Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts

need fabric? jo ann's has whatever material you need, along with pattern books and sewing accessories. whether you're a beginner or seasoned sewer, they will help you with whatever you're looking for. also for crafts, you'll find a variety of stickers, stamps, paper, glue guns, etc. it's not as good as michael's, which has EVERYTHING imaginable, but it's still a great craft store.

L A Flower District Badge Prog

the downtown flower mart is THE place to get your flowers, especially if you're throwing a big party or wedding. you won't find a better deal because these come straight from the growers. i'm sure all the local florists come here in the morning and bring them back to make arrangements that cost ten times as much. the only thing is that you have to go super early in the morning.

Banana Republic

everytime i walk into banana republic, i am amazed at how the clothing displays are so immaculate. they draw me in and suddenly i want to buy everything. of course, the prices snap me back to reality. i love the clothing here because its very classic and timeless and of great quality. it is a little pricey though, because you get what you pay for. i suggest waiting for the sales if you're in no big rush to get the latest fashions.

Whole Foods Market

whole foods is an organic grocery store, catered to those who are into the healthy living, organic, special diet lifestyle. it is expensive, thought, since they carry a lot of specialty foods and brands that you can't find anywhere else. the produce and seafood department are the best. you can be sure that you're getting quality fruits and veggies, but you're also paying about double the price. choose what's on sale and buy the rest at a regular market if you don't have to go organic. the deli is also great and they even have skincare and makeup products. the workers are friendly and the store is so clean and fresh that it's very pleasant to shop.

Lake Produce Ctr

lake produce is located in pasadena, north of the freeway and a little hard to find. it's very small and only carries produce and trail mixes/spices. this is no supermarket, which is why they can afford to keep their prices low. don't expect all the asthetically pleasing displays that you would find at whole foods or ralphs. this place is kinda ghetto in comparison. it's strictly about getting your produce with no fuss involved.

MAC Cosmetics

mac is a trendy makeup store, geared towards teens and women too young to want to wear its parent company, estee lauder. all the makeup is laid out so you can test everything easily. there are a lot of makeup artists who will help you choose colors or give you advice on how to apply lipstick, eyeshadow, etc. one of the best things mac offers is their makeovers, perfect for a wedding or prom. you have to make an appointment and it costs $40, which includes a free mascara. they are real pros and do a wonderful job.

Tommy's Burgers

i've had a lot of tommy's burgers, but for some reason the best ones come from the original tommy's in LA. maybe it's the unassuming stand or something. anyways, tommy's has the most amazing chili cheeseburger ever for cheap. not even in-and-out can compare. it's probably 1000 calories, but it's well worth it. the menu is simple, burgers and fries. i recommend getting it to go and wait until you're home and really really hungry and it'll taste the best. just be careful of the chili dripping out onto your clothes!

Subway

i'm a fan of subway, especially since they've finally caught on to the trend of toasting their subs. i don't know how i ever ate them cold. i tend to choose the healthier subs, which are on the boring side., compared to the meatball or teriyaki chicken ones. my fav is the turkey, which i get toasted with swiss cheese that melts nicely on the bread. i like to add as many veggies as i can on top of it too. usually they're pretty generous with them. top it off with honey-mustard dressing and you've got a hearty, healthy meal.

P F Chang's China Bistro

pf chang's is americanized chinese, but not as bad as panda express. the food is so good and the restaurant has a trendy feel to it, with dim lights and cool decor. my favorites are the cool lettuce wraps, the dan dan noodles (very spicy!), and the mango fish. this is a great spot to come with friends. the portions are large, so family style is appropriate so everyone can try a little of everything. bring your appetite and your palate will be satisfied!

21 Choices

21 choices is the best frozen yogurt place around...actually i would say even better than an ice cream place like cold stone's. their concept is the same as cold stone's, where you can pick mix-ins and they will custom make it for you on their cold marble slab. i don't even get the mix-ins because they offer such a wide variety of pre-mixed flavors. of course you can get your ordinary vanilla or chocolate, but there's always a great new flavor, like pumpkin, or coffee chocolate chip.

PROS: friendly staff, free samples, variety
CONS: