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A travel reporter who likes home

As a guest correspondent for E!’s travelogue show “Wild On,” actress and model Alexus Winston has reported from New York City’s Webster Hall nightclub and most recently went to Costa Rica in search of nightlife in the rain forest. Winston tackles comedy next, appearing Friday in “The Red Light Comedy District” at the Hollywood Improv. During a respite, the former Penthouse Pet from Victorville shed some light on what life is like in L.A. when the spotlight is turned off.

Walking in L.A.

I live in a really cool area in Santa Monica. It has a little bit of everything. I walk everywhere. The beach is my frontyard. I’ll roller-blade down to Venice -- I even roller-bladed from Malibu to Venice once. There are so many cool places to go and hang out. I like Houston’s. Their ribs are fabulous. I also like the Crocodile Cafe even though it’s a tourist hangout. The Third Street Promenade is fabulous. It reminds me of Boston with the bands playing on the street. Bebe is there in the mall. And Fred Segal is nearby.

Comforts

I love going to the spa. What girl doesn’t? I’ll go to the spa at the Peninsula Hotel. It’s fabulous. I’m big on massage. Maybe I’ll get a massage, a facial or a mask. You can have lunch there too, but usually I’ll head over to Cafe Med on the Sunset Plaza. It’s a really laid-back indoor-outdoor place right in the middle of all the boutiques on the Sunset Strip. I always get their chicken salad or the Chinese chicken salad. They also have really good soups. The Pink Pepper on La Brea and Hollywood is great, too. It’s a total hole-in-the-wall place. They have this crazy Thai beef salad that I love.

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Night life

My friends and I will do some bar-hopping on the weekends. We’ll hit the Sky Bar or hang out at the W Hotel -- they have a cool bar. I love going to Jones for dinner. They have the best Italian food and it’s really dark in there. Dublins is a cool place to go have a drink. Or I’ll go to the Viper Room to see some live up-and-coming bands. It’s a small venue but it’s fun. Ago has really good Italian food too.

Shop til you drop

I love going to the Beverly Center. They have the greatest stores: Betsey Johnson, D Soul. It’s just a great place to shop all around. It has everything. Jigsaw on Melrose is cool too. They have the best Juicy Jeans and Frankie B’s. I don’t really go out to the movies much. But if I do go, I’ll go to the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. The chandelier really takes you back in time.

Perfect weekend

I travel so much. When I’m home, I like to stay home. The perfect weekend for me would be going out to lunch, shopping, hitting the spa or hanging out with friends at their houses. Sometimes I’ll get my girlfriends together and have a pajama party. Or we’ll go out and get drinks or stay in and watch movies

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-- Lisa Boone

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