megan "m. berru" b.'s Profile

As a relatively new resident of Downtown Los Angeles *and* a person who has a difficult time finding well-fitting jeans off the rack, I was extremely eager to patronize this new local business. Most women will probably relate to the feeling of putting on jeans--even expensive designer jeans--and realizing that the shape, even the "correct" size, is wrong [here], [here], and/or [here].

After I picked out the type of denim I wanted--there are several options, ranging from 100% cotton selvedge, a variety of denim hard to find in women's jeans, to high-quality cotton and lycra/elastin blends--Den.m Bar took comprehensive measurements in a professional manner and handled payment via iPad, immediately emailing me my receipt.

Just a week and a half later or so (scheduling conflicts on my end kept me from being able to try on my jeans as soon as they were ready), I had my first fitting, where I tried on the still-unfinished jeans to confirm that the measurements all seemed correct. Some adjustments were needed, and just a few days later, I tried on the finished denim, which fits and looks great!

I will say that while I think this place is really fantastic--I had nothing but good customer service--the process of making well-fitting, flattering jeans for women is certainly more difficult than it is for men. I chose the selvedge denim, which I've been coveting ever since my boyfriend got his selvedge jeans, and the stiffness and non-stretchiness of the fabric was probably the primary source of the initial fit issues that I experienced. As den.m bar makes more pairs of jeans for women, I think the pattern/fit/experience will greatly improve.

Word of advice for women considering custom jeans: it would be best to figure out in advance which of your jeans you like the best, and where/how they fit you, and possibly bring in an example. They are able to tailor the pattern to your specifications/preferences, so if you prefer higher-waisted, lower-waisted, slimmer leg, straight leg, etc., it is best to try and visualize it first (not the easiest thing to do). That said, after wearing my jeans from den.m bar for a week and switching to an off-the-rack pair, I can't believe the difference: the off-the-rack jeans feel awkward and cheap.

I can't wait to finish breaking in my pair of selvedge jeans (for the ideal fit, wait as long as you can before washing them! Read up on it, the process is rad), and am definitely going to try another pair from den.m bar in the near future.

The small but mighty Lacey's is one of my favorite places over in the fabric district. The staff is friendly and efficient (okay, a little more efficient than friendly), and they provide a great selection of fabric for good prices. I didn't try to haggle here, but for large quantities (like many of these shops), I could have gotten an even better deal. Lacey's will definitely be one of my permanent stops on my fashion district days!

It's not too often I come out of hiding from my diners and "upscale fast food" (what.) to spend time at a three-dollar-sign place. Dinner at these establishments is often anything but relaxing. On Friday, though, I had a surprise $200 burning a hole in my pocket, earmarked specifically for an evening of wine and fine food. My friend lives right around the corner from Blair's--done.

If I had any complaint about the restaurant's physical space, it would be that there's not enough of it at the very front. The steps from "entrance" to "seated" can be cramped and anxious; luckily, the host was quick and accommodating! We hadn't made reservations (maybe I don't love myself enough to make reservations? Fear of rejection? Fear of success? Sloth?) but our host made room for us at the bar, which was all the better for my white tablecloth phobia.

We ordered a bottle of Tantara Pinot noir (Dear Blair's: Forgive my lower-middle-class upbringing, but please put more bottles of wine on your menu that are easy to pronounce) and then, at last, the reward for my branching out: Blair's potato gnocchi with asparagus/mushrooms and parmesan cheese. Not that my short ribs (with leeks and polenta!) weren't good, but the gnocchi changed my life. Earthy, saucy, don't even THINK about taking the last one, because it's mine. I wasn't too keen on my friend's salmon, but I'm fish-squeamish anyway, and he claimed to like it a lot; chalk it up to possible user error.

Our bartender had a little flash of Adam Scott (c. Party Down, RIP), and overall we were well attended-to and not bothered. Men might want to wear a jacket and I didn't see any women in jeans; Blair's well-dressed patrons all blend into the dark setting, with candlelit faces and a few highlighted collars and blouses. It's not quite the deep end of fine dining, but it's definitely a night you'd want to plan.

Final recommendation: Go to Blair's with a reservation and try the gnocchi, which will be so good you will forgive them for using the "Papyrus" typeface on their website!

Making the rounds to all the new spots in Santa Monica Place? Finally found Zengo tucked behind La Sandia? Me too, and frankly, it didn't fare too well in comparison with its neighbors.

Proprietors of Zengo (inexplicably pronounced "ZANG-goo," and I bet their servers hate them for it) claim their dishes are an "artful blend of Latin-Asian styles and flavors." If by "artful," they're referring to middle school art where you learn about Jackson Pollock and also try smooshing a lot of things together in somewhat random ways, and then you charge umpteen dollars for it, then I agree with their description. Unfortunately, for food that has such high aspirations, there was very little that seemed fresh and un-busy.

I will say that the chipotle-miso-glazed black cod rocked my world. Hands down. I am usually not too adventurous with fish, either, but yum! Awesometown. Unfortunately, most of our other dishes were just flops: the seafood ceviche was rubbery and flavorless, the yellowfin tuna roll was unspecial, and the grilled beef short ribs were tough. To be fair, they took our ceviche off our bill (we barely touched it), and our fabulous server was professional and knowledgeable about the food, or at least, the food in its ideal state.

Despite what another reviewer said, I thought my prickly pear caipirinha was fantastic. Not too sweet, but not too sour, and capably mixed. My friend wasn't too impressed with his mojito, but then, I've learned not to order "fancy" mojitos, which are so frequently disappointing, so I only blame him.

If I could recommend Zengo for anything, it would be for drinks on a warm, clear night, as the patio has a glamorous California feeling that you usually have to go to a douchebag-laden place to obtain. Also, if you have a little too much money in your wallet, Zengo can help with that too.

There are certain things I just won't Yelp, like parking tricks near the Cahuenga corridor or Thai restaurants that serve alcohol past 2am. Some things are too special to jeopardize.

That said, I'm ready to out one of West Hollywood's best-kept secrets (and, let's face it, WeHo loves to do that anyway): Hotel Samy.

In a unique and experimental blend of bed & breakfast and hostel, Hotel Samy comfortably accommodates individuals and small groups. If the fully-stocked liquor cabinet and extremely large TV (a Google review is claiming 65 inches?) are not enough to tempt you to stay in for the night, local West Hollywood favorites Jones, Formosa Cafe, and Bar Lubitsch are all within stumbling distance.

Other amenities of this 2-story, loft-style establishment include free wireless internet, full kitchen, and a sweet deal on Foursquare--complimentary parking every three check-ins! Be forewarned that the non-traditional format of Hotel Samy and its hip location may lend itself to noisy afterparty neighbors (including other hostel guests), and the modern design of the interior offers limited sound privacy as well. But hey, if you wanted peace and quiet, you would have just stayed home, right?

Pricing is seasonal, so make sure to plan in advance to take advantage of off-peak weekends.

Jena and Lia are both fantastic. The first time I came here, there was some appointment confusion; I recommend calling them rather than booking online. They send reminders when your appointment is coming up and are both extremely friendly and personable (without being too nosy!). Both the Gentle Journey office and the restroom across the way--which I assume they help maintain--are impeccably clean, if not overly spa-like.

Also, you get a discount on your wax the month of your birthday! So speak up! :)

Dr. Najarian is the best. His office is very no-frills, but not in a scary, will-I-still-have-teeth-after-this? kind of way. His assistant Kim is also fantastic. This is my go-to referral for a dentist in the Valley!

I had no idea what to expect out of a kosher steakhouse, except for possibly awkward conversation with my Orthodox boss. For women wondering what to wear here, anything from casual-dressy (jeans/heels?) to church-dressy (synagogue-dressy?) will do. My Facebook friends were no help on this front. Also, as you're getting ready, make sure that under all circumstances you absolutely bring ... your appetite! Har har! There is a lot of good food here and you don't want to let a company-sponsored dinner pass you by. No, ma'am.

For appetizers, my table of three shared the Shiloh's scallops, ceviche, ahi tuna sashimi and tuna tartare. The non-shellfish "scallops"--which looked and tasted like they were wrapped in bacon, rather than the actual bass substitute--had a lovely mild flavor, even if the texture was a little off. (Maybe "accurate" would be a fair descriptor of the taste? It was eerily similar to its treif target.) The ceviche was yummy, nothing earth-shaking, and the sashimi was perfectly serviceable, but dudes: the tuna tartare. Otherworldly. I had fantasies about ordering six more bowls of them, to be eaten alone, on my couch, with the very best seasons of [your favorite HBO show here] and a haughty expression. We've found it, you guys. Tuna tartare fountain of youth.

The entree was good, a delectable honey lavender chicken (the lavender flavor was very subtle, but the chardonnay honey au jus? perfect) with average garlic mashed potatoes and grilled squash, and dessert was a decadent molten chocolate cake. Couldn't get the tartare off my mind, but I have a tendency to dwell.

Ambiance-wise, I'm not sure if Shiloh's is my thing. It's definitely a white-tablecloth-type of place with imposing booths that don't lend themselves to casual arm relaxation. Is that picky? Maybe a little, but they also only have one restroom to share between sexes, and I can justify griping about that. (The single restroom thing does give you a good excuse to take it easy on the wine. You wouldn't want to get in a slurry debate about evolution with your superior, or anything. I mean, I'm guessing.)

Yet again I got screwed on my avocado. AGAIN. Ban.

One star for this deeply horrifying and overwhelming loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to the SMB trannies and drug addicts, and to myself. What a blow. Old Hollywood is dead! :'(