We Know Weho

Following the conversation with co-authors Katie Brightside and Sarah L.M. Mengoni from the unique cocktail adventure recipe book, of Once Upon a Cocktail - West Hollywood, the cocktail "dream team" (in the words of Katie) comes together on the mic for Part II of the podcast with We Know Weho!

Meet our guests and dream team members:

- Lauren Trickett is the National Brand Ambassador for Mount Gay Rum and Cointreau

- Brynn Smith is a renowned mixologist & Bar Director at The Bar Next Door on Sunset Blvd in West Hollywood.

Listen and hear how all these incredible women got involved with the project and their thoughts on this very special cocktail book. We love what Lauren has to say in particular and are tickled to find out that Cointreau is a sponsor. Heidi takes you on a deep dive of how the Pea Diddy was concepted at Tesse and explains how to make the refreshing cocktail. (Insider scoop - Heidi also created the infamous bone luge a not to be missed signature dish at Tesse.)

Sarah takes over the mic to ask the dream team a few questions and then answers what cocktail she thinks has the highest difficulty level to make! You will definitely want to grab a copy of Once Upon a Cocktail - West Hollywood after listening to this episode! And, not to worry, if you aren't brave enough to make an attempt at a few drinks you can always head to the West Hollywood location that will happily whip it up for you in no time.

Make sure you go back and listen if you missed Part 1 of this two part episode!

Guest Resources:

Katie Brightside @welcometothebrightside

Sarah L.M. Mengoni. @historicallydrinking

Lauren Trickett @mixittrickett

Brynn Smith @bartendingpretty | @barnextdoor_

Heidi Wittekind

Website: OnceUponaCoctail.World

Instagram: @onceUponaCocktail.world

Podcast Resources:

Instagram: @WeknowWeho_official

Host: Tracy Paaso @TLP_Style

Email: [email protected]

Tracy and Maxine are back together again for this episode of We Know WeHo where they are providing an overview of new businesses that have opened in West Hollywood over the past year.  The two besties spent a fun-filled seven days together checking out their tried and true favorites as well as new favorite places.  Listen to hear about their adventures and a few new hot spots where you will want to get in to dine as an insider before reservations are tough to get.

PODCAST 

Website:  https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/weknowweho

Instagram: @weknowweho_official

Host:  @TLP_Style

CoHost:  @thanksmaxine

SHOW NOTES & LINKS

Once Upon a Cocktail - West Hollywood is an innovatively whimsical cocktail recipe book from imagineer and artist Katie Brightside featuring delicious libations from 54 of the most treasured venues from across the creative city of West Hollywood. This book is brought to life with over 850 illustrations showcasing a feast of concoctions curated by veteran barkeep Sarah L.M. Mengoni.

Listen to hear how the pandemic inspired this project to help support the local business community and the two year journey of discovering of developing this tour guide style drinking adventure from a world class region. Order your book now at onceuponacocktail.world or by popping by Fred Segal on Sunset Blvd and be prepared to roll up your mixology sleeves and to map out your West Hollywood cocktail tasting adventure!

GUEST RESOURCES

Katie Brightside

Sarah L.M. Mengoni

Website:  OnceUponaCocktail.world

Instagram: @onceUponaCocktail.world

PODCAST 

Website:  https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/weknowweho

Instagram: @weknowweho_official

Host:  Tracy Paaso  @TLP_Style

Email:  [email protected]

SHOW NOTES:

On this special spotlight episode, long-time West Hollywood resident Mylena Christina talks to We Know WeHo about National Night Out and the BBQ party celebration being hosted on Kings Road. National Night Out is celebrating its 40 year anniversary and occurs on the first Tuesday of August nationwide in various city locations. This year the event is happening on August 1st, and there are many celebrations that will be happening in West Hollywood. One of the more notable neighborhood gatherings is the block party happening on King's Road from 4-8pm. The evening is free and welcome to all (including dogs) and in addition to a BBQ, there will be a raffle with some amazing prizes including a $200 gift certificate from La Boheme. Save the date and come out to meet your neighbors, have a bite to eat and perhaps win a prize in the raffle!

GUEST RESOURCES

Website:  www.northkingsroad.com | www.robustrealestate.com

Instagram: @mylenachristinaproperties

Guest:  Mylena Christina

PODCAST 

Website:  anchor.fm/weknowweho

Instagram: @weknowweho_official

Host:  @TLP_Style

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

On this episode of We Know WeHo meet Jordan Halem, who opened up his first brick and mortar business in West Hollywood smack dab in the middle of the pandemic - Barber Shop LA. Jordan had such success with his first business, that he recently opened his second barber shop, Circa 33 Barbershop, in Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard. There is much to know about shaves, cuts and fades and trending men's haircuts that you will learn by listening to this podcast episode. Hear how this former lawyer who spent 7 years in federal prison took his passion and turned into a thriving small business entrepreneur.  

GUEST RESOURCES

Website:  TheBarberDenLa.com | Circa33Barbershop.com 

Instagram: @thebarberdenla | @circa33barbershop

Guest:  Jordan Halem

PODCAST 

Website:  anchor.fm/weknowweho

Instagram: @weknowweho_official

Host:  @TLP_Style

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

Listen and hear how this native Alaskan began his visual display and merchandise career and then moved to West Hollywood to make a splash in the much larger Los Angeles market working in special events that lead him to creating his own business in 2005, Oh Mannequin and All Things Visual.  Chadmichael Morrisette has created window displays for boutiques throughout West Hollywood and Los Angeles, including some that created quite a stir and caught the attention of CNN!

Chadmichael talks with We Know WeHo about the history of the display window and the "street art" that used to draw customers into the stores.  He shares where he gets his inspiration from, and his favorite window displays in West Hollywood and the US.  With over 2,000 mannequins in his collection, including an original "Emmy"from the Mannequin movie (starring Andrew McCarthy & Kim Cattrall), Chadmichael Morrisette is living a real-life dream like the movie as his displays are truly amazing art installations. 

GUEST RESOURCES

Website:  www.ohmannequin.com

Instagram: @ohmannequin

Chadmichael Morrisette

PODCAST

Website:  anchor.fm/weknowweho

Instagram: @weknowweho_official

Host:  @TLP_Style

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

Dialog Cafe opened in West Hollywood in 2007 as a computer cafe serving coffee.  This family owned and operated business has expanded vastly over the past fifteen years and not only offers a highly crafted coffee game but also delicious food including arguably the "BEST" breakfast burrito according to We Know WeHo host (Tracy Paaso).   Tracy sits down with Tadeh Ghazalian to get a bit of an education on third wave coffee and the art of an espresso shot.  Love may well be the key ingredient to the delicious tasting food, but it also is from the carefully sourced locally grown ingredients that are used daily.  The every popular burritos are served all day long, and it isn't hard to see why notably chef's consider Tadeh to be the Burrito King!  Check out this episode to hear all about this small business and the secret to its success and why it is on the top of list and a heartwarming favorite for many West Hollywood residents.  (Insider Tip:  you can order a bag of coffee to have in your kitchen on the days you are in charge of your own coffee game)

GUEST RESOURCES

Website:  Dialogcafe.la 

Instagram: @dialogcafe

PODCAST

Website:  anchor.fm/weknowweho

Instagram: @weknowweho_official

Host:  @TLP_Style

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

Listen to the inaugural podcast of "We Know Where To Go" from the award winning podcast We Know WeHo, a podcast supporting the local businesses of West Hollywood, California.  On the show, anything outside of West Hollywood is considered Weho adjacent…and that covers Beverly Hills to New York to Paris!

Approaching the third year of the podcast, Host Tracy Paaso is expanding beyond West Hollywood to highlight other cities - with the same mission of supporting small businesses.  Mikey Consbruck, former owner of V Wine Room and one on the show's former co-hosts, is from Nebraska and has recently returned to his home state to live.

Most people don’t likely think of Nebraska as a destination vacation spot, but you might change your mind after this podcast!  This flyover state has much to offer and is definitely worth a visit…especially if you are an avid cyclist like Tracy.  Mikey gives an overview of this midwestern state that is a short drive from Denver and accessible by most major and budget airline carriers (United, Delta, American, Southwest, Frontier etc.).   He takes a deeper dive into the town of Hastings, that ranks as the #5 or #6 cities in Nebraska with a population of approximately 24,000.

Listen to the small businesses highlighted from Hastings, and like Tracy, you may be putting Nebraska on your "Places to Travel" list for 2023....especially when you learn that Kool-Aid was invented in Hastings!  

PODCAST

Website:  anchor.fm/weknowweho

Instagram: @weknowweho_official

Instagram: @we_know_where_to_go (coming soon)

Host:  @TLP_Style

Email:  [email protected]

Donate to our Fundraiser to Support Small Businesses

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

Fruitloots is a gay owned and operated e-commerce gifting marketplace based in West Hollywood.  It is owned by best friends and Chief Fruits, David Cruz and Allan Nugyen.  Fruitloots offers a whimsical and elevated approach on the curated gift box.  You can select from curated boxes to fit the gift giving occasion, or create your own unique selection of items to fill a box.  They also offer a marketplace where individual products like candles and games and joyful holiday items such as peppermint marshmallows and winter snow globes.   You can celebrate PRIDE 365 days a year with the curated PRIDE boxes with a percentage of the proceeds from PRIDE boxes going to non-profit Camp Lightbulb that helps send LGBTQ+ youth to a summer camp experience.   Fruitloots' mission is to support LGBTQ+, POC, women and "Allies" by sourcing products on their site from vendors and entrepreneurs from these communities.  

David & Allan will also create a custom Fruitloot box for corporations or special events.  The entire site is 30% off now for the holidays, after that, use promo code FRUITFRIEND for 15% off any order!

GUEST RESOURCES

Website:  Fruitloots.com

Instagram: @heyfruitloots

David Cruz @lovedavidcruz

Allan Nugyen @ermygerd

PODCAST

Website:  anchor.fm/weknowweho

Instagram: @weknowweho_official

Host:  @TLP_Style

Email:  [email protected]

Show Notes:

Did you know many cities, including West Hollywood, have an official Poet Laureate?  We Know WeHo talks to the Official Poet Laureate of West Hollywood - Brian Sonia-Wallace.  Listen to find out what it means to hold that position and Brian's official duties whilst he is in this role.  Be sure to check out the Tuesday night open mic for poets, musicians, artists as well as a quarterly poetry SLAM competition being hosted at Micky's West Hollywood.   

GUEST RESOURCES

Website:  briansoniawallace.com 

Instagram: @rentpoet

PODCAST

Website:  anchor.fm/weknowweho

Instagram: @weknowweho_official

Host:  @TLP_Style

Guest Co-Host:  @johnericksonwh 

SHOW NOTES & LINKS: