Vegan Beer Fest Gets Even Vegan-ier, Bartender Relationship Nightmares, and More

It's Orange County Restaurant Week

Feel like dining out below the Orange Curtain? Luckily there are more great options than ever before, especially now that it's restaurant week. The dining deal focus lets customers eat on the cheap at some of the area's best restaurants, from Fig & Olive to Pizzeria Ortica and SOCIAL Costa Mesa.

The death of romance in the bar industry

Insider publication The Shift Drink shares a story on the supposed death of romance in the bar world, written by one Yael Stormborn (nee Vengroff). It's about the brutal truth of love and relationships in the larger hospitality industry, and it's a really compelling read.

Drink your way through the flick

Arclight Cinemas now allows you to carry in your wine glass, cocktail, or bottle of craft beer straight into the movie (provided you purchased it on site), says the LA Times. After an extensive re-permitting process, movie-goers can now grab and go from a small selection of craft and non-craft beers, though we're told the I.D. check process still takes some time — better to plan ahead and give yourself a bit of extra time.

LA's Vegan Beer Fest is back

Tickets are now up for the LA's bigger-than-ever Vegan Beer Fest, the healthy-ish craft beer festival taking over the Rose Bowl on June 18. It's the seventh year of the event, which features more than 100 beers, 60 food vendors, and a craft marketplace. Tickets are $50 for general admission, $80 VIP.

Knuckle & Claw turns one

Silver Lake lobster roll and overall seafood shack Knuckle & Claw turns one on March 12, and to celebrate they're running some (next) Saturday deals including $1 oysters and $9 half bottles of champagne. Plan your partying accordingly.

Whole pig dinners return to Nick + Stef’s

In what’s becoming a seriously popular ongoing series, chef Andreas Roller of Nick + Stef’s fame is doing another whole animal dinner on March 16. They’re turning out a whole Berkshire pig and expanding the size to include 40 guests, with other dishes like cavatelli with guanciale and polenta rounding out the meal. Make your $79 reservations through the restaurant.

My Two Cents, indeed

Enjoy the below video of Pico Boulevard soul food favorite My Two Cents, who share their adorable first-timers ritual with anyone who's new the place, and talk about what it means to serve their neighborhood.