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Wine? Why not! Photo by Christina Lam.

This Friday, Feb. 18, is National Drink Wine Day. Now, we all know that you don’t need a special reason to drink wine, but now you can say you’re doing your civic duty when your boss asks why you’re having that bottle — er, glass — of pinot at 10:00 a.m.

Here are a few ways to celebrate.

While not technically happening on National Drink Wine Day, Pourtal wine bar is hosting tonight a screening of the documentary “Merlove: A Documentary about Merlot” with writer and director Rudolf McClain. As you watch, sip on some of the bar’s merlot Merlove and white wine Labor of Love-themed wines. Screening is free, but the wine costs money.

Pourtal
104 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401

Wednesday, February 16, 2011
8:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

On Friday, downtown Los Angeles’ Corkbar will offer a specially-priced flight of three wines for $10. And if you check in on Foursquare and unlock the Swarm badge, you’ll get extended happy hour specials, including $2 off drafts, $8 select wines and half-priced select appetizers, for the rest of the night.

Corkbar
403 W. 12th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Also, Napa Valley Grille in Westwood will host Friday a “Guess the Grape” game led by Wine Director Christina Sherwood. Guests will be invited to sample a grape varietal not listed on the menu, and if they answer correctly will be rewarded with a complimentary glass of wine. Free wine, woo!

Napa Valley Grille
1100 Glendon Ave. Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90024

Hotel Palomar's pet amenities. Courtesy of Hotel Palomar.

• Hotel Palomar: This Kimpton-owned property allows all types of pets no matter what the species or size, within reason of course. I mean, where would they put a horse? For most of us, this means bringing your dog along, and like any good pet friendly hotel, the concierge will arrange for a staff member to walk your dog and even to pet sit. And in addition to the in-room amenities — treats, a bed, even doggie “beer” (chicken or beef-flavored broth), you can get your special four-legged friend a massage or an acupuncture treatment. How’s that for pampering?

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Like other hotels, including the Viceroy Santa Monica, W Hotel in Westwood recently introduced a slew of summer programs, and not just for food, either.

The W’s pool, which the hotel calls WET (the fitness center is called SWEAT, get it?), features floating poker, blackjack and ping pong tables for your gaming entertainment. Or you can check out a movie poolside with the hotel’s Summer Cinema Series, whose menu features house-made BBQ potato chips with caramelized onion dip ($8) and bacon-cheddar sliders with hand-cut fries ($18). There’s also a cheese plate and two glasses of wine for $21 on the menu. You can get regular candy, too, but expect to fork over $4 for peanut M&Ms!

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• Intelligentsia Venice: The grand opening of the long-awaited second L.A. location for the Chicago-based chain happens tonight. Look out for free coffee, Wurstkuche sausages, and beer and wine from Silverlake Wine. Live DJs, too. Venice, May 22. From FoodGPS.

• Valley Greek Festival: The 36th annual three-day festival of all things Greek. Admission is free, but food’s not, so you’ll have to shell out for that souvlaki and mousaka (you’ve seen “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” right?). Northridge, May 23-25.

• UCLA Jazz Reggae Fest: It’s back! And this year, the “jam” day seems pretty good with Erykah Badu, De La Soul and People Under the Stairs. I’m not so familiar with the artists playing on reggae day, but you should go and tell me about it. Westwood, May 24-25.

Just saw this: Roll In, better known as “Buck Fiddy,” the sandwich stand in Westwood Village so-called for its $1.50 subs (though it’s been years since the prices were that low), is no longer. Per Sirinya Explores LA, the stand’s landlords posted an “Abandoned” sign that said the rent was 30 days past due. This is really sad; I went to UCLA, and Buck Fiddy was an institution.

• More at losanjealous via EaterLA