Welcome to the weekend. The summer heat is setting in, time to get out and celebrate a 75 year birthday at the Farmer’s Market or head up the coast to Santa Barbara and Paso Robles for some wine and cigars. Explore your senses on the Fox lot with wine and food by some of the best chefs and bakers in town, cool off with a pool side BBQ and free ice cream, then finish it off with some great pre-fixe dinners. So much to do, so little time.
Friday, July 17
Farmer’s Market 75th Anniversary Celebration
3rd and Fairfax (times vary)
Enjoy live music, family fun, and great food at the Farmer’s Market 75th Anniversary Celebration. Live music all weekend includes Melody Masters, Doo-Wop All-Stars, Radio Disney Street Team, Susie Hansen Latin Band, San Fernando Valley Banjo Band, and more. Other activities include face painting, magic shows, and craft workshops for the kids. All events are free of charge. For a full list check out the schedule.
California Wine Festival
Santa Barbara
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday enjoy lots of wine, food, music, sea and sun at the California Wine Festival in Santa Barbara. A unique wine tasting experience with hundreds of California’s best red and white wines, live blues music, dozens of top chefs and specialty food purveyors, gourmet appetizers, fresh cut fruits, grilled meats, artisan breads and cheeses and much more. Ticket prices for the different days vary, click here for tickets.
Cigar Conference
Paso Robles
On Friday pair wine and cigars with one of the best chefs in the area at Robert Hall Winery. Then on Saturday enjoy cigar rolling, cigar tasting, seminars, vendors, food, entertainment, and more. Dinner is $150, cigar rolling and festival on Saturday is $75. Full itinerary and tickets here.
Saturday, July 18
12th Annual Extravaganza for the Senses
Los Angeles
The 12th Annual Extravaganza for the Senses at 20th Century Fox Studios is one of the largest and most popular wine and food tasting events in Los Angeles. More than 2,000 people will mingle under the stars sampling over 100 wines and delicacies from 40 of Los Angeles’ top restaurants. Guests will enjoy great music, a silent auction and more, for one all inclusive price. General admission is $100, and VIP admission is $225 which includes early admission, access to an exclusive lounge featuring special seating, food and drinks For more info and to buy tickets check out their web site.
Sunday, July 19
National Ice Cream Day at MILK
Los Angeles (8am-11pm)
MILK is giving away free scoops of it’s delicious ice cream for National Ice Cream Day. Just say the secret code phrase “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream” and a scoop in a cup or cone shall be yours. It’s gonna be a hot one this weekend, get there early and plan for a line.
Summer Pool Party at Yamashiro
Hollywood (2-5pm)
Lounge poolside with one of the best views in Hollywood on Sunday at Yamashiro’s Pagoda Bar. Enjoy muddled drinks, Asian inspired BBQ sliders for $3 and live music by DJ Jaz with special guest DJs. Don’t forget your bathing suit.
Club Culinaire’s Chef A Table
Los Angeles (6pm)
Club Culinaire’s dinner series entitled Chef A Table provides an opportunity to experience the culinary creations of several of Southern California’s most renowned chefs promoting French cuisine. Each chef will host a table during this four-course dinner with wine pairings at La Cachette, which is a special fundraising event for baby Sebastien Daniel, who is struggling with leukemia. Price is $115 per person (tax deductible). Reservations can be made by calling 310-470-4992.
Ammo Farm-to-Table Dinner
Los Angeles (6-10pm)
AMMO partners with California’s best farmers to present a seasonal series of farm-to-table dinners. These intimate meals draw together slow-food enthusiasts and restaurant industry insiders for a rare opportunity to savor the finest in local produce and engage with the farmers who grow it. The event will include a four-course prix-fixe menu inspired by the featured farm’s best produce, with optional wine pairings for each course. Seating is from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Price is $55 per person; plus $30 for the wine pairing. Call 323-467-3293 for reservations.
Upcoming:
July 25 – At Summer Sessions with Oliver Peoples get shades usually priced between $300 and $500 for either $99 or $119 at the store in Malibu from 6-9pm. Plus, KCRW’s Garth Trinidad will be spinning, so you can get his opinion on those aviators between trips to the open bar.
August 1 – Top chefs, vintners, brewers and distillers gather at the California Science Center for Plate by Plate, a special tasting benefit for Project by Project’s Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Program that aids low-income immigrants. Live entertainment and a silent auction accompany tastings from restaurants including BottleRock downtown, XIV, Cicada, Roy’s, Katsuya, FIG, Scoops, and Xooro. The main event runs 7 p.m to 10 p.m., with a VIP reception from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $150.
August 1-2 – 21st Annual Taste in San Pedro at Point Fermin Park showcases gourmet foods, beer & wine, live entertainment, children’s activities, craft boutiques, an artists pavilion and a tribute to our Military. Over 30 restaurants, wineries, breweries will be in attendance.
August 6 – The Celebrity Chef Tour Benefiting the James Beard Foundation, features Award-Winning Chefs and once in a lifetime dining experience with the worlds best chefs all in one location. The LA details have yet to be announced, but tickets will probably be around $175 each.
August 8-9 – Celebrity Chef Guy Fieri from Diners, Drive Ins and Dives hits the stage at the Celebrity Food Show. Taste gourmet foods, sample fine wines, and spend the weekend having a good time with family and friends. Tickets start at $35, additional info on the web site.
August 13 – Summer cooking classes at The Larchmont Larder, taught by owner Michael Beglinger, celebrate seasonal ingredients. “Just Tomatoes” is set for On August 13 at 7 p.m., and will teach how to put heirloom tomatoes in soups, salads, tarts and sauces. Classes are $75 each. Reservations are required. 323-962-9900
Thu, Jul 16, 2009
City Beat