For those who absolutely cannot wait til Christmas — eff Thanksgiving, you say — Melrose Umbrella Co. is already all decked out for the holidays. And I mean, ALL. DECKED. OUT. The Miracle on Melrose Avenue bar is only one of about 100 of the Miracle Pop-Up Bars around the world: 94 in the U.S….
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I refuse to put up Christmas decorations when Thanksgiving hasn’t even come and gone yet. But one thing I will allow in anticipation of the holidays are the cocktails. Beautiful, rich, cozy, festive-inspired holiday cocktails. And Big Bar in Los Feliz just kicked off their new holiday menu, which includes three hot cocktails and a…
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Quick, what’s your favorite L.A. movie and which cocktail would you pair with it? If it’s Amy Heckerling’s Clueless then you’re in luck! On August 19, as part of its summer pop-up series, ArcLight Hollywood is hosting swank West Hollywood cocktail bar, Bibo Ergo Sum, in its Balcony Bar. And the talented bar crew crafted…
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Nowadays, a cocktail bar has to do more than simply follow a classic cocktail template to turn heads. Housemade ingredients and a strong garnish game aren’t going to cut it anymore. Besides, there are so many great bars with new ones practically opening every day, not to mention the breadth of talented bartenders in L.A….
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Looking for something fun and different — with a touch of nerdiness — to serve at your holiday party? Lucky for you barman Christopher Day (Bar Tribute, Redbird) created this recipe for a boozy butterbeer. Your Harry Potter-loving guests will squeal. It’s no coincidence that this recipe uses a butter-washed Black Cow Vodka as Chris…
Continue Reading »Flickr Shot by dotsara (detail) I got a lot of thoughts in my head today and no place to put them in an semi-organized manner so I’ll do it here in all its rambling goriness. Lucky you…and I’m sorry. I didn’t know that Lounge 217 in Santa Monica has closed its doors after 13 years….
Flickr Shot by dotsara Every summer, I keep meaning to drive allll the way to Hollywood to try out Mashti Malone’s exotic ice cream flavors. But by every summer’s end, I find myself promising to check it out next year instead (I feel ice cream could better be appreciated when it’s hot outside). So as…
If you ever want to feel like you’re sitting on top of the world, tackle Sandstone Peak in the Santa Monica Mountains, aka “one of the best hikes in SoCal.” At an elevation of 3,111 feet, it’s the highest peak in town. The views are awe-inspiring, where you’re far away enough from the city to…
West L.A’s Wine House, one of my favorite wine stores, is taking a hint from Vinum Populi with its wine sampling room — aka “automated in-store wine tasting area” — where, like VP you can purchase a card to pay for a taste of the different wines available. Thirty-two wines (11 Californian, 6 Italian, 11…
Barely made it through your Monday, huh? I know what’ll jumpstart your mojo tonight. $5 Jameson at Saints & Sinners, everyone! Every Monday the L.A. heaven/hell theme lounge on Venice Boulevard offers all comers $5 Jameson (my whiskey of choice) and $3.50 draft beers (Miller Light, Guinness, Pilsner Urquell and Sierra Nevada). I haven’t been…
Hiya Caroline, I’m writing because I have a first date tomorrow night, and I want it to be a good one. I’m looking for a moderately-priced restaurant (up to $25-30 per entree) in the Westwood/Brentwood/Century City area, because that’s where my date lives. Any ethnic cuisine is good (I was thinking maybe Persian food since…
The fire alarm blared, suddenly shutting off the music in Elevate Lounge and setting off seizure-inducing strobe lights. At first everyone in the bar cheered like high-schoolers during a fire drill; some shouted “Fire alarm drink specials!” But after 10 minutes or so of flashing lights (the alarm was shut off sooner thank gawd), we…
Yeah, if you’re like me you’re not so big into tofu or huge Sunset Junction crowds. If that’s the case, maybe these other events will strike your fanny, I mean, fancy. Saturday, August 18 RoadRunner L.A. Marathon Training Starts I tried this last year but had to drop out due to injury. Boo! But I’m…
Shot by Dave Bullock (eecue) When I first got word from Thrillist about Elevate Lounge, a new bar/lounge atop a 21-story building in downtown, I thought “too chichi” for me. But since I’m easily swayed, buzz everywhere online has me itching to check this new place out which opened just last Friday. Eater LA: …takes…
“I got a reply that they’re totally over capacity and they couldn’t take any more people,” one friend emailed me. “I was str8 up denied!” Twittered another. The confirmation email I received from the site warned: “Please note that the guest list does not guarantee admission.” Uh oh, sounds like the launch party for Metromix‘s…
