The cat's out of the bag, folks: the ladies behind A.O.C. and Lucques are moving to parts west.

I had heard a peep about it last month, but sorry, I don't divulge secrets. (I know, I should hand over my blogger's card.)

I caught up with Caroline Styne who gave me some preliminary information. She confirmed that she and business partner Suzanne Goin did indeed take over the space that had formerly housed The Hamlet, née Hamburger Hamlet, in Brentwood.

"Suzanne and I had wanted to do a second A.O.C in some other city, but then, we thought the Westside is essentially like another city."

But as to whether it'd be an A.O.C West (please, please, cross fingers, please)?

"No, it won't." Darn. 

Styne wasn't prepared to talk about concept or name, but she assured me that, especially with Goin helming food, it's sure to be "creative." (That's probably a "no" on the gourmet burger angle.)

Is the Hamlet group involved? Unconfirmed, and according to Styne, irrelevant. "I think people are just reading a lot into things."

Otherwise, the space on San Vicente is going to get a complete makeover (design team is set but as yet undisclosed). Expect the third Goin-Styne/Styne-Goin installment towards the end of the year. Ooh, I'm counting the days. 

—Jiyeon Yoo

Welcome back, poppa.

Twenty years after opening the first, highly-regarded Citrus on Melrose Ave., Michel Richard opens Citrus 2.0 this Friday—this time, in Social Hollywood. It sounds like the interior is lemony-yellow, which seems to suit the name better than the Sunset Blvd. location. Menu is French bistro, helmed by Remi Lauvand, who boasts a illustrious resume himself, even serving under Daniel Boulud at Le Cirque. 

Let's see whether fans of Richard's original restaurant will brave the trendy Boulevard3 crowd to sample Richard's food again. The partnership between Richard and Jeffrey Chodorow is another thing to watch, as this is Chodorow's first outing* with a celebrity chef since the public debacle that was Rocco DiSpirito, or even the more recent smackdown that he gave Frank Bruni from within the critic's own paper. Not to make any assumptions, but a Chodorow-sponsored ad in an L.A. publication? Now, that might be kinda awesome. 

—Jiyeon Yoo

If you glanced at last Monday's blog, you know I that hit the town hardcore last week.

This weekened: notsomuch.

But with good reason.

Up until yesterday, I lived right near Franklin Village (Birds, La Poubelle, Upright Citizens Brigade, Counterpoint Books...), but after walking approximately 0.5 miles to and from my car any time I wanted to leave Franklin Village, me and my 4-inch high heels had finally had enough.

Add the fact that the cranky millionaires who live on the street right next to the Mayfair Market are pushing to enforce permit parking (yes, this means you'd be screwed if you wanted to go to UCB) I sadly searched for a new apartment, signed a lease, and spent the weekend bribing friends with pizza to help me move my couch. 

My new digs are in Eagle Rock, and in addition to having my own full garage, I'm also pretty giddy about all the places I'm going to grub... and drink... and bowl. Mark my words: Eagle Rock is the new whatever. 

Meanwhile, if you have any feelings on the atrocious parking debacle in Franklin Village and want to be able to visit that street without the clusterf*ck of permit parking, I say hop into the Hollywood United Neighborhood Council meeting on Feb. 19 at the Hollywood Presbyterian Church (6054 Yucca St.) and voice your opinion. Do it for the UCB. Do it for the Harmony Gallery. Do it for your 4-inch high heels. 

Miss Alie Ward

PS- This is me and my comrades Georgia and Tim attempting to fit me in an Ikea shoping bag. Ah, the wonders of moving-induced delerium.