Stories

Mar Yvette’s personal essays, reviews, interviews, and latest articles.

Chicos Angels & Mar Yvette

Happy New Jeer! Chico’s Angels

Stories 4 Jan 2012
Who says being a drag is no fun? LA's saucy south-of-the-border drag queen trio, Chico's Angels, want to add a little spice to your New Year with their latest show at the Cavern Club Theater in Silver Lake. In “Chico’s Angels 2: Love Boat Chicas,” the muscular muchachas find their shiny high-heels in deep water aboard the Love Boat as they try to find out who wants to kill coochie-coochie-coo superstar Charo.
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Casa Del Mar's HydraFacial

Spa Deal: HydraFacial by the Beach

Stories 15 Dec 2011
In a holidaze? Need to treat yourself to a little pampering? Well, I'll let you in on a little secret. The Sea Wellness Spa at Hotel Casa Del Mar is offering a special deal on their latest treatment called the HydraFacial, now until January 17. It's a totally easy, breezy facial that promises to leave your skin glowing with no signs of redness or the usual post-facial spots. PS: If you book now, there's a free gift involved. And it's a really, really good one.
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Osteria speck pizza

Christmas Day Pizza Party!

Stories 13 Dec 2011
Hey, home slice. Feel like some pizza on Christmas Day? Well, then. Your holiday plans have just been made. Osteria La Buca, that loft-like neighborhood kitchen on Melrose that turns out delicious Italian eats, is ready to bring you glad tidings with their first Christmas Day Pizza Party. At 5pm on Sunday, December 25, Osteria La Buca will fire up the ovens and whip up all manner of pie along with plenty of wine, beer and cocktails. It's time to eat, drink and be merry.
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Birdman - Photo by Marleta Laatz

Q&A: Street Art with Birdman

Stories 8 Dec 2011
Graffiti, sculpture, stencils, stickers, wheat pasting, installations, posters, murals. Call it vandalism or call it urban commentary, but street art is here to stay. Documenting this ever-evolving scene for the past several years, Birdman (Bryan Mier) is one of street art's most esteemed photographers who has done everything from climbing walls at 2 o'clock in the morning to watching his back (literally) in order to get the right shot. And now the photographer is stepping in front of the camera to share "Wish You Were Here," his first solo exhibition at Novel Cafe in Downtown LA. I recently caught up with him to talk shop and find out what it's like to break the law for the sake of art.
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Taberna's cochinita pibil - Photo by Mar Yvette

Hot New Pick: Taberna Mexicana

Stories 2 Dec 2011
When I first heard that there was a new Mexican restaurant in Beverly Hills, immediately I imagined it to be an overpriced, watered down experience. Well, after sitting down for dinner at Taberna Mexicana I now know that this place not only turns out flavorful Mexican food punctuated with pleasant surprises, but it is also affordable, especially when you consider it's smack dab in the middle of the 90210. (And FYI, the daily $4 happy hour is the best deal in town.) I'm already planning my next visit.
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For better or wirst: Wirsthaus

Food, Brews, Jewels & Tattoos

Stories 1 Dec 2011
Want some ink with that drink? Wirsthaus, LA's latest German restaurant and beer garden, is hosting its 1st Annual Holiday Market on Sunday, December 11 and everyone's invited. Not only will there be sizzling sausages, schnitzels and hot spiced wine, but Wirsthaus is setting up shop with an entire area devoted to local vendors who'll be selling jewelry, clothes and other little knick knacks. There's also going to be chair massages and yes, even a tattoo artist for those who really want to mark the occasion ... for better or for wirst. (Sorry, just couldn't resist.)
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Rosenthal wine - Photo by Mar Yvette

Sunday Magic & Wine in Malibu

Stories 18 Nov 2011
Psssst ... I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. It's something I didn't even know about until recently, and the crazy thing is that it's been going on for a few years now. And it's fantastic. (And I'm not just saying that because Johnny Depp and a bunch of other famous people have pretty much said the same thing.) Three words: Wine, food, magic. What more could you want?
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Deck the hals: Mar Yvette & a few gay Santas

“Santa” Monica Pub Crawl

Stories 17 Nov 2011
Deck the crawl with lots of drinking ... fa la la la la, you know the rest. If you're one of the many who likes to toast the holidays with a cup (or two) of cheer, then the 3rd Annual SANTA Monica Pub Crawl is where you'll want to be on Saturday, December 17. Fast becoming a Westside tradition, the all-night party is your chance to get out, drink up and chow down at more than 20 restaurants and bars all while playing Santa and raising some much-needed funds for the Westside Food Bank.
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Photo courtesy of Unique LA

Shop Local @ Unique LA

Stories 16 Nov 2011
Never mind Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It's all about conscious consumerism at the Unique LA Holiday 2011 shopping and socializing spectacular going on all weekend long at the California Market Center in Downtown LA. The largest "Made in America" indie shopping event in the country, Unique LA is a one-stop shop for curated design, fashion and art with 325+ vendors selling everything from incredible hats and wood ties to soaps, stationary, kids clothes, home decor, jewelry, pet stuff and just about anything else you never imagined. It's like Etsy come to life.
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Beer Belly's Lucky Charms pancake with Fruity Pebbles whipped cream

One-Cent Brews for Canned Food

Stories 14 Nov 2011
Want to indulge your love of beer and spread some holiday cheer all at the same time? Then get ready to give thanks, do good and drink up. Beer Belly, the much ballyhooed bar in K-town, has committed to collecting more than 400 pounds of food for the LA Food Bank by November 27th and in order to meet this goal, they're asking you to bring in any canned food and in exchange they'll hand you a delicious craft beer for one penny.
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Komida tacos

Komida’s 12 Tacos of Christmas

Stories 12 Nov 2011
On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me ... a taco with roasted turkey?? That's right, baby. Forget the partridge and a pear tree. Just-opened Komida restaurant is kicking off the “12 Tacos Of Christmas” on Thursday, December 8 and will continue the tasty ode every week until Friday, December 23. If you've ever wanted a green bean casserole rolled up in a tortilla or secretly wondered what a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer taco might taste like, consider your foodie wishlist fulfilled.
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Churchill's mushroom pizza - Photo by Mar Yvette

Hot New Pick: The Churchill

Stories 8 Nov 2011
Another gastropub? I know, I thought the same thing, too. But the same thing the Churchill is not. This new gastropub on Third Street is named after Sir Winston himself and it could do a good job making you as rotund as the old guy. Not because the food is fattening. It’s because the food is so good that you’re gonna keep eating and eating until you feel like you have to be trundled out rolly-polly style like Violet from “Charlie & the Chocolate Factory.” (Which I’ve secretly always kinda wanted to do.)
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Scarlet Stone - Photo by Jim Carmody

Red Hot: Scarlet Stone Hits LA

Stories 8 Nov 2011
Looking for some stimulating entertainment? Something that won't dumb you down yet will still hold your attention? A multisensory experience that is beautiful on the surface yet has an intensely deep message? Then you might want to check out Scarlet Stone, a new production that brings an ancient tale to life with a modern mix of music, dance and animation. Scarlet Stone has been in production since the 2009 uprising in Iran and will now be at UCLA's Freud Playhouse on December 10 and December 11. It's politics as poetry. Who knew?
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High Kicks @ Skybar

Hump Day: High Kicks @ Skybar

Stories 5 Nov 2011
Is your Hump Day feeling dry and boring lately? Well, then. Skybar at the Mondrian has just the antidote to add a little splash to your mid-week slump. Consider this your invitation to get your kicks every Wednesday night at the famed poolside rooftop bar. High Kicks is a weekly art and music series showcasing live street-art installations from LAB Art gallery as well as Semi Precious Weapons glam-rocker Justin Tranter on the turn tables.
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Photo courtesy of Licorice Flix

Sweet Art: Licorice Flix Opens

Stories 4 Nov 2011
If you've got a craving for incredible edible art, look no further than the latest exhibit at the iam8bit Gallery in Echo Park. Created by mosaic portrait artist Jason Mecier, "Licorice Flix" is a collection of large-scale portraits made with everyone's favorite movie theatre snack, Red Vines. Consider it your chance to recreate that wallpaper-licking scene from "Charlie & the Chocolate Factory." Only this time Dexter and Harry Potter are on the menu.
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