When I told my L.A. cocktail enthusiast friends that I was spending my Fourth of July/bday weekend up in San Francisco, they all told me that I had to get myself to Heaven’s Dog right quick. “You’re in SF?” Johnny the Fish of Social Domain texted me as soon as I had Twittered I was in the Tonga Room post hotel check-in. “Get to Heaven’s Dog for cocktails immediately.” OK, OK, I obliged, Sheesh. I had managed to drag my bff, an SF local, and her work buddies to HD in SOMA as well. Surprisingly none had ever been there for cocktails considering it’s close to where they work.
For a Thursday night before a holiday weekend, the lounge area wasn’t too packed and there were actually seats available at the bar. However, we squeezed our group of six into a seating area comprised of a small couch and ottomans since it was the only place left for a group of our size. An annoying group of double-dating couples had snagged the bigger seating area before us.
I got over that right away as soon as the cocktail menu was handed to me. Sooo many yummy-sounding drinks and all for only $10 each! I recognized Remember the Maine, which I had had at the Varnish, but everything else sounded exciting and new.
Sagatiba Sweet-Hot and what happens when I don’t bring my camera with me everywhere.
On my actual birthday night on Sunday, my bf and I were about to grab dinner at Simmzy’s in Manhattan Beach but were met by a packed restaurant of bullish post-holiday beer drinkers and a waiting list that wasn’t getting crossed off fast enough if at all. I was starving but not enough to settle for the Kettle or Hennessey’s. But fortunately, I remembered that fellow blogger Food GPS had listed Hudson House in Redondo Beach as one of the stops of his food/beer marathon. I had only dropped by for the first stop — Simmzy’s — and didn’t continue on with the group to Hudson House. I’ve regretted it ever since.
This four-month-old gastropub (formerly Grog and before that, tiki bar Point Break) is only about 3 miles further south of Simmzy’s but on this Sunday night the place was dead. Sooo dead that I had to ask the woman behind the counter if they were still open as a group of people walked out the door. “Yes,” she said. “But are you still serving dinner?” I asked, watching the guy in the kitchen put some condiments away. Fortunately they were still serving dinner. Huzzah!
So mixologist Julian Cox at Rivera in downtown L.A. has revealed his list of new summer cocktails, including some classic favorites like a mint julep and sloe gin fizz, as well as yummy-sounding concoctions.
Don’t worry, old faves like the Blood Sugar Sex Magic, Strawberry Fields and Barbacoa will still be on the menu as well. And my fave, Donaji now uses a new mezcal so it has a brand-new taste.
Here are the highlights of the summer cocktail menu:
19th Century: Bourbon, lemon, crème de cacao, Antica Carpano
Wanting to learn more about tequila than one tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor? Ortega 120 in Redondo Beach will be hosting a Tequila University program all summer; tomorrow July 7, July 21, August 11 and August 25. Mixologist Demi Stevens will guide students through the history of this notorious spirit. And with the aid of tequila flights, you’ll be able to identify its flavor profiles. Bonus is the cocktail-making lessons, mmm margaritas, and some instruction on which foods to pair with different tequila.
The two-hour course is $20 and that includes the flight, cocktails and appetizers!
EVENT: JULY 7, 21 and AUGUST 11, 25 from 7 to 9pm
Ortega 120
1814 S. Pacific Coast Highway
Redondo Beach, California 90277 (map)
(310) 792-4120
OMG I’m so excited about this weekend! Fireworks, BBQ, beer, birthday! Eeeeee! Yes, I’ll be up in SF celebrating my bday and the 4th of July but will be missing the following. BTW, if you are looking for where to catch some pyrotechnical awesomeness, check here and here.
Thursday, July 2
Buy a Crumbs Cupcake and Support the Troops
Just for the holiday, Crumbs Bake Shop has created a special patriotic cupcake of vanilla cake, chocolate buttercream filling, and vanilla cream cheese frosting with a sugar cookie star covered in blue fondant with red, white and blue sprinkles. It’s $3.75 for that fatty signature size and proceeds go to the USO to support the troops. Grab some for that Hollywood Bowl Fourth of July celebration or Hollywood Forever’s Jaws screening and have a sugary salute.
Silverlake Wine Tasting at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House
Now this sounds like the perfect way to start the holiday weekend. Enjoy tastes of four boutique wines from around the world whilst picnicking at the Barnsdall Art Park. Afterward, go on a guided tour through Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece, the Hollyhock House, a historic-cultural monument. TheCoolhaus truck will be on hand selling its special Barnsdall flavor, Honeyhock Ice Cream.
5:30-7:30pm. $15 wine tasting or $23 wine tasting and tour. Hollyhock House, 4800 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood (map).
Doors Cover Band and $5 Jack at Rush Street
Rush Street is celebrating the 4th all weekend but its festivities will begin with Doors cover band, Peace Frog (named after a Doors song), rocking out the Chi-town-inspired restaurant/bar. There’s no cover and you can toast to Mr. Mojo Rising with $5 Jack drink specials all night.
10pm-2am. Rush Street, 9546 Washington Boulevard, Culver City (map). (310) 837-9546.
Saturday, July 4
Hermosa Beach Ironman
Every 4th of July competitors hit Hermosa Beach Pier for the greatest Ironman ever. And only the truly athletic don’t throw up. Participants must run a mile, paddle a surfboard for a mile and then guzzle down a six-pack of beer. The first to hold down their drink wins! Don’t worry if you’re “out of shape,” you’ve probably been training all this time and didn’t know it. BTW, apparently this isn’t sanctioned by Hermosa so do your beer guzzling discreetly or else triple fine for you! Oh, and BYOB and surfboard if you want to participate.
9amish? No one knows for sure. $20 to participate. Around 29th Street and Manhattan Avenue, Hermosa Beach (map).
Cemetery Screening: Jaws
Forgo fireworks for terror! Just kidding. But watching the scariest “When Animals Attack” movie would be an awesome way to kick off your 4th of July.Jaws, one of my fave horror movies, takes place during a small town’s own 4th of July Weekend celebration. “Oh no! Don’t go into the water!” But will they listen? Newp! Bring your own picnic of bbq and some red vino to enjoy during the movie. Gates open at 7:30pm and djs will be spinning before and after the screening.
Gates open 7:30pm. $10 donation. Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood (map).
Rustic Canyon BBQ and Beer Bash
Barbecues are so much work but so yummy. Fortunately, Rustic Canyon in Santa Monica is hosting a BBQ and Beer Bash where you can enjoy a one-night-only menu of slow-cooked BBQ pork ribs, lobster rolls, soft shell crab sandwiches and even homemade ice cream. They’ll even have a grill out back. And Beer Chick and sommelier Christina Perozziwill be on hand to pour her hand-selected small-batch brews to sate the thirsty.
Starts at 4pm. Rustic Canyon, 1119 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica (map). Reservations: (310) 393-7050.
only place left for a group of our size. An annoying group of double-dating couples had snagged the bigger seating area before us.
