Mother’s Day is just a weekend away and W3ST is is packed full of sure to please your favorite mom possibilities. A lash tint or Brow Bar date at Benefit? A class at Knit Culture?  A workout at Bar Method? A new do or you at Clark Nova, Taboo, or the Paint Shop? Some jewelry at Alexis Bittar, Pyrrha, or Bead Boutique? A new scent at Le Labo? How about a meal or whole day of meals at A.O.C, The Churchill, Berri’s, Doughboys, Toast, or for the more dessert inclined Little Next Door, Joan’s on Third, or Simplethings Sandwich + Pie Shop. There are unique mom perfect gifts at plenty at D.L. Rhein, Haus Interiors, Distant Plastica, and New Stone Age to name a few. And our many clothing stores are full of  perfect gifts for fashionista moms.  So get planning. Get shopping. Get reservation booking. Or get crafting. Mother’s Day is almost here!

Tomorrow/Saturday May 5th: Meet up at the Mother’s Day print making workshop at the Craft in America Study Center. You’ll get to use a hand-cranked press, stencils, paint, brushes and more to create a one-of-a-kind prints for your favorite mom.
(2 classes: 12pm-2pm, & 3:30pm-5:30pm)

In honor of moms everywhere, Eggy is offering a 20% discount on all of their regular priced too cute childen’s wear through the end of the month.  Just mention “Mother-May-I-Sale” at the register.  (Limit 1 per customer. Expires May 31st.)

How cute are these Alexis Bittar Mother’s Day e-cards? Nix that boring e-card with the bouncing teddy bear you had e-planned for mom. Show her she’s got style with an Alexis Bittar original.

3rd Street Station has a brunch planned just for mom from 10 AM-5 PM on Mother’s Day. With dish prices all between $6-$12, it’s easy to say thanks-for-being-you-mom on a budget.

In more economy friendly Mother’s Day options, items from Alexis Bittar’s absolutely fabulous limited edition collections are on SALE. Shower her in lucite.

Stript Wax Bar ia taking appointments for Mother’s Day facials. And for the more adventuresome females, they offer a variety of waxing services.

And when all other Mother’s Day plans fail, nothing says I-love-you-mom like a cupcake or 12 from Magnolia Bakery.

Join Plastica and authors Monika Müller-Kroll of Mittens and Gloves and Jonathan Kroll of Some Pears for a book signing celebration this Sunday April 29th from 2:00 – 4:00 PM.

Nathalie Seaver needs to make room for summer arrivals. Help her clear space by shopping the huge Spring blowout sale this weekend.

Trina Turk wants to thank her Facebook friends and family for the e-love with a 20% off sale. Do a little IRL shopping at the W3ST Trina Turk boutique this weekend and save save SAVE.

SALE at Knit Culture! But, don’t drop your knitting needles. Get your W3ST shopping fix and some great new yarns for less, right from your favorite computer.

Swerve has extended their amazing boutique sale through Sunday. Plus don’t miss Dancerapy Sunday. And when planning your week, make sure to save the date for the Swerve Mixer at Traveler’s Bookcase Thursday. Make new friends. Bring the old. Eat and drink on W3ST. You must be sold.

Brit Week and Prince William and Kate’s first anniversary collide Wednesday. And Polkadots and Moonbeams has got your celebration. Come for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and some prince landing advice.

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Our eateries are always piling plates high with organic offerings. And our unique boutiques are stocked full of organic, eco-friendly, sustainable, and recycled goods and goodies. There’s earth friendly home furnishings at Area Home, Distant, and Haus Interiors, organic fragrances at  Le Labo, redesigned and organic fashions up and down the street, and countless other earth friendly gift and goodies in between. W3ST prides itself as being a neighborhood that does its part to take care of our little pocket of the planet and beyond. In addition, to our regular earth friendly offerings this weekend, some W3ST businesses have some extra Earth Day deals for you.

Magnolia Bakery has created special Earth Day cupcakes. The vanilla or chocolate cupcakes are topped with vanilla buttercream frosting and adorned with earth or peace signs decorations. For every Earth Day cupcake purchased, Magnolia Bakery will donate $1.00 to Million Trees L.A. And, for any purchase of SIX Earth Day Cupcakes, cupcake connoisseurs get a cute complimentary chocolate brown Magnolia Bakery eco-tote bag to take home and reuse themselves.

The Swerve Boutique is always full of must-have eco-friendly workout wear and accessories. And in honor of earth’s big day, they are offering a sale on their various water bottles and accessories and their great selection of reusable multipurpose Chicobags.

The always earth friendly Zulu Tattoo is offering a sale on their organic totes and tees through Monday. A portion of proceeds will go to TreePeople.org

Many of Plastica’s selection of super cute decor, accessories, gifts, and toys are eco-friendly, sustainable, and recycled from unlikely places. Check out some of their charming earth friendly goodies this earth day weekend.

Happy Earth Day. Love, W3ST

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In October, Mercedes-Benz opened their first US Driving Academy location in Los Angeles and on W3ST. They offer integrated driver’s education programs that include online, classroom and behind-the-wheel training for new to the road teen drivers.

And in honor of California Teen Safe Driving Week and National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy is offering complimentary Assessment Drives to help you work on some of your driving bad habits.

Mercedes Benz Driving Academy 8231 West 3rd Street

After a successful career in the film business, Deborah Wolsh was looking for something new. Something that inspired her. Deborah’s grandmother, a spirited and fashionable antique jewelry dealer (pictured above) left some money to her granddaughter upon her death, which she used to open the namesake and stylesake boutique. And in August 2001, Ethel Boutique was born. The store carried on and carries on her grandmother’s style legacy with Deborah’s revolving inventory of perfectly handpicked classic pieces with a stylish twist.

2001 was the height of the Sex and the City shopping and brunching with your favorite females retail craze. And an article by Moon Unit Zappa in the New York Times detailing her favorite secret street in Los Angeles West 3rd Street, put it on the fashion map. In the know shoppers, celebrities, and tourists alike were all over it and all over W3ST.  The neighborhood grew and prospered, adding new unique boutiques and eateries, living up to and beyond its hype.

The business owners got together and formed the West 3rd Street business association. With Joan McNamara of the iconic gourmet marketplace and eatery Joan’s on Third at the helm and eventually Deborah herself taking on the role. They worked and continue to work to better the community and neighborhood for business owners and shoppers alike.  The strong community bond between the shop owners have helped create West 3rd Street‘s unique friendly neighborhood feel that is a rare find in retail districts within the city.

In her years of film development, Deborah would travel to different cities exploring the shopping scenes, finding unique eclectic affordably priced boutiques she absolutely loved and wished for something similar in the often style synonymous Los Angeles shopping scene. She began to seek out  lines and pieces that matched her taste that you couldn’t find elsewhere and stocked Ethel full of her favorites. Through word of mouth and a great LA location, it worked.

Customers couldn’t get enough of Deborah’s selection of lesser known lines and unique pieces and at the height of  the denim craze, incredible denim selection. From hard to find lines not in other stores, independent designers, and unique shoes you won’t find in the department stores, Ethel has been keeping its customers in handpicked unique affordably priced fashions for more than 10 years, and the customers keep coming.

In Ethel’s years on West 3rd Street, some things have changed and some have stayed the same. It has stuck to its classic style with a twist and its item driven philosophy each season. Still full of many of the classic favorites its always carried and new finds, as fashion and trends have evolved and continue to evolve.

Two years ago, when faced with the demolition of her beloved storefront and its transition into a parking garage,  Ethel relocated just across the street. Deborah caught the demolition of her old storefront on tape. Both slightly hilarious and slightly sad. Check out the video here:

No Uhauls were required for the move. Just some dollies and some strong family members helped relocate Ethel to the southside of the street at 8236 West 3rd Street, where it fashionably stays today.

Inside Ethel, you’ll find handbags from Dean and Mercie Marie, shoes from Coclico and Lola Cruz, local jewelry from Rapz by Amireh Parstabar, Presh, and Nikki b, denim from Sanctuary, and pieces from independent and hard to find lines like Beautiful People, Graham & Spencer, Northern California’s Modaspia. As well as classic favorites like Velvet, 360 Sweater, and Dolan T-Shirt. There is always something new and always something you need you make yours at Ethel Boutique.

In addition to the W3ST store, Ethel has also added an annex in Studio City. You can find the Ethel store within a store within Verona Shoes at 4350 Tujunga Avenue in Studio City. And Deborah has also expanded her love of seeking out unique clothing to unique homes, something else she’s always had a passion for. In the market for some unique reality? Let Ethel help. Deborah’s real estate website can be found at thehomespotter.blogspot.com.

Spring/summer perfect sandals from Lola Cruz

Tops from Velvet, 360 Sweater, and more.

Beautiful handmade jewelry from Rapz by Amireh Parstabar.

Bracelets from Nikki b and more from Rapz by Amireh Parstabar.

Local LA favorite Silverlake’s Dean handbags.

Feminine and pretty from Beautiful People.

A little lace from Graham Spencer.

A twist on the classic cardigan from Inhabit.

Another cardigan twist top from Inhabit.

Ethel has sold the perfect for every season Fiji dress by Modaspia for years and it arrives in a different patterns and prints regularly.

Enza Costa perfectly pretty.

Enza Costa comfortable.

Dolan T-Shirt lightweight mid maxi shrug.

Mesh lined skirt by pete.

LOVE this Susanna Monaco dress.

Cute and comfy from Christina Lehr.

Swoon worthy sale items and sale prices on the sale rack.

Fashion and shopping exhausted? Have a cute comfortable seat.

Ethel Boutique is located at 8236 West 3rd Street.

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Join award winning children’s book authors and award winning W3ST restaurant Berri’s Pizza Café Saturdays in April for Storytellers and Snacks. There will live readings, illustrations, raffles, giveaways, and free delicious food from Berri’s to enjoy. So bring your favorite little people!

Where: Berri’s Pizza Café, 8412 West 3^rd St. Los Angeles, CA. 90048

When: Saturdays in April: April 7^th, April 14th, April 21st, April 28^th, 2012 (11am-4pm)

Featured storytellers:

Gladys Elizabeth Barbieri- April 14^th

Presenting : Rubber Shoes

(Ages 4 to 8)

Sheri Fink- April 14th

Presenting: The Little Rose, The Little Gnome

(Ages 5-10)

Alva Sachs- April 14^th

Presenting: Circus Fever, I’m 5, and On your Mark, Get Set, Go!

(Ages 4-8)

Leslie Ryan- April 7^th, 21^st

Presenting: I am Flippish

(Ages 4-8)

Ryan Afromsky- April 14^th,28^th

Presenting: I Have A Restaurant

(Ages 5-10)

Ron Noble- April 14^th, 28^th

Presenting: Letter Beasties

(Ages 4-8)

And Papa Didos- April 7^th, 14^th, 21^st, 28th

Presenting: The Tenth Floor,  Rescuing Dizzy, Where Did The Foufooze Go?

(Ages 8-11)

Vacation time accumulating? The kids summer vacation approaching? Just looking for a quick getaway? W3ST is the place for you. A quick commute from LAX, and you are here. Between the Grove, Farmer’s Market, the Beverly Center, and just a quick walk to LACMA and other attractions, we are the perfect central spot for your quick trip or long vacation. We have the accommodations, the shopping, the dining, and more. All we are waiting for is you. So pack your bags and get on the first flight to W3ST.

The Orlando is great for short stays and long trips, romantic getaways and family vacations.  This popular stylish boutique hotel is a favorite among travelers and Los Angeles-ites alike. And so it their popular new restaurant The Churchill. Reservations can be made and more info found at TheOrlando.com, on their Facebook page, or by calling 800.62.HOTEL.

The owner of Traveler’s Bookcase has been to over 75 countries and is our resident neighborhood expert on travel tips. Inside the store, you will find countless great books on travel and other subjects. So stop by for a good beach read or for some vacation inspiration.

Flight 001 is stocked full of sleek innovative fun and often funny travel gear. From books and maps, to luggage and LOL luggage tags, and everything in between. They have everything a traveler may need, and some stuff  they may not have even realized they needed yet.

Shenae Grimes and a few Swatch watches stop by some of her favorites places to hang out in LA, when she isn’t playing Brenda Walsh, I mean Annie Wilson on 90210. And W3ST is not just one, but two of them. Vintage and reappropriated vintage haven Reformation and deliciously adorable French bistro Little Next Door, in particular. Click on the photos to enlarge and see why the 90210 vixen spends her free time on W3ST, and why you should too. And see it for yourself in April’s issue of Nylon.

Besides the regular dining, drinking, shopping, work-out, and salon/spa fun, see what else West 3rd Street has happening this weekend and beyond.

Join the fashionable ladies of Polkadots + Moonbeans for champagne, hors d’oeuvres, and Young by YoYo Yeung dress shopping  from 4-7 pm Saturday.

Join Craft in America in welcoming Richard Olsen author of Handmade Houses: A Century of Earth-Friendly Home Design at the Craft in America Study Center Saturday from 5-7pm. He will be signing books, as well as doing a lecture on handmade homes, DIY designs, and eco friendly architecture.

French dinner and a mystery! Meet author Cara Black for champagne and signing of her new novel Murder at the Lanterne Rouge  at Traveler’s Bookcase Saturday. Make it an evening and join her for a 3 course appropriately french dinner at Monsier Marcel at the Farmer’s Market.

Feng Shui you, your space, and your place with Swerve Studio Saturday.

Join the Zulu Tattoo team, world-renowned and local DJs, dancers, and circus act performers for art, live music, and fundraising for charity Thursday evening at King King, Hollywood.

Happy Crepe Day. The last Wednesday of every month Little Next Door pays monthly homage to their delicious crepes. Whether sweet or savory is more your thing, Little Next Door will be serving them up day and night.

Knitters, crocheters, yarn enthusiasts, Thursday, April 12 – Sunday, April 15, 2012 marks the first annual LA County Yarn Crawl. Visit as many participating stores as you can for prizes, giveaways, and to meet like minded crafters. W3ST’s own Knit Culture will be joining the weekend of colorful fun with new yarns from Knit Collage, Baah! Yarns, and Dream in Color, new knitting bags from Slipped Stitch Studios, designer trunk shows, and exclusive patterns.