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 »First off: Yay! I’m coming home! Finally! Second off, I just got back from my worst karaoke experience EVER! And no, it’s not that I got booed off the stage for attempting Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.” It was bizarro Hamburger Mary’s in downtown Sacramento. Totally different from WeHo’s Mary in that instead…
 When my friend suggested the Sylvia Beach Hotel in Newport, Oregon (named after the founder of the famous Parisian bookstore, Shakespeare & Co.), I was skeptical. “It’s a hotel for book lovers,” she said with cheer. “Um, OK.” “Yeah, there are cats and books in every room and board games and a group dinner.”…
Made a special side trip to the sight where all the magic began: the first Starbucks store ever. When it first opened in Pikes Place Market in 1971, they only sold coffee beans. But thanks to Howard Schultz, who joined the company in the ’80s and who was inspired by the cafes of Europe, they…
For our last night in Vancouver, we decided to hit Doolin’s Irish Pub. Within stumbling distance of our hotel, we thought it safe to down their 20-ounce pints so that’s what we did…a couple of them…and of course a shot of whiskey. Since they offer 16 “world-class” beers, it wasn’t hard to pick a good…
My first night in Vancouver, I had to check out the nightlife. Unfortunately, since it was a Monday night that limited our options. At the last minute, I came up with the Crush Champagne Lounge which is just about three blocks from our hotel. 10Best.com says: A seductive sleekness distinguishes this lounge, which strikes that…
First impression of Mount Shasta? A gorgeous and humbling site to behold. It’s no wonder that the small town of Mt. Shasta seems to be filled with yoga schools and organic grocery stores. You feel in awe of nature with that big mountain looming overhead. Even in June with 90-degree weather, the peak, the second…
Hey all, Currently on the road to Vancouver. Yesterday was the start of the trip: L.A to Mt. Shasta. A grueling drive only because of the heat, which got up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit up around Redding. Anyhoo, today we’re on our way to lovely Eugene. Right now I’m blogging from The Beanery (Oregon’s original coffeehouse…
Photo by Blake Pellenberg I have found a new addiction and the dealer is Zankou Chicken. For years my friend Bernadette would tell me about it. Actually, damn her, she only mentioned it in passing. Never really selling it to me so I thought that it was just like Koo Koo Roo or something. Only…
Ready, set, shop! It’s that time of the year again. Billion Dollar Babes, the high-end quarterly sample sale, will be offering up the fashionable wares of Cynthia Rowley, Diane Von Furstenberg as well as various premium denim designers at up to 80% off to the invited masses on Saturday, June 24 at Sony Pictures Studios….
I think I had the definitive Angeleno moment. Never have I felt a truer sense of the city than when I saw Chinatown last night at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown, thanks to L.A. Conservancy’s Last Remaining Seats. The Orpheum, built in 1926 and part of downtown’s famed Broadway theatre district, used to host vaudeville acts…
