This really is a great place to find rare records for a very low price. You can pretty much find anything from new releases to old movie soundtracks. I go here for the old stand up comedy albums. Very many of these have never been released on CD or digitally and for a few bucks you can own some really hilarious concerts that you can't find anywhere else. The majority of my Don Rickles, Lenny Bruce, and Woody Allen albums came from Record Surplus. Also, they're not pretentious, so you don't need to be cool to shop here. That helps me.

As a hopeless romantic and also a bit of a weirdo, I'm always looking for slightly out-there gifts, and visiting this place, with a rotating set of local artists, always assures I'll leave with something really unique. Jewelry, art, sculptures, and homemade perfumes are staples, but there's always something new and that's why I keep going back. The staff there is also super kind and quirky so they'll really help you think outside the box when looking for a special something for a special someone.

From the outside, you'd barely notice this little coffeehouse, but once you step through the doors you'll understand why this place has had regulars coming by every day for 20 years. It's probably the smallest coffee house in L.A. and the decor is part hawaiian, part robot-fetishist, and part rockabilly artist. Local art is always on the walls and the atmosphere is beyond casual. It's nice to get away from the big chains once in a while and if you're a sweet tooth, try the Banana-Chocolate-Hazelnut shake. I've been drinking coffee here since 1998 and I still love it.

This is, in my opinion, the best restaurant in Southern California. Tucked in a tiny strip mall, you'd never see this place coming, but about 4 years ago, I discovered it and I literally go here for almost every special occasion or to treat out of town friends. Yes, it's expensive, but it's a meal like you've never had. Try their omakase and let the chef make a meal especially for you. It's not just a meal, it's an experience, and if you sit at the bar, the chefs will talk you through everything. Spiny lobster sashimi covered in an abundant pile of fresh white truffles. Need I say more? Oh yeah, I've had Rachel McAdams and George Clooney spottings here.

Okay, I'm obsessed with places in strip malls, but if you're looking for dim sum and don't want to go downtown, The Palace is really great. The food is simple and clean, and I never leave without a few Har Gow and Shanghai Soup Dumplings. To be honest, this is my favorite hangover cure, and I've tested it well by coming here every New Year's Day for about 10 years.

Whenever I head down near the beach I stop at the Brig for a drink and Intelligentsia for an iced coffee to sober up, but if I'm hungry, I really like to get a slice from Abbot's Pizza. They have all the classics and a lot of cool originals but my favorite is their Salad Pizza, which has a lot of veggies, a lot of spice, and requires a fork and knife.

This place is so cool it doesn't even have a sign, but it is home to some great drinks, some of the best bar food in Los Angeles, and a moscow mule that will knock your teeth out of your head. What I like about the local peasant is the upscale atmosphere without any of the pretense. You'll find a wide range of people here and it's a great place to take someone for dinner (with a range from burgers to beet salads) and then stick around for some keg wine or a Basil Pepper martini. You'll often find me getting in serious trouble here.

Recently, I did a crazy detox (like most Los Angelenos) and I was limited to raw vegan food for nearly a month. I wouldn't have lasted more than three days unless I discovered Sun Cafe. Great bruschetta, delicious kelp noodles and healthy pizza? Okay, I'm going to be just fine. But here's the thing, even if I was never a vegan or raw foodist I would continue to come here. The staff is really excellent and the food is not only healthy, but delicious, and you leave feeling light and airy, which is something I love, especially if I want to keep doing things all day. But seriously, try the Chocolate Almond Butter Cheesecake and your head will explode.

L.A. is pretty great for health-conscious options, and we all know that green juice is in. The problem is that most green juice tastes like, well, it just tastes like "green." The drinks at Pressed are surprisingly delicious, healthy, and can be anything from a pick-me-up to a meal replacement. I know this sounds like new-age hoopla, but even without any of the healthy benefits, I really just like the way it tastes and how it makes me feel. And when you're trying to run around L.A. all day, you need energy.