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 »I’m still floating. This past Saturday’s 28th American Wine & Food Festival at Universal Studios Back Lot was an orgasmic food-wine-booze fantasy from which I never wanted to wake up. Every year I look forward to going because as I had said before, it is the mutha of all food festivals and if I had…
Last night was the press preview party for The Warholian, the new all-things-Andy-Warhol art exhibit at Royal/T Café in Culver City. Sponsored by Barbie — yes, the doll — and featuring tastes of limited edition “Tribute to Warhol” Dom Perignon champagne (normally $50 a glass!), how could I say no? Add to that the exhibit,…
For the theme of this year’s Blogger Prom 2010, we, in the Blogger Prom Committee (BPC), decided to go with the oh-so glamorous Hollywood Confidential — chic fashions from the Old Hollywood era. Very fitting considering our venue was the historic Yamashiro Restaurant in Hollywood. (More on this awesome event later.) In any case, I…
I’m so behind! Sorry, crackheads. This Blogger Prom is taking up all my time. But if you’re not going to the fantastic Port of Los Angeles Lobster Fest, here are some other things to do. Saturday, September 18 Barnsdall Screening: LA Confidential Co-Blogger Prom Committee member HC and I will be getting in the mood…
Now usually I shy away from posting events with high-priced tickets on my blog because first and foremost, I’m a cheapskate. But next week’s Wolfgang Puck’s 28th Annual American Wine & Food Festival is really THE food festival you (and I) should have been saving up your (my) money for. It’s the mutha of LA…
What is Mexican Independence Day and why should we celebrate it? It’s the day Mexico gained its freedom from Spain — that’s right, Cinco de Mayo is for something else — and, hullo?, drink specials! Here are some bar events going on around town this Wednesday and Thursday in case you need an excuse to…
Last Friday, local bloggers, myself included, were invited to check out the cocktails and hand-made dim sum at Xino (Sign-Oh), executive chef Chris Yeo’s Chinese restaurant that debuted last month with the newly renovated Santa Monica Mall and Dining Deck. We started off in the bar/lounge area and then were moved onto the outdoor patio…
Last weekend I had the chance to attend the KCRW Pie Contest, hosted by Good Food‘s Evan Kleiman, at the Taste of Beverly Hills venue for the very first time. I thought for sure the lure of free pie tastings would cause a massive C-F. That’s over 150 homemade pies — savory, fruit, nut, etc….
You may not know this about me but I can hold a grudge. Especially when it involves kicking me off my favorite bar stool in L.A. However, since I love the bartenders who came together to open up a certain downtown whiskey bar back in 2007, I have to tell you about their special drink…
Shout-out to my sister, Jennifer, whose birthday is tomorrow. Too bad she doesn’t live in LA else I’d take her to all of the following. Yeah, Jennifer, you missed out, heh. But have a happy birthday! Friday, September 10 Fashion’s Night Out via Racked LA OK, I’m not going to even try to compete with…
