Woo hoo! My last weekend of not drinking has finally arrived! And I plan to celebrate big come Monday at First & Hope’s Red Rover, Red Rover bar night. But til then check out all the fun things going on.
Thursday, March 25
Oliverio’s Italian-Inspired Happy Hour
Remember Blue on Blue? The Avalon Beverly Hills’ happy hour? Well, it has since been replaced by that of the hotel’s Italian restaurant, Oliverio, but this time en Italiano. New Salute cocktails are $14 and the aperitivi ranges from $8 to $22 with oysters at $2.50 each but it’s all half off during happy hour every Tuesday and Thursday. True, $7 cocktails is pricey compared to the usual $4 well drink fare of a typical happy hour. But this fancy, poolside one features Italian delicacies like grilled octopus ($4), pizzetta truffle with goat cheese and black summer truffles ($11).
- Tuesdays and Thursdays 5-9pm. Oliverio at The Avalon, 9400 West Olympic Boulevard, Beverly Hills (map). (310) 407-7791.
Rivera’s Spring Cocktail Menu Debuts Tonight With $5 Drinks*
Tonight, master mixologist of Rivera, Julian Cox, will debut his new spring cocktail menu for the downtown restaurant. Liquid Muse Natalie Bovis and I got a sneaky peek of the prototype of a beet cocktail with Combier orange, Spanish brandy, beet juice, plum wine and lemon that may or may not be on the new menu. Whatever the lineup is going to be, though, I know it’s gonna be good. If you stop by tonight after 9pm, you’ll be able to try out the new drinks for only $5* each.
- 9pm to close. Rivera, 1050 S. Flower Street, Downtown (map). (213) 749-1460.
Friday, March 26
Early 1900s Extravaganza at the Los Angeles Athletic Club
Party like it’s 19-0-0! At the Los Angeles Athletic Club’s wine soiree, guests will get to sip wine paired with historic cheeses as well as the lux Valrhona Grand Cru chocolates all while taking in the views from the athletic club’s rooftop patio. Folk-blues orchestra, The Dustbowl Revival, will keep your toes a-tapping. Tickets are $66 a person or you can score the ticket package of $88 for two people (as of this writing there are 4 left).
- 7-9pm. $66 a person, $88 for two. Los Angeles Athletic Club, 431 W 7th Street, Downtown (map). (213) 625-2211.
Saturday, March 27
Chaya Go Pop-Up Restaurant’s All-You-Can-Eat Sushi and Bar for $20 a Person
While Chaya Venice is getting a makeover, Chaya Go, a pop-up restaurant, will open steps away to offer diners all-you-can-eat sushi and beer, wine and sake for only $20 a person! Executive Chef Shigefumi Tachibe’s menu will include spicy tuna, salmon sushi and veggie sushi rolls. Nice part is that all proceeds will benefit C-CAP (Careers through Culinary Arts Program).
- March 27 to 31. Chaya Go, 245 Main Street, Venice (map).
Sunday, March 28
Pamper Me Fabulous
It’s that time of year again: Get scrubbed down, trimmed and polished to reemerge as a beautiful renewed butterfly for spring. Pamper Me Fabulous is the spa day you’ve been waiting for with an offering of mini beauty and spa services from the best spas and salons as well as lots of gourmet eats for you to luxuriate over in the Vibiana cathedral. Tickets range in price from $25 general admission (a swag bag, health and wellness expert sessions and access to beauty product samples, boutique shopping and drinks and desserts) to $100 VIP (two mini treatments from top spas and salons and access to lounges, bubbly and appetizers as well as a VIP swag bag). Get 10% off when you use discount code: oohlala.
- 11am-5pm. Vibiana, 210 S. Main Street, Downtown (map).
_* Not sure if the cocktails are $5 or $6. On Tuesday, Julian told me they are going to be $5 but then he tweeted that they’re $6. Either way, great deal._