Location Scout Archive
11.18.09 6:00 AM
6 New Venues for Los Angeles Holiday Parties
Westside Tavern Photo: Randall Michaelson
Based on our recent readers poll , it looks like holiday parties might be back in season after largely disappearing in 2008. Here's where to go for end-of-year festivities.Esquire recently named Westside Tavern to a "15 Places Not to Miss" list —so try one of its two private rooms (or both) for a buzz-worthy holiday party. The divisible private space has a large walnut bar, cork walls, and a wall covered in lateral slices of tree trunks—for an appropriately wintry look—and the rooms connect to hold as many as 100 people for a seated event. Westside Tavern offers American comfort food made from California ingredients.
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Corporate Holiday Parties
11.10.09 6:00 AM
3 New Restaurants for Autumn Alfresco Dining
Vinolio Photo: Courtesy of Vinolio
In some parts of the world, the weather is already too cool to dine outside—but Angelenos live by a different set of rules. These three new restaurants offer patios and outdoor dining for alfresco entertaining in the fall.Vinolio made its debut in Cahuenga corridor, right in the midst of Hollywood’s night spots. Chef Andy Pastore designed the menu, mainly Italian items such as specialty pizzas and sliced meats, plus traditional Italian desserts like tiramisu and panna cotta. Vinolio also has a full wine list, and its kitchen stays open for late-night bites. Exposed brick walls, rustic wooden tables, and antique embellishments give the eatery an Old World feel. The space is available for buyouts, and holds as many as 200 people. A private dining area is available on the back patio, which holds 50 for seated events.
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10.15.09 6:00 AM
2 New Nightspots for Fall Entertaining
SBE's new Mi-6 Photo: Shawn Bishop
Two new high-design clubs are among this fall's new nightlife offerings. Here's a look inside.SBE 's new nightclub, Mi-6 , opened in September in the former Foxtail space. A significant departure from that venue's opulent Art Deco look, Mi-6 has a modern design with lighting along the walls in striped arrangements. The West Hollywood space has booth seating, dual dance floors, and a layout on three levels. The space has a total capacity of about 400, with V.I.P. areas, multiple full-service bars, and smoking patios. There is an AEW sound system and DJ booth with built-in Serato. LEDs light the dance floor. Speciality cocktails use high-end and organic ingredients. Valet parking is available.
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SBE
09.21.09 8:50 AM
CityCenter—Las Vegas's 18 Million-Square-Foot Eco-Friendly Development—Set for December Debuts
CityCenter Photo: Courtesy of CityCenter
FROM LAS VEGAS
The Las Vegas Boulevard strip’s new CityCenter—a joint project between MGM Mirage and Infinity World Development Corp, a subsidiary of Dubai World—is on track for a slate of openings in December. Here's what to expect at the project, one of the world’s largest sustainable developments, which incorporates elements like the use of reclaimed water and on-site power generation to underscore its green efforts, and includes a $40 million public fine art program.Vdara Hotel , expected to open December 1, is a crescent-shaped 57-story all-suite hotel and spa for non-gaming, non-smoking types. It has about 1,500 suites, ranging from approximately 500 to 1,650 square feet (along with residential units). Rooms have kitchens, plus open floor plans and horizontal windows for sweeping views of the city and mountains. Vdara Health & Beauty is an 18,000-square-foot, two-level spa, salon, and fitness center. Food and beverage options include the restaurant Silk Road and the lobby bar Bar Vdara. Sky Pool & Lounge has spa cabanas with semisecluded plunge pools. There is 10,000 square feet of conference space. The U.S. Green Building Council has awarded gold LEED certification to Vdara.Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas , expected to open December 4, has 392 hotel rooms and suites and 227 residences, including the Mandarin Penthouse Collection with two- and three- bedroom units ranging from 2,065 square feet to 3,900 square feet. Decor is modern and Eastern inspired. On the outside, Mandarin Oriental displays Typewriter Eraser, Scale X, 1998-1999 , a piece by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, which looks like a giant blue and red typewriter eraser.
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CityCenter , MGM Mirage , Going Green , LEED
09.14.09 7:53 AM
Susan Feniger's Street Offers Global Cuisine in Arty Environs
Susan Feniger's Street Photo: Helena Ruffin
Chef Susan Feniger has opened a restaurant devoted to street food from around the world, and aptly named Street . The menu is a flavorful blend inspired by market and street-stand cuisines served in a lively atmosphere. Architect Neil Denari designed the interior and with artists Huntley & Muir, who have a history of collaboration with Feniger, created large-scale murals that give Street dramatic backdrops.MORE >>
08.24.09 12:12 PM
2 Stylish New Asian Restaurants
Hakobe Photo: Courtesy of Hakobe
Two new Asian restaurants opened in July, offering Thai and Japanese fare in high-design environments.Hakobe opened on La Cienega and Wilshire, in the old Lodge space. Asako Lisa Batten is the owner and Tomo Kohyama is the the head sushi chef. Hakobe has a full bar plus sushi bar and serves entrees such as almond shrimp with sea salt and lemon, jumbo shrimp with ginger sauce, Kobe beef steak, miso black cod, and asparagus-wrapped Wagyu. Specialty cocktails include a raspberry sake and vodka mojito and the "Asako Special" (vodka, lychee sake, berry juice, banana juice, fresh lemon, and fresh muddled blueberries). Hakobe has room for 100, with a spacious area adjacent to the main dining room that can be sectioned off for private events. There is also patio seating out front for smokers. Hakobe is available for full buyout.
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08.06.09 6:00 AM
3 Pubs for Meeting Over a Pint
Essex Public House Photo: Courtesy of Essex Public House
Here are three places for meetings over a cold beer in a casual environment.Essex Public House opened in Hollywood with an indoor/outdoor patio—an enclosed room that gives the sense of being outside. The venue offers 19-foot ceilings and a brick floor, and a red neon outline of the venue’s logo hangs on the back wall. Giant chalkboards display the full beverage menu. The main room features a wrought iron bar, high-topped tables and banquettes, black and white tile floors, and old schoolhouse light fixtures. Six flat-screen televisions behind the bar provide additional entertainment when a game is on. The beer list at Essex includes 20 regional brews on tap, more than 20 bottled varieties, and numerous rare and vintage options. The venue is available for buyout and holds 125 for events.
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06.25.09 6:00 AM
3 Hotel Steak Houses With Private Space
The Blvd Photo: Robb Gordon
To entertain a meat-and-potatoes group, try these steak houses in Los Angeles hotels—all of which offer private dining options.Millennium Biltmore Hotel added a new restaurant in late May: La Bistecca , an Italian steak house in the hotel’s lobby, Rendezvous Court. Artist Anthony Heinsbergen designed the space, which has soaring ceilings in a Spanish-Baroque setting with Italian travertine stone walls, a three-story Moorish plaster ceiling decorated with hand-painted and carved wood beams, 24-karat gold accents, Italian bronze and crystal chandeliers, and a Tennessee rose marble fountain.MORE >>
06.08.09 5:00 AM
New Meeting Options at Encore and Hard Rock
Encore Photo: Russell MacMasters
FROM LAS VEGAS
1. This spring, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino completed a total overhaul that added 75,000 square feet of full-service meeting and convention space, including simulcast capabilities in the Rogue Joint theater (also known as the Joint). As part of Hard Rock’s $750 million expansion and renovation, the 40 meeting rooms offer rock-style decor and technology, like built-in flat-screen TVs with projection capability, wireless Internet, and CAT5 cables. The 82,000 square feet of flexible meeting space include Muse and Artist halls that total more than 25,000 square feet combined. The Studio Collection in the new Paradise Tower supplies an intimate setting for breakout sessions.
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05.22.09 6:00 AM
3 New Wine Bars
Barbrix Photo: Lisa Franchot
Thirsty? In the last month, a new crop of wine bars has opened around town. Here are three spaces for an after-work sip or an evening of entertaining.Pourtal combines the traditional wine bar concept with a self-service tasting room, allowing guests to sample wines at their own pace. The venue features 40 varieties for tasting by way of Enomatic machines—the dispensing systems popping up everywhere—and an additional 20 wines available by the glass. All wines are available to purchase by the bottle for drinking on the spot or for takeout. Wines rotate frequently. For events, wine director Peter Birmingham can design custom tasting tours and can work within a theme, such as organic or local wines. There are three large flat-screen video displays to use for video clips and signage. The space is available for buyouts and can host tastings for 20.
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