Rental Car Insurance Through Visa

I know this post has nothing to do with anything faux, LA, or hipster, but I thought the info was important enough to share.

Did you know that most Visa cardholders have rental car auto collision coverage at no additional cost to you? Which means that if you get in an accident with your rental car and you used Visa to pay for it, Visa will pay for the damages!!!

I've found out this lesson the hard way. But basically, you should never accept a rental car company's offers of collision damage protection (usually at around $10/day) because your credit card can provide it to you for FREE! Some of the basic terms and conditions I've learned are:

1. The cardholder must be the primary renter or an authorized driver
2. The rental must be paid for through Visa
3. Collision damage coverage offered through the rental car company must be declined
   
4. The rental term must be 15days or less
5. If you already have personal auto insurance, this coverage is supplemental and will cover only your deductible. If you don't have personal auto insurance, Visa will pay for the entire cost of damages up to the legal value of the vehicle
6. The incident must be reported within 45days of occurrence

There are several others that I can't remember off the top of my head right now. But what an amazing benefit, that costs you the renter NOTHING! And it will not negatively impact your credit or cause an increase to your APR or anything like that.

I used Visa as the example since that's the card I used, but I think other companies like MasterCard and AmEx offer similar services. You should check to make sure. These types of services are offered directly through Visa and not through the bank issuing the card. At Visa, this group is called "Enhanced Services."

In this case, it really sounds like there is such a thing as a free lunch....

Website: http://usa.visa.com/personal/cards/benefits/bft_dmg_waiver_personal.html

More fun freebie events around LA proper!!

With the holidays come lots of free booze. Maybe I shouldn't hate christmas so much after all...

Free Wine Tastings at Second City Bistro
SCB is actually one of my favorite "upscale" restaurants in El Segundo. And they have what appears to be a very popular wine tasting every Monday from 6-7pm. The website doesn't appear updated with current info on the wine tastings, so if you're really keen on going, I would call ahead, just to be safe.

Every Monday, 6-7pm
Second City Bistro
223 Richmond St
El Segundo, CA 90245
(310) 322-6085


Mesh & Lace Launch Party
I love accessories. Mesh & Lace is a new store specializing in gloves... who needs gloves in LA? Who cares? Gloves are awesome, and the boys love them, trust me ;)

Tuesday Dec 9th
7:30-10:30pm
Mesh & Lace
3203 Sunset Blvd
Silver Lake
rsvp: lisa@meshandlacela.com.


Gen Art Shop by Design
Thanks to my friend Caroline K for this tip! What is normally $30 is now $0 (they must be getting desperate for warm bodies). But for $0, you get a 5hr(!) open bar, runway show, supposedly complimentary spa treatments, and some pretty neato sounding shopping in dowtown LA. Neato!

Thursday Dec 11th
5-10pm
California Market Center
110 E9th St
Los Angeles CA 90015
Free, but you MUST rsvp


Also on Thursday....
Burton Flagship Store Ladies Night
I think I'm actually gonna go to this thing since I need some gear anyways, plus it sounds like fun: giftbags, giveaways, snacks, and a raffle! whee!! Don't forget to rsvp! ;)

Thursday Dec 11th
6-8pm
Burton Snowboards
8175 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 370-1777
rsvp@burton.com

Bar? Lounge? Club? Who knows....

I had a chance to pay a little visit to a new DTLA nightspot this weekend - The Association.

First off, let me say that the parking in the area can be difficult and wrought with sketch - as in climbing over half-asleep homeless people. So my recommendation is to pay the $5 to park in one of the many nearby lots. It's better than getting a $75 parking ticket like I did :( Always listen to what the sign says, no matter how many idiots are parked on that street!!

Walking in is pretty cool. As other reviews have stated, there's no marking in the front, but it's just right next door to Cole's French Dip which is very clearly marked. The door guy reminded me of a non-gay version of Lance Bass.

Walking in, it was dark, crowded, and loud. There's a bar that runs along the left wall and mirrors and seating on the right wall. The bar was weird b/c the DJ booth is enclosed at the end of the bar. So we were stuck in front of the dj hoping and praying to be noticed by a bartender... which eventually happened about 15-20min later? The seating area has neato crystal hanging things which actually reflect the light in a very sparkly colorful manner that I liked.

There's a pretty wide open area between the bar and the seating areas where random people were congregated trying to talk or dance. The douchebag/hoochie quotient was pretty high here considering it was downtown. But if you want a semi-low-key night of drinking, dancing, and debauchery, this is not a bad choice.

The Association
110 E6th St (bt Spring & Main)
Downtown LA
213-627-7385

Photo credit: Ken Hively/LATimes

Christmas for hipsters

With the holidays rapidly approaching (when did it become December??), there are lots of cool parties/shopping events/random fun things to do around the city. I probably won't have time to do most of these, but by writing about it, it makes me feel like I'm a part of the action somehow...


In chronological order:

Recessionista Holiday Sale
Sat Dec 6th 12-8pm

POOL
2900 Rowena
Silverlake

I always like to buy clothes/accessories/gifts that aren't readily available at "da mall" and this place has an extensive lineup of local designers selling neat jewelry/clothes/accessories/gifts. The chances of there being free libations is high since one of its sponsors is Honest Tea :)

Downtown LA Block Party
Sat Dec 6th 6pm-midnight

Old Bank District
401 S. Main St
Los Angeles, CA 90013

Since I just came back from Paris, I'm a sucker for anything Parisian. There will also be a beer/wine garden (my favorite!!!)

From yelp: Come out to this FREE Block Party!!! There will be lots of live music, an art bazaar (perfect for gifts!), restaurant specials, a beer and wine garden and a Parisian-style light display on 4th Street. And since it's the season for giving, local proceeds will donate to Downtown charities. Have fun and do a good deed while you're at it!

Rock n Bowl Holiday Party
Wed Dec 10th 9pm-1am

All Star Lanes
4459 Eagle Rock Blvd
Los Angeles CA

This event is sponsored by Toyota Matrix, Filter Magazine, and the Antics team, so you know that you're guaranteed to have plenty of free booze and hipster-watching. I've gone to this event when they had their summer version and indeed it was plenty fun. This one includes free bowling, t-shirt silk printing (get in line for this part early so you don't wait an eternity), and free Asahi beer from 9-11pm. RSVP soon before space runs out!

From Antics website: ANTICS is teaming up with FILTER and erockster to present our Rock 'N' Bowl Holiday Party at All Star Lanes, where we'll be partying with a special DJ set from CSS! The Brazilian wonders will be joined by DJs Lord Nelson and Pants Off, and we'll have free beer courtesy of Asahi, a photobooth from Polite In Public, free bowling and live screenprinting. Entry is free, all you need to do is RSVP.

Apartment3 Gift Sample Sale
Sat dec 13th (and sunday dec 14th) 1pm to 7pm

Apartment 3
1855 industrial street loft 103
La Ca 90021
rsvp@apartment-3.com

Yet another holiday sale with prices mostly below $50. And of course, in true hipster fashion, there will be free mimosas and a DJ spinning throughout :)

Free Knotts Berry Farm Admission
December 6-7, 13-14, 20-21 (each weekend in December before xmas)

Knotts (duh)
8039 Beach Boulevard
Buena Park, CA 90621

Free Knotts admission! I'm not a big amusement park fan, but if you wanna spend some hair-raising quality time with the little ones in your life (or the ones that just act like it), this is a fun and cheap way to do it! :D Also, one of my favorite local bands, The Airborne Toxic Event, will be performing there live on Sunday Dec 14th at 5pm. woohoo!!

From yelp: Bring a brand new toy valued at $10 or more(not gift wrapped) to donate to Toys for Tots and you'll receive free admission to Knott's

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Daily Candy also just put out their sample sale listing and it's really extensive. My particular interest is in the Rebecca Minkhoff one since those are THE bags carried by NYC fashionistas and my NYC gf who always hangs out at the purse forum. I may have to make some time for that one :P


flickr photo by reneeblanchard

Air France - je t'aime!!!

Most Americans are well aware that domestic airlines have a pretty crappy level of service compared to many of the Asian or European airlines. Well, I wanted this post to be my love note to Air France.

Dear AF,

I can't stop thinking about how awesome you are....

The first time I knew you were something special was when I walked into your lounge at Charles de Gaulle. Not only did you have a huge selection of yummy snacks of assorted cheeses (camambert and a bunch of other French ones I can't prounounce), finger sandwiches and assorted juices and drinks at the ready... you also had a self-service open bar (with champagne!!) across multiple stations. There were many salons serving a variety of purposes including the relaxation room (where you can actually lie down to sleep), a massage room, showers, and a wifi room that also had iMacs to check the internet.

I was already impressed and wanted to spend more time with you here, but it was time to be ushered onto the plane....

You weren't the handsomest plane I had ever met, but once I got to know you better, I knew I was in love....

Shortly after takeoff, we were given little menus with our food offerings. I always think this is a nice touch, especially in the coach cabin to have something to look forward to and know what you're getting. Our first real meal together was a choice of spinach/ricotta canneollni or grilled chicken with wild rice. They were both very good and came with a quinoa salad, wedge of camembert, and a fresh baguette. Dessert was a fig compote and all this was tastefully presented with real glassware and silverware. The George DeBeouf red wine was a disappointment, but we're all allowed the occasional goof up, right? ;)

As you cradled my feet on your foot rests, it was time to watch movies. There were probably at least 50 different movies to choose from that was conveniently listed by genre and language in the back of the in-flight magazine. I settled on waching Broken English (about an American woman falling in love with a French man) and In Bruges (black comedy thriller about 2 British blokes in a small Belgian town). I also tried to watch Step Brothers (but how feasible is it for 2 40yo guys to have parents in their 50s-60s? And that's just the start of the non-sequiturs).

When I was feeling bored and sleepy from the movies, I was able to rest my weary head on your little adjustable headrests. And I was able to wrap myself around your red cotton pillowcase and cozy faux-wool blanket. And when I woke up and was craving a snack, you had in the back in a cold pouch.... OMG Hagen Daaz ice cream bars!!!!!!! It was cool and creamy and as it melted in my mouth, I was in all-consuming bliss. Once wansn't enough, I just had to go back for another :d

After another meal, it was time to say our goodbyes. I wasn't ready to leave you yet, there's still so much more we could've done together.... more movies, more food, more snuggling. But I guess 11 hours together for our first time was probably enough. And I hope to have the pleasure of your company in the near future. Merci, au revior!

Love,
FH

ps - Casper van Diem on our flight was a nice touch and a reminder of what's to come in LA. And oh snap, he was there with his whole brood including his milfy wife Catherine Oxenberg. They have cute kids.