Monday, August 17:
Hopdoddy Burger Bar Opens
Austin-born Hopdoddy Burger Bar is making its debut in El Segundo and Playa Vista. Famous for its all-natural, hormone and antibiotic-free burgers ground in-house alongside freshly baked buns, Hopdoddy Burger Bar will open at The Point at El Segundo, followed with a second location at The Runway at Playa Vista in September. The name “Hopdoddy” comes from the union of burgers and beer: handcrafted beer (Hop) + (Doddy), the nickname given to the native cow in Scotland. The menu includes The Classic Burger, Magic Shroom and the Goodnight for a Good Cause Burger, which contributes $1 of each burger sold to a local charity. In addition, burger combos featuring freshly ground bison, lamb, chicken, turkey and sushi-grade ahi tuna are also on the menu. They also have salads including the Hail Caesar, Spinach & Arugula and Baby Kale. The hand-cut Kennebec Fries and Truffle Fries can be served with Chili con Queso or Green Chili Queso for an extra kick. Shakes include the Red Velvet Cake and Nutella & Chocolate Pretzel and can be elevated to a boozy treat using local spirits. Monday
Tuesday, August 18:
Magnolia House’s New Summer Cocktail Menu By New Bar Manager Brian Klemm
This cozy bungalow welcomes its newest resident, Bar Manager Brian Klemm, who is rolling out a new Summer Cocktail Menu. Klemm has been mixing up cocktails in Los Angeles for the past eight years, working at Los Balcones and Spear, as well as most recently running his own mobile bartending service which has farm fresh craft cocktails at private events. He’s serving up cocktails like Marigolds At Magnolia made of pisco, fresh lemon juice, marigold syrup, honey, rose water spray and garnished with marigolds; Notes From Granny crafted with gin, a Granny Smith apple juice mixture of lemon and cucumber with pinches of basil and mint, garnished with a cube of blue cheese and a handwritten note from Granny Smith (Each note is individualized to the guest); The American Dream is made with fresh strawberry-infused bourbon, lemon, simple syrup and mint; El Fugitivo made with raspberry-infused Revel avila, Amaretto, cacao, lime juice, a dash of anise, and mint; and Mag House’s Badass Coffee is made with rum, Ancho Reyes chili, cinnamon, cream, and coffee with a Holland red chili garnish, which can be found under the desserts section of the menu. Plus, the creativity continues to flow Monday-Friday during Neighborhood Hour from 4:30-6 pm where Klemm comes up with a clever Cocktail of the Moment along with discounted beers, wines and bar bites. 492 South Lake Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101; 626.584.1126; Photo Credit: acuna-hansen
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory at LACMA
This is one of my all time most favorite films. A poor boy wins the opportunity to tour the most eccentric and wonderful candy factory ever. We’re talking a chocolate river! The 1971 childhood favorite was written by Roald Dahl and stars Gene Wilder. $4, $2/LACMA members, seniors (62+) and children (17 & under), tickets can be purchased onsite; Tuesday, 1 pm; LACMA, Bing Theater, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036; 323.857.6000
Wednesday, August 19:
Spare Tire Kitchen & Tavern
Spare Tire Kitchen & Tavern from Los Angeles Restaurateur Paul Boettcher (Ye Olde King’s Head, Sagebrush Cantina, Busby’s West, and Busby’s East) and Executive Chef Isaias Peña have a new menu! Executive Chef Isaias Peña (Maya in New York and La Sandia in Santa Monica) is serving up charcuterie that is cured in-house, along with starters like Chicken & Waffle Sliders, Tempura Soft Shell Crab, King Crab Legs, as well as Roasted Bone Marrow. Mains, include Bahn Mi Pork Belly Pizza topped with peanut sauce, mint, carrots, cilantro and bean sprouts, Hanger Steak Pizza, and the Vegan Pizza drizzled with sun dried tomato pesto, purple cauliflower and squash blossoms. They also have handcrafted burgers & sandwiches with every ingredient crafted in-house, including the buttermilk brioche buns, which are baked daily and used in the Pub Burger with thick cut bacon, smoked cheddar, Worcestershire aioli, tomato-marmalade and arugula, the Southern Fried Chicken sandwich and the Lamb Burger with grilled apples, gorgonzola, honey tzatziki and wild arugula. Other dishes include the Stout Beer-Braised Short Rib Gnocchi, Coffee-Ancho Ahi, the Buffalo Pork Shank, and the 16 ounce Cowboy Ribeye with garlic sage butter. Vegetarians will also be happy to know that there is an entire menu section dedicated to Herbivores, with dishes like the Crispy Polenta with cress, mushroom ragu, hazelnuts and saba and Ratatouille with fire roasted vegetables and a garlic infused tomato sauce. For the sweet stuff, order up the Shared Dessert Fondue with three warm and velvety dipping sauces; salted caramel, milk chocolate and white chocolate and a side of tasty dippers like seasonal fruits, graham crackers, marshmallows and chopped nuts. As for the bar, Beverage Director Travis Ferguson features a list of ten specialty cocktails, ten classic cocktails, an extensive liquor list boasting over 120 Whiskies and over 40 Drafts and Bottles of craft beer. Sip on The Cloverdale crafted with Hendricks gin, lime juice, cucumber and ground pepper, the Writer’s Mistress with Jack Daniels, honey syrup, lemon and basil and Ferguson’s favorite Sage Against The Machine is mixed up with Espolon reposado tequila, St. Germain, lime juice, cucumber and fragrant sage. 5370 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036; 323.525.2618
Brandon Boudet’s Palm Springs Dinner
Los Angeles’ favorite Italian-American chef, Brandon Boudet, will head to the desert to host a 5-course dinner at the Colony Palms Hotel in Palm Springs. As the owner and executive chef of Dominick’s, Little Dom’s, the 101 Coffee Shop and MiniBar, you will have the chance to enjoy Chef Boudet’s cuisine like Cast Iron Seared Violette de Bordeaux Figs, Caraway Cured Sockeye Salmon, Brown Rice Polenta,8/9 Grade Grilled Waygu New York Strip Loin, and Zeppole. Chef’s Table Series Paired with Lucky Buddha and featuring Chef Brandon Boudet from Dominick’s and Little Dom’s. $60; Wednesday, 7-9 pm; Purple Palm at the Colony Palms Hotel, 572 N. Indian Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA; 760.969.1818
Abigaile’s Beer Dinner
Abigaile—the only Hermosa Beach restaurant with an onsite brewery—presents a five-course beer dinner featuring pairings from Three Weavers Brewing (Inglewood, CA). Founded by Lynne Weaver, Three Weavers also has the only female brewmaster in Los Angeles, Alexandra Nowell. Chef de Cuisine David Bartnes will prepare five courses of elevated British pub fare, inspired by his time spent in England, accompanied by Three Weavers’ acclaimed brews (selected by Beverage Director Dave Keenan), including: Ploughman’s, British charcuterie board with aged cheddar, stilton, and pork pie; Welsh Rarebit; Bangers and Mash; Fish and Chips; and Sticky Toffee Pudding. $50; On Wednesday, August 19 at 7pm; 1301 Manhattan Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA 90254; 310.798.8227
The Art of Melrose
The Melrose Business Improvement District is hosting a series of themed events for that will highlight all the great things Melrose Avenue, from Fairfax to Highland, has to offer. The series is held every third Thursday from June-August. Each will focus on a different 3-4 block stretch of the street. This week, join in on “The Focus on Expression”, which will take place on the west end of Melrose from Ogden to Curson and will celebrate established and emerging imagery and artistry in fashion, food, accessories and the arts along the legendary avenue. The evening will feature live painting, artists accessorizing clothes and shoes, art shows, special performances, djs and food trucks. Thursday, 6-9 pm; Melrose Ave.
The Ceviche Project
This pop-up dinner at West Hollywood’s Mondrian is hosted by chef Octavio Olivas and will feature complementary cocktails as well the best ceviche Los Angeles has to offer. Click here to reserve your spot at the table. Thursday; Mondrian Los Angeles, 8440 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA; 323.650.8999; Resys here.
Champagne and Shopping with Stacy Twilley and Nevena Borissova of CURVE
Malibu Country Mart and CURVE are hosting a champagne shopping event with designer Stacy Twilley, presenting her latest collection from Twilley Atelier. As the principal co-founder of Modern Luxury Media, Twilley has over 15 years of experience in the luxury market, and has now turned her expert eye to fashion. As they peruse the new collection, snag an additional 10% of all purchases and $100 from every Twilley dress will be donated in support of Children Mending Hearts Charity. Thursday, 11 am-5 pm; Curve at The Malibu Country Mart, 3835 Cross Creek Rd., Malibu, CA 90265
