Monthly Archives: July 2008

July 31, 2008

Blogiversary Giveaway #3 and #4: Gift Certificates for Citizen Smith and La Cantina

Written by Caroline on Crack in Dining, Los Angeles
4 Comments

Jalapeno tuna tartare

The uber generous folks at La Cantina and Citizen Smith have given me awesome gift certificates to give away at my blogiversary party.

That one lucky crackhead whose name I pull out of the hat during the shindig at Bar Lubitsch will get a gift certificate for Hollywood’s La Cantina, The Hills’ girls’ fave Mexican food joint. It’s good for Sunday lunch for four people where you and your buddies get treated to appetizers, entrees, desserts and even two pitchers of margaritas! What a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Try the La Cantina Fajitas ($12) with chicken or steak, sauteed tomatoes, onions and bell peppers or the halibut fish tacos ($11) served in soft corn tortillas with lettuce, chipotle sauce, sour cream and pico de gallo.

  • La Cantina Hollywood, 6541 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood (map). (323) 871-1363.

From Citizen Smith, a lucky crackhead and his/her honey will get dinner for two at my favorite Monday night dinner spot. The certificate covers appetizers, entrees, desserts and a specially selected bottle of wine for dinner Monday through Thursday. How romantical! I don’t know what to begin to suggest to get here as everything we tried was deelish. You can check out the menu here.

  • Citizen Smith, 1600 Cahuenga Boulevard, Hollywood (map). (323) 461-5001.

Of course tax and gratuities aren’t included, but come on, winning crackhead, you just had a free lunch/dinner!

Blogiversary Giveaway #1: Leyna’s Kitchen Cupcakes
Blogiversary Giveaway #2: $50 Gift Certificate for South in Santa Monica

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July 31, 2008

This Weekend: Eat, Drink and Fly for Less — If That’s What You’re Into

Written by Caroline on Crack in Dining, Lists, Los Angeles, Nightlife, Recreation, Shopping & Sales
2 Comments

Sucks that rent day coincides with all these sales going on.

Friday, August 1

Virgin Airways Airfare Sale
They’re at it again with the uber cheap airfare: $79 one way to Seattle, $139 to NYC. In light of crazy-high gas prices, this is quite the deal. But book your flights before August 7 cuz that’s when this special ends…for now.

Saturday, August 2

Wine House Super Summer Clearance Sale
One of my favorite wine stores is having a huuuge sale and it’s not just on wine. At the Wine House this weekend you can get Riedel Glassware, Johnny Walker Blue, Dom Perignon in addition to over 750 wines at low low prices.

  • Saturday 10am-7pm, Sunday 11am-6pm. Wine House, 2311 Cotner Avenue, Los Angeles (map).

West Third Street Sidewalk Sale
Nothing like strolling one of the prime shopping areas during a sidewalk sale. Enjoy discounts and refreshments from your fave retailers such as Flight 001, Joan’s on Third and Trina Turk, to name a few.

  • 11am-6pm. Between Fairfax Ave. and La Cienega Boulevard, W. Third Street, Los Angeles (map).

City of Hope’s 10K Run/5K Walk Underwear Affair
This is sure to be quite a spectacle as runners and walkers hit the streets in their underwear to raise funds for cancer research. This will probably be the only time it’s OK to wear your undies in public so make it good. Bras, panties, briefs, Garanimals. It’s all in good fun and for a great cause. Afterward participants will be treated to a much deserved after party. Don’t forget to bring your ID!

  • 5pm. $25 registration. 5801 Wilshire Boulevard (La Brea Tar Pits), Los Angeles (map).

15th Annual Long Beach Crawfish Festival
I’m drooling just thinking about this festival with all that crawfish prepared Louisiana style by Cajun chefs. Ooh and there will be ribs, beignets and some cocktail(?) called the Screaming Crawfish. Intriguing. Grammy-nominated Cajun and Zydeco artists will be performing to keep things festive.

  • Saturday 12pm-12am and Sunday 12pm-11pm. $13-$33. Rainbow Lagoon, 400-403 Shoreline Village Drive, Long Beach (map).

Sunday, August 3

Pot Roast Sundays at Tender Greens
Tender Greens is probably my favorite restaurant in Culver City cuz of its reasonable prices, yummy food and nice beer selection. Well apparently it has this special pot roast dinner every Sunday! Ten bucks gets you a beef short rib “roast” braised in red-wine sauce, Yukon gold mashed potatoes, and either a salad or vegetable. What a delicious bargain!

  • $10. Tender Greens, 9523 Culver Boulevard, Culver City (map). (310) 842-8300.

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July 30, 2008

Reminder: My Blogiversary at Bar Lubitsch

Written by Caroline on Crack in Cupcakes, Dining, Los Angeles, Nightlife, Sweets
8 Comments

I can’t believe it’s less than a week til my big blogiversary party. Free booze for two hours generously provided by the fine folks at Martin Miller’s Gin and Partida Tequila. Damian Windsor, my fave bartender from Gordon Ramsay at The London, created a special cocktail menu for the occasion which the Bar Lubitsch bartenders will be serving:

  • Bee’s Knees: Martin Miller’s gin lemon with runny honey — sooo yummy.
  • Margarita: Partida blanco tequila with cucumber foam and agave nectar.
  • Siesta: Partida reposado tequila, Campari and grapefruit — sorta like the Sculaccione at Osteria Mozza.

After the free liquor stops flowing, stick around for the dj, dancing and Bar Lubitsch’s yummy specialty cocktails available at the cash bar.

Leyna’s Cupcakes will supply their award-winning cupcakes for the party. Because nothing pairs with cocktails as well as cupcakes, my friends.

Get there in the first hour (before 9pm) and enter to win one of the giveaway prizes. There will be giveaways from Leyna’s Cupcakes, South, La Bijou Belle Jewelry, Citizen Smith and more. And if you happen to be sporting one of my CoC t-shirts at the party, you’ll get five entries in the giveaway. I’ll start drawing names out of the hat at 9 so if you come after, you’re SOL.

RSVP to attend. However, this does not guarantee admittance so make sure to get there early.

I can’t wait to meet everyone. Most of you I’ve only known through your blogs, emails, tweets and comments. It’ll be good to put faces with names.

EVENT: TUESDAY, AUGUST 5 at 8pm

Bar Lubitsch
7702 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, California 90046 (map)

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July 30, 2008

8 oz. Burger Bar: A Burger Joint for Grown-Ups

Written by Caroline on Crack in Cocktails, Dining, Los Angeles, Nightlife, Sweets
6 Comments

Bartender making blackberry collins

Checked out the two-week-old burger joint on Melrose, 8 oz. Burger Bar, which is located in the former Table 8 space. I didn’t come for the burgers, however, but rather the cocktails. It’s a wonderful list of pre-Prohibition-style classics and some signature drinks made with fresh juices, mixers and herbs, and each one is only eight bucks! Quite a deal on Melrose, or most anywhere for that matter.

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July 29, 2008

Free Cheesecake, Jamba Juice and Starbucks Day

Written by Caroline on Crack in Dining, Los Angeles, Sweets
Say what?

Flickr Shot by {meagen} (detail)

Flickr Shot by {meagen} (detail)

You like the free stuff, right? Well tomorrow — Wednesday, July 30 — there are three giveaways going on.

$1.50 Cheesecake Slice from Cheesecake Factory: The biggie of the day is the $1.50 slice of cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory in celebration of its 30th anniversary (and National Cheesecake Day). Why $1.50? Cuz that’s how much the restaurant charged for it when it first opened back in 1978. The catch is that you can only enjoy this while dining in. So order the expensive meal and get a really cheap slice of cheesecake, choosing from more than 30 varieties.

Complimentary Vivanno and Sorbetto Drinks from Starbucks: I walked into my local Starbucks yesterday and found a flyer that invited me to come back on Wednesday from 4-7pm when the store would give out complimentary 16-ounce Vivanno and 10-ounce Sorbetto beverages in celebration of the launch of Starbucks’ newest drinks. The Vivanno is a “nourishing” smoothie available in Orange Mango Banana and Banana Chocolate flavors. The Sorbetto is a yogurt smoothie, including Pinkberry, Tangy Mango and Citrus Ice flavors. Have you been curious about these weird new drinks at the ‘Bucks? Now’s your chance to give them a try without fear of wasting your own money. Don’t know if this is good for every Starbucks location but have heard reports about flyers in other stores around SoCal.

Buy Any Smoothie Get One Free from Jamba Juice: This special requires that you fill in your information on the page to get the “Buy One Get One Free” coupon. And once you do, go to any participating location to get the special which is: Purchase any Jamba menu board item and get an additional menu board item of the same or lesser value free. This Jamba special actually ends on July 30.

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July 28, 2008

Bluesy Tuesdays at The Foundry on Melrose

Written by Caroline on Crack in Dining, Los Angeles, Nightlife
Say what?

Flickr Shot by dcaseyphoto

Flickr Shot by dcaseyphoto

Your wife just left you? Your dog just died? No one understanding your problems? Maybe a visit to Bluesy Tuesdays, The Foundry on Melrose’s new weekly nights, will cheer you up some.

Every Tuesday there will be a different live act playing some blues, roots and Southern-inspired music while you enjoy a special “blues-inspired” lounge menu and specialty cocktails.

This Tuesday the 29th, Jay & Bosco of Americana rock & roll band 50 Cent Haircut will be performing.

Try the grilled cheese sandwich with short rib ($12), winner of the 2008 Grilled Cheese Sandwich Invitational, or buttermilk fried chicken ($4 a piece) with some fried green tomatoes ($5).

To drink your blues away:

  • Ramblin’ Rose ($10): Woodchuck Amber Cider, watermelon, bitters and gin.
  • The Tennessee Peach ($11): Jack Daniel’s, peach nectar and ginger.
  • The Debutante ($10): Chambord, champagne, raspberries and lemonade

That’ll do ya.

EVENT: TUESDAYS From 8pm to 10pm

The Foundry on Melrose
7465 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, California
(323) 651-0915

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July 25, 2008

Dear Caroline on Crack: Where To Throw a Surprise Party at a Bar?

Written by Caroline on Crack in Dear Caroline on Crack, Los Angeles, Nightlife, Other
1 Comment

Dear Caroline on Crack,

I’m a longtime reader and thought you’d be the perfect person to ask this. A friend of mine is trying to throw a surprise party. She needs a space — preferably a bar, lounge, hotel bar, club, rather than a restaurant — that can hold about 50 people for about two hours (can be early in the evening, like between 6-10 on a Friday or Saturday). Is there anywhere that won’t charge her thousands of dollars (which is what most places have been quoting)? Her party will all be buying multiple drinks (or willing to pay for bottle service), if that helps.

Any help would be much appreciated, if you have a moment!

Surprise Party Planning Committee

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