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Tag: bar

  • 13 Places to Watch Super Bowl LX Around Tampa Bay

    If you won’t be at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Super Bowl Sunday, you’re probably searching for the best place to watch the big game. In Tampa Bay, there’s no shortage of venues to cheer on the Seattle Seahawks or the New England Patriots. So pull on your team jersey, round up some friends and plan your Super Bowl watch party at one of Tampa Bay’s favorite spots. 

    FEATURED 

    The Blind Goat

    The Blind Goat
    4106 Henderson Blvd., Tampa  | (813) 515-7962 

    Bring your Super Bowl watch party crew to The Blind Goat to catch every play on one of 40 TVs. Enjoy in-house game-day specials, including: 

    • $3 drafts
    • $4 Nutrl 
    • $5 Corazón Blanco Tequila 
    • $5 Absolut Vodka 
    • $5 Paddy’s Irish Whiskey 
    • $5 Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey 
    • $8 shot-and-beer combos 
    • $17 buckets 

    Prefer to watch from home? The Blind Goat’s Super Bowl catering menu features $1 wings and crowd favorites like buffalo chicken dip, mac and cheese, pretzel bites, Cuban sandwiches and pizza. Be sure to order your picks before the big day, as there will be no day-of to-go orders.  

     

    GenX Tavern (Photography by Sarah Smith)

    GenX Tavern 
    103 E. Jackson St., Tampa | (813) 694-7001 

     Located in the heart of downtown Tampa, GenX Tavern is the place to be on Super Bowl Sunday. Step back into the ’80s and ’90s while watching Super Bowl LX on the big screen. Game-day specials include 12 wings and a pitcher of domestic beer for $25, or double the deal for $45. Happy hour pricing begins before kickoff and runs through the final whistle, with deals on draft beer, cocktails, house wine and select appetizers. Giveaways take place at the end of every quarter, and when you need a break from the action, this family-friendly spot also offers arcade and board games. 

     

    Mad Dogs & Englishmen

    Mad Dogs & Englishmen 
    4914 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa | (813) 832-3037 

     Please join us on Mad Dogs Super Bowl Sunday. Bad Bunny, Brits, shepherd’s pie and specials! The most comfortable spot in Tampa to watch “Jumping Jack Flash” on all our TVs. Shine on, you crazy diamonds, and celebrate with a Guinness martini and Chef Jeff’s famous chicken wings. Bring your kids, your dogs, your mother-in-law or just your best friends. This is the most civilized corner of the British Empire to watch the great American game. Book now or drop in. Don’t dream it. See it. 

    Check out what places were popular  previous years. 

    See below for more game viewing options:

    Tampa

    1983

    American Social

    Brick House Tavern + Tap 

    Hattricks Tavern

    Top Shelf Sports Lounge 

     St. Petersburg

    Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill

    The Galley 

    Localz Sports Bar and Grill 

    SkyBar + Grille 

    Voodoo Brewing Co.

    Get team gear from some of South Tampa’s best! Or if you’re looking to advertise with us click here.

    Tampa Magazine

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  • Developer plans to add a hotel and hundreds of residences to L.A. Live

    The owners of Crypto.com Arena and L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles have filed plans with the city to potentially add another tower to their multibillion-dollar sports and entertainment complex.

    AEG last week proposed a 49-story high-rise that would hold a hotel, residences, bars and restaurants.

    The tower would rise across Olympic Boulevard from L.A. Live on a corner lot on Georgia Street now used by AEG for parking.

    Many planned residential and other commercial projects in Los Angeles have stalled prior to construction in recent years as developers face economic headwinds, including unfavorable interest rates and rising costs of materials and labor.

    AEG, too, will not be breaking ground on this project in the near future, a company representative said.

    The company’s recent land-use application, which outlined the plans, is just a “first step for a potential development” on the company’s property at 917 W. Olympic Blvd., spokesman Michael Roth said. “AEG remains optimistic about downtown’s long-term prospects and is positioning the site for future development when conditions improve.”

    The application calls for a large-scale development with 364 dwelling units and 334 hotel rooms.

    The 783,427-square-foot building would also include bars and restaurants on levels 1, 5 and 6, along with a restaurant/nightclub on the eighth floor.

    Residents and hotel guests would share an amenity deck with a restaurant, bar, pool, spa, club room, fitness area and a dining terrace. The complex would have 666 parking spaces.

    In September, the City Council approved a $2.6-billion expansion of the Convention Center despite warnings from its advisors that the project would draw taxpayer funds away from essential city services for decades to come. Mayor Karen Bass and a majority of the council believe that the project will create thousands of jobs and boost tourism and business activity, making the city more competitive on the national stage.

    The new construction will connect the two existing south and west exhibit halls by adding 190,000 square feet of space to create one contiguous hall with more than 750,000 square feet, and will add 39,000 square feet of meeting room space and 95,000 square feet of multipurpose space.

    AEG is a co-developer of the Convention Center project with Plenary Americas.

    Los Angeles-based AEG is one of the world’s biggest venue and event companies, with more than 20,000 employees. The company was founded in 1995 when Denver billionaire investor Philip Anschutz bought the Los Angeles Kings, and in 1999 it opened the downtown arena then known as the Staples Center, now Crypto.com Arena.

    Among AEG’s recent developments is the IG Arena in the outer citadel of Nagoya Castle in Nagoya, Japan, where sports and entertainment events, including sumo wrestling, are held.

    Roger Vincent

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  • Sip or Scream: Houston’s Best Halloween Bites and Events – Houston Press

    Overview:

    We take a look at the Houston’s best Halloween food and drink happenings.

    It’s officially spooky season in Houston, and the city’s best bars and restaurants are conjuring up festive bites, creepy cocktails and ghoulishly good parties all month long. From pumpkin spice espresso martinis and blood-red cocktails to killer costume parties and even some Dia de los Muertos action, here’s where to eat, drink and celebrate spooky season across the city.

    Betelgeuse Betelgeuse, 2101 Washington, 4500 Montrose

    The fun-loving pizza and cocktail bar gets very into the Halloween spirit with decor and a featured cocktail menu. Highlights include the Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini, Monster Smash, and Blood-Soaked Nightmarish Hellscape, available in 10- or 20-ounce servings. 

    Black Lagoon Pop-Up, 2910 McKinney

    Spooky season means that Nickel City will once again transform into acclaimed Halloween pop-up Black Lagoon, rocking a darkly immersive atmosphere and brand-new cocktail menu from October 1–31. 

    Brasserie 19, 1962 West Gray

    Brasserie 19’s Halloween weekend is back with two days of chic celebrations. On Saturday, October 25 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., “The Haunting of Versailles” offers Marie Antoinette–inspired opulence, couture costumes and Moët Hennessy cocktails. On Sunday, October 26 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., “Le Spectacle de Merde” continues with a high-energy day-after brunch, DJ GFunk, Campari cocktails, and seasonal brunch specials. Reservations recommended.

    Brennan’s of Houston, 3300 Smith

    Brennan’s hosts a Witchy Brunch on Friday, October 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., inviting guests to don witchy attire and gather their covens for a festive Halloween feast. Reservations are recommended; $35 per person, plus tax and gratuity.

    Brenner’s on the Bayou, 1 Birdsall

    Brenner’s hosts “Boo on the Bayou” on Friday, October 31 starting at 5 p.m., featuring a live DJ, signature cocktails, late-night bites and a costume contest with prizes including a night at The Post Oak Hotel, dinner for four at Grotto and happy hour for six at Cadillac Bar. Free admission; reservations recommended.

    Caracol, 2200 Post Oak

    Get into the Halloween spirit at Caracol’s Noche de Brujas Party on Friday, October 31 from 7 to 11 p.m., featuring passed bites, food and dessert stations, a live DJ, and a costume contest with prizes. Each $85 ticket includes four specialty cocktails. 

    Coltivare, 3320 White Oak

    Executive chef Ryan Pera is bringing a childhood tradition to White Oak with fresh-baked sourdough pretzels available for diners October 30–November 1, featuring Italian-inspired dips like Mostarda and Pecorino beer cheese. On Halloween night, Pera and the crew are preparing a pretzel stand for passing families to enjoy.

    The Cursed Cauldron, 2031 Westcreek 

    Halloween pop-up The Cursed Cauldron has found a permanent home at Botonica, running  through November 2. Guests can explore multiple immersive realms while sipping apothecary-inspired cocktails like Coven’s Calling and Lilith’s Lullaby. Weekly activations include Movie Night with Pumpkin Paint & Sip, Tarot Tuesdays, Bewitched Burlesque and Saturday witch-craft classes. Reservations recommended via OpenTable. 

    Emma Jane, 1226 West Clay

    The teahouse hosts a Murder Mystery Dinner on Sunday, October 26 with seatings at 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Guests enjoy a three-course Paris Opera–themed Masquerade of Shadows, interactive gameplay with secret character roles and prizes for Best Detective and Best Costume. Tickets are $125 per person plus taxes and fees; reservations on OpenTable.

    Endless Bummer, 4500 Montrose

    This gothic tiki speakeasy is transforming into The Haunted Luau for October, serving spooky cocktails like the Be Still My Heart, Doomscroller and Pumpkinhead, each $19. Expect over-the-top Halloween vibes and tiki twists.

    Feges BBQ Spring Branch, 8217 Long Point

    Feges BBQ hosts its annual Halloween Spooktacular on Wednesday, October 29 from 5 to 8 p.m. The family-friendly event features a haunted house, costume contest with prizes at 6:45 p.m., candy giveaways, free kids’ meals and half-off select wine for adults. No reservations required.

    Goode Company Kitchen & Cantina, 2002 West Gray

    Goode Company hosts a ticketed Halloween soirée on Friday, October 31 from 7 p.m. to midnight, transforming its River Oaks cantina into a moody, candlelit haunt. Guests can enjoy  live mariachi, a DJ, costume contests and door prizes, plus elevated bites like lechoncito tacos and duck tinga memelas alongside craft cocktails including the Damn Goode Margarita and Flor de Muerto. General admission is $50, VIP tables available; 21+ with wristband required.

    Heights & Co., 1343 Yale

    Step into HalloweenTown with spooky-themed movies, a decadent S’mores Board and playful cocktails like the Blood Bag Cosmo, Grave Digger Espresso Martini and Witches Brew Margarita. Seating is limited, so reservations via Resy are recommended.

    Hungry’s, multiple locations

    This Halloween, kids in costume eat free at Hungry’s, with family-friendly seasonal specials at locations in Rice Village, 2356 Rice, Memorial/NextDoor, 14714 Memorial, and Spring Branch, 5750 Woodway. Adults can join the Halloween Party at NextDoor Memorial at 7 p.m. for themed cocktails, a DJ and costumes.

    Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge, 95 Tuam 

    All October, Jethro’s transforms into Dead Man Manor, a Victorian Gothic Halloween pop-up with themed décor, seasonal cocktails and nightly events from singles mixers and karaoke to movie nights and Tarot Tuesdays. The month culminates with a Halloween Bash on October 30–31, featuring DJs, dancing and festive drinks, followed by a Día de Los Muertos celebration November 1–2 with a community ofrenda. All events are free and open to the public.

    The Marigold Club, 2531 Kuester

    The Marigold Club goes full spooky-chic this Halloween on October 31 at 5 PM. Dress to impress for the costume contest, sip on seasonal cocktails, and soak up a night of playful frights and festive surprises.

    Messina Hof, 4545 Old Reliance

    Over in Bryan, Messina Hof celebrates the season with two spine-tingling experiences on Friday, October 31. Join the “Murder Mystery Dinner: Chamber of Screams” from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. for an interactive whodunit paired with a Halloween buffet and wine. Or, take the “Spooky Cellar Tour” from 6 to 7:30 p.m., featuring ghost stories, four wine tastings, and a souvenir glass—costumes encouraged. Tickets required for both events.

    Montrose Cheese & Wine, 1618 Westheimer

    The cheese and wine shop is inviting guests to bring their pups in costume for the annual dog costume contest, running from Friday, October 24, through Halloween at 5 p.m. The winner, announced on Halloween, will take home a 6-pack of wine plus a bag of Olympia Provisions dog treats for their furry friend.

    Októ, 888 Westheimer
    Októ hosts its first-ever Vampire Ball this Halloween with a DJ spinning at 8 p.m. and a lively, costume-friendly party atmosphere. Guests can sip on spooky-themed cocktails and enjoy dinner with regular reservations.

    Picos, 3601 Kirby 

    Picos celebrates Día de los Muertos with its 2nd Annual H-Town Agave Fest on Saturday, November 1 from 4 to 8 p.m., featuring tequila tastings, cocktails, a DJ, street foods from tacos to elote, face painting and more. The Ofrenda has returned for guests to honor loved ones with photos, and Picos will remain open through the end of the year with more festive events.

    Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House, 113 6th

    Pier 6 brings back its epic Halloween bash on Friday, October 31, rocking spooky décor, all-night happy hour, candy for kids, beats by DJ Ebonix and a cash prize for the best costume. The themed bash is family-friendly and reservations are strongly encouraged.

    Pizaro’s Pizza, 11177 Katy Freeway, 1000 West Gray

    Pizaro’s is getting spooky with Halloween treats like the Triple Treat Monster Cannolis ($8) and the savory Nightmare on Gray Street white pizza ($24 medium/$34 large). Both locations will serve Halloween specials through October 31.

    Zanti Cucina Italiana, 1958 West Gray

    Zanti celebrates Halloween with themed cocktails and events all month. Pre-Halloween Brunch is Saturday, October 18 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the “Midnight in Milan” party follows Saturday, October 25 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., featuring roaming entertainers, signature cocktails and a costume contest. Reservations recommended.

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

    Brooke Viggiano

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  • ‘This is a first’: D.C. woman goes to a bar. Then a man sends her a ‘sip’ of his drink

    A woman has gone viral on TikTok after sharing how a man sent her a drink at the bar. But this wasn’t any ordinary drink: it was a “sip” of another patron’s order.

    The TikTok, which has amassed 547,300 views, consists of a photo of a reddish liquid in a shot glass with on-screen text reading: “This is a first: a man had the bartender send me a sip of his drink instead of buying me one.”

    TikToker Ansa Edim (@ansa_____) then added in the description: “Times are tough. It made me low key smile/chuckle though so good for him I guess?”

    In the comments, viewers couldn’t get over the bartender actually agreeing to do this. “And the bartender did it?!” one asked. “As a bartender that is WILD,” another added. While a third wrote, “What in the food safety violation was the bartender thinking?”

    On a more general note, commenters couldn’t get over the audacity. “How does this idea even come to someone’s head?” a fourth commenter queried.

    “This man will definitely be asking you what you bring to the table,” a fifth noted. Elsewhere, a sixth admitted, “With Covid, the flu, etc going on. I would of cursed the man and the bartender out politely.”

    However, there was one comment that was so egregious, it caused Edim to make a follow-up video. The comment read: “I swear y’all never happy. Y’all ladies stay in our plates and drink. By giving you a sip of his drink he just told you that he sees a future with you, he’s caring, and he’s willing to share. Y’all just ungrateful.”

    In response to this, Edim provided a more detailed account of what happened, noting that her main issue with this gesture is that he never asked her before doing it and didn’t take her preferences into account.

    “This is the problem with men who think this way,” she told the commenter. “You gave me a sip of your drink and im supposed to be like ‘Omg thank you’.” Edim didn’t immediately respond to The Mary Sue’s request for comment via TikTok comment and contact form.

    Should you share a drink with strangers?

    In an article for Huffpost, Mayo Clinic pathologist and clinical microbiologist Dr Bobbi Pritt explained that sharing your drink with someone, even a “sip,” can be bad for you.

    “There’s a whole bunch of different types of microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Some of them can survive in saliva,” she explained.

    Some of these microbes, she said, could also be found on the surface of the cup or on a straw.

    Based on her account, it seems like her drink wasn’t touched before the TikToker got her “sip,” but even so, it’s a health and safety risk that could’ve been avoided.

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

    Image of Charlotte Colombo

    Charlotte Colombo

    Charlotte is an internet culture writer with bylines in Insider, VICE, Glamour, The Independent, and more. She holds a Master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from City St George’s, University of London.

    Charlotte Colombo

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  • 4 people were killed and 20 more were injured in a shooting at a bar in South Carolina, sheriff says

    A mass shooting at a crowded bar on an idyllic South Carolina island has left four people dead and at least 20 injured, officials say.The shooting occurred early Sunday at Willie’s Bar and Grill on St. Helena Island, officials said. A large crowd was at the scene when sheriff’s deputies arrived and found several people suffering from gunshot wounds.“Multiple victims and witnesses ran to the nearby businesses and properties seeking shelter from the gun shots,” the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement on the social media platform X.“This is a tragic and difficult incident for everyone. We ask for your patience as we continue to investigate this incident. Our thoughts are with all of the victims and their loved ones,” the statement said.Four people were found dead at the scene, and at least 20 other people were injured. Among the injured, four were in critical condition at area hospitals.The victims’ identities were not released.“COMPLETELY HEARTBROKEN to learn about the devastating shooting in Beaufort County,” U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace posted on X. “Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and everyone impacted by this horrific act of violence.”St. Helena Island is considered the largest Gullah community on the South Carolina coast. An estimated 5,000 or more people living there are descended from slaves who worked rice plantations in the area before they were freed by the Civil War.Smaller enclaves of Gullah, referred to as Geechee in some areas, are scattered along the Southeast coast from North Carolina to Florida. Scholars say separation from the mainland caused the Gullah to retain much of their African heritage, including a unique dialect and skills such as cast-net fishing and basket weaving.

    BEAUFORT, S.C. —

    A mass shooting at a crowded bar on an idyllic South Carolina island has left four people dead and at least 20 injured, officials say.

    The shooting occurred early Sunday at Willie’s Bar and Grill on St. Helena Island, officials said. A large crowd was at the scene when sheriff’s deputies arrived and found several people suffering from gunshot wounds.

    “Multiple victims and witnesses ran to the nearby businesses and properties seeking shelter from the gun shots,” the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement on the social media platform X.

    “This is a tragic and difficult incident for everyone. We ask for your patience as we continue to investigate this incident. Our thoughts are with all of the victims and their loved ones,” the statement said.

    Four people were found dead at the scene, and at least 20 other people were injured. Among the injured, four were in critical condition at area hospitals.

    The victims’ identities were not released.

    “COMPLETELY HEARTBROKEN to learn about the devastating shooting in Beaufort County,” U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace posted on X. “Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and everyone impacted by this horrific act of violence.”

    St. Helena Island is considered the largest Gullah community on the South Carolina coast. An estimated 5,000 or more people living there are descended from slaves who worked rice plantations in the area before they were freed by the Civil War.

    Smaller enclaves of Gullah, referred to as Geechee in some areas, are scattered along the Southeast coast from North Carolina to Florida. Scholars say separation from the mainland caused the Gullah to retain much of their African heritage, including a unique dialect and skills such as cast-net fishing and basket weaving.

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  • 4 people were killed and 20 more were injured in a shooting at a bar in South Carolina, sheriff says

    A mass shooting at a crowded bar on an idyllic South Carolina island has left four people dead and at least 20 injured, officials say.The shooting occurred early Sunday at Willie’s Bar and Grill on St. Helena Island, officials said. A large crowd was at the scene when sheriff’s deputies arrived and found several people suffering from gunshot wounds.“Multiple victims and witnesses ran to the nearby businesses and properties seeking shelter from the gun shots,” the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement on the social media platform X.“This is a tragic and difficult incident for everyone. We ask for your patience as we continue to investigate this incident. Our thoughts are with all of the victims and their loved ones,” the statement said.Four people were found dead at the scene, and at least 20 other people were injured. Among the injured, four were in critical condition at area hospitals.The victims’ identities were not released.“COMPLETELY HEARTBROKEN to learn about the devastating shooting in Beaufort County,” U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace posted on X. “Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and everyone impacted by this horrific act of violence.”

    BEAUFORT, S.C. —

    A mass shooting at a crowded bar on an idyllic South Carolina island has left four people dead and at least 20 injured, officials say.

    The shooting occurred early Sunday at Willie’s Bar and Grill on St. Helena Island, officials said. A large crowd was at the scene when sheriff’s deputies arrived and found several people suffering from gunshot wounds.

    “Multiple victims and witnesses ran to the nearby businesses and properties seeking shelter from the gun shots,” the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement on the social media platform X.

    “This is a tragic and difficult incident for everyone. We ask for your patience as we continue to investigate this incident. Our thoughts are with all of the victims and their loved ones,” the statement said.

    Four people were found dead at the scene, and at least 20 other people were injured. Among the injured, four were in critical condition at area hospitals.

    The victims’ identities were not released.

    “COMPLETELY HEARTBROKEN to learn about the devastating shooting in Beaufort County,” U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace posted on X. “Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and everyone impacted by this horrific act of violence.”

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  • South Lake Tahoe mayor pro tem arrested for assault at bar

    South Lake Tahoe’s mayor pro tem was arrested in connection with an incident at a bar in September.Cody Bass was arrested on Sept. 25 after allegedly approaching an employee at Lake Tahoe AleWorx in Stateline, Nevada.Despite Bass being banned from the business, he allegedly threatened to “have people kill” the the bar employee, Reno’s KRNV-TV reported. Arrest documents said Bass left the bar then returned 20 minutes later and allegedly cocked his arm as if to hit the employee, who kicked him in self-defense, according to KRNV. Deputies reviewed surveillance footage and determined Bass was the aggressor. He’s charged with misdemeanor assault, trespassing and harassment. The incident happened days before South Lake Tahoe’s mayor also made headlines. Local media published a letter Sunday by Mayor Tamara Wallace, in which she confessed to stealing from a church where she worked as an administrator. Wallace said she has been recovering from a suicide attempt and reflecting on the traumatic experiences in her life. She said she aimed to pay back “every cent I have taken.”“Sorry is not a strong enough word to explain the depths of my regret and shame,” Wallace wrote in the letter.The El Dorado County district attorney said it was investigating the stolen funds and Wallace’s confession.The city of South Lake Tahoe said in statements to KCRA 3 that it was aware of both investigations into the actions of its mayor and mayor pro tem. It said the DA’s office was handling the cases, which have not led to “fiscal harm” or impacted essential services for residents.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. —

    South Lake Tahoe’s mayor pro tem was arrested in connection with an incident at a bar in September.

    Cody Bass was arrested on Sept. 25 after allegedly approaching an employee at Lake Tahoe AleWorx in Stateline, Nevada.

    Despite Bass being banned from the business, he allegedly threatened to “have people kill” the the bar employee, Reno’s KRNV-TV reported.

    Arrest documents said Bass left the bar then returned 20 minutes later and allegedly cocked his arm as if to hit the employee, who kicked him in self-defense, according to KRNV.

    Deputies reviewed surveillance footage and determined Bass was the aggressor. He’s charged with misdemeanor assault, trespassing and harassment.

    The incident happened days before South Lake Tahoe’s mayor also made headlines.

    Local media published a letter Sunday by Mayor Tamara Wallace, in which she confessed to stealing from a church where she worked as an administrator.

    Wallace said she has been recovering from a suicide attempt and reflecting on the traumatic experiences in her life. She said she aimed to pay back “every cent I have taken.”

    “Sorry is not a strong enough word to explain the depths of my regret and shame,” Wallace wrote in the letter.

    The El Dorado County district attorney said it was investigating the stolen funds and Wallace’s confession.

    The city of South Lake Tahoe said in statements to KCRA 3 that it was aware of both investigations into the actions of its mayor and mayor pro tem.

    It said the DA’s office was handling the cases, which have not led to “fiscal harm” or impacted essential services for residents.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Ocoee moves forward with large pickleball complex

    The City of Ocoee is moving forward with a pickleball facility a developer pitched to the city over a year ago.Originally pitched in April 2024, Vasant Sports LLC’s pickleball facility was given the thumbs up during Tuesday night’s city commissioners meeting. The preliminary site plan was approved, but it looks different than the original pitch from April 2024.”I think it’s a great idea, it sounds like a beautiful idea that they’ve come up with, and it sounds like they took the residents into consideration big-time,” said Debbie Gulley, an Ocoee resident.”Air conditioned, which makes it even nicer for the players, but I think the fact that the developers did keep in mind the sound and they’re respectful of those around them,” said Ocoee resident Jill Ogletree.The original pitch was for a 44-court complex, with roughly half of that number being outdoor courts. After listening to the city and residents, that number was culled to 25 indoor tournament-style courts and one outside court for championship play. The outside court will be flanked by bleacher-style seating.Sravan Tummala of Vasant Sports LLC said, “It’s going to bring in a lot of money and a lot of players, top pickleball players to play pickleball here in the city.”Alongside the pickleball courts are plans for entertainment, restaurants, and bars.”If you don’t play, it will appeal to you because there’s going to be a couple of great restaurants, a couple of bars, great entertainment,” said Todd Lucas of Lucas Development. Lucas is doing design work for the complex.The facility will be located on a six-acre site on the west side of Jacob Nathan Boulevard, near Matthew Paris Boulevard off West Colonial Drive.

    OCOEE, Fla. —

    The City of Ocoee is moving forward with a pickleball facility a developer pitched to the city over a year ago.

    Originally pitched in April 2024, Vasant Sports LLC’s pickleball facility was given the thumbs up during Tuesday night’s city commissioners meeting. The preliminary site plan was approved, but it looks different than the original pitch from April 2024.

    “I think it’s a great idea, it sounds like a beautiful idea that they’ve come up with, and it sounds like they took the residents into consideration big-time,” said Debbie Gulley, an Ocoee resident.

    “Air conditioned, which makes it even nicer for the players, but I think the fact that the developers did keep in mind the sound and they’re respectful of those around them,” said Ocoee resident Jill Ogletree.

    The original pitch was for a 44-court complex, with roughly half of that number being outdoor courts. After listening to the city and residents, that number was culled to 25 indoor tournament-style courts and one outside court for championship play. The outside court will be flanked by bleacher-style seating.

    Sravan Tummala of Vasant Sports LLC said, “It’s going to bring in a lot of money and a lot of players, top pickleball players to play pickleball here in the city.”

    Alongside the pickleball courts are plans for entertainment, restaurants, and bars.

    “If you don’t play, it will appeal to you because there’s going to be a couple of great restaurants, a couple of bars, great entertainment,” said Todd Lucas of Lucas Development. Lucas is doing design work for the complex.

    The facility will be located on a six-acre site on the west side of Jacob Nathan Boulevard, near Matthew Paris Boulevard off West Colonial Drive.

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  • Going the distance! Inside the longest bar in Texas.

    Friday, September 12, 2025 10:52PM

    Going the distance! Inside the longest bar in Texas.

    Kirby Ice House has opened a new location in the Heights, featuring a remarkably long bar. It stretches 146 feet.

    HOUSTON, Texas — Looking for a pub with some elbow room? Kirby Ice House opened a fourth location in the Heights with a standout feature.

    “What makes this ice house unique is that we have a 146 feet long bar,” Kirby Ice House Representative Garret Grassau said. “We may not be the longest in the Guinness book, but I know for sure we are the longest in Texas.”

    Kirby Ice House Heights is located at 1421 N Loop W in Houston.

    CCG

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  • He dreamed of a midcentury haven in L.A. He found it in an iconic rental off Sunset

    Growing up in a small town outside of Cleveland, Tyler Piña was fascinated by Los Angeles and the glamour of Hollywood.

    “My dad grew up out here, and it’s where my parents met,” says the 33-year-old screenwriter and Emmy Award-winning director of “Next Level With Lauren Goode.” “I remember looking at old Polaroids of them in the ‘80s and seeing how much fun they had.”

    In this series, we spotlight L.A. rentals with style. From perfect gallery walls to temporary decor hacks, these renters get creative, even in small spaces. And Angelenos need the inspiration: Most are renters.

    His attraction to Los Angeles, however, was more than just nostalgia. “I was mesmerized by the landscapes and architecture,” he says, noting the Santa Monica Mountains that run alongside the Pacific Ocean and glass-and-steel Case Study Houses such as the Stahl House, perched on a hillside overlooking Los Angeles.

    “I had never seen anything like it in Ohio,” he says. “It felt like another world, so far from reach. Yet it was a life I aspired to live one day.”

    Looking back, he can’t believe he realized his dream of moving to Los Angeles from San Francisco in 2018 and eventually renting a Midcentury Modern penthouse steps from the Sunset Strip.

    A wet bar with copper bar stols
    A bar window surrounded by botanical wallpaper
    Tyler Piña stands at his bar in his penthouse apartment in the Sunset Lanai Apartments

    “A Midcentury Modern penthouse on Sunset Boulevard in the heart of West Hollywood, with a bar in the living room? I mean, does it get more iconic? I am, in no way, cool enough to live here,” says Piña.

    “It’s a little bit of a fishbowl,” Piña says, standing inside his living room with views of a Netflix billboard through the unit’s floor-to-ceiling windows. (It’s an ad for “Happy Gilmore 2” that reads “When Life Gives You S— for Breakfast … Go to Your Happy Place.”)

    More than once, Piña has been caught sitting on his couch in his underwear, writing scripts on his laptop, as Hollywood tour buses stop at the traffic light outside.

    In other instances, friends have driven by his building and texted him, “‘Hey, I just drove by and saw you in your living room,’” he says, laughing.

    Tyler Pina stand by a large window in penthouse apartment in the Sunset Lanai apartments.

    Although he feels like he is living in a fishbowl at times, Piña draws energy from the city outside his windows.

    The two-story, 22-unit Sunset Lanai apartment complex, designed by acclaimed midcentury architect Edward H. Fickett and built in 1952 by developer George Alexander, is an oasis in the middle of a bustling part of the city. That is because Fickett designed the West Hollywood apartments to face inward, toward a lush courtyard and swimming pool, avoiding the activity of the Sunset Strip.

    Piña’s penthouse apartment spans almost the entire top floor and boasts many of the architectural touches that Fickett was known for including as an indoor-outdoor floor plan that connects to a lanai, vaulted ceilings, partial walls and lots of glass.

    Over the years, the apartment’s owners and the West Hollywood City Council have debated its relevance as a historic landmark that needs preservation. But talk to Piña, and he’ll tell you it’s special.

    The Sunset Lanai Apartments in West Hollywood

    The Sunset Lanai apartments were designed by noted modernist architect Edward Fickett and constructed by George Alexander in 1952.

    “I walked by the apartment every day before I moved in and was always curious what it looked like inside,” he says. “When I saw the ‘for rent’ sign, I immediately went on a tour. But the price was a little high for me, so I waited.”

    His patience paid off as the apartment stood vacant for seven months during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following several price reductions, Piña, his boyfriend at that time and a friend of theirs rented the 2,850-square-foot unit for $5,200 a month in 2020.

    “Right away it felt like home,” he says of the first time he stepped inside. “This was the place I grew up dreaming about.”

    Two people stand in the lanai area of a penthouse apartment.

    Piña, right, and his boyfriend, Vittorio Manole, stand in the lanai in front of the apartment.

    A lanai area with mats, weights and washer and dryer.

    The lanai has enough room for a gym, washer and dryer and a lounge. It also has ample built-in storage.

    Inside, the apartment is a treasure trove of unique features. The expansive living room seamlessly connects to a formal dining room, which in turn leads to an updated kitchen with stainless steel appliances, all with a view of Sunset Boulevard. Two bedrooms and two bathrooms, each with more built-in storage than they can use, sit off an intersecting hallway.

    At the center of the living room, a stylish enclosed wet bar, an original design by Fickett, exudes a “Mad Men” vibe. On the wall behind the bar, Piña hung a peel-and-stick wallpaper that he found on Etsy, reminiscent of the iconic banana-leaf wallpaper at the Beverly Hills Hotel, and a yellow neon sign that reads “Lost in euphoria.”

    “There’s something really special about a Fickett building,” Piña says. “A Midcentury Modern penthouse on Sunset Boulevard in the heart of West Hollywood, with a bar in the living room? I mean, does it get more iconic? I am, in no way, cool enough to live here.”

    Artworks, plants in a penthouse apartment
    A bookshelf, plant and window overlooking a courtyard

    “In a way, I guess decorating is just another medium for me to express my creativity like I do with film and writing,” Piña says.

    “I tried my best to do this space justice,” Piña says, referring to his frantic two-week effort to decorate the apartment while working on “Comeback Coach” and “Women in Business,” two reality shows sponsored by Verizon. He has also worked on trailers for Amazon, shot and edited commercials for Google, Levi’s and Sephora, edited “Making Emilia Perez” for Netflix and wrote and directed the award-winning documentary “88 Cents.”

    “At my previous place, I slowly decorated over time,” he says. “By the time it finally felt perfect, it was time to move out. In this space, I wanted it to feel lived in right away so I could enjoy it fully for as long as possible.”

    Working until 3 in the morning, Piña sourced Midcentury-inspired furniture from the online retailer All Modern, CB2 and several local vintage shops. He also purchased a variety of furnishings, plants and accessories on Etsy and Offer Up as well as artworks by local artists, photographers and friends.

    Inspired by a print on wood by Australian photographer Sarah Bahbah in his dining room, Piña decorated the living and dining room in a similar color palette. Similarly, copper-colored bar stools he spotted in a small shop in San Francisco inspired the bar area.

    A dark and moody bedroom with large windows.

    The bedroom is dark and moody, with windows that look out over the Sunset Strip.

    Explaining his decorating process, Piña says he likes to start with a statement piece such as an artwork, rug or piece of furniture and then build a story around it. “In a way, I guess decorating is just another medium for me to express my creativity like I do with film and writing,” he says.

    Adding to the spacious floor plan is a lanai, which has enough room for weights, mats and a Peloton, as well as a lounge area, washer and dryer, sink and a huge walk-in storage space. “I have a projector and have hosted movie nights,” Piña says.

    A dining room and wet bar.

    The formal dining room connects to an updated kitchen with stainless steel appliances that faces Sunset Boulevard.

    At night, Piña says his apartment glows from the streetlights and soaks up the energy from the neighborhood. “It’s the best place to have a good cry,” he says. “Because you never feel alone. I put so much love into this apartment. And it’s given me so much back in return. And the tears I cried here, the immense struggles that I faced — a pandemic, losing work from the strikes, multiple relationships that came and went. But even in the hard moments, there was so much beauty. The architecture brings this place to life.”

    But like so many good things that come to an end, Piña recently decided to move out of the apartment after his roommate left.

    Tyler Pina sets on his sofa in his penthouse apartment.

    Piña moves on with nothing but happy memories.

    “I’m ready for the next dream,” he says.

    Last month, Piña sold and donated all of his furniture. He plans to travel to Europe and Asia and work remotely for a while. “Just me and a suitcase,” he says.

    According to the director, he enjoyed selling his furnishings on Facebook Marketplace and plans on using it as a source for his next home. “I met so many cool people from all over the city,” he says. “The whole concept of passing items down versus buying new just makes the home feel more lively in my opinion, like every item comes with its own story and a bit of love — not to mention it’s way more cost-effective.”

    He leaves Los Angeles with his Polaroids, just like his parents.

    “And all the amazing memories,” he says. “Those are coming with me.”

    Lisa Boone

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  • Country and western bar brings line dancing (and spare ribs) to Union Market warehouse – WTOP News

    Desert 5 Spot, a country and western dance bar, has opened its newest venue at a two-story warehouse in D.C.’s Union Market neighborhood.

    Desert 5 Spot, a country and western dance bar that debuted in Los Angeles in 2021 and expanded to New York City last year, has opened its newest venue at a two-story warehouse in D.C.’s Union Market neighborhood.

    Desert 5 Spot is named after the desert five-spot flowering plant native to the Southwest U.S. and Mojave Desert.

    The D.C. location, at 400 Morse Street, NE, opened Sept. 5, and spans both levels of the warehouse, which was previously home to combination art gallery and restaurant Palette 22.

    The Union Market location, operated by Ten Five Hospitality, is all country and western vibe, with a mechanical bull, a vintage Chevy truck that serves as the DJ booth, desert-inspired interior, a rooftop cactus garden terrace, and plenty of retro neon signs.

    There is live music nightly, as well as line dancing classes Ten Five Hospitality promises some of the D.C. region’s top musicians.

    There are two live music stages, and a menu that includes Nashville Hot Chicken, smoked pork spareribs, brisket sandwiches and cast iron cornbread.

    “Desert 5 Spot has always been about great live country music, strong drinks, and zero pretense — just a place where friends can meet and have a good time,” said Dan Daley, managing partner at Ten Five Hospitality. “We’re excited to bring D5 to D.C., a city with a vibrant dining and nightlife scene, and to add something fresh and unique to the mix.”

    Cowboy boots aren’t required, but the dress code encourages a country and western look.

    “We kindly ask y’all to abide by the country dress code. Cowboys don’t wear athletic shorts, athletic tops, sweatpants or flip-flops. It’s boot country around here,” a dress code on Desert 5 Spot’s website reads.

    Desert 5 Spot is open Wednesdays through Sundays. The venue is also available for private parties or events bookings.

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Jeff Clabaugh

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  • Orlando man arrested, accused of stabbing victim 10 times outside local bar, police say

    “Joc Hip Hop,” later identified as Jason Wilfredo Rosario, 30, was arrested on Friday after multiple witnesses said they saw him stab another man multiple times outside Grumpy’s Underground on August 31. The Orlando Police Department was flagged down on Sunday by a woman at 1018 N. Mills Avenue, who told police that someone had been stabbed. The victim was found with stab wounds to the head, face, and 7 deep puncture wounds to his left back area, according to the hospital report.The victim later positively identified Rosario as the person who stabbed him. Rosario is being held at the Orange County jail without bond. He’s being charged with attempted second-degree murder with a weapon. CrimelineCrimeline’s mission is to increase the safety of the Central Florida community by assisting law enforcement agencies in removing undesirable individuals from the community, according to its mission statement>> Call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477)>> Leave a tip onlineTips that lead to the felony arrest of suspects and/or the recovery of stolen property and drugs may be eligible for cash rewards of up to $1,000. All tips eligible for a reward are paid to tipsters using an anonymous processCentral Florida Crimeline began in July of 1977, originally named Crimewatch, modeled after the first Crime Stoppers program founded in Albuquerque New Mexico. Call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477)

    ORLANDO, Fla. —

    “Joc Hip Hop,” later identified as Jason Wilfredo Rosario, 30, was arrested on Friday after multiple witnesses said they saw him stab another man multiple times outside Grumpy’s Underground on August 31.

    The Orlando Police Department was flagged down on Sunday by a woman at 1018 N. Mills Avenue, who told police that someone had been stabbed.

    The victim was found with stab wounds to the head, face, and 7 deep puncture wounds to his left back area, according to the hospital report.

    The victim later positively identified Rosario as the person who stabbed him.

    Rosario is being held at the Orange County jail without bond. He’s being charged with attempted second-degree murder with a weapon.

    Crimeline

    Crimeline’s mission is to increase the safety of the Central Florida community by assisting law enforcement agencies in removing undesirable individuals from the community, according to its mission statement

    >> Call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477)

    >> Leave a tip online

    Tips that lead to the felony arrest of suspects and/or the recovery of stolen property and drugs may be eligible for cash rewards of up to $1,000. All tips eligible for a reward are paid to tipsters using an anonymous process

    Central Florida Crimeline began in July of 1977, originally named Crimewatch, modeled after the first Crime Stoppers program founded in Albuquerque New Mexico.

    Call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477)

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  • DC’s first phone-free bar opens on H Street – WTOP News

    D.C.’s newest bar has a restriction that might make a lot of us feel naked: no cellphones.

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    DC’s first phone-free bar opens on H Street

    A sign that hangs on a lot of restaurants, bars and convenience stores says that no service is given if you’re not wearing a shirt or shoes. But now, D.C.’s newest bar has a restriction that might make a lot of us feel naked: no cellphones.

    Rock Harper’s Hush Harbor on H Street in Northeast D.C. claims to be the first phone-free bar in the nation’s capital.

    WTOP spoke to Harper, who transformed the former Hill Prince to Hush Harbor.

    Harper, who won the 3rd season of Gordon Ramey’s “Hell’s Kitchen,” transformed the former Hill Prince to Hush Harbor DC.

    When guests come in, Harper says they will be given a Yondr bag for their phones, and they will keep the bag with them whether they have dinner or order drinks.

    “So the phones are kept on their person. That’s the thing. We’re not taking any phones,” Harper said.

    During the interview, Harper kept true to his word, and spoke to WTOP outside of Hush Harbor, on 1337 H Street NE, instead of being filmed on a phone inside the bar.

    Harper admitted his mother was the inspiration behind the no-phone policy.

    “She was talking about the importance for my ancestors and having hush harbors,” Harper said. “A hush harbor originally was a meeting, a gathering of formerly enslaved Africans.

    Harper explained they would convene in the wilderness to practice their spirituality out of the gaze of a slave master for fear of harm, and he believes this is a modern version of that.

    “So in a modern sense, I took that idea of having a convening offline, and combined it with hospitality,” said Harper. “I just personally think that cellphones are in the way of a lot of human connection.”

    When questioned if single people will now have a tough time swiping left or right without their phones, Harper offered this advice:

    “Listen, the new swipe left or slide right — it’s just cozying up to a person, to your bar neighbor,” Harper said while laughing. “We got to take it back to when you had to work for the phone number, where you had to actually engage.”

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Jimmy Alexander

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  • San Luis Obispo Shines as Top Christmas Destination With Rod & Hammer’s 3rd Annual Christmas at the Carissa

    Press Release
    •

    Oct 23, 2024

    Immersive Holiday Bar & Restaurant Installation Opens on Nov. 8


    SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif., October 23, 2024 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The community of San Luis Obispo has come to look forward to a new holiday tradition that attracts visitors from not just the Central Coast but around the country: Christmas at the Carissa. Now in its third year, this season’s transformation will step visitors directly into the scenes of their favorite holiday movie classics: Home Alone, Elf, The Grinch and The Polar Express. The historic downtown SLO Carissa Building will be reimagined into a Christmas wonderland that takes guests through a journey of the classics, with a Rod and Hammer’s beverage in hand. 

    Rod & Hammer has tapped the creative talents of local wedding and event planner Brooke Nicole Events to curate a nostalgic ride through four beloved holiday movie classics while new Executive Chef Jeremy Fike will prepare whiskey-centered libations such as the Gingerbread Martini, the Pomegranate Fizz and the Cindy Lu Who Punch, as well as scrumptious nibbles like Snow Crab Mac & Cheese and Reindeer Meatballs. Visitors from all over the country have come to look forward to this immersive transformation of one of downtown San Luis Obispo’s most iconic and historical buildings.

    “We’re a whiskey house that has now become the go-to Christmas destination for holiday magic,” says Rodney Cegelski, the “Rod” of Rod and Hammer’s California Whiskey. “Our goal every year is to bring something new and exciting to the experience, and who doesn’t love a good Christmas movie? Many people have cherished memories tied to Christmas classics. This theme creates a cozy environment where guests can relive those moments and share them with family and friends. With so many photo opportunities and immersive experiences, this season offers a captivating holiday experience like no other.”

    The extravagant installation includes five festive features:

    • Ticket to Ride The Polar Express — Grab a hot cocoa and jump on board.
    • Buddy’s Hall — Buddy and the Elves have created a special hall to welcome Santa and guests with Christmas cheer.
    • Whoville Christmas — Be a Who in Whoville and gather around the giant lit Christmas tree to help make the Grinch’s heart grow three sizes larger.
    • Visit Kevin at His Home — Kevin won’t be home alone when you visit and see all the crazy pranks he has in store.
    • Max’s Patio: Christmas for the Dogs — Furry friends are invited to join in the Christmas spirit on the heated creekside patio. 

    Installation is set to begin the first week of November and doors will open to the public Friday, Nov. 8, and due to its popularity, Christmas at the Carissa will extend through January 2025, creating more opportunities for post-holiday cheer with family and friends. For private parties of 12 or more, contact april@rodandhammer.com. Hours, reservations and more information is available at www.thecarrisa.com/xmas.

    Press Assets: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1FWkBdCni1pEEgKP297eKlY-B1PHnAcCG

    Source: Rod & Hammer’s

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  • Austin’s Premier Cocktail Lounge Honored for Design Excellence

    Austin’s Premier Cocktail Lounge Honored for Design Excellence


    AUSTIN, Texas, October 3, 2024 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Powder Room is nominated for the 2024 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards. Now in its 16th year, this prestigious global recognition honors the most influential and innovative designs in the food and beverage industry. Powder Room has secured its place on the shortlist by captivating guests with its soft, mysterious lighting and innovative design, seamlessly blending retro glamor with Austin’s modern creative edge.

    Powder Room, by Lobos Hospitality, offers guests a luxurious yet intimate ambiance, featuring vintage-inspired decor, atmospheric lighting, and opulent finishes. It’s a space designed to create a sensory journey where patrons feel transported to an era of timeless elegance. “We’re honored to be recognized by such an esteemed organization,” said Jason Ellefson, Co-founder of Lobos Hospitality. “Powder Room is a creative expression designed from a storyteller’s perspective, invoking vibes from the glamorous living spaces of the 1980s. It’s a place where people can come together in a warm, social setting for a vibrant cocktail experience.”

    The Restaurant & Bar Design Awards recognize the most visually compelling and forward-thinking hospitality spaces from around the world. This year’s ceremony will take place on October 31, 2024, at The Hoxton, Poblenou in Barcelona, Spain. Powder Room will be showcased alongside other international venues in a two-week Instagram event, putting the spotlight on Austin’s dynamic and evolving hospitality scene.

    Powder Room Details and Design

    Designed by acclaimed designer Peter Bowden of PETERMAX and brought to life by Rios Architecture, Powder Room’s ambiance is a masterclass in retro modern elegance. The space combines moody, atmospheric lighting with a design that draws inspiration from the vibrant energy of Austin itself. “Our vision was to craft an escape, an immersive experience where every visit feels like a new discovery,” said Bowden.

    For more information about Powder Room, visit https://www.loboshospitality.com/venues/powderroomatx or follow on social media @PowderRoomATX.

    About Lobos Hospitality

    Lobos Hospitality of Austin, TX is dedicated to blending quality service, chic design, and fresh cuisine to create memorable guest experiences. Whether eating a family breakfast at Toasty Badger, enjoying an artisanal sandwich at Manny’s, or sipping a craft cocktail at the Powder Room, each establishment offers that warm feeling of hospitality.

    Source: Lobos Hospitality

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  • Christina Tosi and Boka Will Finally Bring Milk Bar to Chicago

    Christina Tosi and Boka Will Finally Bring Milk Bar to Chicago

    In hindsight, Tuesday morning’s news that Milk Bar would finally arrive in Chicago shouldn’t be a surprise. A release blasted the news nationwide, an announcement befitting of Tosi’s stature. Milk Bar will take over the corner cafe in the Hoxton Chicago lobby at 200 N. Green Street sometime this winter.

    For years, superstar baker Christina Tosi has teased Chicagoans as her crew at Milk Bar searched for a space. Milk Bar held pop-ups featuring the confection formerly known as Crack Pie — renamed in 2019 to the more pleasant Milk Bar Pie. As the furor over expansion cooled during the pandemic with the restaurant industry battling for survival, Milk Bar quietly set up a ghost bakery in Chicago where locals could order baked goods for delivery.

    In a competitive market, Milk Bar protected its brand. They sued the owners of a River North venue in 2019, JoJo’s Milk Bar arguing the name confused customers into thinking the two were associated. JoJo’s ultimately rebranded to JoJo’s Shake Bar to avoid trademark infringement.

    Milk Bar’s official arrival comes in the form of a partnership with Boka Restaurant Group, which manages Hoxton’s food and beverage operations. Boka has two restaurants in the hotel, Chris Pandel’s Cira on the first floor and Stephanie Izard’s Cabra on the rooftop, with a basement bar, Lazy Bird.

    Cookies, cakes, pies, and truffles are some of Milk Bar’s offerings.
    Milk Bar

    Milk Bar

    Milk Bar’s soft-serve ice cream is also available.
    Milk Bar

    The Milk Bar menu will include cookies in flavors like cornflake chocolate chip marshmallow, confetti, and blueberry and cream. Look for cake truffles, and whole cakes and pies also available in slices. Soft-serve ice cream, like the popular cereal milk, milkshakes, and Milk Bar breads are also planned.

    Founded in 2008, the chain counts 12 locations in Boston, LA, Las Vegas, New York, and Washington, D.C. Tosi is from Cleveland, and Chicago marks Milk Bar’s first shop in the Midwest. They’ve opened in hotels before including at the Ace in New York.

    Milk Bar will also pander to locals; the release teases a Chicago-style hot dog iteration of their stuffed bagel specialty, called a Bagel Bomb. There’s also an upcoming cookie collaboration with a mysterious Chicago institution.

    Boka and Tosi make for a powerful duo, one capable of opening opportunities not available to most. Chicago has no shortage of bakeries. Good Ambler, the bakery cafe run by the owners of Thalia Hall, is a few doors north of the Hoxton. Another national favorite, Levain — a New York-based chain known for its chunky cookies — debuted in Chicago in 2022 around the corner on Randolph Restaurant Row. Meanwhile, the space that once housed another bakery, Sugargoat, the sweet emporium from Boka partner Izard, remains vacant. At the Hoxton, Milk Bar will take advantage of hotel guests, which might limit competition and the surrounding impact. Milk Bar will also team with third-party delivery services.

    The expansion is reminiscent of another national brand, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams — which has a nearby location on Randolph. Like Tosi, Jeni Britton Bauer is from Ohio (Columbus). Both Jeni’s and Milk Bar routinely draw long lines outside their stores. The two are also James Beard Award winners. Tosi has a pair of medallions, winning Rising Chef of The Year in 2012 and Oustanding Pastry Chef in 2015 while working for Momofuku in New York.

    Milk Bar at the Hoxton, 200 N. Green Street, planned for a winter opening.

    Ashok Selvam

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  • Wicker Park Bar Machine Faces Eviction After July Closure

    Wicker Park Bar Machine Faces Eviction After July Closure

    The owners of Machine, a Wicker Park cocktail bar and lounge, are facing an eviction lawsuit. Their landlords filed the lawsuit on July 29, claiming the bar’s owners owe $31,584. The next court date is October 25, according to Cook County records.

    Machine’s owners, Chireal Jordan and Brian Galati, confirm via a spokesperson that they permanently closed the bar in July and they failed to negotiate a lease. Online listings only show a temporary closure.

    The bar struggled in recent months to attract customers and cut hours. Jordan and Galati are also behind Headquarters Beercade. In June, they opened another cocktail bar, Dearly Beloved, in Pilsen. The rep says the two want to soon open Machine in a different space and hope to settle their eviction dispute with their landlord, Newcastle Retail Management.

    Dearly Beloved shares similarities with Machine, which opened in March 2019 at 1846 W. Division Street. While Division Steet isn’t really Chicago’s longest street (sorry, Mr. Terkel), the stretch around Wicker Park does come with complications for restaurant owners — and that was even before 2020 and COVID’s spread. Before Machine’s debut, Jordan and Galati described their upcoming project as a cocktail restaurant. It had gimmicks — interactive elements like a tiny hammer used to break caramelized sugar lids covering cocktails. A burger came topped with foie gras and that angered animal activists. The bar also had a floral display cooler that was regularly stocked. Customers could buy fresh flowers to impress dates and parents or make themselves happy.

    However, after the politicians closed bars and dining rooms during the pandemic, Division Street launched into another phase. Wicker Park was once a hub for nightlife with customers routinely crawling through multiple taverns on a weekend night. In the ‘90s, it was more of a hipster vibe, with art and music leading the way. That environment quickly dissipated when sports bars, like the Fifty/50, set up shop in the ‘00s. The co-owner of Club Foot, a Ukrainian Village bar that closed in 2014 and was filled with pop-culture trinkets catering to customers who didn’t care for pop music and football, dubbed the sports bars popping up and threatening her business as “bro-holes.”

    But the neighborhood has yet again shifted with more families in the neighborhood — just check out the “stroller parking” sign at Parlor Pizza. Throw in economic challenges including rising labor and food costs, and restaurant owners don’t know which way to pivot. There have been more recent closures along the strip: Fifty/50 and Whadda Jerk are shuttered just west of Damen Avenue. The owners of Takito Kitchen, which has been on Division for more than a decade, have repeatedly warned that they’re close to closing, begging customers on social media to return to help business.

    Machine enjoyed a five-year run along Division Street, inside a space whose past lives included Taus Authentic and Prasino. The space now joins a list of growing vacancies between Ashland and Western.

    Ashok Selvam

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  • Third Spaces: The Building Blocks of A Healthy Community and Social Life

    Third Spaces: The Building Blocks of A Healthy Community and Social Life

    Third spaces are public, informal gathering spots — like cafes, parks, or community centers — where people can relax, socialize, and build connections outside of home and work. In a world increasingly dominated by digital interactions, these spaces play a vital role in fostering community and countering loneliness.

    “Third spaces” refer to social environments that are separate from the two primary places where people spend most of their time: home (the first space) and work (the second space). These third spaces are informal, public gathering spots where people can socialize, relax, and build a sense of community.

    Sociologist Ray Oldenburg first introduced the concept in his book The Great Good Place. He argued that third spaces are crucial for fostering social cohesion, civic engagement, and a sense of belonging. They serve as “neutral grounds” where people can engage in casual conversations and form social connections that they might not in other settings. Places like main streets, libraries, cafes, pubs, and community centers are essential to a functional society and can provide avenues for grassroots activism, community involvement, charity and volunteer work, and social support.

    One of the most important features of “third spaces” is that they involve interacting with people outside of our typical social circle of family, friends, and coworkers. They introduce the possibility of new connections and new relationships. Other important qualities include easy accessibility, low cost, and an inviting atmosphere that encourages mingling and conversation.

    As modern life has shifted more towards digital interaction, the role of physical third spaces has become a topic of renewed interest among psychologists and social scientists, especially in discussions about loneliness and community fragmentation. People are spending less time in third spaces than ever before; and with remote work becoming more common, many people don’t have much of a life outside of home anymore.

    This general tendency has led to an increase in atomization, where individuals feel less and less connected to their local communities and society at large. This has far reaching consequences on health and well-being, as well as social trust, cooperation, and group cohesion.

    Third spaces play an integral role when it comes to happiness and well-being on both an individual and social level. Let’s mention a few common examples and then explore more on what makes these spaces so important to a healthy social life.

    Common examples of third spaces include:

    • Main streets and public squares
    • Cafes and coffee shops
    • Public libraries
    • Parks, nature preserves, beaches
    • Bars or pubs
    • Community centers
    • Bookstores
    • Churches and religious organizations
    • Local food markets
    • Music venues or dance clubs
    • Local sports leagues (bowling, basketball, baseball, etc.)
    • Shopping malls
    • Co-working spaces

    Can you think of any other examples? What are some neutral places where various people can go to meet new people?

    Ray Oldenburg argues that the increase of suburbanization and a “car-centric” society has decreased the use of third spaces and is one major cause behind our more atomized and individualistic world. Many adults living in suburbs have a long commute and a busy work schedule, so they rarely have time to spend outside of home or work. They live and sleep in their suburban homes, but they aren’t involved in their local communities in any meaningful way.

    Modern living creates a fundamental disconnect between home, work, and community, which can lead to feelings of alienation and loneliness. Third spaces can be a social glue that ties these different aspects of our lives together into a meaningful whole.

    As someone who grew up in Levittown, New York – one of the first mass-produced suburbs – I can relate to the feelings of atomization and not having many third spaces to hang out with friends during my childhood. The most frequent spots were typically shopping malls, bowling alleys, or parking lots, but there weren’t many other “public square”-type places where everyone could go on a weekend night. This made it difficult to build social connections or a sense of community outside of school.

    In Robert Putnam’s classic book Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of the American Community, he documents the downfall of community feeling and social cohesion since the 1960s. Key factors behind this decline include changes in mobility and sprawl, family structure and time schedules, as well as technology and mass media. The rise of home entertainment including TVs, internet, and video games has made people less motivated to go to physical third spaces for leisure, socializing, or relaxation.

    There are many factors that have led to the decline in community and the use of third spaces. It’s tempting to want to blame only one thing, but the problems we face in today’s world are complicated and multifaceted. There’s no quick or easy fix for improving the use of third spaces, but we can be more aware of the role they play in our daily lives.

    Are Buses and Trains Third Spaces?

    Public transportation such as buses and trains share some qualities with “third spaces,” such as being neutral ground that anyone in the community can access, a shared experience of commuting together, and the possibility of social connection with locals and strangers. However, these places are typically not seen as “third spaces” because their primary function is transportation and not social connection. The average person on commutes tends to withdraw and mind their own business, so these spaces aren’t very conducive to new conversation or forming new friendships (although it’s definitely possible).

    Building Social Capital and Weak Ties

    When you frequent any third space (such as a cafe, bar, church, or library), you naturally start to see familiar faces and build light social connections there.

    This is what sociologists refer to as social capital, which is just an economic-centric term for relationships that we value, trust, and provide social support.

    Third spaces help form casual relationships (or “weak ties”) that can lead to huge benefits. One common example is learning about a new job opportunity or a possible romantic interest through an acquaintance or friend of a friend.

    Social capital can manifest itself in many small and hidden ways too.

    When I lived in Brooklyn, I would go to the same bodega every morning for my coffee and breakfast sandwich. There were a couple times I was in a rush and forgot my wallet, but since the store owner knew me well and recognized me, he trusted me enough to let me pay next time. That may seem like a trivial thing, but it’s something that can only be accomplished with a minimal level of trust or social capital. If I were a completely random stranger I wouldn’t get that benefit.

    Through third spaces, you begin to run into the same people, build a sense of familiarity and comfort, and start connecting with them on a level beyond random stranger, even just the act of seeing a familiar face and saying “Hi” can give a nice boost to your day (learn the power of “10 second” relationships).

    Find a Healthy Dose of Third Spaces

    No matter how introverted or extraverted you are, everyone needs a healthy dose of social interaction. Third spaces provide opportunities to meet new people, connect with a broader community, and expand our social circle. Often just finding one third space where you feel comfortable and connect with like-minded people can make a big difference in the quality of your social life. Find a third space that works best for you and make it a part of your daily, weekly, or monthly routine.


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    Steven Handel

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  • Funny bar chalkboard signs that keep the people stumblin’ in (30 Photos)

    Funny bar chalkboard signs that keep the people stumblin’ in (30 Photos)

    Camry

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  • D.A. Gascón to announce charges Monday in killing of actor Johnny Wactor

    D.A. Gascón to announce charges Monday in killing of actor Johnny Wactor

    Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascón will announce criminal charges Monday in the slaying of “General Hospital” actor Johnny Wactor, who was killed in May by men suspected of trying to steal the catalytic converter from his car.

    Los Angeles Police Department Interim Chief Dominic Choi will also be on hand at the press conference scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Hall of Justice downtown, according to a news release from the L.A. County district attorney’s office issued Sunday.

    Four men were arrested in connection to the killing, LAPD announced last week. Law enforcement sources told The Times the investigation had focused on Florencia 13 gang members tied to catalytic converter thefts in the region.

    After reviewing videos and interviewing witnesses, LAPD homicide detectives identified three men, one with distinctive facial tattoos, who they say jacked up Wactor’s car on Hope Street near Pico Boulevard in order to steal its catalytic converter on the morning of May 25. Wactor was shot when he confronted the men.

    Robert Barceleau, Leonel Gutierrez and Sergio Estrada were booked on suspicion of murder Thursday and held in lieu of $2-million bail, according to L.A. County Sheriff’s Department records. An additional person, Frank Olano, 22, was arrested on suspicion of being an accessory to murder.

    Wactor had just finished a late night bartending shift at the nearby Level 8 bar about 3:20 a.m when he and co-worker Anita Joy were walking to his car and interrupted the thieves.

    Wactor first thought his car was being towed, Joy said. After realizing that wasn’t the case, he asked the men to leave, showing his open hands to indicate he wasn’t a threat. Nevertheless, he was shot at close range, Joy said. A security guard from the bar said he found Joy and the mortally wounded Wactor and called 911.

    After the shooting, the suspects fled north on Hope Street in a stolen getaway car described as a 2018 black four-door Infiniti Q50 with a tan interior, police said.

    Thieves target catalytic converters because they contain precious metals, including rhodium, palladium and platinum. They can sell for hundreds of dollars to auto parts suppliers or scrapyards, where they can be melted down and the valuable metals extracted.

    Thefts of catalytic converters skyrocketed in California during the COVID-19 pandemic. That prompted new state laws that make it illegal for recyclers to buy the parts from anyone other than the vehicle’s legal owner or a licensed dealer. Penalties were increased for buyers who fail to certify that a catalytic converter wasn’t stolen.

    Ben Poston

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