Cocktail Locals Honored; La Boulange Expands to L.A.

SAN FRANCISCO—Congrats to Trick Dog, Smuggler's Cove, Nopa, Hard Water, and Tommy's, which racked up nominations in the Tales of the Cocktail awards, one of the biggest prizes in the spirits/cocktail world. A number of local brand reps and writers were nominated as well. [Zagat]

LOS ANGELES—With the help of corporate sugar daddy Starbucks, La Boulange is finally flying the Bay Area brick-and-mortar nest, opening a 3,000-square-foot outpost in L.A.'s Mid-City area. It'll also be the brand's first location to serve a full dinner menu. [SFBT]

THE MISSION—St. Vincent is hosting a special happy hour tonight featuring AR. PE. PE. Winery, which owner David Lynch says is "some of the greatest Nebbiolo-based wine you'll ever taste." (Considering he literally wrote the book on Italian wine, that's high praise.) They'll have a flight of four vintages for $50, both tonight and during dinner service while supplies last. [EaterWire]

UNION SQUARE—Meanwhile, over at Millennium, Chasewater Winery is landing tonight for a six-course dinner highlighting spring produce like porcinis and morels and paired with their organic wines. Tickets are $90. [EaterWire]