You ever walk into one of those fancy beer bars and hope you don’t say the wrong thing when ordering a beer? Well, thanks to three L.A. beer experts — Larry Caldwell of Father’s Office Santa Monica; Christina Perozzi, author of The Naked Pint and former beer sommelier of Rustic Canyon; and Ryan Sweeney of Verdugo Bar and The Surly Goat — I got five things not to say and why.
There’s too much head on the beer.
This glass isn’t frosted.
Why such a small pour for higher alcohol content beer?
What’s up with this girly tulip glass?
This beer isn’t cold enough.
These guys gave me the lowdown for my LA Weekly Squid Ink post “L.A. Beer Experts Mythbust 5 Complaints of Amateur Beer Drinkers.” And surprise, that whole Budweiser technology where the mountains on the can turn blue to let you know the beer is cold enough to drink is just a gimmick. Beer, at least good beer, should not be imbibed ice cold.
Anyway, I got the idea for this post when, at the Bruery’s 2nd anniversary party, I heard Natalie, Larry’s wife and the manager of FO Los Angeles, and Ryan complain about how certain customers give them grief for these very things. So I figure it would be good to share this knowledge with everyone because, like the average beer drinker, I don’t know half this stuff. Enjoy!
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).
I’ve always wanted to do a consistent happy hour post on here but since I’m neither disciplined nor consistent, I never did. However, when LA Weekly‘s Squid Ink enlisted me to help out with their new weekly happy hour series, I was able to rally. So far I’ve covered three different happy hours: Tin Roof Bistro in Manhattan Beach, my fave Copa d’Oro in Santa Monica and West Hollywood’s Agura. These happy hour reviews will pop up every Tuesday on Squid Ink.
Suffice it to say I’m more diplomatic there than on my own blog so pay extra attention to the grades because that’s where you’ll see the real deal about each place. For instance, Agura’s happy hour really is a C+ if not for how dead it was there when I went, but the girly selection of drinks and the mediocre food. However, if you like to have a space all to yourself and LOVE girl drinks then it’s definitely the happy hour for you.
Anyhoo, if you have any suggestions for other happy hours I should check out, I’d love to hear them!
BTW, I did start a Google calendar, a bit hard on the eyes, dedicated to happy hours around town. So there’s that for what it’s worth. Heh.
I found the perfect way to make it through St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow: go on a bakery hop! Fortunately a ton of L.A. bakeries have created Irish-inspired goodies for the holiday and I rounded them up in a post for LA Weekly‘s Squid Ink. There’s Kiss My Bundt‘s Bailey’s Irish Cream cake with Irish cream butter cream and Yummy Cupcakes‘ Guinness cupcakes. And you know Sprinkles‘ Irish chocolate cupcake with Belgian dark chocolate and Baileys Irish cream cheese frosting is not to be missed.
For foodies who’d rather bake than crowd the bars tomorrow, Kiss My Bundt is also teaching a baking class where you will learn to make baked treats from scratch as well as tipple a complimentary beverage of Baileys, Guinness or Irish whiskey.
Since I don’t celebrate alcoholidays and will most likely be hiding out at home during St. Patrick’s Day next Wednesday, I thought it would be interesting to find out if some of my fave L.A. mixologists/bars were planning any special cocktails to celebrate the Irish holiday. I emailed Damian, Joe, Steve, Pablo, Marcos and Vincenzo. And then? Crickets.
I had to email them again and even then only Steve and Vincenzo responded to say that they had nothing for me. Oh well. At least I could count on my PR friends to send me info on what L.A. restaurants are doing for the holiday in terms of green beer alternatives. Check out my LA Weekly Squid Ink post here. It also includes a couple of recipes if you opt for celebrating at home.
Joseph Brooke, The Edison's new director of spirits
I was bummed that I couldn’t get anywhere near the dreamy and very much in demand Joseph Brooke, the Edison’s new director of spirits, when he was mixing cocktails at the packed Radio Room last week. But was thrilled when I got the chance to interview him for LA Weekly‘s Squid Ink. For that, Joe gave me 40 minutes of great stories, insights and even cocktail recipes.
I thought for sure my editor wouldn’t want to use the whole Q&A. Although damn interesting, it was pretty long for a Squid Ink blog post. But I figured I’d just take whatever questions she didn’t want to use and post them on my blog. Turns out she liked ‘em all. Yay!
It’s long but if you’re so inclined and have any interest about where the Edison is heading under Joe’s command, what’s going to be the next It cocktail and who’s his bartender idol, you might want to give it a look-see. He’s a pretty funny and interesting guy so you won’t get bored.
And I’m happy to say that Joe was also good enough to give me a couple of cocktail recipes that he’s going to add to the Edison’s menu. His Porco Rosso debuted at the Radio Room last week and his tentatively named Jack Doe is an aromatic that he created for a quick shake and dump. But I’m especially excited that he gave me a mocktail recipe, too, since I’m on my booze fast til April. Anyway, enjoy.
Although it’s pretty dark, here’s a video of Joe shaking up a cocktail.
Such a jampacked weekend! And I’m just talking about the 5K/10K Firecracker Run on Sunday as well as the Gold Standard. But here’s what’s going on the other days of the week.
Thursday, February 25
LA Weekly Web Awards Tweetup: A Post-Party Get Together
As many of you know I was banned from 7G nearly two years ago so I was bummed when LA Weekly decided to do its web awards post-party tweetup there tonight. But then realized, hey, that’s kinda cool to celebrate my accolades at a place that actually gave my MySpace photo to the bouncers to keep me out. But tonight all are welcome as the Weekly is inviting not only the Web winners and friends but all those who want to come out and celebrate as well. The first round’s on them! Hope to see you there…cuz who’s got my back?
7pm. 7G, 515 West 7th Street, Downtown (map). (213) 614-0737.
The Modern Mai Tai Experience
Jonesin’ for the summer? Immerse yourself in the Modern Mai Tai Experience at the W where you can sample the “World’s Best Mai Tai” created by The Royal Hawaiian’s mixologist Joey Gottesman as well as the next generation of classic cocktails from Honolulu and Waikiki Beach. The Hot Muffins fem DJ duo Lacy Matsumoto and Echo Aoki will be providing the hot tunes to go with your tasty drinks.
Thursday-Saturday, 9:30pm-2am. Whiskey Blue at the W Los Angeles, 930 Hilgard Avenue, Westwood (map).
Friday, February 26
Bid & Eat Part II
Just 20 days ago blogger Gourmet Pigs launched an online auction to help Haiti and ended up raising $765 for CHF International and Operation USA! After that she received tons of offers for donations to do another auction! This time with more Pasadena/East LA-centric goodies, i.e. Elements Kitchen, The Raymond, Pal Cabron and La Casita Mexicana. Bidding starts tomorrow!
Saturday, February 27
AMC Best Picture 24-Hour Showcase Marathon
Lots of cool movies nominated for Oscars this year…well, except Avatar. But how would you like to spend an entire Saturday watching all 10 nominees back to back? AMC is having a Best Picture 24-hour marathon for you cinephiles out there. The marathon, which costs $45, is showing on March 6th at the AMC in Orange where you’ll get a large popcorn and unlimited refills. Or if you’d rather not go as hard-core, you can see five of the 10 Best Picture nominees all in one day this Saturday instead for $30. You get the popcorn, refills and a pass on a lanyard to come and go as you please.
Monday, March 1
Morton’s The Steakhouse Hosts Scotch Tasting Events
Dammit! Of course this would happen during my liquor fast! At this special Scotch tasting, a Glenlivet ambassador will lead guests through four of The Glenlivet’s acclaimed single malts. The whiskies will be paired with selections from Morton’s classic hors d’oeuvres menu. If you can’t make this one there will also be an event at the downtown location on Friday the 5th from 5:30 to 7pm. Reservations are required. Argh! Temptation!
6-7:30pm. $49. The Steakhouse Beverly Hills, 435 S. La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles (map). (310) 246-1501.
Love Hurts — Ask the Experts
I used to love watching Greg Behrendt (He’s Just Not That Into You) do standup back in the day so I know this 826LA writer’s panel/mixer will be a fun, if not funny, one. Join Greg and other relationship writers Sascha Rothchild (How to Get Divorced by 30), and Lori Gottlieb (Marry Him) as they offer wisdom and snarkiness to the lovelorn. The first hour will be the Q&A and then afterward the drinking and mingling. All proceeds will go to 826LA.
8-10pm. $25 (includes one drink ticket). Busby’s East, 5364 Wilshire, Los Angeles (map).
