2010 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards Nominees Announced

The nominees for the 2010 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards have been announced, with Los Angeles represented by The Varnish (Best American Cocktail Bar) and its head bartender, Eric Alperin (American Bartender of the Year). New York’s Death and Company made a strong showing, with nominations in the Best American Cocktail Bar, World’s Best…

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Welcome to the Neighborhood: The Parlour Room of Hollywood Opens

Opening June 17th in the space known in previous incarnations as Red Buddha Lounge, Play, and most recently Madame Royale, The Parlour Room of Hollywood is the latest from Craig Trager’s Vintage Bar Group (El Bar, The Well, No Bar, The Woods, The Fifth). The Parlour Room is meant to stand apart from Hollywood’s velvet…

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Stories from Behind the Bar: PDT

With a limit of just nine attendees, Stories from Behind the Bar: PDT was one of the first seminars to sell out almost immediately after online tickets went on sale. Since its opening in 2007, Please Don’t Tell (PDT) has garnered acclaim for its classically-inspired seasonal cocktails: at the Tales of the Cocktail 2009 Spirited Awards, PDT was named World’s Best Cocktail Bar and Managing Partner Jim Meehan was named American Bartender of the Year.

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Stories from Behind the Bar: Clover Club

Third in a series recapping the 2010 Manhattan Cocktail Classic. After the overindulgence of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic Gala on Friday night, it was time get a little more serious on Day Two of the MCC with…well, more drinking. Fortunately, the day’s seminars were toned down from the Gala’s massive scale; many of them were…

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Death and Pain on World Cocktail Day 2010

First in a series recapping the 2010 Manhattan Cocktail Classic. Fear not, dear reader. Despite the grim title of this post, I had a great night out with friends old and new on the eve of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic. I had flown to New York a day early to celebrate World Cocktail Day as…

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May 20: The Tar Pit Launches The Guilded Hour

On Tuesday, The Tar Pit posted an announcement on its Facebook page about The Guilded Hour, its new daily happy hour. Grub Street has the details in this post, which confirms that the new specials are scheduled to debut later today. Here’s The Guilded Hour menu: Cocktails ($6) Bees Knees – Gin, honey, lemon Brown…

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Praise the Lard and Pass the Champagne at First & Hope

Discreetly located across the street from Walt Disney Concert Hall in an unassuming strip mall, First & Hope supper club brings style, sophistication, and a welcome sense of fun to the downtown dining scene. Much of that playfulness comes from Executive Chef Shelley Cooper, a native of Memphis whose refined technique and love of American…

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The Summer of Shangri-La

The Summer of 2010 is off to an early start in Santa Monica, as the Hotel Shangri-La announces The Summer of Shangri-La, the triple threat debut of Suite 700, The Courtyard, and Ditch Day Fridays. The Summer of Shangri-La is an extension of owner Tamie Adaya’s vision for the Shangri-La “as the gathering place where…

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The Thirsty Crow Takes Flight in Silver Lake

After a brief soft opening phase, The Thirsty Crow officially opens its doors to the public tonight. The newest bar from The 1933 Group (who also own the Bigfoot Lodge bars, Saints and Sinners, and The Little Cave) is actually a complete overhaul of their own Stinkers Truck Stop. Gone are the animatronic skunk butts…

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