I’m among the restaurant reviewers who contributed to the new Clean Plates Los Angeles: A Guide To the Healthiest, Tastiest, and Most Sustainable Restaurants for Vegetarians and Carnivores. The guide gives you the lowdown on how and where to eat healthfully and eco-consciously in Los Angeles without sacrificing flavor or gourmet craftsmanship. It hops from casual lunch places like the Coral Tree Café to special-occasion experiences like Josie. Researching and writing the reviews was a deliciously fulfilling experience! Now available for purchase on Amazon and at select local stores, the guide is the perfect size to slip into your glove compartment. Trust me, at all the restaurants included, you’ll want to clean your plate!

It’s the high life at sea level…The Purple Passport has launched its eBook guide The Purple Passport to Palm Beach! I’m one of the writers/editors for this comprehensive guide to the South Florida playground’s choicest hotels, restaurants, nightlife, spas, shops, and activities.

It points locals and travelers to distinctive experiences, which include checking into a lavish, grand dame resort inspired by Rome’s Villa Medici with a pamper-you-silly beach club; capping off a spa day in a relaxation garden complete with hanging chairs over a reflecting pool; shopping for everything from couture gowns to flirty resort wear amid lush, flower-lined vias; scoping original Pollock and Picasso canvases under a Chihuly glass ceiling; dining on delicious Milanese fare while taking in the buzzing crowd on the hottest see-and-be-seen restaurant terrace; and dancing the night away at Palm Beach’s best party spot. Helpful maps and city-orienting information about transportation, seasonal highlights, and local culture are also included.

The eBook is available for purchase at the Amazon Kindle Store and can be downloaded to your mobile device of choice (Kindle or Kindle app for iPhone/Android) for easy, on-the-go use…so you don’t lose a single second working on your tan!

MSN.com just launched a refresh of its “re:discover” series, a collection of web guides that explores the souls of cities across America. I was fortunate to be the writer for the Los Angeles update. I got to profile some amazing cultural insiders, including hip-hop MC The Lady Tigra, music editor Adam Smalley, hair stylist Josh Rosebrook, and fashion designer Johana Hernandez. Each of these incredibly creative individuals gave the lowdown on how the city of Los Angeles has inspired them and on their favorite restaurants, lounges, hiking spots, unique shops, and more in town. I also put together a day trip guide to Los Angeles’ natural wonders culled from their recommendations. Last but not least, I got to tour the downtown headquarters of Homeboy Industries, an incredibly innovative and successful gang rehabilitation organization started by Father Greg Boyle (the Homegirl Cafe is a must-stop for lunch!). Writing about all of these various sides of LA renewed my love for the city and its energy as an incubator for creative and humanistic achievements. Re:discover it for yourself by checking out the guide!