The List
Hump This
426 N Fairfax, Mid-Wilshire; 323.782.8331
This new cafe in the old Nova Express spot is sparsely decorated with historical photos and small cartoons, with food and drink coming from some of LA's best: Craftsman beers, sandwiches from the ex-Rustic Canyon head chef (a burger w/ Fiscalini Farmstead cheddar & brown sugar-glazed bacon; muffalata w/ salami, soft cheese, and housemade spread), funky ice cream from Koreatown's Scoops (Brown Bread, Strawberry Balsamic), and dogs and sausages (including spicy lamb and brats) from Culver City's Let's Be Frank, which, let's be frank, is about the wurst pun ever.
Get all drooly on the menu
At Ivan Kane's Cafe Wa s: 1521 N Vine St, Hollywood; 323.466.5400
Find recession relief amidst Wa s's New Orleans mansion interior, with half-off 375ml flasks of booze (Smirnoff, SoCo, Jack, Wild Turkey 100, Tanq...) and an uncharacteristically reasonable $10 meal: a grilled cheese oozing French Comte, sharp white cheddar, and Emmenthal on brioche, w/ herbes de Provence-seasoned fries, all served in a brown paper bag -- helping shield you from yet another public inlunchication arrest.
The full menu and more's at CafeWas.com
Today-Apr 4 at Todd Browning Gallery: 211 W 5th St, Downtown; 213.623.1176
Grab free wine & beer on Wed/Thurs while ogling massive 'nado photos shot by a legendary late stormtracker, like a massive funnel barreling down a road between a cameraman and his TV van, one zeroing in on an otherwise serene plantation home, and a twister appearing to ride atop a rainbow...sorry Dorothy, you're effed again.
Feel like Bill Pullman (or was it Paxton?) at ToddBrowning.com
1700 Silver Lake Blvd, Silverlake; 323.662.8655
This new bistro from the woman behind AOC and Grace boasts a slew of "featured dishes" (like a 14oz ribeye) served with your choice of "setups", from roasted garlic potato gratin w/ beluga lentil hash, to parmesan polenta w/ balsamic roasted cipollini onions, as well as creative pizzas (chorizo & quince with asiago), and a lasagna w/ braised artichokes and slow-roasted pork served "open-faced", meaning either the pasta's below the sauce, or you're going to feel awfully guilty looking into that delicious pig's eyes as you devour him.
All the menus are at SilverlakeReservoir.com
8364 W 3rd St, Mid-Wilshire; 323.653.1888
Through the end of the month, get 20-60% off tees from TheCast (emboldened with macabre turn-of-the-century imagery like a B&W of a naked woman reclining on a pedestal while wearing a skull mask), blazers from Duckie Brown, and jeans from Paper Denim, whose quality of work is approached only by such luminary brands as Looseleaf Loafers and Saran Wrap Shirt.
