Weiland's Brewery

400 E. 1st St.
Los Angeles CA 90012
213.680.2881
www.weilandbreweryla.com
www.twitter.com/weilandbrewery

Parking: $6.50 Private Lot
Daily, 3-7pm/10pm-close, $2.50 WBR House Beer, $3.50 Bottled Beer, $4-6 Draft Beer, select appetizers $1-$4.95

On one particularly awful evening of LA-traffic, a co-worker suggested that we camp out at Weiland’s Brewery until the streets cleared. Lucky for all, we arrived during happy hour.

Weiland’s Brewery is a neighborhood spot, where the staff definitely trusts in their patrons. While we ate, we saw one man counted cash from the register drawer, while sitting in a booth. It wasn’t even a corner booth! Thinking of using this info to rob the place? Forget it! This is a popular spot for law enforcement and court officials due to the jail and courthouse in the neighborhood.

On our visit, it appeared that the locals hung out in the front bar to watch the latest Dodgers game. In the restaurant section, there were plenty of suits enjoying a bite & a drink before conquering the 110 freeway. In the mix of everything was our group, starving straight from a production scout. During happy hour, there are 12 appetizers, priced between $1-$4.95. We ordered up the Sam Adams onion rings, fresh cut garlic fries, & crispy calamari. The fresh cut garlic fries was our favorite, but definitely not something to order if in an intimate setting (if you catch our drift!).

At Weiland’s Brewery, happy hour drink prices only apply to beers. Since this is a brewery and all, we can’t be too mad, but still there is a full bar so why not cater to other cocktails drinkers? I went for the $9 glass of cabernet. During most happy hours, we’re excited to tell about our drinks and the crowds. We love food, but it’s usually an after thought to our booze munchies.

We’d go to Weiland’s Brewery if in need for a bite to eat, but not necessarily if in need of a drink.

Rating: 3 Martinis

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Happy Hour Tour is on Thanksgiving holiday. We'll be back with our regularly scheduled programming on Monday, November 30th.

Have a safe & happy Thanksgiving!

We’ll Drink To That: Holiday Drinks!

"We'll Drink to That " is a feature that highlights products that have us so excited that we just gotts to inform our readers! Know of a product that you think we'll drink to? E-mail us at TheHappyHourTour@gmail.com!

Some people don’t like when stores roll out the holiday decorations too early. Some people don’t like holiday music. We’re not those people. We’re people that shop for fall scented candles, eat up candy corns while they’re in season, and keep our Christmas tree up a bit past the new year because it makes a good night light. We’re also people that love a good holiday drink, be it alcoholic or non!

This season, The Woods offers Pumpkin Pie shots. During happy hour, the shots are just $3. It’s not the type of shot to slam. It should be slowly enjoyed. Assuming a sweet shot with the dollop of whip cream is not low calorie, the shot glass is the perfect serving size. All year round, The Woods offers Smores Martini, a chocolate martini with marshmallow & graham crackers lining the glass. It’s not a holiday drink per se, but it does make one think about cuddling in front of a fire.

Once the Halloween decorations went away and the temperature cooled (even for LA), our hunt moved onto all things cinnamon, gingerbread, & eggnog. We have yet to find a place to get a good, winter cocktail, but we do know where to find the coffee drinks.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf offer Pumpkin Lattes, served both hot or ice blended. When served hot, it can be a little on the sweet side. However, when served ice blended it can be quite the dessert. Bring a blender of that to your next dinner party. This season, they have added Dark Chocolate Orange and Dark Chocolate Raspberry flavors. The Coffee Bean has had a couple of free giveaway days to promote their holidays drinks so keep an eye out.

Starbucks offers Eggnog, Gingerbread, & Peppermint Mocha Lattes. All three are delicious whether they are served hot or ice blended. If you’re lucky, you may come across a location that offers the Toffee Nut Latte. Not quite sure why a coffee drink is offered at limited locations, but it is definitely worth a try.

A new favorite coffee spot is Peet's Coffee & Tea. They also offer Eggnog Lattes. This coffee chain is a new favorite because the coffee is strong, but always holds its flavor against whatever sweetness added to it. The menu only offers the Eggnog Latte served hot, but they’ll make it ice blended if asked.

It’s always important to watch the calories around the holidays. That said, we find it best to order the small size of the drinks, minus the whip.

While we may have found the perfect coffee drinks, we still would like to find some holiday cocktails. Does no one in LA do a Hot Toddy? Hot Chocolate & Peppermint Schnapps?

Who’s offering holiday drinks that The Happy Hour Tour should not miss? Please email us at TheHappyHourTour@gmail.com.

Photo disclaimer: Each coffee photo is from each companies website.

El Bar

3256 Cahuenga Blvd.Los Angeles, CA 90068
323.851.5111
www.vintagebargroup.com
www.twitter.com/vintagebargroup

Parking: Free Parking Lot

Monday-Friday, 5-9pm, $5 Modelo, $4 Well Drinks, but... $3 Margaritas ALL NIGHT! EVERY NIGHT! Dungeon-dark Bar with happy hour food & drink deals that are far from torture!

We’re not sure how much we can tell you about El Bar happy hour because we made it to happy hour with one minute to spare. Literally. The great news is that the bartender was gracious enough to still serve us at the happy hour price. No begging. No tears.

During happy hour, tequila shots are $2-5, well drinks are $4, and beers are various happy hour prices. They also offer a flight of tequilas, but not at a happy hour price. The bar also serves $3 margaritas at all times! Tequila seems to be theme at El Bar. We didn’t get a chance to partake because we panicked at the closing of happy hour and ordered two simple well drinks for $4 each. We would like to check out it again when it’s not as busy or with more bartenders on staff so someone could talk us through the tequilas.

El bar also has a food menu from 5-9 pm. The menu features a phone number so that bar patrons can order food from the next door pizzeria. However, it may be a bit difficult to place a phone order from a bar due to the noise of regular bar chatter and jukebox jams. Hopefully, they accept text messages or it may be easier to just go next door.

We weren’t sold on the darkness of the bar, though stepping into the darkness with its collection of Hispanic and Spanish art (and a bulls' head!) immediately makes you feel you like you're not at a strip mall near a 101 on-ramp, which, indeed you are. We kept scanning the bar for our notes, as well as generally scanning as singles are prone to do, but we just couldn’t see. When one of us went to the bathroom, we needed the flashlight app on the iphone to make sure we were going to the correct bathroom, let alone a bathroom at all. What we could see was the female bartender’s red, sparkly bustier that seemed a bit out of place for a Vintage Bar Group bar as it appeared to be a uniform of sorts and not the night’s wardrobe selection. Since she was the only one working, it seemed strangely out of place. We wonder what the guys wear.

We really want to like this bar, but just weren’t feeling it for some reason. We only stayed for a drink. About a month later, JG made another visit for an impromptu wrap party. One thing that's sure about this bar is that is it good for groups, as the group dominated the bar.

Not scared of the dark? We’d love to hear from some regulars to hear what makes it their home.

Rating: 3 Martinis

The Den

8226 W. Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90046
323.656.0336
www.thedenofhollywood.com
www.twitter.com/denofhollywood
Parking: $4.50 for first 3 hrs. with Validation, $10 without Validation; Metered Street Parking
Daily, 3-7pm. $5 specialty drinks, $3-5 appetizers

Thank goodness for technologically advanced cell phones; otherwise we would have never found The Den; a new bar nestled at the tip of the Sunset Strip. The Den has been open since the beginning of September and offers a daily happy hour from 3-7pm, where drinks & appetizers are all half-off. The food & drinks are tasty, but the service leaves much to be desired.

JG visited The Den on a Sunday, which may or may not have

been lesbian night… not that there’s anything wrong with that. After all, always wondered where the lady lovers go since the boys own Santa Monica Blvd. For a nice afternoon, there weren’t many people taking advantage of the patio, just 4 or 5 small groups. There was no one inside except for the staff.

With multiple servers, 2 for patio, a couple bartenders and several bus boys, it seemed strange that it took 20 minutes to receive a Dos Equis and Sucker Punch, a mixed drink that didn’t require much mixing. Please note in the 20 minutes, we politely reminded the server about the order and we tried to reorder at the bar, but were reassured the drinks were coming. Later, we ordered fries that came with a side of a delicious chipotle sauce, and once again, we waited. The server circled the patio a few times with the order, but never bothered to stop and ask anyone if it was their order. And really… the patio isn’t that big. While the service to receive our drinks and nosh was slow, the pick-up service certainly was not. The bus boy (maybe higher up staff?) kept attempting to take our plates and glasses when they weren’t empty.

At the end of the night, our bill was incorrect, although throughout the visit, the server kept insisting she knew our names in order to run a tab. When we went indoors to clear it up, we could see that more people arrived. We met the only 2 guys that did not work there, who asked if we were lesbians and upon learning we were not preceded to name-drop Hollywood clubs and insist we accompany them to one. We didn’t.

Hopefully, The Den finds it’s footing in such a competitive location. This could be a great date spot with its great food, good drinks, comfy booths, & fire pits indoors and out.

Please let us know if you’ve had a better experience at The Den.

-JG

UPDATE: JB & I have gone to The Den a few times since this review. Like the review says, the drinks & food are GREAT. I've also learned that if you get the red-headed server, that you are in for ahh-mazing service. I've had her more than once and she's always great. If The Den were ever so kind to give me her schedule, then they would be sure to see more of me! She definitely bumps up the martinis.
Rating: 2.5 Martinis (Update: 3.5 Martinis)

Red | Seven

Pacific Design Center
700 N. San Vicente Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 289-1587
www.wolfgangpuck.com
www.twitter.com/WolfgangBuzz

Parking: Pacific Design Center Lot (RedSeven validates for 90 minutes, parking is normally $1.25/20 minutes); metered street parking on Melrose and San Vincente (should be free after 6 pm, but double-check, we don't want your ass complaining about a ticket!)

Thursday nights only, 5-8 pm, $3 beers and wines by the glass, $2-4 appetizers

Deep in the beautiful depths of the Pacific Design Center lurks a bar that’s very hard to find from the Melrose entrance. As you walk the expansive quiet marble hall, you might find yourself feeling like you’re on the way to meet the Wizard in the merry old land of Oz. But instead of a scary old man that gives you what you had all along, what awaits you is a modern Wolfgang Puck bar-restaurant with some pretty good, albeit somewhat limited, deals on Thursday nights.

Normally open only for lunch, RedSeven has been offering a Happy Hour on Thursday nights for a little while now. Wines by the glass and Budweiser and Amstel Lights go for $3 while fun drinks – the Blush Martini (Bossa Nova Red Peach and Vodka), Vanilla Rum & Coke, and Macho Mango (Bossa Nova Mango and Tequila) – are $4. Happy hour bites range from $2-4 and are comprised of edamame, garlic fries, Baby Back Ribs, Chicken Crisp w/ Peanut-Butter Miso, and the Half-Spicy Tuna Roll.

As this J (JB in the house, ya’ll) is finding her vegetarian path (maybe a future G&T4TS!), I’ve become somewhat of a happy hour french fry and edamame connoisseur. Those items here were standardly tasty. I also enjoyed the Blush Martini, which tasted like the juice in canned peaches with a touch of liquor. Big Brother (see below) and Sis-in-Law (aka the Beer Maestros) and her Sis were all visiting and they seemed to enjoy the Baby Back Ribs just fine.

The bar was pretty quiet; it’s nice and spacious so groups were rather far apart, which can be either good or bad depending on the kind of experience you’re looking for. However, the service was phenomenal, which was welcome after it took us 45 minutes to not receive our crab-cakes at an uncharacteristically unhappy Belmont Happy Hour. At RedSeven, we made friends with two servers and a bartender, even doing a round of tequila shots with them. I luckily dodged this with the Designated Driver card!

So while quietude and somewhat limited choices reign, we’d definitely consider this spot for a Thursday after-work group gathering (lord knows there’s space!) or just a nice grown-up place to chill out and have a cocktail and some damn French fries and edamame!

Rating: 3 Martinis (for being open only one day!)

Gyu Kaku

163 N. La Cienega Blvd.

Beverly Hills, CA 90211

310.659.5760

www.gk-bbq.com

Parking – Valet or very, very limited street parking

Daily, 5-6:30pm and Mon-Sat., 9:30pm – last call. 99 cents beers, $3 cocktails, & 8 appetizers at $4 or less. Cheap drinks! Cheap eats! Hot food!

Gyu Kaku knows how to do happy hour! They host 2 happy hours so those who missed it the first time can get it on the fun. Hell, if you were there the first time, come back later because the deals are that good. They offer 99 cents draft beer, 18 specialty cocktails for $3, & plenty of appetizers.

We visited during their late happy hour. We arrived a few minutes early for happy hour start time, but the hostess was kind enough to seat us anyway. Our server was even nicer, offering up suggestions for food & drink and answering any questions. We ordered up the Cherry Blossom and Apple Ball cocktails (fruity concoctions made with Sprite and liquor). We later switched to beer and the Passion fruit Saketini. All the cocktails go down so easy that food is a necessity.

Gyu Kaku is a Japanese BBQ restaurant where customers get to grill their own food in the center of the table. We were sure to take in that experience with an order of yakishabu beef for $2.95. Cooking was quick, easy, & fun and did not leave us smelling like a grill. (One of us recently left a place smelling of tempura so it meant a lot to us) We also ordered cabbage kimchee, fried calamari, crispy seaweed with cream cheese, & ahi poke. All delicious!

This is a spot that’s good for any social situation, except meeting someone new. We saw dates, a pair of friends, & group of friends, but there didn’t seem to be any commingling of new friends and hook-ups (alas and alack…). The music was a mix of old school jams from the 80s & 90s, but not too loud that we couldn’t hear each other.

How we had never been to this place, we don’t know, but we’re sure to go back!

Rating: 5 Martinis

Kitchen 24

1608 N. Cahuenga Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028323.465.2424
www.kitchen24.infowww.twitter.com/k24hollywood
Parking: 1 hr. Free from 6am-6pm at lot on Selma, $8 Valet during the day; $10 Valet at night; Limited Metered Street Parking

Sun.-Thurs.,3-11pm; Fri. & Sat.,3-8pm, $5 Well Drinks, $6 Speciality Cocktails, $3 Beer, ½ off appetizers ($3-5)

If Candyland were a bar, it might be the bar at Kitchen 24. With pink accents, fun shaped chandeliers, and a display of sweets as soon as you walk in, it’s hard not to have a flashback of Gumdrop Mountains.

At Kitchen 24, happy hour only takes place at the bar. It’s not a big place, but there were plenty of seats at the bar. It appeared that the only ones game for happy hour were us and some on duty/off duty staff. Everyone else sat at a booth that we had to wonder … did they not know about happy hour?

Kitchen 24’s specialty cocktail menu features a variety of drinks from coffee flavors to sweet treats to old-fashioned mojitos, all for $6. With a love of strawberries & lemonade I chose the Strawberry Lemonade, made with Kitchen 24's House-made Lemonade, muddled strawberries & Absolute Citron vodka. JB went for The Kitchen Pink, made with Hendrick's Cucumber & Rose Petal infused Gin, Basil infused Simple Syrup, fresh squeezed Grapefruit & Lime Juices. Later, she switched to vodka soda, which was also $6. One would think (and we would hope) non-specialty drinks would cost less, but maybe the fact that the drink was loaded with liquor for two explained the price.

The food was just as good as our drinks. We had the citrus pineapple wings and chili cheese fries. I know after a certain age and before a certain hour that chili cheese fries may not be the best idea, but these fries were not our enemy. They were made with veggie chili (couldn’t even tell!) so they weren’t loaded down with grease.
If you ever get caught up in some long line, velvet rope mess in that area you can always turn your night around with a low cost cocktail. This might not be a place to make your regular happy hour spot, but it would be a great place for brunch.
Rating: 3.5 Martinis

Jones Hollywood: 15th Anniversary Party

As we get older, it seems that parties come with more and more responsibility. You must RSVP, select an outfit appropriate for the occasion, buy a present that rivals the registry, and watch how much you drink. Even when you’re VIP at adult parties, you’re usually given homework of some sort, such as writing a speech or watching someone else’s drinking. We love our family and friends dearly, but it’s nice to go to a party that requires nothing but looking fabulous such as the 15th anniversary party for Jones Hollywood.

If they had a fan club, I would be sure to be a ranking officer. First order of business: Start a happy hour! The drinks & food are so delicious that this is only place where I order something different to eat and drink on each visit. Current obsession: Janis Joplin martini & seared ahi tuna salad. Other favorites: oven roasted chicken salad, spaghetti & meatballs, & proscuitto pizza.

On November 3rd, it was much pleasure to attend the anniversary party of Jones Hollywood! I didn’t have to do anything, but show up, look fabulous, & enjoy discounted drinks & food with great friends, Carrie & Arielle. Unfortunately, JB missed out because she was working at NYC restored film premiere, but our friends & I were sure to drink in her honor.

Arielle & Carrie

From 12pm – close, Jones Hollywood offered $2 Peroni, Stella Artois, Amstel Light, Bud & Bud Light, $5 Herradura, Finlandia, Jack Daniel’s Cocktails, & $4 wine by the glass. We had glasses of merlot, Stella & Great White beers. We paced ourselves to hold court at our reserved table, made weeks in advance.

Lori Lightning would be proud.

As for food, there was 15 different food items for $5 each. That list included: calamari, artichoke, bruschetta, spaghetti & meatballs, spaghetti pomodoro, salmon, pan roasted chicken, & a selection of salads and pizza. Of course, they couldn’t forget about dessert, brownie & apple pie, that’s perfect for sharing. We shared the mixed green salad, BBQ chicken pizza, spaghetti & meatballs, and finished up with the apple pie. Everything was delicious as always, especially the spaghetti & meatballs that is served in a baby skillet. Thanks to Floyd for great service!

Mixed Green Salad with Goat Cheese & Pine Nuts

BBQ Chicken Pizza. We were buried in food.

Our favorite: Spaghetti & Meatballs

Dessert: Apple Pie & Ice Cream

Highlights of the night: Taking many photos with the provided disposable cameras in hopes of getting our photos up at Jones. With our shirts on, of course! Also, meeting twitter friend, Amy of Fete LA.

Thank you Floyd for not being annoyed at us begging for a camera!

Follow us @Amy_LA & @HappyHourTour!

Only disappointment of the night: Not laying eyes on bartender crush, Eric Tecosky.

Have a fabulous event that The Happy Hour Tour must attend? Please E-mail us at TheHappyHourTour@gmail.com!

Rush Street

9546 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
310.837.9546
www.rushstreetculvercity.comwww.twitter.com/RushStreetCC

Parking: $6.50 Valet; Public Parking Garages – 1st two hours free, $1 per hour after that.

Mon.-Fri., 3-7pm, $3 Well Drinks, Wine, & Bottle Beer; $5 Premium Drinks & Draft Beer

We’ve stated before that we’re midwestern girls with a love for the city life, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t represent. We give shot outs whenever we see someone representing our Illinois roots. We even pretend to watch “the game” even though all we want to know is if our people won. So it was only a matter a time before at least one of us ended up at happy hour at Rush Street, a Culver City spot named after the popular Chicago street.

Rush Street is a restaurant/bar with 2 levels. The first level is more of a restaurant, although there were plenty of men watching sports at the bar. The second level is a laid back lounge that is definitely representative of a hot spot lounge in Chicago. There’s also a patio, but we kept the party indoors. JG ended up at Rush Street for a low-key engagement party of about 30 people. The newly engaged friend was able to make reservations for a corner area on the 2nd level without any bottle service or minimum tab for the table.

We had the experience of dealing with a bartender and a server. The bartender was quick to take orders even as the crowd grew or maybe he could just tell there was a desperate need for a drink. He could pour a mean glass of $3 wine ($8 during non-happy hour). As for the group, the server was great about remembering who ordered what, split checks as people left, & always there at just the right time. Too bad we didn’t get their names. Here’s hoping all the staff is just as great. On a later visit, JG did meet cutie GM, Jason, who made sure we had a good time while the Chicago Bears got beat.

If not there for a group event, this may also be a great spot to meet someone. Culver City tends to draw a more mature crowd so if you’ve grown old of hanging around new, young drinkers slamming down shots, shots, shots, then this might be the place for you. People were social on both levels, even in the unisex bathroom… and not that kind of social, perverts. One of our friends had a conversation about the bathrooms with Brian van Holt ,who was incognito in a Chicago Cubs hat. Later, we’re pretty sure we saw him there with his Cougar Town co-star, Ian Gomez.

Should I stay or Should I go Note: Once happy hour was over, the lounge turned more into a club. The music got louder, the bottle service was in session, & on the way out, we saw 2 staff members that were possibly granting access to the 2nd floor. (VIP after a certain hour?) Oh yeah, and there’s a stripper pole. If clubbing is your thing, then stay. If you hope to continue your night as is, then it is time to keep it moving.

This is also a good place to check out for brunch!

Rating: 4 Martinis

Copa d'Oro

217 Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310.576.3030
www.copadoro.com
www.twitter.com/CopadOro

Parking: Metered Street Parking (1 or 2hr. limits) or Public Parking lots, various prices
Mon., ALL Night!/Tues.- Sat., 6-8pm, $5 Cocktails, $ Beer & Wine, $6 Paninis from the Happy Depression menu

After much happy hour research, twitter recommendations, & Los Angeles Magazine’s Best New Bars issue, This J was dying to go to Copa d’Oro’s happy hour.

When we approached the bar, we saw there was no valet. We get that it’s by The 3rd Street Promenade with public parking lots at various locations & prices. However, when we circled the block for parking, we discovered a valet at another happy hour on our to-do list, Border Grill so guess where we went first.
Once we finished up there, we walked over to Copa d’Oro. We were quickly greeted by a server and told her that we were going to need a minute to choose from the lengthy list of happy hour depression-era drink menu (no joke!). We decided on the Clover Club & Aviation. My Clover Club was made of gin, homemade raspberry syrup, fresh lemon juice, & pasteurized egg white. It was tasty and reminiscent of children Flintstones vitamins, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If I can drink and stay healthy at the same time, all the better.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get to mingle with any bar flies since we were sitting at a table. Everyone was either deep in conversation or deep in a game of dice. (Do they have games here?) Normally, we like to sit at the bar so we can get to know the bartenders, their specialties, & suggested drinks. Maybe even a little flirting.

Now, the wrap up to our visit may confuse our readers as much as it did us. The JB ordered a very tasty turkey panini, a size so generous that she wanted the other half to go. When she asked the server for a box, she said they didn’t have any. When she asked the server for a bag, she said they didn’t have any. J took to wrapping it in a cocktail napkin. Kinda ghetto? Maybe, but it was tasty. I had a bite. Moments later she returned with an entrée sized to-go box. In our day jobs, we both know never say that we can’t do or have something unless we really know for sure. Add the food wrapping issue to another in which we asked for cash back with our purchase and were told there was no cash in the bar, well… our server was sweet and all, but it was just a little weird.
We would love to give Copa d’Oro another visit, if only we could sit at the bar. After all, this place was recommended to us by many people on twitter. The drink menu is so interesting, even featuring a line about where each drink was originated. We would love to watch the bartenders at work, as well as be more daring with our drink choices. If we sat at the bar, I think our visit may have been much more fun.
Rating: 3 Martinis