*Absolut Elyx Events in Hollywood*

Our awesome Bar Lubitsch family has been invited to the Absolut Elyx Mansion on a few occasions now for different events, along with other liquor experiences to help push certain brands.  Absolut Elyx is definitely moving up the list to becoming one of my favorite vodkas, the more I learn about it.

New York Vibes in Hollywood

Absolut Elyx is a wheat vodka that's crafted in copper stills resulting in a pure silky smooth flavor that I think has a hint of sweetness.  It definitely beats out my old go-to, Ketel One.  They're trying to re-brand since this is more of a luxury vodka on the level of Grey Goose and Belvedere.  Plus, Absolut Elyx donates a week's supply of clean water to people in need for every bottle sold.  That sells me on it even more!

Rach and I had just gotten back from our trip to New York a couple days earlier so we decided to keep the fun going!  There was an open bar with amazing cocktails that were almost too pretty to drink and served in fancy copper drink-ware, BBQ (even Johnsonville brats), and good people at the event.  Plus, each room in the Mansion up in the Hollywood Hills was prettier than the next.  My favorite had cherry-colored wood, a stunning emerald couch, and copper accents.  We tried all the different types of cocktails, and before we knew it, we'd been there for a few hours.  After snapping some pictures in the photo booth we knew it was time to call it a night!

*Cheers...Our Bar Lubitsch Family, lovely hand-crafted Absolut Elyx Cocktails, Bae & I...Skal*

We had another event earlier this month and I wanted to spread the love around so I invited Kristina to join me for a 70's Disco Party (themed clothing was encouraged) at the Mansion.  There were 70's inspired cocktails, Fondue for everyone, the Disco Ball room was playing the jams.  I got to catch up with some co-workers at the event, and it's always so nice to see everyone outside of Lubitsch. I couldn't drink anymore so Kristina and I took an Uber to Bigfoot West to catch up with James who was back in town and DJing with Sum that night!  It was a little Saint's & Sinner's reunion, seeing Charlie and Steve behind the bar as well.

Kristina and I at the Absolut Elyx Mansion for the 70's Disco Event!

I was bummed to miss the Gin Lab we had a couple weeks ago, where people got to make their own gin using botanicals and there was a Tequila Tasting and Dinner tonight as well.  It's awesome to get to check out these events and push something we really believe in!  Thanks Committed Inc...so proud to be working for such a great company :D

New York City! Part 3.

Early to bed, early to rise...more like late to bed, early to rise, to make the most of our time in New York!  As I look back upon our trip, a month after we've gotten back, it reminds me all over again, how much we did while we were there!  Even though I would have loved another week or two, we really accomplished a lot!

Our third day started out with a subway ride for Rachel and I past Greenwich Village, and then walked a few blocks to DO Cookie Dough Confections.  It's been very popular since it's opening a few months ago (made sense since it's right by NYU) so we wanted to be sure we wouldn't have to wait in line too long.  Just a few people ahead of us gave us time to decide on what we wanted.  I tried a couple things but ended up choosing the Salty & Sweet which was incredible.  I ate the leftover when I got back to LA and I wish I had gotten a bigger scoop. We took our DO to Washington Square Park where we sat and people-watched, including seeing Paul Rudd with one of his kids on a Field Trip to the park.  So many field trips, so many birds, so much fun.

Washington Square Park and Cookie Dough for Breakfast!

White Roses at the 9/11
Memorial signify that
person's Birthday.

After our early dessert we walked to SoHo where the scenery and people changed; definitely more upscale, even the shops.  We had Brunch reservations at Balthazar (I think the gals from Sex & The City went there) and it was beautiful.  They had a whole wall of wine and got us seated right away.  Rachel and I split the Avocado Toast with a Poached Egg and Tomato & Jalapeño Salsa and also Scrambled Eggs in a Puff Pastry with Asparagus and Mushrooms.  Both of them were delicious and decadent, and after the DO, my tum was filling up fast.  Talk about a neat place to check out!  I actually would have loved to have stayed to have a cocktail or coffee but there was more to do!

St. Patrick's Cathedral

That afternoon, Sam, Rachel and I made our way to the 9/11 Memorial.  It was really overwhelming to be in the presence of all the lost souls.  I didn't even try to hold back tears but found it really strange that so many people were taking photos at the Memorial and smiling.  I understand it's a tourist attraction but it just felt wrong.  Sam had done the tour recently so she was able to fill us in on all the info for the Memorial and I was glad to learn more about it.  Rachel had afternoon plans so Sam and I walked over to St. Patrick's Cathedral.  I stopped at every Saint, and took a few moments at the one that Mom prayed to most recently, St. Jude, the patron Saint of Hopeless Cases.  The Church was stunning and I know how happy she would be that I had gone to see it.  I was on my own after that so I took a stroll and totally got lost trying to find the Subway, but it was actually really fun because I was able to explore and had to figure it out myself.  Once you realize it's a grid and Avenues go North/South and Streets go East/West, it's much easier.  

Everyone had things planned for the evening so I decided it was the perfect night to take myself out for a fabulous steak Dinner.  After talking to the locals, everyone agreed on Keen's Steakhouse.  I actually walked there from the Hotel, sidled up to the bar, got myself a seat and ordered a glass of wine, the Potato Leek soup and a Filet Steak cooked Medium Rare with a side of Glazed Carrots.  The steak was good but I'm not sure if it would get into my Top 5.  BUT this will be one of my favorite dining experiences for a long time because a gentleman sat down next to me.  As Howard and I started chatting I found out his wife was from Little Shoot, Wisconsin, she is the love of his life, and he can't believe how lucky he is every day that they are spending the rest of their lives together.  We spoke about our parents, he lost both of his, I talked about Mom, and I felt like I made a new friend.  He suggested I join him in drinking a glass of Scotch (I had recently found that I actually like one) so I said the only one I like is Glenfarclas 25 but that I was happy with my wine.  He promptly ordered two, saying he liked that one but Bunnahabhain 25 was his favorite.  I like the Glenfarclas because it's a little sweeter, really smooth, a clean finish and ZERO peatiness.  After I finished the first one, he said I had to try his favorite (and let's be real, we all know how Lyndsey does when she drinks whiskey - if you don't, I get really sassy, start to swear like a sailor, and there's usually a badass side that comes out); I tried to decline but there was no saying no to my new friend, Howard.  

The Filet at Keen's Steakhouse in Manhattan

At this point, I knew we had reservations at Please Don't Tell, a Speakeasy in the East Village, so all the gals, and Rachel's cousin, Evan, met us over at Keen's, and joined us for a drink while I finished my Scotch.  I definitely still would choose Glenfarclas over the Bunnahabhain as that one had a stronger more complex flavor that lingered.  Howard was so generous and I'm so glad to have met him and look forward to my next visit to New York and grabbing Dinner with his whole family.  Our crew got over to Please Don't Tell just in time for our reservation.  You enter through a Hot Dog Shop into a back room and they escorted us to a nice big booth.  I ordered a Negroni that I sipped the entire time I was there and never finished.  I blame the Scotch!  Everyone else ordered specialty cocktails or beer and also some Tater Tots.  There needs to be more places like this in Los Angeles!

LA invades Please Don't Tell in the East Village

After PDT, Rachel, Giana, and I walked to Times Square from our Hotel (it was about 10 blocks or so) in search of a fun bar to grab one last cocktail before the night was over.  We were living it up for each and every moment because we may not ever have this opportunity again.  We found a bar and I got a Fruity Martini while G and Rach got beers.  It was us and a group of guys in the bar and they bought us a round of shots so at that point, we knew it was time to head back to the Hotel.  We still had one day left in New York and another action-packed time ahead of us!

New York City! Part 1.

When I got off the plane in Los Angeles after being in New York for five days, something felt off.  There's only a couple places I call home.  Obviously Plymouth, Wisconsin, where I grew up for 18 years and Winona, Minnesota, where I went to college because the second I stepped onto campus, I knew it was the right fit.  So when I landed in LA, after being in NY, I felt like I just left my home, the same way I do when I leave Wisconsin.  I can't explain it.  I've only been to New York twice in my life; once when I was 17 and then this past April, but I just fit in the moment I got off the plane at JFK airport.  It was raining, I was excited, each part of the city we passed as we made our way into Manhattan, was another second closer to feeling like this is where I should be.  And where my heart has felt incomplete since.  Yes, I'll get over it; could I really do long cold winters for at least four months out of the year?  Where would Rutherford go to the bathroom?  Do I want to start all over in a new place as an Actress?  But for now, and the purpose of this blog, I'm going to share my New York trip and a city that has a piece of my heart forever.

Our view of the Empire State Building
from our Hotel in Midtown Manhattan.

I've never taken a Spring Break or a Girl's Trip.  I always wanted to but the closest I would come is Florida for Cheerleading in College or family vacations to Mexico.  I don't count going to Las Vegas, only because it's a few hours from Los Angeles; it would be totally different if I was going there from Wisconsin.  So for the first time in 33 years, I was taking a Spring Break, and it was an adult one at that.  Rachel, Sam and I were heading to New York City, Manhattan specifically, and Giana was already there, as she had moved just a couple weeks prior.  She was feeling homesick so we were excited to spend some time with her and bring a little LA to her!  Our sleeping arrangements fell through on Saturday and we scrambled to find something by our arrival in New York on Tuesday.  Thankfully, I found a great Hotel in Midtown, that was centrally located to everything, for a great rate and it included Breakfast every morning.  My Mom would have been proud :)

We flew Delta on our way to New York (I got us a great flight to and from NY for an awesome price by watching flights) and we were all very excited for our little five day getaway.  Gary Sinise kicked off the trip when I grabbed a Bagel at Coffee Bean; all the employee's knew him well.  Little did we know that breakfast was included on the flight, and I was wide awake so I ended up watching 'Collateral Beauty' (which if you haven't seen, was absolutely amazing - I shed plenty of tears) and then 'The Unknowns' about the Guards that watch the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and of course, we had to get a quick glimpse of the 'Sex & The City' movie since the Core Four would all be together in NY.  We checked into our Hotel, a La Quinta Inn & Suites and decided to head straight to the Roof-Top Bar since it was Happy Hour.  To make the Hotel even better, we were directly next to the Empire State Building and we had the best view of it!

Giana & I at Beauty & Essex...first night in New York :)

Giana met us at the Hotel and we all got ready for our first night in New York!  We had reservations at Beauty & Essex that night, got all gussied up, and rode the Subway to the East Village.  Emerald Gimlets, complimentary Beet Appetizers, Tuna Tacos, and our entrees which included Salmon, Lobster Mac & Cheese, Pesto, and my Scallops (which were the best I've ever had) were all a part of our lovely dinner.  I had checked out all of our restaurants on Instagram and found that at Beauty & Essex, in their downstairs bathroom/powder room, they offered complimentary Champagne.  The Ladies and I enjoyed a couple glasses, tipping our Champagne gal for our Bubbly and all the photos she took and it really made the evening a total package.  We wanted to hit up a club after so I took over, pulling out my phone to GPS to us to our next location, but let me tell you, it was raining (I gave up on my hair after the second day of this strange atmosphere) and I walked us eight blocks in the wrong direction.  We all did this at some point on the trip, and I'm not sure what kind of signal our phones were getting, but it happened to all of us.  Of course, as soon as Rachel explained the grid, and I did some exploring on my own, it was quite easy to figure out.  But I could see how easy it was to get turned around, especially at night, definitely after cocktails, multiple glasses of champagne, and our Happy Hour drinks!  We stopped at The Box, which was a new hot club that had "shows" starting at 1:30 am but we wanted to move on so we actually headed back towards our Hotel and when Giana and Sam went home, Rachel and I walked a few blocks to get another cocktail.  We came upon Jack Dempsey's, which would be where Giana's FOMO kicked in after we regaled her with our tales from the previous evening.  Rachel and I met Bob, the Bartender, and instantly felt like we were regulars.  We stayed till nearly three in the morning but didn't head home yet.  We were in New York!  It was time for a slice of the finest NY Pizza; and it hit the spot!  And no pizza in New York is complete without Garlic Knots...lots and lots of Garlic Knots.

Dinner & Champagne at Beauty & Essex with the Ladies!

That's how our trip began...and I knew I was in for the time of my life, with some of my favorite people, in a city, that felt "just right."

Bar Lubitsch Holiday Party!

The Lubitsch Holiday Party was the first Sunday in December and I knew exactly what I was going to wear.  I had a dream about my Mom the night before the party.  A year before on that night, it was the last time I spoke to my Mom.  I spent the day chatting with her, calling her and interrupting her work day at least three times, and not once was she ever annoyed or bothered by my phone calls.  I had found the perfect dress the year before, went to Angl to get it, and they said it was shipped to another store because they couldn't sell it.  Then one employee remembered she had packed it, but it hadn't yet gone out, went through the box, and pulled it out.  It was my size, the color I wanted, and when I walked out of the fitting room, she called me Beyonce.  Did I mention it was on sale with an additional 30% off?  I got for a steal (and since my Mom was the Queen of bargain-shopping, I had to call her a couple more times).  I knew since I had a dream about her the night before the party, it was a sign I had to wear the dress.

The dress <3

Giana and I got ready at my place and then we ubered over to Carolyn & Matt's and picked them up on our way to Jones for the party. Per usual, the food was incredible, salmon, chicken, two kinds of pasta, vegetables, desserts and more.  It's also open bar, yes, our Committed Inc. company certainly appreciates their employees and treats them well!  I'll take another Hendricks & Sprite please ;)

Giana, Carolyn, & I...and my amazing co-workers and friends! 
There's a whole lot of good-looking people in these photos :)

Most of my co-workers were there so we all caught up, had some shots together, enjoyed a wonderful meal, and our glasses were never empty.  It also gives all of us a chance to get dressed up for a special occasion!  I'm close friends with a few of my co-workers so we do see each other outside of work on occasion but it's always nice to get together and have everyone be fancy!  I may have missed the dance party but I did get pictures all night long!

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from all of us at Bar Lubitsch and more!

Birthday Photos!

I just wanted to share a few more photos from my Birthday Weekend!!  Thank you to everyone who stopped by during one of the parties, wished me Happy Birthday via text, phone call, or Facebook, and just your thoughts throughout the year!  They are greatly appreciated :)

Making faces with Kenni and Nick, Fern and Howie made it to Blind Barber, my lovely girls,
Courtney, Sam and I, and big smiles from Michael and me :D

Cocktails at Saddle Peak Ranch, the Funfetti Birthday Cake Ashley made from scratch,
amazing Butterfish Appetizer at Lukshon, and Huckleberry Dessert with Kristina!

Until next year...

The 5th Anniversary of my 28th Birthday! Part 2.

Birthday Cookies from Dad!

 My Birthday this year was really tough for me since it was my first one without my Mom.  Usually she would have hidden presents in my room on a previous visit, would call me at midnight in Wisconsin and midnight in LA and wish me a Happy Birthday and check in throughout the day, on top of her singing me 'Happy Birthday' and telling me all about the day I was born.  So in all honesty, I wasn't really looking forward to my Birthday this year.  My Dad sent me cookies which was so sweet and something my Mom would have done, so I was very appreciative of that but it was just a difficult weekend.  I tried to plan a whole day of fun on Sunday with friends to make the most of the day!

Surprise Birthday Party visit from Michael!

I knew I had to get to Church early on Sunday morning to prep for the day and the sun was already beating down and nearly 90 degrees by 10 am.  Since I wanted everything to be ready when the guests arrived, I made a few trips down to the pool with the cooler, the Sangria I made from scratch (thanks to Lee for bringing me a bunch of fruit from the Farmer's Market), my famous salsa, snacks, drinks, and I baked cookies too.  It was definitely a more low-key day and I was kind of glad since it had been such an eventful weekend!  Ashley even made me a beautiful cake, and Khad and Heike came by with Fonuts for everyone!  Throughout the weekend, my friends finally got to meet Rutherford, who even hung out by the pool for a while and Jamie entertained him!  When the sun went down and after the Basketball Championship, we had a Game Night.  Later on, Adam, Claire and I went over to this Carnival that had opened up in the Grocery Store parking lot just up the street.  We rode some rides (it may be the last time I ride the Tilt-A-Whirl for a while), played some games, and had a lot of fun!  It was a great way to wrap up my Birthday Weekend!

Kristina and I had made separate plans for a little Dinner night to ourselves.  I even got a Puppy-Sitter for Rutherford (thanks to Courtney for taking care of him and to Rutherford's new friend, Lola for entertaining him)!  Kristina and I went to Saddle Peak Lodge in Calabasas, and it was everything Kristina had described:  Rustic and cozy, reminded me of 'Beauty & The Beast,' and the food was top notch.  We started off with some Spicy Tequila Cocktails and Oysters.  Our server picked out a beautiful bottle of Pinot Noir for us that we knew would go great with our steaks.  Before we got to our main we had this Truffle Mushroom Agnolotti which melted in our mouths!  The meal just kept getting better and better; even the pretzel bread with salted butter to start the meal was perfection.  We had this Huckleberry Bread Pudding dessert that just knocked it out of the park and per usual, just getting to spend time with Kristina was lovely. 

Kristina and I at Saddle Peak Ranch in Calabasas :)

Overall, everyone made my 33rd Birthday very special and fun.  Thank you Friends & Family...I'm a very lucky gal <3

The 5th Anniversary of my 28th Birthday!

Having a new puppy, traveling back to Wisconsin twice in a month, celebrating my Birthday, having family in town for a Wedding, and my work schedule has gotten me so far behind in my writing.  I'm playing catch up and writing about my Birthday which happened on June 19th, over a month ago!  I'll get into a little more detail about my feelings about the weekend in part two of my Birthday Blog but I was glad to be busy that weekend!

Wine after a wonderful Dinner...thanks Court <3

Since my Birthday fell on a Sunday this year (it was also Father's Day, and I was born on Father's Day) that meant I took off on Saturday night so I could enjoy a nice weekend with friends.  On Friday, Courtney invited me to this Political Dinner at Craft in Century City in which I met our Secretary of State, some other Politicians and learned about the possibility of the Olympics coming to LA in 2024.  It was a really fun event and Craft has been on my Restaurant Bucket List for a very long time so I was super excited to try some of the food.  There was an Avocado & Tomatillo Salad to start that was out of this world, you can never get enough Avocado and each bite was packed with it...woo!!  We had Asparagus & Mushrooms with our main courses that were Salmon and Flank Steak cooked Medium Rare for the table.  Everything was family style and there was plenty of food to go around, even seconds or thirds!  Not to mention, I found a new favorite Chardonnay (Neyers) and my glass was never empty.  I've noticed I really like the Carneros region which is between San Francisco and Napa/Sonoma in a cool climate and produces really buttery Chardonnays.  No meal would be complete without a couple different desserts that were all delicious!  It was one of my favorite meals I've had, so special thanks to Courtney for kicking off the Birthday Festivities on Friday!

Saturday I started prep for the Sunday Mimosa Pool Party and Sam came over during the afternoon to spend a little time by the pool and just relax before we had Dinner.  Sam, Rachel and I went to Lukshon in Culver City for Dinner and Courtney met us there after an Afterbuzz meeting.  We started with the Hawaiian Butterfish that was fabulous, we wanted more of that in addition to the Crispy Rice Cakes that Jamie and I had had the last time we were there.  We also had the Chaing Mai Curry Noodles that had a nice little kick although, even with another appetizer we were all still hungry.  Thankfully we were going to Blind Barber for my Birthday Party which not only serves cocktails but some of the best grilled cheese I've ever had!

My Squad...Besties, Bae, and Seester ready for the night!  I'm a lucky gal :)

We all re-grouped at my place, took a shot and then headed to Blind Barber, and spent the night dancing, laughing and chatting with friends.  Of course, there were plenty of shots but this year, I was making it to bar close and remembering the night (thankfully, no one got roofied this year)!  One of the things I love about Birthdays is friends stopping by that you haven't seen in a while, and you get a chance to catch up with everyone.  It's also nice to get all your friends together in one room because it's such a rare occasion with everyone's crazy schedules.  Overall, it was a fun and even slightly tame night but it was great to be surrounded my favorite girls and get to celebrate with friends :)

Part two will be coming at ya soon!

Monica's Bachelorette Party!

We had my future cousin-in-law, Monica's Bachelorette Party in Huntington Beach over Memorial Day weekend!  My cousin, Nicole, was in town from Wisconsin and all the Bridesmaids and I met up at Monica's family's home and drove to the Pasea Hotel & Spa where we were staying for the evening, which had just opened that weekend!

After checking in, popping some Champagne and exploring around the Hotel and checking out the shopping (also getting the Red Miso Short Rib at Lemonade) we went back to the room to get ready for Dinner.  We went to Sushi on Fire in downtown Huntington Beach and Mama took special care of us!  The food was amazing, the girls were adventurous, and we even drank some sake!  Of course, we had a checklist of Bachelorette Party things that needed to get done before the night was over and there was plenty of success on that!

Monica's Bachelorette Party!

We walked back to the Hotel, drank our complimentary Wine from the Hotel, had some girl talk and got ready for our night on the town!  We ended up going to Hurricane's Bar & Grill, took some shots, got our groove on while out on the dance floor, and had a great time!

Before heading out for the evening in Huntington Beach!

The next day we re-lived the night, shared photos and while searching for a place for breakfast ended up doing IHOP since it was Memorial Day weekend and everything was packed with a waiting list.  I had to get back up to LA since I was going to pick up my new puppy that afternoon!  Nicki was also staying with me in LA for the next couple of days until she flew back to Wisconsin on Wednesday.

The Bachelorette Party was so much fun and it was the first Bachelorette Party I had ever been to which means that any other one is going to have a lot to live up to!  I'm looking forward to hanging with the girls again next week when everyone comes back to California (including all of our family from back in Wisconsin) for the Wedding over the 4th of July weekend.  Congrats to Monica & Tyler...can't wait to celebrate your Wedding soon :)

Jamie's Birthday Celebration

In April, my seester, Jamie celebrated her Birthday at Gabe's for Karaoke!  I made Dinner for her a couple nights earlier and we were able to hang out while I baked her Birthday cupcakes that I was bringing to Gabe's and gave her, her gift.  We also got some tears in while watching 'Moulin Rouge,' because the night needed that too!

Alan & Jamie at Karaoke!

Pat Benatar - 'Heartbreaker'

Toto - 'Hold The Line'

Bon Jovi - 'It's My Life

Journey - 'Separate Ways'

Tracy Chapman - 'Give Me One Reason'
"Les Miserables" - 'I Dreamed A Dream'
Melissa Etheridge - 'I'm The Only One

We kicked off the Birthday night with some rock & roll.  My new song was Bon Jovi's 'It's My Life' and I had a little help from Adam thankfully.  I'm actually far better at the harmony than the regular chorus since it's so high but it was really fun.  Adam and I already knew the song for "Project Mayhem" so that made things a little easier too.  Of course, there was rocking out with Journey, dancing, a "Les Miserables" super-set, and losing our voices by the end of the night.

The gorgeous Birthday Girl & my Seester!

Jamie had a bunch of friends come by for Karaoke night and they sang too so that was super fun!  We all toasted to her with plenty of cocktails and shots, sang lots of songs, had some themes, and sang 'Happy Birthday!' Overall, it was a fabulous celebration and hopefully we'll have some new Karaoke fans and regulars out of her awesome friends!

Celebrating my Mom's Birthday

It would have been my Mom's 57th Birthday (sorry Mom, should I say 29th) on February 9th.  Every day has been a struggle and that day could have been completely miserable, but it wasn't, and although I cried and missed her throughout the day, I tried to make the most of it and do things that she would enjoy doing.  What better way to celebrate than by eating, which she and I definitely had in common :)

My day started with a morning work-out and then I had set up an appointment at the Aveda Salon to get my hair-cut and also get a facial.  It was one of the best hair-cuts I've gotten there and I always make a stop at Diddy Riese for an Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich when I'm in Westwood.  Mom loved stopping there too when she was visiting.  I picked out a dress that Mom really liked and was ready when Jamie picked me up for our incredible Food Adventure!

Cheers Mom...Happy Birthday!

Jamie and I started off at Pearl's on Sunset in West Hollywood.  Carolyn (who was also very close with my Mom) manages the Bar/Restaurant and it was also Happy Hour, so we were excited for the $1 Oysters and $3 Champagne, and other yummy bites.  The Oysters were fabulous and the Champagne was sweet; I had my first ever Grilled Oyster and Fried Oyster, which I loved.  We also had the Lollipop Lamb Chops and Grilled & Chilled Shrimp.  Everything was delicious including our cocktails!  And there was even a place setting for my Mom...thanks Carol <3

Pearl's on Sunset with Jamie & Carolyn

Next up was EPLP on La Cienega.  Initially, I was a little nervous.  I checked out the menu during the day and was a little leery about it but after getting a glass of wine I was ready to be adventurous.  I was with Jamie afterall, and she always makes me try new and strange things and I usually end up loving them.  Like the Abalone which is similar to a snail (I made sure Jamie didn't tell me what it was or I would have shied away from it) that was absolutely delicious!  We also did the Kakoda, which was raw shrimp ceviche with coconut milk, lime and chili.  In all honesty, I had so many favorites throughout this meal, I can't pick just one or two.  Although I would go back and order that ceviche again and again!  We also got the Wood Grilled Octopus; I am not an Octopus fan but I did try it, and it was alright (better than ok but probably not something I would order again, although the salad it came with was really yummy).  We did the Heirloom Tomato and I felt like I was missing out on the cheese in it, but of course there wouldn't be cheese in Asian Cuisine.  It was light and fresh.  For our entree, we ordered the Massaman Curry which was Venison Shank (another surprise, I thought it was short rib, but it was tender and flavorful but not too gamey) served with a pickled green relish and brown rice.  At this point, we were really full from our Happy Hour but everything was too good not to eat.  Thankfully, the Curry would be great later on, and I also took the leftover Octopus Salad and brown rice.  Special thanks to Jamie's friend who took such great care and made us feel so special on a beautiful day.

No meal is complete without dessert and Jamie knows me too well as to not stop somewhere for the finishing touch to our Food Adventure.  Our final stop was Terrine on Beverly for Beignets and an after-dinner drink.  The Beignets were light and airy, and my Gin Cocktail was fresh and just enough to close out the evening still feeling good.

I'm so glad we were able to check out a couple new places and get to Pearl's for the Tuesday Oyster & Champagne night, I'll definitely be back for that, and EPLP has a beautiful rooftop that we didn't get to see, so I'm sure the next time we have Dinner, we'll visit that as well!

I wish I could share more Birthday's with my Mom but I will continue to celebrate for and with her, no matter what, and I'm so glad I had such a great friend to share that special day with!

Blind Barber Birthday

We all had such a fun time for my Birthday at Bar Lubitsch, I knew that having my actual party on Friday night at Blind Barber would be great!  I've been going into Blind Barber, which is a speakeasy inside a Barber Shop here in Culver City, for over a year now.  On top of their amazing grilled cheese selection, they've got an array of drinks and the service is always top notch!

I spent the afternoon by the pool and then early in the evening Jamie came over with some snacks and a bunch of wines for us so we could do some Wine Tasting.  They ranged from a Rose, to Chardonnay, to a Chianti.  The Rose surprised me the most since I typically hate Rose because it's always too dry but this was light and airy, with a touch of sweetness at the end and a smooth finish.  Jamie told me it wasn't available to buy on its own, only for restaurant sales.  It made drinking it with her while getting ready for my Birthday so special!  I also picked out one of the Chardonnay's and the Chianti that also had a smooth finish to keep.

An array of Wines for our Tasting and a mini Photo-Shoot before heading to Blind Barber!

Some of my friends were already at Blind Barber by the time we arrived, our Uber got lost getting to my apartment so we jumped right into some cocktails.  I started with the Strawberry Fields and the next thing I know, I was taking a shot, and another one a half hour later, and had another drink in my hand after that and the night just kept going from there.  Thankfully, Jamie made sure I ate some of the fabulous Grilled Cheese that I had ordered, and Carolyn was making me drink water, and I happily obliged.

Catching up with friends, Ashley, Carolyn, Jeff, and Bear at Blind Barber!

There was dancing, shots, and fun!  So many of my friends showed up and stopped by, and I apologize if I'm forgetting anyone.  Thanks to Jamie (for starting the festivities off with a bang) Jeff, Bear, Andy, Kayt, Patrick, Ashley, Raph, Mikey, Carolyn, Nick, Charlie, Sam (for also making sure we all got home safely), Adam, Giana, Justin, (for trying) Giere, Simon, Daniel, our wonderful Bartender, Allyson, the manager at Blind Barber, and anyone else who came to celebrate and toast with me!  Can we please have a re-do where I don't have to take shots and let's not celebrate my Birthday but just get everyone together to hang out and have an awesome time!?!

My favorite part of my Birthday is just getting all my friends together in one space to hang out and catch up.  So perhaps I'll try to set something like this up every few months so friends can meet other friends, we can all relax and enjoy some great food and drinks, and celebrate that we're all here in LA and having the time of our lives <3  Thank you to everyone who made my Birthday special!

Bar Lubitsch Birthday

June 19th was my Birthday and since it was my Birthday at midnight on Thursday I decided to have my Power Hour Party at Bar Lubitsch.  We had a performance of 'Thenardier's Inn' at the Hollywood Fringe Festival that night too so since we were performing at 3 Clubs it was just a few minutes from the bar.  Cara, one of our fabulous Bartenders, is also an incredible cook, and makes food every Thursday for the patrons of Lubitsch, and Matt Wise, DJ's on Thursdays and plays a mix of awesome music!

We got to Lubitsch just minutes before midnight and thankfully I had a shot in my hand and friends to cheers with as soon as the clock turned, in addition to a Birthday announcement!  Lauren, another Bartender at Lubitsch, was helping Cara out that night, and they served Chicken Sliders with a home-made BBQ sauce, along with a Feta, Basil, and Watermelon salad, finishing off the meal with a Cara's special Jalapeno's!  Everything was so great!

My Birthday at Bar Lubitsch...my wonderful Bartenders (Lauren & Cara) and Chefs for the evening,
and my Bestie, Mike and I taking celebratory Birthday shots!

I had such a great time with friends, dancing, singing, and just hanging out together outside of our show and out somewhere different!  I'm so glad that everyone could come by if even for a little while, special thanks to Arky, Adam, Austin, Max, Todd, Emily, Kenni (and her Mama), Samantha, Mikey Weiss, my co-workers and managers, Aaron, Brian, Eric, Lauren, Ashley, Cara, and Mike, for stopping by, shots or drinks, hospitality, and celebrations.
 

After a majority of my friends left and with everyone else working, it was Max, Adam, Samantha and I.  We all got out on the dance floor and closed down the bar with dance moves and laughs.  The party continued at my apartment with McDonald's, 'Tommy Boy,' and Powerpuff Girl T-shirts.  Thanks to you guys for making my night so memorable and to Samantha for taking such amazing care of me!

Adam, Max, Samantha and I taking a dance break!

In typical Birthday fashion (at least the last couple years) I've been a little bummed before my Birthday.  Then as soon as my Birthday hits, I'm totally fine and excited to celebrate.  Lucky for me, I have fabulous friends and family who always brighten my week with wishes and love.

It was the perfect way to kick off my Birthday, with an excellent performance and crowd at 'Thenardier's Inn' and then rocking out with my friends at midnight!  My Birthday came and was an absolute blast so I knew I was in for a run of fun the following night and weekend :)

Tis the Season for Holiday Party's...

December means Holiday Party's and living in Los Angeles and enjoying year-round sunny weather, there are still Ugly Sweater Christmas Party's even when it was 70 degree's that afternoon!  We do Tree-Trimming, go and look at Christmas Lights, make Hot Toddies (on those 70 degree days) and all the same things we do in the Midwest just without the snow.  It still seems strange to me...

Michael and I at the Lubitsch
Holiday Party!

The first Holiday Party of the season was kicked off by my Committed Inc. Bar Lubitsch Family.  The food was catered from Jones Bar and drinks were endless all night long...  Yes, by the time Michael and I were done drinking Cucumber Gimlets for the night, I could say I wouldn't be drinking that cocktail for a very long time.  It's been one of my favorites since I started working there over two years ago, so that makes me very sad!  On top of the delicious food and open bar, it's a time to catch up with people from the other bars and restaurants in our company.  Since the party was held at Lubitsch this year, most of my co-workers were working the party and thankfully were able to partake in the festivities as long as they remained responsible.  And clearly they did, as my tipsy-self was jokingly pushing around my fellow co-workers asking why they weren't drinking more.  Oops!  Sorry Cara and Lauren!  Of course, spending time with fellow Bartenders means shots are going to happen throughout the night; and it's a Vodka bar (my favorite thing to drink) and we have all these amazing juices and fruits to make the Vodka taste even more delicious!  Needless to say, we all had a good time :)

The following weekend I had two Party's for Friday night.  Jamie & Spark were Hosting an Ugly Sweater Christmas Party with all sorts of yummy food and friends I hadn't seen in a while.  Samantha was having a Hunger Games-esque Party with a Gingerbread House competition, costume/festive clothing competition, Beer Pong, etc.  My friend, Robby and I went to Sam's first and I had a cup of Home-Made Hot Chocolate (there was a Hot Chocolate Bar, and how cool is that) with some Peppermint Schnapps and lots of marshmallows.  Well, you don't really think adding a shot or two will do anything, but it sure did, and I took a little break after that Hot Chocolate.  Although, when we all started to play King's Cup, I ended up being someone's Mate, who was then connected to someone else, and they were connected to someone else, so I ended up drinking any time one of those three people had to drink.  I had switched to the less-intoxicating Punch at that point and was happy about that!  Did I mention that Sam makes some of the best cookies I've ever had; no matter what she makes and how full I am, I always have room for her cookies, they're seriously amazing.  

Hostesses with the Most!

At 10 pm, it was time to head over to Jamie's so we could catch the Costume Contest since Robby had gone out to buy a sweater that evening, just for the party.  Plus, I knew Jamie had spent the afternoon shopping and making appetizers and I was so excited to try everything.  I had baked Brownies as well that were just waiting to be eaten and I completely forgot how much I love to bake; I cooked them to fudge-y perfection, as the pan was demolished in under an hour.  There were definitely some ugly sweaters and outfits at this party (on purpose), and some others that were really creative, or something that I could totally see myself or my husband wearing 40 years from now, and that's just kind of adorable so I couldn't vote 'Ugly' for those!  Jamie and Spark always hand-make their sweaters, which is so creative, and this year, Jamie had also made a Wrapping Bow Dress!  It was so colorful and cute; she was a hit!  She also made some delicious spiked Punch with Pomegranate, Ginger Ale, Lemon and it had Whipped Cream to go with it and when the party had started to wind down, Spark made a Chocolate Pizza that I wish I had gotten a piece of because the bite I tasted was awesome!

So for another Winter in LA, the Holiday Party season wasn't too shabby and everyone stepped it up this year!  My two beautiful Hostesses had super fun party's and Lubitsch never disappoints.  But alas, I'm so excited to go home and see snow, because there's just something about a White Christmas that really makes it feel like the Holiday season.  

Our CAC Family at Sam's Holiday Party!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night <3

Halloween at The Wellsbourne

Since my Cher costume needed more air-time after Karaoke at Gabe's, Jamie and I decided to hit up one of our favorite places, The Wellesbourne, during Halloween Weekend.  She dressed up as my Mod Mistress, and we hit the town in our awesome wigs!

The Wellesbourne was having a Halloween Party there with a Photo Booth, awesome DJ, Costume Contest, and sponsored cocktails by Selvaray Rum!  The bar had the perfect amount of people, busy enough to do some people-watching, but quiet enough to find a seat at the bar and enjoy our cocktails and conversation.  Plus, our favorite bartenders were there, dressed in costume as well.  We had to try their house drink for the night, the Selvaray Rum Punch, but then I switched to my typical drink after that, a Vodka Gimlet, because Johnny makes me the best one I've had!  Jamie is always adventurous, trying whatever Remi makes for her!

The only blonde I truly love <3

I'm not quite sure how we missed the Costume Contest (I'm really thinking it didn't happen) but I think Jamie and I would have won it ;)  I suppose, I'm biased on that though.  We had a great time filled with plenty of candy, yummy cocktails, and great company.  I always look forward to going back!

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!

Ruth's Chris for Dine LA!

When Dine LA came to town a few weeks ago I was so busy with acting projects and work I actually didn't have any time to check out any of the new restaurants I had planned on going to.  Thankfully, I was able to squeeze in a late night Dinner at Ruth's Chris in Beverly Hills with Aimee and Andy, after working at Irish Times all day.

Amazing Seared Ahi Tuna!

I had made a reservation but it was packed so we grabbed some cocktails at the bar before getting seated.  I decided on the Strawberry Basil Martini which was so delicious.  It had just the right amount of sweetness, was strong, yet light and refreshing.  It made it all the way to dessert...score!  We started with the Seared Ahi Tuna appetizer which had a mustard, ginger, wasabi glaze, and a great palate cleanser before our meal arrived.  Aimee and Andy had brought some wine from their last trip to Santa Barbara and Solvang so that paired perfectly with our steaks.  I decided on the Summer Corn Chowder for my next course and it was far lighter than I expected, it was more broth-based than creamy which was perfect right before my steak.

We had all decided to get a different side, so I got the green beans and garlic, Andy ordered the mashed potatoes, and Aimee decided on the sauteed mushrooms.  It was nice to get all the veggies and potatoes to accompany our perfectly-cooked steaks.  As it came sizzling on that hot plate, I couldn't wait to dive in!  The steak was really good and hit the spot (not the best I've had at a Ruth's Chris, and after Mastro's for my Birthday, it's going to be hard to top that).  After all the appetizers and sides I was so full that I had to take the other half of my steak home because I wanted to leave some room for dessert.  This dessert was amazing, and I'm not a big cheesecake fan but it was Honey Cinnamon Cheesecake with Chocolate Brittle.  I loved the flavor of the cheesecake!

Dinner at Ruth's Chris with Aimee & Andy!

It was nice to get to enjoy a good meal with great friends and it was Andy's first Ruth's Chris experience, so that was exciting!  I look forward to my next Ruth's Chris steak and I can't wait to have another one of those Strawberry Martini's...a perfect Summer evening in LA :)

Ashley's Going Away Party :(

Ashley and I met almost nine years ago on Roommates.com when I was looking for a roommate since I knew I was moving to Los Angeles in the Fall of 2005.  She had this fun and flirty picture, looked like a really nice girl, said she was originally from Hawaii, and seemed normal enough to cross my fingers and hope she wasn't going to kill me in my sleep after I had moved to LA.  The first thing I remember about Ashley when I met her was how tall and tan she was ;)

Buddy Bing & Buddy Gellar

In less than two weeks Ashley's moving back to Hawaii.  She's been here for 11 years and comparing LA to Hawaii seems like a horrible idea, and I've never been to Hawaii but I can only imagine how beautiful it is, and how nice it'll be to be back around family and good friends again!  So last Sunday she had her Going Away Party at Freddy Smalls complete with snacks, pizza, and lots of candy!  Her friends from The Counter, where she's worked since she's been in LA, that I've gotten to know too, were at the party, some of her family that is out here, old bosses, and friends, and more were all in attendance.  As she's been doing for weeks, it's really hard to pack up 11 years of your life to take back to Hawaii!  Saying goodbye is even worse.

Of course, no Going Away Party for Ash would be complete without a dance party, some 'Baby Got Back,' shots, and tears.  Jeff was our resident DJ for the night and had everybody up and dancing (even on the bar at one point), and there was no shortness of alcohol either!  The party was so much fun and it was great to see everybody again for what might be the last time for a long time, but as we discussed, now I have a fabulous reason to get to Hawaii for a little vacation!

Once Carolyn arrived, it was nearly time to shut down Freddy's and move over to the San Francisco Saloon.  I got all of us one final shot of Fireball and put these two girls over their edge.  We couldn't celebrate properly without all of us taking a shot together.  Not only did we get 20 pictures in a row of us smiling, laughing, and crying, but an epic end to the night.  I got to meet Ashley's rats for the first time, Ben snuggled Ash as soon as she laid down, and I got to spend some quality time with Carolyn.

I LOVE these Ladies!

It was a late night but I wouldn't have had it any other way.  I love these girls so much, and as sad as I am that one of my best friends, and first LA friend, is moving back home, I'm so proud of her, and know she'll be happy.  And that's all that matters <3