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 »OK, I admit it. I was one of the many folks out there carrying the flag for the anti-vodka movement. What can I say? I always viewed the clear spirit as something flavorless and sort of a cheater ingredient for bartenders who don’t want to bother creating a cocktail that will actually complement the taste…
Thanksgiving is definitely the foodster’s holiday. It’s the time when we can gorge without judgment. But everyone and their favorite blogger can tell you where to score a delicious turkey dinner. What I really wanted to know was where in L.A. can you get a delicious Thanksgiving-inspired cocktail. I mean, come on, T Day is…
One friend asked if I could sneak him in my handbag and another begged me to pretty please wrap up an entree to go for her. These reactions told me that I was so very lucky to take part in the eight-hour Absolut Sensory Experience seminar and dinner last Friday. What was the big deal…
If LA doesn’t blow away today — eesh it’s windy out there — here are a bunch of things you can do this weekend. I also cover some of these weekend’s goings-on on Carson Daly’s “AMP Mornings” AMP Radio show right here. Friday, November 12 Guelaguetza Tequila Tasting This monthly tasting series is made even…
Sunday may have been the inaugural LA Loves Alex’s Lemonade food event for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation — a charity dedicated to fighting childhood cancer — but you wouldn’t have known it was the first time by sauntering around the beautifully laid-out event. Unlike most food fests which are usually crazy feeding frenzies and absurdly…
Wally’s Wine debuted its adjacent cheese store, Cheese Box, earlier this summer, but I just recently checked it out for the first time. What took so long? I have a love-hate relationship with cheese. Anyhoo, when I stopped by the West LA booze shop for party supplies, I figured I’d try out one of the…
This past week has been crazy with the boozing. And I hadn’t realized how much so until I looked back at all my tweets — from an impromptu bar hop on Monday to a boozy Macallan auction to another bar hop on Friday. In any case, figured it would be fun to just revisit them,…
Lots of drink-friendly events going on around town this weekend, including the Great Chefs of LA event that I’m giving away tickets to. What to do? What to do? You can also hear me talk about this weekend roundup on Carson Daly’s “AMP Mornings” radio show. Thursday, November 4 Four at Checkers Downtown: $4 Partida…
You’re hanging out with your pallies and they’re looking to you to call the next drink destination. But it’s gotta be something low key, none of this frou-frou stuff. Just because you’re a lady doesn’t mean you dig on the sugar water. I’m thinking Dominick’s in West Hollywood. They just kicked off their new fall…
Top 5 reasons to attend the 24th Annual Great Chefs of LA Go Green, Go Organic event on Sunday, November 7? You get to sample nommy culinary creations from the likes of Celestino Drago of Drago Centro, Jimmy Shaw of Loteria Grill and Mary Sue Milliken of Border Grill. In addition to the 19 or…
