So, as we all know Wednesday nights belong to Canal Club and The Galley. Due to an unfortunate drama at the CC ( I was not involved) we are  no longer attending(for a little while) and looked for a new spot on this glossy, splashy, unfortunately rainy night.  5:00 faced me with a truly sad state of affairs, with two hungry to drinking women on my tail, I scoured the Oracle, nee Internet, for a NEW place for us to terrorize tonight. A shadowy newcomer showed it‘s shiny golden face- Copa D’Oro. I’ve been here before but with mediocre results- but the 5:30 to 8:00 PM Happy Hour was a pot, er,   CUP of gold-  and I roped the troops into trying it out.

Copa has great lighting…if you’re wrecked or tired-meet your internet date here, perf. ALL crazy strong good drinks are $5, wine too and $4 beer. Hungry? Chomp on PBJ, turkey and cheese, and oh- NUTELLA if you want. The overworked waitress was a bit slow towards the end but overall, Copa rocked our Cabana.

Of course, we were not SURE after we left that we had had enough to eat and drink so …we went to the Galley. Can I tell you? The Olympics are so much more exciting to watch when you are smashers , egging on the #1 Koren skater with your #1 Koren friend over ½ price everything until close is freaking exciting!!!

Bless the Galley. Patient and attentive and fair, they really should run for office.
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Copa D Oro- get it?
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So there's an Argentinian wine tasting, tapas-munching, happy hour tomorrow night at Primativo Wine Bistro from 7-9PM.  Sounds good right?
Booze, CHECK!
Snacks, CHECK!
Abbot Kinney location, CHECK!
Price? ooooppps...
Price CHECK!!! (like a hockey-style body check!!!)
$37
ouch...
Someone who's got flow please go and let us know if it's worth the dough!
uhoh!
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Oh lordy, it's going to rain again, which always puts me in a slightly Euro - mood, craving nothing but to curl up in my black cashmere sweater with some red wine in the back of a dark bar, smoke cigarettes, and complain about politics. Although I 've given up the pack-a-day ten years ago now, the bar is a habit I can't break. 
Bar Pintxo to be exact. Pronounced pinch-oh ( don't worry, it took me three visits to get it) it's the perfect little tapas bar in Santa Monica, small and candlelit - you can instantly disappear.
Having lived for a summer in Barcelona, I can attest to the fact that the tapas here is not only authentic, it's freakin delicious. Perfect little morsels, or wonderful little half sandwich surprises, white wine garlic skewered shrimp and the olives- oh the olives- they are good too. 
If you are a wine- spiller like me ( I just get so excited! I can't help it! ) you'll love that they serve wine " canteen style" - which is basically in a rocks glass. I mean, you ( or I ) can still spill it, but you have to work a bit harder.
Bar Pinxto Happy Hour is EVERY DAY and late night so click through to get the details. Now that you know where to go- the only big decision you have to make is Vino Tinto or Vino Blanco!  
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Anyone who knows me, knows my hangover cure, and the carefully calculated preventative measures I take to avoid the aforementioned. I was tipped off to a new addition to "the formula" this morning that may not be physically beneficial, but emotionally supportive ( WE ALL NEED IT!) and definitely humorous.

SOAPS made from BOOZE.

Oh yes folks, you can lather yourself in the hair of the dog the morning after a bender.. and when people at work say ..." Hmmm somebody smells like gin! " You can tell them about your Gin Martini soap, deflecting all suspicion while you go back to your desk and contemplate  wheather you're gonna pass out or throw-up. Check out WineandSpiritSoaps's intoxicicating flavors such as Jack & Cola,  Pinot Noir, and Old Crow Whiskey Carmel & Tobacco soap.
NOW GO CLEAN YOURSELF UP!
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Follow me on Twitter today to get ten Presidents Day related clues.
For each right answer, if you're the FIRST to deliver it, gets you a FREE DRINK at Main on Main in Santa Monica TONIGHT ONLY- on top of their great Happy Hour listed below.
Now crack open those dusty school books and put your education to use!
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Lucky you-Chi and me have struck up an exclusive happy hour deal on Monday-oh yes- THIS MONDAY  (the 15th) at Main on Main( see post below for more venue details!)
$4 beers
$4 wells
$6 mixology, to include, the Moscow Mule, Hand Pressed Marg and a few other handcrafted drinks.
$8 wines, which are $12 by the glass normally (very good grapes inside).
There are a couple of cute guys who will entertain you with their musical stylings while you're mesmerized by Steve and John's cocktailing. If you are game, I'm going to plant hints to 10 secret words on twitter  that will score you FREE DRINKS on Monday if, and only if ,you are the first to drop the verbal bomb on the boys.
Its a bit complicated but- if you want a free drink- I am sure you will figure it out.Be a Twitter Twat! I'll be High tomorrow cause they say its gonna be 80 !!!! Hooray for sun!
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Chi Chi signing in for a guest appearance on today’s VHH blog:
For those of you who don’t know me, I am what you call a “research assistant” appointed by Jezz to act as an additional set of eyes and ears (and liver!) for the VHH readers.  Yes…it’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it, right?  
So on Tuesday night, I came across some seriously sophisticated drinks made by 2 talented (and incredibly nice) mixologists over on Main on Main .  Actually, before we get to the drinks, I need to address the décor.  It took me about 3 minutes to just sit there and absorb the ambience of dim red lights, Michael Jackson canvas painting (a snap shot from his “Thriller” days), and the poles in the center of the tables that shoot straight up to the ceiling.  Definitely keeps your visual senses occupied for the night.
The drinks are a whole ‘nother story.  I recommend the Moscow Mule, which was virtually a 1920's staple according to Steven from behind the bar, and the Carmen Amaya, which is an explosion of citrus flavors in your mouth.  Other concoctions on the list are the Bellarinha and the Blood Orange Negroni.  
But I must advise you, these drinks are not for the “light toleranted.”  Keep the YDriveLA.com number handy, 888- 401-DUI7, as backup.  (If want more info on this, check out the 12/23/09 posting.)  
One more spew of detail I have for this place is Tuesday night; a live band scheduled to play.  If you go check it out, send us a quick holla.    
There you have it.  Your eyes and your ears….Chi Chi signing off…
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Don't worry kiddos, 2 years of PR for Frederick's of Hollywood cured me of any disillusions about romance on Valentine's Day- so I won't be hassling you with any of that Hallmark hooey. What I do have for you, sweetheart, is a deal at a place called Saint Amore in Culver ( Venice adjacent!) City. All you have to do, my angel, is go to the Blackboard Eats website- get your code- and voila!- you get a free glass of wine and a plate of charcuterie when you visit this chic little french bistro! Who doesn't love that? ( er, oh ...vegetarians, I guess)
You've all probably cheated on me at this point, signed up and get Blackboard Eats emails directly- but I thought I'd let you know, just in case you haven't been listening. ( You never listen!) Remember these deals are only available for a limited time (much like the men I've dated) so you've only got 20hours to sign up! Lots of Love!
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Expanding our borders a bit here at VHH- after all, we are a Swede,  a Korean, and an occasional Dane = International Rockstars -so  we' re brave enough to cross Pico or Lincoln every now and again. Had to let you know- all that stalking of my FB page Hamakaze Nick did was well worth it. We stopped by Hamakaze Sushi last Friday night "undercover". ( It's shocking that any  of us lushes can go anywhere incognito- but, then again, we didn't recoginze Bret from YoVenice! at the table next to us either.)

Place was hoppin! We sat at the sushi bar so we could keep a close eye on Nick... His "Kick Ass Japanese "fries? Kick ass Indeed. Infused Sake? Sumo wrestled our tongues. Hamakaze's Happy Hour karate chops a litany of Nick's amazing creations in half price, but not in deliciousness ( it's a word!).
Now I am all about a cheap drink ( stating the obvious), but we don't tell folks ( like they care) who we are until after we've paid the bill. So when I say Hamakaze is good- it's GOOD. Unbiased.
Nick's creations are incredibly fresh, generous and beautifully presented. Beats the fins off of any raw fish joint running right now. Addiction-inducing sushi, I am counting the hours until Hamikaze Happy Hour ( 5-7 Monday-Saturday).

But one mystery remains: What is it exactly that they hollar at you when you enter a sushi joint? Can anyone tell me?
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Love my Trendcentral newsletter- especially when they dedicate it to the art of alcoholism. Today's edition relvealed the latest hipster trend: Flask carrying! ( Not new but ...certainly a valuable resurgence!) I have to admit- I have a couple ( can't remember when I last used one) but...truly it is the ultimate Cheap Drink for Cheap People.  Since it's First "Flask"  Friday on Abbot Kinney I thought it was topical- as we will all be sporting our raincoats tonight, with oh-so-conveniently oversized pockets perfect for FLASKS! Thank you Trendcentral & Thank you J. Crew for this gem

"The Trouble With Jogging Is That The Ice Falls Out of Your Glass"
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