Finally, a hipster weekend!

I think I'm finally returning to my usual self - seeking out art, music, and free booze :)

Friday: In Bed Together at Royal/T for carolineoncrack; Du Metier at Daydream Republic

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if your friends were all struggling actors and artists and you decided to host a get-together at your house with a REALLY big living room?

The lovely Vivien of Daydream Republic invited me to check out her "REALLY big living room" for the Du Metier event last Friday. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but the $15 entry fee gets you live entertainment, an open bar, and snackies. Vivien was generous enough to comp me a couple of tickets to check it out.

It definitely had an "underground" feel to it as it was way far east on Jefferson Blvd, just before you hit USC-land. Or maybe it just felt that way to me cuz I'm a westsider. A series of actors were performing monologues/spoken word pieces on living as a creative person in LA as a circle of spectators watched. I could see this as a great space for filming or band rehearsing or even a party space for you and 100 of your bffs. They also host several of their own events that sound pretty cool.

Neuro Drinks sponsored the drinks and the gals working that section were quite friendly and the NeuroBliss I tried tasted like lychee and mixed great with vodka and apparently "regulates" appetite.

Saturday: Koream Journal Afterparty for "Unforgettable"
This event was totally not my scene - bunch of "fabulous Asian Americans" strutting around in their finest Italian garb gloating at how famous and awesome they think they are. But I did appreciate the Jinro and Hite open bar and I got to try something new called Black Beer Stout which is pretty cool since Korean beers like Hite and Cass usually taste like piss-water (piss-water holding many fond memories for me FYI). Black Beer Stout was definitely not as full bodied as a Guiness, but I found it similar to the more Amber and brown ales which I prefer anyways.

But the highlight of the night for me was most DEFINITELY getting photographed with the smoking hot Daniel Henney - eeeeeeee! For those not in the know, he is a half Korean half white actor who hit it big in Korea acting in some soap operas and has successfully (so far) transitioned himself to the American stage. I spent 3 hours on Sunday watching Three Rivers on cbs.com where he is a co-star. Thanks to my buddy clammy for approaching Sr Henney since I was way too chicken - and star struck! - to ask myself.

Monday: Green Day not-so-secret show at Nokia Plaza
We stood for 5 hours in the longest line I have EVER attempted, but it was SOOOO worth it. Green Day has a raucous energy and pounding enthusiasm that 15+years in existence has not squleched. Billie Joe is as charismatic as ever with his unique voice and I still saw the younger audience members excitedly moshing in the center. It was just funny because this was a taping of the Carson Daly Show's New Years Eve special so we all wore NYE hats and noisemakers and even did a countdown! Weird.....

I LOVE LA! ;)

Hipster's Escape from Douchebag Central aka Hollywood Blvd

I was invited to a birthday dinner at Beso in Hollywood last week. But no way was I gonna drop $100 at a restaurant that was co-owned by a celebrity (Eva Longoria in this case) unless the executive chef was Thomas Keller of French Laundry and the much anticipated Bouchon Bistro in Beverly Hills (which it obviously wasn't). So I just said that I would meet up for drinks after their dinner. I arrived a bit early and as I was standing around Beso's front bar surrounded by douchebags and a cocktail list averaging $15, I knew I needed to escape until I can be fashionably late to my party. The Cahuenga corridor (Cahuenga Blvd between Hollywood and Selma) has several options for those who wanna get away from the touristy douchey crowd so typical of Hollywood. After passing many clubby places along this strip that I couldn't bring myself to walk into alone (Velvet Margarita, Beauty Bar, etc) I found Capitol City. I remembered reading about Capitol City being an "upscale sports lounge" in the heart of Hollywood. To me, it was a relaxed reprieve from the adrenaline pumped playground surrounding most of Hollywood on a Friday night.

It felt kinda dead considering it was a Friday night at 10:30pm aside from a few small groups of diners and a couple canoodling in the corner, but it had exactly what I needed: an open and inviting atmosphere, a readily accessible bar, lots of TV screens for distraction, and a reasonably priced menu. I ended up ordering a Purple Haze draft ($7) and a Spicy Tuna with Crispy Rice ($8). The beer was so cold it almost felt like there were ice chips in it...mmmm..... and the tuna/rice combination was also quite tasty and I liked the little disc of serrano chile they donned on top. They had nearly 20 beers on tap in addition to their full bar and a variety of menu options including fancy burgers and fancy pizzas.

The servers and staff were all very friendly as well. Oh and I REALLY liked their retractable purse hooks that are under the bar! At first I couldnt locate them so my initial thought was "Figures, of course a sports bar geared towards men wouldn't be equipped with purse hooks" but boy was I wrong! It's just that they're the retractable folding kind so no one can bump their knees into it ;) So ladies, you too can feel safe hanging out here!

This place is the perfect getaway if you're looking for a more chill way to hang out in Hollywood with its reasonable prices, yummy food, great draft beer selection, and huge glass panels facing Cahuenga Blvd. My friend Carleen who met up with me here before we returned to Beso to join our party also said that she would like to come back here again.

I'll see you again, Capitol City!

Capitol City Hollywood
1615 N Cahuenga Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028
323-465-1750
http://www.capcitysports.com/main.html

If it's good enough for fauxlahipster's birthday party, it's good enough for you

I get asked all the time for bar and restaurant recommendations. But when it came time to figure out my own birthday party, I really wanted a home run in terms of location, ambiance, food, drinks and service for my 25+ guests with ages ranging from mid 20s to late 30s.

After reading countless Yelp reviews and talking to friends, many of whom are well informed bloggers like The Delicious Life and Caroline on Crack, and even fishing on twitter, I had narrowed it down to a few options. The rooftop lounge at Bond St, Trader Vics in Beverly Hills, and Medusa Lounge in Silver Lake.

Here's what I was looking for:

• Somewhat nice and upscale lounge atmosphere without being overly douchey
  
• Drinks that averaged under $12
• No velvet rope nonsense all night long
• Location near Koreatown since many of my lame friends hate to leave a 5 mile radius of it
  
• Easy parking - via inexpensive valet/lot or ample on street
• Nice to have's: outdoor area, rooftop views

My birthday buddy Raymond (his bday is a few days before mine so we decided to enter a joint bday venture) and I did a few drive by's of potential options near downtown LA and when we stopped to check out Medusa, we were like Goldilocks when she found her bed - it was just right. They fulfilled every one of my key criteria in terms of location, ambience, and cost. They have a nify page on their website where you fill in a few blanks and the manager Yosh will email you the next day with reservation details. Quick and efficient, especially for people who are afraid to talk on the phone like me - let's not get into the part when I was a kid and my mom would have to feed me a script so I could tell the gas station attendant how much money to apply to our pump.

The ambiance: Medusa is in the former Lowenbrau Keller space which I've never been to. But I was told it was a former German pub/brewery type place. Many "old" details remain at Medusa including the exposed brick walls and vaulted ceilings. It definitely had that goth-like design which I thought was a perfect prelude to Halloween coming up. The lounge portion is an L-shaped space with the walls lined in tufted sofas and a large bar in the middle. So no matter where you're sitting, you have visual access to the bar. The back room is a bit darker and louder allowing you to get your groove on after downing the many shots that bday revelers usually do.

Food/Drink: Birthday buddy, Caroline on Crack, her boyfriend Jay, and I were the first to arrive and none of us had eaten dinner, so we decided to order up some grub. Think of the food as fancified pub grub. I had fried ravioli (2 huge raviolis) served on a bed of rich marinara and topped with a light truffle cream. CoC had what appeared to be an asian spiced sauteed shrimp with bruschetta. Birthday buddy ordered a calamari salad - which he didn't even offer to share, that bastard. Can't remember what Jay ordered. It wasn't exactly Michelin star haute cuisine, but it sure beat bucket-o-wings and greasy fries!

If you opt for bottle service, they offer several specials including a free appetizer platter with the first bottle and 20%(?) off of the second bottle. We ended up ordering one bottle which came with every type of mixer imaginable including Red Bull.

As we entered, the door guy Rob gave each of my guests a little card that entitled us to a flavored shot served in a test tube for $1. It tasted pretty nasty, but everyone seemed to dig the $1 shot served in a test tube concept.

The service: I really think Medusa's service was what really set them apart in excellence. Many bars and lounges in LA can boast a luxe or interesting interior and reasonably priced cocktails. But few can couple these qualities with a friendliness and hospitality that really made me and all my guests feel so welcome. It started off with Yosh accommodating my one bazillion requests and even offering to let us bring our own mixed CD to play in the lounge - which I didn't do out of sheer laziness, much to my dismay. The door guy Rob is mad cool and a total sweetheart. He's a big and hulky in appearance, but he does his job so well, with a finesse that I wish he could teach to other door guys. Our cocktail waitress Irina (sp?) was so friendly and even though a lot of my friends were ordering drinks from the bar instead of from her, thereby reducing her tip, she was still cool about it saying "the girls at the bar need the tips too." Aw, what a team player!

The night was wearing on and it was time to leave. As our car began to pull out of the valet lot (which is only $5 by the way), Yosh stopped us to give each of the birthday babies a gift - a bottle of champagne! I've never heard of a bar gifting regular old joe's like us, but I thought that was the nicest most thoughtful thing any bar staff or restaurateur has done for me. And I have been to A LOT of bars and restaurants.

So I wanted to write this post to give Medusa the just credit it deserves. If you're looking for a elegant yet laid back space to hold your event, birthday party, or filming your teen angst vampire movie, you definitely won't be disappointed here.

Medusa Lounge
http://medusaloungela.com/
8pm-2am Wed-Sat
3211 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90057
213-382-5723
Neighborhood: Silver Lake

Thanks to Caroline on Crack for the food and drink pictures

Tip for using the google gadget

If you're interested in an event I've posted and tried to click on it, you may notice a google calendar entry that looks all garbled and whack. Best thing to do would be to right-click on the hyperlink and either open it in a new window or new tab so you can see all the details properly.

I have an estimated re-entry into proper society in early September, so I hope to resume writing soon.

Til then! ;)

New google calendar gadget added

I'm way too busy to write these days :( But that doesn't mean I don't stay on top of goings on around town :D

I created a google calendar which is viewable to the public and I also added a widget to my right side bar so you can see all sorts of events, parties, openings that I think are cool. Maybe I may someday have time to actually attend one of these things *sigh*

Enjoy!

I'm baaaack, for now with more cool sounding events and stuff for this and next weekends

Wow, there is A LOT of stuff going on since I've been out of the loop for so long AND it's almost officially summer.... yay!

West Hollywood Late Night Happy Hour Wed/Thurs
Tis a travesty for happy hours to end at 6pm. So I'm always a fan of late night happy hours. This special is not on their website, so I would call ahead to confirm. But Lolas in weho supposedly has a Wed/Thur late night happy hour from 10:30pm - 12:30am with $5.50 food, $3 beers, and $5 Finlandia martinis.

Lola's
945 N. Fairfax, West Hollywood
323.654.5652


Corkbar Late Night Happy Hour Mon-Thurs
This is a new wine bar in downtown LA that I haven't tried yet, but have heard good things about it. They too have a late happy hour that starts at 10pm! woo! Kitchen closes at 11pm, so I'd get there right at 10 to take advantage of the food specials. $4 pints, half off apps, and some other specials apparently...

Mon-Thurs, 10pm-2am (The website is incorrect. I called them and confirmed these details)
Corkbar
403 W12th St Los Angeles (Downtown LA)
213.746.0050


Surfas Saturdays
My favorite Culver City gastro-supplier Surfas has lots of neat sounding foodie events going on most weekends. And chances are you'll get to sample something delicious if you show up on a Saturday around noon or 1ish. This Saturday, it's $1 pulled beef sliders and they also have a farmers market sounding thing every Saturday. Enjoying yummy sliders at Surfas' outdoor patio, then shopping at the farm stand sounds like a perfect Saturday afternoon to me.

$1 pulled beef sliders
Sat Jun 20th 12pm-2pm (yummy and cheap lunch!)

BeeGreen Farm Stand
Every Saturday 12pm-4pm

Surfas

8777 Washington Blvd, Culver City
310.559.4770


New Rooftop Lounge in Venice Beach
This new beachside rooftop lounge in Venice from today's Thrillist sounds rad. I can't wait to check it out! Opening June 25th, HIGH at the new Hotel Erwin. Name's a bit reminiscent of Venice's hobo drug culture. I wonder if that's what they were going for....

HIGH at Hotel Erwin
1697 Pacific Avenue, Los Angeles (Venice Beach)
310.452.1111
Opening June 25th


Stuff coming up later on: Saturdays off the 405 at The Getty (ugh, does this mean it's gonna be all crowded with B&T?), Thursday night concert series at the Hammer Museum in July, POKETO popup shop at Royal/T (and the opening event next Saturday)

Some recent hap'nens

apt3 yard sale
lots of affordable vintage for men AND women, djs, hotdogs, and "grownup" lemonade, open bar
Saturday, June 20th 1pm-6pm
at apt 3's brick and mortar home
4634 Hollywood Blvd 90027

Free booze party on SATURDAY!
Sponsored by Hornitos (open bar), FREE TACOS(!), art, djs, live performances all in a downtown warehouse loft
RSVP: http://www.viceland.com/rsvphornitos/

Upstairs patio at Rush Street is getting filled with sand - if you're too lazy to drive the extra 5 miles to the ocean
June 19-21
Culver City

$3 Margarita all day every day at El Cid
3256 Cahuenga Blvd (at Bennett), Universal City, 323-851-5111

Drop in to STK
Drop-in tables in the lounge and on the patio for $15 meals like sliders, short ribs or a 6-ounce skirt steak with a salad.
Sun-Fri 6-8pm
West Hollywood

Free flights at The Foundry
Three different 2oz mixed drink pours per person, each day featuring a different potable
Tue: Soco
Wed: Jack
Thurs: Le Tourment Vert absinthe
After the flight, get 1/2 off full glasses of the same cocktails
Tue-Thurs 6-9pm
West Hollywood/Mid-Wilshire

New fancy club alert: Jane's House. It's like a house. Hopefully it's not all exclusionist like a real house.
6541 Hollywood Blvd. (between N. Hudson & Whitley Avenues), Hollywood
Tel: (323) 308-1911