Caroline on Crack | January 2009

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Monthly Archives: January 2009

January 6, 2009

SexyRetro: Pin-Up Girl Workshop

Sex appeal is fifty percent what you’ve got and fifty percent what people think you’ve got. — Sophia Loren

I LOVE retro pinup girl art/photography. It’s all so sexy and not in that overtly slutty way. Well, maybe it was considered slutty back in the ’40s and ’50s but now it’s simply charming.

I’ve always wondered what I’d look like done up with pin curls and seamed stockings. Coo, this is me coyly typing on my laptop. Coo, this is me stretching to get that whiskey bottle from the top shelf.

If you, too, have always wanted to emulate Betty Grable or Bettie Page, Mitzi Valenzuela of Mitzi and Co. — pin-up and hot rod photographer — is your guru. She teaches a five-hour workshop out of her studio in the Brewery Art Complex that provides you with tools and know-how to transform yourself into a real doll and lead the pin-up lifestyle. Get a retro makeover with full makeup and a vintage do and learn how to shop for pin-up couture. There’s even a mini fashion show at the end of the class featuring new and old styles.

Cost of the class is $100 if you sign up by January 15. Call (626) 825-2442 to reserve your spot or email mitziandco[at]yahoo[dot]com for more info.

What kind of pin-up girl are you? Take this quiz to find out. Apparently I’m the naughty pin-up. Oh my!

EVENT: SATURDAY, JANUARY 31 from 11am to 4pm

Categories: Beauty & Fashion, Los Angeles

3 Comments

January 5, 2009

Upstairs 2′s Wine & Dine Wednesdays

The Wine House’s restaurant, Upstairs 2, is upping the frequency of its popular Wine and Dine dinners from every other Wednesday to every Wednesday night.

This special region-themed dinner consists of a four-course spread — prepared by the restaurant’s chef, Todd Barrie — and paired with four wines from around the world, chosen by sommelier Marilyn Snee.

Cost is $55 and you need to call to make a reservation, specifying that you’re reserving for “Wine & Dine Wednesdays.” There’s limited seating so it’s best to make your reservations asap.

Upcoming schedule:

January 7: Wines of Southern Italy
January 14: Right Bank vs. Left Bank Bordeauxs
January 28: Groovy Grapes
February 4: Napa Cabernets
February 11: Sangiovese
February 18: Worldwide Syrahs
February 25: Pacific Northwest

Maybe forgo celebrating sweetheartdom on Valentine’s Day (which is sure to be a CF as it falls on a Saturday this year) and instead do up dinner here the Wednesday before.

I’ve never had dinner at Upstairs 2 before but seems like the folks on Yelp seem to like it; it averages four out of five stars.

Upstairs 2
2311 Cotner Avenue
West Los Angeles, California 90064 (map)
Reservations: (310) 231-0316
Cost: $55

Categories: Dining, Los Angeles

6 Comments

January 3, 2009

Today’s Stream of Consciousness

Did you know that making a New Year’s resolution could be bad for you? Having said that, I’ve got a bunch! To be more organized, lose weight and to be more frugal. What’s yours?

Whist wants you to be their Facebook pal. If you sign up as a fan of the restaurant on Facebook and bring proof of said fandom to Whist, you can get deals like free lump crab fritters (regularly priced $15) and drink specials on cocktails and beer. The freebie fritters are available every day through January 9 from 12-6pm. The progressive happy hour prices, on the other hand, increase by a dollar every day. Today they’re up to $3. The happy hour is from 3-7pm through January 9. Minimum of two drinks, max of four a day.

Can’t help but shake off these post holiday blues. Yes, they were stressful but at the same time I miss them already.

Lesley from Eater LA asked me to answer some questions about Year in Eater 2008 like what I thought were the top newcomers of 2008 and the neighborhoods of the year, etc. I felt flattered to be asked to participate considering the other participants were renowned foodies like Jonathan Gold, Eating LA‘s Pat Saperstein and H.C. of LA & OC Foodventures. Rereading my answers along with everyone else’s, I’m thankful I made the cut! Yes, Buddha’s Belly in Santa Monica is my standby restaurant.

This is so cool. ArcLight Cinemas is presenting a Q&A with director Gus Van Sant, Josh Brolin and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black following its screening of Milk on Wednesday the 7th at 8pm. If you haven’t seen this movie yet, now’s the time.

I Twittered this before but just in case you missed it, Velvet Margarita Cantina in Hollywood is doing $5 premium margaritas all year long “or until the recession ends — whatever comes first…” Good, cuz I think we all need a drink.

If everyone in the world had a Snuggie no one would ever leave their house.

BTW, if you subscribed to my CoC newsletter, sad to say that Zookoda has put that feature on ice. But you can still get your Daily Crack by following my Tweets or adding my Google gadget to your iGoogle page if you want.

Categories: Cocktails, Dining, Los Angeles, Nightlife

3 Comments

January 2, 2009

101 Coffee Shop: Smoked Salmon Scramble With a Side of Drama

You ever go to a restaurant where they seat you at a table that still has the cash left over from the previous patrons’ check sitting on the table and then wonder what would happen if you took it? Well I found out. I didn’t take the $60 that was sitting on our table for a good 10 minutes before our waitress finally picked it up while taking our order at 101 Coffee Shop in Hollywood. But apparently the kids sitting in the booth behind us took the money left behind on their table.

Bf and I were just looking forward to having a New Year’s Day breakfast before a hike in Griffith Park when we stopped off at the coffee shop. Yes, our waitress took a lonnng while to get around to taking our order and bf and I joked about just swiping the 60 bucks and having breakfast elsewhere. But then decided that wouldn’t be a very good way to start off the new year. I’d be paranoid the rest of 2009 thinking that karma would come back to bite me in the ass.

Categories: Dining, Los Angeles

5 Comments

January 1, 2009

Riva: Santa Monica’s Spot for Late Night Grub and Cocktails

My friend Shelley and I wanted a chill late night spot to hang out and catch up on what happened during our Christmas vacations. Riva in Santa Monica, a new Italian restaurant brought to you by the folks behind Fraiche, seemed like the perfect spot. I knew it had late hours, that there was a bar area and LA Weekly‘s Jonathan Gold seemed to like their specialty cocktails just fine.

LA Weekly says: