Everybody loves Happy Hour–me included. The eclectic town of Venice has so much to offer, none of which I’ve actually seen, so it was the best time to do so. Tonight, I celebrated a wonderful Thursday evening with food and drinks. A friend and I made the turn onto Pacific Avenue and battled the Cali rain and befuddled Cali drivers for a parking spot. I caught a glimpse of the joint on the corner of Venice and Pacific, but something made me second guess that this was our destination of choice. It could’ve been the tacky neon sign glowing in the falling rain, or maybe it was the wood-colored paneling that made the location look like a boarded up beach shanty–characteristics of none of my typical destinations of choice. Nonetheless we were not deterred. If you want to know more, check it out after the jump…

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Near the corner of Fairfax and 3rd you’ll find Celadon–one of Los Angeles’ newest Euro-Asian fusion restaurants. (For those who are really in the know, Yi Cuisine originally inhabited this space just a few months ago.) The restaurant hosted an official opening night in conjunction with LA.com for critics, investors, family, friends and FOODIES (that’s where I come in) alike to check out the place. A friend and I decided it would be a great way to try what could potentially be a new LA hotspot. Celadon is definitely a beautiful restaurant. If you want a chic, modern food experience, you should give it a try, but don’t go there expecting the norm. Take a look at what the place had to offer after the jump…

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A year and a half after Hurricane Katrina destroyed the city, tens of thousands of people came to New Orleans to celebrate the climax of the Carnival season with parades, music and costumes!

Actor John Goodman shares a laugh with jazz musician Pete Fountain during the celebration. It’s nice to see people smiling and laughing in New Orleans again!