Lan's 15a: Whiskey Blue @ W Hotel, New Orleans

Whiskey Blue @ the W Hotel
333 Poydras Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130

Originally, I wasn't going to count this, since it is in the lobby of the W Hotel where I was staying. However, Angelina convinced me that since we would count XYZ at the W in SF, Whiskey Blue counts. The W is definitely a draw to outsiders...while drinking in the lobby, I met people that were visiting and staying in other hotels....so it counts!!

This was my 2nd trip to New Orleans in less than a month, so there was much less drinking this time--especially since I had to keep my wits in order to study. We had dinner somewhere where I had two Bloody Marys (New Orleans makes damn good BMs), and then went back to the hotel, where we stopped inside Whiskey Blue for an extra dirty grey goose martini. The bartender made it well...but I was distracted because her fake boobs were on display...and when she was shaking my drink...mesmerizing!

I don't have any pics of Whiskey Blue, so I've posted other pics from my stay at the W in New Orleans.

That brings me to 20 in SF, 15 elsewhere.

Assgass #8: Hollywood Highlands

Hollywood Highlands
6801 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028


Babble Blog---
I don't really feel like writing right now, but I'm at work with no work to do, and I'm interested to see how this blog will come out in a non-writing mood. I'm probably going to babble.

...So, Hollywood Highlands. I wasn't looking forward to coming here-regularly a $25 cover charge, dress code, Hollywood crowd, located inside a mall... not elements that make Joyce go, "Yeah! Let's GO!" But, it was a triple birthday celebration with a big group of folks that are always a good time, so I knew I'd have fun regardless. Well, I have to admit, I was very pleasantly surprised. Though I normally prefer a loungy place to a club, for Highlands, I have all good things to say.

Staff-When we first arrived, it was slightly chaotic outside for my slightly high ass. Lots of people, different lines, different entrances, didn't know where we were suppose to go. Okay, not necessarily a good thing, but the staff was not the power trippin staff I was expecting. Instead, a pretty personal friendly. We tried to enter through a side entrance which we thought was the guest list line. Turned out to be different but connected club (?) whose guestlist closed at 1030 (It was 11p), but the nice gal at the door was willing to let us get in at a discounted price. Even more fortunately, we found out we were suppose to enter on the complete opposite side of the club. Apparently we were on the VIP list. That always helps. Once we found the right spot to enter, Jessica took care of us quite right. No hassles, walked us to the front of the crowded line and straight in. Bouncer even said, "Have a good time." Damn, Vegas clubs should learn something from these folks. The rest of the staff I came across all night all had some love too, friendly (huge) bouncers and security guards, bartenders, were all on the level. Thanks El, Jay, and Julio (not "Whoo-lee-o", but "Joo-lee-o"), and thank you PAT for hookin it up!

Crowd-Not hoity-toity as I thought. I was glad to see some folks in sweatshirts and tennis shoes outside, and not the glitter glam, shiny shirts, and guidos I was expecting. Yes there were people dressed up, but people looked good. Maybe I was high, but it felt more like a "Ye-ah, I look good" dressed up rather than a dress to impress. All my ladies were looking lovely and fabuloussss! Folks were friendly, and all across the dance floor people were having a genuine good time. Even met some fellas outside who were happy to share a cigaweed. or two.

Music was good! Not music that's good, that I would seek out and go here for, but that's not what you go to a club for. It was Good.dancing.party.music. Many a time, I did the hand in the air, and said "Yaaaaa!" and danced like I couldn't stop the dancing. And like I said before, everyone on the dancefloor was having a genuine good time. Oh shit!! and then guess who comes out on the turntables? SPINDERELLA!! Heyyy!!! Shit

Drinks weren't bad, $8.50, for a Hollywood club, it's nothing to complain about. I tried something new, a Henessey and pineapple. A little sweet for my sensitive throat. Venue was nice. I was a little high when I got in, so I'm still a little confused on the layout (which is probably extremely simple). From what I can dig out of my mind-at least two levels, an outdoor patio with a view that I failed to notice in my drunken stupor, an indoor/outdoor area, a small stage at the far end of the open dance floor, at least two bars, etc. It felt like an old 1920's building, tho, I don't know how that could be, being on the 4th floor of the Highland mall. hmm.

Well, this was a long blog for not feeling like writing. I had a good time. If you're looking for a club, sure, hit up Highlands. or the Loft. I'm still confused about that. Happy birthday folks

(Still didn't bring my own camera. That's my head at the bottom right. This counts as a bar right? I definitely drank. But not as much as drunk Mike here).

Lan's #20: Dada

Dada
86 2nd St
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 357-1367

The bar hunt has slowed down a bit for me and will continue to be slow until the end of April. Good thing I had the foresight to hit up LOTS of bars prior to the self-imposed hibernation! I didn't plan on going to this bar last Friday, but I was in the neighborhood and Angelina convinced me...and I hadn't seen some of the gang in a while...so I battled a few blocks of Friday evening traffic and parked at some meters that were about to free up at 6pm.

This bar was a bit too warm, filled to the brim with the after work crowd...and kind of had that stale smell of beer that many bars have. I ordered the $7 happy hour special: pomtini (pomegranite martini), gave the bartender my $10 bill, and got $2 back. I still left her a $1 tip, but in retrospect, I should have kept my $2 since the bartender already tipped herself!

The pomtini was just ok...all in all, a run of the mill bar where I got to see my friends. There was definitely an overpopulation of the mens, but it could also have been due to the Game Developers Conference that was at Moscone all week.

20 down in SF...30 to go!

Angelina's Bonus 10a (#21): The Yardhouse

The Yardhouse

1023 4th Ave.
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 233-YARD

Can you see that picture? Can you see all those kegs? This place had over 160 beers on tap! Now, how can you go wrong spending the afternoon watching the Superbowl at this place?

Apparently, this place is a chain, but it's the first Yardhouse I've been to. We had a booth with a great view of the TVs to watch the game. Food was tasty. But, I think what made the experince most worthwhile was our waitress Donna. She was extremely knowledgeable, helpful and attentive.

I tried three new beers that I hadn't had before:

* Ommegang Hennepin: Belgian, creamy, and very yummy

* Delirium Tremens: a 9% beer so watch out, got a bite, lager-ish, very tasty

* Rogue Hazelnut Brown: much darker and Newcastle-like

I would definitely return to a Yardhouse to try more of their selections!!!

Angelina's Bonus 7a - 9a: Below Market, Altitude Sky Bar & C Lounge

So, after LA and a day at Magic Mountain, we drove down to San Diego to meet up with Jackie. Here are the bars we hit up in the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego.

Oh, let me preface this area of town as being the San Jose of southern California...hence, Man Diego. Tons of mens all dressed up in their button down shirts or tight muscle shirts and the girls all looking like they stepped out of a sorority (and, thinking they are all that when really, it's just the lack of females).

That being said, let's move on to the bars.

Below Market

5th & Market

San Diego, CA

Not a bad find after walking the streets and finding bar after bar with anywhere from a $6 to $20 cover. Newly opened and sub-terranean level, this little dive bar had a nice mix of music and people. Comfy red couches lined one wall and the other was a brick wall with some cool projections provided for some interesting visual stimulation. Assuming this place stays cover free, it could be a return spot....for San Diego.

Altitude Sky Bar
Marriott Hotel
San Diego, CA

Thanks to Zoe's friend, we found another cool spot sans cover - this one on a different level...on the roof to be exact overloking the streets below. Other than the Marina like crowd, the actual venue was actually pretty cool. There are great views - one side overlooking Petco Park which was awesome. Lots of outdoor seating and lounges, some under heat lamps, some under the ivy covered canopy and others circling a huge fire pit. Oh, and the bar at the end had a waterfall with changing light colors. This place was all about the ambiance. DJ Nico (aka Mr. "Love Yah") was entertaining to say the least. Potential is the key word here...

C Lounge
756 Fifth Ave.
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 233-2830

With 30 minutes left, we headed back underground again with the Zoe's friend leading us. Not a bad place to end the evening. Best music of the night...danceable and well-mixed. You wouldn't find this place on your own. Gotta be in the know. Find it and you won't be disappointed. Again, no cover. A bit small and can get a bit hot, but nothing to really complain about.

And, that brings the evening to a close. I have to get the pictures from Gaby so you can get an idea of these San Diego bars.

Oh, and these 3 bars account for numbers 18, 19, and 20 in the overall total. =)

Joyce's #7: Shooter's Sports Bar

Shooter's
18582 Beach Blvd
Huntington Beach, CA


Looking for a spot to play pool in the area, we found Shooter's online and tried our luck. Our luck turned out well. This casual sportsy bar had a friendly local bar vibe with a mixed age range and many regulars. A one room open space featuring 4 pool tables, a shuffle board table (is that what it's called?), 2 or 3 dartboards, a jukebox, and some bar tables in front of two screens playing UFC and basketball that night, this bar had just what I needed (in addition to alcohol). Fun and friendly folks, cool bartenders, $5 drinks, and $0.75 pool tables.. I could see myself making this place a regular hangout. And, funny enough, met someone who reccommmended I watch the movie "Boondock Saints," (one of Lan's recent bar blogs).

Still need to bring my camera.

Angelina's Bonus 6a (#17): Grand Star

Grand Star

943 Broadway

Los Angeles, CA (Chinatown)

Not much to say here that Joyce hasn't already covered. I met her here when I came down for the weekend with my cousin Gaby. My other cousins Clem and CJ came too with their girlfriends. I'll have to post a picture with them up here, but don't have those.

I'm in agreement with Joyce - great music/bad transitions, dowstairs live jazz band was sweet, cool mixed crowd. It was very crowded, but thank goodness Macha was there early enough to snag us a corner table.

Check Joyce's comments for more detailed info...

Bonus! Lan's 11a - 14a in New Orleans

This is the first time I've been to New Orleans post-Katrina and it is definitely different. I'd guess that only 60-70% of the businesses have reopened and the ethnic makeup of the town has most certainly changed. As evidenced by some comments from my taxi drivers and some libelous t-shirts sold in stores, there are definitely some racial tensions between the post-Katrina Mexican population and the native black population.

Passing the Superdome on my ride into town from the airport, many of the businesses around the area had still not opened. Although they'd thought of condemning the Superdome after all that went on after Katrina, it looks like there are events going on in there again, a year and a half later. Since I was in New Orleans on business, I spent my days at the New Orleans convention center (acutely aware that this was where people went to as a safe haven after the levee broke).

Hotel rooms are scarce (& expensive) and flight schedules to New Orleans are few and far between. However, the native New Orleans residents that have returned are still as polite as I remembered from my first visit several years ago. The food is still delicious and fattening, but I'm very glad that I was able to visit New Orleans prior to the flood.

Driving on the freeways, water stains mark the height of the flood. Taxi drivers, waiters, and hotel staff all have their evacuation and survival stories, but what matters most to them is that they survived and they came back. The media has forgotten the Katrina victims. Sadly, a tornado hit New Orleans a few weeks ago, killing a woman who was staying in a FEMA trailer and ripping the roof off of a house that had JUST finished repairing the roof after Katrina (taxi driver told us and showed us the roof).

We didn't see Brad or Angelina.

I'll be back in 3 weeks to visit more bars, but here are the new bars I was able to visit on my 5-day stay. Because I'd been to New Orleans before, some of the bars we visited didn't make this list:

The Alpine
620 Chartres Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
504.523.3005

We walked into this bar because there was a cute husky doing tricks inside, and the bar itself had large doors that virtually made it an outdoor bar. Once you walk through the bar, you enter a beautiful courtyard where dinner is served (we'd already eaten). The bartender, who reminded me of a Pink Lady from Grease, made me a wonderful Bloody Mary complete with horseradish, pickled beans, jalapenos, and olives.

***



Boondock Saint
731 Saint Peter St
New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 525-4950

The bathroom at this bar is teeny teeny tiny (but clean!). Had another Bloody Mary here with pickled beans and olives. I love Bloody Marys in the South! The bartender had neat tattoos and kept calling us honey. I love Southern manners.

***



Le Booze Bar @ The Royal Sonesta Hotel
300 Bourbon Street
New Orleans, LA 70130

After a 4-course chef's tasting at Emeril's NOLA (with wine pairing), I was already pretty drunk. However, the night was beautiful and balmy, so we thought we'd walk off all the fried butter and take a stroll down Bourbon Street. Since I hadn't been in this bar before, we stopped in. Once again, we were pulled in by the wide open doors. If I weren't already tipsy, I probably would have turned around upon entrance. Every asshole in this bar (undoubtedly in town for the same convention I was) was smoking a cigar. I got my glass of champagne, drank half, and got a to go cup from the bartender. I love the concept of alcohol to go--God bless New Orleans!

***

Bourbon Cowboy
125 Bourbon St.
New Orleans, LA 70130

Here, I rode a bull. Well, I wouldn't really call what I did riding. Balance is not a strength of mine.

Until next time, y'all!

Joyce's #5 & 6: Library Alehouse, Arsenal

2/10/07

Library Alehouse
2911 Main St.
Santa Monica, CA

I walked in and immediately thought, dewey decimal system. Yes, this establishment is appropriately named. Looks like some taps were added to the checkout counter of an early 20th century library set. Cozy atmosphere with all wood decor, even has the book ladder leading nowhere. Nice selection of beers on tap (not as many as Yardhouse, but a fine selection nonetheless), and! an impressively tasty menu. Had a goat cheese quesadilla that was absoultely yummy, and my sample bites of my companions' entrees and snacks all proved to be equally delicious. My beer was quite tasty as well, though I forgot what it was now. some darker brown ale. it's a popular one that they serve there. The beer alone is worth it. The food alone is worth it. A garden patio out back is nicely unexpected. Aces. Thumbs up on this one


Arsenal
12012 W Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA

A bar on the Santa Monica/West LA border, I've heard this placed mentioned by quite a few locals. We ended up here after driving by Air Conditioned on Lincoln, and realizing it (Air Conditioned) was more clubby than we were expecting, at least on Saturday night. Aresenal's nothing special, nothing to complain about-three rooms including a main room with dance floor, a side room room with tables and a second bar, an enclosed smoking patio, and of course a variety of weaponry decorating the wallls. Of course. Danceable music, standard drinks, some specials, had a $3 fruity shot-tasty, but as far as alcohol, may as well have shot watermelon juice, hey $3. Wouldn't go out of my way to go here, but nice to know I can always end up here if nowhere else to go and I don't want to go far from home.

Now that I'm caught up on my blogging, I need to catch up on my bar visiting.

I need to remember to bring my own camera.

Joyce's #4 Grand Star

2/2/07

Grand Star
943 N. Broadway
Los Angeles, CA

This spot in Chinatown is home to the "Firecracker" party every odd Friday of the month which is when we hit this place up. A jazz lounge downstairs with a live band and small lit dancefloor, a mix of old timers and new timers, dj upstairs with hiphoppers plus, no extraneous decor, an overall chill unpretentious vibe. Great place to get your groove on, or sit back and chill downstairs (sit in the couches, oooh). Dj selection of music was good (funk, soul, hip hop & r&b classics) though the transitions could use improvement, but no complaints. All the bartenders measure a shot per drink. I thought maybe they were all new at first, but hey, you know you're getting at least one shot, and sometimes plus. I don't think I've ever seen an old chinese lady play in a jazz band. nice.

Joyce's #2 & #3 Redwood & Chalet

Redwood 2nd Street Saloon
316 W 2nd St.
Los Angeles, CA

2/1/07
posting just in time

This pirate themed bar downtown is home to a delightfully cheesy mermaid painting my bar hopping manager, Corazon, fell in love with. That was my highlight. Not bad, kinda interesting but perhaps just not my crowd? Can't put my finger on it. Maybe because there weren't really any pirates. Or pirate undies. I'd like some pirate undies. NBC was doing a little piece here while we were there. They serve food. It's kinda red.







Chalet
1630 Colorado Blvd
Los Angeles, CA

It does look like a chalet. Boulders, wood, exposed beams, and open booth tables give that ski lodge feel. Back-lit bar reminds you you're in LA. Surprisingly happening on a Thursday night, it was a good kind of crowded, lively. Located in Eagle Rock which apparently is LA's Daly City (ie: Filipino town)-about 75% filipino, 20% white in this bar, I met some English folks, including a girl who liked to grab boobs more than I do. Big ups to the bartender who was able to recommend my indecisive ass a new drink to add to my standard faves-makers and ginger.

I need to start bringing my own camera.