Search found 3 matches for MiaSwier

The Pride wrote:
Tramp Stamp Granny’s: Your New Weekend Hangout

April 30, 2018

I can honestly say I’ve never used the words “tramp stamp” and “granny” in the same sentence, so of course I had to check out LA’s newest piano bar, Tramp Stamp Granny’s, to see if it lived up to the name. Located in the heart of Hollywood’s Cahuenga Strip, Tramp Stamp Granny’s ironically took the place of Grandpa Johnson’s Cocktail Club, which closed unexpectedly last year. The love child of co-owners Darren Criss and fiancée Mia Swier, Tramp Stamp Granny’s pays tribute to L.A.’s past with a modern twist.

Long before portraying Toby Phillips in “Little White Lie” and his breakout role as the openly gay Blaine Anderson on Fox’s musical hit “Glee,” Criss played piano at the Grove’s Maggiano’s restaurant to make ends meet. Criss (and his abs) were all over the blogs during the first weekend of Coachella, but during Tramp Stamp Granny’s opening week, Criss himself was a regular on the piano. If you didn’t get a chance to hear him play, don’t worry. Chances are you’ll get the opportunity again. I walked (yes, walked) to the piano bar on a Sunday night, passing well known watering holes like The Room Hollywood, Velvet Margarita, and the Attic along the way. When I got to Tramp Stamp Granny’s and realized I’d have to walk through a red curtain to get inside, I knew I was in for a treat.

The most important part of a piano bar (besides the cocktail list, which I’ll get to later) is the music, and Sunday night’s piano player didn’t disappoint with his impeccable song selection. Known to the bartenders simply as Mike, he performed his rendition of songs like “Wonderwall” by Oasis and Elton John’s classic “Tiny Dancer” – the kinds of songs you’d sing along to even if you’re sober, but definitely when you’re drunk. The acoustics were perfectly balanced. I was pleased at the simple fact that I could easily hold a conversation while still enjoying great music. Mike took a break from his set and suddenly I was listening to Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al” followed immediately by Go West’s classic “King of Wishful Thinking.” The former song got one brave patron out of his seat and on the dancefloor, channeling his inner Chevy Chase. (If you’ve seen the music video, you’ll get it.) Even if you happen to miss the piano player, the music overall is just what you’d want from a place like Tramp Stamp Granny’s: A throwback to New York-style sing-along hubs like “Rose’s Turn” and “Pieces.”

Tramp Stamp Granny’s is a small space with a lot to take in. The piano is the main attraction and the fact that you can sit right around it only adds to the sense of intimacy. From the brass fixtures to the hardwood, chevron-printed floors and the contemporary art hung tastefully on the walls, each detail feels carefully thought out. Whether you’re lounging in the red velvet chairs or standing by the marble top bar, Tramp Stamp Granny’s is a vibe. It’s a “Great Gatsby” meets “Cocktail” vibe – the kind of vibe I didn’t even realize my soul needed until I walked through that red curtain. It’s a uniquely inviting atmosphere that’s sadly missing from many bars and nightclubs throughout Hollywood.

In addition to great music, Tramp Stamp Granny’s offers a full bar and interesting cocktail list complete with names like Great Rac, Boob Soup, Actress/ Waitress/ Mattress, Pierced Nipple, and their signature, the Tramp. You can order spirit shots like Matcha Vodka, Basil Vodka, Truffle Bourbon, and my favorite, Bacon Bourbon. They’ve got PBR and Pale Ale on tap, and for the non- drinkers, there’s Kombucha on tap (or in my case, diet coke.)  The bartenders are friendly and know how to make a proper drink, which is essential to any bar, especially in Hollywood.

A few minutes before I had to call it a night, Mike came back to the piano and said a few words before he began his second set. He said that when you come to Tramp Stamp Granny’s, you can always expect “…great people, great staff, great family.” Los Angeles is a big city and a bar that makes you feel welcome and at home is priceless. Tramp Stamp Granny’s is just that kind of bar.

CBS8 wrote:
A Guide to the Serial Killers (and Infamous Murderers) Taking Over Film and TV

November 3, 2017


From Jack the Ripper to John Wayne Gacy to Aileen Wuornos, the horrific legacies of serial killers have managed to both appall and intrigue, as people attempt to explore and understand the darkest depths of the human psyche. Hollywood has mined this territory for years, with dozens of scripted true-crime movies and TV series exploring the “why” of those who snap.

But why are we so obsessed? Alex Wolff, who stars in the new movie My Friend Dahmer, about the high school years of the notorious mass murderer Jeffrey Dahmer, has a theory. “People are interested in seeing how things happen and maybe finding out what things could be different,” he tells ET. “Like, what is it about him that’s so different from me, or my next-door neighbor who seems a little bit off? That’s why people are interested in seeing the birth of things like this -- for their own comfort, for their own life. It’s very easy to write people off as monsters, but it’s more interesting to examine them as people who did horrible things.”

[. . . ]

American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace (FX)
Premieres: Jan. 17, 2018
Subject: Andrew Cunanan

Darren Criss as Andrew Cunanan
Photo:  FX

The fashion designer’s shocking murder gets a star-studded treatment from Ryan Murphy, who turned American Crime Story’s first installment -- focused on the O.J. Simpson trial -- into a pop-culture phenomenon. Former Glee star Darren Criss steps into the role of glib gigolo Cunanan, who went on a murder spree in 1997, killing five men during a cross-country reign of terror, the last of whom was Versace on the front steps of his Miami home. Cunanan committed suicide eight days later, leaving no suicide note and no motive for his crimes.