Well, you know you’ve made it when they name a bottle of ABSOLUT after you. Los Angeles, we’ve made it. For a limited time only you can buy a bottle of ABSOLUT LOS ANGELES. The the vodka is flavored with pomegranate, blueberry, acai, and acerola. Sounds refreshing and like it will get me completely hammered without realizing. Awesome!

Just to add a cherry on top, by buying a bottle you’ll be supporting the environment. That’s right, ABSOLUT is donating $250,000 from the sale of ABSOLUT LOS ANGELES to Green Way LA which helps recycle old goods it into furniture, lighting, sculpture, etc.

They have already come up with a number of ABSOLUT LOS ANGELES mixed drinks, so give one a try. Would you like a LA LA Land or a Rising star?

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Temperatures are rising, as are the number of summer-influenced beer events. Just about every media outlet in town has published a hot list of great places to grab a drink. Since we like lists, lots of lists, thought we’d keep it simple with a list of lists

Last week the LA Times published a feature on the 11 best beer festivals in the United States, opinions courtesy of the proprietors of Beerfestivals.org. The suggestions are nice, and I’m sure Telluride is beautiful this time of year, but it’s not on my summer travel schedule this year (nor is it in my budget!). But maybe it’s in yours?

This summer I’ll be drinking closer to home, thanks to The Rundown LA’s recent Hops Head article. I’m mostly interested in this weekend’s IPA Festival at Lucky Baldwin’s in Pasadena. Runs through June 22. 17 South Raymond Ave., Pasadena 626.795.0652

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Father’s day is around the corner. So you know what that means, steak and beer! If Dad’s in town this weekend and you’re looking for some dad-friendly restaurants and activities, consider some of these:

San Francisco Saloon
This rustic, casual bar/restaurant serves up amazing burgers, two-handed sandwiches, cold beer, wings, and delicious fries. A multitude of ESPN-tuned TVs grace the walls. The restaurant has been there forever, and the vibe inside is always chill. It’s a great place to go for no-fuss, reasonably priced man food.
11501 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064-1519

Arnie Morton’s Steak Houses
If you want to treat dad to something fancy this year, try going to an Arnie Morton’s. The food is pricey but the variety of steaks, lobster, fish and chicken dishes are all juicy and delicious. There are locations in Beverly Hills, Burbank, Downtown LA, and Woodland Hills. You can even make a Father’s Day reservation on their website.

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You can drink outside, you can drink inside, drink with friends or drink alone. But a drink with a view can be a very fine drink indeed.

City views: Although I hate to give away a longtime secret, far and away the best view in town can be found inside the ladies restroom handicapped stall at Penthouse in the Huntley Hotel. The bar isn’t bad either - on a clear day you can see from Palos Verdes straight up to Malibu. Bar snacks include bowls of fries and calamari, as well as crisp flatbread pizzas. The wine list is extensive, and the cocktails strong. Be advised that after 6pm the dress code is enforced and no sandals allowed. 1111 Second Street, Santa Monica

People Watching: Divey and dirty in the most charming way, On the Waterfront Cafe in Venice is right on the boardwalk and literally 15 feet from the sand. Serving up only the finest German brews, it would be a shame to enjoy anything other than a beer in the sun at this beachfront bar. 205 Ocean Front Walk, Venice

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Looking for a great beer selection in the Atwater / Glassell Park area? How about a bar dating back to the 1930s, complete with lovingly-restored 80-year old wooden bar?

Los Angeles Magazine points out the newly-reopened Verdugo Bar is quickly becoming a local favorite. With 20 amazing beers on tap, this place might very well be the East side’s answer to Father’s Office.

And if those 20 taps don’t get you, the owner has just announced he’s got 2 taps reserved for an ever-changing selection of specialty beers. Take a gander at what they’re serving up right now, and like them you might end up going there three times in a week.

Verdugo Bar
3408 Verdugo Blvd
Glassell Park, 90065
323.257.3408

Photo by Atilla1000

Looking for a way to drink away your Cinco de Mayo? Well you have a few options, 11 to be precise. A good margarita is really essential to Cinco de Mayo, because a bad margarita will not only leave you unsatisfied, it will leave you with one of the worst headaches known to man. So here is LA’s top 10 (well kinda 11) best places to go and enjoy a margarita! Enjoy! And remember, don’t drink and drive.

1. Audience Winner: La Cabana Restaurant - Casual Venice crowd flocks well into the wee hours for standard Mexican fare and killer margaritas. Located at 738 Rose Ave, Venice - Map

1. Editorial Winner: El Chavo -Mayan murals, frosty margaritas and a shrine to Dolly Parton set the stage for Mexican meals. Located at 4441 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles - Map
2. Malo: Hip Silver Lake neighborhood restaurant cooks up “Chicano cuisine” and great drink prices. Located at 4326 Sunset Blvd - Map [ Read The Full Story -> ]

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo right with Tequila!

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Photo by Bethany L King

Winos, take notice - there’s a place in Venice you may want to check out (or stay away from, depending.) It’s Primitivo, a wine bistro/tapas bar on Abbot Kinney. With a wine list that is literally hundreds of wines long and a tempting array of hot and cold tapas and desserts, it is nearly impossible to leave Primitivo without a glassy-eyed, sleepy wino smile.

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Where does one go to see Dueling Pianos, enjoy speciality drinks, get rewarded for acting out, and have a great time in general. Well if you are hip to such things, Hollywood is the place. However, to be more specific you might want to look smack dab in the middle of Universal Studios. For it is there that you will find Howl At The Moon.

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When I think of the South, the three things that are generally at the top of my list are humidity, guns, and gloriously unhealthy food. With the opening of the new bar SOUTH in Santa Monica, the latter of those three is making a daring appearance in one of the most body-obsessed cities in the country.

Started by two Georgian transplants and a Tulane grad, SOUTH boasts an extensive selection of well-known Southern dishes and drinks. The interior is open, casual and inviting, although the army of sleek flatscreens plastered all over the walls doesn’t really do much for authenticity. There isn’t much seating, so if you’re going during peak hours, plan on standing.

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For years, the east end of Los Feliz Blvd was known as home to hipster havens The Roost and the Bigfoot Lodge. Today, The Griffin is hoping to draw a better-washed crowd to the wasteland that lies east of the 5. From the glittering, serifed signage to the dim, plush-yet-medieval interior, The Griffin is certainly a step up style-wise from the low ceilings and blaring indie rock of its Atwater Village brethren, even if the scene is a little more turned up: a typical weekend attracts cougars-in-training, guys with their collars open one button too far and hipsters who stop in to try it out before retreating to their safe places down the street.

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Chances are if you’ve heard of Hyde Lounge, you know how exclusive it is. And if you haven’t heard of Hyde Lounge, well, that’s how exclusive it is. Located on Sunset Blvd, right down the street from the Laugh Factory, Hyde Lounge has become the go-to spot to be seen in Hollywood.

The thing about Hyde is that you either love it or hate it. There is no in-between, no gray area. For those who love it, there is a lot to admire. The decor is pretty sweet, with candles lining the walls. In fact, its as if this bar was actually a set for the Material Girl’s next video. And you can’t beat the capacity. Although Hyde loves to cram people in, there is a limit, and a small one at that. You might have to wade through a crowd of people, but at least its not the barage of people you normally encounter elsewhere. Then, there is the exclusivity factor– a big plus for those who would like to consider themselves part of Hollywood’s elite. And lastly, for the star-struck, you can’t beat seeing Matt Dillon on a random night.

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