Weekend Fun for LA, and NYC

LOS ANGELES

philippe west hollywood, to open any minute.

this 5,000-square-foot chinese eatery is decked out in candy red furnishings with bamboo accents. imagine sleek, theatrical flair with room for 175 of your nearest and dearest. start by dipping some satay (chicken, beef, maine lobster, or shrimp) into chow's famous cream sauce. then, try the glazed and crispy peking duck with house made pancakes. if you're game for peking turkey, make sure to allow 45 minutes, or call ahead. fish out the sig nine seasons spicy prawns in sweet and sour sauce or, the pan crispy salmon. you won't get tipsy on the drunken sea bass, but a sinful twist on the martini, the white chocolate bliss (navan vanilla and white godiva liqueur), is another story. dining tete a tete? philippe's surf and turf (mignon and south african lobster tails) is made for two. an intimate wine cellar seats 14 for private events, but for an everyday kind of taste stop in for the three course lunch special; at $20.10, it's a tribute to the fast approaching new year. sure, you can order take out, but with obama, clinton, clooney, diddy, lebron, and denzel as loyal clients, you're not going to want to miss the celeb fest.

chow down. philippe west hollywood. 8284 melrose avenue. at sweetzer. west hollywood. 323.951.1100. opens soon.www.philippechow.com

Umami Burger East
What: Truffle, Manly, Hatch, and the other bun buddies’ new Asian-inspired home with Japanese beer bar Salaryman right next door.
Why: Your two sense — plus three more.
When: Daily, 11 a.m.-midnight.
Where: 4655 Hollywood Blvd., b/t Vermont Ave. & Rodney Dr., Los Feliz (323-669-3922).

BLT Steak Cookout
What: Build your own $35 plates of grilled meats (smoky ribs, burgers), classic sides (cornbread, grilled asparagus), chopped salad, and dessert (blueberry pie, strawberry sundae).
Why: Hit the deck.
When: Thurs., 6-10 p.m.
Where: 8720 Sunset Blvd., at Sherbourne Dr., Sunset Plaza (310-360-1950).

Today, Thursday, October 8, is the grand opening and dedication of the Farmer's Kitchen (Suite 119, Sunset +Vine Building), a community kitchen, café and retail space that serves as a permanent addition to the Hollywood Farmers' Market. The Kitchen is operated by the Sustainable Economic Enterprises of Los Angeles (SEE-LA), the non-profit organization that also runs the farmers market. L.A. City Council President Eric Garcetti will be on hand for opening remarks. And there will be food at the reception following the niceties.

n.y. & c. pizza
1120 Wilshire Blvd
(E. of 11th)
Santa Monica, CA 90403
310-393-9099
official website

Culver City Kimchee: Gyenari Beer Garden opens
Upscale restaurant debuts a traditional Korean beer garden with an exclusive outdoor menu of skewers and snacks priced under $12.
Menu master: Chef Debbie Lee was a finalist on The Next Food Network Star.
Opens tonight. 9540 Washington Blvd. (310-838-3131). Nearby: Honor Fraser gallery; Rush Street; Honey's Kettle Chicken

Five to Nine Happy Hour at Cameo Bar

Nine to five—you know the deal. But five to nine—that's when you hit the Viceroy pool's new happy hour for food and drink priced from $5 (beer called Mama's Little Yella Pils) to $9 (Halibut Tacos). Thursdays go until closing, thereby revising your Friday workday—maybe 11ish to five.

411: Mon-Fri, 5-9pm (until 1am Thurs), Cameo Bar, 1819 Ocean Ave, 310-260-7500

Flight Club at Rustic Canyon

Each Monday at Rustic Canyon's Flight Club, the night's special comes paired with a whole wine flight instead of just one glass. This week it's Coq au Vin with four gems from the Rhône Valley, which obviously is just as badass as beating the hell out of a stranger in some basement.

411: Mondays, Rustic Canyon, 1119 Wilshire Blvd (E. of 11th), 310-393-7050

DEBUT

Thyme Café and Market Opens

On a barren patch of Santa Monica road, a pristine new café and market (by which we mean respectable lunch spot) awaits you—featuring goods like a Steak Sandwich With Horseradish Aioli and a Grilled Cheese With Tomato, Bacon and Avocado. And if you want dinner, you can take it home in a box.

411: Opens Oct 13, 7am-7pm daily, 1630 Ocean Park Ave (E. of 16th), 310-399-8800

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NYC

ABE & ARTHUR'S OPENS

After weeks of teasing, the buzz-worthy Abe & Arthur's is finally open to the public. Sporting two levels, a zinc bar for cocktails, and a refined comfort food menu (preview the menu), the MPD's newest hot spot is all that and then some. Plus with the nightlife comforts of Simyone Lounge beckoning below...

Abe & Arthur's, 409 West 14th Street at Ninth Avenue, Meatpacking District, (646) 289-3930, abeandarthurs.com

DOWNTOWN GALWAY HOOKER DEBUTS

It's not often you use the words "beer" and "confessional box" in the same sentence but that's what's brewing at Galway Hooker's new West Village location. The midtown Irish pub has set up shop on 7th Avenue South in a big way. Think four levels studded with a fireplace, billiard table and, yes, a confessional box imported from Ireland. Oh, and the international beer list is pretty awesome.

Downtown Galway Hooker, 133 Seventh Ave South (between Charles & West 10th Streets), West Village, (212) 675-6220, downtowngalwayhooker.com

DRUNKEN DRAGON MONDAYS AT MACAO

To help take the edge of the work week (and introduce you to a new premium spirit or two), the crew at Macao are throwing a new weekly shindig called Drunken Dragon Mondays. To achieve drunken dragon status, simply arrive between 10pm and midnight on Mondays, work your magic on the good bartenders, and presto - free drinks. You're welcome.

Macao Trading Co., 311 Church Street (between Walker & Lispenard Streets), Tribeca, (212) 431-8750, macaonyc.com

Queens Cuisine: Discover Queens Restaurant Week
Check out ethnic spots you've always wanted to hit, from Astoria to Flushing, now with special $25 prix fixe menus.
Clueless Cuisine: Alicia Silverstone shows off her culinary skills as part of the NYC Wine & Food Festival on Saturday.
Thru Oct 15. Various locations. (718-263-0546).

Sausages, Steins and a Striptease

If Oktoberfest needs one thing, it's a looser attitude toward décolletage. So the fine folks at the Bell House are correcting the error with a night of gourmet sausages, strip tease from the girls of Wasabassco Burlesque and truly massive steins of beer. Fair warning: there may be polka music. But also, heaving bosoms.

411: 7:30pm, Oct 8, The Bell House, 149 7th St (at 2nd Ave), Brooklyn