HOTTER IN HOLLYWOOD

Tam O'Shanter's Turns Atwater Village Green (Not With Envy Though)

by Garytt Poirier

I have no Irish blood in my body, but having grown up in the Boston area, I like to think I know a thing or two about celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. This year I had the opportunity to check out the festivities as a guest of Tam O’Shanter in Atwater Village. 

I arrived and immediately noticed the place was bustling with patrons of all ages. An elderly couple was dressed in elaborate costumes and ready to head home just as I was getting started. Children ran around devouring green ice cream cones. I stood in line with my companion for fifteen minutes waiting to check in. The young lady who greeted me was full of smiles as she handed me my four tickets (normally $8 each) that were good for food or beverage. We wandered into a giant tent filled with people dancing and enjoying the Irish music stylings of The Ploughboys.

I walked to the bar to wet my whistle. For $16 (two tickets), I ordered a Guinness and a Jameson on the rocks. I watched as the bartender poured my Guinness into a tiny plastic cup and proceeded to take a tiny little plastic shot glass and measure what would have been a half shot anywhere else. I’ll accept this practice under protest at the Staples Center. However, for an establishment that charges $21 for their cheapest entrée, it is nothing short of tacky.

We were very curious to try the food inside the restaurant, but with the wait being long and the prices being sky high, we opted for the street food. A corned beef sandwich on rye or a roast beef sandwich were priced at $8. For $12 you could get a corned beef and cabbage plate that goes for $26 on their regular menu. We chose to split the corned beef sandwich on rye. The meat was flavorful and tender but by the time we arrived at a table, the cabbage on the side made the rye bread soggy and crumble in our hands.

My plus-one and I decided we would avoid another sandwich fiasco and split another drink with our final golden ticket inside the hot and humid tent. Despite the hot temperature, the band playing onstage made every bead of sweat worth it. Their energetic performance truly dictated the atmosphere of the party. Parents indulged in green beer as children danced in front.

Tam O’Shanter’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Party: County Fair feel at Disneyland prices.

@Garytt

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EARTH HOUR IS TOMORROW!

At 8:30 PM on Saturday 26th March 2011, lights will switch off around the globe for Earth Hour and people will commit to actions that go beyond the hour.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon leads a host of world and civic leaders supporting Earth Hour 2011 as a powerful symbol of a shared wish for a sustainable and secure future.

“All over the world individuals, communities, businesses and governments are creating new examples for our common future – new visions for sustainable living and new technologies to realize it,” said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. “Tomorrow, let us join together to celebrate this shared quest to protect the planet and ensure human well-being. Let us use 60 minutes of darkness to help the world see the light.”

Earth Hour 2011 has reached record participation, with an expected 1.3 billion people 131 countries and territories registered to switch off. Many countries will be officially joining in for the first time, including: Lebanon, Jamaica, Iran, Uganda, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Chad, Azerbaijan, Gibraltar, Palestine, Suriname, Uzbekistan, Trinidad & Tobago and Lesotho. - Christine Cover Ferro

THE HOT OUTDOORS: BALDWIN HILLS SCENIC OVERLOOK

Runyon Canyon too crowded with celebrities, hipsters, and dog poop? Griffith Park too touristy? Topanga a little too granola for your taste?

If you answered yes to any of the above, point your running shoes towards the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook in Culver City. Who knew, right? Known as "that other hiking trail," this California State Park is proving to be a great alternative for many Angelenos who wish to be one with nature and get some sun on a weekend afternoon without experiencing the hassle that the Hollywood Hills have become.

The park's main attraction: those killer stairs. If you're looking to get your cardiovascular on, then make the steep climb. If you're looking for something a little less intense, then feel free to take one of the zigzagging trails up to the top.

The views are indeed breathtaking and something we never experienced until recently. On a clear day you can trace the ginormous Los Angeles skyline all the way from the Pacific Ocean to downtown and beyond.

And once you make it to the top take advantage of the newly renovated Visitors Center and exhibit hall. For you cheaters, there is a road to drive up; thing is, parking's $6. Otherwise there's plenty of parking down on Jefferson Blvd.

RUNNING TO SAVE THE GULF (AND WIN AN IPAD)

Sophia Bush and Austin Nichols are going to "run their asses off" to save the Gulf. And they want you to help them along the way.

The actors are feverishly raising money for the massive cleanup in the Gulf. They've been down there in the weeks following the BP spill to witness the continuing devastation first hand and have been working non-stop with Global Green to garner support in their mission. To help raise money, they will be running a half marathon, and anyone who donates at least $10 between now and 8PM EST TONIGHT will be automatically entered to win an iPad signed by them - a cool thing to keep for yourself or give as a gift at the holidays!

Donations can be made to either of them via their Crowdrise pages (under "causes" select RUN MY ASS OFF FOR THE GULF). Sophia's page: www.crowdrise.com/sophiasrunforthegulf

HOT & GREEN: A PLASMA PROBLEM

Bigger is not always better.

Governor Schwarzenegger would seem to be the last person to take these words to heart. And yet, there he was denouncing large energy-guzzling Plasma TVs. Who knew those things consume 10 percent of the average household electricity expense? The Governor supports a proposal from the California energy commission that would insist TV manufacturers increase their energy efficiency in the next two to three years. This would amount to huge savings to consumers and a large weight off California's electrical burden. Now, Gov, about those Hummers... 

Your HIH Greenies,

Leslie & Baylen

ALICIA SILVERSTONE'S KIND LIFE

Alicia Silverstone, a friend to HIH, wants you to treat yourself (and Mother Earth) right.

The Kind Diet, written by the actress who made being vegan, well, hot, is all about living "your healthiest and happiest life to the fullest while taking care of mama Earth at the same time." It's one lifestyle guide we are definitely in need of, especially after the tumultuous year we've had (another story for another day). From fashion and food to home decor and beauty advice, the girl's got some green tips that won't cost you too much green. Whether your goal is to drop a few pounds, boost your energy and metabolism, or simply save the world, Alicia provides the encouragement, the information, and the tools you need to make the transition to a plant-based diet deliciously empowering.

And if you'd like to get a chance to meet Alicia, stop by the Barnes and Noble in Santa Monica this Saturday at 1pm (on the 3rd Street Promenade). Tell her Hiko and Michael from Hotter In Hollywood sent ya.

And be sure to check out her companion blog, The Kind Life.

THE FIRST ECHO

GROWING GREENS AT THE WHITE HOUSE

We miss our HIH Greenies, Leslie and Baylen, who met up with us when we traveled to the East Coast back in July. But now they're back at HIH, and this time they'd like to share some Green News straight out of Washington D.C....

In this 8-minute clip below from the White House, Michelle Obama shares her thoughts about the First Family's vegetable garden and her hopes for a healthier America. White House chef, Sam Kass, discusses the process of starting the garden and touches upon the history of White House vegetable gardening dating back to Eleanor Roosevelt's Victory Garden during WWII. Oh, do we love Michelle!

Your HIH Greenies

Leslie & Baylen

DOWNTOWN FILM FESTIVAL L.A.

Tonight, the Downtown Film Festival presents the American-Latino film series. Films screened tonight will be Paul Boyd's Vicious Circle, followed by the shorts program, both at the AT&T Center.

As part of the music series, Raison, the Zookeeper's tribute to O'l Dirty Bastard, DIRTY: One Word That Can Change The World, will be screened at the Grammy Museum at L.A. Live.

Make sure you grab a bite to eat beforehand at Rivera, the official restaurant of the festival. And of course, the afterparties: check out the scenes at the festival's adjacent Cinema Lounge for Latino Night, Rock'N Fish, Rowan Lofts Gallery (co-hosted by the Sundance Film Festival) or Provecho Restaurant.

Tomorrow night brings the West Coast premiere of the documentary Jackson 5 in Africa as well as the Closing Night Gala with music by DJ Doughboy, all at the AT&T Center.

Visit the festival website for details, times and addresses: http://www.dffla.com/

PENIS GREAT AND SMALL

Isabella Rossellini is back with a bang!

With Season Two of Green Porno starting over at Sundancechannel.com, penises and vaginas never looked so...weird. This truly is something you have to see to believe. Isabella has never been more alluring than when she's walking through a forest of animal penises. Listen to this interview with her on NPR to get a good idea of how serious she is about science, and where the term "green porno" came from.

Straightforward, simple and often silly, these short films breathe life into a subject you never knew could be so hot...and green.

Your HIH Greenies,
Leslie & Baylen

A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

We're going through the changes, kids.

Drumroll please...

HotInHollywood.tv is about to become HOTTERINHOLLYWOOD.COM.

Update those bookmarks. Spread the word. And see you on the other side!