Where to stay and what to do.

HOTELS

Avalon
9400 West Olympic Boulevard
(310) 277-5221
If you want small, boutique-y, hip and cool, check out the Avalon. Click here for their web site.

Beverly Wilshire: A Four Seasons Hotel

9500 Wilshire Boulevard

(310) 275-5200
If you want fancy and more expensive, these days I like the Four Season Beverly Wilshire. Since being taken over by The Four Seasons, this place has gone way up hill and I think an awesome choice. Take advantage of their free chauffeured Maserati or Rolls Royce. Pop down to Wofgang's Steakhouse, or check out The Avenue for great food. You almost feel like you're in New York. You can walk everywhere. I love it. Click here for the web site.

The Beverly Hills Hotel

9641 Sunset Boulevard

(310) 276-2251
If you want old school ( with modern amenities, of course), a great pool scene, cool restaurants (The Stools in the basement for breakfast and lunch, and The Polo Lounge for lunch and dinner), there's a new bar scene in the lobby and also tennis courts, if that interests you.
Click here for the web site.

SHOPPING

There's of course, Barneys, Neimans, Saks and all of the places on Rodeo Drive. I hardly go there. The places I love are:

THE CHEESE STORE OF BEVERLY HILLS.
This is the ultimate cheese shop. Adults freak over this tiny store on Beverly Drive. Kids freak out too: 'cause it's so smelly! You can smell the cheese from outside. I have a running joke with my kids that if they're bad, they'll get a time-out in this place.

JILL ROBERTS
My favorite boutique in BH. The best lines, nice girls that work there, sometimes some cool stuff for the kids.

WORKING OUT.

THE SPORTS CLUB/LA
Much smaller and therefor more intimate than the sister club on Sepulveda. This place has great classes, equipment, trainers, and a spa. Nice lockers rooms with only a wet steam – not dry. I like this place a lot, and I sometimes even come here to get away from the family and just take a nice long shower. Everything is super clean + a nice, plush towel. There is a snack bar slash restaurant, but I never go there -- it's on the opposite side of the entrance and somehow not so inviting. One of the best classes is Shreadmill. Check out the teacher, Felix – he's got his own youtube channel: Click here.

Richard Slimmons Studio
Yes, you're reading this right -- Richard Simmons has a studio on one of my favorite streets in Beverly Hills, Civic Center Drive. Richard still teaches here and his classes are packed – the other classes super mellow but very effective. It's a very simple studio, with easy parking and I really love it. Check out Richard on Letterman:



SPAS

The Four Seasons Beverly Hills
For me nothing beats the Four Seasons.

Thibiant Beverly Hills Day Spa
The other place I like for massages, facials, manicures and pedicures.

Need a car wash??
Beverly Hills Hand Wash
427 N Crescent Drive (310) 274-0885
The killer thing about this place is that you are having lunch at La Scala or Porta Via you can park here, get your car washed for under twenty bucks and save five bucks from valet parking. It's a block away from those restaurants, they do a great job. A total no-brainer.

Go to a park.
Coldwater Canyon Park
1100 N Beverly Dive (310) 550-4625
My favorite. Very clean, easy parking, peaceful. There's even a stream for the kids to play in.

FASHIONOLOGYLA
342 N. Canon
The Build a Bear experience, but with clothing, perfect for girls between four and twelve. The idea is to pick a garment, design it on a computer. Decorate with sequins, rhinestones, charms and iron-ons. Then at the end you do a mini fashion show and have you photo emailed to you and screened for the store. They do birthday parties and it's a totally happening experience.
NOTE: Kids love the sushi bar next door -- Luckyfish -- it's conveyor belt-style and pretty good.
Click here for the web site.

Take a hike.
Believe it or not there's GREAT hikes in Beverly Hills. I like to go to Franklin Canyon. There's lake to walk around (the opening to "The Andy Griffith Show" was shot here!) and a nice mountain to hike up. Click here.

MUSEUMS
The Paley Center for Media
(formerly The Museum of Television and Radio)
465 North Beverly Drive (310) 786-1025
Wanna go check out the pilot for "The Monkees" or any other show ever?!
Click here for the web site.