Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam has been living and working in Mexico City for 3 months now, and she's finally learning to acclimate. Read more about her travels in the second part of her series for Culture Lust.

Two months ago, Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam left a routine life in San Diego for Mexico City for quite possibly the most random post-grad job one has ever undertaken. In a regular series for Culture Lust, she will be chronicling her travels as a model in another country.

Forget the ornaments. The best baubles to deck yourself with (or, okay, give to others) this holiday season are local – and Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam’s got the scoop.

Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam talks with Heavy Hawaii, a local group serving up beach culture with a dark side - not to mention a sound that's generating major buzz.

Household objects are reincarnated, poodles are mixed with pop culture, and desert houses are moved indoors this Culture Lust Weekend.

Calling all mustachioed Culture Lusters: "Movember" is your month to celebrate and donate to a good cause. Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam tells you why this month, sporting a 'stache is extra cool.

This Halloween, ditch the beglittered bacchanalia for something a little more Lustable. From street art to unidentifiable edibles, contributor Meredith Hattam has seven places for you to go for an untraditional Allhallows Eve celebration.

FX's new show "Terriers" boasts an award-winning cast and crew, from an "Ocean's Eleven" alum to a few familiar faces - and places! Filmed right here in O.B., Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam's got the scoop, and she wants to know what you think.

Artist and life-long surfer Richard Gleaves has always been in the water, from Sunset Beach to San Diego - so it's no surprise that his newest exhibit, "Liquid," at the Oceanside Museum of Art, takes gallery-goers for a dive. Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam spoke with him about what's now and next (hint: it involves mingling in the dark).

Want to shop local? From forgotten dime store treasures to hand-crafted stationary and vintage finds, online craft haven Etsy and Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam have got your number.

Rodrigo y Gabriela's show tonight may be sold out, but you can still get a primer on this Mexican rock duo courtesy of Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam. They're an ex-metal group who draw on Metallica as much as Santana, and were discovered on the streets of Dublin by Damien Rice. Need we say more?

Noticed the East Village's newest artsy addition yet? It's a professional home to 40 artists, who live, work and play in its 18,000-square-foot space. The kicker: they helped build it from scratch. Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam takes a peek at Space 4 Art.

Did you know that the quirky masterminds behind one of the funniest exhibits at MCASD's "Here Not There" were neighbors - and B.F.F.'s? Neither did we. Culture Lust Contributor Meredith Hattam sits down with artist Jason Sherry and filmmaker Matt Hoyt to talk about their installation, which chronicles a, uh, garbage man in Antarctica. You know you're curious.

It's an eye candy extravaganza this weekend at 'Survey Select', a new exhibit which offers a modern day twist on the 19th century salon. Featuring over 65 international artists, workshops, a pop-up shop and more, Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam explains why you'll definitely want to check it out (bonus: it's free!).

Author Chris Cleave's "Little Bee" is a garnering literary and Hollywood buzz (no pun intended) for its tale of a young Nigerian refugee and a London magazine editor's unlikely connection. Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam gave it a read, and she'd like to explain why its themes of redemption and human strength are so effective.

Only the guy who brought you The Linkery could dream up a menu that includes Micheladas alongside pork belly and quail egg terrine and Tosti-locos. Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam pays a visit to El Take It Easy, Jay Porter's newest North Park eatery. Bonus - there's art involved!

This Culture Lust weekend, we think you should double your dose of the Bard (starring a "Happy Days" alum!), see what venerable local artist Richard Allen Morris has been up to, and chill out with Maren Parusel.

There are an awful lot of must-hit events this Culture Lust weekend, among them Sushi's hotly anticipated Red Ball, MCASD’s homegrown new exhibit, and the return of Delta Spirit.

This weekend has plenty in store for you Culture Lusters, from remembering a San Diego theater icon to wine swilling at the MoPA. Plus, OK Go is in town!

Ogle gems at the Natural History Museum, watch short films starring puppets curated by Jim Hensen's daughter, and witness the return of The Album Leaf - these are just a few of the things you can do with your Culture Lust Weekend.

With fashion bloggers infiltrating Fashion Week's front row and the pages of the New York Times, it wasn't too long before the trend trickled down to San Diego. Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam shares a few of her favorite local style logs.

We here at Culture Lust were blown away by the sheer amount of stuff to do this weekend - for starters, you can grill Chelsea Handler on her new book, go chocolate tasting in Encinitas, or resurrect that prom dress for a night at The Pearl Hotel.

Before "True Blood" and its multiple Emmy's, there was Charlaine Harris' delightfully campy Sookie Stackhouse series. Harris will be on These Days this Thursday to discuss her tenth book, "Dead in the Family," and Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam explains why the series is worth a spot on your reading list. Spoiler alert!

The San Diego Museum of Art's Art Alive is a verifiable hothouse for the well-heeled and culturati alike, and it'll celebrate its 29th year this Friday. Check out this video for a behind-the-scenes peek at the crafting of one of its 100-plus arrangements.

From CityBeat's Festival of Beers to a biopic on seminal architectural photographer Julius Schulman, this weekend is crammed with Culture Lustable stuff to do and see (Snoop Dogg's casino stand-up, anyone?).

Cold and rainy? Who cares! From bargain hunting to art watching, you have no excuse to stay in this Culture Lust Weekend.

Beyonce! Natural disasters! No showers! The 11th Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival was full of surprises this past weekend, and Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam decamped for its crowded fields. Plus: a look at Coachella fashion.

It's Coachella weekend, and though all you survivalists may be pondering what to pack, Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam has bigger things on her mind (wardrobe, people!)

Coachella may be officially sold out, but there's still plenty of stuff to do here in town. This Culture Lust Weekend, the S.D. Fine Art Society announces the nominees for its art awards, an infamous surf legend visits D.G. Wills, and Dum Dum Girls debut at The Casbah.

Legendary jazz guitarist Bill Frisell will pay a visit to Anthology tomorrow night, with his equally-talented trio in tow. Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam explores his music and the inspiration behind his newest album - small-town Arkansas grit, as captured by offbeat 1940's photographer Mike Disfarmer.

This weekend, SDSU's Downtown Gallery will join the local culture club, but forget the downtown price tag: thanks to a few lucky connections, the space is entirely rent-free! No, they're not freeloading, though you may want to crash there this weekend for their first show, "Divergence." Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam explains.

Lined up for this Culture Lust Weekend: the MFA students at UCSD will (finally!) open their studios, fashionistas will flock downtown for THREAD, and just about anyone will head to Seaport Village for the 2010 Busker Festival. Plus: live music galore!

James Franco was recently accepted to Yale's doctoral program, landed a major book deal, and enjoys writing about dragon bongs. But Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam wants to know how other actors-slash-authors in Hollywood measure up, and are a PhD and good writing mutually exclusive?

Why bother with the oven mitts this Easter when there are so many places to dine out? From traditional holiday fare to some unlikely finds (bacon Bloody Mary's and Mariachi music!), let Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam be your dining guide to this Culture Lust weekend.

"The Nutcracker" no more? Not if you have any say in it! Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam speaks with the California Ballet Company about their new social media fundraising campaign that's aiming to save the last dance.

Christina Aguilera gone experimental, or an underground Swede? Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam explores a mysterious viral marketing campaign that's challenging the web's detective skills.

From the unveiling of MCASD's exclusive exhibit to IndieFest, this weekend is teeming with Culture Lust-able options. Plus: the pirates of North Park!

It's hard to believe that some bumper stickers carry moral caché, but author and philosopher Jack Bowen explores that idea in his new book, "If You Can Read This: The Philosophy of Bumper Stickers." Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam explains, and also asks KPBS staffers about their moments of sticker shock. Readers, what are your favorite or most reviled bumper stickers?

We know, we know... it'll be hard to leave the beach this weekend. But with a bounty of Culture Lust-approved offerings, like an exhibit by Robert Irwin, The State of Mind Film Invitational, and the quirky-cool Asteroid's Galaxy Tour, you just might have to.

Blogosphere fad or future of the internet? We don't know, but it's really, really addictive (and kind of creepy). Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam takes a whirl on ChatRoulette.

Ditch downtown's deluge of green beer this Wednesday and head to D.G. Wills in La Jolla, who's celebrating its 31st Annual St. Patrick's Day Open Reading of Irish Poetry and Prose. Culture Lust Contributor Meredith Hattam chatted with proprietor Dennis Wills about the event, its most memorable guests, and James Joyce's NSFW letters of longing.

With more films than ever before, the Latino Film Festival is tops on our list for this weekend, but there's also treasure hunter's holy grail in Balboa Park. Whatever you're looking for, we've got ideas for you this Culture Lust weekend.

This weekend, the San Diego Opera will present one of the most anticipated (and famed) productions of the season - "Romeo and Juliet." But for now, it's still dress rehearsal, and Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam got to peek inside.

Josh Taylor and Aaron Jasinski have both made a name for themselves in the lowbrow art genre. This week, their exhibit, "Curious Reminiscence" debuts at the Distinction Gallery. Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam takes a look.

With the atmospheric conditions as schizophrenic as ever, it's probably best to have something lined up this Culture Lust Weekend. In case of rain, check out our picks: surfettes at the CA Surf Museum's Women on Waves, the 10th anniversary of Museum of Making Music, and fromage savvy at Venissimo.

Culture Lust contributor Meredith Hattam explores the new look of pop-culture classics like The Baby-sitter's Club, Goosebumps, and Sweet Valley High with both excitement and dread.

What we'll drop in on this Culture Lust weekend: the Dance on Film fest, a wit-cracking biologist, and The Moving Units at the Casbah.

For three years, one Flickr user has been asking artists to craft would-be book covers for "Lolita." Inside, view some of the totally-safe-for-work (well, sort of) results.

This Culture Lust Weekend: meet the author of this year's winner of One Book, One San Diego, Celebrate Steve Poltz's 50th, a night at the opera with Nabucco, and the prince of darkness takes La Jolla (Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy!)

Not sitting front row with Anna and Co.? Catch up with the rest of the blogosphere in this round-up of Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2010.