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 »Downtown’s Drago Centro launches its new fall cocktail menu (created by Beverage Director Michael Shearin and Head Bartender Jaymee Mandeville) tonight. So all night tonight, you get a chance to get first taste for only $8. The cocktails here usually run about $12 each. Here’s the menu with some of my tasting notes as I was…
I had high hopes for Long Beach’s Congregation Alehouse: a monastery-style bar worshiping all things beer. But things started on the wrong foot when I was told that they didn’t have table service and I’d have to place all orders at the bar. Meh, Father’s Office does this, too. They’ll deliver food to your seat…
I know I already mentioned this event in my weekend roundup but I just snagged the cocktail/food menu and map for Zocalo Public Square and Jonathan Gold’s 2nd Annual Union Station Speakeasy Cocktail Party and wanted to share them. (Thanks, Daniel of Thirsty in LA!) If you haven’t bought your tickets yet you can still…
It was bound to happen. Larger-than-life pro drinker, booze author and spirits writer for Playboy, Dan “The Imbiber” Dunn was bound to get his own show. His personality is too big to be contained in one medium. I should know. I’m lucky enough to call him a friend…OK, Facebook friend but that counts, right? I…
Woot! Holiday weekend! A good thing considering there’s so much to do that you’ll need your Monday to recover. By the way, tomorrow morning I’m going to be on Carson Daly’s morning show, AMP Mornings, on AMP Radio 97.1 talking about weekend to-dos so please listen in! UPDATE: If you missed it this morning, you…
As one of the judges of the Table 20 Best LA Bartender contest, having to name just one bartender as “the best” was like Sophie’s Choice?minus the death camp. I mean, I LOVE the final contestants for different reasons. One could work a busy bar without breaking a sweat, another could turn a classic cocktail…
“Highbrow,” huh? What does that mean when applied to these Trader Joe’s cookies ($3.99)? I assumed it might be in reference to Thomas Keller’s Ad Hoc recipe or that Neiman Marcus urban legend. But the cute box these cookies come in makes no mention of either in its description, just that “The cookies showcase the…
Word on the Tweet says that last week’s 2010 Blogger Prom: Hollywood Confidential at Yamashiro was a smashing success. And while the glamorously dressed blogger attendees that night enjoyed the beautiful venue, the yummy nosh, tasty drinks and each other’s company and thanked us for putting on such an event, they might not really know…
You know what sounds uber refreshing right about now in the midst of this hellacious hellfire that we call September in LA? Beer and ice cream! And I’m not talking beer floats, but actual ice cream that is beer flavored. Unfortunately you’ll have to put that craving on hold until LA Beer Week in a…
***CONTEST CLOSED*** So I have the skinny on a must-do event for cocktail enthusiasts. It takes place next Monday at Takami Sushi downtown and will feature six of L.A.’s best bartenders and their never-tasted-before cocktail punch recipes. Guests will be able to try all the concoctions (each serving is 4-5 ounces) for free and mingle…
