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 »What is the big deal with Chef Roberto “Bobo” Ivan’s Hostaria del Piccolo, the Santa Monica sister to his Piccolo restaurant in Venice? Well, not only does the modern pizza joint offer gluten-free pie — made with naturally leavened dough comprised of kamut, soy and polenta flour — but they have a gorgeously stocked bar…
No one panic. Sure this is the last weekend before the holidays but check out all the fun events going on! Fortunately, most involve drinking. Friday, December 17 Eagle Rock Brewery’s Ugly Sweater Party You know you have one, everyone does: an ugly sweater that was either a well-intended gift handmade by crazy ol’ Aunt…
Five of L.A.’s top bartenders, an $18.9-million home in the Doheny Estates and a party full of willing drinkers. Such was the DonQ Holiday Mixoff at the ultimate bachelor pad, the 9,000-square-foot 2010 Esquire House, a house party venue created by the magazine featuring 11 lustworthy rooms dripping with brands like Salvatore Ferragamo and Hugo…
This Wednesday Comme Ca in West Hollywood will be passing out free appetizers as well as offering free champagne for their toast to celebrate their third anniversary and the launch of their new location which opens in new hotel, Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The free passed apps are available to guests from 5:30 to 7:30…
This weekend I hit up the Artisanal LA holiday shopping event where I encountered the much–buzzed–about Lobsta Truck for the first time. I was hanging out with blogger buds Lindsay of LAist and EstarLA when they decided to split a lobster roll. Problem is that they couldn’t decide whether to go with the Connecticut-style butter…
This weekend was a double whammy of shopping events with Artisanal LA and Unique LA and even though I was supposed to be shopping for others there, I couldn’t help but covet a bunch of stuff for myself. Here are just a few of my favorite discoveries. And even though you may have missed the…
Biergarten in Koreatown. You might know it for its impressive craft beer selection, juicy Drunken Chicken and apparently 8:2 guy-to-girl ratio. It’s safe to say this isn’t a fancy place and you’ll never have to fret over a dress code. But this coming Monday and Tuesday, Biergarten will be all about the fancy as Chef…
Pig out, get sloshed and shop shop shop. December is when we indulge in all our vices to the nth degree. And I’ve got some to-dos that will help you do just that. By the way, I won’t be doing Carson Daly’s “AMP Mornings” show for the entire month of December. Apparently they’re going to…
CORRECTION: The menu launches tomorrow night! La Descarga in East Hollywood debuts its new winter drink menu! Of course the classics and some crowd favorites remain, like Hemingway’s Daquiri and Tapping the Admiral, which LD owner Steve Livigni says is “now barrel aged for two weeks in whiskey barrels and served neat, exponentially better.” Sadly,…
My list of the top 10 holiday cocktails in L.A. is up on Squid Ink today and features tasty boozy seasons greetings by some of our town’s best bartenders. And no, there aren’t any peppermint mochaccino martinis here. Rather, these are cocktails that personify the flavors of this time of year: nog, cranberry, butter rum…
