Aren’t we loving the arrival of fashion’s favorite brands to the Middle East? Louis Vuitton just opened its first boutique in Lebanon’s capital city of Beirut. The new store is located on Allenby Street in the heart of Beirut ideally situated in between the city’s ancient souks and new high rises.

For the launch event, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Louis Vuitton Yves Carcelle invited Lebanese Prime Minister  Saad Hariri as well as a list of dazzling stars from Europe and Lebanon including French actress Catherine Deneuve, Lebanese film director and actress Nadine Labaki and singers Haifa Wehbe and Elissa.

Attendees made their way to The Bubble for the after party where Pop Singer, Yasmine Hamdan entertained the glamorous crowd with tracks from her new album “Arabology.” A night to remember of true celebration, Louis Vuitton finally has a base in Beirut.

It doesn’t happen often, so when an International designer skips over New York and decides to put her first boutique in the Americas right here in LA, it’s extra reason to celebrate.

French darling Vanessa Bruno—born into the fashion world to a father who founded fashion house Emmanuelle Khan and mother who was a ‘60s Danish supermodel, and designing since age 24—does seem like a good fit for Angelenos. In this city that reveres “effortless” style, Bruno’s togs are right on target. Delicate, simple, sexy, rustic, futurist, and very very French, her couture looks are nothing if not adorable self-contradictions.

Pret-a-porter offers natural fabrics in uncommon, typically muted colors…artistic lingerie, crepe de chine jumpsuits, sheer tanks, asymmetric dresses, wrap skirts and deceptively simple shifts that defy convention, defy ageism, and sometimes defy logic! Some styles work only for the impossibly skinny, others would look great on anyone, but almost all are original enough to never go out of style.

Think you’ll run into celebs here? Count on it: just last week, Bruno was feted in a private Chateau Marmont birthday dinner (where else?) attended by Rachel Bilson, Kate Bosworth, Julie Delpy, Tara Subkoff and star stylist Nicole Chavez. Models Liberty Ross and Atlanta de Cadenet also joined. Nicole Kidman and Charlotte Gainsbourg are also fans.

Fashion wags say the store’s going to have a proper Grand Opening in October with a newsworthy surprise performance—but why wait until then? The shop is set to open August 5. Ignore what anyone else says–first is always fabulous.

Vanessa Bruno is located at 8448 Melrose Avenue

Enjoy AltaMare’s fresh, Mediterranean-style cuisine in a private dining setting as owner Claudio Giordano and Executive Chef Simon Stojanovic host AltaMare’s August wine dinner Monday, August 16 at 7:30 pm. Guests will be treated to a prix fixe menu featuring an impressive variety of AltaMare’s fresh seafood, organic meats, and house made pasta, each expertly paired with the finest Italian wine.

Guests will dine with Antonio Capaldo, chairman of the highly acclaimed Feudi di San Gregario vineyard in southern Italy. Founded in 1986, the estate is located in the village of Sorbo Serpico in Italy’s Irpinia region and is recognized for its state-of-the-art technology and intimate understanding of the environment’s role in winemaking. The winery’s close proximity to Mount Vesuvius provides the ideal growing conditions for grapes, yielding a wine rich in minerals and distinct in flavor and aroma. A winery committed to highlighting the distinctiveness of Mediterranean flavors and the spirit of traditional winemaking, Feudi di San Gregario’s wines are the perfect complement to AltaMare’s fresh ingredients.

Breaded grouper cheeks, cherry heirloom tomato, baby artichoke
Lacryma christi
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Seared day boat scallops, roasted tomato nage, crispy fennel
Greco di tufo
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House made potato gnocchi, braised short rib, bufala mozzarella, fresh basil
Aglianico
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Grilled and sliced Harris ranch ribeye, house made roasted pepper relish

Taurasi
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Local mango pannacotta, mango lime jelly, almond crunch

Privilegio late harvest
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$65 per person

Seating is limited to 20 people in the private dining room. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy an intimate evening as your experience Chef Stojanovic’s spin on some of the finest and freshest offerings.

AltaMare is located at 1233 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach; Reservations can be made at 305.532.3061

Leslie Sbrocco, host of PBS’s “Check Please”

The G7 Consortium hosted an exclusive cruise around the island of Manhattan Thursday night, giving those on board the Romantica Yacht a special taste of wines from Portugal. G7 is made up of the top five Portuguese wine purveyors: Aliança, Aveleda, Bacalhoa, José Maria da Fonseca and Messias. The evening included more than 25 wines from many of the country’s diverse terroirs, starting at Vinho Verde in the North to the Peninsula de Setubal in the south.  The three-hour sunset cruise also featured flavorful foods to pair with the libations, including lobster rolls from Luke’s lobsters, seared Kobe beef and salmon ceviche from Sushi Samba, Korean small plates by chef Jennifer Maeng, and bite-sized “ditch dog” hot dogs from Marc Murphy’s Ditch Plains.

Coco Chanel only drank Champagne on two occasions — when she was in love and when she was not in love. Take Chanel’s advice and indulge in some bubbly at Laguna Champagne Bar, the ode to all things Champagne, and only Champagne, on the casino floor of the Palazzo.

Now you can toast any event with bottomless glasses of Domaine Ste Michelle Brut for $20 every day from 8 p.m. to midnight. This brew of bubbles comes across as not too dry or sweet with aromas of citrus and apple and flavors of citrus with a light toasty finish.

When you tire of the endless glasses, switch over to a classic Champagne cocktail such as the  Flower Eclipse with St.Germain elderflower Liqueur, fresh lemon juice and Veuve Clicquot Demi Sec, or the Bubblicious with Campari, fresh orange juice and Moet & Chandon “Nectar” Champagne.

If you need something a bit more frat-like, go for the Champagne Boom Boom shooters served on a wooden plank. Tap one of the three shooters on the plank twice to make the Champagne foam before slamming it down. Selections of shooters include Sparkling Café with Navan, Patron XO Café and Moet & Chandon “Nectar” Champagne; La Poire with Absolut Pears, Pear Coulis and Moet 7 Chandon Brut Imperial; Orangina with Belvedere Citrus, Grand Marnier, orange juice and Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial; and Imperial with Grey Goose L’Orange, TY KU Citrus Liqueur and Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial.

Don’t say we didn’t warn you about a possible hangover from this excursion.

Laguna Champagne Bar is located at the Palazzo, 702.414.0449, www.palazzolasvegas.com.

Chris Harrison of ABC's "The Bachelorette" and his wife Gwen host a rose party at Blush Nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas.

He may be the host of The Bachelorette, but Chris Harrison is no single. He started his Las Vegas birthday celebration with a rose party at Blush Boutique Nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas on Friday. The star of the hit ABC reality show, who turned 39 this past Monday, arrived at the club with a group of 12 friends at 11:30 p.m. following dinner at SW Steakhouse. Harrison happily posed for pictures and gave roses out to female fans, but only had eyes for his wife Gwen, who partied right beside him at their dance floor VIP table. The group drank Grey Goose with mixers until 2 a.m. Harrison is expected at Surrender Nightclub at Encore Las Vegas tonight to continue his birthday celebration.

Tucked away on the ground floor of the Al Khaleej Palace Hotel in Deira is Geneva’s very own Entrecote Café de Paris. The Geneva franchise has offered the world renowned Salad, Steak and French Fries with their specialty sauce menu since 1930 and you can now revel in the experience here in Dubai.

Most of us don’t usually venture into Deira, Dubai’s old center, unless we have to. But more and more we are finding this area filled with lovely and elegant restaurants worth the venture. Entrecote Café de Paris is one of them.

One thing for sure is that you will love the steak. The recipe for the famous entrecote steak sauce was first discovered by Madame Boubier in 1930 and it has been a hit ever since. Only few know the secret ingredients to make the sauce with a few chefs in the Deira restaurant now included.

Albeit the positioning of the restaurant in the soon-to-be considered ancient Al Khaleej Palace Hotel, the interior of Entrecote Cafe de Paris holds a French charm. Dark wood paneling with dimly-lit cases of wine aligning the walls and waitresses dressed like French maids make this place cozy and romantic. This is a restaurant where you can relax French style passing the hours away while sipping on red wine, conversing and relishing in delicious food.

Entrecote Café de Paris Al Khaleej Palace Hotel Deira 04 223 1000

An official act of Congress may have named tomorrow America’s first National Dance Day, but here in Phoenix, tomorrow will be unofficially Lady Gaga Day.

Lady Gaga, and all her “little monsters” who were lucky enough to snatch tickets for the sold-out show, will be raising hell tomorrow night at the US Airways Center downtown. We imagine the freaky-deaky costumes will be outdone only by the screaming of all her loyal fans.

And because we just know you’re wondering how a celeb the likes of Mother Monster does Phoenix, we’re here to provide the details.

Where she’s staying: Rumor has it, The Gaga has chosen to grace The Boulders Resort in Carefree with her presence – a great choice, too, considering the picture-perfect Southwest-style resort (by acclaimed Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts) is private and far removed from town. And Miss Gaga needs her rest, you know.

A photo of Lady Gaga in Arizona, which she posted to Twitter on July 29.

What she’s eating: We haven’t heard rumors of Lady Gaga venturing into town to sample any of the city’s fine cuisine, however, on July 29, she tweeted:

“Days off in the AZ Desert: Cactus fashion + Tequila. Can’t make me take off my leather, I would rather faint and die of glamour.”

… so presumably, whatever she’s been noshing on, there’s been some fiery agave juice to go right along with it. (We just hope not too much, as it looks like a fall in those heelless platforms could be pretty serious.)

Also, Arrowhead Grill, a restaurant in Glendale, has renamed its signature burger the Lady Gaga Burger for the weekend, and owner Charles Schwerd has said every patron’s burger will be on the house in the event the fashion phenom herself makes an appearance. Charles, we’ll cross our fingers for you.

Where she’s partying: Word on the street is that Lady Gaga may hit the party scene post-concert. Semi Precious Weapons, the artist’s opening band, is scheduled to DJ a party that night at Scottsdale’s Forbidden, and Gaga’s close friend and collaborator, DJ Lady Starlight, is said to be planning to attend. It’s possible Gaga will step out with Starlight following her show, and if you want to be there in hopes of an encounter with the Queen Monster, cover will be $10 to $15 with your Lady Gaga concert ticket stub, $30 for VIP access.

Haute Living will see you at the concert and after-party! (P.S. Wear something outrageous!)

"Before"

One of the hazards of living in (or near) Hollywood is trying to separate the so-called “secrets of the stars” which are secrets only because the stars have never heard of them, and the real secrets that stars call on to keep them looking, feeling, and living great.

Spray di Sole is one of the latter. Set in a nondescript office on Studio City’s Ventura Boulevard, there’s nothing glamorous about its address. But that’s just the appeal to stars like Sly Stallone, LeAnn Rimes, Mark McGrath, Jennie Garth, Alyssa Milano, Sharon Stone and even Fergie, who have called on Spray di Sole to get a great tan without attracting paparazzi attention.

"After"

Location, though, is only a small part of Spray di Sole’s appeal. Owner Svetlana Feller’s proprietary formula is all natural—unlike other tanning solutions, it has no alcohol, paraben, oils, perfumes or preservatives. The DHA (tanning agent) comes from sugar beet and cane sources, combined with organic aloe vera, organic jojoba, organic green and red teas, organic coffee, vitamin E and panthenol.

Personal attention is another plus. I visited the salon on a recent weekday and got sprayed by Svetlana’s assistant Robyn (above), who took her time making sure my spray went on evenly and was fully dry before I dressed again. I’m impossibly pale, but afterward, I had a healthier glow than I’ve gotten from a week in Hawaii. Nevertheless, I’m sparing you, and instead showing before/after shots of Robyn’s sister, who got sprayed days before me.

Spray di Sole also offers a line of cosmetics and after-tan skin care… and the process is also available to select licensees elsewhere. Here in LA, you can go to the salon or have them come to you!

Spray Di Sole is located at 12240 Ventura Boulevard Suite 102, Studio City, 818.454.4517

When you’ve just wrapped up a night on the town, you can get the munchies. And oftentimes, that happens pretty late at night. Like after 3 a.m. when the night is ending and you want to beat the crowds out of the club but you still need a little something in your stomach. Stop by Munchbar at Caesars Palace for a culinary adventure based on comfort foods (read: foods that your mom would serve up).

Chef Bryan Ogden (yes, son of Bradley Ogden with the eponymous culinary outpost at Caesars Palace) delved into his memories of childhood to put together a menu of casual gourmet cuisine. Ogden has his own culinary pedigree, graduating from the Culinary Institute of America and working with celebrity chefs such as Charlie Trotter, Michael Mina and Michel Richard along with a stint at Bradley Ogden as the wine director and generating daily changing seasonal menus. He even started his own winery, Pharaohmoans, in Paso Robles.

Try the tiny grilled cheese sandwiches with a tomato dipping sauce that will have you remembering those kid’s lunches with tomato soup. The Philly cheese steak sliders with onions and provolone (alas, no Cheez Whiz like the real deal) will put a dent in your hunger. Go a little higher end with the mini Maine lobster rolls with an herb mayonnaise or sweet potato French fries with a roasted garlic mayonnaise. If breakfast is on your mind the Munch breakfast sandwich comes with a fried egg, grilled Canadian bacon, fries and sausage gravy. Or if you’re hankering a bigger meal, go for the Bleu cheese burger topped with applewood smoked bacon and mushrooms or the Munch burger with sautéed onions, “fancy sauce” and a bucket of fries.

If you’d rather grab a bite to take home with you, head over to the to-go window for a bag of your favorites. You can even continue to fuel your booze-infested night with a selection of beers on tap, specialty cocktails or a bottle of wine (or two).

This place is relatively small and decorated with a comic book motif and chalkboards where you can tag your own message.

Don’t think you only have to stop here after hours. Munchbar opens in time for lunch when normal folks are out and about (or if you had a really late night, you’re just headed home).

The restaurant and to-go window are open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. For more information, visit www.munchgroup.com.