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 »Every year beer geeks go insane for Russian River’s Pliny the Younger Triple IPA. So much so that labyrinthine lines form around the blocks of the very few bars that are lucky enough to get a hold of the allotted five gallons of the beer. Yes, Pliny the Younger is only available for purchase at…
It’s been a long time since I’ve been somewhere that’s made me downright giddy. And leave it to a restaurant called Sunny Spot to do just that. Chef Roy Choi of Chego and A-Frame opened his Caribbean eatery last November, taking over the old Beechwood spot on Washington Boulevard in Venice. And everything about the…
Saturday, January 28 Devil’s Drive-In: Sixteen Candles Jake Ryan! This was the movie that the teenage me wished happen in real life: Where your high school crush actually likes you back. Le sigh. Since this drive-in is happily BYOB, relive your teen years by toting wine coolers, heh. Or bring the good stuff and make…
I really like Freddy Smalls Bar and Kitchen. I really do. The new gastropub by Jeff Weinstein (founder of The Counter) boasts a menu by Chef Charlie Parker (formerly of San Francisco’s Plum) and its cocktail program was created by a Seven Grand pedigreed mixologist, David Fleisher. Its location on Pico Boulevard fills a hole…
When I first started drinking booze, my first favorite cocktail was the White Russian. Creamy, sweet and coffee-flavored, it was the perfect entry-level drink for someone with a sweettooth who was big into coffee. It was the first cocktail that made me feel like a grownup, like I knew what I was doing ordering a…
Friday, January 20 Agent Provocateur Semi Annual Sale Hey, ladies, looking for something uber sexy to throw on…and then off this Valentine’s Day? Sexxy lingerie store Agent Provocateur is having its semi annual sale now through Sunday. Score lingerie (pronounced ling-eree), panties, bras and other underthings for 30-75% off. Thru January 22. Agent Provocateur, 7961…
dineLA’s January 2012 Restaurant Week starts next week January 22. Have you made your reservations yet? In its 5th year, the annual food event has over 300 restaurants participating so lots of great places to choose from. And because of that it can be a bit overwhelming. But I figured I’d try and help by…
Sadie LA, the new Hollywood gastropub which opens its doors January 24, is taking over the spot previously known as Les Deux (or Les Douche in snarky circles). And, no, it’s not your imagination, just in 2010 Les Deux did go through a remodel, mellowing out from celebutard nightclub to a low-key neighborhoodie spot called…
A couple of years ago Esquire Magazine released a list of “Signs You’re in a Bad Bar.” On there were things like “Jager shot machine” and “kid-friendly.” But like most cocktail geeks and regular bar hoppers, I’ve got my own list in my back pocket. And when I walked into Bugatta on Melrose for the…
Thursday, January 12 Bushmills Irish Whiskey Tasting at Neat Dance a jig into your weekend with an Irish whiskey tasting followed by live Irish music. Whiskey Master Ed Adams will guide a tasting of the entire Bushmills line at Neat in Glendale. Afterward at 8:30p, the Irish band hits the stage. RSVP to info@theneatbar.com for…
