Tag Archive: party

April 28, 2010

Photo Gallery: Nights With Neve Ice Party at Osteria La Buca

Written by Caroline on Crack in Dining, Los Angeles, Nightlife
10 Comments

Last night’s Neve Ice party at Osteria La Buca was like a blogger Tweetup. Build free, delicious cocktails and they will come. Heh. I arrived with ShopEatSleep and SocialDomainLA and ran into Food GPS, Teenage Glutster, marpop, SauceLA, Thirsty in LA, Squashblossom, inomthings and Eating LA. Craziness. We were all there to enjoy the cocktails created by Michel Dozois of Neve Ice and Steve Livigni of La Descarga.

There were four creations, but my favorites were the Eloper (Dimmi Italian Liqueur, vodka, lemon juice, melon juice, prosecco) and the Silenzio Dolce (Zaya Rum, Averna Amaro, blood orange juice, Nocello Walnut Liqueur, super fine sugar), which was named by the winner of my contest, @marissamed. Yay, Marissa! The Silenzio had a rim of sugar but surprisingly wasn’t as sweet as I thought it was going to be. At least I didn’t think so; others seemed to disagree and prefer Michel’s cocktail with the scotch and cynar. This I found a bit intense but the hard-core among us seemed to appreciate its bite.

Speaking of bites, there were some apps passed around like a squash blossom pizza and gnocchi, but I was really glad I had eaten before, else I would have just grabbed that dish of nommy gnocchi for myself.

The space where the party was held gave it a speakeasy vibe as it was located behind the Osteria La Buca restaurant where we had to enter through an alley. Apparently this space is going to be opened up in the future when it will become the new entrance for the restaurant and set up as a prosciutto and wine room, complete with hanging meats. Diners can order the meats to be sliced up tableside a la handmade prosciutto carts. There will also be a glass-encased pasta-making room for foodie voyeurism. Best part is that construction will take place during the hours the restaurant is closed so you can still dine here uninterrupted.

Osteria La Buca
5210 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90038 (map)
(323) 462-1900

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April 22, 2010

This Weekend: $1 Cocktails, Beer Class, Poketo Party

Written by Caroline on Crack in Beauty & Fashion, Dining, Lists, Los Angeles, Shopping & Sales
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SO many fun things to do this weekend. I hope it doesn’t rain!

Friday, April 23

$1 Cocktails at Bigfoot Lodge West
One of my fave Westside bars is debuting two new cocktails on its happy hour menu and we all benefit. From 8 to 10pm, the new drinks — Moscow Mule and the Honeycomb — will be specially priced at only $1 each! Only thing that makes me go “Wuuut?” is that their Moscow Mule is made with rum but it’s only a buck so why complain?

  • 8-10pm. Bigfoot Lodge West, 10939 Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles (map). (310) 287-2200.

Thirsty Crow Bar’s Grand Opening
Last night I had a chance to check out this wonderful, new bar which happens to be owned by the same cool folks who own Bigfoot West, Bigfoot Lodge and Saints & Sinners. And if you consider yourself a serious bourbon fan, you’ve gotta check it out. And yes, the skunk butts are thankfully gone, now replaced by some antique-y lights. Order up a Sazerac or a Manhattan. Or even a Pappy Van Winkle with an ice ball. And then grab a cozy table in the back room.

  • Thirsty Crow, 2939 W. Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles (map). (323) 661-6007.

Saturday, April 24

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
Before Kindle and the iPad, there were books. Remember them? Well, now’s your chance to stroll down Memory Lane and peruse novels, short stories collections, cookbooks. Smell them, get a paper cut and perhaps converse with actual booksellers. You can also check out author panels and seminars while there.

  • Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 10am-5pm. UCLA, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles (map).

2nd Annual Unique LA Spring Show
Shop 300 hand-selected designers and artists and their wares. You’ll find unique clothing, housewares, artwork, gourmet edibles, etc. at this huuge two-day shopping event. It’s only $10 to get in and then it’s unlimited re-entry for the weekend. Admission also includes free drinks, hosted bar with Unique cocktails and a tote bag.

  • Saturday and Sunday, 11am-6pm. $10. California Market Center’s Penthouse, 110 E. 9th Street, Los Angeles (map).

1st 8th Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational
Yes, Mom’s comfort food has got its own event in L.A. that’s the favorite of every Angeleno foodie. Tillamook Cheese is the official cheese sponsor of this much anticipated cooking contest and will be handing out tons of sample of its cheese as well as grilled cheese sandwiches. And even the cute Loaf Love Tour mini bus will be on hand. Attendees will get to witness the amateur and pro grilling competitions, partake of a beer garden as well as feast on the food sold by the multiple food vendors.

  • 12-6pm. $10 online, $15 at event. Los Angeles Center Studios, 1201 W. 5th Street, Los Angeles (map).

Beer Class With the Beer Chicks at Rustic Canyon
Before I make you fall in love with this event, know that I’m not sure if tickets are still available. Yesterday Beer Chick Christina Perozzi said there were only 4 tickets left. Anyhoo, at this very informative, tasty school, you’ll get to go on a Beer Journey exploring the styles and flavors of craft beer. You can only buy tickets for this event online; they won’t be sold at the event.

  • 12-2pm. Tickets online: $40. Rustic Canyon Wine Bar & Seasonal Kitchen, 1119 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica (map).

2nd Annual Santa Barbara Wine Fest
Taste over 150 wines from 48 Central Coast wineries, all handpicked by the Wine House buyers. Small production lots, single vineyard labels and more. That will be over $5,000 worth of Santa Barbara Wine you’re tasting for just $55 a ticket. And if you purchase any of the wines the day of the event you get $10 off!

  • 2-4pm. $55 general, $68 VIP with early admission and parking. The Olympic Collection Banquet and Conference Center, 11301 Olympic Blvd. #204, Los Angeles (map).

Opening Reception Party for Poketo x Kitsune Noir presents “Los Angeles, I’m Yours”
Browse the living art market at the Space 15Twenty Gallery while enjoying Scoops ice cream and a DJ set by Aquarium Drunkard at this opening reception. Participating artists will include actor/musician Jason Schwartzman, film director Neil LaBute and over 30 L.A. artists. The market will run til May 15.

  • 7-10pm. Space 15Twenty Gallery, 1520 N. Cahuenga Avenue, Los Angeles (map).
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April 19, 2010

Win Tickets to Nights With Neve Cocktail Party

Written by Caroline on Crack in Cocktails, Los Angeles, Nightlife
18 Comments
Tomatoes and ice by Caroline on Crack

Tomatoes and ice

*****CONTEST CLOSED*****

Win a pair of tickets to a “Nights With Neve Ice” cocktail party at Osteria La Buca. You’ll want these babies (worth $60). At this event in the cozy Italian restaurant on Melrose, not only will you get to enjoy that fancy, luxury ice by Michel Dozois (formerly of Comme Ca and STK) that’s featured in the cocktails at the Hollywood Roosevelt Library Bar and Bottega Louie, but four “Italian Gypsy”-inspired specialty cocktails created by Michel and Steve Livigni, general manager of La Descarga. And for each cocktail, Osteria La Buca’s Chef Alberto Lazzarino, will pair a beautiful bite to go with it.

Tickets to the event are available for $30 per person and include food, live music and the four cocktails (it’s $8 for each additional cocktail). That’s still quite a deal even if you don’t win tickets here. Reservations are required so email Michel at md [at] neveice.com.

Want to try your luck at the contest anyway? All you have to do is come up with your own name for an Italian cocktail. I tried it on Drago Centro’s spring cocktail menu armed with only an English-Italian online translator and I think I did pretty well. You don’t have to make up your own recipe or anything complex like that, just give me a name and include the English translation. And if you’re so inclined, why that would be the name of your cocktail. Just don’t give me the Italian translation of a cocktail name that already exists, capiche? But you can rename your favorite cocktail. Like, I’d call the Manhattan “Nettare Delizioso” — delicious nectar.

OK so how do you win these tickets? Just do the following:

  1. Leave a comment below with your email address (so I can contact you if you win) and your Twitter handle as well as your Italian cocktail name. There is no right answer, I’m just curious.
  2. Tweet this: “I need a drink @carolineoncrack! Gimme tix 2 Nights w/ @NeveIce @OsteriaLaBuca! http://bit.ly/aQabdJ”

Submit your entries by this Thursday at 1pm and then I’ll use the randomizer to pick a winner, which will be announced the next day. Buona fortuna!

POST EDIT: The winner’s cocktail name will be applied to one of the evening’s cocktails! Go to the jump to see the drink ingredients of each of Michel and Steve’s drinks. Names have been omitted for this contest.

EVENT: TUESDAY, APRIL 27 from 7 to 10pm

Osteria La Buca
5210 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90038 (map)
Twitter: @NeveIce and @OsteriaLaBuca

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January 27, 2010

Macallan Party at W Los Angeles: Gourmet Ice, $15K Scotch & Live Tweeting

Written by Caroline on Crack in Cocktails, Los Angeles
8 Comments

I have sipped the ambrosia of the gods, the elixir of luuuve that is known as the $15,000 57-year-old Macallan poured out of a Lalique crystal decanter. And now I can die. I was lucky enough to wet my lips on this sweet, albeit expensive, golden nectar thanks to Michel Dozois of Neve Ice. His shiny, blue business card was one of three lucky enough to be pulled out of a bowl for a drawing to win a taste of the ultra-primo scotch. When he handed the snifter to me, I inhaled its scent deeply. “It smells leathery,” I noted. “No, no, give it back,” Michel said, trying to snatch the glass away before I could get a taste. Then he smelled it himself, “Yeah, OK, it’s leathery. You can taste it now.” He handed it back to me.

I had expected my world to be blown, for a choir of angels to sing. Instead…it was m’ok. “It tastes weird,” I said looking up at Michel who seemed heart-broken that the sip he so generously gave me was wasted. I was disappointed, too. But then realized that I may have messed up my palate by having enjoyed a Macallan 10 with Fever Tree ginger beer just moments before. Such a dummy. Oh well. At least I had the experience.

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January 26, 2010

LA Weekly’s 2009 Web Awards Party at Bardot

Written by Caroline on Crack in Los Angeles, Nightlife
7 Comments

I scored an invite to the most exclusive party I’ve ever had the privilege to be invited to. So exclusive that I basically had to win an award (or two) to get in. Yup, it was LA Weekly‘s 2009 Web Awards party at Bardot in Hollywood. And because the VIP venue in the Avalon has limited space the invite-only list was tight. There were some Tweeps who managed to win tickets via LA Weekly‘s Twitter as well as the plus ones but mostly it was the bloggerati partying down.

Since most everyone in the blogosphere is more apt to recognize screen names and avatars than actual faces, people were mingling. I, on the other hand, being of the shy variety stuck to my booth closest to the awards table. Located in the open-air courtyard of the club that was choked with cigarette smoke we could hear the hail pelting down on the tin-sounding roof. Here, I had a great view of the awards and the slideshow displaying the winners in each category, easy access to the open bar as well as to the seemingly neverending line of servers who were passing out Thai chicken satay and mini sliders. My blogger buddies estarLA, Lindsay and Zach of Best News Blog winner LAist, FauxLAHipster and LetMeEatCake joined me.

Later when feeling adventurous and in need of a drink, I was able to run into other LA Weekly winners — Laurie Percival (Best Tech Blog lalawag), Alana Joy (Best Most Shameless Self-Promoter), and the fun dudes from The Streets Are Calling (Best Low-Brow Art Blog). It was the coolest bunch of geeks I’ve ever had the honor of meeting. Didn’t get to meet Slash (Best MySpace Music Page), even though I thought I saw him and then dismissed him with a “Nah, couldn’t be him.”

Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to take our beautiful gold floppy disk plaques home this night since to remove one would apparently initiate a dominoes effect that would prove devastating to the glass-encased awards. However, the more daring among us managed to sneak their own away during the rare occasion that the table was left unguarded. Dammit! I should have done that. But you know, since I had two, that proved more difficult. Heh.

“We’re going to do it like the Oscars,” said Erin Broadley, LA Weekly‘s Web editor. “We’ll have you pose with the awards and then get them to you later.” “M’Okayyyy,” I pouted. I was kinda hoping to bring them home so that I could cuddle with them later. But then I got over it and just enjoyed the rest of the party.

On a regular night, I can see Bardot being a bit too VIP schmancy for me but on this night I actually fit in that category. Huzzah!

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December 29, 2009

My Chillaxing New Year’s Eve Party Drink List

Written by Caroline on Crack in Cocktails, Los Angeles, Recipes
13 Comments

Christmas is done. Now on to the next hyped-up holiday: New Year’s Eve! Since crowds and huge bar tabs soo aren’t my thing, I decided to throw my own sweet, little shindig this year. But the twist here is that this one will be low-key. No fancy dress-up. No djs. No crazy house party crowds. Just a girl and 20 to 30 or so of her best pallies. In any case, I started thinking about what to serve my peeps, other than plain bubbly. Fortunately I was able to score a couple of liquor sponsors, get a recipe from a renowned mixologist and came up with an inspired, chill way to toast the new year.

Here’s my drink list for the last day of 2009. Wait, is this too much booze?

Flickr shot by the handbook

Pinky Vodka (Flickr Shot by handbook)

THE VODKA

So I’m doubly indebted to Pinky Vodka. Not only did they sponsor our blogger prom this year but they sent me a couple of huuuge bottles for my intimate New Year’s Eve shindig. So yes, I will gladly shill for them. But, I can also do that without fear of tarnishing my rep as an appreciator of fine cocktails. See, Pinky may be pink but it’s not going for any gimmicky, clubby angle. Their vodka is only pink because it’s blended with 12 botanicals, most notably strawberries, rose petals and violets. So it’s flavored naturally and not by sweeteners and such. PLUS, it’s hand-blended by master wine tasters.

They also hired one of my fave cocktail consultants, and friend, Natalie Bovis-Nelsen aka The Liquid Muse, to design cocktail recipes for their vodka so I know it’s class all the way. Her newest is a champagne cocktail that’s perfect for toasting the new year.

Sparkling Pear
Recipe by Natalie Bovis-Nelsen

  • 1 part Pinky Vodka
  • 1/2 part elderflower liqueur
  • 1/2 part pear nectar
  • 1/4 part fresh lemon juice
  • Pinch of nutmeg
  • Splash of sparkling wine

Shake all ingredients, except for sparkling wine, over ice. Strain into a champagne flute and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with a lemon twist.

THE PUNCH

Mixology maestro Vincenzo Marianella of Copa d’Oro was good enough to provide me with a whisky punch recipe that’s sure to please the crowd. Incidentally, it also just debuted at the Santa Monica bar.

2010 Punch
Recipe by Vincenzo Marianella

  • 24 oz Sazerac Rye (1 bottle)
  • 6 oz St Germain
  • 6 oz Sweet Sherry
  • 9 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 12 oz organic pear juice
  • 5-6 dashes grapefruit bitter
  • 5-6 dashes orange bitter
  • 24 oz Prosecco (1 bottle)

Add first six ingredients with full scoop of ice in the punch bowl. Stir gently while adding Prosecco, add more ice. Garnish with sliced pear and citrus.

THE WINE

Funny thing is that I was able to get a second booze sponsor! And all without any begging. Sandeman had originally approached me about checking out their Tawny Port (which would have been perfect during my dessert exchange earlier this month) but when I said I was interested in making cocktails, they shipped the Founders Reserve over along with a couple of recipes.

The Sandeman’s Sparkly is basically a Lady MacBeth, a blood-red champagne cocktail that was once served at the Edison. And the Diavlo with it’s use of tequila and my fave ginger beer sounds intriguing.

Sandeman’s Sparkler

  • 1 part Founders Reserve Porto
  • 3 parts Sparkling wine

Sandeman Diavlo

  • 1 part Sandeman Founders Reserve Port
  • 1 ½ parts Blanco Tequila
  • ½ part fresh lime juice
  • ¼ part simple syrup
  • Ginger beer
Photo courtesy of LA-Story

Champie in a Can (Photo by LA-Story)

FOR THE MIDNIGHT TOAST: CHAMPAGNE IN A CAN

But the piece de resistance for my chillaxing New Year’s Eve party will be our clinking cans instead of schmancy champagne glass flutes come midnight. Niebaum-Coppola Winery, owned by director Francis Ford Coppola, makes Sofia blanc de blancs sparkling white in cute little pink cans complete with tiny sippy straws. Apparently it’s most popular in clubs and swanky pools, where glass is most def not allowed.

But I first encountered the champie in a can at some trailer-park themed barestaurant in New York and was surprised by how tasty it actually was. Made from Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat, it tastes of apple, melon and tangerine “with notes of bright lemon and honey evident on the refreshing, mouth-tingling finish.” (Winemaker’s notes)

You can get a four-pack (187ml a can) at the Wine House in West LA for $12.99 and $11.99 at BevMo. These are also really handy for picnics and celebrations on the go when you don’t want to deal with lugging glassware.

FOR THOSE BRAVING THE CROWDS

If you feel you really must get out to celebrate the new decade, you crazy bastards, here are some links of NYE event roundups, including dinners, bar events and clubs, for your consideration.

e*starLA: NYE Dinner-Party Roundup

LA Times: Ring in 2010: Los Angeles New Year’s Eve Parties

Los Angeles Magazine: Roundup: New Year’s Eve Planner

NBCLA: LA’s New Year’s Eve 2010 Hot List

Thirsty in LA: Cocktail NYE Celebrations

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November 27, 2009

“In Bed Together” Opening at Royal/T

Written by fauxLAhipster in Art, Dining, Los Angeles
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Flickr shot by fauxLAhipster

By fauxLAhipster

Since Caroline had to go out of town for her bf’s Lemons race, she asked me to cover this apparently uber-strict-guestlisty opening (only the opening was guestlisty; the exhibit is open to the public right now) of “In Bed Together” right off the heels of Royal/T’s insanely popular Hello Kitty Three Apples exhibit.

I was excited for this event for many reasons.

  1. I would finally get to taste Chef Ludo‘s “mouth orgasm” inducing treats
  2. It was technically an art opening and I’m always a big fan of anything arty
  3. It boasted the holy trifecta of parties: free booze, food and goodie bags
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