Sidecar Market

After an afternoon open house at my real estate listing in Palmdale, I knew two things for sure: 1) I wanted a cold cocktail and 2) I wanted to bug my friend Terrin until he said yes to leaving his house. So after closing up, I immediately called Terrin and he said he would pick a place and text it to me. The place? Sidecar Market in Newhall, adjacent to Saugus and Santa Clarita.

After checking out the Google Map link he sent over, I was intrigued. Frankly, Sidecar Market looked too cool and too – upscale – for what I thought I would ever find in Newhall. As someone who grew up in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, it was an impressive reminder that it was time to adjust my expectations about what I could find in the greater Los Angeles area.

After checking in with the hostess in the foyer, Terrin and I were led to through a door to Sidecar.

Instantly, I was impressed. This – was in Newhall?

Yes, it was.

Our bartender, James, was a total standout. He was warm, confident, and clearly in his element behind the bar. When I asked how long he’d been behind the bar and he replied – 12 years. Then, he said he got his start at Olive Garden. From then, I knew we were in excellent hands. Plus, he gave me a sample of the SPICY SENORITA (El Tequileno Blanco Tequila, Prickly Pear, Fresh Lime, Agave, Tajin) from the overflow from a set of drinks.

Watching him craft cocktails with practiced ease was genuinely captivating. At one point, I asked James what he was mixing, and he told me it was a Dealer’s Choice. He explained it as a cocktail where the guest shares a preference – a spirit, a flavor profile, a vibe –  and leaves the rest in the bartender’s hands.

It instantly took me back to Youngblood in San Diego, one of those places where the bartenders are artists and guests are delighted in the designed-to-your-taste cocktails. I watched – totally absorbed – as James crafted drink after drink with smooth, practiced precision. Terrin didn’t hesitate – he wanted a Dealer’s Choice too.

As James got to work on it, I sat back and documented what felt like a masterclass in cocktail making.

After he handed the drink over, I absolutely loved the smoke bubble. It immediately reminded me of the Kiss The Bubble cocktail that Margaret ordered during our dinner at Flowers Saratoga.

As for my drink, I presented James with a conundrum of sorts. I wanted a whiskey forward drink – that wasn’t made with the most expensive High West Distillery’s whiskey – even though High West is one of my favorite American distilleries.

Why?

Because frankly, I didn’t want to pay $60+ for a single cocktail made with High West Distillery’s A Midwinter Night’s Dram. However, I also wanted something of distinction and – of course – served with my own smoke bubble for added effect.

The result?

A PAPER PLANE COCKTAIL (whiskey, Aperol, Amaro Nonino).

The best part?

James uses High West Distillery’s High West Distillery Cask Collection: Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Blended Bourbon Whiskey – which is about $70 a bottle if you find a deal – as his standard well whiskey.

Yes. Please. More. Thank you.

What followed was the smoothest Paper Plane I’ve ever held to my lips and sipped in refined pleasure.

It was well balanced, crisp on the tongue and truly a well made cocktail.

To go with our cocktails, we shared the BLACKENED SUARED AHI TUNA (lemon atoll, capers, castelvetrano olive relish, citrus ponzu, frisee, orange).

The bites were light, and the conversation flowed just as easily as the good vibes. What I appreciate most about Terrin is the kind of camaraderie that’s rare to find – especially in real estate.

Especially in Los Angeles.

Especially while being black.

There’s a shared understanding between us. From the moment I met Terrin at my first brokerage just after just getting licensed, I knew I’d met someone I could have real talk with – about writing offers, open houses and the business of real estate. In the words of Kandi Buress from The Real Housewives of Atlanta – “we see each other” – and truly wish for each other’s success. And to me – that’s everything good in friendships.

Sitting at Sidecar Market, chatting with James behind the bar, and catching up on everything from personal news to world headlines, I felt grateful. Grateful to have a friend like Terrin, whose presence reminds me I’m not moving through this space alone.

It just sucked that an owl swooped down and snatched his family’s small dog from their front yard. But at least for a little while, he got to forget about that over a damn good cocktail and conversation.

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