If you like wine and food, you’re gonna love this weekend. Kick it off at the Lotus Festival in Echo Park and celebrate the long standing Asian celebration of the blooming of the Lotus. Check out deep fried spam then lose it all riding the twirler at the OC Fair. If you feel like getting out of town and want to experience a little bit of Paris, drive on up to Santa Barbara for the French Festival. If you’re looking to booze it up stop by the LA Wine Fest or the City of Hope Wine and Food Festival. Have a great weekend!
July 11-13 – 31st Lotus Festival (Fri 5-9pm, Sat 12-9pm, Sun 12-8:30pm)
Los Angeles, CA
Celebrate the anticipated blooming of the Lotus Flower in Echo Park at the cities 31st annual Lotus Festival. Enjoy live music, dance and entertainment from a variety of performers representing many of the diverse countries of Asia and the Pacific Islands. There will be an art show, international boutique, Dragon Boat Races, and food booths featuring a variety of Asian and Pacific Islander cuisine. Enjoy fireworks over Echo Park Lake on Friday and Saturday nights. Admission to the festival is free.
July 11-Aug 8 – Orange County Fair (Tue-Fri 12pm-12am, Sat-Sun 10am-12am, Closed Mon)
Costa Mesa, CA
What’s not to love about the OC Fair? Tons of food and, new to this year, deep fried spam and White Castle Burgers! Lots of carnival rides, vendor booths, animal exhibits, and lots of “as seen on TV” miracle products. Enjoy skateboarding, BMX, motorsports, Lucha Libre, mixed martial arts, bullriding and other shows in the Action Sports Arena. All shows in the Action Sports Arena are free with Fair admission! Live shows (for an additional entry fee) at the Pacific Amphitheater include B. B. King, Tom Jones, Chris Isaak, Dropkick Murphys, Stray Cats and more.
July 12 (through July 26th) – 6th Annual Vice Photo Show Opening Reception (7-10pm, ongoing Wed-Sat 11am-6pm)
Culver City, CA
In conjunction with Vice magazine, Scion presents the sixth annual Vice Photo Show at its 4,500 square foot Installation L.A. Gallery. It will include work by Australia’s self-taught and foremost cultural documentarian of the 1970s-90s, Rennie Ellis; a special section entitled “Riddles,” curated by Tim Barber, former Vice photo editor ; and three of the best, contemporary photographers in Japan: Yoshiki Saitoh, Jin Ohashi, and Kawori Inbe. Free drinks and valet parking at the opening reception, sweet…
July 12-13, 2008 – 21st Annual Santa Barbara French Festival (11am-7pm)
Santa Barbara, CA
Celebrate Bastille day in true style at the largest French celebration in the Western United States at the Santa Barbara French Festival. Dozens of chefs cooking up great food; everything from crepes to quiche. Huge Eiffel Tower. Non-stop entertainment on three stages, and much more. Admission is free, food and wine prices vary.
July 12-13 – LA Wine Fest (2-6pm)
Los Angeles, CA
Enjoy the 3rd annual LA Wine Fest at the historic Raleigh Studios in the heart of Hollywood. The event is a 2 day long wine tasting with over 500 wines and 100 other beverages (vodka, tequila, beer, etc.). Price of admission is $45 for the one day and $80 for both days. Tickets are available here.
July 13 – City of Hope Wine and Food Festival (4-7pm)
Del Mar, CA
The City of Hope Wine and Food Festival will be held in the heart of the Del Mar Plaza. Enjoy a variety of wines from regional vineyards and foods from top area restaurants. There will also be a silent auction with some great items! Tickets are $55.
July 13 – 15th Annual Brazilian Summer Festival (5-10pm)
Long Beach, CA
On Sunday at the Queen Mary, enjoy the rhythms of Rio de Janeiro and the Northeast of Brazil at the 15th Annual Brazilian Summer Festival. Headliners are authentic and traditional Brazilian samba group, GRUPO REVELAÇÃO directly from Brazil in their Los Angeles debut. Browse arts and crafts booths, munch on delicious and authentic Brazilian food and appetizers and enjoy music all day from Brazilian DJs. Admission is $40, tickets can be purchsed at the door or in advance here.
July 13 – Friends of TOMS benefit concert at Hotel Cafe (7pm-12am)
Hollywood, CA
Join Meiko, Greg Laswell, Kelly Dalton, Cary Brothers, and more at Hotel Cafe on Sunday night, as they help raise money for TOMS Shoes. TOMS will have some of their stylish shoes on sale and for every pair of shoes you buy they will give a pair of shoes to a child in need. They’ve donated tens of thousands of shoes over the past few years with plans do hand out over 200,000 pairs this year. Admission is $10. Doors open at 6:30.
Thu, Jul 10, 2008
City Beat