Monday, March 2:
Del Frisco’s Grille Santa Monica Offers Free Rides for Lunch
For all of March, Del Frisco’s Grille Santa Monica has teamed up with Santa Monica Free Ride to offer on-demand, free rides to lunch while Colorado Blvd. is closed for Metro construction. Jump on the free ride and enjoy a leisurely commute, and also receive a complimentary appetizer (with purchase). In order to book the ride, text “Take Me to DFG” to 310.895.9204 and you will be picked up from their home or office location* and dropped off in front of the restaurant (15 minutes advance notice requested). *The Santa Monica Free Ride will offer pick ups between Wilshire Blvd. and Pico Blvd. and 7th Street to Ocean Ave. Monday-Friday, 12-2 pm; 1551 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90401
Dig: Escape the Room
USA is bringing the excitement of its new event series, DIG to life by giving you the chance to unravel a mystery of your own. They’ve teamed up with Escape the Room to create an immersive, one-of-a-kind DIG-themed experience that will put you through the ultimate test. Teams of up to ten will be locked in a mysterious room and given 30 minutes to work together to unlock clues, solve puzzles, and find a way to escape the room. Free; Universal Studios; register here.
King Boba Opens
Santa Monica has added a swell new boba tea spot that will serve up bubble tea, in addition to two bowls: teriyaki chicken or teriyaki beef. Boba options include milk tea with various flavorings, black milk tea, slush mango boba, or lychee iced tea boba. Open 11 am-6 pm; 1828 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404
Don Chente Bar-Grill & Lounge Opens
This multi-level bar (including the rooftop), across from Staples Center, is serving up hand crafted cocktails, views, and classic and contemporary Mexican fare. In addition to the views, the rooftop has cabanas, TVs, and fire pits. Inside, you’ll find a Grammy-winning house mariachi band, that play Thursday-Sunday. In addition to mezcal and tequila cocktails, you’ll find tall beers, rose petal mole, al-pastor-and-pineapple pizza, mole buffalo wings. 1248 S Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90015; 213.814.4865
Mexicano Opens
LA chefs Jaime and Ramiro’s newest Los Angeles restaurant, Mexicano (pronounced “me-hi-ka-no”) opens in Baldwin Hills Crenshaw. Enter through wrought iron gates to find the turquoise dining room with etched metal dividers, colorful lamps, retail items, and indigenous artwork from the chefs’ home state of Jalisco. An extensive outdoor patio for al fresco dining features suspended incandescent, Edison-style bulbs and steel pendant fixtures. Menu highlights include a cooked-to-order grilled tamale; Nayarit cod ceviche; and pechugas de pollo, a simmering Mexican dish of shredded chicken with poblano chiles, cream and mushrooms. The cocktail menu features several Mezcal based cocktails like the Sereno made with ginger and lime, the Placero with cactus, lime and Chicharron salt, and the Mezcapán, featuring Mazapán, Orangeflower water, and lime and three Raspados, the Mexican version of a snow cone, including a Jamaica one, a Tamarindo one and a Vanilla one. Desserts include mini churros to dip in cinnamon-laced café, guavas marinated in a Mexican-style eggnog and Chile en Nogada Ice Cream topped with candied Poblano Chile strips, a play on the traditional chile dish of Mexico. Open Sunday–Thursday: 11 am-10 pm, Friday–Saturday: 11 am-11 pm; Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Shopping Center, 3650 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90008; 323.296.0798
Magnolia House Toasts 2 Coasts!
This little 100-year-old craftsman bungalow and innovative craft-cocktail bar features drinks influenced by both coasts. Two of Magnolia House’s cocktails are Evan Zimmerman’s (West Coast) creations: the Mendocino Sour, a twist on the Whiskey Sour that incorporates Rooibos tea, lavender and fino sherry, and The Lumberjack’s Breakfast, made with scotch, apple brandy, maple and cardamom syrup, lemon, egg white for rich texture, garnished with two green apple slices. Many of Colin Shearn’s (East Coast) cocktails were inspired by classics, like the Barracuda, which tweaks the Mexican Firing Squad (tequila, lime, grenadine and Angostura Bitters) by swapping out the Angostura with celery bitters. The Copper Heart #2 was inspired by Shearn’s favorite drink from Zimmerman’s previous list, a mix of pisco, lemon, grapefruit and cinnamon. Magnolia House also offers ten draft beers, all from the West Coast except for Belgium’s Duvel Single. The beers range from the light Craftsman 1903 Lager (made in Pasadena) to the dark Black Butte Porter from Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon. The Wine List is also large, including 22 reds, whites and sparkling wines from around the world that are offered by the glass and another twenty-two by the bottle. (Photo Credit: acuna-hansen). 492 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101; 626.584.1126
Tuesday, March 3:
Spaghettini & the Dave Koz Lounge‘s Power Lunch
Executive Chef Scott Howard will prepare a menu of more casual approach to Beverly Hills dining, and debut sidewalk patio for enjoying the beautiful spring weather. Howard’s lunch menu features his signature Spaghettini with saffron, Dungeness crab, shrimp, fennel pollen, and uni butter; Crab & Shrimp Louie with bibb lettuce, tomato, avocado, watercress, and egg; Short Rib Grilled Cheese with Fontina and tomato jam; Crispy Chicken with jalapeño coleslaw, yukon potato puree, and maple jus; and Steak & Potato Salad with bibb lettuce, cherry tomatoes, pecorino, fingerling potatoes, and mustard. Beginning Tuesday, (Tuesday – Friday, 11:30 am – 2 pm);184 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210; 310.424.4600
The Independence Opens
Referred to as the “Godfather of Cocktails” and the “Cocktail Master”, barman Vincenzo Marianella has recently opened The Independence in Santa Monica. Cocktails include the Sawtelle, citron vodka paired with fresh kumquats, fresh blood orange, honey-ginger syrup and lime bitters; the Wolfskill, a bourbon, mezcal blend with the balance of rhubarb and elderflower liqueurs with Jerry Thomas bitters; the Palms, a refreshing gin based drink with fresh cilantro, white seedless grape juice, elderflower liqueur, fresh lime and sparking wine; and the Bundy, made with rye whiskey with almond liqueur, orange bitters and chocolate ice cream! There are also beverages sans alcohol, on the “Healthy Refreshments” menu that combines locally sourced fruits and vegetables with ingredients like almond syrup, coconut water and ginger beer. The Independence’s happy hour menu (Tuesday-Sunday, 3 – 7 pm) features select off-menu cocktails, like the Arnaz made with tequila with marlocco cherry liquor and lime, and non bar bites, like the hanger steak skewer with chimichurri and the goat cheese tortellini with beets. Full food menu here and drink menu here. 205 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401; 310.458.2500
Wednesday, March 4:
Found Coffee Soft Opens
Eagle Rock has a new coffee spot from Annie Choi, (Demitasse) who used refurbished furniture and thrift store treasure for it’s decor (hence, “found). You can sip on espresso drinks, seasonal lattes, and tea from T-We, while you munch on baked goods from Creme Caramel L.A. Tuesday-Saturday, 7 am-7 pm, Sunday & Monday, 8 am-3 pm; 1355 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles, CA
Tickets for “Eats of March” Go on Sale
Eat LBC kicks-off its annual Long Beach Restaurant Week at Hyatt The Pike in Downtown Long Beach. A limited number of tickets are available for $35 with partial proceeds benefitting non-profit partner Food Finders, a community-based food rescue organization that serves as a conduit for food, education and awareness between donors, volunteers, agencies and people in need. The ticket price includes complimentary tastings from 10 Long Beach restaurants plus wine tasting courtesy of Celebrity Cruises and a biergarten hosted by Stella Artois. Those serving at Eat LBC’s Launch Party include: Gladstone’s, Kihon Sushi + Japanese Tapas, La Strada, Callaloo Caribbean Kitchen, Buono’s Pizzeria, Honduras Kitchen, L’Opera, Auld Dubliner, Panxa Cocina, and Bay Street Bistro. Eat LBC’s Launch Party will take place on March 15, 2-5 pm at Hyatt The Pike in Downtown Long Beach at 285 Bayside Avenue.
Thursday, March 5:
Celebrity Cruises’ “A Night to Remember”
This event includes entertainment and food & wine samples from destinations around the globe (to which Celebrity Cruises sails) including Asia, the Mediterranean, Alaska, and the Galapagos Islands. You can also tour the areas including the spa, fitness center, cycle room, cafe and kids activity station (offerings Celebrity has onboard its world class ships). Celebrity’s Susana Romero will also be speaking about Celebrity Explorations, the vacation planning zone will be set up, and you will have a chance to enter-to-win a free Celebrity Cruises trip for two and a chance to win instant giveaways from the prize wheel including spa robes and the Celebrity Cruises “Excite the Sense” book. Thursday, 6:30-9 pm; 25600 Rancho Niguel Rd., Laguna Niguel , CA 92677
Wine Classses at Trattoria Amici at The Americana at Brand
We are excited to share that every Thursday this month, Trattoria Amici at The Americana at Brand will be hosting wine classes led by in-house Sommelier Andrea Scuto. This Thursday join in the The Blind Class, where, you’ll let only your senses judge the wine you have in your glass! They’ll go over six wines blind to understand the differences and where they come from. $55.00 (dinner included); Thursdays, 7-9 pm; 889 Americana Way, Glendale, CA 91210
Chianina Offers Bubbles & Shells Special
They have refreshed their interior with a new bar, which means $1.50 oysters and baked clams with $7 sparkling wines during their Bubbles & Shells special. Thursdays, 5 pm-12 am; 5716 E 2nd St., Long Beach, CA 90803; 562.434.2333
National Absinthe Day
Celebrate at West Hollywood’s The Horn, when they offer a one ounce serving of Absinthe for just 5 cents (limit one per person)! Additionally, they will also offer five specialty Absinthe cocktails all night for $5 each and they include Absinthe Frappe, Death in the Afternoon, Chrysanthemum, Absinthe Sazerac, and Absinthe Suissesse. You can also enjoy the newly expanded happy hour menu, which includes $10 burger; flat bread; $8 wings, fried mac and cheese; gater bites; onion rings; and pretzel bites. Thursday; 8933 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069; 310.933.6678
Smog City Beer Pairing Dinner
Enjoy six courses with six beers! King’s Row Gastropub in Old Pasadena continues their monthly 6 course Beer Pairing Dinner series with a rarity filled night of Wild Game & Foraged Veggies/Fruit/Roots alongside Torrance’s finest craft beer creations care of Smog City Brewing. The tap list includes Mai Tai Hoptonic IPA; Weird Beer; The Nothing Imperial Stout; Saber Tooth Squirrel Amber; Amarilla Gorilla IPA; and Coffee Porter. $50; Thursday, 7 pm;Kings Row Gastropub, 20 E Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91103; RSVP: Jim@kingsrowpub.com
Good Vibrations Motorsports March Meet
Get good vibes at this major race event that has everything from funny cars, to drag races, and to nitro-burning beasts. If you love cars, you will love this. Thursday-Sunday; Famoso Raceway, 33559 Famoso Rd., McFarland CA. 93250
Wayne Federman International Film Festival
Famous comedians (Sacha Baron Cohen, Chris Hardwick, and Will Forte) introduce your favorite movies (Ghostbusters,Fletch,Big) on the big screen! This is one of those “only in LA” events. $14/ Free for members; Thursday-Sunday; Silent Movie Theater, 611 N Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036
