Category Archives: Recreation

September 2, 2010

This Weekend: $1 County Fair, Barnsdall Boozy Movie, Hot Rod BBQ

Written by Caroline on Crack in Dining, Lists, Los Angeles, Movies, Nightlife, Recreation
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If you’re a happy-go-lucky gadabout, chances are your Labor Day weekend calendar is already booked up with hot events like Taste of Beverly Hills, the LA Times’ Celebration of Food and Wine and F Yeah Fest. But if you want even more stuff to do because you’re easily bored, here you go.

Saturday, September 4

Barnsdall Art Park Screening Kicks Off: (500) Days of Summer
The park’s movie screening nights are back and so is the booze! (500) Days of Summer kicks off the series of LA-centric films Barnsdall will be showing over the next several weeks. Make your reservations now for your favorite movie, be it LA Confidential or LA Story. And enjoy them with the Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House serving as a backdrop. So lovely and so LA. Admission is $10 for only the movie or $25 for the movie and three drinks.

  • Doors open at 5:30pm. Barnsdall Art Park, 4800 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood (map).

$1 Admission for LA County Fair’s Opening Weekend
Yup, this weekend, you can get into this deep-fried food fest for only a dollar before 1pm Saturday through Monday! Regular weekend rate is $17! Also, those 22-ounce drinks are only $1 1-4pm, carnival rides and select food/drinks 4-7pm. Weird fair food to look for? Chocolate-dipped pickles, bbq pulled pork crepe, deep fried banana split, yammy fries with marshmallows and bbq beef sundae. Pack an Alka Seltzer.

  • Opens 10am. LA County Fair Fairplex Expos, 1101 W McKinley Avenue, Pomona (map).

Sunday, September 5

Free BBQ at Little Cave’s Labor Day Weekend Party
It ain’t Labor Day weekend without a barbecue party. If you don’t know anyone throwing one, Little Cave in Highland Park has you covered with free barbecue, drink specials, djs and even hot rods. However, Hawaiian attire is required so break out those coconut bras and grass skirts! And I’m not addressing the ladies.

  • 3-9pm. The Little Cave, 5922 N. Figueroa, Highland Park (map).

Silverlake Wine’s Annual First Assembly Baptist Church BBQ and Wines
Can’t believe it’s already been a year but this South LA church is back in the wine store bringing with it ribs, links, chicken and briskets, all served with classic sides. Enjoy the grilled meats with featured wines like Sur Bonarda 2008 Argentina and Schiopettino 2008 Italy. All that for only $20! Ressies required.

  • 3pm. Silverlake Wine, 2395 Glendale Boulevard, Silver Lake (map). Reservations: (323) 662-9024.

Tuesday, September 7

Burlesque Star Miss Dakota at La Descarga
Sex-ay Miss Dakota, an international burlesque star who has performed at LA’s Forty Deuce as well as the Mandalay Bay in Vegas, will be strutting her good stuff at my favorite rum bar, La Descarga, through September 9. If you’ve enjoyed the shows there in the past, you’ll love this one even more.

  • 11pm. La Descarga, 1159 N. Western Avenue, Los Angeles (map).
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August 12, 2010

This Weekend: Kawaii Sales, Bloomfest LA, Blue Palms Beer Party

Written by Caroline on Crack in Art, Beauty & Fashion, Lists, Los Angeles, Movies, Music, Nightlife, Recreation, Shopping & Sales
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Whoa, there’s wayyy too many things going on this Saturday, it’s so intense. Too bad I gotta pack for my move.

Friday, August 13

L.A.M.B. & Harajuku Lovers Sample Sale LA
For the first time ever in LA, Gwen Stefani’s two lines, L.A.M.B. and Harajuku Lovers, will be available at a sample sale. Normally her stuff is wayy too expensive for me to even consider, being “designer” and all but at this sale, everything will be up to 75% off. Kawaii bags, rocker-style clothes, hot shoes. RSVP here. BTW, credit cards only.

  • Friday, 8am-8pm; Saturday, 10am-6pm. Siren Studios, 6063 West Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood (map).

Saturday, August 14

Rilakkuma Weekend
More kawaii stuff! A whole weekend with photobooths, djs, free gifts, Sapporo beer, food trucks and a pop-up store curated by JapanLA owner Jamie Rivadeneira. Even Umami Burger gets kawaii’d up as all four of its locations will be themed for the promotion through August 22. For the fan party on Saturday, the first 100 guests get goody bags and Lil’ Rae cakeballs.

  • Saturday, 11am–11pm; Sunday, 11am–7pm. 7326 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles (map).

Bloomfest LA 2010
Jonesin’ for more art after tonight’s Downtown LA Art Walk? Fortunately for you the Arts District will open the doors of its cafés, galleries, performance venues, and 40 studios for this summertime event. Tour the lofts and galleries after checking out the live bands, booths and food trucks at the nearby Bloomfest street fair. After party will be at e3rd from 11pm to 2am.

  • 12pm-11pm. Arts District, 714 Traction Avenue, Los Angeles (map).

Blue Palms Brew House’s 2nd Anniversary Party
This Hollywood beer haven is celebrating its 2 years with a 200-pound pig, a 400-pound rib roast, 30-plus beers on tap, a cigar lounge and live music. For $40 you get 10 tastings of delicious brew like The Bruery’s barrel-aged Coton, 10-month aged Allagash Curieux, and even special limited kegs from Alesmith, New Belgium and Greenflash.

  • Doors open 2pm. $40. Blue Palms Brew House, 6124 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles (map).

John Cusack Double Feature: Better Off Dead and One Crazy Summer
“Gimme my 2 dollars!!!” Growing up, I loved these movies. Such great one-liners, including that one with the relentless paperboy going after his fee. And who could resist poor John Cusack, the adorable loser of these ’80s movies? Special guests will show up at the end of the screenings. No, not JC, although maybe. Rather, the writer/director of the films Savage Steve Holland as well as Curtis Armstrong, Bobcat Goldthwait and more.

  • 7:30pm. $12. The Cinefamily, 611 N Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles (map). (323) 655-2510.
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July 27, 2010

Urban Hike: Colorado Boulevard From Eagle Rock to Arcadia

Written by Caroline on Crack in Los Angeles, Recreation
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Peacock in Arcadia by Caroline on Crack

Peacock in Arcadia

I thought H.C. of LA/OC Foodventures was crazy. He had planned an urban hike from Glendale to Arcadia in the heat of July this past Sunday. It would be 14 miles of Colorado Boulevard. And as with most urban hikes, the stretch of road that Angelenos usually motor through to get from Point A to Point B with nary a glance at the scenery. There would be MANY boring parts, empty lots, strip malls galore and the occasional hidden gems.

Naturally, I didn’t want to do the whole 14 miles he mapped out. For his previous Robertson and Beach Boulevard ones I did 7 miles max. So for this one I opted to instead meet up with him at the “4 or 5 more miles to go” point which he had said would be at Colorado Wine Company in Eagle Rock. It wasn’t until we were at La Grande Orange in Old Town Pasadena (4.5 miles into it) that I realized we still had over 6 miles to go til we reached the end point of Santa Anita Racetrack. D’oh!

Fortunately, HC was game for cheating a bit and hopping on the Metro at the Del Mar station and taking it to the end of the line at Sierra Madre, about 3 miles from the final destination.

In any case, even though I grumbled a bit, OK a lot, in the beginning while the sun beat down on my back and the straps of my freebie backpack cut into my shoulders, I grew to enjoy the walk and the fact that there was a lot to see, stuff you wouldn’t notice while speeding by in your car.

  • At Four Cafe in Eagle Rock, they have a brown butter lavender cookie that is actually chalky in texture but in a good way. The stuff crumbles and then melts in your mouth.
  • We didn’t get to stop in Larkin’s in Eagle Rock since we had just eaten but it’s good to know that there’s soul food in Eagle Rock and served in a quaint Craftsman house. Plus on Saturdays and Sundays they have brunch. The brunch dish called “Maggie’s Mess” with bacon, hot links and chicken smothered in gravy sounds intriguing.
  • Little Flower Candy Company in Pasadena doesn’t carry any candy that won’t melt on a long walk in 80-plus-degree weather, nor do they carry homemade iced drinks. But they do carry a nice selection of artisanal sodas and mm, Bundaberg Ginger beer. And you can purchase seed bombs from the little coin-operated candy machine in front of the store. HC and I bought a couple to plant along our walk. We ended up planting them in front of the Eagle Rock Brewery later.
  • Splitting a pitcher of white sangria at La Grande Orange with another person is a really good deal. Basically each person gets four glasses of refreshing drink for $10!
  • In Arcadia neighborhoods near the Arboretum, peacocks and peahens run rampant. We saw six peacocks and two peahens sitting on someone’s front lawns. There are signs all over that area warning people to not feed them. BTW, scaring them won’t get the peacocks to show off their plumes.
  • Phoenix Boutique Bakery in Arcadia has the tastiest red bean mochi. I bought them to take home but instead ate them on the drive back. So delicate and divine.
  • OK, Eagle Rock Brewery wasn’t on the original walk route but being in the vicinity of it, we had to go. It closes at 6pm on Sundays but they were kind enough to stay open a little longer for us to enjoy our beer and a bag of peanuts and a dish of pretzels. I bought a growler of Solidarity for $32 ($20 for the growler and $12 to fill up).
  • Despite the name, Colorado Wine Company sells a great selection of beer like Allagash Curieux. John Nugent, the owner, said that they’ll be opening up a craft beer shop in Echo Park soon. His beer consultant is none other than our mutual friend and former beer blogger, Jonny Lieberman. Small world! By the way, there are “Lazy Sunday” wine tastings at CoWineCo from 1 to 4pm ($12 a person). Since we arrived after 6:30, it was long over but we still nibbled like scavengers on the cheese plate remnants.

This walk has really made me consider moving to the Eastside. Love the transportation system, the restaurants, the stores and above all the transportation system. Yeah, I said it twice. But it’s really cool to be able to walk, bike and Metro everywhere. Anyhoo, can’t wait to see what HC plans for the next Urban Hike. He’s toying with another beachy one…in October. Oh, HC.

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July 22, 2010

This Weekend: Foodie Workouts, Bastide Cocktail Hour, Filipino Tasting Event

Written by Caroline on Crack in Cocktails, Dining, Lists, Los Angeles, Movies, Nightlife, Recreation
6 Comments

This weekend is gonna rawk! Not just because of the LA Street Food Fest Summer Tasting Event, which hopefully you’ve gotten your tickets for, but because there’s so much to do. Take your pick or do ‘em all.

Thursday, July 22

Villains Grand Opening
Thrillist calls this new bar a “steampunk-themed cocktail bar” and it officially opens tomorrow but the grand opening party is tonight so if the streets seem a bit emptier it’s because everyone’s at that party. I kid, sorta. But if you’re a fan of the Bordello Bar (the owner and designer is also the creative mind and money behind this one) as well as beer and bourbon, you’ll want to check this place out. Juices for the cocktails are “squeezed to order” and they have a variety of 28 beers on tap.

  • Villains Tavern, 1356 Palmetto Street, Los Angeles (map).

Friday, July 23

Six Taste to host LA’s First Filipino Food and Wine Tasting Event
Yay for Filipino food getting some love thanks to the likes of the first Filipino food truck, Manila Machine. But if you haven’t tried the cuisine of my peeps yet, Six Taste Food Tours will feature a traditional Filipino and Filipino-inspired five-course tasting menu that will be paired with wine! Bonus is that Manila Machine will provide the dessert. Hopefully it’s the yummy ube cupcake. After the event, there will be a live DJ and some cocktails so you can work off that delicious meal.

  • 7pm. $49. Far Bar LA, 347 E 1st Street, Los Angeles (map).

Saturday, July 24

Devil’s Drive In: Pulp Fiction
Pulp Fiction has gotta be my favorite Tarantino film, right up there with Kill Bill, of course. But so many great one-liners. “Bring out the Gimp!” You can also thank (or curse) Pulp Fiction for jumpstarting John Travolta’s career. BYOB and grab a patch of Astroturf and enjoy this outdoor screening.

  • 7pm. 240 W. 4th Street, Los Angeles (map)

Sunday, July 25

Yoga for Foodies at Akasha
What a great way to start off the week: a flowing yoga class at a sustainable pace followed by a yummy organic brunch of farm-to-table food created by Akasha Richmond, who actually began her career at Yogi Bhajan’s Golden Temple Conscious Cookery. Menu items include a local farm egg and goat cheese frittata, Punjabi focaccia and ginger-mint lemonade.

  • 11am-1pm. $54. Akasha, 9543 Culver Boulevard, Culver City (map). (310) 845-1700.

Foodie Fitness/LA/OC Foodventures’ Urban Hike on Colorado Boulevard
I just love these urban hikes that HC puts on. A great way to explore and be a tourist in your own city. This month’s edition will cover that long stretch of Colorado Boulevard. 14 miles from Glendale to Arcadia. And of course, HC has planned for some foodie-friendly pitstops along the way. If you don’t feel like walking the whole way, I’m certainly not, you can follow HC’s live Tweets and meet up with us whenever.

  • 8am. Intersection of Kenworth and Colorado in Glendale (map).

Food GPS Beverly Blvd Walking Tour
If HC’s urban hike is too hard-core for you and you just want to eat dammit, check out Food GPS’s walking tour which will hit four popular restaurants on and around Beverly Boulevard — Eva, BLD, Milk and Golden State! All great places to dine, good thing you’ll be burning calories by walking. The $45 per person includes food, drinks and treats from each place where the chef-owner will introduce their picks. For more info email Josh at Joshua [at] foodgps.com.

  • 3pm. Tickets: $45. Starting point: Eva Restaurant,7458 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles (map).

Monday, July 26

Debut of Mondays at Bastide
If you’re a hard-core foodie, you saw the above words and squealed. Yes, this Monday Bastide is kicking off a new cocktail hour where you can enjoy a soju martini, three different wines by the glass, a new weekly cocktail and chef Joseph Mahon’s small bites like crispy corn nuggets and yellowtail tartare with coconut. It’s all you can eat and drink for just $15! Swank!

  • 5-7pm. Mondays. Bastide, 8475 Melrose Place, West Hollywood (map).
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July 13, 2010

5 Tips on How To Create Your Roller Derby Name

Written by Caroline on Crack in Featured, Los Angeles, Recreation
5 Comments
LADD Pack photo by Mark "Stalkerazzi" Campos

Pack photo (from left: Suzy Snakeyes, Haught Wheels, Venus D Maul'r, Gori Spelling, Kubonator, Aggro Vader, Agnus Die, Skatum O'Neal) by Mark "Stalkerazzi" Campos.

Remember that game you played as a teenager where you take the name of your first pet and the name of the first street you lived on to create your stripper/drag queen name? (Mine is Cuddles Hayes.) Well after I rented Whip It, that Drew Barrymore-directed movie about a roller derby team, I totally wanted to come up with my own roller derby girl name. The girl skaters in the movie had such hilarious, memorable but appropriate names, like Bloody Holly, Smashley Simpson and Iron Maven. But unfortunately, a cool skate name is harder to come by than a drag queen name. So I asked a bunch of our own L.A. Derby Dolls for some guidance and how they came up with their noms de skate.

Here are their stories:

Agnus Die: “My own name is a Latin pun (Agnus Dei means Lamb of God [or Jesus], so Agnus Die is Lamb of Death). Not that many people get it — mostly Catholic school survivors and history students — but it works for me.”

Double D: “A lot of people think that I came up with my name based on my bra size (not accurate and yes — it is my bra size). I was nicknamed Double D after attending a party where, of course, I had a lotta fun. My real name’s initials are D.D. and one of the party’s attendees thought I was ‘dangerous’ (me? really?) and thus, the Double D name. Double D also can be interpreted for ‘double danger.’ Beware on the track!”

Felon D. Generous: “So obviously it’s a take off on Ellen, who I think is awesome but the back story is I do family mediation but I also do felony victim/offender cases. I believe that youth can learn from mistakes and become conscious adults, especially if the offense is non-violent and the offender is remorseful. I tend to be lenient in that I have the punishment fit the crime, as much as possible, with no permanent record and no jail time.”

Madam Bomb: “After making an actual physical list of over 70 names (ranging from the punnily brilliant to the cringe-worthy), ‘Madam Bomb’ came to me while I was sitting in traffic on the way to practice. It couples my femininity and status as the proprietress of a brothel with my desire to destroy and obliterate in a historically tragic manner. And it beats ‘Ernest Outtamyhemingway’ by a long shot.”

Raven Seaward: “Born from an obsessed Arrested Development fan. When the day came to submit my name, I was still lukewarm about another AD-centric name I had come up with. Posting one last time to Facebook, Trixie Biscuit, a team skater and trainer for LADD, said ‘I’ve always wanted someone to do a well worded Seaward reference, like Raven Seaward.” And I was sold. Granted, not everybody understands the true genius of this name the first time they read it, but the look on people’s faces when it finally comes together is priceless.”

Hit the jump for how to come up with your own roller derby name.

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June 24, 2010

This Weekend: Grease Sing-a-Long, Return of the 35-Cent Cocktail, LA Street Food Fest Tickets

Written by Caroline on Crack in Cocktails, Dining, Los Angeles, Movies, Nightlife, Recreation
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I have a good feeling about this weekend, especially when the weather is going to be in the 70s and sunny! Finally!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

The Edison’s 35-Cent Cocktail and the $1 Centennial Cocktail Return
They went away for a bit but are now back after the Edison won LA’s Downtown News award for Best Happy Hour! Every Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 7pm, you can score the 35-cent cocktail and every Wednesday through Friday the $1 cocktail (1 per customer). The Edison happy hour is gonna make you do math by giving you 40% off house cocktails, well and select beer and wine by the glass. At least they have nosh like vegetable panini and chicken wings for a straight-up $5. BTW, don’t forget to tip your bartender. Just because the drink is cheap doesn’t mean you should be.

  • The Edison, 108 W 2nd Street, Downtown (map). (213) 613-0000.

Friday, June 25

Grease Sing-a-Long in the Hollywood Bowl
OK, who doesn’t know all the words to “You’re the One That I Want”? Man, I LOVE this movie. John Travolta was so hot and Olivia Newton-John was rockin’ her extreme makeover. Grab your friends, a bottle of wine and a picnic basket and sing your heart out at this fun Bowl-tastic sing-a-long. Frenchy will be hosting the evening! BTW, I’ve always wanted pink hair thanks to her.

  • 7pm. Tickets $21-$72. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 North Highland Avenue, Hollywood (map). (323) 850-2000.

Saturday, June 26

Buy Your Tickets to LA Street Food Fest Summer Tasting Event
Only one month away! The trucks have been replaced by booths, hopefully easing the lines situation. In addition to all the yummy street food and food truck fixins — Coolhaus, Manila Machine, Grilled Cheese Truck, World Fare — there will be two Singha beer gardens plus specialty cocktails created by LA’s own mixologists. Bring a picnic basket and a blanket and stake out a spot on the grass in the Rose Bowl. Live performances by The Deadly Syndrome and Warpaint.

  • July 24, 5-9pm. $45 general, $65 VIP. Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena (map).

Sunday, June 27

Foodie Fitness’ Urban Hike in Orange County
Join me and Foodie Fitness, aka H.C. of LA/OC Foodventures, for a trek through the OC. Actually H.C. will be walking the entire length of Beach Boulevard from La Habra to Huntington Beach (21 miles!). I’ll just join him for the last 6-10 miles before he reaches the final destination: Don the Beachcomber for a prix fixe menu with tiki drink flight! It’s free to join, you just pay for your own food and drink. Hope to see you there!

  • Starts at 7am at Whittier and Beach in La Habra (map). Look for the Asian dude with glasses and a big backpack.
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May 20, 2010

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

Written by Caroline on Crack in Beauty & Fashion, Dining, Los Angeles, Music, Nightlife, Recreation, Shopping & Sales
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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).
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