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….
Continue Reading »
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…
Continue Reading »
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…
Continue Reading »
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….
Continue Reading »
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 »You’ve heard of beer-paired dinners and even Kahlua-paired dinners but rarely the dinner with vodka, I bet. I guess it sounds like it would be too easy. I consider vodka the tofu of the spirits, it can mix with pretty much anything. But at the Grey Goose Vodka dinner at Checkers Downtown this Wednesday, the…
This Saturday, Bigfoot Lodge West in Culver City/Palms is launching a brand-new cocktail menu and whiskey list. “But didn’t they just open? What’s with a new list already?” you may ask, and yes they opened just over a year ago. But this new whiskey list boasts to have “the biggest small batch bourbon selection and…
Rich Parents from The Midnight Show My plans this weekend? Moving boxes and UHaul truck. Yours? See below: Thursday, August 19 Debut of Venice Beach’s Monthly Art Crawl Now Westsiders who are averse to crossing the Great 405 Divide won’t have to wish they could go downtown for an art crawl. Venice Beach is kicking…
CONTEST CLOSED Forget the beach bbqs during Labor Day Weekend, people, you’re going to want to save your appetite for the good stuff: the LA Times‘ first food fest, Los Angeles Times Celebration of Food & Wine, is all day Sunday, September 5, at Paramount Pictures Studio Backlot in Hollywood. It’s going to be a…
On August 1, food enthusiasts, restaurant critics and of course great chefs converged at the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica for Angeleno Magazine‘s Great Chefs Night Out 2010 and 8th Annual Restaurant Awards, which was hosted by Angeleno‘s James Beard award-winning food and travel editor, Brad A. Johnson. We were all there to celebrate his…
As I am a boozer on a budget, I tend to avoid hotel bars because they normally charge $15 and up for their cocktails. But I wasn’t about to turn down an invite to check out the new cocktail menu at schmancy L’Ermitage Beverly Hills. It was hosted anyway, heh. Before I go on, yes,…
Whoa, there’s wayyy too many things going on this Saturday, it’s so intense. Too bad I gotta pack for my move. Friday, August 13 L.A.M.B. & Harajuku Lovers Sample Sale LA For the first time ever in LA, Gwen Stefani’s two lines, L.A.M.B. and Harajuku Lovers, will be available at a sample sale. Normally her…
To celebrate the launch of its “Poketo for Target” accessories collection, the artsy collective will be throwing an ice cream meetup at the Target West Hollywood store on August 14 from 1 to 3:30pm where you can also chat with Poketo co-founder Ted Vadakan. The first 100 folks to show up will get a free…
If you were a reader of my blog two years ago, no doubt you attended my 3rd blogiversary party at Bar Lubitsch. That was a big ‘un with liquor sponsors and a raffle-like giveaway. Since this year was my 5th, my friends and crackheads were asking if I had planned to do anything that big…
Earlier this week I was invited to check out the restaurants on the Dining Deck of the new, improved and now outdoor Santa Monica Place mall that opens today at 10am. When I arrived the security detail led me to the elevator that took me upstairs to one of the most beautiful mall food courts…
