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LA Heartbreak: “Goodbye Pies” for Valentine’s Day with Pizza Hut delivering Spicy News in a Sweet Way

By Kelsey Ridley — 7 months ago

LA Heartbreak: “Goodbye Pies” for Valentine’s Day with Pizza Hut delivering Spicy News in a Sweet Way

Pizza Hut announces a new Valentine’s Day offering, “Goodbye Pies” with the launch of its new sweet yet spicy Hot Honey pizza.

There’s a misconception that breakups don’t happen around Valentine’s Day, but research shows it’s actually a holiday centered around the most heartbreak with 45% of people agreeing it’s better to do the deed right before the holiday itself*.

There’s even a phenomenon called ‘Red Tuesday’, which is the Tuesday before Valentine’s Day, where people break up most often in the year.**

That’s why starting this Red Tuesday, February 6, through Valentine’s Day, Pizza Hut is launching new, limited-edition Hot Honey “Goodbye Pies” to help deliver spicy news in a sweet way for FREE.

By sending a Goodbye Pie, Pizza Hut will help you break up with your significant other by delivering a personalized, simple message on custom packaging with a sweet and spicy Hot Honey pizza to ease the pain.

The custom Goodbye Pie pizza boxes also leave a space on the top for the break-upper’s name to be added.

To submit for a chance to send a free Goodbye Pie, simply visit GoodbyePies.com starting February 6 to ditch that awkward break-up convo and send a pizza instead.

This offer will be available through February 14 at select locations in the three major U.S. cities notorious for heartbreaks – NYC, Chicago and Miami, while supplies last. Not available in your city?

The website above can also be used to request Pizza Hut instead write a breakup text for you to send, along with a link to a gift card for your future-ex to redeem a free Hot Honey pizza. Limited quantities only available during this limited time.***

“The rising popularity of the sweet-heat flavor profile has led to Hot Honey becoming the most requested test item by our team members and we are thrilled to have it as the newest addition to our menu,” shared Lindsay Morgan, Chief Marketing Officer at Pizza Hut.

“With the launch of Goodbye Pies, we are bringing that perfect blend of sweet and heat experience to real life, delivering spicy news in the sweetest way for Valentine’s Day.”

Pizza Hut’s Hot Honey Pizza and Wings can be found nationwide at participating Pizza Hut locations starting at $11.99 for a medium pizza and $5.99 for 6 count boneless wings. Pricing and participation may vary.

Hot Honey Pizza: Featuring a pizza crust topped with marinara sauce, a generous layer of cheese, classic pepperoni, a hot honey drizzle made with real honey infused with chili peppers and crispy cupped pepperoni, balancing the honey’s sweet heat with the savory-salty taste of the pepperoni. The crisp pepperoni cups are ideally shaped to hold the hot honey drizzle.
Hot Honey Wings: Available in both bone-in and boneless versions, these wings are coated in Hot Honey and double-dipped in sensational sweet heat flavors.

This new Hot Honey innovation will be spotlighted in a new Pizza Hut campaign, titled “Pizza wHut!?” which will roll out nationally in February bringing to life Pizza Hut’s commitment to flavor innovation as the brand continues to reinvent and perfect everyone’s favorites with new and craveable flavors.

Visit PizzaHut.com for more information.

*According to YouGov.com poll.
**Described on The-Sun.com.

*** AVAILABLE FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED, WHILE SUPPLIES LAST EACH DAY. QUANTITIES ARE LIMITED. Open to legal US residents physically residing in the 50 U.S. and D.C who are 18+ years of age. Offer Recipients must live in select zip codes in New York City, Chicago or Miami. Ends at 11:59:59 pm CT on 2/14/24, or when all available Incentives are claimed (whichever comes first). A minimum of 10 Goodbye Pie Incentives and 50 Breakup Text Offers are available each Incentive and Offer Period per Market. Limit one (1) Incentive and Offer per person and per household. Other restrictions apply.

For Incentive and Offer Periods and a list of eligible Zip Codes and full Terms, visit www.goodbyepies.com/terms

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Come have a taste! Hollywood Bowl Previews their Food + Wine Menu for the 2023 Season

By Joe Winger — 1 year ago

Hollywood Bowl Food + Wine for the 2023 Season presented by Los Angeles Philharmonic Association

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association announces it’s menus for the 2023 Hollywood Bowl Food + Wine season.

Eighth year with award-winning chef Suzanne Goin and restaurateur Caroline Styne

Now into the eighth year with award-winning chef Suzanne Goin and restaurateur Caroline Styne, Hollywood Bowl Food + Wine promises exceptional dining for visitors to the iconic venue.

Goin and Styne’s culinary history has defined Los Angeles tastes since 1998 when they opened Lucques, their legendary first restaurant.

At the Hollywood Bowl, their California-inspired offerings include three restaurants and three marketplaces.

Additionally, menus for the Terrace and Garden Boxes, which can be ordered a day in advance, are created by four-time James Beard Foundation award-winner Suzanne Goin.

Vibrant Summer Dishes

Goin’s vibrant new summer dishes pair beautifully with the exceptional wine and beer programs curated by Caroline Styne, the James Beard Foundation’s 2018 Outstanding Restaurateur of the Year award recipient. Overseeing the broad range of dining options serving Hollywood Bowl Food + Wine’s thousands of nightly guests is Executive Chef Jeff Rogers.

Hollywood Bowl’s Wine Selection

This year Caroline Styne has expanded the retail wine selections in the three marketplaces, broadening the varieties and options for wine lovers visiting the Bowl.

In addition to increasing the selection of her popular canned wine offerings, she has also added a number of vegan and organic bottles, as well as a collection of natural wines from producers including Broc Cellars, Johan Vineyards, Lo-fi Wines, Angeleno Wine Company and more.

Returning for the 2023 season are the fan favorites Winemaker Wednesdays and Sunday Market Tastings – a 14-week program of complimentary wine tastings at the Plaza Marketplace with guest winemakers, importers and sommeliers hand-selected by Caroline to give the venue’s visitors an immersive and personal experience with her favorite people in the wine world.

Hollywood Bowl Food + Wine’s dining options

Hollywood Bowl Food + Wine’s many dining options include three sit-down restaurants, street-food kiosks, pre-ordered picnic boxes and a full-service dinner delivered to your box seat. For private events, Hollywood Bowl Food + Wine provides catering at several locations for groups both large and small.

Notable additions for the 2023 Hollywood Bowl Food + Wine portfolio include:

Suzanne’s Fried Chicken: This kiosk serves an all-inclusive bucket of chicken in two sizes, complete with sides of cornbread, coleslaw, house-made ranch dressing, honey and hot sauce
Bar West, with batched craft cocktails, made with soju and other wine-based liquors by A.O.C.’s head barman Ignacio Murillo
The Plaza’s new South LA Cafe, a thriving Black-owned, family-owned and community-owned and -focused company, operates daily 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and during performances
State-of-the-art customer self-checkout at Marketplace East, where guests can have their entire purchase of up to 12 items scanned at once
Food kiosks – fried chicken, tacos, pizzas/BBQ and Kitchen 22 – have ordering stations, or guests can order from the Hollywood Bowl app or posted QR code
Additions of smaller Sweet Shop and soft serve ice cream stations around the grounds to increase availability
New beer pads for grab-and-go beers with self-checkout
Comprehensive compostable food ware and greenware program used throughout all disposable food services

Highlights for the 2023 menus include:

Supper in Your Seats – Available by pre-order online until 6 p.m. the day before a performance, Supper in Your Seats offers curated three-course dinners or customized meals from à la carte selections delivered right to your box seats.

Menu Highlight: The Angeleno – summer fruit and arugula with Leonora goat cheese, jamon and candied pecans; a choice of soft polenta, wild mushrooms, Swiss chard, mascarpone and gremolata or slow-roasted salmon with farro tabbouleh, summer vegetables and cucumber yogurt; and dessert of crème fraîche cheesecake with stone fruit and blackberries.

Newly available Supper in Your Seats items for 2023 include:

chopped Greek salad: romaine, cucumber, tomato, black olives and feta
summer fruit and arugula with Leonora goat cheese, jamon and candied pecans
tortiglioni pasta with heirloom tomatoes, pancetta, parmigiano-reggiano and garlic breadcrumbs (can be prepared vegan)
diver scallops with saffron risotto, young spinach and Meyer lemon salsa
braised short ribs with shell bean ragoût, rapini and whole grain mustard

Ann’s Wine Bar by A.O.C. – Showcasing a wine list personally curated by Caroline Styne, Los Angeles’ favorite wine bar comes to life at the Hollywood Bowl with a wine-friendly menu of artisanal cheese and charcuterie, farmers plates, grilled flatbreads, market-fresh salads and A.O.C.-style fish and meats.

There are also craft brews and farmers market-driven cocktails made with soju and other wine-based liquors.

Newly available Ann’s Wine Bar by A.O.C. items for 2023 include:

grilled flatbread with summer squash, taleggio, sun-dried tomato pesto
apricots and pickled cherries with soft ricotta, jamon and coriander hazelnuts
cherry tomatoes with sweet peppers, stracciatella, basil pesto and torn croutons
quinoa dumplings with spiced tomato, sugar snaps, pea shoots and feta
cumin lamb chops with black beans, cucumber, roasted poblano, Urfa and pistachios
milk chocolate torta with rum caramel and coffee cream

the backyard – The al fresco dining area, adjacent to the amphitheater, is flanked by two large wood-burning grills and offers an updated seasonal market-driven menu of summer salads, an extensive raw bar and side dishes, in addition to the wood-grilled selection of fresh fish, seafood, organic chicken, chops and steaks.

Newly available items for the backyard in 2023 include:

hamachi tostada with avocado, cucumber, citrus and salsa macha
avocado bruschetta with cherry tomatoes, feta and piri piri
heirloom tomatoes with Jimmy Nardellos, butter beans, aloreña olives and paprika
whole sea bream with couscous, golden raisins, pistachios, kumquat and chermoula
grilled lobster with toasted cornbread, succotash salad and smoked tomato butter
chicken paillard with pecorino pudding, haricots verts, spring onions and mustard breadcrumbs

Picnic Boxes – All four of Suzanne Goin’s complete picnic boxes can be pre-ordered a day before a concert and picked up at the Plaza Marketplace or delivered to your box seats.

Menu Highlight: The Maple Drive – Grilled wagyu with arugula, cherry tomatoes and preserved lemon salsa; summer succotash salad; feta stone-fruit salad with beets, dandelion and hazelnut vinaigrette; 2 cheeses, pain aux fruits, nuts and dried fruit, fig jam; and crème fraîche cheesecake with stone fruit and blackberries

Kitchen 22 – Made-to-order beef and veggie burgers, Suzanne’s Spanish fried chicken, grilled Comté cheese on Larder sourdough and savory sandwiches anchor the Hollywood Bowl’s tribute to classic American fare.

Menu Highlight: Big and Juicy Burgers

Marketplaces – Three Marketplace locations – Plaza, East and West – specialize in “grab-and-go” salads, sandwiches, farmers’ market-driven main courses, charcuterie, cheese plates, desserts, and Magpies Softserve ice cream pies and sundaes.

Showcasing the best of Goin and Styne’s casual Larder café-marketplace, these Hollywood Bowl venues also feature a large selection of hand-picked wines, craft beers, sodas and waters, as well as salty and sweet snacks including cookies and brownies, candy, nuts and crackers.

Lucques at the Circle full-service dining experience for Pool Circle

Lucques at the Circle – This is a full-service dining experience for Pool Circle subscribers, showcasing a seasonal made-to-order menu and exceptional wine list styled from the award-winning cuisine of Lucques.

Menu Highlights:

ricotta gnocchi with chanterelles, sweet corn, spinach and sage brown butter
“three sisters” gazpacho: yellow tomato, avocado, pepitas and queso fresco
dandelion and radicchio with roasted wild plums, pecans and crumbled goat cheese
arugula and Weiser melons with cucumber, Urfa, lime and pistachios
grilled ribeye steak frites with arugula salad and smoked tomato butter
Spanish stuffed chicken, romanesco, pickled golden raisins and Marcona aioli
pistachio baklava Magpies: chocolate crust, almond pound cake and fudge

Authentic street foods and snacks

Street Food and Snacks – Authentic street foods can be found throughout the grounds of the Hollywood Bowl, including Suzanne’s fried chicken, tacos (including vegan), artisanal pizzas, pulled pork BBQ sandwiches, assorted sandwiches and beverages.

The Sweet Shop offers signature desserts, cookies and brownies, coffee and ice cream. Visitors will find L.A.’s Magpies Softserve’s ice cream pies and their mix-in ice creams, which include nondairy and vegan options.

Please visit Hollywood Bowl Food + Wine for more information about the food and wine experiences available at the Hollywood Bowl.

Hollywood Bowl has been the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since its official opening in 1922

One of the largest natural amphitheaters in the world, with a seating capacity of nearly 18,000, the Hollywood Bowl has been the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since its official opening in 1922 and plays host to the finest artists from all genres of music, offering something for everyone.

It remains one of the best deals anywhere in Los Angeles; to this day, $1 buys a seat at the top of the Bowl for many classical and jazz performances. In February 2023 the venue was named the Outdoor Concert Venue of the Year at the 34th Annual Pollstar Awards, an honor bestowed 15 previous times.

The Hollywood Bowl was also named Amphitheater of the Decade at the 32nd Annual Pollstar Awards as well as Top Amphitheater at the 2017 and 2018 Billboard Touring Awards.

For millions of music lovers across Southern California, the Hollywood Bowl is synonymous with summer. hollywoodbowl.com

Hollywood Bowl Food + Wine is presented by the Los Angeles Philharmonic in partnership with The Lucques Group and Sodexo Live!

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Mother’s Day is just around the corner, Celebrate with your family in Los Angeles at A.O.C

By Kelsey Ridley — 1 year ago

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, Celebrate with your family in Los Angeles at A.O.C

Celebrate Mother’s Day with acclaimed brunch and dinner menus

A.O.C., Los Angeles’ ground-breaking small plates restaurant at the forefront of the city’s best dining since 2002, celebrates Mother’s Day, May 14, 2023, with its acclaimed brunch and dinner menus at both 3rd Street and Brentwood locations. Spacious seating is offered on outdoor patios and indoor dining rooms.

Brunch features favorites of Dungeness Crab Omelette with Watercress, Basil Pistou, Burrata & Crème Fraîche; Shrimp and Buttermilk Biscuit with Celery Sofrito, Pea Tendrils & Shrimp Gravy; Spanish Fried Chicken & Cornmeal Waffle with Chile-Cumin Butter, Jamon Serrano & Maple Syrup; Vanilla Bean French Toast with Harry’s Berries & Santa Barbara Pistachio Aillade; Stout-Braised Brisket Hash with Horseradish Cream, Poached Egg & Pickled Red Onion; Scrambled Egg Focaccia Sandwich with Hook’s Cheddar, Hill’s Bacon & Chive Crème Fraîche; Roast Turkey Focaccia Sandwich with Mozzarella, Green Harissa, Avocado & Castelvetranos; and the A.O.C. Burger with Gruyère, Dijon, Caramelized Shallots and Crispy Onions, served with French Fries.

Don’t miss Suzanne’s indulgent Sticky Buns with Munak Walnuts and some other special treats for the table

Don’t miss Suzanne’s indulgent Sticky Buns with Munak Walnuts and some other special treats for the table, including Lemon Blueberry Oatmeal Streusel Muffin and Cinnamon & Brown Sugar Coffee Cake.

Three new tempting spring desserts by Pastry Chef Tristyne Frutos

There are three new tempting spring desserts by Pastry Chef Tristyne Frutos – Meyer Lemon Bar with Blackberry Compote, Almond Streusel and White Chocolate Ice Cream; Ode to the Samoa Cookie with Chocolate, Dulce De Leche & Coconut Sorbet; and Harry’s Berries & Cream Coupe with Strawberry Sorbet, Vanilla Ice Cream & Diplomat Cream.

For Mother’s Day Dinner menu

For Mother’s Day Dinner menu, try the wood-oven focaccias of Bottarga, Red Onion, Cippolinis, Calabrian Chili & Meyer Lemon or Jamon, Sheep’s Milk Cheese, Cherry Tomatoes, Marconas & Salbitxada. Suzanne’s newest salads include Spring Greens with Broccoli Kibbeh, Avocado, Fava & Feta; Arugula with Blood Orange, Pickled Rhubarb & Fresh Ricotta; and Endive with Radishes, Meyer Lemon Cream & Oil-Cured Olives. Other dinner highlights for the season are Lobster & Kanpachi Ceviche with Cara Cara, Urfa & Pistachios; North Pacific Halibut with White Bean Brodo, Nettles, Black Olive & Artichoke Salsa; Prawns with Saffron Pasta, Fennel Sofrito, Spinach & Sourdough Crumbs; and Harissa-Spiced Lamb Chops with Fava Bean Purée, Cumin Yogurt & Pickled Carrots.

Inspired selection of Caroline Styne’s curated wines and beers and expertly mixed market cocktails by Head Barman Ignacio Murillo

Enjoy an inspired selection of Caroline Styne’s curated wines and beers and expertly mixed market cocktails by Head Barman Ignacio Murillo, featuring spring drinks – Kingdom, with Suntory Toki Whiskey, House Strawberry Aperitivo, Rhubarb Bitters & Orange; Sugar Daddy with Gin, Lime Juice, Sugar Snap Pea Syrup & Kiwi Puree; The Fulton with Bourbon, Lemon Juice, Oat & Banana Syrup; Ruta Oaxaca with Mezcal, Tequila, Lime Juice, Pineapple & Opal Basil; Molcajete with Tequila, Lime Juice, Cilantro-Avocado Syrup, Orange Juice & Jalapeño Juice and the award-winning Green Goddess– Green Tea-Infused Vodka, Cucumber, Arugula, Jalapeño & Absinthe Rinse (also available as a mocktail).

Brunch is served from 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.; dinner is offered from 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Reservations are available on OpenTable, and takeout can be ordered online at www.aocwinebar.com for pickup. Delivery is available from DoorDash.

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Zayn Malik joins Mixoloshe as Chief Creative Officer and Co-Owner

By Contributor — 11 months ago

Zayn Malik joins Mixoloshe as Chief Creative Officer and Co-Owner

The global superstar launches a custom Lychee Martini flavor, with a unique can design inspired by his own tattoos.

The fast-rising, award winning non alcoholic beverage brand, made with clean ingredients and nothing artificial will make its retail debut at Walmart, launching across the US with the retailer by end of October

Mixoloshe, a female founded and award winning non-alcoholic beverage brand, announces its partnership with celebrated award-winning artist and entrepreneur Zayn Malik, who has joined the company as the Chief Creative Officer (CCO) and Co-Owner.

The partnership will center around reshaping the narrative of the non-alcoholic beverage industry, as well as deep creative collaboration on marketing initiatives and upcoming flavor launches.

Additionally, Mixoloshe will launch in 500 Walmart stores across the country, marking the brand’s anticipated retail debut.

Zayn’s first flavor launch is a non-alcoholic Lychee Martini, a refreshing and exotic drink, that is sweet, floral, and slightly tropical. The can design is also captivating and unique, featuring replica illustrations of his own most beloved tattoos.

Mixoloshe was founded in 2022 to redefine the booming non-alcoholic drink category with a clean, alcohol-free take on cocktails and premium spirits that taste like the real thing.

Their collection offers a non-alcoholic range of popular cocktails, such as a Mojito, Old Fashioned, Gin & Tonic, and Margarita, as well as non-alcoholic Tequila, Whisky, and Gin, all made with real ingredients, and low in sugar, calories.

Mixoloshe’s soft seltzers and non-alcoholic spirits have been recognized globally as best in class, and in 2023 they were honored with the Bartenders Spirits Gold Award, Ascot Award Gold for Taste, and the SIP Awards in Gold, Silver, and Bronze, to name a few. Their collection includes 8 canned non-alcoholic cocktail varieties, including the newly launched Lychee Martini flavor, and three bottled non alcoholic premium spirits.

“The non-alcoholic beverage market is ready for disruption, which can create immense growth potential. We see consumers already shifting preferences towards healthier and alcohol-free alternatives, which provides an opportunity for a brand like MIXOLOSHE to redefine this industry. I could not be more excited about the chance to make some noise in the category of non-alcoholic beverages and build one of the most talked about drinks in the world.” – Zayn Malik

“Zayn is a creative visionary both in music and beyond. His passion for innovation and his ability to captivate audiences will undoubtedly help us redefine the narrative around the non alcoholic beverage category, with a fresh perspective on making healthy lifestyle choices and living well, irrespective of your beverage preferences,” said Kristina Roth, MIXOLOSHE Founder and CEO. “I’m looking forward to working alongside him and shaping a future for this category where the glass is always half full of possibilities.”

Soft seltzers are available in a 12 pack, and retail for $29.99. Non-alcoholic spirits are available in a 750 ml bottle and retail for $29.99.

For more information, please visit: mixoloshe.com.

Mixoloshe is a female-founded line of non-alcoholic seltzers and spirits that are formulated to taste and smell boozy without the booze. Whether you’re booze-free forever or just for the night, these drinks are the perfect inclusive answer to an age old question—what are we drinking? High in flavor and low in calories, MIXOLOSHE packs a party into every can of soft seltzer and bottle of non-alcoholic spirits. With a mission and ingredients that are anything but fake, the brand offers booze-free cocktail alternatives that taste like the real thing. Party tonight with no regrets tomorrow.

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Performance and Spirit: ‘Lovers and Other Strangers’ at Burbank’s Taylor Acting Studio Fri-Sat nights only thru Feb 2024

By Contributor — 7 months ago

Performance and Spirit Stand out with “Lovers and Other Strangers” at Burbank’s Taylor Acting Studio.“Lovers and Other Strangers” runs at Burbank’s Taylor Acting Studio Fri-Sat nights only through February 2024. The Taylor Acting Studio is an indie theater that hosts actors workshops, classes and shows at 2401 W. Magnolia Blvd in Burbank, CA.

Cast attends Grand Opening of play “Lovers and Other Strangers” at The Taylor Studio, Los Angeles, CA, February 17th, 2024

Starring cast of Burbank’s Taylor Acting Studio

For those unaware of “indie theater”, it’s a typical “black box” theater. What it lacks in production budget, it makes up for in spirit and talent. It’s a place where you discover hidden gems. And tonight, we found several.

Singer Vanessa Bejine attends Grand Opening of play “Lovers and Other Strangers” at The Taylor Studio, Los Angeles, CA, February 17th, 2024

Publicist / comedian Christine Peake at Opening Weekend of “Lovers and Other Strangers” at Burbank’s Taylor Acting Studio

The concern was how well would a risque 1970s sex comedy play in LA’s woke 2024.

Let’s find out…

Lovers and Other Strangers at Burbank’s Taylor Acting Studio

I didn’t walk into the show thinking of it as a “Girls Night Out”, but tonight it definitely played in that direction. The packed theater was 70% women, who laughed, giggled and gasped throughout.

Charly Taylor, Bradley Holzer, “Lovers and Other Strangers” at Burbank’s Taylor Acting Studio

Scene 1: Brenda & Jerry

Starring Charly Taylor, Bradley Holzer

What if your best and worst date was the same date? Holzer’s “Jerry” tries to make his date night a little sexier while Taylor’s Brenda terrorizes him with naive or not-so-much wishy-washy responses.

Taylor’s Brenda is electric as she walks on stage against Holzer’s kinetic energy. It’s a high energy, flirty scene that stays fresh thanks to the performer’s chemistry.

Painfully relatable. Hilarious. And it sets the tone for the night. Laughing. Squirming. Following these characters through a maze of love, romance, disgust, bitterness.

Phillip Latini, Elizabeth Kyokwijuka

Scene 2: Hal & Cathay

Starring Phillip Latini, Elizabeth Kyokwijuka

Do you love dialogue? Phillip Latini and Elizabeth Kyokwijuka clearly love their dialogue and are having so much fun.

Like a tennis match where they volley their bleeding hearts (and heartache) back and forth. Heartbreak, swing, betrayal, swing, jealousy, embrace. Then repeat. Latini offers a sneering performance demanding Kyokwijuka’s intensity and delicious she delivers. Great scene!

Art Santoro and Eugenia Kuzmina at Burbank’s Taylor Acting Studio

Scene 3: Johnny & Wilma

Starring Art Santoro and Eugenia Kuzmina

If you’ve seen Kuzmina’s work on the big screen before you know how easily she holds her stage presence.

Tonight Kuzmina’s “Wilma” steals the scene in the first few moments with a quiet confidence and a misbehaving perfume bottle. Then like a cat and mouse game, she taunts, teases and plays Santoro’s Johnny until he can’t take it anymore. He’s a mountain of a guy who’s gentle until he’s not. When Santoro fires back it becomes a chess match. Physically, emotionally, psychologically. Tossing and turning – the more they fight, the more their chemistry builds and what does that say about love?

Charly Taylor and Nathaniel Wyatt

Scene 4: Susan & Mike

Starring Charly Taylor and Nathaniel Wyatt

In tonight’s opening scene, Taylor is electric. Now she visits us again. In this scene she shows another side – calmly keeping pace while Wyatt takes the spotlight burning through his dialogue. He bares his soul with vulnerability, angst, anger, desperation.

Nathaniel Wyatt has leading man relatability. Think Tom Hanks in 1984’s massive hit “Splash”. If he and Charly Taylor aren’t pitching themselves (Hanks and Darryl Hannah, respectively) to the studios for a remake, the movie-loving world is missing out.

Sergio Lopez, Jordan Whitney

Scene 5: Bea, Frank, Rickie & Joan

Starring Eugenia Kuzmina, Sergio Lanza, Sergio Lopez, Jordan Whitney.

Throughout the night we’ve seen couples wrestling with every quirk and detail of relationships, healthy and not. Here we see two married couples, one older, one younger – and how both couples are dealing with all of romance’s issues.

Sergio Lopez should win acclaim for his performance in this scene. In a room full of bombastic characters, your eyes keep going back to him as he makes the subtlest of feelings quake the entire theater.

Sergio Lanza brings heart to the room and a baseline to Lopez’s reactions. Lopez and Lanza should work together more often. As Lanza’s internal boiling builds, he fills the room with emotion that all of the actors play off in the second half of the scene. The ensemble harmony is so flavorful and fun.

Cue Jordan Whitney’s entrance who brings sunshine on a cloudy day. Moments later, she informs Kuzmina’s performance in one of the highlights of the evening.

Eugenia Kuzmina reveals herself as a character actress

Eugenia Kuzmina reveals herself as a character actress. You know her best from several turns in Hollywood blockbusters, most notably gangsters and spies in big-budget Guy Ritchie movies.

But tonight she’s having a blast playing against type. She’s moody and vulnerable. Playing a lowly housewife with a lifetime of regrets. A woman in the audience goes from sobbing to full-on guffawing within seconds thanks to Kuzmina’s heartbreaking monologue in the second half of the scene.

One specific beat is so raw, honest, yet bitterly funny. Kuzmina captures the mood.

It’s the perfect scene to end the show on.

Eugenia Kuzmina

Indie Theater at Burbank’s Taylor Acting Studio is a fun date night

Why is indie theater important? Because in a town like LA, you can be sure these guys aren’t doing it for the money or the fame. They’re performing for you tonight because they love it.

Director Jennifer Taylor from Taylor Acting Studio

Years ago, I was sitting in a black box theater and after the show I noticed an Oscar-winning filmmaker getting up from his seat in the back row. On the walk out, I nudged him about why he was there. He replied, “Eh, I had a tough week. Got me cynical. These kids helped remind me that I love storytelling.”

Joe Winger at the premiere weekend

If you love storytelling, give indie theater a try. Pick a restaurant within walking distance. Make it as date night.

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Winner! Hank’s & Executive Chef Isaias Peña as Second Consecutive Win for “BEST BURGER”

By Joe Winger — 10 months ago

Winner! Hank’s & Executive Chef Isaias Peña as Second Consecutive Win for “BEST BURGER”

Hank’s & Executive Chef Isaias Peña Celebrate Second Consecutive Win as “BEST BURGER” in Los Angeles Times’ “Best of the Southland 2023!

In a delectable triumph of culinary excellence, Hank’s Restaurant at Palisades Village has clinched the coveted title of “BEST BURGER” in the Los Angeles Times’ “Best of the Southland 2023” Readers’ Choice Poll for the second year in a row.

The man behind this phenomenal burger, Executive Chef Isaias Peña, and his team at Hank’s have reason to celebrate, and it’s a victory well-deserved!

Executive Chef Isaias Peña – Photos Courtesy of Hank’s

Hank’s, named in honor of Owner Rick Caruso’s father Hank is located at Palisades Village in the Pacific Palisades and was created to offer guests elevated American classics, handcrafted cocktails, draft and bottle craft beers and premium wines served by Coravin offering something for everyone.

Photos Courtesy of Hank’s

Executive Chef Isaiah Peña’s Hank’s Single and Double Diamond Burger is a perfect elevated beef blend of wagyu, brisket and short rib accompanied with Tillamook cheddar, caramelized onions, butter lettuce, Roma tomatoes and Hank’s special sauce on potato bun. To celebrate this exciting honor Chef Peña will be offering a Hank’s “BEST BURGER” Special which will include a Hank’s Single or Double Diamond Burger, Choice of Side (Fries, Onion Rings, or Salad), and Beverage (Wine, Draft Beer, or Non-Alcoholic Drink) for $25.00 per person all throughout the month of November 2023.

“The Hank’s Team and I are honored to receive this award for the 2^nd year in a row and many, many thanks to everyone that voted,” says Peña.

“We take great pride in the making of our burgers at Hank’s, and we also have a new menu that has something for everyone featuring steaks, seafood, and a selection of small and shared plates, along with our new cocktail list, so we invite you all to come enjoy!”

Hank’s is open every Monday through Thursday from 11:30 am to 9:00 pm, every Friday from 11:30 am to 10:00 pm, every Saturday from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm, and every Sunday from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. For more information about Hank’s or to make reservations, please call 424.363.7166 directly or visit www.HanksPalisades.com.

Follow Hank’s on Social Media:

Follow Hank’s on Facebook @HanksPalisades and Instagram @hankspalisades

Hank’s

1033 N. Swarthmore Avenue

Pacific Palisades, CA 90722

T: 424.363.7166