Monthly Archives: January 2007

January 31, 2007

For Your Inner Chef: Sur La Table’s Winter Clearance Sale

Written by Caroline on Crack in Los Angeles, Shopping & Sales
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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

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January 30, 2007

Sake to Me: Sake Tasting at Air Conditioned

Written by Caroline on Crack in Cocktails, Los Angeles, Nightlife
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Kissing Keanu
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

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January 29, 2007

Angeles National Forest: Driving Crazy

Written by Caroline on Crack in Los Angeles, Recreation
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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.

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January 28, 2007

XOX: Sprinkles Cupcakes’ Valentine Special

Written by Caroline on Crack in Cupcakes, Dining, Gift Ideas, Los Angeles, Other, Sweets
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Photo by Andrea Lenardin
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

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January 26, 2007

Bingo Is the Game-O at Bigfoot Lodge Sunday Nights

Written by Caroline on Crack in Los Angeles, Nightlife
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Flickr shot by Wardomatic

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

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January 25, 2007

Whistle Happy: Peter Bjorn and John at the Roxy

Written by Caroline on Crack in Los Angeles, Music
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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

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January 24, 2007

Cocktail Review: Chocolat d’Orange at Katsuya

Written by Caroline on Crack in Cocktails, Los Angeles, Nightlife
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Chocolat d'Orange Cocktail

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

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