This Weekend: Attack of the Largest Margarita, Ode to Lambics, All the Clear Spirits You Can Drink

— by Caroline on Crack

Friday, May 4

New Tequila/Mescal Bar La Cuevita Opens in Highland Park
The bar group that brought you Oldfield’s and Bigfoot Lodge rethemed its Highland Park goth bar Little Cave, turning it into a Mexican-themed bar celebrating the Eastside’s Hispanic roots with an  impressive selection of agave spirits and specialty cocktails by Jared Mort (Oldfield’s) and Cooper Gillespie (Thirsty Crow). Enjoy unusual cocktails like the Del Maguey Crema Mezcal (mezcal, St. Germain, lemon juice, ginger beer) and the Jalapeno margarita (Tanteo jalapeno tequila, grapefruit, honey, lime and cilantro) on one of the bar’s two patios.

  • Daily 8pm-2am. La Cuevita, 5922 N Figueroa Street, Highland Park (map). (323) 255-6871.

Saturday, May 5

The Biggest Margarita Invades Big Bar for Cinco de Mayo
Those knuckleheads at Big Bar are always so much fun with their movie screenings and proms. This time for Cinco they’re creating the hugest margarita (957.44 ounces — as big as your head!) and hope that you will come out to help them sip it down. It’ll be served up all day and night on Saturday for $10 a pop. Also for every purchase you get a chance at winning a pair of tickets for the Dodgers vs. Giants game on Wednesday the 9th.

  • Big Bar, 1929 Hillhurst Avenue, Los Feliz (map).

Sunday, May 6

Taste of the Eastside
The Eastside presents such a diverse selection of cuisines that you know the Taste of the East food fest is gonna be crazy packed with foodies who want to partake of Cliff’s Edge, Auntie Em’s, Proof Bakery and more. The wine and beer garden will showcase goodies from Eagle Rock Brewery, Golden Road Brewery and Silver Lake Wine. The hot ticket is the VIP one, though, which includes unlimited tastings and access to seminars and demos by KCRW Good Foods host Evan Kleiman, mixologist Marcos Tello, Little Dom’s pastry chef Ann Kirk and more.

  • 12-5pm. General $35 advance/$45 door; general plus bar $45 advance/$55 door; VIP $65 advance/$75 door. Barnsdall Art Park, 4800 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Feliz (map).

Beachwood BBQ & Brewing’s Ode to Lambic
Long Beach brewpub Beachwood BBQ & Brewing celebrates lambics from all over with seven on tap like Jolly Pumpkin Bambic and The Bruery Sans Pagaie Kriek and several bottled beers like Russian River Beatification and 3 Fonteinen Oude Gueze.

  • 4pm. Beachwood BBQ Brewing, 210 E 3rd Street, Long Beach (map). (562) 436-4020.

Los Angeles Cochon 555
This traveling feast of pork delights lands in L.A. and pits five chefs (Mozza’s Chad Colby, Ford’s Filling Station’s Ben Ford, Strand House’s Neal Fraser and Travis Lorton, Superba Snack Bar’s Jason Neroni and Mezze Micah Wexler) against one another. Feast on heritage breed pigs nose to tail while imbibing wine from five family wines.

  • 4pm VIP, $5 general admission. $125-$250. House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Strip, West Hollywood (map).

Tuesday, May 8

Clear Spirits Fest at the Wine House
Check out the list of clear spirits that will be featured at this event. Everything from the premium Stoli Elit to St. George Gin Terroir to Rusty Blade Aged Gin to something called Pink Pigeon Vanilla Infused Rum. And your tour guide for this boozy affair? Aidan Demarest of Neat. Yeah, it’s going to be a crazy fun night, now go book your designated driver.

  • 7:30-9:30pm. $59. Wine House, 2311 Cotner Avenue, West LA (map). (310) 479-3731.