Chef David Myers of Comme Ca Brasserie, Sona, and Boule on jonesing for sushi, LA’s farm fixation, and leisure-time indulgences

You’ve really embraced Los Angeles through your creative, passionate use of local produce. How does this city inspire or frustrate you? I was trying to find where I wanted to open my own restaurant, and I fell in love with LA. The scenic beauty of the mountains and ocean deeply inspires me. Traffic is another issue though.

And where do you hang out? I don't have a lot of time to hang out, given my hours, and on the weekends I am usually traveling. However, I love The Otheroom in Venice. It's in my neighborhood and I love the vibe.

Jen Egan, Gen Art’s ubiquitous It Girl and Project Runway’s eagle eye, on being perpetually “out,” decoding Japanese door lists, and why Beverly Hills fashion still sucks.

Where do you hang out? I love the Tower Bar at the Sunset Tower Hotel. Jeff Klein is a good friend, and Dimitry, who does not need a last name just like Madonna and Cher need no other name, is bar none the best host in the city. He will greet you with his adorable Italian accent, “Ciao bella,” and kiss you, always both cheeks, and never an air kiss. Tower Bar is dark enough to take 10 years off me, swank enough that there are always celebrity sightings, and intimate enough that you feel cozy munching on the amazing thin crust pizza and drinking champagne, a.k.a. “champers dahhhling.”

If you watch The Hills or read any gossip rag, LA comes off like a celebutante-super-chic-hipster on a weekend coke bender, stopping only to pose (pantyless) for the paps. While this may be true if you hang in Weho or Hollywood, there's plenty to scope out on the more mellow west side of town. Things like, say, the beach. Here's our guide to having fun in Venice, CA.

Stay: You might as well get as close to the ocean as possible and stay at Shutters on the Beach. Your backdoor (or your front, depending on the suite) is sand, and beyond, water. The hotel maintains a private stretch of beach for guests, and service is quick and reliable. The brunches are legendary.