Papilles (Hollywood) - Upscale French bistro offering an affordable prix fixe menu.

Following the success of their eccentrically chic Palihouse Holloway, Paligroup has thrown open the doors to the appropriately named Palihotel Melrose Avenue next week. An honest-to-goodness boutique hotel, it has just 32 rooms, and is located quite conveniently amidst the Melrose retail and restaurant mayhem -meaning it might be the only hotel in LA that doesn't require interaction with the valet every time you walk out the front door.

In a month's time, you'll thrill to the Christina Hendricks cover story in the March issue of BlackBook. But meanwhile, here's a little flash of what's to come.

Sadie (Hollywood) - New American plates and lavender-infused cocktails served in a revamped Hollywood nightclub.

The glamorous Meatpacking District resto Bistro Bagatelle is rumored to soon be reopening in a new MePa location. But in the meantime, Brand Essence partners Remi Laba and Aymeric Clemente will be taking the show to La La Land.

The Little Bear (Artists District) - A Belgian brew hall with lots of sandwiches and meat-heavy main courses.

Hotel junkies and Ace Hotel groupies got an early Christmas present today: the Hollywood Reporter writes that a downtown Los Angeles location of the popular boutique hotel will open in the United Artists building. That's big time.

Haven (Pasadena) - Both beer and wine are on tap, and suckling pigs are a-roasting.

April MacIntyre is managing editor for Monsters and Critics and social media slinger for Gleam by Melanie Mills and other corporate clients. She is also a post "Spoken Interludes" features guest and a regular BlogTalkRadio and NPR commentator. This is her take on four places she likes, and one place she doesn't.

Alex Sagalchik is an independent film producer and the founder of Mott Street Pictures. This is his take on four places he likes, and one place he doesn't.