Prototype Issue
La Cita’s the Place to Be. But Keep it on the Down-Low.
Thursdays at La Cita feel more like partying at a trendy bar in Mexico City than being inside a recently made over paisa dive.
Get the Scoop: LA’s Tastiest International Frozen Treats
When most people think ice cream, they think Ben & Jerry's, Dreyer's, and maybe even Rite-Aid. But with the variety of ethnicities in LA, why not broaden your horizons and sink your sweet tooth in a different kind of coldness.
Bar Exam: Outdoor Happy Hours in LA
You don't have to be an alcoholic to enjoy happy hour. Anyone can appreciate drink specials, especially if you can enjoy them in the beautiful outdoors.
Japan's Fix for the Munchies
In an attempt to relive the joy of shopping at Woolworth's while in Johannesburg for my best friend's wedding, I followed up on a Famima!! pitch that was waiting impatiently for me in my inbox after I reacquainted myself with swivel chairs and six cups of coffee before noon.
Hookah's Innocense Lost
Inhale. The water bubbles in the pipe. Eyes are closed. The laughter and music sound distant. The hookah tastes strong. Exhale. The stress from work and school just seems to melt off.
The Green Fairy
It's called "Lucid Absinthe Superieur" and it comes in a jet-black bottle graced by a pair of evil cat-eyes. It's green, 124-proof, and nearly unpalatable taken strait.
Tired of the Hollywood Bullshit? Bar 101 is Your Savior
Located on 107 W. 4th in the heart of downtown LA's historic core district, Bar 107 is like a well worn leather chair in a warm place; you never want to leave it. The regulars come in pairs at the front door shouting out for recognition.
The Democratization of Wine
Do you still buy into the notion that you have to spend a lot for decent wine? Do you take pride in referring to yourself as a “wine snob” and sneer at those who pay single-digit prices for a bottle of vino? You may be in for a mind-opening, and money-saving, surprise.
Elixer in a Hairy Shell
If the name coconut-water kefir doesn’t sound amazing enough on its own to make you want to just dive in and gulp it down, perhaps a little 411 on the topic, will.
Locavore Love: The Gardener’s Guide to Leafy Cuisine
Strawberries from Chile. Beef from Japan. Cheese from Belgium. Here in LA, we’re used to grabbing all of the staples from supermarket aisles.
Grape Expectations: Seduced by Santa Barbara
We’re running late, and, thankfully, so is Amtrak. Intervention-ripe shopaholics, we dallied at Gap for wine country duds before heading at breakneck speed to Union Station.
Water Gets an Oxygen Boost
Drink in and breathe out, says OGO's Web site. This European bottled water company is a slap in the face of Aquafina, whose source was revealed to really be tap water.
Hot as Hell: Spicy Delights in the City of Angels
When it comes to heat, there’s the burning LA sun, and then there’s the scorching chili pepper. After that, everything else seems mild. Thai Town, Chinatown, Olvera St., Little Tokyo, Little Ethiopia, Koreatown, Little Armenia and beyond—to Little Saigon and Little India—just about all of the cultures in LA’s multiethnic stew have a spicy dish or two to offer.
At the Kitchen Sink Charlie Lao is the Undisputed Master of LA Restaurant Supplies
Everything about Charles Lao is exaggerated. The 54-year-old’s boyish face is constantly betrayed by a near-toothless smile and a maniacal laugh that echoes down the towering aisles of his restaurant-equipment superstore Charlie’s Fixtures.
Mission 261 Accomplished: San Gabriel Valley Eatery Captures Hong Kong Vibe
If you’re taking a stroll along San Gabriel’s Mission District during Chinese New Year, you’re likely to see orange-paper lanterns with Chinese calligraphy hanging outside 261 South Mission Drive—the stately home of the Cantonese restaurant and dim sum emporium known worldwide as Mission 261.
Tapping Into LA’s Less Known Watering Holes
Do you like to fly under the radar only to find that your favorite hideout has become the next hot spot? Consider these spots the next time you're up for something other than the norm.
World Famous Thai Food in the Most Unusual of Settings
Upon entering Toi on Sunset, you are hit by an onslaught of rock ’n‘ roll paraphernalia that plaster the walls and ceilings in the form of posters, album covers and photographs.
