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Monday, November 30:

Santa Monica Travel & Tourism Launches Annual Extra Bedroom Campaign
Santa Monica Travel & Tourism (SMTT) announced the annual Santa Monica Extra Bedroom program that offers hotel discounts. In celebration of the popular, locals-only campaign, SMTT will also host a free Pajama Pool Party at the oceanfront Loews Santa Monica Beach HoteThe annual Extra Bedroom campaign allows Santa Monica residents the opportunity to receive special rates and perks at Santa Monica hotels during the holiday season to provide visiting family and friends quality  accommodations while saving on space and budget. Enjoy special amenities, in-room breakfast, complimentary upgrades and discounted room rates starting at $167. Full list of Santa Monica Extra Bedroom hotels and rates, here. In celebration of the Extra Bedroom campaign, SMTT will host a free Pajama Pool Party at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel to kick off the holidays. Attendees must show a Santa Monica ID to enter, and wear their favorite PJs for this festive community event. Guests will be provided complimentary appetizers with proof of residency as well as discounted drink specials. The party will also feature food and drink tastings from area hotels and restaurants, live music, a photo booth, crafts, games and  a chance to win a Santa Monica stay-cation. To RSVP, here. Discounts: through January 22; Party: Free; Monday, 5:30-8 pm; 700 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Speaking of Heart
Bring 1 lb. (or more!) of ground, caffeinated coffee to One Colorado’s Management Office and for your kindness we’ll give you a voucher for a delicious cup of Il Fornaio’s wood-roasted Americano or Italiano Giuseppe (that’s Joe in Italian). Through December 11th, Monday-friday, 9 am-5 pm; 24 East Union St., Pasadenca, CA; 626.564.1066

Picnic LA Opens in Culver City
The fast-casual, produce-driven concept by Brad Zions (Lemonade), Eliot Silver (Vice F&B) and Noah Ellis (Vice F&B, Red Medicine) will officially open in Culver City today. Picnic LA will feature a menu of elegant foods prepared simply, with an emphasis on seasonal vegetables and composed salads, complimented by roasted free-range chicken, beef and other proteins. Bottled beverages will also be served, with beer and wine to come shortly after opening. Monday; 9900 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Island Hotel Newport Beach’s Coastal Cottage Gingerbread Hotel Lobby Display
Pastry Chef Andy De La Cruz and his sweet brigade bring the iconic Newport Beach “bungalow scene” to life in the lobby with their perfect coastal gingerbread re-creation inspired by nearby Crystal Cove cottages. Monday; 690 Newport Center Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660; 949.759.0808

Tuesday, December 1:

Inotheke Opens
This contemporary new dining destination from Carolos Tomazos is serving up Modern Greek cuisine. With a modern and bright aesthetic, Inotheke has floor to ceiling windows, whites and earth tones, and an open kitchen. The Inotheke menu has dishes like Tyropitakia with Haloumi and Kaseri cheeses, mint and red peppers; Potted Duck topped with walnuts and orange-cardamom marmalade; “Lakerda,” with Ahi tuna and a fresh herb salad; Herb Crusted Salmon with eggplant; Cod Fritters with Skordalia; braised Octopus stewed in red wine and pearl onions; Shrimp “Saganaki” with tomato sauce, feta and ouzo, and the Grilled Calamari Salad comes with cannellini beans and fennel; Roast Chicken Thigh “Oreganato” with lemon potatoes; Short Rib “Stifado” braised with shallots and red wine; Greek Mousaka made with ground beef, eggplant, zucchini and a light twist on the “Béchamel” sauce; Lamb & Orzowith tomato and Parmesan; Pork Belly “Kolokasi” with taro, coriander and spinach; and the Pork “Youvarlakia” with wild rice and lemon sauce. The name Inotheke, translates to “wine case,” so you can be sure great wines will be served (over 20 varietals by the glass and over 60 eclectic selections by the bottle), along with four rotating draft beers and 12 bottled beers. 606 Broadway Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401; 310.458.3366

Charcoal Venice Opens
The new inviting restaurant from Michelin-starred Chef and Owner Josiah Citrin, opens on Washington Boulevard. Designed by DEX Studio’s Glen Bell, the minimalistic, open concept offers a warm dining experience. Throughout the restaurant, Bell utilizes woods used in grilling, along with pops of black, red, pink, grey, and white, to illustrate the evolution of a piece of burning charcoal. The dining room features individual and communal tables with sleek ash chairs, brass lighting fixtures that resemble grill tops, and a rotating selection of curated modern art. More casual than Citrin’s Mélisse, Charcoal Venice has a simpler, more approachable menu. The daily menu features family-style comfort foods cooked over a fire with a wood oven, over charcoal, in the coals, or in a Big Green Egg to get a smoky, backyard barbeque flavor with the use of premium oak and hickory lump coals. Citrin also offers smaller starters, including a unique tartare selection like beef heart and lamb and farmers’ market vegetables, like a whole head of cabbage baked in the coals until it’s completely black on the outside and smoky on the inside. Other dishes include Half Chicken Salsa Verde; 48 oz. Dry-Aged Porterhouse; Coal Roasted Carrots with sheep’s milk ricotta, herbs, honey, and black pepper; and Collard Greens with sweet potatoes, aged cheddar, and a lemon raisin vinaigrette. Four complimentary house sauces including Smoked Paprika Chimichurri, Red Wine-Chipotle Barbeque Sauce, housemade”J1 Sauce,” and an Herb Spiced Vinegar. The cocktail program offers drinks like Duck Blind made with vodka, duck fat, and orange liqueur and the Midnight Margarita made with tequila, charcoal, and elderflower. There’s also a selection of craft beers, including local spots like a Wit from Santa Monica Brew Works and a Session Stout from Boomtown Brewery. The curated wine list focuses primarily on Citrin’s favorite California and French producers, including Au Bon Climat’s “Nuits-Blanches au Bouge” Chardonnay 2013 (Saint Maria Valley) and Domaine Tempier Bandol 2012 (Provence). 425 W Washington Blvd, Venice, CA, 90292; 310.751.6794

Holiday Treats in the Lobby & Toys for Tots Drop-off
Enjoy warm apple cider and a variety of special holiday treats in the hotel lobby during December. You can also enjoy the art of giving back to the community when they drop-off unwrapped toys to support the Toys for Tots annual holiday campaign. All of December, Thursday-Sunday, 1-4 pm; 690 Newport Center Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660; 949.759.0808

December Festivities at Mr. C Beverly Hills
For all of December, cozy up in the lobby lounge to gaze at the beautifully decorated tree, listen to live music, and enjoy mugs of Vin Brulè ($14), an Italian version of hot spiced wine, or Spiked Hot Chocolate with Green Chartreuse and orange peel ($15.95). December 1 – 31, 5 pm-1 am; 1224 Beverwil Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90035

Wednesday, December 2:

Scratch | Bar & Kitchen Opens in Encino
Phillip Frankland Lee and Margarita Lee, owners and chefs at The Gadarene Swine in Studio City, have opened Scratch|Bar & Kitchen located on the second floor of Encino Place shopping center. The intimate 1000-square foot restaurant space seats 16 around the Chefs counter and 14 at high tables, all centered around a 12 ft wood-burning oven with an open hearth designed by Lee and created by NorCal Ovenworks that occupies the kitchen. The restaurant will not employ waiters because the chefs will interact directly with you, find out preferences in terms of ingredients, and create custom dishes according to your liking. (An 18% service charge will be added to each check that will be shared equally among all restaurant employees). The menu includes an eclectic selection of locally-sourced meat and fish, vegetables and starches, and Pastry Chef Margarita Lee will be preparing all the desserts.  All ingredients will be made from scratch, including house-cured charcuterie, several aged cheeses, and hand-pressed olive oil. In addition to the customizable à la carte options, Scratch|Bar & Kitchen will offer seven- to 25-course tasting menus which range from $40 – $120, as well as beer and wine. The restaurant also has an area for specialty cocktails, which the restaurant will begin serving early next year. 16101 Ventura Blvd, Suite 255, Encino, CA 91436; 818.646.6085

Thursday, December 3:

Sangers & Joe presents Keys To The Kitchen
This event has an exciting lineup of guest chef dinners where local and international chefs will take over the kitchen on select evenings and present full course dinner menus. Executive Chef Patrick Florendo from 41 Ocean Club and Sonoma Wine Garden will take the Keys To The Kitchen this coming Thursday and present a five course dinner! The young Australian native has worked in various premier kitchens across the US for over a decade, cooking at  restaurants: Jean George’s Spice Market in New York City, Tableau in Las Vegas and Farallon in San Francisco. Spin The Bottle Wine Studio, will be available to complement each chef’s menu. Additionally, the regular Sangers & Joe beverage menu will be available, including bottled beers, craft sodas, tasty java drinks and hot teas by Lamill Coffee & Teas. Schedule includes: December 17th – Claudio Dell’Anno, Sangers & Joe; Thursday, December 31st-Claudio Dell’Anno, Sangers & Joe; Thursday, January 14th -Kyle Schutte, Wood & Vine; Thursday, January 28th – Marc Johnson, Tipple & Brine; and Thursday, February 11th – Laurent Quenioux, LQ “Foodings”$59; Thursday; 57 East Holly St, Pasadena, CA 91103; 323.553.0563

The Unauthorized Musical Parody of Home Alone
The venue that first brought you For The Record shows is showcasing this musical version of Macaulay Culkin’s best movie, with two female leads switching off the Kevin McCallister role and songs from the ’80s smattered throughout. $20+; Through December 31; Rockwell Table & Stage, 1714 N. Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Mystery Theater Sports Bar
They’re transforming their Mystery Theater into LA’s hottest sports bar. Enjoy too many flat screen TVs, a cool refreshing beer, and a program of the finest sports-themed video. Experimental shorts, performance documentation, and feature-length art house classics (covering swimming to soccer to dog agility training). Featuring work by dozens of artists, with a new line-up each day. Free; Thursday-Sunday, 7 pm-1 am; Machine Project, 1200 N Alvarado St, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Planet Blue is Opening in South Bay
They are celebrating their grand opening at The Point! Enjoy cocktails, light bites, music, and raffles. Special gift for the first 50 customers too! Thursday, 6-9 pm; 840 S Sepulveda Blvd, Suite B102, El Segundo, CA 90245

West Third Street’s Block Party
Head to West Third Street for deals, gratis drinks and bites, and more at over 75 boutiques and eateries between La Cienega Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue. Shops include Polkadots & Moonbeams, Noodle Stories, Ragdoll LA, Shopaholic Sample Sales, Gogosha Optique, Dan Deutsh Optical Outlook, Alexis Bittar, Wittmore, Douglas Fir, Flight 001, Area, and others. Beauty and fitness spots include Aesop, Benefit Cosmetics, Drybar, Facehaus, Murad, Air Aerial Fitness, and more. Stay nourished with healthy spots like Joan’s on Third, Kreation Kafe, Verve Coffee Roasters, Sweetgreen, and Matcha Box. Full lineup here. Thursday, 5-9 pm; between La Cienega Blvd and Fairfax Ave

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