfum
1.7oz $80
3.4 oz $110




sexy ARTIST – LORENZO SPERLONGA
http://www.lorenzosperlonga.com/




















Last weekend I attended a Hollywood party and met the charming Italian Lorenzo Sperlonga. Famed for his pin-up artwork that focuses on sci-fi, fantasy and erotica. His work frequently appears in Playboy, Penthouse and Hustler magazines. Sperlonga’s original work and prints are available at http://www.lorenzosperlonga.com/

His work is superb and would look great hung in a modern city studio. I’m certain his work will gain in value and appreciation. Lorenzo Sperlonga is certainly an artist to keep your eye on.


Photographs courtesy of Flickr.com - Photographers: Dan Chamberlain, Allison Newhouse, svanes