Of course the Rose Bowl office has been reluctant to confirm any rumors, quite the cup is half empty camp through this entire process, citing needed stadium renovations and community and council support. Come on Pasadena, stop being such a stick in the mud. We like football as much as you do.

Originally reported by Curbed LA.

Aug 14 & 15 - Grand Wine Tasting at Vino 100 (6pm-8pm)
Hollywood
Vino 100 at Hollywood and Highland, is a boutique wine store that features wines from world’s little-known, but superior quality vineyards. For $10, experience 10 boutique wines from around the world (5 whites and 5 reds).

Aug 15-17 - America’s Best: Celebrity Food Show (12pm-5:30pm Fri, 10:30am-5:30pm Sat & Sun)
Anaheim
Sample Gourmet Food and Wine from across the nation at the Celebrity Food Show. 200 plus companies will be displaying items, sampling and selling gourmet products and services to inspire and indulge your culinary spirit. Cooking sessions will be held daily on our Celebrity Stage by top TV Network Celebrity Chefs. $10 per day or $15 for a weekend pass.

Aug 15 - Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano Concert (7pm)
Santa Fe Springs
Enjoy an evening of two-time Grammy Award-winning Los Angeles based mariachi ensemble Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano at Town Center Plaza. The cost is $50 for non-Santa Fe Springs residents and $40 for residents. Proceeds benefit La Familia, a fund to assist families residing in the city of Santa Fe Springs and surrounding areas in emergency crisis situations.

Aug 15 - Friday Night Sing-Alongs, 80’s hits! (7:30pm-9:00pm)
Downtown Los Angeles
Friday Night Sing-Alongs is taking you back to your favorite mixtape with hits by hits by Wham, Kool & the Gang, Berlin, Heart, Madonna, Stevie Wonder & Michael Jackson. Singers of all levels are welcome. Limited seating capacity. First come, first served so arrive early. This event is free and takes place at the Music Center Plaza.

Aug 16 - Once Upon A Canyon Night (7:30pm)
Beverly Hills
TreePeople is reviving its popular “Once Upon a Canyon Night” summer series of live entertainment after a 4-year hiatus. This Saturday, enjoy the roots rock sound of Tom Freund (The NY Times calls him “an unexpected gem”). Offering “kids music for the whole family,” from the James Brown style of “Freezedance” to the Woody Guthriesque “Bakin’ a Cake” and more. Tom will play a selection of music from his past albums and bring along some special guests, too. Admission is $10 for members and $15 for non-members.

Aug 16-24 - 68th Annual Nisei Week Japanese Festival Little Tokyo (9am Sat)
Little Tokyo
This nine-day festival in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo district highlights Japanese and Japanese American culture and 2008 marks its 68th year. There will be lots of food, car show, a “going green” street fair, sumo demonstration, karate tournament, gyoza eating contest and more. Admission is free!

Aug 17 - “Taste of the Beach” festival (4pm-8pm)
Hermosa Beach
The Kiwanis Club of Hermosa Beach hosts their third annual “Taste of the Beach” food and wine festival. 28 restaurants and wineries will be on hand. Tickets are $50 and proceeds benefit Project Touch for at-risk teens. The event takes place at the Hermosa Beach Community Center.

Friday

Hot Friday Nights continue at Hollywood Park, with dollar beers, dollar hotdogs, dollar bets. Appearing this Friday June 6th is the Neil Diamond tribute band, Super Diamond. The concert is free with paid admission of $10 to the newly remodeled Ascot Terrace club house. Otherwise, it’s $20 after 9pm. Upcoming Friday concerts include Steel Pulse, Dramarama, English Beat, Berlin and more. Talk about an 80’s wet dream!

On June 6th through the 8th, the Erotic LA show returns to the LA Convention Center. Erotica LA features over 300 erotic-themed booths and attracts over 40,000 horny guys consumers. This three day erotic expo offers something for everyone - from naughty toys to sexy lingerie and DVDs . Mingle with your favorite adult celebs, get front and center at the hottest stage shows and learn how to spice things up in the bedroom. Ticket prices start at $35 for a single day pass.

Saturday

On Saturday June 7th stop on by El Carmen for a tequila tasting. From 5-8 pm sample over a dozen different kinds of tequila. Sip on Herencia Mexicana, Tonala, Gran Centenario, 4 Copas, Partida, as well as delicious snacks for a meger 25 bucks. Ole!

Also on Saturday, Scion presents the Travel & Document opening reception at SCION Installation L.A. from 7-10pm. Enoy artwork from Jrivas, Larry Mills, Vanae Mary Rivera, Tanner Goldbeck, and J. Shae. Soundtrack for the night provided by DJ Magneto & DJ Dot Domis. Free Valet and open bar too!

Sunday

On Sunday June 8th, be sure to check out the Los Feliz Street Fair on Vermont between Franklin and Hollywood. Attractions include: 2 stages of Live musical entertainment, performing street artists, wine and beer gardens, delectable food from village restaurants and a midway featuring an array of colorful, eclectic, one-of-a-kind merchandise from local artists and exhibitors. If you’re wondering how much this good time will cost, don’t. Admission is free.

If you like French Food, then this last one is for you. It’s the Picnic des Chefs at the Crystal Spings Picnic Area in Griffith Park. On Sunday June 8th enjoy a fun and sun filled day for the whole family. The Chefs of the Club will pamper you and cook up a storm in an informal setting. The Tour de France will feature dishes from various regions. Wine will be served to quench your thirst, along with Evian, French beer and Orangina. Tickets are $50.

And its menu suggests it is both, and so does the overall vibe. They didn’t do much to change it from Tiger Lily, or not much that I can tell. It’s still an open space situated around a bar, with a nice outdoor patio.

While the ambiance and the live Cuban music was a plus, the food was just awful. The carnitas taquitos were deep fried wontons filled with a pork mush. The accompanying spicy red chili aioli was too overpowering for the “taquitos”.

My Ropa Viejas was bland and reminded me of my mom’s pot roast. Not that your pot roast was bad mom, but you never called it Ropa Viejas. It was also lukewarm when it arrived. The rice and black beans were pretty bland too. The rice was dry and the texture felt like it had been sitting out for a while. Angela got the Camarones with a creole garlic and hot pepper sauce. It wasn’t creole, nor was it garlicky or spicy.

I don’t have any pictures from that night. My camera battery was dead, but the presentation on the dishes on clear glass plates was just as bland as the food. I doubt I will be returning. Slapping a new sign up and changing the menu does not a Cuban restaurant make

Cuba Libre Latin Cafe Bar
1745 N Vermont Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 661-5900

On top of the field level concession renovations that went on in the off season, and the plan to renovate loge, reserve and top deck in the coming off seasons, the Dodgers have unveiled a plan to create an entrance promenade in the outfield parking area. The LA Times today announced the Dodger announcement.

In an attempt to make the stadium more a of destination beyond getting there late and leaving early, they will be adding restaurants, shops, club offices and a Dodgers museum, along with a parking garage to make up for the 2,000 spaces they are losing. Rumored cost of the project is set at $500 million.

As quoted by the times, City Councilman Ed Reyes, says “the project would surround the ballpark with a ring of greenery, with parks and plazas ‘almost like a campus setting,’ so fans could walk from a garage onto a tree-lined walkway leading to an entrance, or to the retail cluster.”

A news conference is set for later today. I’m giddy with anticipation. More soon.

UPDATE: The cat is out of the bag, more info on the “The Next 50 Years” plan can be seen here.

Gary Canter, a long time Dodger fan, has been trying to get into Dodger Stadium for some time.

The Canter’s Fairfax, an orgasmic mix of pastrami and corned beef.

Waffle fries from Canter’s. Crispy, tasty and pipin’ hot!

Tri-tip sliders, parmesan-bleu fries and shakes from Ruby’s. Heart attack anyone?

Mrs Beasley, where are my ice cream cookie sandwiches?

Cookies, cakes, and Tiramisu at Mrs Beasley’s

Blended margaritas, hurricanes, pina coladas and a full bar at the Think Blue Bar.

A view from the field. Brad Penny dominates the Pirates.

According to the Times, rich people sit on the field level. While I am sure the average income on the field level is closer to the upper percentile, it’s not untouchable for us average working Joes. You can buy tickets from StubHub for anywhere from $20 on up to $150 for field level seats.

A Dodgertown Retrospective

I never really liked baseball growing up, I went to games when I was a kid with my parents, but I just never got into it. Then one day, it clicked. I loved the Dodgers. Maybe it was that fateful afternoon when Kirk Gibson belted the home run and limped around the bases.

Whatever caused it, it was the day my blood turned Dodger Blue.

So naturally my trip to visit Dodgertown in March of 05 was quite emotional. I knew I was excited, but as I pulled in I had no way of knowing that simply seeing the sign “Welcome to Dodgertown” would, quite literally, bring me to tears.

I arrived at Spring training’s opening day several hours early. I was practically one of the first cars in the parking lot, besides the staff and players. I wanted time to soak in the entire experience. As I pulled up I saw players off on the practice fields taking batting practice, little did I know I was about to get up close and personal with the players!

That’s the magic of spring training. You’re allowed access inside the practice area. I watched as future Dodger Brad Penny and future trade bait Edwin Jackson worked on their fastballs. I watched future former manager Jim Tracy converse with the press from the comfort of his golf cart. I even got to watch future closer Takashi Saito, excited to be in America, work on his delivery.

The players signed autographs with the fans, conversed briefly then moved on to the next workout.

I made my way across the fresh cut grass to Holman Stadium as the Florida Marlins took their batting practice. I shagged a couple of former Dodger Paul Lo Duca foul balls, one of which I got him to autograph.

I don’t recall if the Dodgers won or lost on that day, but it’s just Spring ball so it didn’t matter. What mattered is that a dream came true on that day and I am glad I was able to saunter down Vin Scully Way before Dodgertown was no more.

See you in Glendale next year, maybe…

What’s better than a day at the races? Santa Anita Race Track provides 6 hours of entertainment for just a few dollars, majestic views of the San Gabriel Mountain range, fresh air, beer, fresh carved deli sandwiches, beautiful million dollar horses and of course 5 foot tall jockeys. You don’t have to know horses and jockeys to have fun at the race track. Plus, there is a center field open area with several picnic benches, playgrounds and eating facilities that’s good for families and large groups (it’s only open on weekends).

Photo by guiselle torres, used under Creative Commons.

We use to come here as kids, the fam would pack a cooler and head out to the track. We’d play on the jungle gym and swing sets all day long while the parents gambled away our college money. Today was a bit more refined as we payed the $5 main entrance fee plus the extra $3.50 for access to the club house. Slightly less crowded, with seats right on the finish line, make the additional Club House entrance fee worth it. On certain days you can even pay an extra $5 a person to get your own box seat. Check with the attendant to find out.

Sirona’s on the ground floor level.

Food choices on the club house level include fresh carved turkey or roast beef sandwiches and clam chowder. Or have lunch at FrontRunner. Overlooking the finish line, they serve contemporary California cuisine. Prices range from $6.00 to $24.00. There is a huge restaurant/bar called Sirona’s in the general admission area that serves salads, sandwiches, stone oven-baked pizzas, juicy half-pound burgers and desserts. Prices range from $6.00 to $10.00.

The Chandelier Room at the Turf Club

For $20 you gain entrance to the turf club. You can sit in the old school Chandelier Room or sit outside in the The Turf Club Terrace overlooking the track. Menu items include Fried Ravioli and Mozzarella Marinara dusted with Parmesan Cheese and Italian Herbs or the Fettuccini with Garlic Shrimp and Scallops with Crisp Pancetta and Garlic Cream Sauce. Prices range from $8.95 to $16.95.

Two long shots came in for me on Monday’s presidents day event at the track. I picked them because I liked their names, along with their recent work outs and handicapping info that is available to everyone. In Race 7, Mymomawzafandancer, a first time starter ridden by long time winner Alex Solis, was a fairly good long shot at 22-1 and paid $47 for a $2 bet. Then in the 10th race, how could I not go with Paparazzi Charm? A horse from New Zealand, had been off the circuit for 9 months and was back on the turf after several solid recent workouts. It came in at 33-1 odds and paid $70 for a 2 dollar bet!

I’m already itching to get back. Racing is through April 21st. Don’t miss the KROQ microbrew fest on the infield March 1st (again on April 5th.) Sample ice-cold microbrews from over 20 local breweries. Races are Thu-Mon. Santa Anita Race Track is located in Arcadia off the 210 freeway at the Baldwin exit. Parking is $4.