LA Spotlight: Joey’s

May 3, 2018August 6, 2018 / Club R / Leave a comment

Venue: Joey’s Woodland Hills

Address: 6344 Topanga Canyon Blvd #1010, Woodland Hills, CA 91367

Hours: Mon – Sat 11 am – 1 am, Sun 11 am – 12 am

Best Days: Saturdays & Sundays

Perfectly situated on Topanga Canyon Blvd, Joey’s is easily one of our favorite post-canyon drive lunch spots. With the perfect balance of atmosphere, location and food, it’s pretty quickly easy to see why.

Though Joey’s is a chain, we’re a fan. The up-scale ambience and decor is inviting and conducive to a chill time while one dines. Add a diverse menu of highly delicious items and you have a combination tough to beat. There are 2 items on the menu that we’re also slightly addicted to: The sushi cone and the apple pie. The sushi cone is just the perfect 3 bite snack that is tasty, zesty and full of flavor. It’s hard to stop at one, but you have to force yourself because you realize there are other delicious things to order. The apple pie is insanely good, partially because they make their ice cream in-house daily, and partially because of some culinary sorcery. It’s that good.

Toss in the fact that they’ll bring in an in-house DJ to keep the musical atmosphere fun and fresh, and you have the perfect venue for a Sunday afternoon Siesta. We’ve dined here on different days of the week, and there’s just something about weekend afternoons that really suit this place well.

So if you find yourself in the Woodland Hills area or are doing a nicely spirited drive through the Malibu canyons, you certainly should add this place as destination for a great meal.

Cheers,

-JB

Club R Lifestyle Drive 4-29-2018

April 30, 2018July 19, 2018 / Club R / Leave a comment

Yesterday we had a spirited drive through the glorious SoCal landscape, starting in Beverly Hills and making our way up Sunset Blvd to Pacific Coast highway. Once there, we turned north and went for lunch at one of our favorite places in Malibu.

We had an eclectic mix of cars, with a Lamborghini Aventador SV, BMW E46 M3, Porsche 997.1 GT3, Audi R8 V10, BMW E93 M3, Audi A4 Convertible (the camera car), Fiat 500 Abarth, and a Subaru WRX.

Afterwards, being the drivers that we are, we hit the canyon roads in the Santa Monica Mountains for a spirited drive. Enjoy some pics below:

Will you join us for the next one?

Cheers,

-JB

Nightlife Spotlight: The Edison

March 3, 2018March 6, 2018 / Club R / Leave a comment

Venue: The Edison

Address: 108 W 2nd St #101, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Website: edisondowntown.com

Hours: Wed – Fri 5 pm – 2 am, Sat 8 pm – 2 am

Best Days: Fridays, Saturdays or Special Performance nights

A century ago in 1916, the first power plant in Los Angeles was commissioned to serve the small town. Many years later, this power plant would see a sprawling super-metropolis sprout up around it, and eventually the plant was decommissioned. Then, in 2008, the decommissioned plant was transformed into a decadent steam-punk speakeasy type of restaurant and lounge, and thus the Edison was born.

To be upfront, the Edison is still our absolute favorite venue in downtown LA even after 10 years of being open. There is no other place quite like it. The mix of history, futurism and 1920’s charm makes it one of the most unique venues anywhere, and we mean anywhere on the planet. The venue has an underground appeal because it literally is underground and takes you back to an era when jazz music exploded and the good time were roaring in the 1920’s.

The 1920’s them is partially created by the very strictly enforced dress code. If you ever plan to visit, be sure to give it a good read through as they make zero exceptions at the door. But dressing fancy is a small price to pay (but is looking good really a price to pay?) to experience the authentic charm of the venue. The space is quite massive, with 2 bars, a stage and several dining areas next to old power generating equipment that now serves as decoration. You can even dine inside an old coal furnace, complete with functional hatches.

The food at the Edison is an eclectic assortment of dishes, but a must have are the signature beer nuts. They are an insanely good snack and we have to have them about 90% of the time we are there. What’s more impressive than the food options are the drink selections, as The Edison’s drink and cocktail selection is very extensive. And for the 1920’s connoisseur, they feature a hefty selection of absinthe. And on weekend, an actual green fairy can be spotted with a chest filled with vials of the night’s specialty absinthe. One time when she graced us with her presence we had a most decant absinthe that was blended with elderflower.

To top it all off, The Edison features a variety of different entertainers on evening, from Cirque Du Soleil style aerialists to burlesque shows, The Edison keeps it’s routine fresh and enjoyable for all. This place is a must visit for anyone in LA, as after a decade of business, the fact that it’s still thriving is a testament to how an integral a part of the Los Angeles experience it has become.

Cheers,

-JB

Nightlife Spotlight: Poppy

February 17, 2018March 6, 2018 / Club R / Leave a comment

Venue: Poppy

Address: 755 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069

Website: hwoodgroup.com/poppy

Hours: Thurs – Fri 11 pm – 2 am

Best Days: Thursday and Friday

Imagine a venue only officially open for 6 hours each week. Then imagine it’s got a chic lounge, world-class DJ’s, and the “hot” factor strong enough to melt icecaps. Imagine no more, Poppy is here.

Poppy is a very high-style club and cocktail lounge that’s one of the new kids on the block. Located in West Hollywood, this venue literally wastes no time as it’s only open on Thursdays and Fridays, and the doors open at 11 pm. That’s right, you only have 3 hours and two chances a week to experience it. Always leave them wanting more and Poppy does just that.

As far as the layout goes, it is similar to Warwick and Avenue in Hollywood, with a main area that has tables in the center and then tables lining the walls by the DJ booth. Poppy also has a back area lounge and bar, so if one need s a break from dancing and insanely loud music, they can chill in the back with slightly-less-than insanely loud music.

For average civilians getting into Fort Knox would be an easier task, but if you’re willing to negotiate a price of admission at the door (and by negotiate, we mean pay whatever number they tell you), you may find yourself getting to enjoy newest “it” club in LA. We happen to be connected to the promoter there, so feel free to contact us if you to go the non-civilian route. But to be at the latest “it” venue, you have to pay to play, so don’t be surprised by some high table rates and pricey drinks at the bar.

All in all Poppy is the ultimate club experience LA has to offer, so if that’s you’re scene then you won’t be disappointed. We had a fun time there and having 2 Chainz make a surprise appearance and give an impromptu concert was awesome. You never know what can happen during a night out at a club.

Cheers,

-JB

LA Spotlight: Taverna Tony

January 20, 2018March 6, 2018 / Club R / Leave a comment

Venue: Taverna Tony

Address: 23410 Civic Center Way, Malibu, CA 90265

Website: tavernatony.com

Hours: Sun – Thurs 11:30 am – 12 am, Fri – Sat 11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Best Days: Saturday and Sundays

If you find yourself by the beach and have a hankering for Mediterranean food, then Taverna Tony is perfect hidden gem you’re looking for. Nestled away in the Cross Creek Plaza on PCH, this restaurant has been a local favorite for many years.

The restaurant is dived into 4 sections, with 2 interior dining areas, a bar in the middle and a large exterior patio. The patio is always the recommended place to dine, especially on gorgeous sunny Sundays.

The food speaks for itself, as the extensive menu features many traditional Mediterranean dishes. The complimentary Taramosalata Dip is one of our favorite foods anywhere, and one is often tempted to just eat that and the bread and call it a day. Other menu highlights include the lamb sandwich, shrimp pasta, grilled swordfish and the mousakka. The portions are sizable and hand made fresh each day, and the deserts are just as decadent as the main courses.

Some nights they have live performances by bands to liven up the atmosphere, but we don’t think you can beat dining on the patio on a cool Sunday afternoon. This eatery is also a known stop for the rich and famous, as Jason Statham and the King of Qatar are regulars. All in all, this is one of our favorite places in LA for a weekend meal, so be sure to pop in and introduce to Tony himself.

Cheers,

-JB

Nightlife Spotlight: Toca Madera

January 6, 2018March 6, 2018 / Club R / Leave a comment

Venue: Toca Madera

Address: 8450 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Website: tocamadera.com

Hours: Sun 11 am -12 am, Mon – Thurs 5 pm – 2 am, Fri – Sat 5 pm – 2 am

Best Days: Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays

Tucked away on the edge of West Hollywood lies a very special place. What makes this place so special you, ask? Do they have drinks? Yes they do. Do they have food? You bet. So what makes this spot a cut above the rest?

First, one must look at all the details to see how they fit together. Toca Madera is nestled on 3rd st and LaCienaga, which puts it the neighborhood of other trendy West Hollywood venues and makes them all an accessible 5-8 minute Uber drive. Toca Madera is a high end Mexican cuisine restaurant and lounge which features a diverse menu of various dishes, from Carne Asada to several unique style of ceviche and everything in between. All food is made with organic and locally sourced ingredients to ensure it’s as fresh as possible. It’s a fantastic place to get dinner, a quick night out snack or go for Sunday brunch. Of course, they also run a special all day Happy Hour for Taco Tuesday. And these Taco Tuesdays also feature performances by special DJ’s and fire dancers. Yes, fire dancers.

Toca Madera takes the lounge aspect just as seriously as the resonant aspect, so they feature a rotation of various top end DJ’s to keep the music and atmosphere in a constant state of activity. Another factor that aids in this are the specialty cocktails. There are plenty of signature drinks like Margaritas and Old Fashions which they put their own twist on, but they also have some signature in house cocktails that are sure to delight. Our personal favorite is the Agua Fresca, which uses a charred pineapple and cinnamon infused vodka with lemon juice, coconut water and fresh ground cinnamon on top. We could literally drink those all night, but unfortunately Toca Madera can’t serve alcohol past 2 am, like everywhere else in LA.

The restaurant is laid out in a very unique way, in that the main room has a large marble topped bar in the center of the space. Around the bar are lounge tables, a DJ Booth and a photo booth. In the room behind the main room, there is a wall of decorated skulls lining the back where more tables are. On the second floor of this room is a tree house section, with tables that offer up close aerial views of the back room’s center petrified tree.

So with top-tier food, drinks and atmosphere, what else could one want? The last missing element is the crowd and staff. The crowd that typically frequents the venue tend to be very internationally diverse and very festive. Unlike a lot of clubs, where people go more to be seen at their tables than mingle, the environment at Toca Madera is very conducive to people mingling and interacting, which can be a difficult trick to foster organically. And the last element is the top notch staff, which miraculously is somehow filled with genuinely cool people from top to bottom. From the busboys to the hostesses, bartenders and managers, the staff are the magic that keeps everything together to create a place where you will have great experiences time after time. Add the fact that they continually add special events and guest entertainers and you have a special place that never offers the same exact experience twice.

After 3 years of business and a formula that has made they very successful, he’d highly recommend checking this place out. It tops our list as our favorite LA Nightlife venue and after a trip there you’ll be sure to see why.

Cheers,

-JB

LA Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2018

October 9, 2017March 6, 2018 / Club R / Leave a comment

“You can have anything you want in life if you dress for it.” — Edith Head

Last week the LA fashion scene was hit by a storm, and that storm was LA Fashion Week Spring/Summer ’18. This season was most ambitious and lavish one to date, featuring a robust lineup of 16 designers, all showcasing their most current concepts and collections. Ground Zero for the activities of this fashion storm occurred in the historic Alexandria Ballrooms in Down Town LA, which is a distinctly historic LA venue.

The aim for LA Fashion Week is to set itself apart by focusing on Los Angeles based design talent, by promoting and highlighting the local design community which gives the event a very distinct home-grown vibe. The emphasis this season was on celebrating the cultural diversity that we sometimes take for granted in LA.

The storm was a 5 day affair, with a grand opening ceremony featuring several performances from a rock show, a performance by the Anaheim Ballet, and a Thai dance group performance to set the tone. The open spaces of the venue where transformed by art pieces from local artists, allowing attendees to get a taste of the LA art scene, as well as a full blown “make-over station” setup by KISS Professional, NY.

The shows on the runway this season featured some very exciting themes, as many of the designers utilized very traditional cultural elements in their designs mixed with bold colors and intricate patterns. For example, George Styler made use of traditional Asian styles in his design work, with a splash of fantasy elements thrown in to give his collection a very unique and larger than life feel. The most unique and show-stealing moment at of any of the shows had to come from designer Issue Thailand, who featured not 1 but 2 “invisible people” to model outfits for his latest collection. A creatively delightful surprise, it certainly was the talk of the week at the event. The full line up of designers presenting was:
Noe Bernacelli

The fashion is never limited to just the runways, as the attendee presented a plethora of diverse fashion ensembles and statements. Throughout the non-stop fashion activity at the event, Executive Producer Arthur Chipman could be spied ensuring that everything was executed smoothly and seemingly effortlessly. It’s always a sight to behold to see a show runner in full action making sure every minute detail is executed each day, and for a 5 day stretch makes it that much more impressive to see. That same dive and passion is shared by the rest of the LA Fashion Week team, particularly the Beauty Director Marquita Davis, who could be seen ensuring that anything and everything needed for a show, designer, or guest was taken care of immediately, no matter how big or small. That’s magic of their hard work that deserves appreciation and recognition, especially since Chipman, Davis and the LA Fashion Week team do a great job of managing the monumental amount of behind the scenes chaos and logistics to help create a special event for everyone to enjoy, while making it seem as if the entire process is as simple as flipping a switch.

All in all, LA Fashion Week SS’18 has been the biggest and boldest LA Fashion Week to date. The vision and execution makes it a world-class event, and does its home city of Los Angeles a great service by elevating the fashion profile of the city. The event has certainly grown over the last few years to become one of the premier fashion events in the world and the future of this event looks very, very grand. Rest assured there will be great anticipation and many eyes waiting to see what the LA Fashion Week team has in store for next season.