As previously reported, I covered the Empress Restaurant & Lounge relaunch celebration about two weeks ago and here’s the video from that night! Tell me what you think love muffins! Special thanks to the Empress Restaurant & Lounge, Erykah Productions, Keith Carlos, Laurie Ann Carmelango and Royce D’Orazio of www.insidetheedge.com.

Hey love muffins, I will be hosting the The 8th Annual Hollywood Black Film Festival’s White Party this Thursday!

Thursday, June 7, 2007
RSVP to abby@ajukejoint.com

The HBFF WHITE PARTY 8pm-1am
VENUE: Royale on Wislhire located at 2619 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90057
Hosted by B. Scott (www.lovebscott.com)

*PLEASE WEAR ALL WHITE!!!!
with a V100 Deejay also featuring DJ Smooth Mellow-Dee

.
So if you are in the LA area please come out and show me some love! You can RSVP at abby@ajukejoint.com

The Dolce Group’s newest addition to its arsenal of restaurants is Ketchup. Following in the bright lights of Geisha House, Bella Cucina and Dolce, one would only assume the best for this condiment-based eatery. Did it live up to the hype? Find out after the jump…

|inline

There’s nothing more refreshing than a minty mojito when the temperature is high, and the nights are young. For all of the Westsiders out there, we did a little comparison of this popular drink between three different restaurant/lounges in the area. If you’re looking for a good mojito, try these:

James Beach’s Original Mojito

Sweet, aromatic and tart. The James Beach mojito is smooth, and by one of the restaurant frequenters,it’s the ‘best mojito in LA’. Is it the best? Well, it’s definitely tasty, and at $9.00 a pop, it’s a pretty good version for those who crave the traditional. Plus, the intimate seating and low lighting along with the food at James Beach create a chill and relaxed beachcomber atmosphere where enjoying a nice drink feels mandatory. Sit at the sushi bar or request one of the tables set back in the shadows of the restaurant. James Beach is a nice spot for summer nights by the water.

James Beach
60 N Venice Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
Phone: (310) 823-5396

Canal Club’s Raspberry Mojito

Lightly fruity, sweet and refreshing. The sister club to James Beach (located directly across the street) serves up a nice variation to the norm. Canal Club’s raspberry mojito doesn’t feel like it has a kick, but the trick behind the mojito is just that—hide the fact that rum is a key ingredient. Low on the carbonated component, the drink is quite sweet and almost velvety. The lime and mint flavors are not strong, which some people enjoy, while most others look for those aspects in a traditional mojito. Coming in at $10 a piece, it’s not bad, but there are places that have better versions like The Cheesecake Factory and even California Pizza Kitchen. Nevertheless, enjoy a drink in the quiet dining area or sit outside on the heated patio of James Beach. Wherever you sit, get ready for the crowd of young professionals who file into this place on the weekends.

Canal Club
2025 Pacific Avenue
Venice, CA 90291
Phone: (310) 823-3878

Ma’Kai’s Mango Mojito

Delicate, exotic and cool. Ma’Kai’s mango mojito is a hit. Any bartender can tell you the difference between a drink with crushed ice and one with cubed ice. Ma’Kai’s bartenders must know the secret because they serve their mango version similar to a slushy in a highball glass. Their $12 version is a sleeper hit—it feels like a slurpee but if you have too many, you may walk out of the restaurant slurring! Take your drink at the bar or sip it outside on the fire-heated patio. As one of Santa Monica’s ocean-sided hot spots, it’s a great place for food and drink. The crowd is mixed, the bar is crowded and the drinks are top notch.

Ma’Kai Lounge
101 Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone: (310) 434-1511

Watching the Lakers over chicken wings and beer has a whole new meaning now that Trifecta has taken over downtown LA. There are places that profess to be “upscale sports bars“, but this new spot on 2nd and Hill may now be classified as Webster’s definition of the term. This is not your dad’s sports bar kids, and actually, we’re happy about that. Find out more after the jump…

|inline

Last Tuesday (May 8th) I had my second event at the über chic Eleven in West Hollywood and it was an splendiferous success! We had such a great turnout, drinks all around and orgasmic music!

Anastacia Mcpherson from CW’s The Search for The Next Doll, Ray from BET’s College Hill 3, Naima Jamal (makeup artist extradornaire) and countless others came out to get their party on in the VIP lounge!

Big thanks to photographer Keith Carlos for his photos and of course my friends and fans for coming out! I’m also thankful that my friend Alex Quinn stopped by with his girlfriend (my love muffin Sona) after the premiere of his movie Lake Dead. Here’s the trailer below!

My next event at Eleven will be Tuesday, June 12th. (Remember it’s every second Tuesday of the month!)