Dine LA Happy Hour Week

For the last week in April, Dine LA did a Happy Hour week with a bunch of bars and restaurants for a special Happy Hour menu that featured all sorts of different appetizers, entrees, and drinks at a discounted price.  I always love when Dine LA comes to town so this made me so excited because I love Happy Hour too!  Jamie and I were able to check out two different Happy Hours that week!

Salmon Ceviche at Corner Door for
Dine LA Happy Hour Week

We started our Happy Hour week experience at Corner Door which we also did for Dine LA back at the end of January.  We ordered a bunch of food, including the Avocado Toast with Burrata cheese, Salmon Ceviche with a pineapple salsa, French Fries 'Carbonade' which meant they were covered in braised beef, garlic ailoi, and cheese (so yummy and savory), and also the Spicy Pork Belly Sliders.  I'm not a huge Pork Belly fan but these were delicious.  The Avocado Toast and Ceviche were really light and fresh but the Ceviche really hit a home run with all the incredible flavors!  Our meal wasn't complete without the Sticky Toffee Pudding, reminiscent of one of my favorite restaurants, Waterloo & City, which is right down the street on Washington Blvd.

Later on that week we went to Bouchon in Beverly Hills.  Ashley and I had gone in March for dessert and drinks so I was really excited to get to try some of the food.  Their deal was incredible!  A glass of wine and an entree with a side for $20.  To get a steak from a Thomas Keller restaurant for $20 was mind-blowing.  Matt, our Bartender, took good care of us and on top of the Oysters we ordered, he sent out some King Snow Crab Legs which were fantastic.  My steak came perfectly prepared at medium rare and was so juicy and flavorful!  Unfortunately, we were rushing through Dinner because Bouchon was so busy we had to wait for over an hour to seat, and the kitchen was slammed, and I had to be at work, so we wrapped up our fries and dessert and had to eat everything else at Gabe's.  We got four different Macaroon's to try, all light and airy, and a great dessert to finish the meal.  Jamie had me try Cynar, which was actually really nice once she had her way with it, but I still prefer my Sambuca.

Ladies at Bouchon in Beverly Hills and the amazing King Snow Crab Legs!

Needless to say, we ate really well that week, and even though I've been to both of the restaurants this past year, I was able to explore more of their menu and try some new things.  I still need to get my tour of Bouchon's kitchen, and I'm looking forward to trying more off both menu's!  Jamie, let's go :)

Housewives at Afterbuzz! Part 2.

It's already been a pretty dramatic season of 'Real Housewives of New York' thanks to the return of Bethenny.  It certainly makes for a great Aftershow at Afterbuzz TV.  To make it even better we've had a couple of the Housewives already into the studio to talk to us about the show.

Alexis Bellino was on 'Real Housewives of Orange County' so she can offer great insight into the show since she was one of the main Housewives for four seasons.  Alexis has been busy with her own ventures but is always a ray of sunshine when she comes in to talk to us gals.  We had her on last season as well, so it's nice that she makes the trek to The Valley from Orange County!

Full panel of ladies when Alexis came to Afterbuzz TV!

 We had most of the New York Housewives call-in or visit the studio last year but one person I was really excited to meet and talk to was Kristen Taekman.  Kristen was a new Housewife to the franchise last season and quickly became one of my favorites for her incredible style and ability to speak her mind while still being polite.  Kristen was hilarious, classy, and a total natural at Hosting.  She fit in great with all of us on the panel and we would love to have her back into the studio anytime!

A fun day with gorgeous Kristen at Afterbuzz TV!

The fans really love having guests on our Aftershow and we can also reach a larger audience as well.  We've had over 10,000 views when Kristen came on just a couple weeks ago and we also get more of a discussion going on YouTube.

We'll be having Dr. Fran in again next week and more Housewives throughout the season! Stay tuned :)

'Real Housewives of New York' Special Guests at Afterbuzz TV! Part 1.

We're six episodes into our 'Real Housewives of New York' Aftershow for Afterbuzz TV and have had a guest in our studio for nearly every episode!  It's always nice to have a guest, whether they are a Housewife from the show (always the best because they can offer the most insight into what it's like being on the show) or a Housewife or celebrity from another show because we can all have our own various opinions and they can be unbiased because they aren't on the show.  Or in our most recent episode, we were lucky to have Dr. Fran Walfish, a Psychotherapist based out of Beverly Hills, California, in studio with us.

Ashley, Dr. Fran, Fern, Megan, and I at Afterbuzz TV for our 'Real Housewives of New York' Aftershow

Dr. Fran has been on our show three times now and always offers up advice and insight on what's going on behind closed doors.  She's able to dig deeper into what these women are really thinking and why they're doing the things they're doing.  We can all assume what's going on in their heads but having the background to understand their personalities is why it's so great to have Dr. Fran on our show.  We actually talked a lot about addiction in yesterday's show because Sonja (one of the NY Housewives) was very intoxicated at a party and clearly going through something more than just a drinking issue.  As Dr. Fran was talking, I actually got a little choked up because it's hard to see how someone that seems so wonderful might actually have a problem, and that they're usually in denial about getting help.  It hit a little close to home, and it's a horrible feeling to feel helpless in a situation where someone needs genuine help.

Here's our re-cap from Tuesday May 12th at Afterbuzz TV!

As with any Housewives show there's always some sort of drama going on, and seeing these women arguing about things that really don't matter can literally make watching the show uncomfortable or hard to watch.  Sometimes you feel sympathetic for what the women are going through, and other times, it's embarrassment that they're going to see this side of them forever because it'll always be out there for anyone to go and re-watch.  Of course, they're silly and fun, and that's the side of them I always enjoy seeing, unfortunately, the network and Andy Cohen want drama, and that's how the show keeps viewers, so that's the way it has to be.

It was my first time meeting Dr. Fran and she was such a joy to talk to and so incredibly sweet.  It's amazing how comfortable and open you can be with someone you've just met.  I look forward to having her on our panel again soon!

Space Beer?

Ground Control to Major Tom

Ninkasi Brewing Company came out with Ground Control Imperial Stout which was fermented with Space-Traveled Yeast.  The Company is based out of Eugene, Oregon and we actually have some of their beers on tap throughout the year at Irish Times.  How cool though, to have a beer that technically traveled to space!

In addition to releasing this limited edition beer in mid-April they also decided to start a little contest for someone who could make the best video, share it, and then win prizes.  Who better to make a Ninkasi Spec Commercial than Brad, who knows the guys from Ninkasi, and loves beer.  So on a Sunday evening a few of us shot what I think is a hilarious commercial, that transforms a night of drinking with Brad & Jeff, into a space party, where we're not quite sure if we've landed on the moon yet.

You can see our commercial right here: Ninkasi Ground Control...Space Beer?

I'm not usually a fan of dark beer but I really liked this one because it's lighter than a Guinness and has flavors of Hazelnuts and Cocoa Nibs, so it has a slight sweetness to it.  It's 10% ABV in a 22 ounce bottle for $20 at select locations.  We found them at Bev-Mo in Westwood.  But you better hurry because it's a limited edition and going fast!  

Part of our Cast for our Space Beer Spec!

You can check out more information about Ninkasi Beers on their website at:http://www.ninkasibrewing.com/  Enjoy :)

My Karaoke Anniversary!

I can't believe it's been over four years that I've been Hosting Karaoke at Gabe's!  I still remember Carolyn and I being in Gabe's on St. Patrick's Day and Aimee mentioning they needed someone to fill-in and Carolyn said I should do it since I was always doing Karaoke at Saint's & Sinner's.  I'm so glad that I decided to do it because it's been a blast Hosting Karaoke there for these past four years!

Costumes, Friends, Saint's & Sinner's, CAC and GOOD TIMES!

We celebrated by doing a Musical Theme since we were also celebrating nearly six months until Halloween, so a bunch of people came in costume!  Since I loved my Axl Rose Costume from Halloween a couple years ago I decided to recycle it, always improving, and it turned out great and once again, super comfortable!  Jamie came in rocker gear, Khad was all dressed up, Heike was Catwoman, we had Weird Al, Garth Brooks, Jazz & Country music, and happy singers all around and a night full of amazing songs!

Backstreet Boys or Double Entendre?

I opened with 'I Touch Myself' by The Divinyl's since I was wearing my leather pants and everyone needed to get warmed up to the night.  We got busy almost right away and so the next song I sang was with Jamie, and we did 'Take Me Or Leave Me' from "Rent."  There was a Double Entendre performance of 'I Want It That Way' by the Backstreet Boys and with so many talented singers in the house it was one of the best performances I've seen of it!  My new song of the night was 'Welcome To The Jungle' and I had so much fun with it, and the bruises on my knees proved it.  I had watched the music video for it and when the high part comes in Axl goes to the ground and just kills it in his falsetto!  Since I was singing Guns & Roses, Marty sang 'Sweet Child of Mine' and Scott did 'Mr. Brownstone.'  There was Pat Benatar, Sara Bareilles, Poison, and more!

Sha na na na na na na knee's knee's...and when you're high you never ever wanna come down...YEAH!

To close out the night, I ended with 'November Rain' which is my favorite Guns & Roses song and lucky for me there was a whole crew of back-up guitarists just waiting to rock out with me!  A special thanks to everyone who made it for my Karaoke Anniversary, joined in on the fun by singing, dancing, and toasting to another fabulous year of Karaoke.  I can't wait to have another night like this again soon :)

April Karaoke

We had four weeks of Karaoke this month and some really busy nights!  We even did a Theme Night which I'm writing a separate blog for, so this is for the rest of the weeks in April :)

Fleetwood Mac "Don't Stop"

Patsy Cline "I Fall To Pieces"

Dolly Parton "Jolene"

Kelly Clarkson "Miss Independant"

Eric Clapton "Layla"

Tom Petty "You Got Lucky"

Amy Winehouse "I'm No Good"

Bruce Springsteen "Secret Garden"

Fleetwood Mac "Gold Dust Woman"

Pat Benatar "Heartbreaker"

Taylor Dayne "Love Will Lead You Back"

Pat Benatar "Love Is A Battlefield"

Madonna "Material Girl"

Cheap Trick "I Want You To Want Me"

Aaliyah "Try Again"

No Doubt "Spiderwebs"

Jann Arden "Insensitive"

Ella Fitzgerald "Don't Get Around Much Anymore"

Britney Spears "Gimme More"

Fontella Bass "Rescue Me"

Backstreet Boys "I Want It That Way"

Jamie & I at Gabe's last week for Karaoke!

Week one I sang some songs I hadn't sang in a while and tried out "Miss Independant" by Kelly Clarkson since it's been playing a lot on the radio lately since she has a new single out.  She's such a powerful singer and that certainly was a challenging song.  In week two I sang one of my favorite Bruce Springsteen songs, "Secret Garden" and I'll need to lower it for the next time I sing it but I love that song so much and it always reminds me of 'Jerry Maguire!'  My third week of Karaoke was mostly female based with my new song being "Material Girl" by Madonna which is a fun song but I truly love singing "Insensitive" by Jann Arden which I also sang that week.  The last week in April we had a full house so I only sang a couple times.  My new song was Britney Spear's "Gimme More" since we did a little Britney Super-Set and it was a blast to sing and play around with.  There's been times during Double Entendre's performances of "I Want It That Way" when I've helped but this time around, Khad and I did it as a duet to close out the crazy night.  Although I have to admit, seeing a group of guys sing a song by the Backstreet Boys, N'Sync, 98 Degrees, Boyz to Men, or any other Boy Band is way more fun to watch!

 

It was a really great month at Karaoke and since Thenardier's has a little break until the Fringe Festival in June we should have a little CAC Reunion Night again soon!

'Thenardier's Inn' Photo Shoot at 3 Clubs

Lovely Ladies going for a song...

A couple Sunday's ago the cast of 'Thenardier's Inn' had our Promo Photo Shoot for The Fringe Festival in which we'll be performing at, throughout June, at 3 Clubs in Hollywood.  The Fringe Festival is LA's largest celebration of Performing Arts and I know all of us are so excited to be a part of it this year!

Since we'll be performing at 3 Clubs, which is a bar, we had the photo shoot there, and took some group shots as well as some solo shots to tell a little bit more about our story since it's a re-telling of 'Les Miserables.'  Master Thenardier, Eponine, Fantine, Jean Valjean, Marius, and the rest of the cast were there for our shoot.  While we waited for costumes and the rest of the cast to arrive, we bonded over 'Never Have I Ever' while putting our phones out of sight, and out of mind, for over an hour.  Something nice that we all need to do every once in a while :)  It's as if it was a little Improv Game to get all of us into character!

Tickets for the Fringe Festival went on sale May 1st at: See 'Thenardier's Inn' by clicking here!  Use promo code: FRINGE for a discount.

We're taking over Hollywood!

*I'd like to give a shout out to everyone who came to the Third Extension of 'Thenardier's Inn;' thank you so much for your support, generosity, and laughter.  I truly love seeing family and friends in the audience...my Mom (who saw it for the second time and loved it more than the first), Paul Ebner who came all the way from Minnesota, Brad, Kelly, Jack, and Keenan (you guys rock), Acquah, Aimee & Andy, Kristina, Lee, Kayt, and Patrick, you are all amazing and I'm so glad you enjoyed it!  Thank you so much <3