Red Carpet Diamonds

The most we’ve ever gotten from an airplane seatmate is a case of the sniffles.

Dinelle Lucchesi scored a business partner.

After she befriended Ari Taymor on a flight to San Francisco, the two hatched a plan to combine her management savvy (she’s the brains behind SF underground club Anthrob) with his culinary chops (stints at Bar Tartine and L.A.’s Salute).

Now ready for takeoff, their Venice pop-up, Alma, flies high with modern, out-of-the-box cuisine and a relaxed BYOB vibe.

Housed in cafe Flake, the Wednesday-through-Saturday operation serves three- and five-course prix fixe dinners that take their cues from Taymor’s frequent farmers market jaunts. The menu changes weekly, but you can count on appetizers that dip below sea level (garlicky oyster stew) and exotic entrees that soar with sophistication (Jiménez lamb with hibiscus and beets).

Lucchesi and Taymor plan to stick around for a couple of months before (hopefully) doing something more permanent.

Fasten your seat belts.

Alma, 513 Rose Avenue, at Rennie Avenue, Venice (almafoodandwine.tumblr.com). For more information, email almafoodandwine@gmail.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Alma

Certificate of Authenticity

Name: Online marketplace Mercantile.

Launch Date: February 2012.

Owners: Callie Jenschke and Nicki Clendening, who co-founded NYC interior design firm Scout three years ago.

Contents: Twenty-five pieces of one-of-a-kind furniture, antiques, and artwork culled from the duo’s dedicated global flea market shopping. They hone in on eclectic items with world-roved wear and tear (or those that look “loved,” in their words). See: a decorative African headdress crafted from colorful feathers (pictured); an antique geometric-patterned Turkish rug; an elephant-legged carved rosewood side table from India.

Expiration: When one of the items sells, the girls replace it immediately with another treasure.

Notarized Signature: Signed, sealed, delivered.

Available online at scoutdesignsmercantile.bigcartel.com, $300-$5,000 (prices vary based on selection).

Photo: Courtesy of Mercantile

“A bottle of Boone’s Farm followed by a Zima flavored with Skittles.” — Us, 1997

“Single-malt Scotch, please.” — Us, 2012

Responsible for this personal growth: Ricky Crawford, a former Glenlivet brand ambassador who throws the funniest and most informative single-malt Scotch tastings this side of Glasgow.

In today’s video, he gives us a miniature lesson on how to order — and actually enjoy — a glass of the good Scottish spirit. Do as he says and you’ll be surprised how many heads turn at the bar.

Crawford’s as charming as he is Scottish. (Yes, the man wears a kilt.) And now you can book his services for all your soirees (birthdays, bachelorette parties, etc.).

Just don’t take any cheap shots.

To book Crawford for a tasting, go to rickyshopscotch.com.

Missoni dress: I no longer fit my owner. Thus, I languish in this closet. What shall become of me? EBay? Wasteland? [Gulp] The dumpster?

Valentino bag: If you’re lucky, you’ll go to exclusive new swap club Style Blender. The brainchild of fashion industry gurus Nony Tochterman, Ravid Levy, and Brooke Wilen, the boutique puts a fresh spin on sartorial recycling.

MD: You had me at “exclusive club.” How does it work?

VB: First you become a member; it’s only $30 a month. Then take in your unwanted goods. If accepted, they get appraised on a points system based on retail value, age, and wear and tear. Those points then act as your currency to shop racks of designer treasures (Louboutin wedges, a DVF frock, Gucci handbags).

MD: I’m a special-occasion gown. Will I find a buyer?

VB: Probably quite a few. Members are free to rent an item for an event, then return it dry-cleaned to redeem their points.

MD: A chic communal closet? I’m sold.

Style Blender, 8230 Beverly Boulevard, at North Harper Avenue, second floor, suite 30, Fairfax District (323-212-6002 or styleblenderla.blogspot.com).

Photo: Courtesy of Style Blender

You’re Posh at parties and Sporty at the gym, but in the kitchen, you’re straight up Clueless.

Find seasoning stardom at Dragunara Spice Bazaar, the newest stall at The Original Farmers Market.

With more than 150 varieties, the shop covers the basics (sage, rosemary) and beyond (star anise, fenugreek). Owner Michael Khemlani takes a meticulous approach to edible edification, ensuring each blend is 100 percent organic, kosher, and all natural. Some concoctions, like Tuscan herb and popular Slim Spice, are salt and sugar free.

Make your pantry sing with infused olive oils, herbal teas, chilies (dried ancho peppers), and salt (Himalayan Black) bars.

Still off-key? A pinch of the Asian, Spanish, or Moroccan mix on your dish of choice will have even your harshest critics proclaiming you the next Julia Child.

Girl power.

Dragunara Spice Bazaar, 6333 West Third Street, at Fairfax Avenue, stall 623, Fairfax District (323-935-8888 or dragunara.com).

Photo: Noe Montes / Getty Images

When it comes to cracking codes, you’re right up there with Morse, Bond, and Einstein.

But it doesn’t take a genius to decipher simply stunning jewelry.

Case in point: Kathleen Whitaker’s understated Dot and Dash earrings collection.

A fan of freestyle mixing and matching, the ceramist/bonnet maker/jewelry designer casts fourteen-karat gold posts and sells them individually. (Two of our favorite West Coast boutiques, Mohawk General Store and Totokaelo, snapped up the line within months of spotting Whitaker at L.A.’s Echo Park Craft Fair.)

Sequin-style studs, staple bars, and multipost rods (think knuckle-duster rings for your ears) add up to sets that say “Indeed, I am a badass,” without shouting it from the rooftops.

And that we read loud and clear.

Available online at generalstore.com, gravelandgold.com, or totokaelo.com, $35-$230. For more information, go to khwjewelry.com.

Photo: Serena Mitnik-Miller / Courtesy of General Store

Riot room.

EXPERIENCE
The Salon at Heirloom-L.A.
What: The farm-to-table catering company behind one of this century’s greatest edible inventions (the lasagna cupcake, duh) opens a space for intimate private events and public dinner parties with local farmers, chefs, and artisanal winemakers.
Why: Follow the group on Twitter and Facebook to get the scoop on upcoming soirees and tastings.
When: You have an excuse to celebrate something. Anything.
Where: 4126 Verdugo Rd., at York Blvd., Eagle Rock (855-456-6652).

FOLLOW
DailyCandy on Pinterest
What: Our just-launched pin boards cover everything from food and fashion to weddings and kids’ parties (beautifully, of course).
Why: Recipes, the latest street style, decorating ideas, and more.
When: You need a little inspiration.
Where: Online at pinterest.com/dailycandy.

EAT
Mexicali Taco & Co.
What: The much-hyped food truck goes brick and mortar, slinging Baja-style tacos, garlicky quesadillas, and the Zuperman (a mountain of meat and cheese sandwiched between two tortillas).
Why: Eggheads can top anything on the menu with a ranchero-style fried egg.
When: Mon.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 11 a.m.-midnight.
Where: 702 N. Figueroa St., b/t Bartlett & Alpine Sts. (213-613-0416).

3rd Street Station
What: A cozy Euro-inspired pub-cum-brasserie serving classic fare (croque madame, fish and chips, farro risotto) and crafty cocktails. Stop in from cinq à sept for half-price grub and beers.
Why: DailyCandy readers (21 and over) enjoy a free mimosa during lunch when they present a same-day receipt from a neighborhood shop thru Feb.
When: Opens Fri. Daily, 11 a.m.-2 a.m.
Where: 8486 W. Third St., at N. La Cienega Blvd. (323-782-8466).

SEE
Ansel Adams Los Angeles
What: Rarely seen photographs by the iconic photographer portray dramatic looks at everyday life and landscapes from 1940s Los Angeles.
Why: A portion of proceeds from sales benefits the Los Angeles Public Library.
When: Thru Mar. 17. Opening reception, Sat., 7-10 p.m.
Where: Drkrm, 727 S. Spring St., b/t W. Seventh & Eighth Sts., Downtown (323-271-5635).

Photo: Courtesy of The Salon

Unleash the beast.

CARRY
Anicase
What: The cheery, colorful 3-D iPhone cases ($20 each; get 15 percent off with code dailycandy15) are modeled after furry friends (pandas, tigers, leopards, owls) in danger of becoming extinct.
Why: It’s a call to action you’ll want to take — 10 percent of net profits is donated to protecting endangered species.
Where: Online at anicase.com.

FOLLOW
DailyCandy on Pinterest
What: Our just-launched pin boards cover everything from food and fashion to weddings and kids’ parties (beautifully, of course).
Why: Recipes, the latest street style, decorating ideas, and more.
Where: Online at pinterest.com/dailycandy.

ORDER
Good & Lovely
What: A personalized, thoughtful monthly subscription service ($14 and up) delivers the necessary supplies for when your inconsiderate, irritating cousin Flo comes to town.
Why: Cramp-relief heat packs, bath salts, chocolates, and Moroccan Mud Spa Bar samples.
Where: Online at goodandlovely.com.

BUY
Craft & Culture
What: Seattle-based shop showcasing a revolving cast of emerging artists with a sleek, postgrunge look that might make you break out your Nevermind CD.
Why: Elizabeth Patterson’s golden Arkansas quartz necklace ($120), Meghann Sommer’s Letaiyo necklace ($95) with recycled silver fox fur, and much more.
Where: Online at craftandculture.com.

SEND
Besotted Brand
What: Tristan B. recently launched a bespoke custom-design studio, full of clean-lined stamps, envelopes, labels, tags, and waxed linen twine bound in mini hatboxes.
Why: Say hi with the DIY stationery kit ($25), complete with “hello” calligraphy stamp and Euro-style true kraft envelopes.
Where: Online at shop.besottedbrand.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Anicase

“You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need.” – The Rolling Stones

Taking its cues (or rather, its brews) from such sage advice is popular wholesale roaster Handsome Coffee, which opens its java joint downtown next week.

Owners and Intelligentsia alums Tyler Wells, Chris Owens, and 2010 World Barista Champion Michael Phillips cut out the frills (milk alternatives, sweeteners) to focus on what really counts: the beans. They source the highest-quality, seasonal small batches from across the globe and roast them in-house with a vintage craft roaster (situated behind a glass partition for your viewing pleasure). A pared-down menu (espresso, espresso with milk, brewed coffee) deftly showcases the finished product.

The industrial loftlike space (copper counters, exposed wood ceiling) has bar tops and common tables at which you can linger over your freshly brewed mug and pastries from Proof Bakery.

And at long last, get some satisfaction.

Handsome Coffee, 582 Mateo Street, between East Sixth and Palmetto Streets, Downtown (handsomecoffee.com).

Photo: Tyler Wells / Courtesy of Handsome Coffee

We’d be lying if we said unlimited coconut water and granola bars weren’t huge incentives for going backstage during New York Fashion Week.

But it’s also pretty freaking cool to be surrounded by beauty’s greatest talents as they do their thing.

In today’s videos, we venture into the chaos and ask the experts to give us the inside track on the looks at some of our favorite shows. We get a floral nail-art tutorial at Rachel Antonoff (above) and explanations/inspirations for the asymmetrical chignons at Suno, avant-garde braids at Creatures of the Wind, and loose ponytails at Tracy Reese. 

As always, some are more wearable than others.

But at least they won’t take up any room in your purse.

Want to keep watching? Check out our backstage beauty videos for the spring/summer 2012 shows at Timo Weiland, Erin Fetherston, and Rebecca Minkoff. And by all means, read up on current Fashion Week shows on our Tumblr.

You know when you pull your hair back to wash your face and somehow it looks so good you wish you were going out? Okay, so maybe that’s happened only once. But it’s the same accidental elegance Kérastase’s Odile Gilbert channeled for Suno last Friday night. In this video, she discusses the hairstyle and her inspiration.

Want to keep watching? Check out our backstage videos at Rachel Antonoff, Tracy Reese, and Creatures of the Wind.

We love seeing ponytails on the catwalk (it gives our go-to look sartorial credibility). In this case, Tresemmé stylist Jeanie Syfu kicks the simple style up a few notches by leaving front sections out and pinning them over the rubber band. Watch this video to learn how she does it. 

Want more? Check out our backstage videos at Rachel Antonoff, Suno, and Creatures of the Wind. 

If you can whip up a covetable do using butterfly clips, matted braids, and glitter, then you must be a miracle worker. Or you’re Kérastase stylist Odile Gilbert, who did exactly that at Creatures of the Wind last Thursday. In this video, Gilbert (the master behind the hair for Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette) explains her look.

Want more? Check out our backstage videos at Rachel Antonoff, Tracy Reese, and Suno.

We’re head over heels, crazy in lust (seems like the right day for it).

The object of our panting desire: Clare Vivier’s new minimalist-chic collection for Theory. A match made in handbag heaven, the collaboration launches online and lands in stores today.

A clean and sporty take on the L.A. designer’s wildly popular eponymous label, the line contains a trio of cool, unfussy carryalls essential for ladies on the go. The butter-soft, fold-over clutch, available in work-ready shades like cream, navy, and slate makes us drool. And the sleek, simple messenger bag is downright titillating.

But the spacious weekender, with its unisex design and soft, denim-emulating cotton, whips us into a state of throbbing ecstasy, the likes of which we never before knew possible.

Whew. Is it hot in here?

Available at Theory, 10250 Santa Monica Boulevard, between Century Park West and Avenue of the Stars, Santa Monica (310-203-0253 or theory.com), $180-$420.

Photo: Courtesy of Theory

You exercise. You eat right (excluding weekends and major holidays). But those few extra pounds just won’t budge.

Give Kate Somerville’s new slimming treatment, Vaser Shape, a crack at ’em. When it comes to blasting cellulite, the ultrasound massage therapy can really weigh in.

Strip down to your skivvies and show the nurse your target area (tummy, thighs, arms, hips, fanny). She takes it from there, administering a lymphatic massage to open your lymphatic system, a heated ultrasound to break down fat cells and tighten skin, and then another lymphatic massage to flush out toxins and fats. The entire process takes one to two hours.

Though it’s pricey and five weekly sessions are recommended, many patients notice effects (i.e., fitting back into your skinny jeans) after just a few visits.

It’s truly thin-spirational.

Available at Kate Somerville Skin Health Experts, 8428 Melrose Place, between Orlando Avenue and La Cienega Boulevard, suite c, West Hollywood (323-655-7546 or skinhealthexperts.com), $750 for one treatment; $3,100 for five.

Photo: Courtesy of Kate Somerville

Dear Cupid,

My only complaint about my beau is that he hogs the grub when we go splitsville. How can I make sure I get my fair share of mac ’n’ cheese?

Yours,
Starving in SF

’Sup Starving,

The answer is simple: Become a heartbreaker with Heart Parts eating utensils.

The florescent, palm-size tools are meant to be cracked in half, then used to stab, scoop, or even cut your nosh of choice. Product designer Fatima Fazal created them to bring the love back to sharing a meal.

Heart Parts come in boxes of ten, so they’re great for parties. Because they’re dishwasher safe, made with 66 percent less plastic than similar wares, and are completely biodegradable, you can enjoy your supper without guilt.

Even if you’re fed up with him, at least you’ll be properly fed.

Xo,
The Guy with the Arrow

Available online at iheart-this.com, $10.

Photo: Courtesy of Heart Parts