Monday, January 25:
118 Degrees Opens
This living food plant-based restaurant, offering creative, wholesome plates and drinks along with raw-food education and meal plans has officially opened. Why 118 Degrees you may ask? Most food really starts to breakdown at a temperature of 118 degrees and that is when you lose enzymes and nutritional value. The dinner menu, which is dairy, soy and wheat free is broken up into four categories of Samplers, Tapas Salads, Entrée Salads and Dinner. Shareable plates include the Spanish Tapas Platter with 118 Empanadas stuffed with mangos and Tahini cheese and served with Spanish vegetables and avocado lime sauce, Fried Avocado Tostadas and Tortilla Soup. In the greens, you will find a Cucumber Salad with corn, sprouted quinoa, Tahini cheese with a lemon vinaigrette and the Compressed Spinach Salad with baby spinach, apples and citrus pesto dressing. For dinner, order up Coconut Curry Wraps topped with a red sauce and a sweet crème; Florentine Lasagna layered with zucchini, tomato, macadamia creamy ricotta and basil Marinara with basil cheese and marinated Portobello mushrooms; and the Fried Avocado Rolled Tacos filled with tahini cheese, fried avocado, cucumber, baby mixed greens and tomatillo salsa. For dessert, enjoy seasonal Fruit Fondue with chocolate and vanilla sauces, Chocolate Cheesecake, and a Fresh Fruit Cobbler is served with a pecan or walnut crust and fresh vanilla crème sauce. The drinks menu includes fresh-squeezed juices, locally roasted coffees and teas, as well as premium organic and biodynamic wines, beer and sake cocktails. They also offered breakfast, lunch and set meal plans. 18636 Ventura Blvd, Tarzana, CA 91356; 818.660.1118
Ashland Hill Launches Social Hour
Santa Monica beer garden, Ashland Hill, is launching a “Social Hour” with discounted samplings of its most popular dishes. Available every day, the new social hour includes: “House on the House” Wine Special: your second round of house wine is on the house; Tabit’s Tiny Tastings ($12): build your own 3-dish sampler of Chef Brad Miller’s signature dishes, including Avocado & Roasted Tomato Toast, Charred Shishito Mac & Cheese, Crispy Cauliflower, Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts, and Falafel & Sesame Labneh; Flights & Fries ($12): choice of four 5oz. draft beers + herb parmesan fries, sweet potato fires or tarragon vinegar house chips. Daily, 3-6 pm; 2807 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405; 310.392.3300
Il Fornaio Woodland Hills Launches Happy Hour
Classic Italian restaurant, Il Fornaio Woodland Hills is debuting its happy hour menu. The happy hour menu is made up of various antipasti, pizzas, signature cocktails, wines by the glass and beer on draft all for $6 each! Menu highlights include: Calamaretti with spicy Marinara; Capricciosa Pizza with ham, artichokes, mushrooms, kalamata olives, mozzarella; Rye Smash Cocktail made with Bulleit Rye, Luxardo maraschino, fresh lemon juice, fresh mint; and a Raspberry Martini made with Stolichnaya Razberi Vodka and chambord. Monday-Friday, 4-6 pm; 6320 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Shake Shack Pops Up at Son of a Gun
The culinary team behind the popular East Coast chain is doing a one-night-only pop-up inside of Son of a Gun. The Shake Shack team plans to do a bunch of events leading up to the late spring opening in West Hollywood. On Monday, you can expect the original ShackBurger, signature crinkle cut fries with Son of a Gun’s in-house aioli, and a whoopie pie-style dessert. Son of a Gun will be serving up a tuna melt. Shake Shack will be letting guests line up in advance of the 6 pm. No reservations will be taken, so plan on waiting in line. Monday, 6-11 pm; 8370 West 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Tuesday, January 26:
Free Chili at Philippe’s
Even though it may not be freezing here, we do enjoy our winters. And what better way to enjoy it than with a bowl of chili? Free chili! Philippe’s is giving away 500 bowls of chili today, as part of their annual Free Chili Day. Show up and order a sandwich and you get free chili. That simple. Tuesday, 10:30 am;
El Chavo serves Happy Hour
Going on every week, the newly reimagined El Chavo will be doing happy hour specials. Expect cocktails, oysters, and beer. Tuesday-Thursday, 5-7 pm; 4441 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027; 323.664.0871
8-cent martinis at Little Dom’s
In celebration of their 8th anniversary, Los Feliz hotspot Little Dom’s will be offering 8-cent martinis made with Ventura Spirits Vodka. Tuesday, 5:30 pm until they run out; 2128 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027; 323.661.0055
Wednesday, January 27:
FIGat7thFitness Open House
Head to FIGat7th for the #FIGat7thFitness Open House in the TASTE Food Hall & Courtyard. Gold’s Gym and BESPOKE Cycling Studio will be showcasing live fitness demos and you can sign up for complimentary classes scheduled for Thursday, January 28 and also enter to win $100 Gift Cards from Sport Chalet and FIGat7th. Gold’s Gym is offering Cardio Latin (12:10-12:30 pm and 1:10-1:30 pm), a cardio-based dance class which moves to the rhythms of all Latin dance techniques, teaching you to move your body in ways you never thought of! BESPOKE Cycling Studio will offer Bespoke Ride Classes (12:40 pm-1 pm and 1:40-2 pm) 45 minutes of intense cardio combined with upper body and core work on the bike, all to the beat of innovative playlists. Wednesday, demos: 11 am-2 pm, complimentary classes: Thursday, 5:30-8:30 pm; TASTE Food Hall & Courtyard (Lower Level), 735 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90017
Kali Opens
Kali is the passion project of long-time friends and professional colleagues Chef Kevin Meehan and Drew Langley, formerly the Wine Director at the seminal, Michelin-starred Providence. The restaurant offers Meehan’s twist on contemporary California cuisine and ingredient-focused cocktails, accompanied by a wine program curated by Langley. The decor includes slate stone flooring along with high-arched, exposed ceilings, warm toned cushioned banquets and paneled oak tables with minimalistic wire Banzai trees. Begin your meal with dishes like Rockfish Crudo; Escargot toast points; or Heritage Grain Risotto with black garlic and San Joaquin cheese. Large dishes include Squab with carrots, honey, and lavender; Beef Tenderloin with burnt onion and fingerling potatoes; and Cavatelli with peppercorns, crème fraîche and fried wild arugula. Desserts, also crafted by Meehan, include Toasted Meringue Gelato with shavings of cured candied egg yolk; a Bitter Chocolate Cremeux with mint and cocoa soil; and a Flan Gras with almonds and red wine gastrique. In addition to the daily wine list that will feature affordable California finds, Langley will also offer a “Collection” spotlighting rare and small production bottles sourced from private collectors. Beverages will be rounded out with classic cocktails that showcase locally-sourced based spirits, house made shrubs and farmers market finds, as well as California and international craft beer, and Meehan’s house made kombucha. LAMILL coffee and tableside tea & tisane service will be proffered at the completion of a meal. Wednesday; 5722 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038, 323.871.4160
The LA Art Show
The LA Art Show is a 200,000 square foot art fair that welcomed more than 50,000 art enthusiasts to the Los Angeles Convention Center. For the 2016 show, they are offering you a new hosted art experience which will entail a fair devoted to only Modern and Contemporary art. Located next door, the Los Angeles Fine Art Show will exhibit works of Historic and Traditional Contemporary Art. Founded in 1994, the show has grown from a small regional event featuring 14 galleries to become the largest and longest running platform for fine art, bringing in more than 120 galleries representing 22 countries. $15-$35; Wednesday-Sunday; Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Thursday, January 28:
Book Signing at Beaming
Head to Santa Monica for wellness and yoga blogger Jordan Younger’s “Breaking Vegan” book signing party at Santa Monica superfood café, Beaming. Beaming will serve signature detox juices, baked goods, and vegan snacks. Nutritionist Kelly LeVeque of Be Well By Kelly will be giving a brief talk on the importance of detoxing for the New Year. Free; Thursday, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m; 1426 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403
All-You-Can-Eat-Pizza
Mobile wood-fired pizza maker, Urban Pie, is doing a pop-up at their catering kitchen in Commerce. You can chow down on endless rotation of pizzas and beer. They will be showcasing some unusual, higher-than-usual quality ingredients. $25; Thursday, 7 pm; 4528 E Washington Blvd, Commerce, CA 90040; 323.265.7334
7th Edition of Art Los Angeles Contemporary
The International Contemporary Art Fair of the West Coast, returns for its seventh edition at The Barker Hangar. The 2016 edition of ALAC brings together over 70 top established and emerging galleries from around the world from over ten countries and a dozen art capitals. They are also introducing independent publishing guru, Miriam Katzeff, who will be traveling to Los Angeles from the Brooklyn offices of Primary Information to organize a special section featuring the latest and most compelling artist’s books, editions, and publications. Talks and lectures by program curator, Marc LeBlanc will be discussing what is happening now in art making in L.A., and presenting a history of how we got here. Thursday through January 31st; Barker Hangar, 3021 Airport Ave #203, Santa Monica, CA 90405; 310.390.9071
