Devil’s Drive-In: Sixteen Candles
Jake Ryan! This was the movie that the teenage me wished happen in real life: Where your high school crush actually likes you back. Le sigh. Since this drive-in is happily BYOB, relive your teen years by toting wine coolers, heh. Or bring the good stuff and make a drinking game out of it. Take a shot every time someone says “Jake,” or pass the bottle every time Anthony Michael Hall’s voice cracks.
6pm doors open. $12 at gate. 240 W. 4th Street, 2nd Floor, Downtown (map).
Eagle Rock Brewery’s 2nd Anniversary at Verdugo Bar
Celebrate local Eagle Rock Brewery’s 2nd anniversary with select ERB beers on draft in the outdoor beer garden. Food trucks Grill Em’ All and Mandoline Grill will be on hand for nosh with your brew. And the $12 admission gets you a commemorative taster glass to take home, while supplies last.
12-4pm. $12. 3408 Verdugo Road, Los Angeles (map). (323) 257-3408.
9pm. Harvard & Stone, 5221 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood (map). (323) 466-6061
Alie & Georgia Guest Bartend at The Eveleigh
Adorable duo Alie & Georgia of Cooking Channel will be making their fun and crazy concoctions at The Eveleigh as part of the bar’s weekly guest bartending series. These girls are always good for a laugh and unusual cocktail. Love ‘em! By the way, next week’s featured bartender will be Alex Straus of Hemingway’s Lounge followed by the omnipresent Julian Cox on February 13. For industry folks, most drinks and bites are $3.
7pm. The Eveleigh, 8752 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood (map). (424) 239-1630.
Tuesday, January 31
Ammo West Hollywood Cocktail Program Re-Launch Party
Ammo’s cocktail program has been redone all farm-to-glass thanks to Jason Robey, same guy who did that with Michael’s in Santa Monica. Guests can enjoy free food and drinks until they run out. Afterward, partake of the happy hour specials like endless Bloody Marys and $6 Powers + PBR.
6pm. Ammo Restaurant, 1155 N Highland Avenue, Hollywood (map). (323) 467-3293.
Agent Provocateur Semi Annual Sale
Hey, ladies, looking for something uber sexy to throw on…and then off this Valentine’s Day? Sexxy lingerie store Agent Provocateur is having its semi annual sale now through Sunday. Score lingerie (pronounced ling-eree), panties, bras and other underthings for 30-75% off.
Thru January 22. Agent Provocateur, 7961 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles (map) and 242 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills (map).
The Way We Wore Semi Annual Sale
Vintange/resale clothes store The Way We Wore is also having a semi annual blowout. Here you can save 50% off on everything in the store! We’re talking swank vintage dresses and accessories (hats, sunglasses, shoes) spanning from the 1920s to the ’90s.
Thru February 12. The Way We Wore, 334 S. La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles (map).
Golden Road Can Launch Party at Sunset Beer Company
Echo Park beer store/bar Sunset Beer Company hosts Golden Road’s beer can launch party. Not only will they be selling the much-talked-about beverage but they’ll feature GR beers on tap like Point the Way IPA, Get Up Off of that Brown and Schwartz Stout. If you’re hongry, Zagat’s Top 10 2012 LA food truck Crepe n’ Around will be…creeping around.
Fig Introduces Its New Barrel-Aged Cheer
Kick off your weekend with something aged and tasty. Fig in Santa Monica has jumped on the barrel-aged cocktail bandwagon with three of its own — a Negroni, White Manhattan and Rusty Nail — each aged in toasted oak barrels for about six to 16 weeks! The new-old cocktails are now available for your tasting pleasure.
Fig Santa Monica, 101 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica (map). (310) 576-7777.
Bushmills Irish Whiskey Tasting at Neat
Dance a jig into your weekend with an Irish whiskey tasting followed by live Irish music. Whiskey Master Ed Adams will guide a tasting of the entire Bushmills line at Neat in Glendale. Afterward at 8:30p, the Irish band hits the stage. RSVP to info@theneatbar.com for the tasting.
6:30-8pm. Neat, 1114 N Pacific Avenue, Glendale (map). (818) 241-4542.
Pegu Club Vet Scott James Teague Guest Bartending at 1886
Attention cocktail nerds, Scott Teague, head bartender of Alex Day and David Kaplan’s new NYC bar Demi Monde as well as Pegu Club veteran will be behind the stick at 1886 tonight! He’ll be serving up a special side menu while 1886 bartender Lacey Murillo does up 1886′s deelish winter cocktails.
1886 at The Raymond, 1250 South Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena (map). (626) 441-3136.
5-8pm. Project Urban Renewal Shop at Space 15 Twenty, 1520 N. Cahuenga Boulevard, Hollywood (map).
Saturday, January 14
The Tripel Debuts New Weekend Brunch With Bloody Beer and Duck Hash
Brooke Williamson and Nick Roberts introduce a brand-new brunch at their Playa del Rey gastropub, The Tripel, this weekend. Enjoy tasty craft brews and beer cocktails, like the Bloody Beer, along with dishes like The Cure burger with avocado and a fried egg and duck hash with lobster salted peewee potatoes, duck confit, fried egg, pancetta and vinegar cooked greens.
9:30am-4pm. The Tripel, 333 Culver Boulevard, Playa Del Rey (map).
11am-11pm. 5430 San Fernando Road West, Los Angeles (map).
Tuesday, January 17
Pliny Fights Cancer Charity Raffle at Beachwood BBQ
Seal Beach’s Beachwood BBQ will be raffling off 130 pints of the highly coveted Pliny the Younger (which is released in February) for the Melanoma Research Foundation. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the restaurant from January 17th at 12pm to February 18th at 10pm. Tickets are $5 each and there’s no limit but it is cash only. And on February 20 the tickets will be drawn at random and winners will be notified by email or phone if they’re not present.
January 17-February 18. Beachwood BBQ, 131 1/2 Main Street, Seal Beach (map). (562) 493-4500.
Rachel Pally Warehouse Sale
Shop Rachel Pally’s fall fashions for 55% – 85% off, including $25 – $75 last season racks. Stock up for holiday presents or for your own closet. Credit cards only.
December 2-4, December 9-11. 2301 W 7th Street, Suite, C100, Los Angeles (map).
Saturday, December 3
ColLab Winterfest Beer Garden Postponed Drink Specials
Due to the destruction caused by Windapocalpyse, ColLAb Winterfest Beer Garden which was taking place on Saturday has been postponed. All advance payment through PayPal will automatically be reimbursed and those who already purchased the Winterfest glass will get admission to the next ColLAboration event which is scheduled for January 2012. To ease the pain, the following bars are offering $4 drink specials for tomorrow:
Food GPS’s Pigs & Pints at Biergarten
OK, this event boasts pork, beer and ice cream. ‘Nuff said. OK, maybe you need more deets. For $30 you get servings from a whole Filipino-style (haaay!) roasted pig with two sides, two pints of California craft beer (Ballast Point Sculpin IPA and The Lost Abbey Red Barn) and a special ice cream flavor from Scoops. Hmm, wonder if it somehow involves beer and bacon? Um. Yum!
1-4pm. $30. Biergarten, 206 N Western Avenue, Koreatown (map).
Monday, December 5
Public School 612′s Darker Side of Beer and Dessert
And yet another beer event you won’t want to miss. This one pairs beer with dessert. You heard me! At downtown’s Public School 612 guest professor Norm Stackhouse from Stone Brewing Co. will explore that odd but delicious combination of beer and dessert by pairing the likes of Speedway Stout, Stone Smoke Porter and Maui Porter with a trio of creme brulee, toasted marshmallow ice cream and pie with smoked bacon ice cream.
7:30pm. $25. Public School 612, 612 S. Flower Street, Los Angeles (map).
For Repeal Day weekend, here’s my LA Weekly Squid Ink post on where and what to drink, including cocktail recipes! Hooray booze!
The Ultimate Food Fight: Whole Foods Market Chefs Fight to “Stuff This!”
Local chefs Ben Ford (Ford’s Filling Station), Jason Bowlin (Catch at Casa Del Mar) and Casey Lane (Tasting Kitchen) are going head to head in this cook-off to create the best holiday stuffing in less than 45 minutes. They’ll each be given the same basic stuffing recipe but have to use a variety of secret nontraditional local and seasonal ingredients. Yum! To attend the event, just bring a couple of Thanksgiving-themed food items which will then be donated to the Venice Housing Corp Food Bank.
5-6:30pm. Whole Foods Market Venice, 225 Lincoln Boulevard, Venice (map).
1886′s 1st Anniversary Party
The booziest one-year-old’s birthday party you’ll probably ever attend. This one will have hand-crafted cocktails as well as wines and Craftsman beer! For food Chef Tim Guiltinan and pastry chef Jeff Haines have come up with hors d’oeuvres, small plates and desserts. Ticktets are $55 at the door and proceeds will go Hathaway Sycamores, a non-profit children and families mental health and welfare agency.
6:30-10pm. 1886, 1250 S Fair Oaks, Pasadena (map).
Friday, November 18
Short Order Opens, Featuring Cocktails by Julian Cox
The Farmers Market on 3rd couldn’t be a more perfect place for this burger joint by the late Amy Pressman and Mozza’s Nancy Silverton which features only meat from free-range animals and local and artisanal ingredients. Wash all that goodness down with equally fresh cocktails by none other than Playa/Rivera’s Julian Cox (Eater LA’s bartender of the year 2011).
5pm. Short Order, 6333 Third Street, Los Angeles (map). (323) 761-7970.
Saturday, November 19
Great Walk LA 2011
With Turkey Day just around the corner, it’s probably a good idea to work off some weight with a lovely walk through the city. 19 miles should do it. This year’s Great Los Angeles Walk route will have you hoofing it from downtown L.A. to Santa Monica. Enjoy your city up close and personal and out of your car for a change. For those who don’t think they can do the entire route (me), just follow @greatwalkla on Twitter to see where everyone is to meet up with them on the route. I’m thinking of joining the gang up in WeHo in the march toward the Pacific.
9am. Meeting spot: Triforium sculpture at Fletcher Bowron Square across from City Hall (map).
Sunday, November 20
Filipino Food & Cocktail Event
Mmm, the food of my people paired with cocktails? That’s right up my alley. This annual Filipino food pairing event will feature modern takes on traditional dishes and cocktails like the Manila Mule with bourbon, calamansi nectar and ginger beer. The pairings were created by Six Taste, Nola’s and blogger Abby of Pleasure Palate. Tickets are available now at for $50.
6pm. $50. Nola’s, 734 E 3rd Street, Los Angeles (map).
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.
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.
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.
Neat’s Distilleries Series 1
Aidan Demarest has managed some of the best bars in L.A. and in turn formed great relationships with distilleries. Now that he has what he calls the “hottest little Fotomat in Glendale” he’s kicking off a distilleries series at his new bar Neat. The finest distillers from all over will swing by and give walk-throughs of their spirits. This week is a Q&A with High West Distilleries, Utah’s finest whiskey. RSVP here.
The Beer Chicks’ Late Night Penny Boilermaker Preview Tasting at 8th Street Bottle Shop
The Beer Chicks will be taking the Boilermaker to the next level by pairing fancy beers from their 8th Street Bottle Shop with complex whiskies at Schmeven Schmand. For a sneaky peek/taste at the roster of two-step cocktails, stop by their beer store in Golden Gopher tomorrow night at 11pm where whisky expert Johnny the Scot will also be on hand to tell us why this is an awesome thing. And on Tuesday at 7G they’ll be serving up the Boilermakers which are made to be shared with friends. Fun and yum!
11pm-1am. 8th Street Bottle Shop, 417 W. 8th Street, Downtown (map).
Sunday, October 23
3rd Annual LA Beer Week Beer Festival
Waaah! So sad that LA Beer Week is coming to an end. I think I need closure. Fortunately, closure will come in the form of a beer fest at the beautiful Union Station downtown. There, beer lovers will partake of over 70 craft breweries from all over the world. Good stuff featured will include rare beers as well as brews that were only available for beer week.
12-4pm. Union Station, 800 N Alameda Street, Downtown (map).
Los Angeles Magazine’s Food Event 2011
Such a fancy food fest what with the gorgeous venue at the Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu. Fine wine, lots of great food and llamas! Seriously, this is one of my fave food events and I’m sorry I’ll have to miss it this year. Here are my pics from last year’s. For this sixth annual event, they’ll have restaurants like Black Market Liquor Bar, Fonuts, Lukshon, Picca, Playa and so much more offering noms for guests to stuff their faces with. Grab a glass and peruse the grounds of this ranch, which is home to Malibu Family Wines, while feasting on some of the best food. Where flats, though, else your heels sink into the grass.
Ford’s Filling Station Partida Tequila Dinner
Ready for a dinner pairing other than with wine or beer? Ford’s Filling Station has created a special 5-course tasting menu to be paired with Tequila Partida. For $55, guests get the dinner by Chef Gavin Lansdale and Chef Ben Ford, a 3-flight pairing of Tequila Partida plus two specialty cocktails created by Partida Brand Ambassador Jacques Bezuidenhout.
