The Madness Returns: Mad Men Season 3

August 14, 2009

“Can I get you another drink?” “Yeah. Do this again. Old Fashioned, please.” With that drink order, the world was introduced to Don Draper and Mad Men, the acclaimed show that returns for its third season on AMC this Sunday, August 16. From Times Square to Hollywood, “Maddicts” across the country will be gathering to…

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Sipping the Summer During Sunday Supper

August 12, 2009

Sunday Suppers at Lucques have become an L.A. dining institution, a guaranteed splendid evening at any time of the year. This past Sunday, to kill some time while waiting for another Comme Ca Block Party to begin, I stopped by Lucques, not knowing it happened to be the 9th Annual All-American Rib Fest. (Lucques staff…

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The Strip Heats Up: Summer Cocktails at RH

August 1, 2009

~ Photos by Lena Watanabe Take the former “Riot Hyatt” on Sunset, throw in a $48M renovation by the New York firm Janson Goldstein, add the Hindi word for “personal service,” and what do you get? Why, the Andaz West Hollywood, of course. The bar at RH, the hotel’s signature restaurant, had been on my…

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San Francisco and Las Vegas Rock the Radio Room

July 31, 2009

~ photos by Lena Watanabe With budgets as tight as they are, why spend precious dollars on airfare to visit the country’s top bars, when the Edison flies in the country’s best bartenders every month? On July 28, the Edison’s latest installment of its Radio Room series featured visiting mixologists Amanda Gager (StripSteak, Las Vegas)…

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Worshipping Mayahuel on National Tequila Day

July 27, 2009

Last Friday was National Tequila Day, and I couldn’t have asked for a better group to celebrate with than my friends Amy, Lena and Delia. For the occasion we headed to Malo Restaurant, a familiar name to enthusiasts for its excellent tequila cocktails and tasting events. Although Malo had some cocktail specials for the night,…

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July 28: Radio Room at the Edison

July 21, 2009

What began as “Speakeasy Sundays” at the Edison (cocktails and cabaret in the intimate Radio Room) has grown into a monthly Tuesday night event that takes place throughout the venue. Since its relaunch in February, the Radio Room has welcomed top mixologists from around the country, including San Francisco’s Erick Castro (Bourbon & Branch); New…

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Comme Ça ice block

Comme Ça Throws a Block Party

July 14, 2009

Last Sunday, Comme Ça hosted a special “Block” Party to celebrate the start of its Bastille Week festivities.

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Tales of the Cocktail 2009 Spirit Award Winners

July 13, 2009

New York dominated the 2009 Spirit Awards, announced last Saturday at the 7th annual Tales of the Cocktail, the internationally acclaimed festival of cocktails, cuisine and culture held annually in New Orleans. This year’s five-day event took place July 8-12. Spirit Award winners received exclusive Riedel Crystal awards. New York City’s PDT lounge was named…

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Malo Launches Service Industry Night

July 10, 2009

This Sunday, July 12th, Malo launches its Service Industry Night (aka S.I.N.), which will take place every Sunday in Malo’s downstairs bar. S.I.N. is a special night dedicated to everyone who works in the food and beverage industry. S.I.N. will feature $5 cocktails with 1800 Añejo, Plymouth Gin, Tito’s Vodka, Cointreau, Ron Matusalem and more.…

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Recapping Rivera's Summer Cocktails Launch Party

July 9, 2009

Last Friday, Julian Cox debuted his eagerly awaited Summer Cocktail Menu at Rivera. To mark the occasion, cocktails that night were just $5, a great way to sample Julian’s latest creations for a fraction of the normal cost. When I arrived, the bar area was packed with a thirsty crowd, and Julian and his crew…

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