Crustacean Beverly Hills is planning a round-the-world New Year's Eve party, starting with an a la carte menu served from 12-9 p.m.

The party begins with at “Noon with a Midnight Vibe,” serving an open brunch menu and endless champagne. This will be followed by "Strolling down Abbey Road with The Beatles," at 3 p.m., "Samba dancing at Copacabana Beach" at 6 p.m., and dropping the crystal ball at Times Square at 9 p.m. The Beverly Hills countdown on Rodeo Drive takes place at midnight.

Molecular selections on the menu include Molecular Baguette Brunch Toast, Poached Egg on Bao, Sakemosa, Vietnamese Crepe, Duck Hash and Eggs, Breakfast Lobster Salad and Lox Towel.

Guests will also enjoy entertainment by Brazilian dancers, a top Hollywood DJ and pop violinist Yennie Nam.

Prix fixe final seating begins at 9 p.m. for $198 and goes until the clock strikes 2 a.m. Crustacean is located at 9646 Little Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA. Call 310-205-8990 for details, or check out their menu.

Crustacean Beverly Hills plans an around-the-world New Year's Eve Party to ring in 2012.

Spending Christmas in LA this year? Whether you're a tourist or a resident, you can let someone else do the cooking at The London West Hollywood and W Los Angeles. Following are their Christmas dinner specials:

The London West Hollywood's Christmas Dine + Stay Package. Guests may indulge in selections from a gourmet 4-course meal at Gordon Ramsay restaurant that includes Black Winter Truffle Risotto, Tuna Carpaccio, Roasted Organic Turkey with Chestnut Stuffing and Buttered Poached Lobster and dessert selections including Christmas Pudding and Eggnog Crème Brulé.  In-room amenities include a large soaking tub and lush robes and linens. Christmas turndown service includes a sweet snowman, made in-house by The London’s pastry team. Rates start at $399. Chef Anthony Keene's festive three-course Christmas menu includes, but is not limited to, Roasted Chestnut Soup, Black Winter Truffle Risotto, Roasted Organic Turkey with Chestnut Stuffing, Buttered Poached Lobster, Liberty Farms Duck Breast, Christmas Pudding, Eggnog Crème Brûlé, Bûche de Noel, among many others. The three-course Christmas Menu is offered from 11:30AM-10PM on December 25 and is $95/person.

W Los Angeles Westwood Christmas Menu and Brunch. At W Los Angeles, you can dine on a specialty menu developed by "Top Chef: Texas" contestant Chef Dakota Weiss, executive chef of the Backyard and NINETHIRTY restaurants. Christmas Eve dinner will be served at NINETHIRTY from 4 pm-10 pm with a special 3-course Christmas menu for $48 per person. On Christmas Day, dinner will be served between 4-9 p.m. The menu includes Winter Squash Chowder with crispy duck and spiced maple syrup, Beef Wellington with seared Hudson Valley Foi Gras in a puff pastry crust, and mini yule logs. A 2-course Christmas Day Brunch will be served at the Backyard restaurant from 11-4 p.m.. For $21, you can indulge in all you can drink Bloody Mary's, Mimosas, or Sparkling wine while munching on a variety of options from this special menu, including Smothered Tater Tots with black truffle fondue and cripsy bacon bits, "French Onion" mac n' cheese, Stuffed French toast or Rosemary-Truffled Honey glazed ham. While enjoying this feast, guests can relax alongside the CHILL ice rink. If you're not too full, you can even take a skate around the rink.

In the first of our series of Holiday Gift Guides, we take a look at the 20 best travel apps for your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do. An added bonus is that many of these are free!

1. JETSETTER. Gorgeous photos and great deals on luxe properties make this a winner. Free. 
2. TRIP LIST. This is my go-to packing checklist for weekend getaways and  trailer trips. $1.99.
3. TRIP DECK. Includes all facets of your vacation, from car rentals and lodging to dining. Free. 
4. MAPLETS. More than 6,000 offline maps of national parks, amusements and more. $2.99
5. TRAVEL TRACKER. Tracks your itineraries, flights, expenses and more. $2.99. 
6. WOODALL’S. I use this and Camp Finder to find great RV parks and camping nearby. $1.99.
7. CAL PARKS. Your guide to California’s state parks and trails. Very cool, and it’s Free.
8. GATE GURU. Find your way around the airport’s restaurants, shops and services with ease. Free. 
9. TIPULATOR. Quickly tally up the tip for your bill. You can even split it several ways! .99
10. TRIP ADVISOR. An essential app for finding candid reviews from real travelers like you. Free. 
11. GROUPON. Deals on lodging, dining and attractions. Living Social is another good one. Free.
12. SUTRO WORLD. Interactive travel guides from experts you can trust . Free.
13. SLEEP PILLOW. Pump in the white noise for those hotels with thin walls and no fan. $1.99.

    The California Essential Guide from Sutro Media is the only comprehensive California travel guide in the App Store.

14. DISNEYLAND ESSENTIAL GUIDE. Interactive guide with maps, menus, videos, secrets and more to the entire Disneyland resort in California. Sutro World • $2.99.
15. AUDUBON NATURE CALIFORNIA. Discover the flora and fauna around you with this mobile field guide. $9.99.
16. MSW SURF FORECAST. Find the perfect wave with this guide to 2,500 beaches. Free. 
17. MOUSE WAIT. Up-to-the-minute wait times for attractions at the Disneyland resort. Free.
18. YELP. Candid reviews of restaurants you can trust. Make reservations with OpenTable too! Free.
19. ALL SNOW. Get weather conditions, ski reports, trail maps and reviews from your favorite slopes. Free.
20. CALIFORNIA ESSENTIAL GUIDE. A bit of shameless self-promotion, but this app is packed with everything you need to know for a California vacation! $4.99.

The luxurious 15-room Half Moon Bay Inn is offering a “Winter Getaway Package” that's good now through March 2012.

The package, which starts at $303, includes the following perks:

• Overnight accommodations at the Half Moon Bay Inn for two nights in one of the deluxe Colossal King or Madonna Queen rooms
• Twenty percent off a signature Half Moon Bay Inn cotton robe to take home
• Bottle of wine from Fogerty Winery as well as a free tasting at the winery
• Gift certificate for 15% off dinner at La Costanera, a famous seaside Peruvian restaurant and a 2012 Michelin-star recipient
• Guests have the option of adding an in-room massage for $90 for a 60-minute massage and $135 for a 90-minute massage. 

This dog-friendly inn, recently renovated to preserve its historic Spanish Revival architecture, is located within walking distance of an array of shops and restaurants. Each room is uniquely decorated with art and artifacts from Central and South America.  

The “Winter Getaway” package is not available on President’s Day Weekend (Feb 17-19) or Valentine’s Day and weekend (Feb. 10-11 and 14). Advance reservations are required at 650-726-1177 or www.halfmoonbayinn.com.

The holidays have arrived in California, complete with a stellar lineup of Christmas activities that are sure to make your heart sing. Following are some of the latest Christmas events at California museums and libraries. We'll be posting more of our top picks in other categories this week!

‘Tis the Season for Science
Nov. 23-Jan. 16 at the California Academy of Sciences
The world's greenest museum is celebrating the holidays with indoor snow flurries, live reindeer and a mini-dome snow experience. Located in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, this annual holiday exhibit is a fun-filled family event, where children can learn facts about mistletoe, find out if partridges really live in pear trees and find out where cinnamon comes from. The California Academy of Sciences is located at 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. Call (415) 379-8000 or visit them online.

“an american christmas”
Nov. 18-Jan. 8 at the Reagan Library
Celebrate "an American Christmas" by viewing the library's impressive collection of 25 decorated trees highlighting American culture from the Revolutionary Era of 1700 to 2010. While you're here, don't miss the collection of hand-crafted Menorahs given to the president during his term in the White House. The Reagan Library is located at 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley, CA. Call (805) 522-2977 or visit them online.

‘Tis the Season for Science runs through Jan. 16, 2012 in San Francisco.

I'm always on the lookout for new California apps, and one of my favorites is the Ultimate California Nature Guide from the Audubon Society. The app, which sells for $9.99, is a perfect gift for the nature techie in your family, and it's on sale today for just $4.99!

I loaded this app on my iPhone and iPad and put it to the test during a recent outing in the San Gabriel mountains. There are more than 2,600 entries in the app, covering everything from wildflowers and mammals to birds, fish and spiders.

What's best? You can listen to bird songs and calls to compare with what you're seeing, create your own personal nature account, and search by by shape, name and subject. No internet connection is necessary — a good thing when you're out in the middle of nowhere!

If you are an avid hiker, or know someone who is, they're sure to be thrilled with this nifty little app.

Audubon Nature California — The Ultimate California Nature Guide sells for $9.99 through Green Mountain Digital. For more information, go to their website.

The 3rd annual Taste Awards arrive in Hollywood on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012, honoring the best of food and fashion programming on television, film, web and radio.

This is your chance to mix and mingle with nominees from No Reservations, Man vs. Food, Top Chef, Divine Design, Project Runway and Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution – along with up-and-coming web nominees such as Chef Tips with Jason Hill (best food travel series) and Thirsty Girl TV (best drink or beverage program). A separate viewer's choice category will also be awarded.

The fun takes place at the Hollywood Egyptian Theater, located at 712 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, 90028. Highlights include a red carpet ceremony 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., followed by the awards show from 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. This is followed by a lavish after-party with gourmet food, wine and chocolate until 11 p.m.

Celebrity presenters will be announced soon. Past presenters have included actress Debi Mazar, Food Network star Tanya Holland (The Melting Pot) and Zane Lamprey from The Travel Channel.

For the complete list of 2012 nominees, click here.  Tickets are $85-$125 online.

Chef Jason Hill is nominated for Best Food Travel Series at the 3rd annual Taste Awards. Hill's show has featured on-location shoots in Hawaii, as well as California locations like the LA Farmers Market, Chinatown, Olvera Street and the Kern River.

Enjoy a dose of fine art and cuisine during the holiday courses from ArtBites at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Founded by chef/art historian Maite Gomez Rejón, these unique culinary classes combine art history with hands-on cooking in a museum setting.

This winter, feed your appetite for art and food with these two holiday cooking classes.

Let Us Eat Cake: Explore the history of sugar and desserts while touring LACMA's collection of Latin American, French, English and Italian art. After the museum tour, meet at the Surfas Test Kitchen (8777 Washington Blvd. in Culver City) to bake decadent holiday pastries such as Buche de Noël, Gingerbread Baby Cakes and Chocolate Peppermint Bark. The class will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 11. Cost is $100, which includes the tour, museum admission, recipes, ingredients and wine.

A Christmas Carol: Enjoy a festive feast inspired by Charles Dickens while learning about the history of the Christmas tree, holiday cards, and Victorian celebrations. Sample Christmas menu items may include Duchess Potatoes, Portobello Mushroom Stew, Glazed Carrots with Walnuts, Mincemeat Pie and Plum Pudding. The class will be held at the Surfas Test Kitchen from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18. Cost is $85, includes recipes, ingredients and wine.

For more information, check out www.artbites.net.

The San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival arrives in Southern California Nov. 16-20, promising more than 150 vendors of wine, beer and spirits.

The Grand Tasting Event takes place at Embarcadero Park North from noon until 3 p.m. Nov. 19, with VIP admission from 11 a.m. Tickets are $125 general admission and $175 VIP. Designated drivers get in for $65.

Other highlights include a "Wine Rave" at 7 p.m. Nov. 16 ($45), a Reserve Tasting at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 18 ($100) at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, and a Celebrity Chef Luncheon at 10 a.m. Nov. 20 ($175) in the Marriott Hotel & Marina.

Several festival packages are available, which include a collector's edition festival poster and gift bag. For more information please call us at 877-808-9463, visit us online at www.worldofwineevents.com

Photo by Veronica Hill / CaliforniaTravelExpert.com

Big Bear Mountain Resorts is offering $11 midweek lift tickets with discounted lodging as part of its 11-11-11 offer, available for purchase from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Friday, November 11.

To qualify, you must book at least one night at a participating Big Bear hotel between Nov. 14 - April 13, 2012. The offer is good for midweek overnight stays Sunday through Thursday, non-holiday and skiing or riding Monday through Friday, non holiday.

The Big Bear lodging deal includes an 11 percent discount on reservations, and reduces its $20 processing fee to $11. There is a limit of two $11 lift tickets per itinerary. Additional tickets may be purchased at 25 percent off the regular rate.  

"Groupon and Living Social can't even come close to this deal!" said Big Bear Lake Resort Association President & CEO Rick Shoup. "I think the last time Big Bear skiers had the opportunity to purchase tickets this cheap was in the 1950s. This marks the largest discount in Big Bear's history."

Book at www.bigbear.com or by phone at 800-424-4232.