24-Hour Pastry Party

Donuts are the new black.

The ubiquitous, frou-frou cupcake has been trumped by old-school goodness. It's only fitting--with the food scene going back to basics--that this old-fashioned orb is back in fashion.  In L.A., donut shops are a dime a dozen, most notably Randy's, the landmark shop (and my preferred LAX pit-stop) that is topped with a 3-story-high donut.  Donuts are no longer restricted to restaurants; this weekend, they star in their very own art show at ForYourArt's Around the Clock: 24-Hour Donut City II, LACMA's Choice

In conjunction with LACMA's showing of The Clock, Christian Marclay's epic, 24-hour film (a dazzling montage of time-related film clips), ForYourArt gallery is hosting an all-night fiesta, featuring donut costumes, a communal, coloring table, and FREE donuts from various shops around town.  What's the connection between clocks and donuts? In form alone, both are circular. Secondly, many donut shops are open 24-7, aka around the clock.

Freedom Of Expression

I attended the inaugural Around the Clock: 24-Hour Donut City in March.  Many art events reek of pretension, but this was utterly laid-back.  I mean, when was the last time you went to an art gallery and instead of black-clad, hipsters sipping vino, you get a convivial crowd clamoring for fried food? The guests consisted of an eclectic array of Angelenos, including kids and couples adorably feeding each other. 

Blueberry Cake Donut

During my visit, I sampled three tasty treats.  From SK's Donut & Croissant (a 24-7 joint nearby), I had the Blueberry Cake Donut.  It was moist, fluffy and sugary-sweet like kid's breakfast cereal. Thanks to Bob's (at the Original Farmer's Market), I devoured the Old-Fashioned and Cinnamon-Sugar donuts, both fantastically fresh and plump versions of these classic flavors.  This time around, ForYourArt queried LACMA employees for their favorite donuts, elevating the menu to a professionally-curated experience.

Dressed For The Occasion

The festivities run from noon Saturday, Sept. 22nd to noon on the 23rd.  Click here for the donut schedule.  Between the film and the fried deliciousness, make time to check out Levitated Mass, the ginormous piece, er, boulder on the North Lawn, and Metropolis II, Chris Burden's bustling, car-centric sculpture.  For your alcoholic pleasure, grab a hand-crafted cocktail at LACMA's Stark Bar.

On it's own, The Clock is a masterpiece. Coupled with donuts, it's double your pleasure. Add the rare treat of being out in L.A. after 2am, and this is an event you won't want to miss.  

Springtime: Shaken, Not Stirred

Growing up in Connecticut, spring embodied an awakening of the senses.  After months of bitter cold and winter's dreary palette of white and grey, spring was a welcome burst of fragrant flowers, blue skies, and sun-kissed shoulders.  While L.A. doesn't have such a drastic change of seasons, springtime's arrival still delights me.  My Elysian Park hikes have wildflowers galore, the wisteria vines pop purple, and the farmers markets team with seasonal goodness, like pea tendrils, fava beans and green garlic.  April's bounty is even affecting my beverage consumption, inspiring me to sample garden-variety cocktails all over town.  Here are my favorite ways to get your daily allowance of fruits, veggies, and intoxication.

Stark Bar's G-Funk Era and Owl & Pussycat

Stark Bar @ LACMA  Mid-City West

A night at the museum doesn’t have to include Ben Stiller.  But, a night at LACMA must involve a visit to Stark Bar.  Lounge in lipstick-red chairs at this alfresco bar where cocktails are works of art.  Try the Owl and Pussycat, a lovely mix of rum, strawberries, lemon juice, simple syrup, and chili.  Reminiscent of red-pepper jelly, it's both sweet and spicy.  The G-funk Era features gin, grapefruit peel, Fever Tree tonic, and bitters.  The flavorful gin is made in-house using botanical herbs, like lemon verbena, from the museum's garden; now that's a locavore libation!  By day, Stark Bar buzzes with museum-goers. At night, it becomes a destination in its own right, as diners bask under the glow of Chris Burden's lamppost sculpture.  For you music-lovers, live jazz begins in May, on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons.

Picca's The Avocado Project and Sabertooth

Picca West L.A. 

I came to Picca in search of Ricardo Zarate's much-praised Peruvian cooking.  As (my version of) the saying goes,  "Behind every great chef there's a great mixologist".  At Picca, Julian Cox shakes, mixes, and muddles delicious proof to my proclamation.   My preferred potation, The Avocado Project, has 5 Island white rum, avocado, fresh lime juice, and agave nectar.  In all my years of boozing, I had never thought to combine avocado and alcohol, though there's been much practice with guacamole and margaritas.  Julian takes that perfect pairing, replaces tequila with rum, and creates one of the tastiest drinks I've ever swigged. Like egg whites, the avocado adds a frothy, creamy-ness without being cloying.  The Sabertooth is composed of cachaça, blueberries, apricot liquor, fresh lime, and simple syrup.  True to its name, it still packs a punch, in spite of its girly, purple hue. 

Hungry Cat's Petula Clark

Hungry Cat Hollywood

There are three clues that Hungry Cat offers fresh-squeezed cocktails 1: They are located a block from the Hollywood Farmers' Market  2. Giant pails of citrus and a massive, metal juicer line the bar  3. Chef-owner David Lentz is married to fellow, farm-to-table chef, Suzanne Goin.   In fact, the couple's garden is where Lentz found inspiration for his hand-crafted cocktails.  Try the Petula Clark: Pimm’s, Hayman’s Old Tom gin, egg white, homemade absinthe bitters, lemon, rosemary garnish. It's a gussied-up version of the classically British Pimm's cup.

Write Off

In honor of Tax Day, the drink du jour is the Write Off: cognac, Cara Cara juice, kumquat, and orange blossom water.   The tri-orange medley is so fragrant our friendly bartendress, Minnie, exclaims "I want to smell like this".  (Ask nice and she'll sneak you some kumquats for a healthy, bar snack).  At brunch, Hungry Cat's Bloody Marys (pictured at top) are the perfect hangover cure, packed with plucked-from-the-vine tomato goodness.

Fresh herbs atop the Library Bar

Library Bar Hollywood

After hearing mixmaster Matt Biancaniello interviewed while shopping at the Santa Monica's Farmers Market, I raced to the Library Bar to sample his cocktails.  Tucked off the lobby of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, this jewel box of a bar is a hub for bespoke beverages.  No menu exists, so ordering consists of a conversation with Matt and his trusty staff.  Pick your poison, then an adjective or two. Be inspired by the treasure trove of herbs, fruits, and pickled yum lining the bar.  My request for "herbal gin" rewards me with a refreshing gin, cucumber, dill, and lime concoction.  "Spicy berries" leads to a lip-smacking rum, mixed berry, and chili drink.  Matt also excels at incorporating ingredients normally reserved for the kitchen--balsamic vinegar, arugula--in his libations.  A sip of his gin, sage, and curry creation is a savory delight.

Library Bar's Mixed Berries & Chili and Cucumber Dill