••• Handlebar Coffee Roasters has announced on its website that it’s opening a café at 836 E. Anapamu (at the north end of Milpas), expected to debut in the spring or summer of next year. This is an exciting reuse of a terrific little building—here’s hoping it happens on schedule. UPDATE 11/18: S. said he spoke with Kim, one of Handlebar’s owners, who said the café isn’t happening (although it’s still on the company’s website…). UPDATE 11/19: I heard back Handlebar: “It is something we have been working on getting a permit for one year in December. Slow going but yes sir, that’s the plan/goal.” Let’s all cross our fingers….
••• Funk Zone bar Pearl Social has closed while it prepares to reopen on Friday as a seasonal pop-up called Miracle, which happens in bars across North America. (A nice touch: You’ll be able to make a reservation.) Some background about Miracle from the press release:
Miracle is a Christmas-themed pop-up cocktail bar that serves holiday cocktails in a festive setting. With kitschy holiday décor, professionally-developed cocktails and the nostalgic energy of the best office party you’ve ever been to, Miracle is sure to get even the grouchiest grinch in the holiday spirit.
The concept was born in 2014 when upon the advice of his mother, owner Greg Boehm decided to halt construction of what was to be his new East Village cocktail bar called Mace and transformed the unfinished space into a pop-up bar serving holiday-themed drinks among over-the-top Christmas decorations. As crowds swarmed the NYC location, Boehm’s friends throughout the bar industry asked how they could recreate the holiday magic on their own turf and expansion became inevitable. The following year, Miracle expanded to 4 locations and in 2016, it went worldwide with pop-ups in Greece, Montreal and Paris. Currently, Boehm and manager Joann Spiegel are pleased to expand the concept to all corners of the US, plus pop-ups in Canada, Europe, Asia, and Central America.
••• There’s a liquor-license application notice in the window of Choppa Poke at 716 State Street (De La Guerra/Ortega)—but nothing on the state California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control website, oddly. According to the notice, the applicant is an LLC established by Choppa Poke owner David Chen, and the name of the new establishment is Mokutan. It means “charcoal” in Japanese, which leads one to expect cooked food.
••• The Paseo Nuevo outpost of the Eureka! chain has reopened after a remodel.
••• “What started as a limited-time-only special became such a popular item at their other locations, the creators of Kyle’s Kitchen decided its Krispy Chicken deserved its own restaurant: Kyle’s Chicken House, now open at 900 Embarcadero Del Mar in Isla Vista, formerly Kyle’s Kitchen and Silvergreens.” —Restaurant Guy
••• Sproutcraft Creamery posted what might be the most Ojai thing I have ever seen: “Introducing The Cosmic Lab. We invite all those who feel called to come and join us every Saturday onward starting 11/27 at Stargate in Ojai. We have joined forces with @itza_the_itzbe to bring you this pop up residency to have a welcoming and safe space that provides access to healing food, information, education all in support of a cellular upgrade. In these times of food scarcities, insecurities and an overly commercialized food systems our goal is help people unplug from this matrix and take back their sovereignty. We will be selling all of our goods in the shop as well as offering a small menu of brunch oriented foods and adaptogen elixirs. In the near future we also plan on offering classes and workshops around fermentation and other plant-based food preparation.”
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I’ve been hearing the rumor about Handlebar going in here for a long time now. I thought there was no way it was true since so much time had elapsed. So exciting! Go Aaron and Kim! This is a dozen good things rolled into one. Repurposing charming old buildings, great local business, and walkable coffee for the Bungalow Haven and Lower Riviera neighborhoods.