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Monthly Archives: May 2010

May 27, 2010

This Weekend: A Boozy, Barbecue-Filled Memorial Day Weekend

Sure, it may not feel like it with this dreary weather but summer is here! Yay for three-day weekends! Especially three-day weekends with booze and barbecue! Oh, and of course it’s also the opening weekend of Sex and the City 2!

Thursday, May 27

Checkers Four at Four: $5 Buffalo Trace Cocktails
Mmm, so good on so many levels — Buffalo Trace bourbon, cocktails made with BT, cocktails made with BT for only $4 each! Yup, another great event at Checkers Downtown. This one features BT in cocktails like the New Orleans Sazerac and Blackberry Julep, as well as an interesting-sounding Bufala Negra which is made with muddled basil and aged balsamic vinegar! Food plates are only $4 as well and include Prince Edward Island black mussels and a fig and bacon salad.

4-8pm. Checkers Downtown, 535 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown (map). (213) 624-0000.

Tequila Appreciation Night at Malo Restaurant
Pick up some tequila tasting tips and enjoy a variety of tequila cocktails all while giving back to the Latino art community. A win win for everyone, I say! At the Tequila Appreciation Night, hosted by Mexico’s only female owned and operated distillery, Sino Tequila, guests get to chat with the Sino’s owner and for every bottle purchased, $1 goes to Latino Arts Network.

7-9pm. $20. Malo Restaurant, 4326 W Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles (map). (323) 664-1011.

Sunday, May 30

Ortega 120′s 2nd Anniversary Celebration
This hot Redondo Beach cantina is celebrating its 2nd year of existence with a booze-infused blowout sponsored by Partida Tequila and Leblon Caipirinhas. Odelay! There will be live music and dance performances, samplings of summer dishes as well as something called the Leblon Cachaca Caipi-Truck, caipirinhas on the go? RSVP: RFPR [at] RF-PR.com.

2-5pm. Ortega 120, 1814 S Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach (map). (310) 792-4120.

Katana’s 7th Annual Red Sun BBQ Kicks Off
Katana kicks off the sweaty season this Memorial Day Weekend with its popular summertime event which starts May 30 and ends on Labor Day. Revelers get to dance to the turntable stylings of KCRW’s DJ Thomas Golubic and enjoy specials on cocktails like $6 red or white sangria, champagne cocktail and a watermelon margarita.

5-11:30pm. 8439 West Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood (map). (323) 650-8585.

Silverlake Wine’s 7th Annual Memorial Day Weekend Barbeque Wine Tasting
Nothing like some tasty ‘cue and fine wine to enjoy Memorial Day. Silverlake Wine’s special Sunday tasting will pair barbecue ribs, links, chicken prepared by The First Assembly Baptist Church in South Los Angeles with bodacious vino like Chateau de l’Eperonniere Savennieres 2007 France and Maquis Lien Red Blend Colchagua Valley 2006 Chile.

3pm. $20. Silverlake Wine, 2395 Glendale Boulevard, Los Angeles (map). Reservations required: (323) 662-9024.

Categories: Cocktails, Dining, Lists, Los Angeles, Nightlife

2 Comments

May 26, 2010

The Bruery’s 2nd Anniversary Party: 10 Beers in 3 Hours

The Bruery's 2nd Anniversary Coton

I’ve always wanted to check out The Bruery‘s tasting room way the hell over there in Placentia*. Mmm, all that good beer and apparently they’re the best place to fill a growler (you have to buy their growler, though, which is $10). But I just couldn’t bring myself to travel 40 miles and five different freeways to get there. However when H.C. of LA/OC Foodventures invited me to be his guest to the brewery’s 2nd anniversary celebration, well, of course I had to say yes. The celebration promised 10 tastings, yummy lunch by Beachwood BBQ, waffles and chocolate-dipped bacon and the release of the 2nd anniversary limited-edition old ale, Coton. Oh hells yes I was going!

Fortunately the celebration was spread out over two days and broken up into 3-hour stints. That way there weren’t any horribly long, slow lines for the taps or even for the food. Such a well-run and organized event. And the pours were generous for tastings; about 5 ounces for the beer under 10% and 2 ounces for 10%+. I started slowing down after the fourth beer but was able to power through to the eighth.

Out of the ones I tasted — all great beers — I loved the Trade Winds Tripel, an unusual summer seasonal that uses rice and Thai Basil; Einer’s Folly, a delightful porter; and the bourbon barrel aged Coton, so rich and cognac-y. BTW, to see how the Coton was made, check out this LA Brewer blog post which includes cool pics of the process. Even though the Bruery wasn’t selling growlers of any of the beers at the event, I just had to buy an empty growler with the promise of coming back. Because I’m gonna.

If you want to fill your growler, here’s what they had on tap.

Year Round

Orchard White — Belgian-style witbier
Saison Rue –farmhouse ale
Rugbr�d — Danish-style rye brown ale
Mischief — Belgo-American hoppy golden ale
Hottenroth Berliner Weisse — sour wheat ale

Seasonal

Saison De Lente — farmhouse ale
Trade Winds Tripel — Belgo-Asian Tripel

Special Draft Beers

Humulus Lager — India pale ale
Humulus Rice — beautiful adjunct ale
Humulus Gold — Belgian IPA
Seven Grain Saison — farmhouse ale
Melange No. Sechs — St. Valentine’s-style ale

Limited Edition

Coton — 2nd anniversary old ale
100% Barrel Aged Coton — old ale
Melange No. 3 — blended barrel-aged ale
Melange No. 5 – DBJW — smoked/barrel aged, brewed for Beachwood BBQ

What also made the event for me was hanging out with some of my favorite Tweeps/blogger buddies like Josh of Food GPS, Ryan of the Surly Goat/Verdugo Bar and BeachBum Chris the LA Craft Beer Examiner. Christina aka the Beer Chick kept me and H.C. on a tight drinking schedule, figuring that we only had about 15 minutes to spend on each beer if we were going to taste 10 in three hours. Of course, I let her down but at least the people in the parking lot coming in for the next event were happy; I gave them my leftover drink tickets.

BTW, you can also buy bottles of beer, t-shirt and hats at the Bruery’s store. And visit the tasting room on Friday and Saturday 4-10pm and Sunday 12-6pm.

The Bruery
715 Dunn Way
Placentia, California 92870 (map)
(714) 996-6258
Twitter: @thebruery
Facebook: The Bruery

* Just why is it called Placentia? Apparently because it’s a “pleasant place to live,” not anything to do with birthing.

Categories: Los Angeles

6 Comments

May 25, 2010

The Edison�s Radio Room Featuring the Godfather of L.A. Mixology

Copa d'Oro's Vincenzo Marianella by Caroline on Crack

Copa d'Oro's Vincenzo Marianella works the Radio Room tonight.

The Edison's Joseph Brooke

It’s baaack. One of the hottest bar nights in Los Angeles returns tonight: The Edison’s monthly Radio Room when the best bartenders from around the world shake up their tasty creations for the thirsty but stylish masses. And this night’s event is a very special one as it reunites Joseph Brooke, The Edison’s director of spirits, with his mentor and the mentor to many of the top L.A mixologists, Vincenzo Marianella of Copa d’Oro in Santa Monica. Aww.

Vincenzo will man the shakers alongside H. Joseph Ehrmann of Elixir in San Francisco�and Hamish McShane of Bayswater Brasserie in Sydney, Australia.

Featured cocktails ($13 each):

Caribbean Buzz Punch (H. Joseph Ehrmann): Rum, Amontillado Sherry, citrus and clover honey.
Chairman’s Mai Tai (Hamish McShane): Bacardi 8 rum, vanilla, almond and orange.
The Emerald (Vincenzo Marianella): Oxley gin, elderflower, muddled grapes and sage leaves.
Little Orphan Apple (H. Joseph Ehrmann): Cucumber-infused organic vodka, Aperol, agave and fuji apple.
The Madam (Hamish McShane): Oxley gin, Lillet Blanc and grapefruit bitters.
The Snakebite #2 (Vincenzo Marianella): Bacardi 8 rum, Aperol, maraschino liqueur and snakeroot bitters.

If you want something to nosh on,“The Oyster Gourmet” Chef Christophe Happillon will be on hand to serve up fresh oysters and crabclaws.

Entry is $10 per person, but if you sign up for the Edison’s newsletter, you should have gotten an email that gives you free admission for your guest.

EVENT: TUESDAY, MAY 25 at 8pm

The Edison
102 West 2nd Street
Los Angeles, California 90012 (map)
(213) 613-0000
Twitter: @theedisonla

Categories: Cocktails, Los Angeles, Nightlife

1 Comment

May 25, 2010

Malo’s Margarita Nights: $4 Margaritas

Spicy Cucumber Margarita courtesy of Malo Restaurant

Get your weekend started early, folks, by hitting up Margarita Night tonight at Malo Cantina in Silver Lake, home of over 250 tequilas and mezcals. Yup, fans of the margarita will be able to enjoy a tasty selection of affordable concoctions ranging in price from $4 to $8 every Tuesday from 7 to 11pm at this new drink night which launches tonight.

Margarita Night Specials include:

Herradura House Margarita: Herradura Silver Tequila, housemade margarita mix, lime juice $4
Market Fresh Margarita: Hand-muddled with fresh farmers market fruit, Herradura Silver Tequila, agave nectar, lime juice $7
Organic Margarita: Casa Noble Silver Tequila, lime juice, agave nectar $8
Medicina Latina: Herradura Reposado Tequila, ginger agave nectar, lime juice $6
Spicy Cucumber Margarita: Herradura Silver Tequila, cucumbers, hot sauce, lime juice, agave nectar $6
Impala: Herradura Reposada Tequila, lime juice, Maison Prunier Orange Liqueur $7
Skinny Margarita: Herradura Silver Tequila, lime juice and a splash of agave nectar� $6

Mmm, my fave is the Medicina Latina, although the spicy cucumber margarita with hot sauce looks intriguing. BTW, to keep things festive, there will be a DJ spinning in the upstairs lounge.

EVENT: EVERY TUESDAY FROM 7 to 11pm

Malo Cantina
4326 W. Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90029 (map)
(323) 664-1011
Twitter: @malorestaurant
Facebook: Malo Restaurant

Categories: Cocktails, Los Angeles, Nightlife

Sex & the City 2 Cocktails & 21+ Screenings

Sure, we can blame Sex and the City for the popularity of syrupy, flavored vodka cocktails back in the ’90s and even its lingering presence in clubs and hotel bars now, but with the new movie, Sex and the City 2, coming out, how else can a bunch of best girlfriends toast to the adventures of their favorite foursome, now on the big screen? Yes, I may be a cocktail snob but I’m also a huuge SATC fan. And fortunately with the opening of the sequel there are many venues celebrating with a variety of libations from the standard Cosmo to beer flights to even martinis and Manhattans in honor of Mr. Big.

Lola’s, Los Angeles: This bar, aka “Home of the Apple Martini,” has a slew of Skyy Vodka cocktails ($12 each) inspired by the fab New Yorkers. With every SATC cocktail you get an entry form for a chance to win two tickets to the L.A. premiere of the movie as well as dinner for two at Lola’s. BTW, my fave of the cocktails, the Red Over Heels, was created by none other than my buddy, Natalie Bovis aka The Liquid Muse!

Glamour Gal (Carrie): Skyy Vodka, lemon juice, lime juice, simple syrup & cr�me de cassis
Blonde Ambition (Samantha): Skyy Vodka, pineapple juice, lime juice, triple sec & cr�me de cacao
Red over Heels (Miranda): Skyy Vodka, Canton ginger liquor, splash of honey, squeeze of lemon
Park Avenue Princess (Charlotte): Skyy Vodka, splash of organic grape juice, splash of lime soda, lemon juice
Mr. Manhattan (Mr. Big): Skyy Vodka, organic black cherry juice, splash of Wild Turkey, splash of coke

Napa Valley Grille, Westwood: From May 27-30, you can get a free Cosmo (reg. $12) — Skyy vodka, cranberry juice and triple sec — when you come in with your SATC 2 ticket stub. The movie will be playing at the Regency Village Theatre near this Westwood restaurant.

The London, West Hollywood: From now through June, �The Gordon Ramsay Bar�s �London After Five� happy hour (Monday-Friday, 5-7pm) is all about the movie with $5 appetizers like mini lobster burgers and spicy lamb kebabs and $5 Skyy SATC-themed cocktails, as well as the following:

The Fashionista: Veuve Clicquot, Pomegranate Juice. Pink Rose Petal Garnish
The Bombshell: Tangerine Juice, Maraschino Liqueur, Veuve Clicquot, Maraschino Cherry Garnish

Townhouse Kitchen & Bar, Sherman Oaks: Through the rest of the month of May, after seeing the movie at the Arclight Sherman Oaks, SATC fans can enjoy cocktails like the Carrie — Svedka Vodka, Parma Liquor, Pineapple Juice, and a splash of Pomegranate ($10) — and The Mr. Big, made with Chopin Vodka, olive juice and blue cheese stuffed olives at this nearby barestaurant. There’s even something for beer drinkers: The Fierce Foursome beer flight ($7.50), consisting of blondes, a red head and a brunette — four-ounce pours of Shocktop, Blue Moon, Fat Tire, and Lost Coast Downtown Brown.

21+ Screenings of Sex and the City movies

ArcLight Hollywood: Get food, cocktails and a movie all under the same roof thanks to the theater’s special SATC 2 party package for opening weekend. For $70 a person you get a movie ticket, two drink coupons for the same movie-inspired Skyy cocktails featured at Lola’s and unlimited apps like sliders, brie and apple crustini and mini cupcakes.

Gold Class Cinemas: Wow, what a drag. Most of the showtimes at this fancy-schmancy Pasadena theater during opening weekend are already sold out. But if you want to see the movie by yourself at 3pm on a Tuesday, you’re golden. Anyhoo I just wanted to call out their specialty SATC 2 cocktail menu which not only features cocktails made famous by the show — like the Cosmo, Flirtini and Tartini — but they feature a Manhattan.

Yamashiro, Hollywood: As part of its weekly movie nights, the restaurant will be doing a complimentary screening of the first Sex and the City movie in its Garden Theater on Wednesday the 26th to get you in the mood for the sequel. Cocktails and a full service menu will be available, but they’ll also have $5 mixed fruit cosmos for the occasion.

Categories: Cocktails, Featured, Los Angeles, Movies, Nightlife

1 Comment

May 20, 2010

This Weekend: Silver Lake Jubilee, Rebecca Minkoff Sample Sale, The Bruery Party

Damn this weekend is going to be so fun. Festivals, sales and, more importantly, a beer celebration.

Friday, May 21

Rebecca Minkoff LA Sample Sale
At this sample sale, get the same hot handbags that you see Hollywood starlets toting around on TMZ for 50-70% off. How is that possible? These babies are samples from past and current seasons and overproduction. And if you manage to spend over $700 you get 10% off. Cash and credit cards only.

Friday-Saturday 10am-7pm. Confederacy, 4661 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles (map).

LA Weekly LA Weekend
Comic book burlesque, J Gold discussing the finer points of hot dog meat and a slap booth featuring Lucha VaVoom’s Poubelle Twins. Sounds like a party you need to be a part of, right? This two-day event brings together all that’s right and good about our city, combining speaker panels, food, art, politics and theater in the Saban Theatre. Proceeds go to benefit the Charles Mingus Youth Arts Center in Watts.

Friday-Saturday. $12.50 each day. Saban Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles (map).

Saturday, May 22

Silver Lake Jubilee
Remember when Sunset Junction was cheap and humble? Well that’s what this new, neighborhoodie, eco-friendly music and art fest is. It will feature over 35 musical acts for only $5! There will even be a mini microbrew fest inside with two beer gardens hosted by Good Microbrew and Firestone Walker Brewing Company. Enjoy food from 30 food trucks and browse the wares of local vendors.

Saturday-Sunday 10am-10pm. Myra Avenue between Fountain Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles (map).

The Bruery’s 2nd Anniversary Party
OMG I’m SO excited about this one. One of my fave SoCal breweries is celebrating its 2nd bday and they’ll not only have tastings of their standard and limited release brew but will also release their 2nd Anniversary Ale, Coton, which you can buy a bottle of at the party. Guests will also get stuffed on Seal Beach’s Beachwood BBQ and The Bruery’s own Liege waffles. The celebration is split into four 3-hour sessions with tickets costing $40 (includes 10 beer tasters) or $20 for the designated driver.

Saturday-Sunday. Tickets: $40. The Bruery, 715 Dunn Way, Placentia (map).

Sunday, May 23

4th Annual Flavors of Los Angeles
This culinary gala isn’t a food fest where you walk from table to table sampling a bunch of random dishes — not that there’s anything wrong with that. This one features renowned chefs who design and prepare their five-course menu table-side, complete with paired wines and a specially designed table setting for a table of 12 guests. Featured chefs include Top Chef Michael Voltaggio, Drago Centro’s Celestino Drago, Rivera’s John Sedlar and more. Proceeds go to benefit the American Liver Foundation.

5pm. Tickets: $250. City National Bank Plaza, 555 South Flower Street, Los Angeles (map).

Categories: Beauty & Fashion, Dining, Los Angeles, Music, Nightlife, Recreation, Shopping & Sales

Urban Hike: Robertson Boulevard From West Hollywood to Culver City

Living in L.A. we come to accept that all these cars and all that traffic are an intrinsic part of our culture. Hey, this is a sprawl so we spend a great deal of time in our automobiles to get to work and play. But while we do that we end up skipping over a lot of the cool parts of our city, cruising past hidden gems, motoring past historic landmarks and only acknowledging charming neighborhoods by glancing at their road signs as we drive by.

So when blogger buddy H.C. of LA/OC Foodventures told me about his monthly urban hikes that he started doing just this past February after being inspired by the Great Los Angeles Walk, I jumped at the chance to join him on his trek down Robertson Boulevard.

Armed with only a water bottle, a camera, oh, and our Twitter, we started off in West Hollywood and hoofed it all the way down to Culver City (here’s our Google map itinerary), photographing and Tweeting our adventure.

Our loose itinerary took us from Duke’s Coffee Shop on Sunset to the caviar counter at Petrossian to a littered stretch of nothing in Beverlywood to tea at Royal/T Cafe in Culver City. Along the way I finally got to see everything up close, including Sarah Jessica Parker’s photoshopped schnoz in a Sex and the City 2 bus stop ad, huge crushed roaches in the street (no pictures of that!) and the colorful details of a children’s “No Drugs” mural on San Vicente. It was all so disturbing and wonderful.

The start of our trip was basically a pub crawl in the a.m. as we had drinks at the Abbey, Cecconi’s and Petrossian and sobered up during the wasteland portion of the boulevard, south of Pico. In total our journey took us about six hours and six miles.

Categories: Cocktails, Dining, Featured, Los Angeles, Recreation, Sweets

12 Comments