Even though I don’t cook…all that much ::cough, cough::…I loooovvve browsing Sur La Table. And I just know that if I had a kitchen stocked with all those gourmet cookware goodies I’d be more apt to make my own meals or at least try to. As it is, Wustof knives and Le Creuset cookware are luxuries I can’t afford, especially since I eat out a lot anyway.

But since we’re up to the last week of Sur La Table’s Winter Clearance Sale, lots of things have been marked down to 75%. The sale ends tomorrow, February 1, so stock up while prices are still fairly reasonable. If you can’t find what you want at the store, try Sur La Table’s Web site.

301 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, California 90401
310) 395-0390

So maybe the wine bar thing is all played out, or almost there anyway. But Air Conditioned on Pico is taking it to another level with its sake tasting. For $10 sample the wine of the East at this hip, loungy wine/soju/beer bar. Here, explore sake beyond its role in the sake bomb and resist the temptation to shoot it by savoring it for a change.

Personally I love sake, cold or hot, (especially when accompanied by sushi) but who knew that there were many different kinds? Junmai, honjozo, ginjo, daiginjo sake? Huh? In any case it all sounds yum. And sake has some kick but nothing too crazy for beginning-of-the-week cocktailing. And if you stick around past 9, you can enjoy the musical stylings of dj Chad Hahn. It’s cold outside, warm up with a bit o’ rice wine.

EVENT: TUESDAY, JANUARY 30 from 6:30 to 8pm

2819 Pico Boulevard
Santa Monica, California 90405
(310) 829-3700
Cost: $10

I’ve been sworn to secrecy about the location of this great driving road but I ain’t the best keeper of secrets — come on, I have a blog. Anyhoo, I can say that this road is way the hell up in the Angeles National Forest and is full of twisties and switchbacks and all that good stuff. So I’ll rely on the fact that Angelenos will have to brave the 605 and the 210 as the filter that will keep the weekend warrior population on this “secret” road down a bit. It is far but if you have a performance car of sorts and really want to wind it out and you love driving, this place is great for that.

Located off the 210, exit the first road east of the 605 you see that starts with “A.” Travel up that north. You’ll know you’re on the right track when you see a Cingular store (southwest corner) and a bank (northeast) at an intersection. BTW, there’s a Starbucks near Cingular if you want to get caffeinated before you start.

Continue on this road which is actually a numbered highway. It winds up through the mountains. It’s not the good part yet so don’t worry if you get stuck behind a slow camper. Remember, there’s no need to tailgate. People here are usually good about pulling over into the turnoffs to let faster vehicles by. Maybe just flash your brights and they’ll get out of the way faster.

Eventually you’ll see a road that goes on a bridge, the road is named after a utensil. Wait till you pass the first couple of dirt turnoffs before you really start since there is the occasional ranger as well as the usual looky-loos taking in the views.

This utensil road has a stretch where there is no center line so be very careful when coming around blind corners. Also beware of chunks of rocks in the road and, during the winter, icy patches. You take this all the way to….G-something Ridge where you can either drive up toward the ski lift or back down to civilization.

I usually opt for driving back down since at this point, if I’m not the driver, I’m queasy and if I am the driver I have an adrenaline headache. But driving back down, you get to pass through two tunnels which, when no one is around, are great to accelerate through with the windows down to really hear your engine. Obviously this is best when you have a performance car.

So happy driving. Know the limits of your car and of yourself and be safe.

Sure, there are a lot of cupcake stores now (there’s even one in Santa Monica Mall food court) but Sprinkles will always have a special place in my heart. Why’s that? Because they know how to celebrate the holidays. For Valentine’s Day, “the Original Cupcake Bakery” is offering something that’s even sweeter than the standard box o’ chocolates: its XOX Box.

The perfect gift for your honey with the sweet tooth, imagine him/her opening up this lovely festive box containing six chocolate marshallow cupcakes, three red hot velvet babycakes and three vanilla sugar muffins. Who doesn’t love a Belgian dark chocolate cake filled with marshmallow and covered with a bittersweet Belgian chocolate ganache or a red velvet cupcake topped with cinnamon frosting? There’s no better way to say, “Gee, I think you’re swell.”

Or if you have a bunch of special someones, throw a special V-Day party for your friends and serve these yummy cakes apres Valentine dinner or while playing a round of Mystery Date.

Place your special order or pick ‘em up at the store anytime between February 5-18.

9635 Santa Monica Boulevard
Beverly Hills, California 90210
(310) 274-8765
Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-7pm; Sun 10am-6pm

Flickr shot by Wardomatic

I don’t know if anyone can top Hamburger Mary’s wacky Wednesday bingo nights but it’s worth a shot. Everyone’s favorite theme bar (well, mine anyway), The Bigfoot Lodge in Los Feliz is now throwing its own bingo parties on Sunday. Here, you’ll play bingo for beer and other prizes while someone named DJ Cooter does double-duty by calling the numbers and spinning the tunes. Spencer Lee the Movie Guy keeps you visually stimulated with his collection of 8 and 16mm government propaganda, child hygiene, teenage dating, ‘50s stripper and truly bizarre found home movies from the 40s to the 70s. And all this for no cover charge! I know you probably usually reserve Sundays as your day of rest and recovery from your Saturdays, but why not jumpstart your week with an invigorating game of Bingo instead?

3172 Los Feliz Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90039
(323) 662-9227

I was reading my copy of Harper’s Bazaar (which I usually just skim for the pretty pictures) when I came across a little blurb titled “What Was That Song?” It proceeded to describe a “catchy whistle tune that we couldn’t get out of our heads during Fashion Week (it played at nearly every show, from Anne Klein to Zac Posen).” Curious, I looked up the song “Young Folks” on MySpace. Sayyy, that is pretty catchy. The other songs listed on Swedish pop/new wave band Peter Bjorn and John’s MySpace page weren’t so bad either. They reminded me of the simpler, happier times of my childhood.

Also on the MySpace page was a calendar with the band’s upcoming shows. Turns out one of their only two West Coast shows is coming up on February 1 and we, Angelenos, are lucky to get them. KCRW is presenting, of course, and tickets are $15. The Roxy’s box office is open Monday-Friday from 10:30 am-5:30 pm. Walk in or call for tickets, or go through Ticketmaster.

EVENT: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1 at 8pm

The Roxy Theatre
9009 West Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, California 90069
(310) 278-9457

Last night Dre and I visited one of my fave bartenders, Kylee, at Katsuya. I’ve been meaning to drop by for awhile, especially since I found out that Kylee was such an adventurous mixologist. (I gotta hook her up with Steve. They’d make beautiful cocktails together.)

One of my beefs against Katsuya’s exotic specialty cocktail menu was that they don’t have anything chocolate or all that sweet listed there. Interesting-sounding drinks with chilis and cucumbers, yes, but chocolate? No. Am I too old-fashioned?

Kylee fixed my chocolate fix with her experimental Chocolat d’Orange cocktail (she didn’t really have a name for it but kept describing it as chocolate-covered orange peels; Dre was the one who christened the drink with the French twist).

With a cocktail shaker full of Grey Goose orange vodka, chocolate sauce, Chambord, Cointreau, simple syrup, OJ and ice, Kylee shook and shook one-handed with a determined look on her face. Then poured the dark brown concoction into a clove-sugar-rimmed martini glass and garnished it with an orange peel butterfly. Ooh la la!

The result? It did taste like a chocolate-covered orange peel and it was rich without being sickeningly so. The clove mixed in with the fine sugar on the rim spiced up the drink, giving this chocolate martini something special. Actually, if anything, I was reminded of Mexican sipping chocolate — spicy, rich, and semisweet — except it was hard to merely sip. Yum!

Although this lovely cocktail ($11) isn’t on the menu, Kylee will fix it up for you if you ask nicely (she’s only there on Friday and Saturday nights). It’s definitely going to be my drink at Katsuya. And if you’re feeling more adventurous, ask Kylee for her apple wasabi margarita. Ay yah!

11777 San Vicente Boulevard
Brentwood, California 90025
(310) 207-8744

Since I now live down the street from Century City, I find myself frequenting it a lot more than I used to. Instead of going there once a year, so far this month alone I’ve gone three times. It’s all redone and fancy now with its brand-new cineplex and swanky food court, and new stores that aren’t really my style. And yet somehow I end up there, wishful window-shopping.

Fantasy shopping central and the main attraction at Century City is Bloomingdales. Oooh, Stuart Weitzman pumps! Oooh, a Diane Von Furstenberg dress!

However, for obvious reasons I never buy anything there. But one weeknight while I was waiting for my friend Kevin to return an unwanted Star Trek-looking shirt, I wandered over to the M.A.C. counter in my ongoing search for a “daytime red.” There weren’t that many people around. “Great!” I thought, “I won’t feel bad enlisting a salesperson in my quest for my new lipstick.”

(more…)

One of the best things about being a kid is a box of crayons, combine that with cocktails, a hip downtown LA hotel-turned-playground and a toy-decorating party and you’ve got one fine childhood reminiscence. Kidrobot will be throwing the funnest-sounding launch party I’ve ever heard, thanks to the Standard Downtown Art Series.

The free January 25 event will feature, among other things, the launch of the “Hello My Name Is” 8-inch Dunny by artist Huck Gee ($49.95) who will be on hand to sign ‘em from 7-9pm, as well as the DIY Kidrobots’ Munny toy. An interactive Munny toy decorating party will take place in the main loft of the Standard where you can make good use of the markers, crayons, buttons, glue, etc. on hand for your crazy creations.

If bigger is more your style, a huge “Munny in Los Angeles” wall drawing will be ready for you to color. Grab some friends, a cocktail and some of the crazy crayon colors on hand and go kid-wild while enjoying the special dj set by Peanut Butter Wolf. Remember, the sky doesn’t have to be blue.

EVENT: THURSDAY, JANUARY 25 from 7pm-11pm

The Standard Downtown
550 South Flower Street
Los Angeles, California 90071
(213) 892-8080
Cross Street: 6th Street

I’ve passed this women’s clothes store Intuition on Pico Boulevard lots of times on my way to John O’Groats and Westside Pavilion and never realized that it’s actually the real-life storefront for Shopintuition.com, expensive online store to the stars.

From CitySearch:

This celeb-favorite shop shows up in the gossip mags every week for a reason: its of-the-moment wares are sure to keep both starlets and average folks looking red carpet ready.

I think I would have continued to overlook it if it hadn’t been mentioned by random strangers while I was waiting for a seat at O’Groats. One was the O’Groats host who asked the waiting crowd on the sidewalk if anyone had the silver Honda Accord parked in the back and then when no one answered he grumbled to himself, “Probably went to Intuition.” Later a young, hip couple emerged from the restaurant, and the 20-something girl twirled and said, “Intuition is over there” while her bf put more money into the parking meter.

After breakfast, I drove past the store and noticed that there were “Sale” signs plastered all over its windows. Normally I would be excited by such a sight but I knew better. Having perused Shopintuition.com in the past, I knew “sale” to them is a $100 scarf marked down to $69. I mean, they turned everyone’s fave cheapy department store, Target, into couture. (A cashmere hoodie with the Target logo for $330? Eeesh.)

So what’s the point of my bringing this sale to your attention in the first place? Cuz on the site it’s actually harder to shop than it is in person simply for the fact that prices aren’t listed on the pages with the thumbnails but you have to click each and every one to see how much they cost. Time-consuming and tedious. So shopping in person at Intuition especially when you get to try things on as well as look at the sales tag? A good thing.

10581 W. Pico Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90064
(310) 234-8442

HOURS
Mon-Thurs 10-6
Fri-Sat 10-5
Sunday 12-5

Me and my sibs used to be way into alternative comedy, frequenting Luna Park (before it was turned into nightclub Pearl) and Largo. And that’s when we first came across up-and-comers at the time, Tenacious D, Sarah Silverman and David Cross…and then there was Patton Oswalt, a funny, harmless-looking guy with a dark side. So on top of the fact that the Nerd Show is three nerdy guys screening and narrating clips from their fave sci-fi movies, the fact that Patton is involved and this takes place at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre makes it a good bet for a night of hilarity and fun. Advanced reservations are sold out but a limited amount of tickets ($5) are still available at the door so get there early early Monday night to grab a seat.

If you miss out this time, you can always try getting tickets the next night for Patton’s Comedy Death-Ray which he’ll be hosting with Sarah Silverman, plus 20 other comedians doing short sets.

EVENT: MONDAY, JANUARY 22 at 10pm

Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre
5919 Franklin Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90028
(323) 908-8702

I know I’m going to be sorry later for sharing this apparently secret place with you but it’s too good to keep to myself. My new favorite bar is the Royale. I went there last night with my friend John for the first time after reading about it online since its opening last month. I’ve heard so many good things about it that I knew I had to see and experience it for myself.

When we walked into the first bar area, empty with its dark wood and high ceilings, I chatted for a bit with the bartender and asked for their specialty cocktail list which she said they hadn’t printed yet since the “place was still so new.” But she showed me her own menu of 10 or so cocktails (ranging in price from $9-$11) which listed the recipes for each drink. At first, I felt like I was being given keys to the city.

(more…)

Flickr Shot by dotsara

Man! I wish I could do this. American Airlines has a special on last-minute fares to NYC for this weekend (January 19-23). Only $199 roundtrip if you wanna do up the Big Apple this Friday/Saturday. Just book by Friday, January 19. I totally would go if my parents weren’t coming down at the same time. Anyhoo, if you do go, consider me jealous. N’yeah!

I’ve always wanted to check out Vasquez Rocks ever since I first saw it on Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, then Army of Darkness and I think even 24. Apparently these sideway slabs of sandstone have been appearing in films since 1905, that’s why they may look vaguely familiar to you. Quick online research reveals that during its downtime from appearing in movies, the Rocks offer some nice hiking for families. Easy stuff though, so it was never one of my picks for a good workout.

But this weekend, despite the freezing cold temperatures, a friend and I decided to go for a pleasant drive up the 5 toward the 14 and on to Agua Dulce. The skies were clear but the chilly winds must have been blowing at 40 mph in the desert. We parked in the lot right near the entrance and hopped onto the History Trail, which offers “exhibits” for your viewing (and learning) pleasure, but after viewing a couple of its bleh offerings (some faded pictographs and a Tataviam dwelling of sticks secured with screws) we skipped ahead to the hiking trail. Just as well since we only had a couple of hours before the park closed at 5. I know, 5pm! That’s such a shame considering this would be a cool spot to watch a meteor shower, being so far away from the city lights and all.

(more…)