Go get your Dos Equis fix for 8 quarters (plus some tip $) on Thirsty Thursdays at La Cabaña.  Looks like laundry will have to wait till next week!   For the non beer-on-tap drinker, yes, they have an extensive list of margaritas, but you'll have to go back on Margarita Monday to catch the happy hour deal. 

Guess I must be feeling the Cinco De Mayo breeze a bit early.  Any excuse for a frosty mug...

Chi

Chi Chi here...

J and I did a quick HAMAKAZE  happy hour on Wednesday (along w/our favorite Dane) before dropping her at LAX.  Had our usual kick aaaassss fries, but explored a new treat in the form of Popcorn Scallops, which are SO  illegal!  (as Jwould say).  It's essentially deep fried goodness with a beautiful creamy dipping sauce that you want to eat by the spoonful.   Enough said, right?

We had a brief chat with Hamakaze Nick, who's working on a new menu to debut very soon and looking for requests.  Perfect opportunity for you to share your most creative sushi concoctions with a pro while sipping Kaori sake.   Let us know what you come up with!

Hey Happy Hour-ers, I am gonna be on vaca until the 1st so the Chi Chi will be filling in where she can...in the meantime use the guide above to concoct your happy hour plans and have a very boozy rest of the month!

So go on- go taste some!
Monday nights are ALWAYS half price wine night at James Beach (hooray!), and this week will be followed by another chance to "taste" some more....just up the beach at Il Forniao in Santa Monica. Starting at 5 in the evening  and they will be serving up flights from Maddallena Vineyards, one of the oldest wineries on the planet. What I love about these guys is that they celebrate a region of Italy every month for about 15 days. Not one or two days, or even a week- but 15 DAYS. 
And lest you forget ... every weekend you can stumble over to El Vino, where they do wine tastings all day and into the evening.

Ok, help me out here- I am getting confused....this place on Washington is named  Mercede's Grill, which should be pronounced (muurseds grill)  but everyone says Mercedes Grill (like the car- muursaadees grill) PLEASE  CLEAR THIS UP!!! does this belong to Mercede or is it a luxury car grill?

Moving on. Chi and I like to eat as much as we like to drink. PLEASE DO THIS HERE. The new Bin 73 attached directly to the questionably named joint above has Gjelina- standard food and a generous wine list AND A HAPPY HOUR. Whomever they've got back in the kitchen there is a rockstar: truffle oil & parmesean cheese fries, Ahi Tuna Sliders ( mango beautiful sauce), Buratta, arugula and procuitto salad- holy god try the gorgonzola-someothercheese and pear panini. We've also got  a  fondness for our neighbor and new friend Ryan who happens to have WINE SNOB tattood on his knuckles and is fighting off the cougers with both paws!> what is not to like about Bin 73? Nothing.  Happy hour specials below!  xo

Oh lordy- you've got 48 hours to file those taxes. On April 15th  line outside the Venice Post Office is going to be epic ( and colorful!), and after that ...you'll need a refreshing beverage to wash down the bitterness.
Here ya go, Happy IamNeverGoingToWaitTilTheLastMinuteAgain Hour drink specials courtesy of The Rundown.
See you on line!

US!!! Okay- I'm being a bit obnoxious with my "look how cute we were on Easter" pictures but really- aside from my birthday in Palm Springs, its my fav holiday. Indulge me, it's my ( and Chi's ) freakin blog. AND Venice Pararazzi was there and I love to support a likewise hard working native so- check it out.
Oh and you want more? Like a Happy Hour guide to all those oh so far away bars in the land of Oz- ahem- Downtown? Coming soon. Even as soon as tomorrow afternoon. Hang tight. Hang Ten. Get on the ten ( 10 E). We might just too.

What's the only bad thing about Happy Hour...? Well, the hour in itself! How many late day dentist-doctor-doggy day care-fake meetings can one have a week in order to be at the bar by 5:00?
Yeah, I'm running out of excuses too...

Well a luxe looking bar in the BH seems to want to solve our problems. Bar 210  is offering Happy Hour on Thursday and Friday ONLY from 7-9PM. Beers are $5, drinks are $7, and all food, from Pork Belly Sliders to Salty Peewee Potatoes with Chlorophyll Mayo, is half-off. 
And even if you aren't planning on visiting, please visit the website. I nearly fell off my balance ball with the pose-y Bebe Couture  bimbo on the front...what do you think? Is it her first time at a bar? Nah.
The interior of this joint looks like the sultan's harem crossed  Liz Taylor's dressing room, oh yes, I will have to see this " lavish lounge" in person. And maybe so will you. Just dont' drop any pork belly slider grease on those purple satin couches- they'll know you're from VENICE!

On top of being national Grilled Cheese Month ( a.k.a. Fat Girl Month), it's evidentally  national alcohol festival weekend.
Fine by me: there is beer for the beer drinkers and wine for the wine drinkers.
The beer fest is broken up into two times on Saturday- which I don't quite understand, which is fair enough since I don't quite understand the allure of beer anyway.
Los Angeles Beer Festival
WHERE: Sony Pictures Studios 10202 W Washington Blvd. Culver
WHEN: Saturday 1-4 PM, then 5- 8 PM
COST: $40

I've never been to San Pedro- but I guess its the " edge" of LA.
Maybe you've got friends out there that you've been meaning to visit....
Edge of LA International Wine Festival
WHERE:  Off the Vine 491 6th Street 103 San Pedro, CA   
WHEN: 2-6 PM
COST $50-150

Happy Festival-ing Folks!

Here is what we learned on our hop!!!
Royal T- craft tables amazing: mimosa made with sparkling rose and grapefruit, even better.
James Beach: Make  a reservation as the brunch stop promptly at 2:30...What?
High: that bottomless thing?Ended at 1:00. What what?

A message for the Easter Hosts:Feeling a bit mis-lead here folks but still appreciate your generosity. The more information you can provide for the masses, the better.
And that EARTHQUAKE? Wheew! Thought it was the mimosas kickin in but, it was Mother Earth showing us how to get loose while at the bar at James Beach!