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 »
Most bloggers are expert drinkers. Hey, we like our booze. If there’s a cocktail tasting, a new bartender and a new bar, you can bet the crowd will be overrun by bloggers armed with cameras and recording devices. Naturally, that means we drink. A lot. And consequently, we know what we like and what we…
The trend in Prohibition-style cocktails in Los Angeles saw the rise of speakeasy-esque bars. A drinker couldn’t throw a stick without hitting a “speakeasy” which usually meant a lounge-y bar with password-entry/hidden entrance and a pre-Prohibition cocktail program. See The Varnish (nondescript entrance) downtown and Seventy7 Lounge (password) in Culver City. But in Venice, seems…
Spring is in the air. Huzzah! Sure, we Angelenos have been lucky enough to not have to suffer through any drawn-out winter storms but rather some minor wet inconveniences and that annoying time change. Still, it’s nice to be able to sit at rooftop and poolside bars again, no? To celebrate, bartenders across our city…
Chef Govind Armstrong‘s Post and Beam restaurant opened up in the, let’s face it, unlikely location of the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza just this past January. Foodists wouldn’t think to find such a charming mid-century style restaurant with its well-made comfort food of farm-fresh ingredients this far off the beaten path of trendy areas. But…
It’s kind of risky naming a new bar after a buzzword, especially one that turns off cocktail geeks and booze writers, but if you let that stop you from checking out Mixology 101, the new Planet Dailies restaurant’s bar at the Farmers Market on 3rd, then you’ll be missing out on a world-class drink experience….
Thursday, March 8 Hungry Cat Hollywood’s 7th Anniversary What better way to celebrate an anniversary than with an all-day happy hour? Hungry Cat Hollywood is going on its 7th year (hey, so is this blog!) and wants you to share your HC memories by sending your photos to bob [at] thehungrycat.com. Then head to its…
Just because I know how to enjoy a well-made cocktail doesn’t mean I know how to make one. (Although I do make a mean Boulevardier, hee.) So when I was invited to the Gin Master Class hosted by Beefeater Gin at the Eveleigh bar/restaurant on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, you know I jumped at…
Four restaurants, one coffee shop (Spring for Coffee*), one bar under one roof. That’s the new Umamicatessen spot which just soft opened in Downtown this past weekend. But what may be regarded as foodie heaven for some –what with its one-stop eating of Umami Burger, Pigg (pork-focused eatery by SF chef Chris Cosentino), & a…
Hi Caroline! Me (mom) and my daughter (19-year-old college student) are taking a trip over her spring break to L.A. and then down to San Diego. We are fairly conservative but adventurous and love to have fun (people watch, music, good food and a good cocktail [me only of course] daughter would have a Shirley…
Friday, March 2 PaleyFest: American Horror Story Panel The scariest TV show I’ve ever seen, right up there with The Walking Dead, American Horror Story, kicks off PaleyFest 2012.Tickets for this panel featuring its stars Dylan “Ben Harmon” McDermott (swoon!) and Alexandra Breckenridge (that red-headed maid) as well as show creator Ryan Murphy, to name…
