December Food & Lifestyle News for Los Angeles

Here is what is happening this month in the City of Angels.

Love Actually Live Returns to the Wallis

Love Actually Live has returned to the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Performances run November 22 through December 30 at 7:30pm. In celebration of the holiday film’s 20th anniversary, the Wallis is offering two exclusive Love Actually inspired cocktails – Pia Days with mezcal, prickly pear, lemon and agave and the “You are Perfect” Mule with whiskey , spiced apple cider, citrus and ginger beer. Tickets at https://thewallis.org.

SLS Beverly Hills Hosts So Let’s Shop Event

The SLS Beverly Hills Hotel is partnering with Modern Day Wife to host “So Let’s Shop” event on December 1. The event includes a VIP Pre Party at 3pm with the main event featuring beauty, wellness, lifestyle and business panels; a fireside chat with actress Jennie Garth; pop up booths for holiday shopping and a beauty station with make up touch ups and mini consults. Tickets can be purchased at https://themoderndaywife.com/pages/so-lets-shop-dec-2023.

Milk Bar Offers Holiday Treats

James Beard Award-winning pastry chef Christina Tosi’s Milk Bar is offering new holiday treats. Seasonal treats are available for pick up at bakeries across the country and also can ship nationwide. New treats include peppermint bark cake, chocolate mint chip cake truffles, mini peppermint bark snap tin and a holiday sampler with mini peppermint bark snaps, a slice of Milk Bar pie and chocolate mint chip, B’day and Chocolate B’day truffles. Order at https://milkbarstore.com/collections/holiday-gifts.

Eataly Restaurants Offer Special Holiday Panettone

Eataly Century City’s restaurants are offering a special holiday panettone with a special tableside cart experience. Diners can choose from house made toppings like chocolate, Chantilly cream and mascarpone cream. Each flavor, including Classico, Pistachio Cream, Orange & Chocolate, and the iconic Pandoro, is meticulously crafted with premium ingredients such as Piemontese cream butter and Madagascar vanilla. Offered at Terra, Capri and La Pizza La Pasta throughout December.

Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills Special Holiday Events

The Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills has a bevy of special events this holiday season including Christmas Eve and Christmas Dinner at Espelette from 1 to 8pm; Christmas Eve brunch and a la carte dining at The Rooftop by JG from 10am to noon and dinner Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from noon to 8pm; a special Nutcracker Afternoon Tea weekends in December from noon to 4pm; s special La Prairie holiday spa escape including aromatherapy scrub, hot stone massage and facial, $525; a special two night Waldorf Wonderland Package including breakfast, festive room décor, holiday feast for four and more, $2,000 and holiday confections and Buche De Noel, offered from December 12 to 24th, serves 8 to 10 for $110, order at 310.860.6705. The resort is also offering a New Year’s Eve Venetian Carnival Masquerade Ball, $195; a live DJ on New Year’s Eve at The Rooftop by JG, $125 and breakfast, dinner and lunch at Espelette on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Teeling x Notre Dame 'Teelgate' Football Season Cocktail Kit

This seasonal cocktail kit features everything needed, including a Teeling small batch whiskey bottle, to create delicious Teeling Irish Coffee, only $74.99, purchase at

https://www.cocktail.courier.com/product/teelgate-football-season-cocktail-kit.

Sofitel LA at Beverly Hills Hosts Pawlidays and Toy Drive.

The Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills hotel is hosting a PATH Toy Drive through December 18. Guests can drop off an unwrapped toy, book or game at the front desk for children and families experience homelessness. Toys must be unwrapped and new or like new. They are also hosting Pawlidays on December 8 from 11am to 2pm offering a photo with Santa ($20), holiday treats for fur babies and humans and dogs available for adoption.

Ardor Offering Holiday Dinners

Ardor by Chef John Fraser will be open Christmas Eve from 5 to 9pm and Christmas Day from 1:30 to 7pm featuring an a la carte menu of vegetable forward dishes. The restaurant, at the West Hollywood EDITION, will offer live music, reservations at https://www.editionhotels.com/.

The Hilton Los Angeles Culver City Offers Holiday Events

The Hilton Los Angeles Culver City is offering special holiday events including a holiday wreath workshop on December 7 from 6:30 to 8:30pm, $95, and a Teddy Bear Tea on December 16 from 1 pm, $50 for adults and $25 for children. Reserve at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holiday-wreath-making-workshop-tickets-741799049927?aff=oddtdtcreator and https://www.eventbrite.com/e/teddy-bear-tea-tickets-756354134577?aff=oddtdtcreator.

h2hotel Offers Tasting and Book Signing Event with Ray Isle

h2hotel is offering a special wine tasting and book signing with Ray Isle, Food & Wine magazine’s executive wine editor on December 12 from 5 to 6:30pm. Guests can purchase his new book, The World in a Wineglass: The Insider’s Guide to Artisanal, Sustainable, Extraordinary Wines to Drink Now. Tickets are $60 and include signed book, wine tasting and light bites. Tickets at https://www.copperfieldsbooks.com/event/ray-isle.

Little Lunch Coffee and Lunya Event

Little Lunch Coffee in Venice and Luxury restwear brand Lunya are hosting an event on December 2nd at 9am. The first 200 customers to arrive at Little Lunch will enjoy free iced/hot lattes and the first 50 will receive Lunya’s best-selling silk eye mask. They will also be distributing Lunya’s new newsletter Nightstand. Lille Lunch Coffee is located at 50 Brooks Avenue in Venice.

Diamond Crystal Baking Salt

This salt is perfect for holiday baking because it dissolves quickly, contains no additives and blends perfectly with other ingredients, available on https://www.amazon.com.

The Georgian in Santa Monica and Decades Hosts Pop Up

West Hollywood fashion boutique Decades by Cameron Silver and The Georgian in Santa Monica are hosting a pop up showcasing 100 years of style with vintage, pre-loved and contemporary pieces including Chanel, Dior, Gucci and other designers. The pop up is open December 8 to 10th, 11am to 10pm.

The Kimpton Everly Hollywood Has Chalet Installation in Lobby

The Kimpton Everly Hollywood Hotel, in partnership with interior designer Corey Damen Jenkins and Grammy Award winning musician Maren Morris, is featuring an immersive chalet installation in their lobby. Taking inspiration from the world’s most luxurious alpine destinations, the large-scale wooden chalet will be decked out in chic festive décor, providing a place to unwind and rejuvenate with food, drinks and good company showcasing a rotating lineup of elevated programming for the holidays. Guests and locals can come enjoy unique experiences such as holiday music, letter-writing to Santa (or friends, or the Abdominal Snowman!), a resident DJ spinning Holi-daze jams, Roofless Painters, and classic wooden board games, along with seasonal festive cocktails and twists on classics (such as the Alpine Negroni), fondue, artisanal charcuterie boards and other delights.

Camphor and Open Table Host Pop Up at Santa Monica Proper Hotel

Camphor, the famous downtown LA restaurant, is teaming with Open Table to host a pop up at the Santa Monica Proper Hotel with a multi-course prix fixe menu for $150 per person. A special bar menu with small bites will also be offered for $50. The pop up is open December 9 and 10 from 6 to 9:30pm, tickets at https://www.opentable.com/booking/experiences-availability?rid=1082110&restref=1082110&experienceId=223589&utm_source=external&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=shared.

KISS and Prince Street Pizza Partner on Holiday Pizza

Rock and Roll legends KISS and Prince Street Pizza are partnering on a collab pizza offered throughout December. The KISS Pizza celebrates the band’s final performances and is full of spicy pepperoni and hot Calabrian hot chili, available by the pie in West Hollywood and Downtown LA through December 31st.

Burke Williams Offers Holiday Spa Specials

Burke Williams Spa is offering special holiday offers including the Merry Moments Package, $200, including a 95 minute relaxation massage or spa style facial with enhancement; the Let It Glow package, $315, with a 95 minute relaxation massage, spa style facial, and enhancement; the Enchanting Retreat, $500, with a 95 minute Burke Williams massage, 80 minute facial, 20 minute spa bath, 2 enhancements and a one day spa pass; and the Our Favorite Things package, $1000, with a 110 minute Burke Williams massage, 95 minute anti-aging facial, 80 minute nourishing or radiance facial, enhancement, 20 minute spa bath and three day pass. Visit https://www.burkewilliams.com to book.

McConnell’s Ice Cream and Genghis Cohen Offer Hanukkah Barbara Streisand Flavor

SoCal’s beloved artisanal ice cream McConnell’s has teamed up with LA's legendary 40-year-old NYC-style Chinese restaurant Genghis Cohen to create the ultimate Hanukkah flavor honoring Barbara Streisand. Babka Streisand includes Brazilian Coffee ice cream, fudge swirls, and chunks of hazelnut babka . Babka Streisand flavor will be sold exclusively in McConnell’s scoop shops across California for a limited time beginning December 1st, available in individual scoops and pints, as well as when dining at Genghis Cohen.

Gourmia Offers New Barista Quality 15-Bar Espresso Machine at Walmart

Just in time for holiday gift giving, Gourmia is offering a 15-bar multi-function espresso machine with can make an espresso, Americano, cappuccino and lattes. The machine is available at Walmart on Black Friday for $50. After Black Friday, available for $79.99. Gourmia also has a Toaster Air Fryer for cooks on your list. The Fry N Fold Air Fryer combines healthy cooking and convenient storage, available at Target for $59.99.

A Christmas Story The Musical Comes to the Ahmanson Theatre

Beginning December 5, A Christmas Story the Musical arrives at the Ahmanson Theatre. The musical based on the hit movie plays through December 31, tickets at https://www.centertheatregroup.org.

Erewhon Teams with Shay Mitchell for Not Basic, BEIS-IC Smoothie

Through December 15, Erewhon is offering a special smoothie. Pairing with MALK and Shay Mitchell, the new Not Basic EIS-IC Smoothie features MALK Holiday Nog, cold brew, spinach, dates, maple syrup, aloe vera juice, sweet vanilla protein, banana and Lucuma, $18 at Erewhon.

Tender Greens Offers new Autumn and Winter Menu

Tender Greens has a new Autumn and Winter menu featuring hearty dishes including their California Bowl with roasted butternut squash and brown rice; blue zone bowl with lentils, fennel and dried pear; harvest chicken salad with delicata squash, pears, grapes and goat cheese; short rib dinner with mashed potatoes and a Bolognese pasta with fusilli pasta.