Category Archives: Art

This Halloween Weekend: Narnia at La Descarga, Candy & Wine Pairing, Extreme Tim Burton

I LOVE Halloween. Candy, scary movies, costumes — now that’s a good time right there.

Thursday, October 27

Werewolves of London Halloween Hotel Package
Partying in WeHo for Halloween? Grab a suite at the London. The hotel is doing a special Halloween package for the holiday now through November 1. Room rates start at $365 and you get two cocktails from the Halloween Witches Brew menu, an overnight parking spot, breakfast at Boxwood Cafe Breakfast Table and, since you’ll probably be out getting into shenanigans the night before, a late 2pm checkout.

  • Through November 1.  Starting at $365. London, 1020 North San Vicente Boulevard, West Hollywood (map). Reservations: (866) 282-4560

Friday, October 28

HallowedVine: Candy and Wine Pairing at Vintage
Enjoy Halloween candy like a grown-up: with a wine pairing! Vintage Enoteca has paired Halloween faves like candy corn and smarties with Viognier and Muscat Blanc. Hmm, what does the sugar blues paired with intoxication feel like I wonder? Other pairings include Raisinets & M&Ms with Merlot, Snickers & Junior Mints with Grenache Noir.

  • Friday-Monday. $25. Vintage Enoteca, 7554 W. Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles (map). (323) 512-5278.

La Descarga’s Narnia Halloween 2011
A rum bar turned Narnia wonderland for Halloween. La Descarga will be transformed into that storybook land with burlesque dancers and the house band putting scenes from the story to musical life. There will be guest DJs and live music by Saint Motel. Best part is that there will be a super premium open bar with Halloween cocktails and punch bowls. Only thing is that there is a 125-person max and naturally costumes are required.

  • Friday and Saturday. $100. La Descarga, 1159 N Western Avenue, Los Angeles (map). Reservations: narniahalloween[at]gmail.com.

Glow Ultra Lounge’s Halloween Costume Ball
I admit it, the one thing that caught my eye today about this party at the marina is the dessert candy bar. For $20-$30 you get hors d’oeuvres and a costume contest with a $300 grand prize. Drinks aren’t included but they have “cheap drink specials.”

  • 8pm-2am. $20 advanced, $30 door. Glow Ultra Lounge, 4100 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey (map).

Villains Tavern’s and The One Eyed Gypsy’s Dark Carnival II
This sounds like it’s going to be an epic party: 12 live bands on the outdoor stage , a food court, eight punchbowl spirits with Milagro Tequila and Sailor Jerry’s Rum, and two outdoor bars. If that’s not enough fun for you, there will also be Foosball and Giant Jenga, Tarot card and palm readings, photobooth AND snacks like the infamous bacon caramel popcorn as well as cotton candy. Pfew! A free Haunted Shuttle will transport party-goers from the two venues which are just a mile apart. A portion of the proceeds will go to Sunset Free Clinic.

  • Friday 7pm-1am and Saturday 12pm-1am. Free admission. Villains Tavern, 1356 Palmetto Street, Downtown (map).

Saturday, October 29

Pumpkin-palooza at Blue Palms Brewhouse
Pumpkin ale gets a bum rap from beer snobs but leave it to Blue Palms Brewhouse to pick some tasty ones for its pumpkin beer event, like 2010 Beer Valley Jackalope Imperial Pumpkin Porter Ale, Dogfish Head Punkin and Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin, in addition to fall treats like The Bruery’s Barrel-Aged Autumn Maple and Midnight Sun Treat. The event will also have pumpkin-focused food like pumpkin quesadillas and smoked pumpkin seeds!

  • 2pm. Blue Palms Brewhouse, 6124 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood (map). (323) 464-2337.

Halloween Horror and Hooch at Neat
If you don’t win my giveaway for the exclusive Halloween party at Neat on Sunday, get in on Saturday for the public blowout. $10 at the door gets you a Dirty and Dangerous cocktail or Wychwood Brewery beer. There will be a DJ to keep you boo-gying as well as a costume contest for what I’m told will be some “kickass prizes.”

  • 9pm. $10. Neat, 1114 N. Pacific Avenue, Glendale (map).

Sunday, October 30

Tim Burton Exhibit’s Open for 38 Hours Straight at LACMA
The Tim Burton Exhibit at LACMA draws to a close but in celebration of what has to be the director’s favorite holiday, the museum will run the exhibit for 38 hours straight! If you haven’t visited it yet, Halloween AM would be the perfect time as tickets are half-price from 12am to 9am.

  • 10am Sunday to 12am Tuesday. LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles (map).

Nightmare on Elm Street and Eagle Rock Brewery at Barnsdall
Man, I love scary movie nights, especially scary movie nights with great brews to drink. Barnsdall is doing a special showing of Nightmare on Elm Street (filmed at our local Marshall High) and Eagle Rock Brewery will be providing the beer while City Sip pours the wine. And munch on fare from food trucks Heirloom LA and Border Grill truck.

  • Doors open at 5pm. $25. Barnsdall, 4800 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles (map).

Monday, October 31

Halloween Makeup Makeover at Ciel Spa
Is doing your own makeup the hardest part of your costume? Have the pros do it at Ciel Spa in the SLS Hotel. The spa has partnered up with Makeup Mandy, “eyelash bar to the stars” and will be offering lashes for $30, hair extensions like feathers and bling for $12 and full face makeup starting at $180.

  • Now through Monday. Ciel Spa at SLS Hotel, 465 South La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles (map). Appointments: (310) 246-5560 or on the site.
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This Weekend: Tiki Holiday, 1886 Westside, Tim Burton Speaks

What a glorious weekend it’s going to be! Not only is it a holiday but it’s the last weekend before my European vacation! Woot! By the way, don’t forget: my Spare Room Taste of the Nation LA bowling party is tonight and I’m still collecting entries for my Bruery craft beer fest giveaway!

Thursday, May 26

BreadBar’s Hatchi Truck Stop with Rokyo Ramen Truck and 1886 Cocktails
The Raymond’s 1886 Bar in Pasadena comes to the Westside! Now’s your chance to check out what its skillful bartenders can do without having to drive four different freeways to get there. And the Rokyo Gourmet Ramen Truck will be on hand for this month’s BreadBar Food Truck series. Eight dishes like tempura eggs served with bacon-wrapped vegetables, Bibimbap and Rokyo Ramen will be be available at $8 each with a $32 minimum. The cocktails, like the Green Tea Toddy with Japanese whiskey and Sriracha Daisy, are available for $8-$12 each.

  • 6-10pm. BreadBar Century City, 10250 Santa Monica Boulevard, Century City (map). Reservations: (310) 277-3770, breadbar.net.

Saturday, May 28

Spring Beer Festival at the Echoplex
Unlimited pours of craft beer (Strand, Lagunitas, Firestone, New Belgium and Green Flash), live music and food trucks! You get all that for $25 AND it’s for a great cause: 826LA, a non-profit dedicated to helping students with their writing skills.

  • 12-4pm. Tickets: $25. The Echoplex, 1154 Glendale Boulevard, Los Angeles (map).

Tim Burton Introduces His Ed Wood Movie at LACMA
Ed Wood, a biopic of the Hollywood director played skillfully by Johnny Depp, is one of my favorite Tim Burton movies and if it’s yours, too, you won’t want to miss this screening when the director himself introduces it! This helps kick off his exhibit at LACMA which starts May 29 and goes through Halloween this year. Other movies scheduled to screen in the coming weeks are Beetle Juice, Corpse Bride and Mars Attacks!

  • 7pm. Tickets: $10. LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles (map).

Sunday, May 29

Katana’s 7th Annual Red Sun BBQ Garden Kicks Off
To celebrate the summer, this Sunset Boulevard chichi sushi joint will have a party on its patio every Sunday til Labor Day. There you can do a Red Sun BBQ Tasting menu complete with Robatayaki and Katana favorites for $40. Knock back $6 sake sangrias and Champagne St. Germains or split a Katana Pineapple Fusion bowl for two.

  • Every Sunday til September 4. 5:30pm-11:30pm. Katana, 8439 W Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood (map). (323) 650-8585.

Monday, May 30

Tiki Night at 320 Main
It’s Memorial Day! Wind down your holiday with Tiki drinks made by those who know how to make ‘em like Matt Robold of RumDood, Jason Schiffer of 320 Main and Marcos Tello of The Varnish/1886 Bar. They’ll take turns behind the bar serving Painkillers, Nui Nuis, Navy Grogs and more! If you’re hongry there are $4 LA and Chicago dogs! Don’t forget to sport your loudest Hawaiian shirt! I’m so there.

  • 7pm-11pm. 320 Main, 320 Main Street, Seal Beach (map). (562) 799-6246.
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This Weekend: Drunken Singles Mixer, Hatchi Truck Stop, Street Beer Art

On this weekend’s itinerary: Drinking, and lots of it.

Thursday, April 28

Fred Segal Santa Monica + Daily Candy Party
This is a party that no fashionista on a budget will want to miss. We’re talking mini makeovers by Stila, an OPI manicure bar and blowouts by Fred Segal Salon, including styling tips from Fred Segal Originals and Citizens of Humanity. After getting dolled up, indulge in desserts and cocktails while trying your luck at winning a $500 gift certificate for Fred Segal Santa Monica. Right now via Daily Candy you can get a $100 Fred Segal gift card and gift bag worth $150 for only $75 if you hit the above link.

  • 5-9pm. Fred Segal Santa Monica, 420 and 500 Broadway, Santa Monica (map).

BreadBar’s Hatchi Truck Stop Series: Great Balls of Tires
One of the few great food trucks out on the road, Great Balls of Tires will be the featured truck at this monthly series where eight dishes ($8 each; $32 minimum purchase) a la meatballs inspired by food from around the world will be paired with North Coast Brewing Company microbrews.

  • 6-10pm. BreadBar Century City, 10250 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles (map). (310) 277-3770.

Friday, April 29

Street Brewed: Street Art and Beer at Angel City Brewing
Enjoy $5 pints of handcrafted Angel City Brewing beer while pondering the various street art works of 25 internationally known artists, some of whom are included in MOCA’s current Art in the Streets show. At this opening reception party, there will also be live painting, a DJ and, naturally, food trucks. Special guests include Shepard Fairey, becca and Ron English. The exhibit itself will run through July 10.

  • 5-11pm. Angel City Brewing, 216 S. Alameda, Downtown (map).

Unlimited Wine Tasting Singles Mixer at Wine Expo
Sounds like the perfect situation for some spectacularly bad pickup lines! At this singles event, for $44 you have 10 wines to pick from and can taste as many as you like. Could be fun for both spectator and participant. Attendees are encouraged to be 22-45-year-old professionals and asked to dress for the event as they “would on a first date.” So grab your wingmen and mingle. But word of caution, if you want to make a good impression, don’t abuse the liquid courage.

  • 7:30-10:30pm. $44. Wine Expo, 2933 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica (map).

Monday, May 2

Discounted Austria Uncorked Admission From Silverlake Wine
The regular price for this Austrian wine expo is $75 but Silverlake Wine customers get $30 off by going here and entering “slw” for the discount code. At the event you can partake of Austrian wines paired with food by Jose Andres and dessert by Wolfgang Puck. If you want VIP treatment, that’ll be $100 for early entry and a special take-home wine package.

  • 5:30-9pm. SLS Hotel, 465 S La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles (map).
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This Weekend: Open Bar, Zombie Cocktail Party, Sangrita Revolution

Lots of drinking to be done this weekend! More so than usual.

Thursday, March 3

Meat! An Art Show Opening Party Featuring Alie and Georgia and Cocktails
It’s all about meat at this unusual art show which features the meat-focused works of Carlos Ramos, Myke Chilian and  Richard Lee, to name but a few. But also my girls, Alie & Georgia, cocktail vloggers for Food2, will be mixing up their infamous McNuggetinis for the occasion. I heart them! The exhibit runs through March 17.

  • 7-10pm. Meltdown Comics, 7522 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles (map).

Tequila Ocho Sangrita Party with the Bon Vivants at Hemingway’s Lounge
Celebrate the Sangrita Revolution with Tequila Ocho and San Francisco’s Bon Vivants. The tequila maker’s 2009 Plata, Reposado and Anejo will be paired with traditional and nontraditional sangritas, much like the ones I had at Ammo a couple of years ago. Hemingway’s bartender Alex Straus will be mixing up special cocktails like the Del Rio — Ocho Plata, Fino sherry, elderflower liqueur, and orange bitters — for $6. All other Tequila Ocho drinks will be half priced!

  • 8-10pm. Hemingway’s Lounge, 6356 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood (map).

Saturday, March 5

Open Bar at Fat Face Fenner’s Fish Shack in Hermosa Beach
An open bar for three hours! Yup, all you have to do is RSVP…and drive to Hermosa Beach. Don’t forget to bring a designated driver. Your DD can indulge in the New England Clam chowder while you get your drink on. Ocean view and outdoor patio. Hopefully the weather will make it a lovely experience.

  • 7-10pm. Fat Face Fenner’s Fishack, 53 Pier Avenue, Hermosa Beach (map).

Sunday, March 6

Gold Standard 2011
It’s the third year for JGold’s food fest which features all of the Pulitzer Prize winning food writer’s favorite restaurants like Jitlada, Waterloo & City, Manila Machine and Guelaguetza. And you know there will be wine, beer and spirits to quench your Jitlada burn. Awesome bonus? A portion of the event’s proceeds will benefit Heal the Bay.

  • 1-5pm. $60. Petersen Auto Museum, 6060 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles (map).

Tuesday, March 8

Hungry Cat’s 6th Anniversary: Drink Deals
Hungry Cat in Hollywood wants you to get fat this Tuesday as it celebrates its 6th anniversary with half-priced draft beer and $6 specialty cocktails.

  • 5:30pm to close. Hungry Cat, 1535 N. Vine Street, Hollywood (map). (323) 462-2155.

The Walking Dead Rise at Vertical Wine Bistro
ZOMG I LOVE this zombie-focused TV series! So you know I’m super excited that the Pasadena wine bistro is celebrating its DVD release with a zombie cocktail party which, for $35, gets you two Walking Dead-inspired cocktails, “fleshy” bites (steak tartar, grilled blood sausages, blood orange tapioca pudding) and a chance to win a Walking Dead Season 1 DVD! There will also be cocktails as well as wine and beer flights available for purchase. And some of the Walking Dead cast will be there. I’m tempted to dress like a zombie and show up.

  • 7:30-9:30pm. $35. Vertical Wine Bistro, 70 N Raymond Avenue, Pasadena (map). Reservations: (626) 795-3999, (323) 850-3030.
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This Weekend: Lomo Open Bar, Vodka Dinner, $150 Chanel Shoes

It’s gonna be a boozy one.

Thursday, February 17

Buy Tickets for Silverlake Wine’s Rye Whiskey Tasting
What makes a great Manhattan? The perfect rye. Now’s your chance to taste some good ones and find your preferred Manhattan ingredient at this Silverlake Wine tasting where Pikesville, Redemption, Michter’s, Sazerac, Copper Fox and the Thomas H. Handy are on the docket. Make your reservations now for this February 23 event: (323) 662-9024.

  • February 23 at 7pm. $35 cash. The Griffin, 3000 Los Feliz Boulevard, Los Angeles (map). Reservations: (323) 662-9024.

Friday, February 18

Anthony Bourdain Lecture
Food fans will no doubt flock to this lecture by Anthony Bourdain even if it is in Cerritos. The best-selling author and No Reservations host will speak on topics ranging from the celeb-chef phenomenon to the culture of cooking. A Q&A with the man will follow the lecture.

  • 8pm. $60-$90. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court, Cerritos (map). (562) 916-8501.

Open Bar: 1-Year Anniversary of Lomography Gallery Store LA
Open bar, free food, live entertainment by Crystal Antlers and a Lomographic goodies raffle. Now THAT’s a party. Celebrate the gallery’s one year of existence in fun, fab style. And did I already mention the free booze?

  • 8pm. Lomography Gallery Store, 7998 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood (map). (323) 301-1414.

Saturday, February 19

Decadestwo.1 Shoe and Dress Sale
This is going to be a mad house. A mad house! Every pair of sexy designer stilettos, booties, flats is $150 (limit 2 per customer). We’re talking footwear by Chanel, Louboutin, Alaia! For only $150! PLUS, the store will also be launching its $250 dress section so you can pair your fab shoe finds without a gorgeous designer frock.

  • 9am. Decadestwo.1, 8214 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles (map).

Sunday, February 20

Grey Goose Cocktail Pairing and 5-Course Dinner

Nic’s Chef Larry Nicola is teaming up with Grey Goose’s brand ambassador and mixologist Guillaume Jubien to create a boozy five-course dinner. They’ll start off with poached lobster and a Tangerine Sour cocktail (Grey Goose Le Citron, pink peppercorns and roses) and finish off with a Mousse a la Orange and a Le Noir cocktail of Grey Goose L’Orange, passion fruit and coconut foam.

  • 6:30pm. $110. Nic’s Beverly Hills, 453 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills (map). (310) 550-5707.
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This Weekend: Free Pisco Sours, Vintage Sale, White Trash Wine/Food Tasting

Wow, lots of fun things going on this weekend. What have you got going on?

Thursday, February 3

Mo Chica’s 17th Tasting with Bossa Nova
Chef de Cuisine Ricardo Lopez will present his 17th Thursday tasting menu, while Bill Esparaza, blogger of StreetGourmetLA will be playing saxophone with his Bossa Nova group, Cachaca Nova from 6-10pm. Good food and music and a festive atmosphere. What better way to kick off the weekend?

  • 6-10pm. $40. Mo-Chica, 3655 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles (map). Reservations: (213) 747-2141.

Friday, February 4

White Trash Deluxe Wine and Food Tasting
To be clear, this has no affiliation with Colorado Wine Company’s annual white trash tasting. Unlike CoWineCo this one offers “gourmet” interpretations of white trash food: truffled Chex mix, pigs in Croissant blankets, potato skins with aged cheddar and lardon, and artisanal marshmallow fluff and peanut butter brioche sandwiches. Fancy! Each dish will be paired with fancy vino. Fun way to watch the Super Bowl, which starts at 2 on Sunday.

  • Friday-Sunday. $30. Vintage Enoteca, 7554 W. Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles (map). Reservations: (323) 512-5278.

826LA’s Dead Author Reading with HG Wells and Anais Nin
I keep meaning to check out these Dead Author Readings, which sound hilarious and feature comedian Paul F. Tompkins as moderator HG Wells. This weekend’s special guest dead author is none other than Anais Nin (Maya Rudolph of Saturday Night Live). You might remember Anais (great name) from her 1940s erotica and her fling with Henry Miller. Should be a lively discussion.

  • 6:30pm. $5. UCB Theatre, 5919 Franklin Avenue, Los Angeles (map).

Rachel Pally Blowout Warehouse Sale
Get 55-85% off a bunch of Rachel Pally at this amazing-sounding sale which will feature the Holiday 2010 collection as well as Summer/Fall 2010 fashions.

  • Friday, 10am-6pm; Saturday, 10am-5pm; Sunday, 11am-4pm. 2301 E. 7th Street, Suite C100, Los Angeles (map).

Saturday, February 5

Free Pisco Sour Day
Toast this cocktail day with a free Pisco Sour at The Buffalo Club, Big Bar, Rivera or Red Medicine. All you have to do is get your coupon from the Discover Pisco. Flash that puppy at one of the participating bars and then cheers! One free Gran Sierpe Pisco Sour per customer, all others will be discounted.

Chic & You Shall Find’s Vintage Liquidation Sale
Cheap vintage! Yeah, you probably NEVER see those words together. In any case, apparently this store is shutting down (at least that’s what the email that I got about it implies) and needs to get rid of everything asap. Shop $10 and $20 racks!

  • 11am-4pm. 1203 S. La Jolla Avenue, Los Angeles (map).

Poster Peepshow: The Art of the Pin Up
I LOVE vintage pinup girls and here’s a whole poster show of them. Peruse works by Rolf Armstrong, Jim Silke and Olivia De Berardinis, who will be signing copies of her book at 6pm before the party. The opening reception sounds like a blast with live model drawing with the Suicide Girls and an appearance by Catwoman, Julie Newmar. Refreshments and food will be served. Must be 18 and over to attend.

  • 7-11pm. Gallery Nucleus, 210 East Main Street, Alhambra (map).
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This Weekend: Absinthe Tasting, German Beer Fest, Fred Segal Sale

This weekend is going to be awesome: 70+ degrees and sunny. Gotta love winter in L.A.

Friday, January 14

Fred Segal Sale Starts
Hopefully you’ve had enough time to financially recover from the holidays to take advantage of the Fred Segal sale where everything from men’s and women’s designer clothes, jewelry, shoes, accessories and even apothecary items are 50 percent off. Sunglasses are also discounted with 20% off all prescription jobs.

  • Through January 30. Fred Segal, 500 Broadway, Santa Monica (map).

Makeup&Go! Award Season Pop-Ups
Love getting your makeup done at the department store counter but hate the hard sell? Brentwood’s popular Makeup&Go makeup studio has a couple of new pop-ups in key social spots West Hollywood and Beverly Hills for the award season so you can get your face and hair did in a jiffy. They use Tarte and Smashbox among other makeup lines. A quick makeup app is $35, $60 when you include “evening eyes.” A wash and blowout is $35, airbrush is $20 a body part, lashes $18.

  • Beverly Hills 12-7 daily, WeHo 12-7 Wed-Sun. 152 S. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills (map) and 8654 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood (map).

PhotoLA 2011
Fans of photography will flock to the 20th anniversary of this prestigious photo art fair which will feature over 70 galleries. Wish I could also tell you more about the opening party celebration and after party but LACMA’s Web site is screwy with incorrect links. Looks like the opening party will also celebrate Eat LA: a retrospective of food from local restaurants/pastry shops with participants like BLD, Cube and Bread Bar.

  • Friday-Sunday. $10-$80. Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main Street, Santa Monica (map).

Saturday, January 15

BockFest 2011
For $35 use your 16-oz. souvenir beer mug to taste 65 beers from Germany and Austria, as much as you can drink. This BockFest showcases the best German Bocks and will also include German-style beers from Beir Bitzch in Orange County and Bootlegger’s Brewery from Fullerton.

  • 1-5pm. $35. Olympic Collection, 11301 Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles (map).

Wednesday, January 19

Silverlake Wine’s Absinthe Tasting
Absinthe aficionados, better get your tickets to this absinthe tasting hosted by Silverlake Wine at the Griffin. Not only do you get to taste five absinthes from the U.S. to Switzerland but you get to learn about the process and ritual of this infamous spirit as well as take home your own nifty absinthe spoon. Absinthe list: Vieux Pontarlier (France), Obsello (Spain), Kubler (Switzerland), Vieux Carre (US) and Marteau (U.S.).

  • 7pm. $25. The Griffin, 3000 Los Feliz Boulevard, Los Angeles (map). Reservations: (323) 662-9024.
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