Mastering the art of a well-heeled West Coast life should include the following: a few down-dogs, perfecting the ordering of a massively complex warm dairy libation (a.k.a. the latte at Starbucks) without a flinch, and knowing where to get a leg-up on life. Whichever you choose to perfect, grasshopper, read the list below and reap the rewards.

● O Lounge (Downtown) - Wanna shoe-in for a fun night? They come in all shapes, heights, makes, and models here. The view is so much better from the top.
● Lift Bar and Grill (Coal Harbour) - The only thing better than watching the floatplanes take off from this yacht-laden enclave is gawking at the folks getting on them in their fabulous shoes.

● Flatbush Farm (Prospect Heights) - Everything you'd expect from a restaurant with "Farm" in the name: local, organic, sustainable. Decor is more modern than country, save for the bangin' backyard overflowing with green.
● Vinegar Hill House (Dumbo) - Cast iron dishes, straight from the wood fire oven, are killer tasty and surprisingly affordable. Mismatched knickknacks and vintage furniture make the space a real charmer.
● Rose Water (Park Slope) - It's not surprising that a seasonal menu helps the coop crowd get off. Park Slope's favorite date spot comes with flickering candles and chocolate pot de crème.

● Absinthe (Hayes Valley) - While they’re only available at brunch, Absinthe’s deviled eggs are anything but traditional breakfast fare. Looking deceptively familiar with a dollop of egg yolk swirled into perfectly hard boiled whites, Top Chef alumna Jamie Lauren belies expectations by topping the potluck favorite with salty smoked trout, and as if that weren’t enough, a sprinkling of another kind of egg -- osetra caviar.
● The Alembic (The Haight) - Known for its cocktails, Alembic divides its drink menu into “old school” classics and “new school” elixirs like the Strawberry Alarm Clock, which marries strawberry puree with whiskey, vermouth, and a dash of Tabasco. Libations like these require bold but not overpowering bar bites to accentuate the flavors of the fresh ingredients, and an order of pickled quail eggs fits the bill. These gorgeous pink orbs of briny lusciousness are smooth and rich, with the perfect amount of salty punch to whet your palate for another drink.

If you wanna be a hipster, you can wear a checkered lumberjack shirt with gray skinny jeans while you jog, never appear to wash your hair, and eat a raw carrot at a gallery opening. Or you could just hang out at the following Vancouver joints deep in the heart of SoMa -- i.e. south of Main Street.

● Narrow Lounge - If Bungalow 8 is for everyone who's anyone, this hard-to-find dive is its antithesis. Nobody is anybody that comes here, and that’s the point. Struggling artists and such fill the narrow dark space. Look for the red light to show you the way.
● Habit Lounge - Mixing hip with the home-y, the noisy lounge and restaurant is the casa of choice for moody journalists and graphic designers. A simple wine list, Canadian whisky, and modern Canadian food are all anyone can ask for.

Doing it standing up is all the rage in Los Angeles. What was once a game run almost exclusively by super-cheap taco trucks has opened up to all comers -- hello again, vendrification -- making “taco truck” a bit of a misnomer (and no, we do not accept “lunch truck”). But "food truck" sounds so impersonal, we're not yet settled on replacement. Nevertheless, here are 10 trucks-serving-food garnering the most attention at the moment. We know, Kogi’s not on the list. If you don’t already know about Kogi, you’re probably not reading this anyway.

● Marked 5 (@Marked5) - Is there such thing as an umami tooth? This truck’s existence says yes: it may be the most highly-desired right now. It serves little Japanese “burgers” on a bun composed of pressed rice. Teriyaki salmon, katsu pork, that sort of thing. Plus snacks like Calpico and Pocky for a Eastern experience on the Westside.
● Baby’s Badass Burgers (@BabysBBs) - So not all the trucks are getting attention for being awesome. This one is essentially Hooters on wheels. The burgers look terrible, but then, the idea is that the food’s not really the draw. L.A. is full of enhanced, half-naked women, so no one’s really sure why they’d pay $5 to ogle these in particular.

● Mission Beach Café (Mission) - A favorite among hip neighborhood lushes for post-booze-fest brunches. Pretty young things, some still clad in their PJs, searching for comfort in decadent biscuits and gravy, Prather Ranch beef brisket hash, and of course pomegranate grapefruit Mimosas.
● Home (The Castro) - Bloody Mary preferences say a lot about a person. Do you take yours spicy or mild? With celery or olives?? Home’s Build Your Own Bloody Mary bar, which includes all of the standard accoutrement plus wasabi and a whole bevy of hot sauces, allows you to express your individuality while downing oversized omelets and crunchy cornflake French toast.
● Zazie (Cole Valley) - To compensate for the indelicacies of last night’s festivities, atmosphere of subtle French refinement can help you regain your sense of dignity. Shade your sensitive eyes under an umbrella in this small Cole Valley bistro’s back garden and sip on a cranberry or mango juice mimosa, forgetting last night ever happened.

● Mandarin Oasis (Brickell/Downtown) - Friday nights are popular during the winter months; sip $20 cocktails on the bay, then head to Café Sambal or Azul for a bite. Transports you to tropical island getaway minus the travel, but def with the price tag.
● Le Tub (Aventura) - This local watering hole -- sitting in a rickety old spot on the Intercoastal -- may be known for succulent burgers, but it’s also a choice spot for winding down with a cold brew or two. If you opt to cruise in on your Sea Ray, bring a DD -- water taxis don’t frequent these waters.
● Monty’s (South Beach) - Pain Killers and Miami Vices will put you on the ground; the former comes in three mind-numbing doses of the devil’s tonic, and the latter is a delish concoction of pina colada and strawberry daiquiri mix with an equally dangerous shot of 151 floating on top. Help the booze go down with a trip to the raw bar.

● Mayahuel (East Village) - Cocktail connoisseurs of Death & Co. build a tequila tabernacle to namesake goddess of pulque and agave. Dark, sexy atmo coupled with the smart pours will have you sinning and confessing, alternately.
● La Esquina (Nolita) - Bar scene with authentic Mexican food from über-scenesters Serge and Cordell. Dungeon chic and tacos. Not as stealth as at the start, but still holding its own.
● Los Feliz (Lower East Side) - Fat Baby peeps continue their colonization of Hell Square with South of the Border entry. La Esquina meets Spitzer's over margaritas. Come get feliz.

● Zum Schneider (East Village) - New-school Teutonic brings Oktoberfest in July. And also October! Live oompah and DJ four nights a week, with Mösl Franzi and the Ja Ja Jas. Oktoberfest specials to wet your whistle.
● Loreley (Lower East Side) - Industrial entrance on Rivington backwater leads to rollicking little biergarten. Pours ‘em like they do in Cologne, knock back a few Gaffel Kölsch or Reissdorf Kölsch and you'll be wondering where you left your backpack with the hostel address in it. Seasonal brews and food specials mark the Oktoberfest season.
● Blaue Gans (Tribeca) - The Gutenbrunner Austrian Empire creeps further downtown via charming “Blue Goose." Celebrate the season with heavy-duty special brews from Munich, plus sauerbraten, sausages, and ginormous pretzels.

In his book Eat Me, notable flapjack flipper Kenny Shopsin writes of pancakes: “They are flour and milk drowned in butter and some form of sugar. They’re crap.” We love crap!

● Clinton Street Baking Company (Lower East Side) - Even fashion x-rays throw carb-rexia to the wind for these scrumptious slapjacks. Blueberry buttermilk ‘cakes are the fairest of them all. Fluffy pillows of the nutritionally void. Unlike socks-n-sandals or back hair, it is totally acceptable to order a supper stack.
● Tom’s Restaurant (Prospect Heights) - Born back in ’36 and still rolling with the whippersnappers. Harvest pancakes studded with tryptophan BFFs cranberries and sweet corn -- b.y.o. turkey gristle. Lemon ricotta with lime butter, famous banana walnut, boy. Free coffee, cookies, and lollipops while you wait. Old but spry.
● Public (Nolita) - Nerdy library gimmick can’t obfuscate simple beauty of coconut plus ricotta plus mango plus pancake. Pour out some ginger lime sizzurp. Books are for wussies and tropical fruit is for men. Save some room for kangaroo too.