Lifestyle

After 80 years, Clifton's Cafeteria in downtown Los Angeles shut it's doors in 2011. But today the doors are reopened, bringing glamour back to downtown LA. Clifton's Cafeteria As a third generation Los Angeleno, Clifton's had been a destination for my grandparents, my parents and myself. As a little girl, my mom would take me to Clifton's where after lunch I could pick a toy out of the treasure chest. While I have vague memories of this, Clifton's Cafeteria was a part of my childhood. Honoring the history of Clifton's, while reinventing itself for the modern age, Clifton's Cafeteria had a ribbon cutting ceremony on September 17th with Mayor Eric Garcetti, Council member José Huizar, Clifton's owner Andrew Meieran and actress June Lockhart. Council member José Huizar, actress June Lockhart, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Clifton's owner Andrew Meieran
Harvest 2015 is well underway in most wine regions in the Northern Hemisphere. The grapes are being picked and made into wine. After all, that's what vineyards are for. But, as we discuss the important topic of food waste and hear about chefs utilizing scraps in the kitchen, what about in the vineyard? Grapes are crushed to make wine and then the skins can be used to make grappa or can be used as compost. But, have you ever thought about the leaves or the stems? While in Greece earlier this summer, lunch in the vineyard of Elinos Winery in Naoussa, we were shown how creative one can be utilizing elements from the vineyard. Elinos Elinos is a family winery owned by the Taralas family. The name Elinos comes from the Odyssey and has multiple meanings – wine, crushing grapes, the top of the vine (helix), Greek wine. Dimitrios Taralas retired from banking and purchased the vineyard in 2006. The vineyard, situated at an altitude of 1000 feet, is located on the eastern edge of Naoussa, at the highest point of Mount Vermion, in the Imathia region of Macedonia, Greece. At 25 acres, it is the third biggest single vineyard in Naoussa. They grow Xinamavro, as well as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malagouzia, Preknadi, Moschomavro, Negoska and Roditis.
For the 5th year in a row, Los Angeles Food & Wine hosted another successful weekend of food and wine events. For three nights, Grand Avenue in Downtown LA was closed off to traffic and filled with more than 30 restaurants each night and more than 100 wines. With Disney Hall looming above, hundreds of attendees wandered up and down the street trying the various foods and wines over a three hour period. Los Angeles Food and Wine With so many of Los Angeles' best chefs, as well as top chefs from New York, Philadelphia, Dallas and more, serving up flavorful dishes, there is a lot of tasting to do. Between waiting in long lines to some restaurants and getting full quickly, it can be a challenge to try everything. But, I did!
The website said: "All guests must wear white and be dressed elegantly. Originality is encouraged as long as it stays stylish and denotes taste." As Thursday approached, all I knew was to have my all white outfit ready. All white is tough for someone like me who tends to wear more black then white. But, given that is was a very hot summer night during another LA heatwave, I was happy to oblige. Wearing all white The phone rang at 6pm and I was told to head downtown to Pershing Square. The location has been secret until this moment. As I was invited as media, I was told the location one hour prior but most people, who signed up through groups, met at a central spot and took buses to the secret location.
I love escaping to another world when I watch a movie. Typically, we watch our movies in a dark theater or in the comfort of our own home. But, earlier this summer, I went to a movie in an outdoor theater in Athens, Greece where the Acropolis is seen lit up above us. Sitting in the open air with dynamic surroundings takes one away to another place. Outdoor Movie under the Acropolis And now, in Los Angeles, you can enjoy a movie on a rooftop in Hollywood while feeling like you are in the middle of a movie set with the big bright neon lights above. Rooftop Film Club Outdoor movie screenings aren't uncommon in Los Angeles. You can watch movies in a cemetery, an amphitheater, a park or a hotel courtyard. These are all fun activities to do in the summer with friends. You pack your picnic and hope to get to the space early enough to mark out a central spot where you can spread out. Hopefully you can see over the heads of the people in front of you who brought lawn chairs when you forgot yours. And then you hope you can hear the sound of the movie clearly over the sound of people talking or chomping on food.
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