During these hot summer days, there’s nothing quite as refreshing as a nice chilled coffee beverage. Blended or iced, it just hits the spot when you’re trying to cool off. Recently Coffee Bean has launched their new Non-Fat Yogurt Ice Blended drink for the summer.

And being the lovingly generous people that we are, we’ve decided to give away four gift certificates, worth $40 each, to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

We asked you to leave your favorite joke below and the winners have been picked. Congratulations to….

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

Mmm, coffee. Can’t function in normal society without it. Steaming hot and aromatic, it’s all good. Does your morning fix last throughout the afternoon? Do you long for the day that your upper of choice becomes intravenous (still talking coffee, here)?

In other words: do you wish you knew how to to quit it?

Starbucks wishes you wouldn’t, so much in fact that they’re offering a sweet nationwide deal for you java-jonesers. Having priced their almost-$4.00 grande iced beverages for a measly $2.00 every day after 2:00 pm means that you can start putting funds towards the more important things - like food, gas, and rent. Or more coffee. All you need is a same-day receipt verifying your morning purchase.

How thoughtful is that?

Story via CNN.com | AP Photo by miss karen

There’s nothing more pleasant than a nice brisk and refreshing cocktail on a warm summer afternoon to help you cool off and unwind. And with the Monday blues still lingering, I thought I’d share this fantastic recipe for a rosemary-infused cocktail!

First off, you need to start with some Rosemary Simple Syrup (or alternatively you can use the even more delicious-sounding Lemon Verbena Simple Syrup). Apartment Therapy’s The Kitchn has a very simple instructions on how to make both the Rosemary and the Lemon Verbena.

From there, it’s even easier.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

Hey darlin’ it’s hot outside. Screw the oven, to hell with the kitchen, I’m drinking dinner this week.

After a brief glimpse at Metromix’s list of restaurants with free corkage, I was pleased to hear that the urban legend about Cobras & Matadors policy was just a myth. I’d buy my wine at the place next door anyways, but it’s nice to know that my Vons six-pack (10% off!) is also accepted. Cobras and Matadors 7615 W Beverly Blvd Los Angeles, 323-932-6178

As a born and bred Santa Monican, sometimes I find it hard to justify the carbon emissions necessary to make it to Beverly, so I may just plop myself down at the most recent addition to the Beverly Hills Hotel, Bar Nineteen 12. Although a solid 10 degrees cooler than it is at LACMA, Beverly Hills isn’t immune to a heat wave every now and again which is why alcoholic popsicles and jelly shots in flavors ranging from watermelon to apple martini are always a good idea.  Bar Nineteen12, The Beverly Hills Hotel, 9641 Sunset Blvd (at Beverly Dr), Beverly Hills, 310-273-1912

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

Hey darlin’ it’s hot outside. Screw the oven, to hell with the kitchen, I’m drinking dinner this week.

After a brief glimpse at Metromix’s list of restaurants with free corkage, I was pleased to hear that the urban legend about Cobras & Matadors policy was just a myth. I’d buy my wine at the place next door anyways, but it’s nice to know that my Vons six-pack (10% off!) is also accepted. Cobras and Matadors 7615 W Beverly Blvd Los Angeles, 323-932-6178

As a born and bred Santa Monican, sometimes I find it hard to justify the carbon emissions necessary to make it to Beverly, so I may just plop myself down at the most recent addition to the Beverly Hills Hotel, Bar Nineteen 12. Although a solid 10 degrees cooler than it is at LACMA, Beverly Hills isn’t immune to a heat wave every now and again which is why alcoholic popsicles and jelly shots in flavors ranging from watermelon to apple martini are always a good idea.  Bar Nineteen12, The Beverly Hills Hotel, 9641 Sunset Blvd (at Beverly Dr), Beverly Hills, 310-273-1912

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

And you thought tastings were reserved for wine… and chocolate… and cheese… and bottled water…

Ok, so they have tastings for just about anything and everything these days. But that being said, beer of one of the few things that actually has enough variety and styles to actually justify dedicating an evening to just one beverage.

And in this case, we’re talking specifically about Belgian beers, and everyone knows that the Belgians are just about the finest beercrafters in the world.

Well 55 Degree Wine, out in Atwater, is holding a Belgian Beer tasting on July 28th from 6-9:30. $15 will get you a sampling of 5 different brews:

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

We all like to have a good time outdoors — picnic, beach, walking down the street –  but those darned public intoxication laws seem to be such a Debbie Downer, don’t they?

Well, fret no more, my hedonistic bretheren!

I was turned on to something that will totally blow your mind!

Premium boxed wine.

We’re not talking Boones Farms or any of that swill. Three Thieves, a new outfit out of St. Helena, prides themselves on offering quality vino without all the trim. Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, you can actually have yourself a grand ole time without rousing suspicion at all!

Pop on over to their website to get the fascinating backstory, and maybe even pick yourself up a box or two.

The rumors have been circulating for a while now, but today Starbucks is officially revealing it’s two new signature drinks on the Los Angeles area.

First up, we’ve got the Sorbetto, which all signs seem to indicate is a “drinkable sorbet,” and seems to be cashing in on the current FroYo craze by being, well, yogurt-based.

The second is called the Vivianno, and everyone is speculating that it will become the new Frappucinno, while being totally different from a Frappuccino… Well different in that it’s banana-based rather than deliciously fatty cream and whatnot based.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

A record label. A new logo. New coffee. Vitamin boosts. Even the not-so-secret new Italian-style drink (the Sobretto) are not enough to keep the momentum going on America’s premiere supplier of bean juice.

Starbucks Coffee announced it will be closing 600 stores in the US, and will only be opening less than 200 new stores in 2009. Gasp! Does this have anything to do with the fact that there are about 5 Starbucks either on or a block away from the 3rd Street Promenade?

Say it with me, folks: O-V-E-R-S-A-T-U-R-A-T-I-O-N. It can happen to you. Talk to your doctor about CommonSenseItol™.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

While we may have just had our “Best Coffee in LA” competition, there are still a number of places that are very much worthy of mention.And here’s why:

This week I discovered the most incredible coffee I have ever tasted. Before Tuesday morning, I did not know that it was possible for me to pleasantly sip an espresso without first defacing it with milk and sugar. I was unaware that coffee isn’t, in fact, a bitter drink. My standard for good coffee has been raised so high, I don’t know how I’ll ever show my face in Starbucks again.

Caffe Luxxe is an espresso bar whose philosophy is grounded in the older, European view of coffee - a smooth drink that is meant to be sipped and enjoyed over easy conversation, not a drug to keep you awake. You won’t find any venti caffeine jolts here. Instead, you’ll find absurdly high quality, delicious, rich espresso drinks that will make you wonder how you ever drank the other stuff.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

While Los Angeles has slowly been putting itself on the culinary map in recent times, there’s something to be said about the bar / pub scene in our fair city.

With places like Verdugo Bar and Father’s Office doing their damnedest to provide a real good beer selection, the LA Times has turned me on to something far more interesting: Cask ales. The real deal for beer lovers. The holy grale.

The aforementioned Verdugo Bar features a bi-monthly firkin, while places like Naja’s Place or Rock Bottom actually feature a nightly selection

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

TV

• LA Ink Casting Call | Thursday, June 26, 2008 | 5 p.m. | Red Rock - Map | If you love Kat Von D and her crew, consider heading down to Red Rock in West L.A. today to get a chance to have your tattoo done at the shop, on the new season of the show.

FASHION

• Runway Magazine Fashion Show | Thursday, June 26, 2008 | 8 p.m. | $20 | Boulevard 3 - Map | Fashion line Key Closet will debut their diamond studded $10,000 Jeans at Runway Magazine’s Summer Splash Fashion Show. If you’re a slave to fashion, you won’t want to miss this. As an added point on your karma meter, all proceeds benefit the Cops Care Cancer Foundation.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]