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Best of LA: Week of January 19

Blue Plate Oysterette 610 header food
(Credit: Blue Plate Oysterette)

Los Angeles must have food on its mind this week. Although there are certainly non-culinary options this week (including a few must-do Martin Luther King, Jr. Day activities, live theater performances, and a chilly romp at the LA Zoo), the majority of this week focuses on eating and drinking. The week gets started with dineL.A., the 14-day culinary feast with over 300 participating restaurants, but three unique and diverse cocktail tastings and classes this week also focus on the subtle variations detectable by your palate. Bon Appétit, Los Angeles!

Monday, January 19
Kidspace Museum
(Credit: Kidspace Museum)

Celebrate Martin Luther King Day
Various Locations
www.kingdomdayparade.org

Don't miss LA's 30th annual Kingdom Day Parade, beginning at Vermont and W. Martin Luther King Boulevard at 11 a.m. in Los Angeles. This year's theme is "Love and Respect: Let It Begin With Me," and a vintage replica of the bus Rosa Parks took a stand on will be included in the parade. Take the kids to the Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena to celebrate the diversity of various cultures, a concept in line with Dr. King's values, in an effort to raise "global children," children aware of cultures both similar and unique to their own. Kids will enjoy story time, crafts, and entertainment options. Don't miss the opportunity to volunteer your time and efforts on this day.

gracias madre
(Credit: Gracias Madre)

dineLA 2015
Various Locations
www.discoverlosangeles.com

Today marks the start of dineL.A., the fourteen days of the Los Angeles restaurant week to kick start your 2015. The fixed price structure offered for lavish meals (both lunch and dinnertime options), exclusive dineL.A. entrees, and a 15% discount on all dishes at some of the 300+ participating restaurants means you are sure to "Resolve to Eat Better" this 2015 with the help of LA restaurants. Explore our favorite entree picks for the promotion: What You're Eating, The Best of dineL.A. 2015. Follow dineL.A on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all updates and tag dineL.A. in social media posts during restaurant week to be entered to win dineL.A. for a year with fifty two $50 gift cards (total worth $2600) from a selection of participating restaurants. Through February 1.

Tuesday, January 20
dominicks
(credit: Dominick's Restaurant)

60 Minute Wine Class
Dominick's
8715 Beverly Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90048
(310) 652-2335
www.dominicksrestaurant.com

Educate yourself in the fine art of wine appreciation at Dominick's Restaurant tonight. The 60 Minute Wine Class will highlight the Le Marche region wines, taught by renowned sommelier Susan Brink. Featured wines include a 2012 Belisario Vigneti B Verdicchio di Metelica, a 2011 Luigi Giusti Lacrima di Morro d'Alba, a 2012 Piantate Lunghe Rosso Conero, and a 2011 Poderi San Lazarro Podere 72 Rosso Piceno. Light bites, including a savory barley porridge, will also be served.

Wednesday, January 21
glenlivit Pistola
(Credit: Pistola)

Scotch Tasting Dinner
Pistola
8022 West 3rd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 951-9800
www.pistola-la.com

An exclusive The Glenlivet scotch-tasting dinner will be offered tonight only at Pistola, the Italian steakhouse in West Hollywood. Hosted by Rick Edwards, Master of Scotch, diners will enjoy a three-course meal from Executive Chef Vic Casanova including two cocktails and a tasting of four rare Glenlivet expressions. A unique lamb consommé cocktail (made with Glenlivet15, lamb consommé, baby carrots, pea tendrils, and pearl onions) will make its debut at this dinner, courtesy of Beverage Director Aaron Melendrez. $125.

Thursday, January 22
OP_1923_Gilgamesh_by_Patrick_Brown
(Credit: Patrick Brown)

The Passion of Anne Frank
Cortines Main Auditorium
Ramón C. Cortines High School of Visual and Performing Arts, a.k.a. "Grand Arts"
450 N. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 217-8600
www.lamc.org

Free matinee and evening performances of "The Passion of Anne Frank," a haunting oratorio based on Anne Frank's dairy will run this week at Ramón C. Cortines High School's Main Theatre. The music and lyrics of this major new work were composed by 125 high school students from the Visual and Performing Arts school, and will be presented in conjunction with the LA Master Chorale Chamber Singers as the culmination of their "Voices Within" artists-in-residence program, designed to foster collaboration among students creating original choral works. Eileen Garrido, the 15-year-old sophomore who sings the solo role of Anne Frank, is both an incredibly talented and remarkable young woman, having had three open heart surgeries in her young life.

Friday, January 23
cocktail theater
(Credit: Rob Floyd)

Rob Floyd's Cocktail Theatre
Sonoma Wine Garden
395 Santa Monica Pl.
Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA 90401
(424) 214-4560
www.eventbrite.com

Rob Floyd, Molecular Mixologist, will host his famous & often sold-out Cocktail Theatre at Sonoma Wine Garden this weekend. The unique performance teaches guests about the craft of mixology, as well as the history of cocktail beverages, while being thoroughly entertained through zany and one-of-a-kind antics and presentations. Tickets ($50) include the show, four cocktail tastings, and paired appetizers.

Saturday, January 24
dame edna
(Credit: Tom Irwin)

Dame Edna's Glorious Goodbye
Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center
135 North Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 972-4444
www.centertheatregroup.org

Dame Edna, the famous character created by Australian comedian Barry Humphries, is retiring. Making his last Los Angeles stop on his world-tour, the show includes both hilarious comedy sketches and over-the-top, laugh-out-loud dance routines. Running now through March 15, be sure to bid Dame Edna adieu at the Ahmanson Theatre. Tickets start at $55.

Sunday, January 25
Snow Days at the Los Angeles Zoo
(Credit: Los Angeles Zoo)

Snow Days at the Los Angeles Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo
5333 Zoo Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 644-4200
www.lazoo.org

Snow is in the forecast for this weekend at the Los Angeles Zoo. Snow Days at the LA Zoo offers a wintery wonderland of fun for guests as the animals explore snow in their habitats. Guests can get in on the action themselves as they enjoy the snow play area (including a sledding hill!), ice-carving demonstrations, a giant-inflatable snow globe that you can climb inside of, and a snow themed scavenger hunt for the littlest zoo guests.

chance to dance
(Credit: Los Angeles Ballet)

A Chance to Dance
Los Angeles Ballet Center
11755 Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 477-7411
www.losangelesballet.org

Today, the Los Angeles Ballet will present "A Chance to Dance," a day of free ballet and fitness classes, lectures, and events each month throughout 2015. The community program features classes for all ages and stages (from baby on up), and will help kick off with the January theme, "2015 is a Year for Dance." The Dancers of the Los Angeles Ballet will offer classes all day; a full schedule can be found on their website. Childcare is offered!

crave chocolate chip cookies
(credit: Crave)

Los Angeles Cookie Con and Sweets Show
Pasadena Convention Center
300 East Green Street
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 449-7360
www.thepasadenacivic.com

If you're the type that enjoys a cookie or something sweet, then LA's Cookie Con and Sweets Show is right up your alley. Offering hundreds of samples of cookies, chocolates, coffee, ice cream and candy, this festival is something you won't want to miss out on. Taking place at the Pasadena Convention Center, the full day of festivities will include pastry workshops, new cooking tools, as well as dessert competitions and more.

Katie Bodell is the Blog Editor for Trekaroo, the largest family travel website in the U.S. She is also a freelance writer, a happy wife to her best friend, and a mom to three sweet California girls. See more on: Trekaroo | CheapOair | Google+ | Twitter.
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