Flickr Shot by clappstar

OK, this time I don’t care how far away from the Westside Verdugo Bar is. Tomorrow I have to have to go as that’s when the Glassell Park bar is throwing a special Duvel soiree! You know Duvel USA, don’t you? It’s the beer company responsible for such lovelies as La Chouffe, Maredsous, Ommegang and of course Duvel. The good stuff you only see in gastropubs and beer-serious taverns.

Tomorrow night, Duvel USA Market Manager Sarah Lescrauwaet will be in the beer house, I guess spreading the word of Duvel. So they’re going to have cheese pairings with select Duvel beers as well as drink specials on all Duvel beers, naturally. Plus! you get a specialty Duvel tulip glass, while supplies last, that is.

Mmm, beer.

EVENT: TUESDAY, MAY 6 from 7pm to 10pm

Verdugo Bar
3408 Verdugo Road
Los Angeles, California 90065 (map)
(323) 257-3408

This past Wednesday, I checked out the Edison’s new weekly event, Incandescence Wednesdays. Vaudeville circus/dance troupe Lucent Dossier was performing from the rafters, the stage and even from the floor among the audience. I usually don’t do nightclubs, where I’m sure this sorta thing happens a lot, so to see a spectacle like this at a downtown bar was quite a treat.

There was this scantily clad lady twirling from curtains hanging down from the ceiling. She could hold herself up with just her ankles! A sword dancer shimmied on stage alongside vaudevillian clowns. And circus-costumed folk pushed through the audience, claiming, “‘Scuse me, I need to catch my train” as they made their way toward the stage.

To enhance the surrealism of the night, there was a specialty cocktail list with libations made with absinthe. But they smartly masked that licorice taste that so many people (me) don’t like.

(more…)

What are you up to this weekend?

Friday, May 2

Grand Opening of the Americana at Brand in Glendale
The mall that took $400 million and two years to make is finally opening tomorrow and shoppers rejoice. The first 300 customers into the new Urban Outfitters there get a free UO/Glendale tote. The first 200 at the H&M store get a free T-shirt and maybe a $10-$300 gift card (gc winners are randomly selected). The first 300 frugal fashionistas at Forever 21 will receive $10-$100 gift cards. Shoppers, start your engines.

• 9am grand opening ceremony, 10am stores open. S Brand Boulevard and E Colorado Street, Glendale (map).

The Little Mermaid Sing-A-Long at the El Capitan
OMG, I LOVE this movie and knew/know the words to every song. That’s why I highly recommend this sing-a-long at the beautiful El Capitan. Sing at the top of your lungs, show no shame. “Part of youuuurr wooorrrrrrrrrrddddd!” Maybe stop by the soda shop next door before the show for a black & white sundae.

• 7:45pm, through May 11. $13 ($9 through Goldstar). El Capitan Theatre, 6838 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood (map). (323) 467-7674.

Saturday, May 3

Nike Beach Clean-Up and Fun Run at Dockweiler Beach
You might think I’m weird but I think this sounds like a really fun event. Help clean up the beach first and then go for a run! AND you get a free breakfast first before the activities. If you bring 9 or more of your friends, you guys will get a Nike gym sack for future workouts.

• 8am-11am. Dockweiler Beach, 6203 Pacific Avenue, Playa del rey (map).

BodyRock in the Park
There’s a party going off in Griffith Park! DJs spinning til dark, barbecues, volleyball games and you can BYOB just as long as it’s beer or wine. Weekend forecast says high 60s so bring a light sweater and blankets.

• 2pm-9pm. Free but there’s a $10 suggested donation. Griffith Park, 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles (map).

As you well know by now, Father’s Office II — aka Father’s Office v2.0 or FO2 — in Los Angeles/Culver City opened last week and everyone’s super excited about the 70+ beers on tap, that Office burger and sweet potato fries, and the huuuge 80-foot-long bar — that’s all fabulous, but what about that cocktail list? It’s so smart of FO 2 to offer the hard stuff for those of us who need something stronger than beer or wine to make a bad day go away…fast.

And, I love that they serve all the major hard stuff except for vodka. Sure, I appreciate the occasional vodka bar (read: Bar Lubitsch). But I also find that vodka seems to have turned into the lazy mixologist’s base liquor of choice, especially with all the different types of flavored vodkas coming out of the woodwork nowadays.

(more…)

Flickr Shot by dotsara

I need to find a new drinking hole since I’ve been ousted from my old one. Any suggestions? I’m looking for a place that makes some damn good cocktails. And don’t say the Griffin. As much as I love that’s place, it’s just too darn far from home base. And don’t say Father’s Office II as they only have five cocktails. Although that IS a good stand-by.

Anyone else on Brightkite.com? I love it cuz it takes Twittering to a different level, allowing me to tell people where I am to perhaps join me in my outings. Great for mobile parties or flash mobs. Hmm, maybe I should organize a crackhead bar hop! Anyone game?

For some reason I skipped over this tidbit of information when I saw it so didn’t mention it in my weekend roundup. But LF Stores is having a warehouse sale in Playa del rey today and tomorrow! 70-90% off all the rilly pretty jeans, tops, dresses, etc. They only take cash and credit cards but isn’t that all anyone has nowadays anyway? The address is 5333 McConnell Avenue. Happy bargain hunting!

During chick flick night last night, me and the girls put temporary tattoos on for fun. I now have an Ed Hardy Chinese dragon on my forearm and I kinda like it; the idea of the tat on my arm, not the Ed Hardy tat. So now I’m really considering getting one there but wonder if I’m too old for that now. dotsara keeps daring me to get one. Well, she says, “You’re never going to get one,” which we all know is as good as a dare. But I can’t seem to find a dragon design that I like anyway so maybe she’s right.

Next week is the anniversary that no one should celebrate: Spam’s 30th year of existence — the Internet annoyance, not the mystery meat (which is actually celebrating its 70th). All I can say is that I thank the creator of CoC every day for putting a spam filter on my comments. Thanks, Michael! Otherwise I’d have a bazillion penis enlargement and naked Paris links in my comments. So friggin’ irritating. They don’t even make sense most of the time.

For those who haven’t already heard, the Rustic Canyon Wine Bar in Santa Monica is now open for breakfast. The counter service breakfast is only on Saturday mornings (8am-12pm) and coincides with the farmers market in Santa Monica near 3rd and Arizona, so you can grab and stroll down to the market to kick off a nice relaxing morning.

And, for those who were wondering: I’m sorry to say that like Flavor Flav, Brett Michaels and Tila Tequila before him, Crazy Andy is still looking for that one special person.

Oh, are you going to Coachella? Well I feel sorry for youuu because look what’s going on in town while you’re all sweating it out in that concert in the desert. So what to Prince and Portishead and…and Goldfrapp? ….I’ll be crying quietly in this corner over here.

Thursday, April 24

2nd Annual Charles David Warehouse Sale
Shoe fetishists, Charles David is having a warehouse sale starting today where you can get 50-80% off last season’s pumps, boots, strappy heels, etc. I’ve heard mixed reviews about the last one but hopefully this one will be tons better. Try and carpool as parking around the warehouse is tough. Cash and credit cards only.

• Thursday 9am-6pm to Saturday 9am-5pm. 5731 Buckingham Parkway, Culver City. (310) 348-5050.

Friday, April 25

Last Day of Virgin America Cool Summer Airfare Sale
Quick! Tomorrow’s your last chance for scoring great deals on domestic fares around the country. Fly the friendly skies in style on Virgin’s amenity-packed airplanes — mood lighting, 3,000 MP3s, pay-per-view movies on demand. Sample roundtrip airfares: LA to NYC $284, LA to SF $93 and LA to Seattle $171. You have until 11:59pm CT to make your summer plans. Fares are valid for travel April 26 to June 11.

Not for Tourists Los Angeles 2008 Release Party at Footsies
Free books and beer! What more incentive do you need to come to Not for Tourists’ 2008 release party? Correction, what more incentive do you need to come to this party early as the books and beer are only available while supplies last (one each per person). So get to Footsies early. Bring this invite to join in the fun.

• 6-9pm. Footsies. 2640 N Figueroa Street, Los Angeles. (323) 221-6900.

Saturday, April 26

2008 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
Dude, I used to work this festival when I was a bookseller for WeHo’s Book Soup back in the day. Hated working it but envied all the book lovers walking around, enjoying the day browsing the bookstores and attending all the cool panels. Some interesting-sounding panels, at least to me, include the conversation between Gore Vidal and Jane Smiley on Saturday and the one between Walter Mosley and Michael Silverblatt on Sunday. There are also outdoor stage events, including a culinary stage featuring author chefs. Definitely a must-do this weekend if you like to read and stuff.

• Saturday 10am-6pm to Sunday 10am-5pm. Free admission but $8 for parking. UCLA Campus, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Westwood (map). (310) 825-4321

Rachel Palley’s Warehouse Sample Sale
Every time I see my fashionable friend Jeannine she asks me if the dress I’m sporting is Rachel Palley. I didn’t know who this was until I looked in the pages of InStyle magazine and saw that celebs wear her. Her stuff looks comfortable and flirty but at about over $200 for a short dress, so beyond my budget. Fortunately her warehouse sale has been extended through the weekend! Find items from Holiday ‘07 and Spring ‘08 at wholesale prices and below. Cash and credit cards only.

• Saturday 10am-5pm to Sunday 11am-4pm. 2001 South Santa Fe Ave., #F, Los Angeles.

Flickr Shot by dotsara (detail)

Why confine environmental do-gooding to one day when you have the whole month? You can still ride that bike, recycle old cell phones and shop. Yup, Heal the Bay and Fred Segal Santa Monica are throwing a big ol’ greenie event this weekend at the Santa Monica store.

Having been involved with the local environmental group for more than 20 years, the upscale retailer to the stars wants to not only raise funds for the good cause but awareness about eco-friendly shopping (i.e. no plastic shopping bags!) during its special Heaven Is Earth shindig from Friday, April 25 to Sunday, April 27.

Friday kicks off the green weekend with a Skyy Vodka cocktail party and silent auction (RSVP required) where guests can bid on 47 different exclusive items (that I can’t even imagine owning), like a $3,000 pair of Barton Perreira Sunglasses and a $1,345 ETRO Travel Bag.

Other parcels up on the auction block include a $20K Smart Pure car autographed by surf-photographer Grant Rohloff, Harajuku T-shirts signed by Gwen Stefani, tickets to American Idol, a Paul Frank beach cruiser and a signed Jimmy Choo shoe sketch. The auction ends at 9pm on Friday for everything except the Smart car, which ends at 6pm on Sunday.

On Saturday and Sunday, shoppers can peruse the various trunk shows, personal appearances and about 100 special drawings around the store.

For instance, on Saturday, Stella Care Organic Skincare by Stella McCartney will be giving 100% organic mini facials at the Fred Segal Studio (first come first served and no appointment necessary). Alabama Stitch will have a sewing circle at Fred Segal Flair complete with organic Bloody Marys from 12-5pm. Just watch wear you stick that knitting needle.

And Organik will be showing off its full line of men’s Organik tees (70% bamboo and 30% organic cotton), V-neck hoodies made with recycled plastic bottles and hoodies (100% certified organic fair trade cotton).

Heal the Bay and Fred Segal have also created a limited edition canvas shopping tote that will be available for sale this weekend for $10. Apparently the last time they did this, the bags sold like hot cakes and are considered a collectors’ item. I want one! Heal the Bay is trying to get a ban on single-use bags in SaMo as well as L.A.; perhaps this will inspire fashionistas to join the fight.

PS: Don’t forget to also sign Heal the Bay’s letter to Mayor Villaraigosa to stop single-use plastic bags.

EVENT: FRIDAY, APRIL 25 to SUNDAY, APRIL 27

Fred Segal Santa Monica
500 Broadway
Santa Monica, California 90401 (map)
(310) 458-9940

I’m sooo behind. Blame it on age, my incurable laziness, or the sprawl — so many bars I have yet to check out and I’m not only talking about the new ones. Yeah, slacker. Anyway, here’s my new list. If you’ve got some suggestions of your own, shout ‘em out please!

Beso: Ya, I know. When I heard Eva Longoria was co-owner of this new WeHo restaurant, I was unimpressed. Another celebrity-owned restaurant? Puh-leez! But then I heard they’ve got a muy impressivo cocktail menu created by Beso co-owner/culinary celebrity Todd English and Alex Straus, student of mixologist Sasha Petraske (owner of NY’s well-known cocktail bar Milk and Honey). Oh my lorrd! Let me at it. My strategy is to go on a weekday night, preferably at the start of the week, in order to avoid the crowds of look-at-mes.

Bond Street Beverly Hills: OK, there’s probably no way in hell I can afford this place but when I read about it I was almost willing to take out a loan just to try out the libations on the cocktail list of the swank upstairs lounge. One Yelper described the list as “more impressive than the [food?] menu and offered some interesting and delicious specialty cocktails. There were quite a few combinations with different fruit juices such as grape juice or pear juice.” Maybe one day, when I’m feeling fancy…and I sign a huge book deal I’ll give it a shot.

Comme Ca: Nope, still haven’t returned to try out their cocktail list. Was put off by my first experience there last year when I was practically run over by some up-and-comer who wanted to beat me to an empty barstool. Biatch! Anyway, I was told that it’s best to go on Wednesday and that I can even call ahead for a seat at the bar. I think I’ll skip the specialty cocktails and go straight for the Dealer’s Choice, when the bartender creates a custom cocktail to suit your taste.

Father’s Office II: I’ve sworn off the Santa Monica FO location for its ridiculous lines and every-man-for-himself seating arrangement no matter how many times I’ve craved its cheeseburgers and fries. Fortunately the Culver City FO is bigger! Hopefully that’ll make it easier for me to actually enjoy a fancy beer with some friends instead of being squished up against the wall and fighting bad acoustics to have a conversation. FO II has 72 beers and a wine list and I heard that in terms of hard liquor, they’ll only serve the good stuff.

The Hall at the Palihouse: Enjoy a cocktail at the lobby of this newish extended-stay hotel in West Hollywood. Apparently they mix the drinks for you at your table/seat in the lounge. And the cocktail menu even includes the drink recipes. So nice! Some of the cocktails listed are “a margarita made with grilled-grapefruit juice, a ginger-cognac lemonade, and a cucumber-lime-vodka-wine combo that sounds delicious…” (from Metromix)

Medusa Restaurant and Lounge: Not crazy about the name but at least its happy hour (Tuesday through Sunday 5-8pm) sounds cool: $4 draft beer, $4 well drinks, $6 martinis and half off lounge menu. Their cocktail list is flavored-vodka heavy but there might be some gems in there. For instance, the Peargasm with Grey Goose La Poire, amaretto, simple syrup and sweet and sour.

Verdugo Bar: When all my email subscriptions seem to unite to promote one new bar, it’s like the stars aligning and the universe saying that I need to pay attention. Such was the case with Glassell Park’s Verdugo Bar. No specialty cocktail menu to be seen but apparently there are lots and lots of beer…beers from all around the world. Only problem is that the hours seem to only be from Thursday through Saturday 8pm-2am meaning I only have Thursday to check it out since I hate barhopping on weekend nights.

If you’re not going to the Long Beach Grand Prix (fun!) or the Grilled Cheese Invitational (yum!) this weekend, maybe a pole dancing demo, mixology class or a comedy show where your iPod is the joke will tickle your fancy.

Friday, April 18

SusieCakes Celebrates National Animal Crackers Day
Remember animal crackers? I used to love carrying those animal crackers boxes around like a little purse when I was a kid…OK, I was 27. SusieCakes will be selling its own frosted version of the animal cookies and will donate 50% of all proceeds made on cookie sales to the Humane Society of the United States.

• SusieCakes Brentwood, 11708 San Vicente Boulevard, Brentwood (map) (310) 442-CAKE and SusieCakes Calabasas, 23653 Calabasas Road, Calabasas (818) 591-2223 (map).

For Girls Only: Buy a Book, Get a Free Pole Dancing S Factor Lesson
Megan Crane’s booksigning for her book Names My Sisters Call Me ain’t your typical book event. This one has pole dance demos. Sorry, guys, women only. And, girls, when you buy a copy of Megan’s book, you get a free intro S Factor session (normally $40)! There will also be food and refreshments. Also, first 10 people get a free autographed book and the S Factor T-shirt. RSVP at labookclub [at] sfactor.com.

• 6:30pm. Free. S Factor LA Studio, 5225 Wilshire Boulevard #22, Mid-Wilshire (map). (323) 965-9685.

Mixology 101 at the Wine House
Sick of not getting a heavy enough pour on the cocktails you order? Do it your own damn self at Wine House’s mixology class. Get schooled in pre-Prohibition cocktails and vintage libations. But word to the wise: bring a designated driver. Trust me.

• 7:30pm. $55. The Wine House, 2311 Cotner Avenue, West L.A. (map) For reservations, call (310) 479-3731 ext. 0.

Soundtrack: Is Your iPod Hilarious?
This Upright Citizen Brigade show takes the popular “Bring Your Own iPod” nights to a whole other level. Why share your extensive Celine Dion collection with just a bar full of people? Go for it with a whole theater. Bring your CDs, iPods and MP3 players and watch/listen for the hilarity to ensue. Comedy folks from The Office, Superbad and Mad TV, to name a few, will be on hand to make fun of your musical tastes.

• 10pm. $8. UCB Theatre, 5919 Franklin Avenue, Los Angeles (map). (323) 908-8702.

Saturday, April 19

Tamales and Wine Tasting at Mama’s Hot Tamales Cafe
At this speecy spicy event, Latin-American wines are paired with Mama’s famous hand-made tamales. Mmmm, tamales. Enjoy the different flavors from several Latin American countries.

• 6-9pm. $20/person or $30/couple. Mama’s Hot Tamales, 2122 W. 7th St., Los Angeles (map). (213) 487-7474.

Whole Life Times’ LA Green Drinks Earth Night
The perfect way to celebrate Earth Day early: green drinks on a roof top on a hopefully warm evening. Whole Life Times presents an Earth Night rendition of the popular weekly LA Green Drinks. Enjoy organic wine, beer and food. Green LA Girl, Siel, will hold an environmentally focused Q&A followed by Green LA director Jonathon Parfrey and other speakers. Acoustic music and then DJ’d tunes round up the evening. Earth Night proceeds go to Green L.A. and your choice of environmental groups that you select at the door. RSVP at lagreendrinks [at] gmail.com.

• 7pm-12am. $10 suggested donation. Whole Life Times, 1200 South Hope Street, Suite 300, Downtown (map).

My new favorite bar? The Griffin in Atwater Village. Friendly staff (even the bouncer chatted with me and smiled nonetheless), great drinks, lots of seating areas, a jukebox! and tater tots. If you need more than that, read this:

I went there last night to catch up with a friend who lives in the Los Feliz area. She had recommended this bar down the street from the Bigfoot Lodge that had a huuuge neon sign. Later I came to discover that the sign belonged to the Griffin, a bar that opened up last year that I had kept meaning to check out but never got around to. Suffice it to say, I was delighted to go.

(more…)

I meant to try the mint julep and the pineapple upside down cake cocktail at Santa Monica’s newest happy hour hot spot, South, but on this sultry late afternoon I wanted something simpler and not too sweet so I ordered meself the ‘Bama Boilermaker ($10).

Having never partied hardy with frat boys before, I had never heard of a boilermaker. And after this one, I wondered what took me so long. Dropping a shot of bourbon in a cold glass of beer? Genius! And tasty! Yes, it’s not really a creative cocktail compared to past libations I’ve had but South put it on its menu so it counts. And it really hit the spot on a hot day and was soo easy to drink quickly. Dangerous.

FYI, the bar uses Jim Beam but you can specify a different bourbon if you want (price might change though).

Word to clean freaks, like me, the drink tastes just as good without your having to drop the whole shot glass in. The server had set the glass down on our table and I just didn’t feel like putting that in my pint of beer. So I poured the shot in the beer and it tasted just fine. Not as dramatic but still got the job done.

As for a more detailed review of the place, I’ve decided to withhold judgment until it got its bearings. (The day I went they were a bit short staffed so service was slowww.) Maybe I’ll peek in again in a month or so.

I will say, though, that if you want to be able to score a place to sit and enjoy your meal, get there before 5:30pm. If you want a fairly quiet place to enjoy conversation with your food, grab a table out on the patio where there don’t seem to be any speakers, therefore no loud music.

More pictures of happy hour at South.

South
3001 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, California 90403 (map)
(310) 428-4667

This weekend you’ve got the Los Angeles Art Weekend and the Songkran New Year celebration in Thai Town. But if you’re still looking for other things to filly, the following are real horrorshow, my droogies.

Friday, April 11

Kubrilesque: A Burlesque Tribute to Stanley Kubrick
There’s something disturbing and sexy about a burlesque tribute to Stanley Kubrick. But I guess that’s the point. A burlesque take on 2001: A Space Odyssey involves girls coming out in gorilla suits and then stripping down to bathing suits and NASA caps. I hear they’re reinterpreting Full Metal Jacket next. Yowza! The Pfelton Sutton Trio and DJ Danny D and Matty Matt of “Tainted Tuesday” and “Rad” will supply the tunes.

• $10, if you rsvp $20 if not. 8pm. Fais Do-Do, 5257 W Adams Blvd , Los Angeles (map).

Saturday, April 12

Tax-Free Day on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica
Haven’t paid your taxes yet? You don’t have to this Saturday either as the participating merchants on hip Montana Avenue in Santa Monica pay the sales tax for you! OK, getting 8.25 percent off might not seem like a big deal when it’s Kiehls lip balm but it does make you feel better when purchasing that $200 pair of Earnest Sewn jeans at Blue Jeans Bar.

• 10am-6pm. Montana Avenue in Santa Monica (map).

South American Cooking Class at Cuidad
Learn how to make South American classics like ceviche and gaucho steak from celebrity chefs, Cuidad’s Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger. They’ll cover the cuisines from Brazil, Peru and Chile. Mmm, Venezuelan spiced hot chocolate and Ecuadorian banana bread pudding! For $75 you get the class, the multi-course lunch, cocktails and a take-home recipe booklet.

• 11am-1pm. $75. Cuidad, 445 S Figueroa Street, Downtown (map). (213) 486-5171.

Train with Shaolin Warriors
Everyone is Kung Fu fighting! At least they will be in Santa Monica and you can join them. Real Shaolin warriors will condition and train you for only $10. You don’t have to be an expert to join as all fitness and experience levels are welcome.

• Saturday 5-6:30pm and Sunday 10:30am-12pm. $10. Santa Monica/Palisades Park, Ocean Avenue and Montana Boulevard (map).

Photo from South’s site

After many false starts in March, Southern-inspired bar/restaurant South in Santa Monica will open its doors tonight. I know, I know, their Web site says their grand opening is Thursday at 5pm but I got confirmation from Adam, one of the owners, and he says fer real their doors will open tonight at 9pm.

From Eater LA:

Inside will have black-and-white photos of of B.B. King, Elvis, Bourbon Street and Beale Street; outside, a new patio. Sounds like the boys are growing up and ready to leave the frat boy scene behind–to a degree.

Hopefully this will be the decent and not-too-fratty happy hour venue in SaMo that I’m looking for. Never mind that the owners were former bartenders at Q’s and Barney’s Beanery.

After several weeks of planning to do a happy hour there only to have to postpone it again and again, I’m more amped than ever to check this place out. According to their Web site they have a FIVE-hour happy hour. That’s right, from 3pm to 8pm. The happy hour drink specials include $3 draft beer, $4 well drinks, $10 pitchers of beer and $20 buckets of beer. Select appetizers are half off.

Great prices considering they have 12 different beers on tap, including the good stuff — Fat Tire, Stella and Guinness. Bottled beer includes things I’ve never heard of before like Dixie Lager, Dixie Jazz and Abita Purple Haze in addition to the standards.

But for me, it’s all about the cocktails and just my luck they don’t fall under any of the happy hour specials. But ranging in price from the $5 Southern Comfort Lime to the $9 Lynchberg Lemonade to the $40 World Famous Voodoo Brew (a cocktail served in a fish bowl that you can share with your friends or keep to yourself, you alchie), you’ll surely be able to find something to suit your budget and/or your craving. For some reason I find the Pineapple Upside Down Cake cocktail ($11) and the ‘Bama Boilermaker ($10), a shot of bourbon dropped into a glass of beer, intriguing.

The food menu is kinda scary to me simply because when I think of down home cooking I think fried and fattening. Their online menu tells of deep-fried pickles and Canal Street Jambalaya but I’m just excited to see that they have a little something special called the Elvis on their menu. You know what I’m talking about; fried peanut butter and banana sandwich on white bread, just like Elvis used to live on. Yum! Wait, why are you turning green?

Anyway, Crazy Andy and I are going to drop by on Friday after work at 6pm if any of you crackheads want to join us!

EVENT: OPENS TODAY at 9pm

South
3001 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, California 90403 (map)
(310) 428-4667

Flickr Shot by alossix

Wanna judge a cocktail competition? After my experience at Bar Lubitsch, I highly recommend it. You’ll get your chance this weekend at the grand opening of downtown’s new 3,100-square-foot restaurant/lounge, Tranquility Base.

There will be three days of events but the one I really care about is the cocktail party on Saturday night where guests will participate in a complimentary cocktail tasting and then vote for their favorite one, which will then become a featured drink at TB. Some of the liquor sponsors of the cocktail soiree include St-Germain, Finlandia Vodka and Mod Mix.

Anyone can come and the event is free, just RSVP first at RSVP [at] tranquilityla.com.

From the press release:

Located on the ground level of the Sky Lofts at 8th Street and Grand Avenue in the Financial District of downtown Los Angeles, Tranquility Base is one of the only restaurants on the West Coast to change its menu, interior and exterior décor based on the quarterly seasons.

Sounds fun. Come down and find me on the huge 1,400-square-foot patio. Apparently there’s a really cool fire pit and great view.

If you’re interested in the other TB grand opening events, Thursday morning at 11am is the ribbon-cutting ceremony and on Sunday is the brunch from 10am-3pm, created by chef Robert van Houten, formerly of the Friar’s Club of Beverly Hills.

EVENT: SATURDAY, APRIL 12 from 7 to 10pm

Tranquility Base Restaurant & Lounge
801 S. Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90017 (map)
(213) 404-5888