The human Zagat strikes again

As most of you know, I spent last weekend in two of my adopted home cities -- Los Angeles and Vegas. I had fun -- it was mostly catching up with people I haven't seen in a while. Oh, and acting as the back-up French translator at a Franco-American wedding -- a nice girl named Steffie, who actually makes her living as a translator, was the first -- and better -- one. She knows how to say more complex phrases than "Can you repeat that?" and "I'm sorry, I'm not retarded, just a little hungover."

Anyway, while there I went to a few places that I haven't been before. And since, according to many of my friends, I am the human Zagat, I thought I would share these recommendations to all of you, should you find yourself on the Left Coast anytime soon. Here we go:

Cedar Cafe is a wonderful little strip mall restaurant in North Hollywood. Very yummy Lebanese food, including pickled turnips (which are bright pink and weird-looking, but as Tamar and her whole family have taught me, are oddly delicious). And, on Friday nights, there is a cheesy two piece band, and a scantily-clad bellydancer who, when she got close enough to my Dad, nearly made him choke on his lamb kabob. Priceless.

Little Temple, which I can say with some certainty, is my new favorite LA bar. It's on a seemingly shady corner in Silverlake and on Friday nights there is an old-skool DJ that made me and Jenny very very happy. Over Red Stripes, we were even both the target of the affections of a large guy named Ramon, the cousin of whom Jenny was kind enough to salsa dance with in the front room. He thought telling me he had a great view would get me to traipse back to his apartment with him but he was entertaining.

And, last but not least, Downtown Cocktail Room, not because it is so very exciting but because it is the only establishment of its kind -- deep, cushy chairs; cool, non-abrasive DJ; great martini menu -- that is not in a casino on the Strip. It's actually on the corner of LV Blvd and Fremont, which makes it my new favorite "get the night started before heading to Beauty Bar" spot.