CARISSA MARSH
A&E Editor
Editor’s Note: This is the third of a seven-part series featuring fun, out-of-the-ordinary activities to do each day of the week. It is the perfect guide for those who find themselves searching for new ways to spend their nights.
Affectionately called the “hump day,” Wednesdays hold the precarious position of the middle of the week. It’s a hump because it is something to get over, and once a person does, he or she has successfully made it to the downhill part of the week, moving quickly toward the weekend.
Pepperdine higher-ups must be aware of this fact because, for most students, Convo is one of the only things Waves have to get over. With a class-free day, there is no reason not to get out and explore the following offerings that smooth out the hump.
The Rhythm Club at Elk’s Lodge
8025 W. Manchester Ave., Playa Del Rey
rustyfrank.com/rhythmclub.asp
Every Wednesday night, from 8 to 11:30 p.m., the lodge converts into a jazz-age swing club that is open to all ages and dance levels. Professional tap dancer Lindy Hopper and dance historian Rusty Frank host the night, helping dancers get into the swing of things. The lodge, located near LAX and Marina Del Rey, provides a fun and friendly atmosphere for both beginning and experienced dancers to show their stuff. The 2,800 square-foot wooden floor gives jitterbugs plenty of room to cut a rug while listening to either a live band or DJ.
If visitors want to learn to move like a pro, the lodge features swing lessons for beginners the first Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. The rockin’ good time only costs $8 when the DJ is spinning tunes, and $12 to $15 when live bands perform.
Club Moscow at Boardner’s
1652 N. Cherokee Ave., Los Angeles
boardners.com
This little club located in the heart of Hollywood has been in business since 1942, but don’t let a little dust on the walls keep you away. Club Moscow is Boardner’s cool, middle-of-the-week hangout, where the 18 and over set can step inside the legendary bar that is usually off-limits for those under 21. Club Moscow features indie pop, electro tunes and 80s punk all spun by DJs. The night, sponsored by the promoters of Club 82 at Echo, has also been known to feature live bands.
According to Boardner’s Web site, the club features a low lit social room with a big screen TV, a large dance floor and an upstairs lounge. When it gets a bit stuffy, guests can move outside onto the New Orleans-style patio and get a bite to eat from the restaurant’s late-night noshing menu. For those who like to get an early start on their night, half-priced appetizers are served during happy hour, which takes place weekdays from 4 to 8 p.m.
Cover for Club Moscow costs $10 for those 18 to 20 years of age, while seniority rules allowing legal guests (21 and over) to get in free.
Doughnut Shoppe Night at Grace
7360 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles
gracerestaurant.com
Krispy Kreme has nothing on Grace. On Wednesday nights, this chic bistro switches out its usual dessert menu for an exclusive menu of elaborate doughnuts that go far beyond the average glazed
concoction.
No longer just a breakfast treat, Pastry Chef Robert Tarlow elevates doughnuts to gourmet dessert status. Patrons can choose from a sophisticated selection of the ringed-treats, which are paired with housemade ice cream, farmers’ market fruits and other scrumptious sides. Dessert choices include chocolate hazelnut beignets with bananas Foster, brown sugar doughnuts accompanied by blackberry preserves, beurre noissette and a fresh berry salad, and the original jelly doughnut with strawberry rhubarb jam with a side of buttermilk-strawberry ice cream. There’s also “The Elvis,” a peanut butter and banana filled doughnut rolled in pig, or bacon, candy. The popular special often frequents the Wednesday menu.
To complete the sweet experience, guests can order milkshakes, spiced hot chocolate or a cold glass of milk. The doughnut varieties change weekly and are made with fresh ingredients.
Each dessert features three doughnuts and costs $9, except for the “Doughnut Shoppe” dessert, which includes a sampling of the four most popular doughnuts, ice cream and fresh berries for $11.
Grace is open for dinner Tuesday through Thursday from 5:30 to 11 p.m. The restaurant stays open later on Friday and Saturday, closing at midnight, but shuts down early on Sundays at 10 p.m. To get a bite of Tarlow’s tasty treats, it is best to make a reservation by calling (323) 934-4400.
Tickle Me Wednesdays at O-Bar
8279 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood
obarrestaurant.com
This upscale restaurant can pinch a student’s bank account, but on Wednesday night, O-Bar’s prix fix dinners offer budget-conscious diners a full, three-course gourmet meal and glass of
champagne for less than $25.
The restaurant itself is a sight to be seen, with warm wooden furniture, a “forbidden” garden, touches of sparkling white light, and blue and white drapes that cascade from the high ceiling to surround the large booths. There is also a front patio for those who like to people-watch, as Santa Monica Boulevard has excellent
foot-traffic.
Executive Chef Scott Hawley’s menu features a mix of fancy entrees and familiar comfort food so there is something for everyone. And despite classy interior, O-Bar has a playfulness that is easy to spot even in the names of dishes such as (Don’t Break My) Heart of Romaine Salad; Duck, Duck (No Goose) Confit and Chicory Salad; “Nice Mussels” … and Fries; Squeeze Me Salmon, or Granny’s Porcupine Meatballs and Mashed Potatoes. Desserts also get in on the fun with Pleasing Pumpkin Flan or Gingersnap Cheesecake.
O-Bar is open everyday at 6 p.m. and closes on Wednesdays at 1 a.m. Reservations are encouraged, and can be made by calling (323) 822-3300.
Chili Wednesdays at Saddle Peak Lodge
419 Cold Canyon Rd., Calabasas
saddlepeaklodge.com
This is the perfect event for people who absolutely love chili, as well as those who are willing to give it a shot. Located only a few miles away from campus, Saddle Peak Lodge has dedicated Wednesday nights to “kick your taste buds chili,” as the restaurant’s Web site likes to call it. Every week, Chef Mark Murillo makes game chili three ways: as an appetizer ($11), as a main course ($26) or as part of a three-course meal with an iceberg wedge salad and raspberry cheesecake ($39).
“Game” refers to wild animals, including birds and fish, that are hunted for food or sport. So game chili is sure to be meaty.
This chili has not been put up on a pedestal for no reason — it works hard to taste so good. According to the lodge, the chili is cooked slowly for 10 hours, rests for a full day and then simmers for another four hours before it makes it to a patron’s plate. For newbies, the appetizer is the best bet to just get a sampling before diving head-first into chili heaven. The three-course dinner is for die-hard fans. The iceberg lettuce and crumbled blue cheese dressing is a cool compliment to the hot chili and the raspberry cheesecake ends things on a sweet note.
Craig Robinson Band at The Ice House
24 Mentor Ave., Pasadena
icehousecomedy.com
Established in 1960, this stand-up comedy house has the title of being the oldest comedy club to continuously feature stand-up comedians in the nation. In other words, it has been making folks tee-hee and ha-ha for decades and surely knows a thing or two about funny. With a list of alumni including Steve Martin, Robin Williams, Jay Leno and David Letterman, it is the place to go for a night of laughs.
Wednesday evenings are home to The Craig Robinson Band, which brings together upbeat music and comedy for a night of unforgettable entertainment. Stand-up comedian Craig Robinson, who is best known for his recurring role as Darryl on NBC’s “The Office,” has been a comic for most of his adult life and has fronted The Craig Robinson Band for a year. According to the venue’s Web site, Robinson plays familiar pop songs while often making up his own lyrics and encouraging the crowd to get involved by singing along and dancing.
The club is open to comedy-seekers 18 and older. For early birds, the weekly show costs a mere $5 before 8 p.m. After 8 p.m. the cost is a still low $10. Big fans who wear any Ice House t-shirt to the show can get in free as part of the club’s “Wear it Wednesdays” promotion.
The Web site encourages early arrival as well as reservations by calling (626) 577-1894.
02-08-2007