I recently moved closer into the city - closer to all the places and things I love. So this week I thought I should share some of my favorite places to eat, shop, and hang out in L.A.:

Tiara Cafe is my place to have brunch on the weekends. It’s a pretty pink palace of a restaurant in the middle of the Fashion District - very fun and frivolous in the most stylish and well-executed way. And very opposite the celebrity-infested Hollywood ultra-lounge that’s so common around here. They serve up lots of organic and locally grown fare that’s unbelievably tasty. And if you’ve ever wondered what the inside of a jewelry box looked like if we could all fit in it - well, this would be it. They even play jewelry box music during lunch.

I just got an email from Jin Patisserie in Venice, my favorite place to get macaroons, and I am alerted to two things: 1.) that they are making dark chocolate Easter eggs filled with sea salt caramels, and 2.) that it’s been a long time since I’ve been there. Must go soon. It’s been quite a crazy month, but what’s one more item on the long list of to do’s, right?

I am so intrigued by these photos by Philip Karlberg. It’s all yummy and pink and very Marie Antoinette, but with a dark underlying message that you can’t quite put your finger on. (Other than the chiaroscuro-ish lighting - check out his other work to see what I mean.) Then you remember that hey, you’re looking at pictures of yummy cakes, and that was never a bad thing. Love that rose cake, by the way. And gosh, I really want a macaroon. [via]

I just bought a box of macarons from the new and authentically French Paulette in Beverly Hills. If you’re in the L.A. area, this one is a must try. Especially because they have a pumpkin-flavored Halloween one right now - jack-o’-lantern face included.