Results tagged “bar”

Sean MacPherson, the man behind some of L.A.'s most popular bars, announced today that his Hollywood-Los Feliz-Silver Lake neighborhood hang, the Good Luck Bar, will celebrate its 15th birthday later this month. On Thursday, November 19, DJ Travis Keller and Chinese burlesque dancers will entertain patrons as they guzzle down $5.00 Stolichnaya, Sailor Jerry, Cazadores, or Jack Daniel's cocktails and selected beers for $2.00 beers (plus: Kogi BBQ will be outside). In 1994, MacPherson took over the space, formerly a Mexican transvestite bar, and based it on his favorite Chinatown bar, Yee Mee Loo, which closed its doors after 40 years. Nearby: 'Ironic Hipster Bar' Stinkers to Celebrate 1 Year on Sunday.

What isn't this man involved in? Sean MacPherson has his hands in Bar Lubitsch, the Roger Room, the Good Luck Bar, Jones, El Carmen and Swingers (his bid for the Magic Castle appears to be over, though). Now it appears he's gotten ahold of Orso on West 3rd Street (across from Cedars Sinai and the Beverly Center), according to state records, which could mean plans to open a new eatery or bar. Earlier this month, a Chowhound posting indicated the building was in escrow. As one of the area's big-time operators, he's a man who brings L.A. quality eateries and bars, so whatever this is to be, we're sure it's a good thing.

CBS2 says there were four victims, ABC7 says there were eight and the LA Times says there were six. Whatever the number truly is, there were a handful of people shot early this morning outside a Rosemad bar with a suspect or suspects still possibly on the loose, if they are not one of the people with bullet wounds.

As the summer winds down, it’s important to remember that there’s still a lot of good reasons -and even better causes - to get outside. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to kick back and just enjoy a beer either, does it? Well, if you’d like to give back, get out, and grab a drink while you’re at it, then consider Tuesday’s Bike MS at the Library Ale House on Main Street in Santa Monica.

Jared Meisler of Bar Lubitsch will be hosting a vodka tasting at his West Hollywood bar tomorrow night from 6 to 8pm. For $20, guests will enjoy chilled shots of premium vodkas like Hawaii's own Ocean Vodka, made with organic sugar cane, as well as Crystal Head, Hanger One, Krol, Modern Spirits, Pinky, Russian Standard, Siku, Three Olives, Tru and Ultimat. Since each brand has different flavors and levels it’ll be almost 20 vodkas to savor! Don’t forget your designated driver! No reservations required, cash/credit at the door.

       

Booth, bar or bar mitzvah—there’s more than one way to enjoy (or merely endure) karaoke, and what better place to explore this cherished international pastime than the entertainment capital of the world? Singing in public is daunting enough without having to worry about compromising your vocal cords and your blood alcohol level in pursuit of the ultimate karaoke experience, so we’re taking some of the guess work out of it for you in our series, Is This Thing On? So far, we’ve rocked the mic at The Cottage and the Smog Cutter. This week’s pick: The Happy Ending Bar.

      

Before the Smog Cutter was East Hollywood’s most infamously decrepit karaoke joint, it was reportedly one of Charles Bukowski’s dives of choice. While this has yet to be corroborated by the ninety-year-old hunchbacked regular who apparently takes a vow of silence between spirited performances of Clarence Carter’s “Stroke It,” one look at the dingy, faux-wood paneled interior and world-weary patrons seems like evidence enough. You may not be as lucky as I am and live spitting distance from the place, but if you share old Hank’s penchant for stiff drinks, small time hustlers and hard women, you just may have found yourself a home away from home.

If The Cottage’s proximity to Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles and Oki’s Dog is a deterrent rather than a boon, then I would caution you against setting foot in this unpolished gem of a dive bar. If, however, you are one of the elite few who crave trans fats and public humiliation in equal measure, then where the hell have you been, soul mate? Pull up a stool, plug that frown with a Miller High Life and prepare to be awed by the breadth of the bar’s song selection, the enthusiasm of the crowd and the lenience of the conspicuously posted “No dancing” policy.

When the new Whole Foods that opened in Venice, I figured it would be like the other Whole Foods. Cramped. Packed. Expensive. Sometimes worth going to but an endurance. This Whole Foods is different in that it is gigantic (see the photo below) and even has clothing. That is all fine and good, but you can buy food and clothes many places.

If you still don't know where to get your drink on for Cinco de Mayo, check out the following festive venues. Arriba drink deals!

Remember Craby Joe's? It's "the 1933 Main Street dive bar made famous by Charles Bukowski," as blogdowntown explains. A new bar is slated to open there called Haven, which is owned by Fairfax Partners, the group behind Crown Bar and Winston's in West Hollywood and The Dime on Fairfax. Here's some background info on Craby Joe's when it closed in December 2007.

      

If you love the nightlife, you may love what's known as the Cahuenga Corridor. The space that was once White Lotus, then Ritual, has re-emerged as Halo, the latest endeavor by Chris Breed (of Green Door, Pig 'N Whistle and Cabana Club), who told the LA Times last week that Halo is "an old-school club." He's referencing the space's black and white decor, the different elevations, the multiple bars (three) and the patio.

The recent opening of the SLS Hotel on La Cienega added another super-trendy bar and restaurant to the scene in Los Angeles. Although the under-age Chris Brown hung out there until about 3 a.m. a week after the Rihanna incident, it hasn't turned into one of the celebrity charade bars (at least not yet). So, what is it like?

iO West, formerly of the ‘ImprovOlympic’ namesake, has been a true comedy institution in Los Angeles for more than a decade, and it’s heritage with the original Chicago outlet goes back much further. From Chris Farley to Bill Murray and every Tim (Meadows), (Andy) Dick, and Del (Close) in between, iO has been an instructional springboard for many famous names and thousands more who just want to learn the art of improv.

New Santa Monica bar, Copa d'Oro, has kicked off its new happy hour featuring a "happy depression menu." So now you can enjoy some of their fabulous market-fresh cocktails for only $5! And we're not talking the sort of drinks you usually find at happy hours around the city. No apple martinis or mixed well cocktails, but actual vintage favorites.

"Blankets are okay, but they slip and slide, and when you need to reach for something, your hands are trapped inside," laments the TV commercial for the Snuggie--the blanket that comes with two arms. Never has "lying on the couch" been made so convenient as it has since the product's arrival on the market. And just when you thought you and your new best friend were relegated to the confines of your own home, an event slated to take place soon in Los Angeles can bring Snuggie-wearing booze-enthusiasts together, out in public.

Groovy! Bartender Damian Windsor (The Edison, Gordon Ramsay at the London, Copa d'Oro) will now be manning the back bar of Bar Lubitsch. Yes, starting Monday, February 23rd, you can enjoy Damian's cocktail wizardry during BL's new bar night, Mod Mondays. Owner Jared Meisler hopes to make Monday your new favorite day of the week with his collection of DJs who will spin '60s underground soul and rock and roll -- a genre of music woefully overlooked in 'Merica.

Most bar fights should, by rights, involve women and their jealous boyfriends, or the old "Tastes great/Less filling" debate. Of course, tension between bar patrons is often brought on by sports rivalries, and at J's Cocktail Lounge in Fullerton, this was no exception.

First the Edison's Radio Room, aka speakeasy night, was held on Sundays. And then it was changed to Tuesdays. And then it disappeared. But tonight, it's back! That's right, you can once again enjoy crafted cocktails brought to you by Los Angeles' top mixologists while taking in a saucy cabaret show in this underground room of the Edison. And... for no cover!

Remember when Nova Express closed? That wasn't a good sign for Fairfax Village, especially after news came that neighbor Largo was also leaving the street. Luckily, it seems a great new restaurant/bar will take over--The Golden State is looking like it will open soon. It has "a locally sourced, simple menu designed by Samir Mohajer (formerly of Rustic Canyon)," writes Blackburn and Sweetzer. "Think five (homemade) sausage options, five sandwiches, a killer burger, six beers on tap, six wines, Scoops gelato and sodas, including tasty local root beer from Virgil’s." Now some of the city's best gelato can be found more westward.

Keep your shirts on, ladies: At La Consentida, a bar in Carson, the employees have been serving up their booze with a side of, well, boobs. One of their bartenders, who goes by the name "Carla," has been in the habit of jumping up on the bar and stripping down to her coyote ugly to the titillation of the clientele. However, as the Daily Breeze explains, "while [she] built a following that might have been good for the bar's beer sales, Carla's act was illegal. The bar was not zoned or licensed for nude dancing." Following a raid on the bar Thursday night conducted by state Alcoholic Beverage Control officers, Carla was slapped with a citation for lewd conduct. The officers were also hoping to nab the bar's "B-girl"--the gal who flirts with men in exchange for commission on the drinks the guys buy her, but it was her night off. The bar's owners could lose their liquor license if they don't shape up and serve right.

              

The ESPN Zone in LA Live is the newest establishment in the entertainment complex adjacent to Staples Center that continues to evolve. As the adjoining massive Ritz-Carlton high rise is being covered with mirror-like glass, the various clubs and eateries in it's shadow are opening one by one. The Nokia Theater was first, and more recently Club Nokia and the chic Lucky Strike bowling lanes opened their doors.

Many drinkers find absinthe an acquired taste, that's why we were reluctant to try the new absinthe cocktail at South in Santa Monica, the Southern Spell ($12). The green liquor tastes like black licorice, our least favorite thing in the world but since this cocktail is new we thought we'd give it a shot in the name of research. Made of Lucid Absinthe, peach schnapps and ginger ale, it sounds like the nasty taste of the absinthe would be sweetly muted by the schnapps and ginger ale.

       

When we first heard about Upper Manhattan Lounge in Manhattan Beach, we had to check it out. Apparently, they have a long martini list. Sure it's not a list with anything really intriguing on it (just one Manhattan cocktail) but it IS something unusual for MB. The lounge opened up this past July but we weren't able to get there til just this Friday. Hey, MB is FAR! Farther than downtown is from us.

Ever want to experience what a speakeasy must feel like? Descend the depths of underground downtown bar the Edison for its new weekly bar night called Speakeasy Sundays. Only the bar's Radio Room will be open (entrance is a couple of doors down from the regular entrance in Harlem Alley) while the main bar area will be closed. This means that there's only a 125-swank-person capacity so get there early as doors will close after the room is packed and you'll be SOL on the street.

It is striking, stacked, summery, and, dare we say sashimi-y? LAist Featured Photos contributor hinducow found this Tuna Sashimi Avocado Stack at the X-Bar in Century City. It's located at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, and focuses on small plates and desserts. Over on Yelp the folks seem to really like the nighttime only spot's outdoor fire pits and the tasty cocktails made with real fruit juice, although some prefer when the tab is covered at an event because it is a bit pricey.

     

We think we found our new favorite Manhattan cocktail: It's the Blood Orange Bitters Manhattan at the new Culver City restaurant/bar, Rush Street. Most versions of this drinking man's cocktail come on kick-ass strong but here at one of the busiest bar in the heart of Screenland, this one is tempered with the blood orange bitters making it lighter and dangerously drinkable.

It's summer, so getting your celebration on before the weekend isn't unheard of (oh, and, yeah, it's LA--we like to celebrate!) which is why if you enjoy tequila, you should be ready to honor the south of the border beverage import tomorrow. Who knew tequila had its own National Day? But it does, and we'd like to encourage you to partake in the festivities (while drinking responsibly, yo!).

            

Friday night's grand opening party for the highly anticipated Rush Street in Culver City was an evening of fun food and drinks; inside the incredible space on Washington Boulevard were gathered friends of the restaurant, folks from the neighborhood, local dignitaries, and a handful of LAisters, all eager to get a taste of the new bar and eatery.

It's hard to imagine a more un-L.A. cuisine than German food -- it's heavy, it's meaty, it's about as vegetarian-unfriendly as you can get. So how does the Red Lion Tavern in Silver Lake stay so busy? A few reasons, actually: beer. Beer! Also, beer (bier!). The Red Lion has a number of great brews -- pilsners, bocks, weizens, and so much more. These Germans value their beer so much that the interior of the tavern is lined with steins -- buy your own and bring it back for refills if you're really serious.