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 had the best organic French food last night. I know, it’s weird to see those words come out of my fingers but it’s true. I’m usually not all that crazy about French food (portions too small)…and “organic,” what’s that? But my vegetarian friend, GS, who lives near Vermont Avenue in Los Feliz was the…
Wow, three PINSMFAs in quick succession. I’m on a bitchy roll. But this had to be said even if it is in Vegas. Coyote Ugly Saloon is only a good place to go to if you’re a single 20-something guy who just can’t get laid. Go to Coyote Ugly where there are plenty of writhing…
Ever since Bols discontinued its Pumpkin Schnapps two years ago (Boo! I say!), finding a pumpkin pie cocktail during the holiday season has been like searching for the Holy Grail of Booze. But the other night when Dre and I visited our old friend, Steve the bartender, at Ford’s Filling Station, he surprised me by…
OK, let me preface this by saying this isn’t Vegas’ fault, the fact that I’m currently taking part in what is probably the worst bachelorette-party-in-Vegas experience ever. But it certainly hasn’t endeared Sin City to me either. First off, I hate bachelorette parties. Drunk girls screaming out the sunroofs of limos, drunk girls pawing strippers,…
I saw this and now I want one…so badly: the ThinkGeek Bluetooth Retro Handset ($39.99). My friend/co-worker Julie ordered hers off ThinkGeek.com and brought it over to my desk to show it off. I called her on her cell and she answered through the handset; this ridiculously huge old-fashioned handset. At first I laughed at…
I mentioned Yakitoriya briefly yesterday, but for the record I am so not going back there. Quickest assessment ever, I was only in there for 5 minutes but that was enough. Again, this was when Julie and I were starving and looking for a cheap place on Sawtelle to grab some dinner…before the glorious Orris…
I’ve never cried over food before, that is, until I had dinner at Orris on Sawtelle. Julie and I ended up going there after striking out at Yakitoriya (since I don’t care for gizzard on a stick or the $17 five-stick minimum) and not finding anything good that we could agree on in the nearby…
When it’s Monday and I’m in need of a nearby happy hour (since Bodega Wine Bar and Air Conditioned Lounge seem to be closed on Mondays, boooo!), the usual fallback position is Border Grill in Santa Monica. Not saying that it’s settling, it’s just sometimes a girl wants a little variety and something stronger than…
When my friends and I found ourselves in West Hollywood last night in a state of unfancy dress with a craving for cocktails, I racked my brain for a bar where we would feel comfortable showing up dressed down. No to Lola’s, obviously, and teeny-tiny Dime was packed with a crowd of people spilling out…
Damon Winter / LATimes I saw this in CalendarLive and was instantly intrigued. Chakra Cuisine, a new bar/restaurant, opened up in Beverly Hills and offers seven different cocktails for your seven different chakras. I’ve heard of drinking to cure what ails you but never on this level. From CalendarLive: Anahata, the green chakra of the…
