Veg-O-Rama’s vegan cupcakes will find a home in your belly

PHOTO by ROSHEILA ROBLES
I’ve been a vegetarian for 10 years and a vegan for nearly five. In that time, I’ve realized that ordering new dishes is usually much more exciting than eating what’s placed on the table—not that it’s bad; my taste buds just seem to [...]

Beware the Etsy addiction
Fans of Etsy.com—the online buy/sell community for crafters, artists and the like, pronounced “et-see”—know how terribly addicting the website can be: Once you sign up and start to shop, it’s nearly impossible to stop. (Especially for PayPal users; careful, or your credit card will transform into something like Monopoly money.) What’s worse, [...]

Bare your body for the camera at Bad Kitty Photography

PHOTO by CINNAMON GRAY
Saying cheese nearly nude (or even bare-ass naked) isn’t for the timid. But once you’ve gathered the balls to bare it all, it’s safe to entrust such a delicate endeavor to the pros at Bad Kitty Photography. Spare your other half the shady [...]

Fashionable finds for cheap at BJ Clothes

PHOTO by ROSHEILA ROBLES
Being fashion-forward isn’t as difficult as it looks, even on a tight budget. In fact, it’s rather simple: To appear like you’ve got much more going on for yourself than you really do, just prioritize your wardrobe by spending less money on items that don’t necessarily [...]

How a man from Naples Island taught us all about wine

PHOTO by ROSHEILA ROBLES
Morry’s of Naples sells fine liquors, exotic cheeses and badger-bristled men’s shaving brushes—but it’s famous because three generations of the Rabin family have done one thing very well: sell wine. Seventy years ago, that was revolutionary.
When the store opened in 1938—later, the [...]

Without paying Southern California Edison
I dig candles—so much so that on any given evening, the little balls of flame can be found illuminating my living room, adding pleasant scents and slices of natural night (screw you, Southern California Edison). But with four cats (yes) there’s always the concern that one of my mischievous friends will [...]

Around the city in eight erotic shops

PHOTO by ROSHEILA ROBLES
As the old saying goes, when opportunity knocks, don’t blow it—strap it on. Or at least that’s what you do when given the chance to explore some of Long Beach’s kinkiest (and not so much!) sex shops. From Phat Toys and the Purple Onion to ConRev [...]

Give yourself the gift of love–self-love
Chad gave you flowers, John gave you chocolates and Ed bought you pajamas—or was that Mike? Doesn’t matter. They were pajamas. On Valentine’s Day. But when was the last time you gave yourself a love day gift? And, duh, I mean an orgasm. Available through sexyware site ForestNymphs.com, the compact [...]

Merry’s makes your world a little bit smaller

PHOTO by ROSHEILA ROBLES
Thumbing the price tags at Merry’s (“Fashion With Passion”) is a lot like playing with a globe—eyes closed, index on the surface as it spins, as your seven-year-old self used to do—only here, your finger never stops on Paris, Pittsburgh or Perth. Instead, you land [...]

Do you want it? Or need it? Depends
Though it’s long been a curious staple of health shops and the occasional gourmet supermarket, I was unfamiliar with Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps until the little-liquid-that-could became the centerpiece of a battle between Germs drummer Don Bolles and the Newport Beach Police Department last year. Following a consented [...]