So Long 2010, and Thanks for All the Fish!

As 2010 draws to a close, many of L.A.’s favorite cocktail destinations are preparing to send the year off in style, with champagne-soaked events that include a downtown L.A. bar crawl, prix fixe dinners, and a black tie party set in Havana from a century ago. Stay tuned for updates as more events are announced.

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Zahra Bates Guest Bartends at Test Kitchen, Next Up is Copa d’Oro

Zahra Bates mixes her Old Pal variation at Test Kitchen

The ongoing culinary experiment known as Test Kitchen continues to bring in stellar guest chefs and mixologists, and last weekend was no exception: Alain Giraud was in the kitchen, while Zahra Bates (Providence) and Davidson Fernie (La Descarga) were behind the stick. As I sat down at the bar (the restaurant is frequently booked but…

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May 25: Radio Room at the Edison

Since its relaunch in February 2009, the Radio Room at the Edison has hosted guest mixologists from top bars such as Bourbon & Branch, Death & Co., Milk & Honey, Drink, Heaven’s Dog, Clyde Common, Cure, and Rickhouse. The most recent edition of the Radio Room welcomed Simon Ford (Pernod Ricard, London & NYC), Zane Harris (Rob…

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Bring On the Agave, It’s Cinco de Mayo

On May 5, 1862, the Mexican Army defeated the occupying French forces at the Battle of Puebla. Although Cinco de Mayo is of limited national significance in Mexico, here in the States and elsewhere, it’s a day to celebrate Mexican culture by imbibing some of its finest exports. Like bars and restaurants all over town,…

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So Long Aughts, and Thanks for All the Fish!

To help you ring in a new decade (or bury the old one, depending on your POV), some of the city’s top cocktail destinations are throwing New Year’s Eve parties with a dizzying variety of offerings. To make your search for the perfect NYE bash a little easier, I’ve compiled a list of events below.…

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Los Angeles Magazine – Best New Bars 2009

The September issue of Los Angeles Magazine has hit the stands, featuring a “Best New Bars” cover story. According to Editor Mary Melton, the article is intended to “herald the return of the bar—not the velvet-rope animal of yore but the chummy neighborhood pubs, crowded wine bars, and fanciful cocktail emporiums that now constitute our…

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