26
NOvEmbEr 2009
SECTION ONE
Larchmont Chronicle
Dining & Entertainment Guide Club sleuths find lounges for the over-25 crowd While most clubs in Hollywood continue to cater to the latest reality star clans, typically aged 25 and under, Hollywood Boulevard itself is now home to several restaurants and lounges where a more mature clientele will feel at home. Essex Public House, East and ¡Lotería! Grill are just a few examples of places worth a visit for cocktails and appetizers. The red brick walls at Essex Public House may be better suited to a pizzeria, but the overall atmosphere is welcoming, and the long bar itself is a great place to eat as well as relax with a drink. The bar stocks an amazing array of beers, some I have never seen before such as Hollywood
Blonde, and an inventive cocktail menu. Bartender Gabrielle actually made a drink off the
Club Scene by
Maren Clifford and Amy Priore menu for me, with fresh muddled berries and vodka, very tart and just to my liking. The mac ‘n’ cheese is a must try, if you like decadent, creamy comfort food, that is. As a testament to its worth, I ran into a friend who bartends at a nearby, undisclosed restaurant, who said Essex is his
Discover the Fantasy
haunt of choice. Good basic fare, decent prices, and TVs to watch the latest game, Essex can easily become a stalwart addition to the neighborhood. Essex Public House, 6683 Hollywood Blvd., 323-4606608. *** Nearby East, coincidentally located a bit to the east of Essex, sits higher on the trendy scale, but the décor and service make this a lounge worth visiting. Open nary a month, the entire staff from the hostess to servers were friendly and welcoming. The menu features a variety of small plates including creative sashimi dishes such as tuna tostadas, to Asian inspired vegetable and rice sides, and a few larger plate entrees focusing on seafood, although steak and poultry options exist as well. A fan of champagne cocktails, I opted to sample one made with gin and blueberries, which was a surprisingly delightful accompaniment to their crab cakes. Later in the evening, the restaurant fills with Hollywood’s
young and hip, but on the weeknight I visited, the lounge remained busy but not packed. Aesthetically East is stunning, in particular its use of decorative tile. The entrance walkway alone is a gorgeous fan-shaped pattern of silver and grey colored stones and mosaic tiles. Other types of stone and tile adorn various walls. A leafless tree emerges from the middle of the back counter of the bar and is a visually appealing focal piece. A soft dark leather bench lines one wall of the lounge allowing for ample seating. Moroccan filigree and soft votive lighting complete the scene for this ultra modern, yet comfortable, space. East, 6611 Hollywood Blvd., 323-462-3278.
*** Sister to the famous Mexican take away at the Farmers Market, ¡Lotería! Grill is the oldest of these three establishments. Although more restaurant than bar, it does maintain a small counter for drinks, and the front patio is a nice place to sip a beer while peoplewatching. I am always thrilled to discover any Mexican restaurant that offers potato versions of popular items from sopes to taquitos, and the varied drink menu deserves a nod as well. The high ceilings give the restaurant an industrial vibe, and the large lotería cards decorating the walls add the same festive flare as they at the Farmers Market. ¡Lotería! Grill, 6627 Hollywood Blvd., 323-4652500.
Beaujolais Passions at Petersen Museum
Take Out • Delivery • Catering 323-467-1052 • Fax 323-467-8013 310 N. Larchmont Blvd. (North of Beverly Blvd.)
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OpeN 7 Days a Week
Here’s What’s Happening at
Lucy’s El Adobe
~ Dr. Phil McGraw, with wife Robin stopping in for beef tacos;
~ Congressman Dana Rohrbacher having dinner with Lucy and talking about the economy; ~ Guitarist Charlie Sexton, on tour with Bob Dylan, catching a quick supper before the second show and showing us photos of his son Marlon. He reminisced about the ‘old days’ when he was 18 and he and Frank would talk into the wee hours of the night about politics, music and love; ~ It was a magical night of music at the party hosted by Lucy for the Peruvian Sayaka Inka Cultural Group. The highlight was their tribute to our Tibetan friend, from the Andes to the Himalayas;
LC1109
The not-so-ordinary Thai Restaurant
Celebrate the release of Beaujolais Nouveau 2009 Thurs., Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Petersen Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd. Beaujolais Passions will feature new wines from France, exhibitors, live entertainment, a DJ and raffle prizes. Club Culinaire of French Cuisine chefs will be selling their delicacies at the event. Advance tickets are $20-$30 at the door. For more information, visit beaujolaispassions.com.
The Casado Family
~ With a heavy heart we say farewell to our beloved friend and teacher the most Venerable Khenpo Chodak Gyatso Nubpa Rinpoche. While his passing is a tragic loss for Dharma, particularly the Nyingma tradition we will continue his projects at Ari Bhod in Tehachapi and T’honpdup Ling in Los Angeles. The traditional Sand Mandala will return to Lucys the second week of November, honoring the life, aspirations and work of our most precious friend, Lama Gyatso.
5536 Melrose Ave. At PlyMouth Blvd. • 323-462-9421