What to see: Waking Life
What to rent: Bridget Jones' Diary
What not to rent: Angel Eyes
What to wear: Double pendants
What to hair: Relaxed bob
What to make-up: Berry-stained lips
What to read: Olivia Saves the Circus, Ian Falconer
What to listen to: Let It Come Down, Spiritualized
What to make: Lemon poppy seed muffins
Color of the moment: Plum
E-Ching reading of the day: "Shock comes and makes one distraught.
If shock spurs to action, one remains free of misfortune."

?A warm cup of cider shared with a friend is a great way to pamper yourself.

-Tamara Jankowski, Madison, WI

Our favorite starlet Miss Gwyneth Paltrow claims that French photographer Patrick Demarchelier tricked her into posing nude for this month's issue of Harper's Bazaar. Apparently not too fond of her rear, Gywnie did not want it featured in the mag. Turns out that her mini-tush is in fact in the spread we wish we all had such large problems to hide.

Remember back in the day when Michael Jackson was a sweet little dancin' machine with a willowy afro? Well now it seems that because Jacko has done so much work on his face, that his fragile nose is no longer. It was reported that at a recent concert Sir Jackson had his prosthetic nose (he wears one due to many a botched surgery) fall off and land in the audience. So if you are heading to one of the King of Pop's concerts all we can say is, heads up.

Splendora Platinum Guide book launch party! Our fabulous guide to the Bay Area will make its first public appearance at an extravaganza held at San Francisco's Bubble Lounge on Tuesday, December 11th. We want you all there, so mark your calendar now!

I recently had an interesting conversation with a girlfriend who is trying to decipher her feelings for her very close male friend. For the purpose of this article, we'll call him Miguel. My friend sees Miguel on a regular basis. They go out for cocktails; talk about sports and current events; meet up in the afternoon to watch some tube--and, in general, hang out--floating through mellow, unstructured activities. Although she was initially attracted to him, the attraction waned in favor of friendship. Lately, however, particularly during their alone times, my friend's mind has started to somersault with steamy scenarios that defy the current nature of their brother-sister -like relationship.

Her fleeting curiosity has produced a passel of questions: Is it strange that I'm going to dinner with him and his parents? Why am I going eyeglass-frame shopping with this dude (aren't these duties reserved for a girlfriend)? I wonder what he looks like naked. Does he even notice that I'm a 34D?? Another question she thinks she wants to entertain but can't quite commit to is: How can she go from buddy to bootylicous without acting like a heel?? And if she does break down and have the talk or if she tries to seduce him with tequila shooters and a skinny dip by moonlight, will the romance ever be better than their platonic relationship? We all saw what happened in When Harry Met Sally.

Yeah, yeah, there was a happy ending but the budding-in-retrospect romance between Ryan and Crystal didn?t look particularly romantic. Instead of a spicy, playfully flirty friendship-turned-mack fest a la Ben Stiller and Jenna Elfman in Keeping the Faith, Ryan and Crystal's relationship came off as bland and bickering, which makes me wonder if the latter situation happens when two people who are already comfortable with each other hook up.

I think we've evolved enough to accept that men and women can truly have platonic relationships with no strings (G in particular) attached. In my friend's case it's easy to empathize with her dilemma: attraction combined with marathon mutual time = confusion bordering on combustion. Her dilemma can be distilled into a multiple choice question:

Should she:
A. Continue hanging out and wait for signs
B. Confess her confusion and discuss at length
C. Seduce him and see where it goes
D. All of the above (in sequential order)

Usually we despise Cosmo-type quizzes but we all have bets going on this one so your vote counts. Please hit Reply and tell us what you think our friend should do.

Take a peek at what is going on in your neck of the woods:

San Francisco: Stellar Spa in Corte Madera will donate 10%
of all of their sales on November 11th to the United Way's September 11th Fund. What great incentive to treat yourself to one of Stellar's fabulous treatments! Call (415) 924-7300 for appointments.

Los Angeles: The Breeders are back! Kim and Kelley Deal, the front women/twin sisters of this oft-plagued-alt-band are performing this weekend at the Glass House Concert Hall in Pomona. If you loved Cannonball you'll for sure to enjoy the fuzzed-out sounds from this always-interesting band. For more information go to www.losangeles.citysearch.com.

New York: If you can get tickets, run to see Neil LaBute's newest take on civilian life, The Shape of Things. The inflammatory play stars Paul Rudd, Gretchen Mol, Rachel Weisz, and Frederick Weller. For more info about tickets call the Promenade Theatre (212) 239-6200.