Venice Beach Hotel Offers $200 Diner Credit to Get a Tattoo of Its Logo, and More A.M. Intel

Tattoo for a deal

The Westside’s Hotel Erwin is starting up an insane new dining deal, wherein customers who get a tattoo of the property’s logo earn not only a free hotel stay, some salve, and a bottle of tequila, but $200 in dining credit to the on-site Barlo Kitchen + Cocktails / High Rooftop restaurants.

There are a few catches, though. First, the deal is only good for this Saturday through Monday (so act fast), and winners will have to physically show off the ink to that night’s manager on duty. Oh, and one more thing: The logo has to be as exact as possible, which means it can’t just read “Erwin,” it has to read EЯWIN in all caps, with the backwards R.

Republique’s growing empire

Though today is the day for Republique owners Margarita and Walter Manzke to open Sari Sari store inside Grand Central Market, over at their La Brea restaurant the team is also gearing up to launch the summer arrival of their new ice cream concept, Crèmerie. The cold dessert is made in-house and includes a rotation of flavors (and some sorbet), all sold from the coffee and pastry window along the sidewalk, rather than inside. The menu launches today and runs 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

The late night drinks

Culver City’s AR Cucina has a new-ish late night happy hour out. This one runs Friday and Saturday only from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., and includes $7 well drinks and pizzas.

The James Beard is back

Another round of James Beard Foundation Taste America events are circling the nation, including one at Downtown’s Vibiana on October 6. That’s quite a ways away but tickets are on sale now for the massive party, which will include a bevy of chefs doing tastes of their food inside one of LA’s most beautiful spaces.

Sumo Dog gives it away

Koreatown’s own Sumo Dog is doing a big giveaway next Friday, July 19. The tiny storefront off Western is giving away dogs to the first 50 customers starting at 11:30 a.m., and extending into a buy-one-get-one deal for the next 50 after that. It’s apparently National Hot Dog Day or something, but who needs an excuse for free food?

Groundwork x Whole Foods 365

Apparently Whole Foods is already looking to switch up their in-house coffee programs for their new, more casual 365 stores, and have signed on with Los Angeles locals Groundwork Coffee Co. to do just that. It’s a smart deal for both parties (and not the first time Whole Foods has partnered with locals like Roy Choi), considering Groundwork is already certified organic and comes with enough of a name to draw attention to the in-house coffee kiosk. Look for the rollout to begin in earnest with the new Santa Monica store coming later this year.

Bastille Day party

Today is Bastille Day, so naturally chef Ludo Lefebvre is hosting a party at his strip mall hit Petit Trois. Below is a list of a la carte cocktail options available for the day, and Ludo himself (along with his kids) will be doing an all-American lemonade stand in front to raise money, appropriately, for Alex’s Lemonade. The party really gets going around 11:30 a.m.