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Eric Alperin at The Varnish

The Varnish Celebrates 5 Years, Launches Bartender Reunion Series

By thirstyinla On February 21, 2014 · Add Comment · In Events
Time flies when you’re having fun: The Varnish is celebrating its five-year anniversary on Monday, Feb. 24, 2014. For this special event, two of The Varnish partners, Eric Alperin and Sasha Petraske, will be mixing cocktails from 7pm to 11pm. As part of the festivities, The Varnish is serving a complimentary Anniversary Punch made with [...]
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The Varnish - 2012 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards

Tales of the Cocktail 2012: Los Angeles Toasts The Varnish at the Spirited Awards

By thirstyinla On August 12, 2012 · 9 Comments · In Events
On Saturday of the 10th Annual Tales of the Cocktail, two events loomed large on the itinerary: Pig & Punch and the 2012 Spirited Awards.
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Eveleigh Guest Bartender Series Round 5

By thirstyinla On May 27, 2012 · Add Comment · In Events
On Monday, May 28th, Eveleigh returns with Round 5 of its superb Guest Bartender Series. Round 5 kicks off with former Varnish GM Chris Bostick in his final LA appearance before he heads to Austin to open his own bar.
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Cinco de Derby, Kentucky de Mayo

By thirstyinla On May 3, 2012 · Add Comment · In Uncategorized
It’s a cosmic confluence that was surely foretold by the Aztecs: Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby fall on the same day this year. In another case of synchronicity, Dave Stolte (Home Bar Basics) and Chris Bostick (The Varnish) made Margaritas and Mint Juleps (and a lot of other cocktails) at a recent gathering [...]
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The Varnish

February 24: The Varnish Three-Year Anniversary Party

By thirstyinla On February 22, 2012 · Add Comment · In Events
The Varnish is toasting its three year anniversary on Friday, February 24th, with free Bols Genever punch from 7pm-10pm (while it lasts) and jazz piano by Jamie Elman all night long.
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Harvard & Stone NYE 2011

So Long 2011, and Thanks for All the Fish!

By thirstyinla On December 21, 2011 · 3 Comments · In Events
It’s time to start stretching those livers, Los Angeles! Craft cocktail destinations across the city are welcoming the new year with masquerade parties, multi-course dinners, and spirited trips around the world and back in time to the 1920s.
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LA in NY: The City of Angels at the 2011 Manhattan Cocktail Classic

By thirstyinla On May 13, 2011 · Add Comment · In Events
It's May 13th, and on this day last year I was in New York on the eve of the inaugural Manhattan Cocktail Classic to toast World Cocktail Day and celebrate my First Blogiversary with my blogger twin, The Dizzy Fizz. And even though I’ll be in L.A. this year and have to settle for vicariously drinking through everyone’s tweets and posts, I’ll be content in knowing that Los Angeles will be well-represented at MCC.
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Lessons from a World Class Bartender: A Cocktail Master Class with Erik Lorincz

By thirstyinla On May 6, 2011 · 2 Comments · In Events
For a bartender, dream jobs don’t get more prestigious than Head Bartender of the American Bar at The Savoy. The current Head Bartender of the American Bar is Erik Lorincz, a 31-year-old native of Slovakia who began his tenure when The Savoy reopened on October 10, 2010.
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Bulleit Rye Whiskey is Right on Target

By thirstyinla On March 24, 2011 · 11 Comments · In Reviews
Bulleit Rye Whiskey made its national debut in March 2011, and it looks poised to garner the same devotion and acclaim as its predecessor.
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The Art of the Blend: Cognac and Cocktails at The Varnish

By thirstyinla On March 20, 2011 · Add Comment · In Tastings
Angelenos learned about cognac and its role in cocktail culture during a Cognac Cocktail Class at The Varnish, presented by Liquor.com and hosted by Varnish co-owner Eric Alperin and GM Chris Bostick. During the sold out two-hour session, attendees were educated about the luxury spirit, tasted expressions from the premium Pierre Ferrand line, and learned how to make four cognac cocktails.
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    • Booze and Vinyl 2022: Electric Boogaloo
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    • “Liquid Love Letters” From LA’s AAPI Bartenders
    • A Few Things That Didn’t Suck in 2020
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  • INSTAGRAM

    Over the weekend we went through decades of photos Over the weekend we went through decades of photos for the video montage at my dad’s funeral service 🥹
These Hong Kong photos were a revelation - dad looks more like a bartender than a pharmacist (👋 @apothekela) and my mom is luminous, straight out of “In the Mood for Love.”
    The man. The myth. The Godfather. 🔥 🙌 #thirs The man. The myth. The Godfather. 🔥 🙌
#thirstyinla #discoverla #dinela
    It’s the final weekend of @beastieboys “EXHIBI It’s the final weekend of @beastieboys “EXHIBIT” at @beyondthestreetsart! 🤩

🔊 Fisher PH-480 Boombox
📸 @glenefriedman

📺 Wall of Gear
🎧 The legendary Technics 1200 🙌
🥁 Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer (bottom) & AKAI Roger Linn MPC 60 (top)
🎸 Ad-Rock’s Gibson Melody Maker, Ad-Rock’s keyboard, @miked’s drum set

🎤 @thegarden
⚛️ “Hello Nasty” dolls by @bape_us 
✈️ “Licensed to Ill” Tour

✉️ Letter to MCA from @mondrianlosangeles 😂
(Aug. 8, 1988)
“Dear Mr. Yauch,
I have received several complaints that there are items falling out of your window and hitting people on the sidewalk.
Please let me know if there is anything defective on your windows so we can eliminate this problem.
I am looking forward to your cooperation in this matter.”
#discoverla
    Sunday, January 22 will be the first day of 🧧🐰 - and the first Lunar New Year that we will celebrate without my dad, who passed away a few days ago 😞
My father died the same day as @jeffbeckofficial - I always said dad was a rock star 🎸

It would take several lifetimes to come anywhere near what my dad accomplished during his extraordinary life. His impact and influence are wide-ranging and profound - not just on our family and friends, but especially with the home health care service that he and my mom founded in the early years of the AIDS epidemic.

We’ll share a full obit, but in the meantime…

🥟 The Dumpling Master
🎻 Tea at @peninsulahongkong in 2004. I’ve shared this photo and backstory before - it’s one of my favorite pics with dad. As we listened to the string quartet play on the balcony above us, dad told me that when he was a young man, he walked by The Peninsula and daydreamed about having afternoon tea in that fancy hotel someday.
💨 Kunming Lake at the Summer Palace, breathing in that fresh Beijing air *cough*
🎨 Load-in for @abtghq at @generalleesla in 2015. Dad was always supportive of our endeavors, no matter how non-traditional they were 🙏 My parents dropped off a folding table at ABTG IV - I was so proud to walk them through the venue and introduce them to the teams
🥢 Our final lunch at Lake Spring, which sadly closed on Halloween 2022. Along with @nbcseafood, one of dad’s favorites in the SGV
    Sneak peek of some of the dishes that LA restauran Sneak peek of some of the dishes that LA restaurants are featuring on NYE! 🤩
Link in profile for all the info at @discoverla 🥂

@aocla Dungeness Crab Fritters
@dinecassia Wok-Tossed Black Pepper Udon
@fannysrestaurantandcafe Seafood Platter
@rusticcanyon Sprouting Cauliflower
@workshopkitchenla Diver Scallops

🎷 @johncoltrane “Countdown” from “Giant Steps”

#discoverla #dinela #nye2023
    More shoutouts for NYE 🎉 Links to our @discover More shoutouts for NYE 🎉
Links to our @discoverla guides in my profile - see you on the other side, friends!
🍹 @nativohlp
🐈‍⬛ @theblackcatla
🥘 @majordomola Macaroni & Chickpea with Black Truffles
🥂 @caldoverde_dtlap Blinis & Caviar
🤠 @desertfivespotla NYE Honky Tonk feat. @nikkilane77
🔊 @sound_nightclub Cheers to ten years!
#thirstyinla #discoverla #dinela
    Start your liver stretches, the countdown to 2023 Start your liver stretches, the countdown to 2023 is on! 🥂 
Check out our @discoverla guides to the best NYE celebrations at bars, clubs, restaurants and more. Links in profile ⬆️

🍸 @bigbaralcove NYEx10: Decades | 🎨 @davestolte 
🍾 @millenniumbiltmore LA Noir NYE
💋 @ditavonteese Glamonatrix NYE
🦞 @hereslookingatyoula Lobster Dynamite
🥚 @citrinla Egg Caviar
🎇 @grandpark_la

#thirstyinla #discoverla #dinela
    'Tis the season for holiday pop-ups and festive co 'Tis the season for holiday pop-ups and festive cocktail menus! Our @discoverla round-up includes everything from a Swiss Chalet Après-Ski (fondue FTW!) to a creepy Krampus immersive experience in Hollywood.
Link in Ye Olde Bio 👀
📸 @deathandcompany Season's Greetings
📸 @themaybournebh 12 Days of Christmas Cocktails
📸 @bigbaralcove Here's To It to Do It
📸 @hereandnowdtla Little Saint Nick at Blitzen's
📸 @fairmontcenturyplaza Swiss Chalet Après-Ski Dining Experience
#thirstyinla #discoverla #dinela
    Follow @thirstyinla