Oh Mona!

Oh Mona!

Left to right: Pesce Crudo, Spaghetti alle Vongole, Caesar Salad, Casarecce.

Below: Calamari Fritti; Devin in the new digs; a view of the restaurant; Executive Chef Freylin Morales Salazar

“A rare gem that feels like Ettore Sottsass meets Taylor Swift on a date night gone right.”

Downtowner Devin Carlson has designed and opened Mona Pasta Bar, a rare gem that feels like Ettore Sottsass meets Taylor Swift on a date night gone right. Carlson’s reimagining of the former 9th Street Ramen space is a welcome, sexier surprise to the row of storefronts stretching to Spring Street.

Walking into the slowly seductive, jewel box space you feel a comforting intimacy that prepares you to relax and savor the delightful Italian wine selections and smartly crafted menu. Chef Freylin Morales (Silverlake’s L&E Oyster Bar) offers sensual takes on Italian stalwarts from delicate, light as a feather calamari fritti; a divine pesce crudo in kosho beet vinaigrette from the appealing list of starters to pastas including spaghetti alle vongole and casarecce with lamb sausage and rappini. The vongole suffered from an uncharacteristic overdose of butter but that won’t deter future explorations into the menu including a whole branzino for a fair $37 and a coffee-dark rum tiramisu!

Carlson’s experience crafting a successful fashion line and immersive yet minimal designed environments shines through joyfully at Mona.

Address: 111 West 9th Street, Los Angeles, California 90015

Happy Hour 5-7pm Wednesday thru Sunday

Website: www.monapastabar.com

Dinner Hours:
5pm-9pm Wednesdays and Sundays, 5pm-10pm Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays
Happy Hour: 5pm – 7pm nightly (all wines by the glass – $10, dishes $10 – $13)

Menus (dinner and beverage):

Reservations or Walk-Ins: Available on OpenTable and walk-in’s also welcome at the bar
Executive Chef: Freylinlsai Morales Salazar
Architect/Interior Design: Suplex Agency
Floral Artist: Lera Pen
Other Design Collaborators: Bar Stools by Suplex Agency – Build by OTG, Soffit Sculpture and
Bathroom Artwork by DOT

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Things To Do This Coming Week In SoCal

Things To Do This Coming Week In SoCal

The days of summer are dwindling down, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to end. As summer moves into its sunset phase, there are even more events on the horizon to capture new memories and precious smiles, making it it easy to find things to do in SoCal. From gut-friendly snacks to share with friends, to live music from The Chainsmokers, here’s what’s happening this week across Southern California.

Take Cann On A Roadie Trip

As of today, Cann, the #1 cannabis beverage brand, has announced the expansion of their Roadie offering to 31 additional states! Originally sold only in California, these Canns without the can are perfect for discreet on-the-go consumption. Simply tear, pour, and mix perfectly with any drink—no powders. 

Available in Cann’s three core flavors—Grapefruit Rosemary, Blood Orange Cardamom, and Lemon Lavender—each Roadie will leave you feeling perfectly social and just a little buzzed. The beauty of Cann’s products lie in the fact that you will have no hangovers, whether you have one or five! Each liquid sachet contains just the right amount of lift (2mg of THC & 4mg of CBD) wrapped up in a delicious beverage.

Cann’s Roadies are available for $24 a package, containing a total of 8 sachets. The expansion includes the following states: AK, AL, AZ, CA, CT, DC, DE, FL, IA, IL, IN, LA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TX, VA ,VT & WV.

Visit BelliWelli’s Pop-Up in Venice

If you’re looking for gut friendly snacks, BelliWelli has just the weekend attraction for you! The better-for-you snack brand known for its viral “Hot Girls Have IBS” billboard campaign, will be popping up at The Brig in Venice on Saturday, August 12 from 8 am to 6 pm to hand out free bars.

All bars are gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and low FODMAP certified plus packed with belly benefits such as real probiotics and fiber – making them the perfect gut-friendly option. The brand will be sampling the OG flavors including Chocolate Chip, Strawberry Shortcake, Birthday Cake, and Cinnamon Swirl in addition to their newest Crunchy Peanut Butter Chocolate.

Attend SANZO x COVRY Eyewear Launch Party at Costa Mesa Flagship

You’re invited to celebrate the first collaboration between COVRY, the AAPI- founded eyewear label for low-bridge noses, and Sanzo, the Asian-inspired sparkling water brand at COVRY’s new flagship store in Costa Mesa, CA!

The launch party will be a fun-filled event with Sanzo mock-tails, gift bags with personalized fruit chains and fruit-inspired manicures! The new collection features a fresh silhouette in three color ways inspired by the vibrant colors and distinct characteristics of three Asian fruit flavors from Sanzo: Lychee, Calamansi, and Yuzu with Ginger. Each co-branded pair, made from plant-based materials, retails at $125, and reflects Sanzo’s essence through thoughtfully crafted frame colors and a charming fruit decal.

The party will take place on Saturday, August 12, from 12 pm to 3 pm at the COVRY Eyewear store (2651 Irvine Ave, Suite 120 Costa Mesa, CA 92627),

Catch Free Movies Courtesy of Vidiots & Pluto TV

Got movies on the mind? Have a date night this weekend (Aug. 12-13), as Los Angeles’ non-profit video store and theater, Vidiots, will be hosting a free movie weekend courtesy of Pluto TV. This event is part of the leading free streaming television service’s ongoing support on independent theaters.

Vidiots will be giving away tickets to select screenings of six different films completely FREE — plus complimentary Pluto TV swag and popcorn. To book free tickets, visit vidiotsfoundation.org/film-series/plutotvfreemovieweekend. However, note that tickets are available on a first come, first served basis. The theater is located at 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90041. Here’s what’s on the schedule:

  • Saturday, August 12

    • Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron: 2pm

    • Attack the Block 4:30pm

    • A View to a Kill: 7pm

  • Sunday, August 13

    • Freaky Friday: 12:45pm

    • La Dolce Vita: 3:15pm

    • First Blood: 7pm

Watch The Chainsmokers Debut First-Ever ‘The Party Never Ends’ In LA

Who wouldn’t want to catch The Chainsmokers live!? Taking place on Saturday, August 19th, the prolific, GRAMMY award-winning duo have been eager to do something special, momentous and different for their fans, and this debut will be just that. The Chainsmokers are gearing up to unveil their new live show experience series, The Party Never Ends — which has been years in the making!

Step up your weekend activity fun while you have time, as The Party Never Ends will make its epic debut at Los Angeles State Historic Park (the first time they have played in LA since 2019) with an incredible lineup of world class electronic music talent, immersive activations and more.

Though they’ve spent most of their lives on stage, circling the globe and playing more than 200 shows per year, every chapter of The Party Never Ends will be just as energetic and lively, as they transform special locations into day-long celebrations of inclusivity, collaboration, and fun—The Chainsmokers way. 

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Celebrate National CBD Day With Cann + New Roadies Expansion

420 and 017 aren’t the only days dedicated to marijuana! Apparently there’s another on August 8th, titled National CBD Day, in case you were looking for any reason other than it being a normal Tuesday to indulge. But who says you have to take part during the week? Celebrate with a Cann or two, or with the latest Cann product to see an offering expansion: Roadies!

As of today, August 11, Cann, the #1 cannabis beverage brand, has announced the expansion of their Roadie offering to 31 additional states! Originally sold only in California, these Canns without the can are perfect for discreet on-the-go consumption. Simply tear, pour, and mix perfectly with any drink—no powders. 

Available in Cann’s three core flavors—Grapefruit Rosemary, Blood Orange Cardamom, and Lemon Lavender—each Roadie will leave you feeling perfectly social and just a little buzzed. The beauty of Cann’s products lie in the fact that you will have no hangovers, whether you have one or five! Each liquid sachet contains just the right amount of lift (2mg of THC & 4mg of CBD) wrapped up in a delicious beverage.

Cann’s Roadies are available for $24 a package, containing a total of 8 sachets. The expansion includes the following states: AK, AL, AZ, CA, CT, DC, DE, FL, IA, IL, IN, LA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TX, VA ,VT & WV.

Cann is among the best brands around to shop, party, and be social with. Their social tonic, microdosed with CBD and THC, is the perfect blend of bubbly, sweet, and not too filling or strong—making way for a safe evening of mood setting without the hangovers induced by alcohol.

Cann is also offering 30% off their starter pack all week long! So if you can’t get lit during the week, there’s still time to take part in the fun later, while saving some dollars.

National CBD Day is also a special day to celebrate and spread awareness about the usages and capacities of cannabidiol, a hemp-based compound that is touted for its ability to relieve pain and anxiety.

Cann has revolutionized the way we see CBD and THC products – creating a tonic made for a controllable high experience and a healthier alternative to alcohol, that still lets you have a buzz. Cann is microdosed with 2mg THC and 4mg CBD, which offers a similar feeling to a glass of wine.

The brand has paved the way for cannabis products and other brands, creating a more accessible way to get buzzed without a dreaded hangover. No stranger to speaking out about the stigmas associated with cannabis, Cann is dedicated to educating people about the ins and outs of cannabis use, and they make the perfect first sip for anyone who’s curious and willing to learn a bit on National CBD Day.

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