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….
Continue Reading »
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…
Continue Reading »
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…
Continue Reading »
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….
Continue Reading »
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 »
OK, normally I only write about interviews where I can actually reveal my sources. I ain’t Eater. But when someone I was talking to, a reliable source familiar with the whole situation at Spago and close to the Wolfgang Puck restaurants, gave me details of the new changes at the premier Beverly Hills dining destination,…
The 4th Annual LA Beer Week kicks off tomorrow, running through September 30, and it’s filled with so much awesomeness — a flurry of bar crawls, tap takeovers, beer-paired dinners, special beer releases — that it can be a bit overwhelming. So, where to begin? Well, for this year, the organizers have decided to have…
The 1 Percent have a tendency to do strange things with alcohol that doesn’t involve simply putting it into their mouths, like bathing in bubbly and, more recently, having vodka and 24K gold facials. But they can afford to use booze in ways normal folk would deem wasteful. So a tequila massage at a ritzy…
Casa Del Mar Lobby Lounge is a gorgeous place to grab a drink. Beach, sunset, Santa Monica Pier Ferris wheel. All the elements with which to impress your friend from out of town or romance your date. But up until the hotel’s new Market Fresh Mixology cocktail program debuted back in July, just like so…
If you like to drink, check out these LA Weekend events. Friday, September 14 Sassafras Bar Opens Gawd, I love the name of this place. The Interwebs have been abuzz about this new Southern-inspired bar from the 1933 Group (Thirsty Crow, Oldfield’s). Barrel-aged cocktails, make-your-own-buck cocktail menu, housemade sasaparillas and live music. Yup, it’s the…
When bartender Mia Sarazen first walked into The Churchill gastropub in West Hollywood, she immediately thought the space could use an Old Fashioned. And looking around at its Edison light bulbs, reclaimed wood communal tables and antique decor, I’d say she’s right. But she didn’t just stop there. Mia’s entire new cocktail menu was basically…
Some things you won’t find at the cocktail bar in Los Feliz’s new and much–buzzed–about MessHall restaurant: standard martini glasses, olives and St. Germain elderflower liqueur. Why? Bar director Erik Lund (formerly of Rivera), who took over the cocktail program from Julian Cox, basically doesn’t want to serve club drinks (martini glasses “look so tacky,”…
Hate to break it to you but despite our perfect, pool-party weather, summer vacation is over. The good news is that we have new fall cocktail menus to look forward to. Case in point, the new fall Rivera cocktail menu by bartender extraordinaire Julian Cox debuts at the downtown restaurant on Wednesday the 12th. And…
This past Saturday at The Taste LA Cocktail Confidential 2012, six of L.A.’s top bartenders brawled on stage. Only one of them could limp away winner of this cocktail competition judged by the very discerning palates of LA Times nightlife writer Jessica Gelt, master bartender Julian Cox and award-winning food writer Jonathan Gold. OK, actually…
Don’t be intimidated by £10 (10 Pound Macallan Bar), the Beverly Hills Macallan-dedicated bar located in the Montage upstairs from Scarpetta restaurant. Sure, it has fanciness the average drinker can’t fathom like Lalique touches throughout the bar and glassware, the world’s most expensive whiskey ($64,000 for 2 ounces of a Macallan 64 Years Old) tucked in the…
