From Aug. 30 through Sept. 5 you can celebrate Restaurant Week Las Vegas, the chance to dine out at more than 80 of Las Vegas’ popular establishments at discounted prices to raise money to benefit Three Square – a nonprofit organization in Las Vegas working to end hunger in Southern Nevada.

But this is a weeklong party, so the MGM Grand is offering a preparty and four afterparties during Restaurant Week. This is the chance to mix and mingle with your favorite chefs.

On Aug. 29 Executive Chef Stephen Hopcraft from SeaBlue at MGM Grand will demonstrate how to shuck oysters and prepare SeaBlue’s Paella and Sangria from noon to 2 p.m. A cheftestant on Bravo’s Top Chef Washington, D.C., foodies and fans in Las Vegas can see Hopcraft in person interact with the audience and enjoy a great meal all for a good cause. The cost is $60.10

Aug. 30 is MGM Grand’s Wet Your Appetite at Wet Republic from 8 p.m. to midnight. The opening celebration will feature booths and food stations from several of the 80 participating restaurants. Guests will have the opportunity to taste dishes prepared by chefs from Joël Robuchon, Craftsteak, Fiamma, Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, Jean Georges Steakhouse, Sage, Burger Bar, Fleur de Lys, Sensi, Osteria del Circo and Todd English’s Olives. Heineken-brand beers and wine also will be available. Chef Keller will showcase his mixmaster talents, proving he’s both king of the kitchen and ruler of the turntables.

Complimentary food and drinks will be available until 10 p.m. and tickets bought in advance for this event can be used as a $30.10 dining voucher at any participating MGM Grand restaurant during Restaurant Week. Tickets to the event are $30.10.

It is Tease in the Kitchen Aug. 31 beginning at 10:30 p.m. when award-winning cuisine is blended with burlesque dancers in Joël Robuchon L’Atelier’s open kitchen. Indulge in champagne, wine and hors d’oeuvres along with music and entertainment. The cost is $70.10

Hump day, Sept. 1, is a Night of High Spirts in Craftsteak with Scotch selections, California wines, passed hor d’oeuvres and tasting stations of steak preparations beginning at 10:30 p.m. Add billiard tables and live music. The cost is $30.10.

Sept. 2 is Birufest 2010, a Celebration of Japanese Beer, at Shibuya offering 28 Japanese and Japanese-style beers including Shibuya own private labels. If you aren’t a beer drinker, there will be sake and other beverages offered along with passed hor d’oeuvres, entertainment and Japanese-inspired art exhibit. The after party starts at 10:30 and the cost is $30.10

Tickets are available by calling the MGM Grand Concierge at 877.660.0660.

To find out more about Three Square, visit www.threesquare.org.

For at look at seven of the best menus from Restaurant Week, click here.

When New York star chef Scott Conant announced that he’d be opening a spot in Las Vegas, the food world seemed to react with a shrug. After all, Vegas already had plenty of culinary kings (and he’s joining David Myers, Costas Spiliadis and José Andrés at the forthcoming Cosmopolitan resort) and no shortage of excellent Italian food—Conant’s forte.

But a little more exciting is Conant’s announcement that he’ll be opening an outpost of his widely awarded eatery Scarpetta in the Montage Beverly Hills (as if you needed one more reason to visit that stunning spot).

One thing is for sure, as good as the food scene in Los Angeles has become, Italian cuisine here could certainly use a shot in the arm. Combine a truly talented chef like Conant (who you might know from Food Network’s 24 Hour Restaurant Battle) with the array of amazing produce we have in Southern California, and you have a simple recipe for brilliance.

Of course, we can expect some of Scarpetta’s signature dishes that visitors to New York, Toronto and Miami have come back raving about, such as creamy polenta with fricassee of truffled mushrooms, spaghetti with tomato and basil, and roasted baby goat with rapini, pancetta and potatoes.

We can expect a Haute crowd, too: celebs like Matt Damon, Alex Rodriguez, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson, and 50 Cent have helped make Scarpetta in Miami’s Fontainebleau a hot spot; President Clinton’s visited the original in New York.

Can’t wait until then? Go visit Conant at the Taste of Beverly Hills on Labor Day weekend! Yes, he’ll be there to whet our appetites.

Designed by Studio Gaia (Tao Las Vegas, W Mexico City) for an “Old Hollywood” feel indoors and out, Scarpetta Beverly Hills is due in October. Watch this space.

Montage Beverly Hills is located at 225 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.860.7840

We’ve all done it. It’s Sunday night, you’re enjoying the latest drama that is Mad Men and the thought comes to you: I’d be so much more creative/productive/interesting at work if I could down a gimlet at 10 a.m., too.

Well, dears, it’s time to pull a Don Draper. Or a Betty, as the case may be. Pull on your pencil skirt and don your fedora and head to Amuse, the French brasserie and bar within the new Le Meridien hotel, for a lunch special that ensures you’ll be a star in that early afternoon meeting (and perhaps snoozing through the late afternoon one, too).

From 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., now through September 30, diners can drop just $30 and enjoy the Three Martini Lunch. The deal includes a cup of French onion soup, an order of steak frites with shallot-tarragon pesto and Bearnaise aioli and, of course, three martinis.

The beverage area is where the options come in, with six blends to choose from: classic and dirty options, complete with bleu cheese-stuffed olives; a bright citrus one with lemon juice and Cointreau; the French Martini, made of Belvedere, Chambord and pineapple juice; a Cosmopolitan; and the Parisienne, made with Hendrick’s, dry vermouth and creme de cassis.

Worried the afternoon aperitifs might get you in trouble? Amuse understands, and any unordered martinis can be redeemed for coupons to be used at any time within 30 days. One after 5 p.m., perhaps? True workaholics can indulge in the special on weekends.

Amuse is located within Le Meridien at 1421 Arch Street, 215.422.8222, www.amusephiladelphia.com

The Studio C.L., the popular Rittenhouse Square salon specializing in dry cutting, has struck up a lovely deal with New York-based Johnny Wojtanowicz, bringing the celebrated stylist to Philadelphia once a month to help tame the tresses of the city.

Nationally known and traveled, Wojtanowicz started turning heads in New York when he trained under the late John Sahag, who taught him to art of dry cutting. Wojanowicz started working on shows and sets in California, then at The Salon at the Wynn Hotel is Las Vegas. A known leader and trend setter in both styles and techniques, he is now the head stylist at Eiji Salon in New York City.

Soft spoken but not the least bit hesitant with the scissors, Wojtanowicz decided to come to The Studio C.L. after meeting other stylists from the salon while doing a show in Atlantic City. A friendship was formed, followed by an arrangement allowing Wojtanowicz to travel south on the first of each month and set up shop at the salon.

Lucky us. I stopped in to see Wojtanowicz this morning as he settled in and was wowed within five minutes. Instead of the typical “So what are we doing today?” line I so often get at salons, Wojtanowicz first took inventory of my heavy and flat locks. As he went over the strands with, well, a fine-toothed comb, he quickly came up with a plan of attack best suited for my hair. Without a word from me, he could tell what aspects of my current style gave me the most trouble and had suggestions for how to combat them.

He started in dry, using a flat iron to tame the tresses and the occasional mist of a spray bottle to combat frizz. An hour later, his capable hands and shears left me with light, contoured layers that actually laid how they should — a novel thing for me. And no need for a blow-out afterward (Curly haired gals, The Studio C.L. is happy to include one for those who need the smoothing touch of a master).

Stop in and see Wojtanowicz during on of his next trips to The Studio C.L., or set up an appointment with one of the other talent stylists on staff. In a few snips they’ll have you sporting a great new look for Fall. Cut and dry.

The Studio C.L. is located at 128 South 19th St., Second Floor, 215.496.0604, www.thestudiocl.com

Even city slickers need reprieve from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan life. When the weekend comes calling, why not spend the day with a glass of wine — or several — at the Nashoba Valley Winery?

Situated deep within the rolling hills of Massachusetts’ Nashoba Valley in Bolton, Massachusetts, Nashoba Valley Winery has been a haute destination for natives and visitors alike since the pour of its first wine in 1978. Since then, the Winery (which is encapsulated by a centuries-old apple orchard) has expanded to include a state-of-the-art wine making and distillation facility, a 4-star restaurant, a brewery, and a wine shop. The venue also hosts wedding and special events within its restaurant and seasonally within its open-air pavilion.

Wine enthusiasts, from collectors and connoisseurs to vine virgins, will appreciate the Winery’s guided weekend tours, which run on Saturdays and Sundays year-round from 11 am to 4 pm. Guests are treated to an exclusive look at the wine making process, and samples from six of the Winery’s 20+ varietal portfolio. Private tours, a perfect way to welcome out-of-town guests to the Commonwealth, are available Monday through Friday from 11 am to 4 pm, and require advance reservation. Don’t have time for a tour? Take a trip to the Winery’s tasting bar, where expert staff will answer your questions and expand your palette with unique and rare wines.

Sure, New Englanders may cling to the remnants of summer till the leaves turn color, but with a hint of autumn in the air and September right around the corner, we encourage you to mark your calendars for a visit to a place that offers a fresh perspective on an old-world favorite.

Nashoba Valley Winery is located at 100 Wattaquadock Hill Road, Bolton, Massachusetts

Football season is right around the corner and there’s no better time to start rounding up your favorite burgers joints. The restaurants on this list are known for delish flavors and exceptional quality. When it comes to the all-American tradition of burgers, look no further than these top burger joints in Miami.

I know what you’re thinking: Music festivals are not your thing. Sticky, sweaty, uncomfortable, crowd-fighting, inelegant messes. This one is different.

The Pasadena Jazz Fest, going off this weekend, August 28-29, offers nothing less than some of the best talents performing music today. Stanley Clarke (above), Rachelle Ferrell, Spyro Gyra, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’s Kevin Eubanks, Take 6, Miss Rita Coolidge, Hubert Laws are just some of the headliners. New Orleans’ Dirty Dozen Brass Band were just added to the line up. And it’s not just Jazz either: Everlast, funk/soul legend Booker T. Jones, Gospel shouter Sylvia St. James, and a tribute to Michael Jackson are on the schedule too. Safe to say it would take you an entire Hollywood Bowl season to see this many serious names perform.

But here’s why it’s really different: Cabanas. While it might be fine just to get the limited VIP seats, with front row access, early entrance, a private bar and after party admission, why not splurge on one of only 20 cabanas, which include two couches and six chairs (invite only your best music loving friends), two VIP parking passes, backstage access (including the catering) and waiters to bring you the first two dozen drinks complimentary. You read that right. Oh, and the afterparty, of course.

Never been to the LA Arboretum? That might be worth the trip alone. The 127-acre botanical garden, owned by all of us (LA County tax payers, that is), is home to all kinds of rare and endangered plant species from around the world, as well as historical landmarks of California history. Gorgeous views of the San Gabriel mountains and any number of natural environments await. Is that worth a 25 minute drive from Hollywood? I’d say so. And If you don’t make it to Jazz fest, mark your calendar to come back for the California Philharmonic’s performances here in the summer time.

The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is located at 301 North Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, 626. 821.3222

Sometimes all we want is a satisfying bite of big fat delicious hamburger and french fries. This American classic can now be found all over the world and has become quite popular in Dubai. So whether you’re looking for a quick fix or an elegant dining experience, here are the haute five places for a burger and fries in Dubai.

There’s been a lot of media exposing Dallas as the oil drilling, hair teasing, social aristocracy seen on the likes of classic television shows such as Dallas and more recently the reality series Dallas Divas and Daughters, a verifiable flop that showed viewers archaic traditions like the debutante ball as well as what would happen if the teenage girl of a wealthy Southern belle was refused a new Range Rover (hint: mayhem.)

Here’s a fun fact: Most of this is true. Dallas is a social hierarchy, and there are key players at the top that make the entire crystal ball turn. Heidi Dillon is one such woman, basking in the breeze at the top of Dallas ladder with her successful non-profit The Fashionistas, her glamorous and groomed appearance and her keen eye for business and success. As of late, however, she has been spending more and more of her time in sunny California, plugging her reality television series, tentatively and aptly named Dallasocracy (Heidi was minorly involved with the Dallas… Divas bit, but asked for a diassociation after the first episode aired.)

I for one applaud. Having had the unique opportunity to meet Heidi in her dazzling Turtle Creek abode, I found no character more appealing to reality television than this blond babe, who considers herself an artist above a socialite, swears like a sailor and drinks Moet like it’s going out of style. Even her adolescent son Dallas (also a blond, with the cool, disenchanted personality reserved for the child of a celebrity) and her super-sized Labradoodle Ralph seem perfectly fit for the screen, although they will probably serve as supporting actors in the show. Heidi, my fingers are crossed for the pickup. Ball’s in your court, Bravo.

Check out www.thefashionistas.org for more info on Heidi Dillon and her cause

A lot of restaurants in San Diego promise ocean views, but how many deliver jumping dolphins viewable from your chair?  George’s at the Cove in La Jolla can provide just that, aside from top-of-the-line dining experiences in food. Set out practically on top of the ocean with huge glass viewing walls to the water, this is an unforgettable venue.

George’s offers three types of dining: California Modern, George’s Bar, and Ocean Terrace. California Modern is the indoor, trendy-in-an-understated-way dining room that brings you amazing dishes that are carefully thought out and always in season. The dinner menu combines a mix of fantastic lighter samplings and soups with amazing seafood and meat selections. The lamb chops couldn’t be cooked closer to perfection and the seabass is impeccable in both taste and presentation.

Ocean Terrace is the lighter, more laid-back side of the George’s, but with the same top-notch quality of both ingredients and service. A great lunch menu is presented at the Ocean Terrace, with selections as varied as their baja items including fresh grilled tacos and Mexican style shrimp cocktail, along with more traditional lunch items such as sandwiches and salads.  Set on the rooftop terrace, you enjoy sweeping ocean views while enjoying your food.

George’s Bar is the relaxed indoor setting that rounds out the three options of the restaurant. They boast a bistro menu and casual vibe that allows you to feel comfortable in your jeans while meeting your friends for dinner, while the high heels and button-down shirts head to California Modern. Their dinner menu is much simpler and smaller than California Modern’s, but the items they do offer are delicious.  The Asian skirt steak and the Niman Pork Ranch Milanese in particular are exemplary choices for taste and variety.

All in all, George’s at the Cove has something for everyone, and everyone is going to enjoy this outing.  You could even make it a three-in-one day with Ocean Terrace for lunch, George’s Bar for appetizers, and California Modern for dinner.  You’d have to be rolled home from stuffing yourself with such goodness, but it’d be well worth the roll!