Every once in a while, I am reminded why non-Angelenos often get the impression that this city is a vapid waste of geographical space.

Here is one excellent example: the last Tuesday of each month is "Film Industry Night" at Villa, which means free drinks and appetizers. The catch? You must first e-mail pictures of yourself to the two promoters, who will determine whether you're hot enough to be allowed into the club at all. (These two faux-hawked oddities are also trying to sell a reality TV show called, imaginatively, "The Promoters.")

According to Metromix, if you are granted this coveted access, "you’ll score two hours of complimentary sushi, sake and vodka, not to mention access to agents, casting directors, producers and managers." Really, Metromix? Really? Because we're pretty sure the place is populated by just-outta-college assistants, Forever 21-clad "model" wannabes, porn directors, and small-time managers with toupees and offices in Thousand Oaks. On a good night.

We know times are tough, but are people now willing to undergo a virtual hot-or-not casting call for a free California roll? Ugh.

image via Jak & Jil

In no particular order, some of my favorite "new to me" things of the last year:

Brussels sprouts: Granted, this was a rediscovery. But there is nothing better than brussels sprouts roasted in butter with shallots on a cold night. Apparently GQ agreed with me, naming brussels sprouts "vegetable of the year."

"The Man in the Brooks Brothers Shirt": This is a killer short story written in the 1940s by Mary McCarthy that is so startlingly ahead of its time and painfully observant you'll want to re-read it the instant you finish.

Jak & Jil: This blog is a consistent stream of covetable fashion-week looks, and has remained my favorite "street style" blog ever since I discovered it. And the shots of shoes are pretty much porn for footwear fetishists.

Mustache Mondays: Monday nights at La Cita that are like something out of early 1980s New York. Drag performances, cheap drinks, and excellent music in a questionable setting, with the occassional gay-icon celebrity appearance.

Bitten: Mark Bittman's simple take on eating and cooking is approachable, easily, and usually very healthy. And I love his blog for food news and recipes that focus on how decent techniques can make food so much better.

Clinique Cream Liner in Black: The best black eyeliner I've ever used, period. (And I've used quite a lot in the last decade.) Not as harsh or easy-to-screw up as most liquid liners. Thick, easy cat eyes in a jar.

VH1 Classics 120 Minutes: Every once in a while, around one in the morning, VH1 Classics will find it in its cold, digital heart to broadcast vintage 120 Minutes videos. It's a little piece of alternative, new wave, shoegaze heaven. If you were kinda too young to catch all the Jesus and Mary Chain and New Order videos when they came out, this will change your life all over again.