recipe: irish cream truffle fudge

photo by: gaby duong 4 C semi-sweet chocolate chips
1-1/2 C white chocolate chips
1/2 C butter
3 C confectioners’ sugar
1-1/3 C Irish cream liqueur
1-1/2 C chopped walnuts

Directions:
1. In the top half of a double boiler, melt 3 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1 cup white chocolate chips and 1/4 cup butter until soft enough to stir.

2. Stir in the confectioner’s sugar and Irish cream until mixture is smooth. Stir in walnuts.

3. Pour mixture into a buttered 8x8” baking pan and with a sheet of plastic wrap touching the mixture, press and smooth out the surface.

4. In the top half of a double boiler melt remaining chocolates until soft. Remove from heat and with a fork beat in the butter and Irish cream until smooth. Spread topping over cooled fudge with a knife. If a smooth top is important place plastic wrap over the top. Refrigerate until firm, 1 to 2 hours at least. This fudge can be easily frozen.

Thanks for this submission go to Chef Dweh from All Day Foods who co-hosted a DIY event with West Hollywood manager Cristina. For more recipes from the diy event, go here.

only in hollywood: oscar night

photo by: David Jones

Turn on the spotlights, roll out the red carpet…the Academy Awards only take place in Hollywood.

Sunday night the most coveted trophies in town will be awarded for the 83rd time. What started as a small affair in 1929—a banquet at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel—has become one of the most watched events in the world. That year about 275 guests paid $5.00 to attend—but this year approximately 40 million in over 200 countries are expected to tune in to the broadcast.

Congratulations and good luck to all of the nominees!

Thanks to whitney, west hollywood sales, for this window display.

the griddle cafe

The Griddle Café features plate size pancakes, and lines around the block—this is the place to be on weekends. The small café also serves great coffee…French press for everyone!

Pancakes range from Red Velvet and Good Ol’ Fashion, to Eye Wide Open—with chocolate chips and a shot of espresso in the batter. Make sure to get an order of brown-sugar baked bananas on the side, they are killer.

Don’t sweat the wait, it’s always worth it.

Thanks to nikki, west hollywood sales, for this submission.

halloween 2010: los angeles

Halloween and All Hallow’s Eve aren’t average days in LA—they’re as sacred as Mardi Gras in New Orleans and there are more than one way to celebrate:

What: West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnaval
Where: West Hollywood
When: Sunday, October 31

Multiple stages will feature musical acts, circus arts—but this year’s special feature is a tribute to the Rocky Horror Picture Show to celebrate its 35th anniversary.

What: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Where: The Walt Disney Concert Hall, LA
When: Sunday, October 31

Looking for something a little more low-key? Catch John Barrymore in this silent classic—with accompanying music performed on a pipe organ.

What: The Birds, All Hallow’s Eve Eve
Where: Ojai Valley Inn
When: Saturday, October 30
Tickets: $25. in advance

Ojai Valley Inn is the perfect place to watch ‘The Birds’, Alfred Hitchcock’s classic scary movie set in the wild and beautiful Bodega Bay of northern California.

Tippi Hedren, the star of the film, will be stopping by for a Q&A session before the screening. Proceeds from the evening’s ticket sales will help The Shambala Preserve, supported in part by the Roar Foundation which she began in 1983.

Thanks to nicole, west hollywood sales, for contributing the spirit of this submission.

our neighborhoods: weho

Before CB2, the previous tenant of 8000 w. Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood was a popular Virgin Megastore—but its most famous was the legendary Schwab’s Pharmacy a few doors down at 8024.

photo courtesy of the_toe_stubberIn the movie “Sunset Boulevard”, William Holden’s character refers to Schwab’s as “headquarters—a combination office, coffee klatch, and waiting room” for Hollywood. 

For over fifty years, from 1932 until 1983, Hollywood’s most famous stopped by once or twice, during low and high times: Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Shelley Winters, Marilyn Monroe, Ronald Reagan, Sylvester Stallone, Goldie Hawn, Al Pacino, Diane Keaton…

Schwab’s was the hangout for anyone in the business. Legends—and rumors about them—got started here. Lana Turner was discovered at the counter. F. Scott Fitzgerald had a heart attack buying a pack of cigarettes. Songwriter Harold Arlin wrote “Over the Rainbow” by the light of the neon sign. Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd played pinball in the back room.

photo courtesy of onefish2Farther west on the boulevard, at the southwest corner of Sunset and Crescent Heights, was the The Garden of Allah.

In 1928, silent screen star Alla Nazimova developed the land surrounding her mansion into the legendary private bungalows.

Silver screen stars who visited regularly included Errol Flynn, Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, W.C. Fields, Humphrey Bogart, F. Scott Fitzgerald, the Marx Brothers, and Orson Welles.

It’s rumored that Tallulah Bankhead swam naked in the swimming pool and Marilyn Monroe was discovered sipping a Coke beside the same pool. Alas, as Joni Mitchell sang, they “paved paradise, put up a parking lot” when it was demolished in 1959 and replaced with a strip mall.

Who knows, maybe someday you’ll hear someone say they saw _____ at Crunch Gym, Trader Joe’s or CB2!

Thanks to todd, store designer west hollywood, for this contribution—and for the concept of the series.