Monday, August 6, 2012

Greenbar Collective Tour & Tasting > August 23 > CleanTech Corridor


Since 2004 Greenbar Collective, the L.A.-based maker of organic, artisanal spirits, has been infusing and distilling their concoctions like TRU Lemon Vodka and FruitLab Jasmine Liqueur from citrus and herbs sourced from local farmers. But recently, Greenbar has managed to make their business even more L.A.-centric: Earlier this year, Greenbar relocated from their Monrovia headquarters to a new, 14,000-square-foot facility downtown—making them the city of L.A.'s first distillery since Prohibition.


Besides reviving a traditional craft, Greenbar's also a leader in cutting-edge sustainable business: They're the first resident of the CleanTech Corridor, a new district created by the city to entice high-tech and green entrepreneurs. Working closely with architects at Archithetics, Greenbar has transformed a former paint company warehouse into their gleaming new spirits-producing factory and a beautiful new headquarters for the company, with colorful, thoughtful design that epitomizes their all-natural, responsible ethos.


After a tour of the space with husband-and-wife founders Melkon Khosrovian and Litty Mathew and architect Sanjiv Bajaj, we'll retire to the R&D bar on the second floor for a preview of Greenbar's new BAR KEEP bitters (in Fennel and Chinese Five-Spice flavors!) and a sampling of their other organic spirits—all proudly made a few feet from your bar stool.


Thursday, August 23
6:00 p.m. Meet at Greenbar Collective, 2358 E. 8th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021
6:30 p.m. Tour of the space with Greenbar founders and architect Sanjiv Bajaj
7:30 p.m. Tastings, including new BAR KEEP bitters
9:00 p.m. Event ends

Tickets are $15 and include cocktails and light snacks during the tasting.

Buy tickets here

Space is limited to 40 attendees and no tickets will be sold at the door. Absolutely no one under the age of 21 will be admitted. Also, please note that the tour and tasting is not accessible for wheelchairs. We apologize for the inconvenience.



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East Cahuenga Alley Tour > August 14 > Hollywood



We admit it: Alleys aren't normally places that we go out of our ways to visit. Yet one of the most exciting public space projects to hit L.A. is an alley in Hollywood that's been transformed into a vibrant place for eating, drinking and strolling. The first alley conversion in the city of L.A., East Cahuenga Alley (or EaCa Alley) was completed earlier this year, thanks to $800,000 and the hard work of the (now-dissolved) CRA, LADOT engineers, Eric Garcetti's office, the Hollywood Improvement District and several local business owners. Plus, it's part of a larger concept for a Walkable Alley network, soon to be found throughout Hollywood.


We'll get a tour of this triumphant new thoroughfare from two of the people who made it happen: Sarah MacPherson, director of the Hollywood Property Owners Alliance, and Johnny Arakaki, managing partner of the Libertine Group, which owns the restaurant that anchors the alley on Selma, Saint Felix. After a tour of the alley, a summary of the improvements, and a preview of some of the just-announced changes which are coming to the space, we'll head back to Saint Felix to enjoy buy-your-own drinks and snacks from the excellent happy hour menu, and watch the alley come alive at night.

Tuesday, August 14
6:30 p.m. Meet at Saint Felix, 1602 Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028
7:00 p.m. Tour with Sarah MacPherson and Johnny Arakaki
8:00 p.m. Buy your own drinks and snacks at Saint Felix

RSVP here

And just to show what an incredible transformation took place, look what EaCa Alley looked like before!

Photo courtesy Hollywood Improvement District

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