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 »Our day started out at 4am in Lausanne, Switzerland, and then after we arrived in Paris in the morning we spent the rest of the day executing the fastest tour of Parisian landmarks ever — Notre Dame, Luxembourg gardens, the Catacombs and the Eiffel Tower in six hours. Needless to say our group was exhausted…
If you love hiking, a must-do while you’re in Switzerland is to hike to a hut in the Alps. The huts are places hikers can stay for the night with sleeping quarters, food and drink. They’re located throughout the mountain range and you can pick one according to how far you feel like hiking. Some…
Last week’s Spare Room bowling party for Taste of the Nation LA marked the last pre-TOTNLA event before the big one on June 12. Hosted by me and organized by cocktail ringmaster Aidan Demarest, it was a smashing success. At least that’s what they tell me. I just remember a whirlwind of friends and cocktails….
What a glorious weekend it’s going to be! Not only is it a holiday but it’s the last weekend before my European vacation! Woot! By the way, don’t forget: my Spare Room Taste of the Nation LA bowling party is tonight and I’m still collecting entries for my Bruery craft beer fest giveaway! Thursday, May…
As if you needed them! Five reasons to hit up tomorrow night’s Spare Room’s Taste of the Nation LA benefit bowling party in Hollywood. 1) For $50 you can bowl for an hour (sporting those oh-so luxurious Esquival shoe rentals), partake of cocktail punches (see below), dance to a dj, nosh on passed appetizers and…
***CONTEST CLOSED*** The Bruery, one of my favorite SoCal breweries, is celebrating its 3rd anniversary. That means it’s been spreading joy and happiness through its tasty brews for only three years. And, this Placentia-based beermaker is going to do up its celebration BIG by combining it with a local craft beer festival. So not only…
Wood & Vine is one of my favorite places to dine whenever I’m in Hollywood to catch a movie at the ArcLight or kill some time before Hemingway’s Lounge opens up. It’s a gorgeous venue with a beautiful bar that greets you at the front of the house, followed by a second level for dining…
Squee! So many fun things to do this weekend, that is, unless of course, the Rapture foils all plans. Thursday, May 19 Free Cupcakes and Wine: SimonLA – Taste of the Nation LA Event And why wouldn’t you want free wine and cupcakes? At this event benefitting Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation, which…
***CONTEST CLOSED*** You know how I was going on and on about how fun it was to bowl, play board games and drink cocktail punches at the Spare Room in Hollywood? Well, now’s your chance to give it a try. I’m hosting a benefit with SR’s Aidan Demarest there next Thursday, May 26th from 6…
Beer Belly craft beer bar is opening in Koreatown this Friday, and it seems to possess all the elements of what make a beer bar great: 1) an impressive selection of affordably priced, handcrafted beer on taps; 2) tasty bar bites; 3) beer-serious owners; 4) knowledgeable beertenders; and 5) parking. The owners, Jimmy and Yume…
