December Lifestyle, Food and Events in Los Angeles

By Shaena Engle Dec. 6th, 2023

The Wallis

Love Actually Live Returns to the Wallis

Love Actually Live has returned to the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Performances run November 22 through December 30 at 7:30pm. In celebration of the holiday film’s 20th anniversary, the Wallis is offering two exclusive Love Actually inspired cocktails – Pia Days with mezcal, prickly pear, lemon and agave and the “You are Perfect” Mule with whiskey , spiced apple cider, citrus and ginger beer. Tickets at https://thewallis.org.

Milk Bar Offers Holiday Treats

James Beard Award-winning pastry chef Christina Tosi’s Milk Bar is offering new holiday treats. Seasonal treats are available for pick up at bakeries across the country and also can ship nationwide. New treats include peppermint bark cake, chocolate mint chip cake truffles, mini peppermint bark snap tin and a holiday sampler with mini peppermint bark snaps, a slice of Milk Bar pie and chocolate mint chip, B’day and Chocolate B’day truffles. Order at https://milkbarstore.com/collections/holiday-gifts.

Eataly Restaurants Offer Special Holiday Panettone

Eataly Century City’s restaurants are offering a special holiday panettone with a special tableside cart experience. Diners can choose from house made toppings like chocolate, Chantilly cream and mascarpone cream.Each flavor, including Classico, Pistachio Cream, Orange & Chocolate, and the iconic Pandoro, is meticulously crafted with premium ingredients such as Piemontese cream butter and Madagascar vanilla. Offered at Terra, Capri and La Pizza La Pasta throughout December.

Shaena Engle

Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills Special Holiday Events

The Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills has a bevy of special events this holiday season including Christmas Eve and Christmas Dinner at Espelette from 1 to 8pm; Christmas Eve brunch and a la carte dining at The Rooftop by JG from 10am to noon and dinner Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from noon to 8pm; a special Nutcracker Afternoon Tea weekends in December from noon to 4pm; s special La Prairie holiday spa escape including aromatherapy scrub, hot stone massage and facial, $525; a special two night Waldorf Wonderland Package including breakfast, festive room décor, holiday feast for four and more, $2,000 and holiday confections and Buche De Noel, offered from December 12 to 24th, serves 8 to 10 for $110, order at 310.860.6705.

The resort is also offering a New Year’s Eve Venetian Carnival Masquerade Ball, $195; a live DJ on New Year’s Eve at The Rooftop by JG, $125 and breakfast, dinner and lunch at Espelette on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Sofitel LA at Beverly Hills Hosts Pawlidays and Toy Drive.

The Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills hotel is hosting a PATH Toy Drive through December 18. Guests can drop off an unwrapped toy, book or game at the front desk for children and families experiencing homelessness. Toys must be unwrapped and new or like new. They are also hosting Pawlidays on December 8 from 11am to 2pm offering a photo with Santa ($20), holiday treats for fur babies and humans and dogs available for adoption.

Ardor Offering Holiday Dinners

Ardor by Chef John Fraser will be open Christmas Eve from 5 to 9pm and Christmas Day from 1:30 to 7pm featuring an a la carte menu of vegetable forward dishes. The restaurant, at the West Hollywood EDITION, will offer live music, reservations at

The Hilton Los Angeles Culver City Offers Holiday Events

The Hilton Los Angeles Culver City is offering special holiday events including a holiday wreath workshop on December 7 from 6:30 to 8:30pm, $95, and a Teddy Bear Tea on December 16 from 1 pm, $50 for adults and $25 for children. Reserve at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holiday-wreath-making-workshop-tickets-741799049927?aff=oddtdtcreator and https://www.eventbrite.com/e/teddy-bear-tea-tickets-756354134577?aff=oddtdtcreator.

h2hotel Offers Tasting and Book Signing Event with Ray Isle

h2hotel is offering a special wine tasting and book signing with Ray Isle, Food & Wine magazine’s executive wine editor on December 12 from 5 to 6:30pm. Guests can purchase his new book, The World in a Wineglass: The Insider’s Guide to Artisanal, Sustainable, Extraordinary Wines to Drink Now. Tickets are $60 and include signed book, wine tasting and light bites. Tickets at https://www.copperfieldsbooks.com/event/ray-isle.

Little Lunch Coffee and Lunya Event

Little Lunch Coffee in Venice and Luxury restwear brand Lunya are hosting an event on December 2ndat 9am. The first 200 customers to arrive at Little Lunch will enjoy free iced/hot lattes and the first 50 will receive Lunya’s best-selling silk eye mask. They will also be distributing Lunya’s new newsletter Nightstand. Lille Lunch Coffee is located at 50 Brooks Avenue in Venice.

The Georgian in Santa Monica and Decades Hosts

Shaena Engle

Shaena Engle is the lifestyle, food and travel editor for Perception Magazine and also writes for the Los Angeles Times, Pasadena Magazine, M Magazine, Los Angeles Times Las Vegas Magazine, The Daily Meal, AOL, WeHo Times and other outlets. She has authored The Best Places to Kiss in Southern California, The Cheap Bastard's Guide to Las Vegas and other outlets. She writes about travel, food, welln...(Read More)