Welcome to the weekend. Start your weekend of right with some fine bourbon and wine tasting on Friday night. Then on Saturday, make your Irish eyes smile at the Irish Fair and Music Festival or check out the 9th Annual Lantern Festival taking place at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. And don’t worry, there’s more wine tasting on Saturday, plus a bread baking class at Surfas. On Sunday celebrate the Oscars® by taking a tour of Los Angeles on the Metro and then enjoy some special Oscars® wine and cocktails.
Friday, Mar 5
Friday Night Spirits at The Wine House
West LA (7:30-9:30pm)
Enjoy a fantastic way to wind down at the end of the work week with a series of Friday evening spirits tastings at the Wine House. Have some fun, meet some cool people, learn about and most importantly, taste some delicious bourbon. You’ll taste all types and styles of bourbon in a variety of price ranges. Host Marc Schwarz will share his expertise in a comfortable, casual atmosphere. Cost is $50 per person.
Wine Tasting @ The Flask – Blind Tasting
Studio City (4-8pm)
Taste 7 different wines at The Flask’s “Brown Bag Blind Tasting”. Explore the different flavors, aromas and wines with their experienced wine sellers. This fun and informative event is only $19.
California Wine Tasting at Rosso Wine Shop
Glendale (5-8pm)
Sample three different California wines at Rosso Wine Shop in Glendale. The 2008 Talley Chardonnay Estate with a delicate bouquet of the Estate Chardonnay expresses aromas of green apple, toasted walnuts, and orange blossoms with hints of vanilla. Then try the 2006 Hitching Post Generation Red, a blend of 38% Cabernet Franc from Alisos Vineyard in the hills above Los Alamos, 33% of meticulously farmed Merlot from Westerly and Gainey vineyards in the Santa Ynez Valley and small amounts of White Hawk Syrah and Bien Nacido Refosco. Then finish the tasting off with the 2006 Amplio Cabernet Sauvignon, a food friendly, medium bodied Cabernet with loads of personality. Cost is only $10 per person.
Saturday, Mar 6
8th Annual Los Angeles County Irish Fair and Music Festival
Pomona (10am-6pm Sat & Sun)
Celebrating its 8th year, The Irish Fair & Music Festival has become the largest festival of its kind in Southern California. With 8 stages featuring true Irish music from the likes of Dublin 4, Skelpin’, The Mulligans, The Twilight Lords, and many more. Back again this year, are the Cripple Creek Cloggers and the McCartan School of Dance. Also this year, Sheepherding Demonstrations, an Irish Dog Show, the largest Irish Import Street in the west, Leprechaun Village, Pipers and the Celtic Arts Center with a fine dining Irish buffet. It’s your lucky day if your last name is Murphy as entry is free for you, otherwise it’s $18, with children 11 and under free.
2010 Lantern Festival
Downtown Los Angeles (12-7pm)
Everyone’s favorite community tradition is celebrating its ninth year at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument! The 2010 Lantern Festival will spotlight the sights and sounds of this popular Chinese holiday with a recreation of a traditional village street fair featuring brilliant lantern displays, exciting stage performances, a variety of interactive workshops showcasing Chinese traditional and culturally-diverse arts and crafts. This event is free.
World of Wine Barrel Tasting Weekend
Temecula (10am-4:30pm)
A new world twist on old world varietals, this two day barrel tasting weekend features your favorite varietals made with Temecula Valley style. Your self-guided tour will take you to 25 wineries representing wine growing regions from around the world, each offering old world varietal wines from barrel, tank or bottle, all perfectly paired with scrumptious food samplings which exemplify the perfect marriage of food and wine. Ticket holders will receive a map of the Temecula Valley, a passport which allows a visit to each participating winery and a souvenir glass. The two day event is $89 per person. Click here to buy tickets.
San Antonio Winery: Artisan Chocolates & California Reds
Downtown LA (1-3pm)
Learn about wines, wine-making, and grape-growing regions, while experiencing gourmet wine and cuisine pairings in the heart of the San Antonio Winery. The “Artisan Chocolates & California Reds” class will focus on pairing chocolate with reds from California. Host Michael Paplia will guide you through a decadent and delightful pairing. Light appetizers included. $20 pp
LA Wine Tasting: Un Gout de Provence (a taste from Provence)
Downtown LA (3-5pm)
You’re hearing the crickets, smelling the lavender, eating Ratatouille with a glass of Rose… you might be in Provence, but you’re really at the SB Lofts in Downtown LA. Take a tour of the most famous AOCs from the Cotes du Ventoux down to the vineyards facing the Mediterranean Sea. Enjoy whites, roses and reds for $66 pp, or $88 per couple. More info and tickets here.
Artisanal Bread Baking with Jerry Maybrook
Culver City (12-4pm)
Jerry Maybrook is one of the hidden jewels of the Los Angeles food world. An artisanal baker, Jerry produces truly transcendent loaves of bread in his home oven. Spend an afternoon in the Test Kitchen with Jerry as he shares from his years of research and trial and error and leads the class through the process of making the perfect French Country loaf in a home oven. The class takes place at Surfas in Culver City and costs $25. Reservations are required. Click here for more info.
Sunday, Mar 7
Metro Art Tours
Downtown Los Angeles (10am-12pm)
Metro’s Docent Council is a group of volunteers committed to increasing awareness of the broad range of art in the Metro Rail system through public tours that provide insights into the artworks, the artists who created them, the processes it took to make them, and the communities they enhance. Meet promptly at 10 am at the information booth inside the entrance to historic Union Station at 900 Alameda St. in Downtown Los Angeles. This tour is free!
Red Carpet Worthy Food & Wine Pairing
Santa Monica (7-10pm)
Cheer on your favorite Oscar hopefuls at Pourtal Wine Bar on Oscar Night. Watch on all three screens while enjoying a “Red Carpet Worthy” Tasting put together by Wine Director, Rachel Bryan and Chef Sean Takaki. Best Actress: The Rare Wine Co. “Les Mensil” Blanc de Blancs NV Champagne with Truffle Mac & Cheese. Best Actor: Scholium Project “Babylon” Tenbrink Vineyards 2005 Suisun Valley with Roasted Duck and Potatoes. Best Picture:Villalta Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2004 Vento with a Chocolate Bar. Cost, a mere $25 per person.
Oscar Cocktails At The Standard, Hollywood
Hollywood
Enjoy a special selection of Oscar Cocktails At The Standard, Hollywood. The nominees are; Pandoran punch made up of orange rum and blue curacao, Shoshanna’s revenge a mix of dragon berry rum, orange and strawberry, and the Mile High Club which consists of French vanilla kahlua and patron coffee. The Standard, Hollywood has these selection of cocktails available at $12 each alongside there normal daily selection of scrumptious goodies.
Continuing:
palate food + wine Sunday Session and Supper
Glendale (12-5pm & 5-9pm)
This Sunday at palate food + wine try the featured “Single Dish” at Sunday Session for $12. Or do the full Sunday supper for $35 which includes an appetizer, a main course, and dessert. Wine flights available for $12.
Little Dom’s Monday Night Supper
Los Feliz (6pm-11pm)
On Monday nights Little Dom’s if offering a $15 prix-fixe supper featuring seasonal dishes like Shrimp & Whitebean Brushetta , Grilled Albacore w/ Roasted Peppers & Oregano,
Cranberry & Chocolate Chunk Rice Pudding. Bottles of Dago Red or White are $10, and Peroni beer is $2. Sounds like the perfect recession buster to us.
Wine Pairing Wednesday at Upstairs2
West LA (7:30pm)
Upstairs 2, located above the massive Wine House, offers a four-course dinner prepared by chef Todd Barrie every Wednesday, paired with four wines from around the world selected by sommelier Marilyn Snee. Each week will showcase a different wine region, and there will be a brief discussion of each wine and its pairing. The cost is only $55 per person. Make your rezzy here.
Friday Night Sessions @ California Plaza
Downtown Los Angeles (7pm)
Free concerts return to California Plaza in Downtown Los Angeles on the 2nd Friday of every month. The program includes performances by local emerging indie bands. The Friday Night Sessions concert series is a collaborative effort by lafreebee, Isgoodmusic, SideCho Records, Heart Music Group, Casa Downtown, Grand Performances and the artists themselves. This Friday’s performers include Under the Asbury, Garland, Lady Katherine, and Bright Million.
Upcoming:
April 24 – At the 2nd Annual UNIQUE LA Spring Show, taking place at the California Market Center (11am-6pm), shop for two-days at the event that showcases independent design talent at great prices – with an emphasis on “made in America” goods, as 99% of products at the show are proudly made right here in the USA. Your $10 admission includes a collectible, exclusive tote bag designed by a guest artist, refreshments, giveaways, free workshops, DIY den, kids play area, and more.
April 24 – The 8th Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational returns to Los Angeles in April. It’s the nation’s biggest, craziest, most awesome grilled cheese sandwich cooking competition. Details are slim, and the exact location is still TBD. But let’s hope its a little bit more organized after the horror stories last year.
April 27-28 – The Guacamole Festival in Lincoln Heights promotes the consumption of all type of avocados. Attendants enjoy Food dishes serve with lots of Avocado & Guacamole such as burgers, Avocado sandwiches & salads, guacamole dips, tacos, etc. This free event will enjoy a variety of Avocado food recipes, free health screenings, free gifts, Carnival Rides & Games, live music and all type of exhibitors with 15,000 attendees expected.
Thu, Mar 4, 2010
Weekend Guide