The Ins and Outs of Bistros

We know it’s hard keeping up with the comings and goings of restaurants in this town.

In the going category, the beautiful Bistro Garden will close its Beverly Hills location on May 1, one month later than planned.

And coming, a few blocks away, Victor Drai is taking over the former Carson’s restaurant site on Bedford Drive.

Drai is opening a casual version of Drai’s, his La Cienega hot spot.

“It’s going to be as pretty,” he promises, “and the same style of food, but it’s going to be a real bistro. I don’t want to compete with myself.”

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A Friendly Gesture: That bucolic picnic scene gracing the window of the Pavillion Cristofle store in Beverly Hills--complete with old-fashioned Schwinn bike and tons of silver utensils strewn about the wheat grass--was provided by none other than “Friends” star Lisa Kudrow.

You heard us.

It turns out that in exchange for a donation to the actress’ pet charity, Inner City Arts, she and Colin Cowie, who designed her wedding last summer, pulled together the tableau.

Oh, yes, we also forget to tell you that Kudrow registered at Cristofle for her wedding gifts.

And that is her china place setting, the perfectly pretty floral Borghese pattern tucked in among the Camembert.

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A Stunner of a Gift: How do you celebrate the big Four-O if your husband owns a restaurant?

In Kim McCarty’s case, her mate, Michael, closed Michael’s in Santa Monica for the night last week and invited more than 100 of Kim’s nearest and dearest for dinner.

Even Kim was impressed. Michael doesn’t do that sort of thing every year, she confirmed, looking a bit stunned.

They’ve been together 21 years, and this was a first.

--COMPILED BY THE SOCIAL CLIMES STAFF