You know that saying about April showers? Well, you can expect a downpour in May as well – one that will have you buzzing all summer! Effervescence, the first major West Coast event entirely devoted to Champagne and sparkling wine, makes its debut in Los Angeles May 3-5, featuring master classes taught by renowned industry experts. The three-day fiesta will also feature Champagne and sparkling wine tasting events at the historic Avalon Hollywood, and an exclusive gala dinner for collectors, winemakers and enthusiasts prepared by chef Walter Manzke at République.
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Andaz West Hollywood will be displaying collections from two young up-and-coming artists in its next Salon art exhibit opening March 29th. Both artists also happen to be Andaz employees! The collections will be unveiled with an exclusive event at Andaz West Hollywood on March 29, 2018 from 6-8pm that is open to the public and free of charge.
Los Angeles based sustainable seafood mealkit company Trashfish has partnered with home delivery produce boxImperfect Produce to create a five course dinner elevating underloved produce and seafood. The dinner will take place on Sunday March 25 from 7-10pm at the Feastly Kitchen in Venice. The meal will consist of five courses, starting with a “toast to the imperfect” at 5pm. Long time Los Angeles chef Huntley See will run the meal with help of seafood and produce experts from the two companies.
This dinner is intended to expand diners’ seafood and produce palates and celebrate the produce and seafood that too often gets left behind. From wild caught California bycatch and bait fish to produce considered too "ugly" to make it onto our plates. The cost is $50 with an optional $12 organic vodka shooter with two local oysters. there will also be handmade pasta with opah carbonara and seasonal citrus uni butter as well as whole pacific sardines over an Imperfect Citrus Salad. For dessert, enjoy an imperfect fruit spread and vanilla ice cream topped with coffee caviar, made from cold brewed organic coffee that bursts in your mouth. The two companies already share a deepy aligned mission, and now they’ll share a kitchen!! Support their venture and learn more about their efforts - tickets are available and on sale now on eatfeastly.com - use code “trashfish20” for 20% off tickets AND if you've never tried before, new members can use the code “imperfectfish” for a discount off the first Trashfishbox or Imperfect Produce box!!
Los Angeles has a few festivities on offer for the Irish event of the year. Take your pick from some of these options for your March 17 shenanigans!
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHMLA) will present Sin Censura: A Mural Remembers L.A. featuring Chicana artist Barbara Carrasco’s landmark 1981 mural L.A. History: A Mexican Perspective, on view today until August 18, 2018.
This is the first time the full length of the mural, which portrays the city’s history through a series of vignettes woven into the flowing hair of la reina de Los Ángeles (the queen of Los Angeles), will be shown inside a museum setting, presented across three walls of an intimate gallery to bring visitors eye-level with the 80-foot panoramic work. The rarely exhibited mural was most recently on view last fall at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles as part of the Getty-led initiative Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA. I didn’t get to see it then but plan on heading out for this soon.
The Heart Series – a conference designed to propel businesses toward greater global impact – was held over the weekend in the EL Camp co-working space in El Segundo, California. Attendees were in for a learning experience involving connecting with leaders from game changing companies through talks, panels, and workshops. Speakers included founders of Thrive Market and Soko, CEOs of Common and Glass Ladder Group, and many more as they shared how their companies and actions/efforts are helping to make a change in the way business is done today. Sponsors and partners for the event included Suja, Yoobi, Sweetgreen, Bare and more. Co-founded by Gail Cayetano and Meg Sette, entrepreneurs with heart and heading businesses in the area, the event was sold out and had standing room only at some of the breakout sessions.
I’m a big supporter of national parks and try to discover as many in the area I live or visit so I am super excited to share this list of options with you on the west coast at least for your spring and summer travel consideration!
This is in Los Angeles at the California Science Center in Exposition Blvd. only until February 4 so make a dash for it right now!
An amazing educational experience and an exhibit you will not forget easily, the Body Worlds Pulse is a traveling show and created by Gunther von Hagen who is also the inventor of plastination, the process using which many of the human bodies on display have been preserved. These are real human bodies by the way that have been donated to the cause of science and research.
Visits to Pasadena are few and far between given the expanse of Los Angeles but I made my way to this gem on a weekday and the drive wasn’t as unforgiving. In fact, the quality of the art despite the small space was a pleasant surprise. They don’t waste any time here – the folks at Pasadena Museum of California Art. The artwork begins from the parking garage! You might mistake it for graffiti but it is the work of native Kenny Scharf and the pop aesthetic he is known for is immediately recognizable. The Kosmic Krylon Garage is a permanent exhibit since he first showed here.
Located on Wilshire Blvd, if you live in Los Angeles you’ve probably driven past it at some point and not known the Marciano Art Foundation museum was housed in here because from the outside it looks like a masonic building. The museum officially has been in this space only since May 2017 and you can find more information about the buildinghere. It was originally built as a Scottish Rite Masonic Temple in the 60s. Most of the art here is from the 1990s onward.
The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles is hosting a series of sky-high events this December, featuring the first ever WP24 by Wolfgang Puck’s Cozy Cabana offering an exclusive holiday dining experience 26 floors above Downtown Los Angeles, an Asian-inspired caviar tasting menu, and festive cocktails.
The Coziest Winter Rooftop in Downtown LA This December, The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles launches WP24’s Cozy Cabanas for the city’s most festive rooftop dining experience with nostalgic holiday décor, films, and crafts. Perched 26 floors above ground among the stars, each private poolside cabana will be transformed into a warm winter escape with a twinkling tree, plush throws, sequin pillows, and more. A dedicated cabana butler pours a seasonal punch and delivers a spread of modern fusion bites, including Caviar Toast and Szechuan Beef Tartare. A dessert basket includes playful sweets such as Passion Fruit Basil Pavlova Kisses and Pineapple Lemongrass Pate de Fruit. Complementing the experience is a choice of classic movies to screen within the cabana. AND you can add on holiday DIY activities, including cookie decorating and a customizable hot chocolate station. For this seasonal experience on the rooftop, a cabana can be booked for $300, Tuesday through Saturday.
Celebrate Christmas Eve with Crafted Cocktails & Asian Cuisine
From 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. this Christmas Eve, Nest at WP24 is hosting an elegant evening above the glistening city lights of Downtown Los Angeles. Chef de Cuisine John Lechleidner will serve a modern dim sum menu followed by Asian-inspired dishes for the table such as wok-fried shrimp and spicy beef stir fry and an assortment of small sweet bites to finish ($68.00 per person). WP24 by Wolfgang Puck is also offering specialty cocktails this season including the Love Lust Lace and Brown Sugar.
A Champagne Toast & Caviar Taste This New Year’s Eve
On Sunday, December 31 from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Nest at WP24 is hosting a luxurious night of champagne and caviar among the stars. The Caviar Tasting Menu ($120.00 for two guests) includes salmon, whitefish, and kaluga. Matcha green tea, coconut cream and kaffir lime add a subtle Asian flare. Taittinger Brut Champagne completes the experience while additional Champagne supplements are available upon request.
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With the intention of celebrating a time-honored holiday tradition while staying true to modern sustainability efforts, Long Beach restaurant Roe Seafood is presenting a Feast of the Seven (Sustainable) Fishes dinner series from December 17-24, 2017. Chef/Owner Arthur Gonzalez is one of the area’s foremost figures in the sustainably sourced seafood movement. He is consistently innovating with his menus at Roe Seafood, a community fixture recognized for its elevated cuisine and convivial atmosphere.
Until Friday, December 22nd, Ocean Prime in Beverly Hills has a Holiday Luxe Lunch three-course menu to celebrate the holiday season. For just $45 per person, you can enjoy:
Choice of First Course
December 22 isn't too far away so you know the clock is sticking on this great deal at Ocean Prime in Beverly Hills :)
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If you are planning on holidaying in L.A this month and next, or are from the area and plan to stay put, then Terranea Resort is a great option to indulge. The hotel just released their annual “Traditions” calendar, a festive lineup of holiday happenings taking place Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day.
Located in Rancho Palos Verdes, Terranea is a 102-acre resort with ocean views, hiking and biking trails, kayaking, and multiple dining options, multiple swimming pools and spa. Here are some of the planned activities for the rest of the year: Thursday, November 23 | Turkey Day Trail Walk – Join the resort’s resident naturalist for a guided hike including a visit to the Point Vicente Lighthouse, which is a local attraction. November 1-30 | Friendsgiving – Using promo code “FRIENDS,” enjoy a holiday package that includes luxury accommodations, a private cabana at a resort pool, a s’mores kit for roasting by the fire, nightcaps at the Lobby Bar, valet parking, and more. Ongoing | Holiday Dining – Indulge in a festive feast at one of the resort’s eight restaurants - mar’sel (the resort’s signature restaurant), laidback dining at Nelson’s, a refreshed menu at bashi, buffet selections at catalina kitchen and a resort ballroom, an in-room holiday feast, or turkey takeout from sea beans (the resort’s café). Sunday, December 3 | Tree Lighting Ceremony – Live musical entertainment and holiday crafts for all ages, donations of unwrapped gifts for Toys for Tots, and a celebratory dinner at catalina kitchen afterwards. Sunday, December 31 | “A Night in New Orleans” New Year’s Eve Dinner at mar’sel – Savor a three- or five-course tasting menu with live jazz band, vintage Champagne offerings, and parting gifts! Sunday, December 31 | New Year’s Eve Enchanted Forest Gather with loved ones in the Marineland Ballroom to bid farewell to 2017 with a 3-course dinner and dessert bar. Sunday, December 31 | New Year’s Eve Extravaganza A countdown to 2018 in the Grand Ballroom with package beverage offerings, VIP bottle service, a dessert and coffee station, and tunes by a live DJ. You might just find me there :) If you've been to Terranea before, let me know in the comments about your experience!
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Or at least, that’s as many reasons I know of for right now. I am sure there are plenty more. When my friends say they are off to visit Mexico, it is all the usual suspects - Mexico City, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta or San Miguel de Allende and if they live close to San Diego then it is usually Tijuana or Tecate but Guadalajara?? I have never been to Mexico so any spot in the country is enticement enough for me but hearing that very few actually head to this city got me curious. If you don’t know where that is, Guadalajara is located in western Mexico in the state of Jalisco, and is the capital city. Here’s what I learned at the recently held Travel Massive LA event with Visit Guadalajara at La Cabana in Venice.
This was a long time in the works. Thanks to multiple cancellations due to our schedules and weather conditions, what was essentially my birthday gift from the husband ended up being an experience four months later closer to his birthday! The hot air balloon rides we opted for were available in Perris, California through a company called Adventure Balloon Rides. At $129 per person, we thought it was a decent birthday celebration for both of us to enjoy that didn't interfere too much with our work schedules. Since this was an early morning sunrise ride, we needed to be on location 6am. Perris is 2 hours away from Los Angeles so we drove in the previous evening and spent the night in an AirBnB property in the area. Folks at the home were great, we found a pretty nice Mexican place to grab dinner and we slept early so we don’t miss the alarm to wake up first thing!
A Grain Conference isn’t exactly how one envisions spending a beautiful Sunday morning in Los Angeles. Received an invite to this daylong event and thought it was intriguing – a whole day’s worth talking about grain? Then they added this was only the second year but the first time they were opening attendance to consumers. Any time a trade event opens doors to consumers – they are looking to educate and make aware. So I signed up!
Former attorney turned full-time baker and Chief PieSmithTM Brianna Abrams has launched Winston Pies in Brentwood. She previously operated from her home kitchen under the former online-only outlet, ButterCrust Pies. Refreshing to see someone leave a career as a high-powered attorney to pursue her passion full time!
Winston Pies offers handcrafted artisan pies featuring only the best seasonal, all-natural ingredients. Each pie is made from scratch by PieSmithsTM in small batches using an all-butter crust, so flavorful crusts and no soggy crust bases in sight. Take your pick from flavors such as Blue Ridge Blueberry Pie and Dixie Classic Cherry Pie available daily; a few chilled pies such as Key West Lime Pie, Banana Cream Pie and a Winston Pies original Cowgirl Pie: a handmade salted caramel chocolate pie with oat crust; and a rotating monthly seasonal option, such as the Orchard Peach & Nectarine Pie.
What sets Winston Pies apart from a typical pie shop though is the wide variety in pie sizes. Purchase pies by the slice, get a full-sized, 11-inch round pie, or choose between 5-inch mini pies, 4-inch square hand pies, and Winston Pies’ original offering: PieBitesTM for when you just want a taste of a little sweet something. Many of the pies are available gluten free and can be customized to accommodate specific dietary restrictions. Winston Pies also offers high-end artisan coffees, teas and select flavors of McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream for pies à la mode. They also accept orders for weddings, events or parties. The space is pretty cool too – light-filled and inspired by luxury southern homes. Check out the large porch swing and the neon pie sign!
Winston Pies is located at 11678 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049 and open seven days a week, from early mornings through evenings to fulfill your pie desires, holidays or not!
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Held at Verlaine, the event was a lovely evening do with some appetizers and drinks to start the networking hour followed by a sit down dinner hosted by the Greater Palm Springs CVB. The drink of the evening was an apt Oasis Blisstini with vodka, lime, yellow chartreuse and orgeat. While everything from the Soft fried black bean to the Melting chocolate cake was simply lovely for dinner fare on a pleasant L.A evening, the corn cake was the best part for me! Enjoy the pictures and video, and let me know what your favorite at Verlaine is, or if you have any recommendations for a trip to Palm Springs. Meanwhile, read all about my visit to Palm Desert here and all the things to see, do and have on your itinerary!
Beginning this Sunday, September 10, Ventura Boulevard’s new steak and seafood destination, SOCA, debuts a handcrafted Weekend Brunch ($9-22*) from Valley-based (and L.A.-lauded) restaurateur, Chef Aaron Robins. The new selection of bold and adventurous plates include French toast, flatbreads, and egg dishes accented by hatch chilies, chile verde, and house-made breads, for a diverse array of vibrant flavors every Saturday and Sunday from 10am-3pm.
Also launching this weekend at SOCA is Sunday Dinner Service, which offers a three-course prix-fixe menu ($36) alongside half-price select bottles of wine from 5:30-10pm every week. Courses include Herb-Roasted Half Chicken with chimichurri roasted potatoes; as well as a Petite New York Steak dressed in sautéed wild mushroom demi-glace, among others.
Boneyard Bistro’s sister restaurant, SOCA (standing for Sherman Oaks, CA), brings globally-inspired steak and seafood to the heart of Ventura Blvd.’s restaurant row. The newly-opened dining destination from Valley veterans Executive Chef/Owner Aaron Robins and General Manager/Partner Rory Snipes offers a front row seat to the recent cultural and culinary resurgence of the San Fernando Valley with floor to ceiling glass windows opening to a 28-seat patio overlooking Ventura Boulevard. The coastal resort-style restaurant features distinctive Asian and Latin influences—including Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, French, and Peruvian flavors—complemented by an ever-evolving gin-centric cocktail program and an extensive, predominately French wine list. Guess you know where I'll be Sunday!
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It isn’t even the 10th of the month yet and I already have a never-ending list of place to check out…including this! Restaurateurs and chefs Brooke Williamson and Nick Roberts have opened a second Small Batch artisanal ice cream shop on Venice Boulevard in Los Angeles’ burgeoning Mar Vista neighborhood.
The new shop is just a few miles from the couple’s other local concepts--Hudson House in Redondo Beach; The Tripel, the four-in-one beachside complex Playa Provisions, and Tripli-Kit in Playa del Rey; and Da Kikokiko in Playa Vista. They specialize in house-made, nostalgic ice cream flavors and novelties with a twist, with the new Mar Vista shop offering safe-to-eat cookie dough scoops, pints to-go, and fresh pastries from Playa Provisions. Menu highlights include Birthday Cake, Banana Cream Pie, Vegan Chocolate Coconut, Fresh Sweet Corn, Lemon with Strawberry Pop Rocks, and Cereal Killer (a frozen take on Lucky Charms), alongside frozen novelties, such as Mint Oreo Ice Cream Pie, White Chocolate Thai Tea Pops, Fresh Raspberry Popsicles, and Chocolate Dipped Bananas with sprinkles. Custom sundaes, milkshakes, ice cream sandwiches, and slices of birthday cake are also available. For a real indulgence, order the Unicorn Sundae, inclusive of TEN scoops of ice cream, a variety of toppings, whipped cream, hot fudge, a cherry, and to top it off, a “uni-cone,” a chocolate dipped waffle cone with a sparkler on top, reminiscent of a unicorn’s horn. Cookie dough scoops include Chocolate Chip and White Chocolate Chip, while soft-serve flavors will soon be added to the menu. I need to find a friend with a birthday, and a party, to attempt eating this thing!
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The Los Angeles Times The Taste happened this past weekend at the Paramount Pictures Studios. I was told it was a highly anticipated weekend event but had no clue the crowd that would turn up! The studios were turned into a day and night festive venue – barely recognizable…and the number of participants and attendees was simply unbelievable.
It has been exactly one week since I returned from my trip to India to see family there. This is my first time flying from the west coast and the first time flying through Seoul/Singapore as a transit connection to my final destination in Chennai. I am not sure why but this trip has turned into a bit of a jet lag nightmare for me.
I am off to my trip to India today and I have been looking forward to it! The last time I saw my family was in early 2015 so it has been a good while since I got to hug mom, sis, dad and bro. Speaking of which, this trip also includes a special event - my brother is getting married! So if you'd like a dose of South India, Chennai specifically, (and from a local's pint of view might I add) and like to check out a South Indian Muslim wedding, follow here on the blog. I am also excited to fly Singapore Airlines for the first time, if memory serves me right I've never flown that airline so hoping to experience the great quality of service everyone talks about. There will be a short trip to Mumbai as well, and possibly a trip to a third location that I am going to have to keep undisclosed for the moment!
Heading home is always a thrill, and to have a wedding in the family added to that is simply wonderful. I look forward to showing you more of the city where I was born, studied some in, and finally worked in for a bit before I moved to the US. I can't wait to see what's new and what's changed. I can't wait to meet some of my friends who are still there. But, most importantly, I am just thrilled to pieces to see my family and hold them and love them and have long nights of conversation and food and fun. I will be gone for a month so rest assured there is a lot that you will have to keep abreast of. Follow me on Instagram mostly as I will be posting tons there. And sign up for my newsletter here or check in frequently to read more about my India adventures. Off I go now!
I’ve been a member of Travel Massive while I was in Atlanta and decided to join the group here in L.A as well. Much as I’d like to be a regular attendee, life takes over and the number of events I’ve been able to attend have been few and far between. This month’s event though was held a few blocks from where I live at posh co-working spot NeueHaus and I couldn’t miss it. Especially since the destination is Buellton, CA which is just about 2 hours’ drive from L.A and considered an underrated but promising area for wine lovers, city escapes and such.
I loved the cloth map bag attendees received at the entrance. A great idea and a useful conversation starter as well. On the rooftop at NeueHaus, the event was set up such that wineries, breweries and distilleries had sampling stations where you could meet the makers behind these fantastic libations. I met a couple of interesting businesses and the images should cover a few – doubt I made the rounds to all to learn about their offerings. The best part of the evening though – for me – was winning the grand prize via their Instagram contest onsite! I am now the happy chica who won the 2 night stay at their new Santa Ynez Marriott property along with a Bottlest winery tour and dinner as well as an area winery tour and ostrich farm visit. If you know me, you know how happy this makes me. Another travel adventure awaits. Stay tuned here to read all about that trip. Probably in a few months’ time! |
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