New Outs in LA

In between work last week I was able to check out a couple new places in LA.  Jamie and I had gone to The Backhouse one night for Late Night Happy Hour after rehearsal for our Princess Show that weekend.  We feasted on all sorts of sushi and after we were done and walking to our car passed by The Wellsbourne and said we'd have to check it out a different night.  And for years I've been hearing about the Turtle Races at Brennan's in Venice but had never gone, and looked forward to it soon since some of my friends had their weekly trip to Brennan's on Thursdays.

After I worked the first Thursday Night Fooball game at Irish Times I got ready for the Turtle Races at Brennan's.  There was a solid crowd of people there but not too busy which was nice.  Apparently, Mark and his friends are regulars so getting a turtle wasn't difficult.  I knew the premise of the races from years prior but when it came to my turn I got a little nervous.  I didn't want to drop my turtle before I even set him in the inner circle but lucky for me my little guy was hiding in his shell.  I still handled him gently and set him down slowly only to lose when the race started because he was so content in his shell.  On my second go-around this next turtle was feisty as his arms and legs were going crazy and when it came time to race he was a runner.  Unfortunately, a fault was called so they had to re-start the race and he came in second that time.  After the races a cover band started inside the bar and Courtney arrived so we all played darts for the rest of the night!  I was horrible in the first game but came back in the second and we had a lot of fun :)

Darts with Mark & Courtney at Brennan's!

On Friday night Jamie and I headed out to The Wellsbourne to see if it would be a cool new bar in the neighborhood.  Upon arrival, a bartender saw us looking for a seat so he motioned us to come to the end of the bar where there were two open stools.  Awesome!  After perusing the menu I noticed a couple different drinks I would have liked to try, so I decided on a Vodka Gimlet.  It was delicious, perfectly sweet with plenty of citrus to cover the alcohol taste but still a nice strong martini.  Jamie was drinking Whiskey so she had given him a recipe for the first one and he made something specific for her second.  He said he wanted to make me a drink that woud have Barrel-Aged Gin in it, and it was way too strong on the first go around but after adding some honey, ginger, and other mixers, it had a nice kick to it, and was something I could sip on.  The drinks were reasonably priced for the quality so that was great!  I loved the set-up of the bar, there were booths when you first walk in, and then on one side there's a game room with Foosball and Shuffleboard, and on the other side, it looks more like a Library perfect for lounging with big sofas and chairs.  After finishing our second drink I knew I was sold on it; the bartenders were super attentive, I loved the atmosphere, and everyone was really friendly.  Jamie and I hit up The Backhouse again for some late night sushi before heading home and it was certainly a successful Ladies Night!  

The Wellsbourne with Jamie :)

I'm really looking forward to going back to both bars, Brennan's and The Wellsbourne.  I loved the chill but fun vibe during Turtle Races and really enjoyed the cocktails and great people at The Wellsbourne.  That's two new places for me in September and I've got a whole lot more of this month left to find even more new spots to check out!  Exploring is fun and getting to do that with friends is even better!

Playa Provisions & City Tavern

I checked out two new bars this month for a little cocktail hour!  I'm definitely keeping up with that New Year's resolution, in trying new restaurants, new Happy Hours, and new bars and both places I checked out were awesome!

I'm not a whiskey drinker, from accidentally sipping on my Dad's Seagrams 7 & Coke as a little kid, to tasting his Maker's & Coke nowadays, I have never liked the flavor.  Plus, whenever I do drink Whiskey I tend to get a little fiesty so I just try to avoid it.  This was not the case at Playa Provisions, a new Restaurant & Bar in Playa Del Rey.  Their back bar area is pretty much all Whiskey, they had one bottle of Vodka, and I think I saw a bottle of Gin, but since their entire cocktail menu was Whiskey drinks, I decided to go with the flow and try something new.  I do admit when I'm home for Christmas and my Uncle is making Whiskey or Brandy Old-Fashions I will have one because we always make them really sweet in the Midwest and that just covers the taste of the Whiskey.  Old Fashions here in LA are made with water, so I've never liked them.  Whatever they do at Playa Provisions made me a believer in a Los Angeles Old Fashion.  It had a sweetness but I still tasted the Woodford Reserve which had a nice vanilla smoothness to it, and the drink was easy to drink and quite enjoyable.  I'd definitely go back for another one and I'm very excited to check out their food menu since they officially opened up on June 7th!

Next up it was time to check out City Tavern!  My friend, Jess, has worked there since it opened and he was working the night I went in too.  I checked out their beer menu first since they had so many different kinds on tap and tasted one of their ciders which was delicious and sweet but not sugary and also a fruity white ale that had an awesome finish.  I would have ordered either beer but then saw their cocktail menu and couldn't not try the Grape Goose.  It was Grey Goose, fresh lemon, Agave nectar, and white grapes.  It was so light and refreshing, a perfect drink to sip and enjoy on a Summer day, I wished it was the afternoon and I could have been outside on the patio in downtown Culver City.  Not only did they have some other fun drinks on their menu but the food menu looked awesome, including the desserts!  I can't wait to go and try their Peach Cobbler...yum :)

It was two for two on cocktails at these two new places and I'm excited to re-visit them again!