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July 23, 2008
La Jolla Weekend: Jose’s Court Room and Roppongi
Filed under: On the Road — StyleGuide @ 7:52 pm
We hopped the train to San Diego to visit Jennifer, a StylishGuide inspiration and dear friend gifted with the ability to conjure up luxe bargains. As tour guide, she lived up to her reputation, turning a “diamonds and denim” town like La Jolla into a destination for the cheap and chic.
Ever the thoughtful host, she drove us straight from the San Diego train station to afternoon margaritas. Jose’s Court Room on Prospect is an unrepentant dive bar, though one with multi-million dollar wide open ocean views from the bar stools. A pitcher of frosty margaritas was followed by chips, salsa and creamy guacamole, plus Jose’s tacos (a deal at $3-4 each), and combos for a few bucks more (try the fish taco).
At 4 p.m., she led us a few blocks away to Roppongi. This is an upscale place, with a fire pit on the patio and a dark, moody interior. The trick is to hit happy hour — 4 - 6 p.m. seven days a week – when they take half off sushi rolls and Asian tapas, like tender and flavorful scallops on potato pancakes. Even at half price, this isn’t bargain basement sushi (but let’s be honest — who in the world wants bargain basement sushi?). Nevertheless, it is a stylish destination for an early dinner at a decent price.
For our “get out of town and drink ‘em down” La Jolla vacation, Jennifer delivered.
Related links | eating well closer to home
Asian food: Empress Pavilion for dim sum
Mexican food: El Cholo for margaritas and tamales
July 16, 2008
Sushi & Kushi IMAI: Happy Hour Seven Days
Filed under: Midtown, Eat — StyleGuide @ 8:39 pm
My parents came of age at the same time as Sinatra and Martin, and all my life they have honored what I consider a very Rat Pack tradition — “cocktail hour.” While they only drink on weekends, when the clock strikes 5 Thursday through Sunday, crudites, cheese, crackers, wine and martinis appear and levity begins.
This is the happy hour I grew up with, a family tradition as treasured as opening presents on chilly Christmas mornings. However, life in L.A. — what with late hours at work, traffic jams, and trips to the Parking Violations Bureau to pay near-constant parking tickets — doesn’t always lend itself to a 5 p.m. cocktail hour. That’s why seven-day happy hours have a special place in my heart (or is it liver?).
Sushi & Kushi IMAI has mastered the art of the seven-day happy hour. Housed in an odd triangular building that juts out where Wilshire and San Vicente collide, the bar makes up half the seating area but maintains a welcoming, restaurant-like feel.
The food is an improvement over my parents’ celery sticks and homemade dip of equal parts ketchup and mayonnaise. Happy hour offerings include a house salad of mixed greens and a big bowl of edamame, each for under $2 and served by the restaurant’s friendly young owner. Salmon/avocado roll or spicy tuna roll runs a slim $3, and sashimi (salmon, seared albacore or tuna) goes for $6.50. Don’t eat fish? Grilled lamb chop and vegetable tempura round out the menu. A mere $3 gets you a large Kirin or glass of wine, or choose a large hot sake for the table for $5.50.
When hit by nostalgia for those home-style cocktail hours just like Mama and Daddy used to do it, I head to the corner table at Sushi & Kushi IMAI.
When: Happy hour, 5:30-7:30 everyday
Where: 8300 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, Ca 90211
Call: 323.655.2253
Related links | more evening fun
Seven-day happy hour at The Well in Hollywood
Ask the Comedian: Comedy Death Ray at Upright Citizens Brigade Theater
July 7, 2008
Stylish Six: More Great Doughnuts in Los Angeles
Filed under: San Gabriel Valley, Best Of, Eastside, South, Midtown, Westside, Eat — StyleGuide @ 1:28 pm
I’m in the midst of a doughnut obsession, as you may have noticed here and here. Since Los Angeles reigns as the undisputed doughnut capital of the world, I suppose it is a matter of civic pride. In that spirit, here are six more standard bearers.
Dumpy strip mall + two letter names = amazing doughnuts? Apparently. Try:
1. DK Donut & Bakery: Thanks to StylishGuide.com reader and At Home at Home blogger Laure for recommending this Santa Monica gem. Mmmm….
2. S.K. Donuts & Croissants: Head to Mid-city near Park La Brea and sink into a moist, luscious buttermilk bar or rich cruller. Bonus: It’s open late for post-bar-hopping appetites.
Doughnut as architecture — these two shops prove it works:
3. Randy’s Donuts: The gigantic doughnut atop this Inglewood shop is like a big, fat, sloppy welcome-home kiss after landing at nearby LAX.
4. The Donut Hole: Thrill the kid in you with a special trip out to a random intersection in La Puente for a doughnut that you actually drive through (see the video here). The architecture is icing on the cake, so to speak; the main attraction is the fresh doughnuts within.
More goodness:
5. Stan’s Corner Donut Shoppe: This legendary shop has been crafting gourmet doughnuts for more than 40 years. If your timing is right, Stan himself will recommend his favorites — welcome help since he probably has more flavors than there are parking spots in all of Westwood.
6. Tang’s Donuts: The bear claw — big as the real thing, fat with fluffy cinnamon-spiked dough — is worth attacking. Nights bring an eclectic Silver Lake crowd, including hard-core chess addicts, to the grungy strip mall location.
July 2, 2008
Plant sale this weekend: 7 Oaks half-off sale, Corona, California
Filed under: House + Garden, Shop — StyleGuide @ 12:09 pm
The amazing half-off plant sale runs this weekend — July 3-6 — so I am re-posting this tip.
When we bought our first house a few years ago, this is the front yard we got. It was our first attempt at gardening, so I looked to Martha Stewart for guidance. Her books told me to propagate my own plants or risk going broke at the nursery.
Propagate? Are you kidding me?
That’s what 7 Oaks’ half-off plant sale is for. I don’t often go to the 951, but when the sprawling nursery off the 15 in Corona takes 50 percent off every plant they have — from trees in 36 inch boxes to the smallest annual — I make the long drive.
Sales are held twice yearly, over the Columbus Day and Fourth of July weekends. If you decide to check it out, here are a few tips. First, the sale has become quite popular, so shop early for the best selection. Second, take advantage of the neat little sandwich shop in the 7 Oaks convenience store.
Load your truck, then fuel up on fresh sandwiches for the drive home.
When: Thursday, July 3 through Sunday, July 6, 2008
Where: 21501 Temescal Canyon Road, Corona, Ca 92883
Call: 951-277-2927
What’s your best gardening tip?