Thanks to an inquiring Buzz reader, we started looking around for great hyper-local Happy Hours and were delighted to find quite a few good ones right around the corner.
Windsor Square resident Paul Boettcher, owner of Busby’s and Spare Tire Kitchen and Tavern on Wilshire, just west of La Brea, offers Happy Hour every day from 4-7 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10-midnight. While Happy Hour doesn’t make a lot of money, since everything is half-priced, it does create a lively presence on the street as people are getting of work and thinking about dinner, explained Boettcher.
“It’s a nice visual transition into dinner,” said Boettcher, who was a professional visual artist in another life, working with very large elements.  He drew on his background when designing the interior of the restaurant, including acquiring the over-size tires that inspired the name.
It’s also a delicious way to grab a lively, early dinner. Boettcher and his chef change the menu every three months, constantly re-inventing the dining experience. There’s also a huge selection of craft and local beers, specialty cocktails, even spiked milkshakes. Spare Tire has gotten great reviews since it opened in a year and a half ago.
For some other notable local happy hours:
Neighbors tell us that Rascal on La Brea, which calls itself  “a Neighborhood restaurant with good eats, fine libations and an amazingly appetizing atmosphere,” really does live up to that promise.  Rascal offers a $6 Happy Hour menu with eclectic food options like French Toast, Fried Chicken and Gravy or Grilled Cheese everyday from 5-7 p.m. and all night on Mondays.
Wilde Wine Bar and Restaurant , also on La Brea, features artisan and small-production wines, many of them organic. Wilde describes its philosophy  as “keep things simple and try to find a quiet (or memorable) moment of indulgence in every day. So pull up a bar stool or commandeer a table and enjoy.”  And among the things you can enjoy is an early bird dinner menu from 5-7 p.m., priced at $25 for two courses or $30 for three.
Candela Taco Bar and Lounge offers $5 Margarita Mondays with two-for-one fish tacos. There’s live tango music and performances on Tuesdays and $1 tacos on Wednesday evenings from 4-7 pm. So there are at least three reasons to check out this La Brea night spot.
Of course this isn’t an exhaustive list, and we don’t want to leave anybody out…so please consider this the start of a journey exploring all the Happy Hours in the ‘hood.  In fact, it might be time for a La Brea Happy Hour Crawl. (And if you do one, please feel free to chime in with suggestions for future features!)
Spare Tire Kitchen and Tavern
5370 Wilshire Blvd.
(323) 525-2618
RascalÂ
801 South La Brea Avenue
(323) 933-3229
Wilde Wine Bar and Restaurant
320 South La Brea Avenue
(323) 932-9200
Candela Taco Bar and Lounge
831 South La Brea
(323) 936-0533
