When you hear the words “Pink Taco” what do you think of? I knowww! Pink. Tacos. Me, too! When I heard that this Mexican restaurant, which originated in Vegas, opened up in chi-chi Westfield Mall in Century City, of all places, I had to check it out. That name, that font.
Ugh, I’mb sigg but hopefully that won’t mess up my weekend. I’ll be pissed if it does get in my way of checking out the following cuz it does involve some singing and dancing. Grumble.
Friday, June 29
Vintage Clothes Fundraising Sale
Although this clothes sale is in Woodland Hills, it might be worth a look-see if it promises vintage wares like Neil Diamond concert tees! Another Caroline (no relation) is selling off thousands of vintage clothes from her former business which apparently had been featured on E!, the Style Network and Vogue. Treasures range from the ’50s-’80s era and from cheap $10 concert tees to high-end stuff like Diane Von Furstenberg. All proceeds go to Red Tent, a women’s retreat.
Firecracker at Grand Star
Celebrate the Fourth of July early with Firecracker! and get all hot and sweaty dancing to DJ Kaleem, aka “Your DJ’s favorite DJ,” who will be spinning at Grand Star’s every-other-week club tonight.
Saturday, June 30
The Dahlia’s Downtown Walking Tour
If you love L.A. history, you have to check out Esotouric’s Dahlia Walking Tour around downtown. Only 90 minutes long, this tour takes you around L.A.’s most famous murder victim’s old haunts during which you get to discuss theories of how, why and who dunnit. The tour starts off where the Black Dahlia was last seen before her body turned up in a lot, at the lobby of the Biltmore Hotel. Don’t forget to BYOB of water and slather on some sunscreen.
Roman Holiday at Cinespia
Aww, my girl’s movie is screening at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Audrey Hepburn won the Oscar for her role as the princess who takes a much needed vacation from her royal duties and starts a romance with dreamy Gregory Peck in the process. This movie made me fall in love with Rome. By all means, Rome. La! Bring a lovely picnic with some Italian red wine and meatball subs.
Sound of Music Sing-A-Long at the Hollywood Bowl
Show up as your favorite Sound of Music character and join in the fun by singing all those songs you know so well at the world’s largest outdoor movie theater, the Bowl. I heard that one time, a group of friends showed up dressed in astroturf saying that they were the hills and they were alivvvve! That’s genius. The fun starts early at 6pm with a pre-show costume parade.
Hello Caroline!
I hope this email finds you doing well. I met you during the Wine Tasting Tour and ever since I’ve had the fortune of getting your newsletter.
Now, I need your help; my sister is planning her birthday party for Friday and she’s looking for a place, around downtown, with a patio where she could host this. Do you know of any place that would fit this description? We want to dance and drink, of course.
Thank you in advance for your attention.
~ Downtown & Dirty
Abode’s Black Pearl may not be the $4,350 Diamond Cocktail at London’s Sheraton Park Tower (possibly the world’s most expensive cocktail with its 0.6 carat diamond garnish) but $300 is still quite a bit to pay for a martini. The Tahitian Black Pearl Martini to be exact, which is ultra-premium coconut Pearl Vodka and a splash of blue curacao garnished with a AAA 12mm Tahitian Black Pearl (appraised at $800) — all proceeds go to Heal the Bay.
Funny thing is, even though the ultra-chic restaurant sits right next door to Tengu and down the street from Ivy on the Shore in Santa Monica, not one foolish soul with money to splurge has ordered one up yet. And goodness knows, I ain’t gonna do it. But I thought I should let you know that it’s there if you want it. Someone tell Captain Sparrow.
Buffy fans will love this: The Buffy Musical: Once More With Singing! A Big-Screen Interactive Extravaganza. It’s a special showing for the 2007 L.A. Film Festival. For those who’ve never seen Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the hilarious, ass-kicking television series created by Joss Whedon, “Once More, With Feeling” was the one musical episode where the characters — Buffy, Spike, Willow, et al. — break out into song and dance because a demon made them do it. And it was an unforgettable, highly entertaining TV moment. The cast members actually did their own singing which was pretty brave of them considering Sarah Michelle Gellar is no Bernadette Peters. Heh. Fans of musicals will appreciate the ode to this genre. I love the characters’ self-consciousness that they were suddenly singing and dancing for no apparent reason.
This special sing-a-long, a la the Rocky Horror tradition, invites audience members to dress up like their favorite Buffy characters and not just sing but participate in the show.
Monster finger puppets, streamers, bubbles, kazoos, vampire teeth, flying underwear and, of course, bunnies are all provided for the interactive experience.
The show’s advanced tickets may be sold out but more tickets will be available at the door on a first-come, first-serve basis starting one hour before showtime. So if you wanna sing, get there early dammit, Janet! Oh wait, wrong show.
EVENT: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27 at 10:30pm
Westwood Crest Theatre
1262 Westwood Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90024 (map)
Admission: $11
For ticketing information, (866) 345-6337 or email boxoffice@FilmIndependent.org
Many of you have already noticed the beginnings of a cupcake shop on Wilshire in Santa Monica, just a couple of blocks down the street from the Yummy Cupcakes that just opened up earlier this year. Vanilla Bake Shop is its name and its grand opening is July 10.
I know, I know, do we really need yet another cupcake shop and when will this trend end? I thought cute yogurt was the way we’re going now.
Anyhoo, owners Amy and Jeremy Berman will not only have cute cupcakes — full-size, bite-size and stuffed — but also “seasonal French macaroons; striped, torte-like brownies called ‘cosmopolitans’”… (Gayot)
Amy apparently gave up the Industry to follow her baking passion and after a stint in pastry school Vanilla Bake Shop came to be.
Cute and girly decor of cotton candy pink walls and white chandeliers will entice women to break their diets and feel guilty about it now, as there is seating here, or later with takeout.
And if you’re feeling extra guilty about having a grand opening cupcake, you can always follow it up with a grand opening Red Mango yogurt when it opens two days later on July 12 in Westwood.
512 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, California 90401
(310) 458-6644
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9am-7pm; Sunday 10am-5pm
I’ve got a hint of a hangover this morning as a reminder of my fabulous birthday party last night but I’m not complaining. It was s’wonderful! From start to finish I couldn’t have asked for a better night.
Aidan, the general manager of Seven Grand, set us up in the huge corner booth next to the bar. He had originally wanted to put us up in the private Jackalope room but I wanted my party to be out and about and able to enjoy the bar and mingle with the other patrons, so where we were was perfect.
