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 »I wish there were more hours in the morning. I don’t get to do this often if at all since I don’t wake up early enough, but I’d love to just go to Starbucks, grab a caramel macchiato and surf the Web on my laptop to ease into the day. Unfortunately, the Starbucks near my…
When I first pulled up Perpetualkid.com, I literally squealed with delight. “Entertain Your Inner Child” is this site’s tagline, and with marshmallow shooters (that’s right, a toy that shoots mini marshmallows) and Play-Doh cologne they ain’t kidding. It really is a site that can easily turn any workplace into a playground. There are a lot…
It seems like everyone loves John O’Groats except me. I don’t get it. (How do you say that name anyway?) I’ve read the online reviews about how there’s always a line outside of eager diners waiting for that tasty, cheap breakfast so I had to check it out. Plus it’s in my new hood, so…
Why are all the cool bars on the Eastside? Last night was my first time in the Cha Cha Lounge, located right across the street from the Red Lion Tavern on Glendale Boulevard, and I loved it! Judging from the outside, I didn’t know what to expect. When I think “Cha Cha” I think “Cha…
Flickr Shot by Matt McGee I myself am not a hard-core shopper. Never lined up outside a store waiting for it to open, open, open and never battled through a Black Friday. But for those into that sorta thing, the Camarillo Premium Outlets way the hell up in the nether reaches of the 101 will…
Flickr Shot by Gunga Din I remember my first holiday season in L.A. It was just me and my sis and we were sad, lonely, starving students. We used to drive through Beverly Hills neighborhoods fantasizing that some nice, rich person would come outside and wave us into their palatial home to partake of tea…
Go on, get outta here! That’s what you’re going to have to do if you want to get in on this hot deal from Singapore Airlines. Fly from Los Angeles to Tokyo for only $399 roundtrip — HALF OFF what this route normally costs! The catch is that you have to depart between November 23…
Flickr Shot by Frock Worried about all that weight you’re about to gain from the turkeys, holiday cookies, pies, mashed potatoes, and figgy pudding you’re about to put away this holiday season? Why not do a pre-emptive strike against the bulge and do the Long Beach Turkey Trot? Every year over 3,000 people run/walk the…
Flickr shot by dopiaza Sorry I’ve been out of it for awhile. Had a housewarming party to pull off and then got struck down by the flu. Weee! Ugh. But just when I was sitting at home feeling sorry for myself (and mulling over the different invites I got for Thanksgiving) I came across a…
After visiting the reopened Griffith Observatory, I can’t help but wonder if I would have appreciated it more had I been eight again. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve always loved the view — of the city lights at least — and of course the architecture. But Foucault Pendulum? The Tesla Coil? And all that literature…
