For you, not any pork will do. On Sloping Hills tenderloin you prefer to spend your coin.

But you don’t need to dine out to have it. New grocer Greens brings those Qualicum Beach Berkshires, among other choice meats, to your home kitchen. Started by two UBC grads, the market focuses on organic and natural foods and products, and making as much of that good stuff affordable and locally sourced.

While shopping we had a lengthy chat with their meat and seafood manager and learned that in-store workshops on beginner’s butchery are in the works (so you can also save bills by buying a whole bird instead of just a couple breasts).

Greens Organic and Natural Market, 1978 W. Broadway, Vancouver, 604-568-3079, www.greensmarket.ca

Los Angeles may not have the exotic elegance of, say, Istanbul or Barcelona, but with a little digging we unearthed bits of other cities hidden beneath her blonde, Botoxed exterior.

stay
The revamped Petit Ermitage Hotel in West Hollywood has the boho elegance of a pied-à-terre you’d find on the France-Italy border. Inspired by his world travels, the owner sourced the décor from far-flung places like Ecuador and Jerusalem. We spent our time monopolizing the rooftop, where there’s a romantic garden and saltwater pool. Make sure to book your stay for a Sunday when they screen old movies outside (faux fur blankets and popcorn provided). From $198, www.petitermitage.com

brunch
Joan’s On Third reminds us of New York City’s Dean & Deluca with its laidback gourmet way. Sit yourself at a street-side café table and keep your eyes open for celebs doing the same. www.joansonthird.com

drink
The equivalent to that cool old bar you stumbled upon in Chicago or London is Silver Lake’s new Thirsty Crow. Specializing in whiskey and bourbon-based drinks and dimly lit, you can kill two birds with one stone here—those being, drowning the sorrows of your last relationship then rendezvous-ing with a new manly man. www.thirstycrowbar.com

dine
The revelation that Ryan Gosling co-owns a Moroccan restaurant called Tagine is, shamefully, what led us to eat there, but it was the fabulous food that redeemed us. From the first forkful of cucumber, tomato and lemon sorbet salad to the last spoonful of sea bass bathed in butternut squash soup, we were smitten. www.taginerestaurant.com

See photos from our trip to L.A. on today's Editors' Diary.

If your mountain biking regimen includes a pre-ride prayer asking whoever’s up there to help you make it down in one piece, the Trek Dirt Series is your saviour.

Learn an entire season’s worth of skills (from basic climbing to riding down drops) and bond with fellow mountain bikers at the all-women two-day weekend camps ($315). Participants are split into groups according to experience so no need to fret if you’re still working on the basics. The camps also include bike maintenance clinics, fit workshops and social time to talk shop and show off your new skills.

The first Canadian camp runs May 15 and 16 in North Vancouver followed by May 29 and 30 in Whistler, July 10 and 11 in Calgary and August 21 and 22 in Canmore. For a complete schedule go to www.dirtseries.com

Having your BFF from Calgary crash at your small studio apartment when she was single was one thing, but now that she totes a kid, husband and pooch, you’re threatening to make them sleep in their SVU.

In the Ecoloft, they get a place of their own and quash their carbon footprint in one fell swoop. As cool as it is eco-friendly, the modern loft in the residential Cedar Cottage neighbourhood is solar-heated and built with non-toxic and sustainable materials like bamboo. All the conveniences of home are included too—full kitchen, in-suite laundry and HDTV.

Now you can crash on their couch after stopping by for dinner.

From $99/night, Ecoloft, 1155 E. 23rd Ave, Vancouver, 604-736-5797, www.ecoloft.ca

We love to hear from our readers, whether it be letters or forum postings.

Here's a chance for you to tell us all about what you love, what you loathe—and your favourite shopping spots.

So instead of pretending to work while you wait for the weekend to begin, take our subscriber survey. As always, we promise to keep all your secrets. Everything you tell us stays private—just like the Parisian fling you had in 3rd year uni.

The questions are short and snappy–you'll be done in 10 minutes flat. Spill it: Do you prefer Clooney or Pitt? Haute couture or H&M? Facebook or face-to-face? Inquiring minds want to know!

And as an added incentive, we're giving away one amazing KitchenAid Architect Series Countertop appliances prize pack (value approximately $1,100, pictured). On every bride's wish list, you don't need a ring to score this sleek stainless steel KitchenAid set. It's the ultimate wedding gift (we'll assume the invite is in the mail, wink wink). Be sure to enter your email address at the end to be automatically entered to win (see terms and conditions here).

Take our survey here.

The Vancouver room boom just moved up another notch. Herewith, the cool things that have us considering long-term hotel living at the Fairmont Pacific Rim:

1. Stunning installation by UK artist Liam Gillick that spans 17 floors of the building’s exterior with the phrase “The clouds looked no nearer than when I was lying on the street.”

2. Marble-clad lobby lounge that serves up afternoon tea, cocktails and raw seafood.

3. Live entertainment  on a $225,000 hand-crafted white Fazioli piano with 18 carat hinges.

4. Astonishing 180-foot origami light sculpture by Vancouver’s Joseph Wu that extends the length of Oru, the hotel’s Pan-Asian bistro.

5. Granville Island Florist outpost located within that means never going without fresh roses.

6. Discovery Theatre, a private movie theatre with 18 plush leather seats you can book for slumber parties. Just don’t watch The Shining.

7. Expansive Willow Stream spa with women’s steam room and lounge, and an ocean-view terrace with and forthcoming Jacuzzis and meditation pods.

8. State-of-the-art 4,000 square foot gym with a studio for yoga and Pilates.

9. Serene, spacious rooms—many with balconies—that feature espresso makers and 100 square foot spa bathrooms with embedded mirror televisions.

10. A sixth floor rooftop pool, inspired by the Bel Air in Los Angeles, ready in time for spring.

For more information visit www.fairmont.com/pacificrim

Wonder what the Burton snowboarders are up to this week? Why they’re practicing their swan dives in the rooftop pool at The Keefer, a high-end residence hotel just opened in Chinatown.

Each of the four floors comprises its own super-suite, with views over the classical Chinese gardens to the south and mountains to the north.

Rounding out the fun is the glass bottomed pool in the penthouse, specially commissioned art by Douglas Coupland, plus a sexy “Apothecary Bar” at street level serving up drinks made with Chinese medicinal herbs and tinctures.

We’ll take a dose of that.

The Keefer, 133 Keefer St., Vancouver, 604-688-1983, www.thekeefer.com

The greenest city in the U.S. is a perfect mix of laid-back cool and thrilling buzz. An ideal weekend getaway, here are our picks for the City of Roses.

sleep
The Nines is a chic space with an impressive modern art collection.You may find yourself sharing the elevator with one of the L.A. Lakers at this downtown hotel that’s popular among the It crowd. From $159 per night. The Nines, 525 SW Morrison, Portland, 1-877-229-9995, www.thenines.com

shop
A graduate of the Parsons School of Design, Portland-based Modi Soondarotok worked for Peter Som, Donna Karan and Armani before launching Idom, her line of colourful, vintage-inspired pieces. We swooned over every dress at her charming boutique.  Idom, 827 NW 23rd Ave. Portland, 503-477-6818, www.idomdesigns.com

eat
Named as one of the “Top 10 Best New Restaurants in America” by GQ, Ping lives up to the hype. Its menu is packed with mouth-watering “multi-Asian” fare. Start with a selection of the skewers (from $2) and you'll be dreaming about the laksa nonya coconut noodle soup ($12) long after the last bite. Ping, 102 NW Fourth Ave., Portland, 503-229-7464, www.pingpdx.com

sip
Portland is known for its coffee fanaticism and Stumptown Coffee Roasters indeed serves one of the best cups we’ve ever had. Stumptown Coffee Roasters, www.stumptowncoffee.com

swirl
When it’s time for a stronger bevy, head to the Doug Fir Lounge where you’ll find hipsters of all ages listening to live acts like Sloan or St. Vincent while enjoying local brews. Doug Fir Lounge, 830 East Burnside, Portland, 503-231-9663, www.dougfirlounge.com

If our Facebook news feed over the holidays was any indication, it’s going to be a banner year for summer weddings. For those soon to be betrothed, we have a few recommendations to help plan the big day.

Photos
James Moes is a young shutterbug with talent in spades. Not restricted to one style, we’ve seen him produce both modern and retro shots from the same shoot, and the stealthy way he captures the after party is unparalleled. www.holyholymatrimony.com

Rings
If your “something old” happens to be an heirloom ring handed down to you that just doesn’t suit your style, consider having Jessie Turner modernize it. She’ll take your old jewels and melt down bygone gold to craft a new ring you love. www.jessieturner.ca

Flowers
The new Get Fresh Flowers shop on Davie Street may be small, but packs a powerful punch with beautiful bouquets and vases. Bring in your ideas and they’ll work with you to create something fragrant and fashionable. www.getfreshflowers.ca

Dessert
Have your cake look good and eat it too with The Uncommon Cake. Or get creative and give guests custom-made cookies instead. Whether you’re going for elegant or whimsical, baker and decorator Jill Shumka is a whiz with confections. www.theuncommoncake.com

For more wedding “shop talk” head to the Forum.

You know we’re fond of free online magazines, and we’ve got another to add to your bookmark bar that’ll have you dreaming of new home décor.

Lonny, a hybrid of London and New York, is the product of two staffers from the dearly departed Domino magazine. Bringing interior design inspiration to the digital masses, it functions like a paper mag with pages that flip, but unlike tactile tomes you can click an item and you’re taken straight to the seller.

Saving a tree and sourcing a sustainable new chaise in one fell swoop—we like the sound of that.

www.lonnymag.com