Premeditated indiscretions at Loungelover

September 12, 2010

LONDON, UK – I’ll always remember London for the time I had a “Night of Passion” followed by a “Bit on the Side.” No, no, dear reader, don’t misjudge me–these weren’t scandalous affairs. They were fabulously fresh, torridly named cocktails at the hipster cool Loungelover. Housed in a former meatpacking… (more)

More than just a nod to Hollywood’s heyday at Tower Bar

September 9, 2010

WEST HOLLYWOOD, USA – The Hollywood nightlife scene of today can’t seem to get enough of referencing the Hollywood of yore. Overrun as it is by show-it-all, do-it-all starlets and tell-it-all 24-hour streaming TMZ videos, it’s no wonder there’s a nostalgia for a more demure day, when a spirit of… (more)

A “stripped down” scene at decadent Bardot

August 14, 2010

LOS ANGELES, USA – When a bar shares a name with French siren Brigitte Bardot, you know there’s going to be some serious va-va-voom involved. Such is the case at Bardot in Hollywood, a sexy 1920s-themed nightclub where Brigitte’s signature fashion statement–various states of undress–can be seen at every turn.… (more)

From belly dancing to full bellies at 1001 Nights

August 13, 2010

BEIJING, CHINA – The midriff-baring, hip-quaking moves of belly dance may have been considered too racy for mainstream Chinese culture even just a decade ago. But as the country has thawed to global influences in recent years, belly dance (along with other sultry foreign dance forms like flamenco) has been… (more)

Atop the poolside pecking order at ABH

July 8, 2010

BEVERLY HILLS, USA – To outsiders, it might seem as if any address within the rich-and-famous playground of Beverly Hills is a calling card for chic cachet. But those who know its bounds well know that there are gradations of poshness within the city’s grid: the flats versus the hills,… (more)

Down the rabbit hole at Commercial Tavern

April 10, 2010

LONDON, UK – Going out solo for a pint in London can feel a tad lonely if you’re stuck in a brooding dark wood tavern. Seeking something a little more cheerful, I took myself without a plus one to the delightful Commercial Tavern one fine afternoon. This stylish spot departs… (more)

Salsa, with a side of steak, at Stevens Steak and Seafood House

April 5, 2010

LOS ANGELES, USA – A steakhouse in a post-industrial area of Los Angeles is probably the last place you’d think to look for the hottest salsa bands and dancers in town. But Stevens Steak and Seafood House, a restaurant-cum-banquet hall right off the 5 Freeway in Commerce (just southeast of… (more)

From femmes fatales to Violent Femmes at Bordello

March 30, 2010

LOS ANGELES, USA – A rainy winter night, driving amongst industrial warehouses, looking for an unmarked door…it all sounds like the beginning of a pulpy noir film. In actuality, this was my introduction to downtown L.A. nightlife darling Bordello, which occupies the former Little Pedro’s space in the gritty grotto… (more)

Split personality dining: The Norry at Kampuchea

January 5, 2010

NEW YORK, USA – Last night, my friend and I dined at The Norry at Kampuchea, the little Asian-inspired eatery on the Lower East Side. What was once a restaurant with a hodge podge menu of noodles, sandwiches, and various Cambodian-derived small dishes is now a restaurant divided into two… (more)

From boots of beer to the beautiful crowd: bar hopping in Manhattan

May 22, 2009

NEW YORK, USA – What started off as a tame night at a laidback beer hall ended up with yours truly hopping into a cab in front of Cabin at 4:00 in the morning. Let’s start with Lederhosen: a great indoor German beer garden in the West Village, complete with… (more)