Best Of LA - Week Of August 24
It's all about music, magic, munching, and merriment this week. Little Tokyo is the place to go to enjoy some jazz, or check out SoCal's premiere Dave Matthews tribute band under the stars at the South Bay's newest shopping destination. A magic and comedy show benefiting Juvenile Diabetes Research offers a fun way to be entertained for a good cause, while the Fiesta La Ballona brings the carnival to Culver City. Food and drink highlights include National Pot de Creme Day, the highly anticipated Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival, and a special happy hour for Angelinos and their four-legged friends.
Larry Fuller Trio
Blue Whale Jazz Club
123 Astronaut E S Onizuka St #301
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 620-0908
www.bluewhalemusic.com
World-class pianist Larry Fuller has had an impressive career since beginning his musical studies at age 11. Working with the likes of Ernestine Anderson, Jeff Hamilton, Ray Brown, and John Pizzarelli, Fuller now plays the part of bandleader in the Larry Fuller Trio. Accompanied on bass by Katie Thiroux, and Matt Witek on drums, the trio brings hard-swinging jazz to the Blue Whale Jazz Club in Little Tokyo. Food and cocktails are available at the intimate upscale club.
Justin Willman & Friends
The French Connection
Hollywood Bowl
2301 Highland Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90068
(323) 850-2000
www.hollywoodbowl.com
Keep it classy this Tuesday with a French-themed evening of music at the Bowl. Twenty one year old cellist Edgar Moreau makes his Bowl debut, and along with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, will perform Saint-Saens' Cello Concerto No. 1. The group will also perform Mozart's Symphony No. 31, "Paris", Imbert's Hommage a Mozart, and Haydn's Symphony No. 85, "La reine". Pack a Parisian picnic and dine on wine and cheese before the show. Berets optional.
Dave Matthews Tribute Band Stepping Feet
The Point
850 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
El Segundo, CA 90245
(310) 414-5280
www.thepointsb.com
Partake in a little shopping, a little eating, and a free outdoor concert at the newly opened The Point in El Segundo. A cool new shopping complex of upscale retailers and popular eateries, The Point houses an expansive plaza, where every Wednesday through September they offer a free tribute band concert as part of their Summer Concert Series. Touted as the best Dave Matthews tribute band in the country, Stepping Feet will perform tonight at 6:00pm. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, grab a spot on the lawn, and enjoy a summer evening jamming out to a little Two Step.
Celebrate National Pot De Creme Day
8490 Melrose Place
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 360-9100
www.figandolive.com
Dessert aficionados rejoice - it's Pot De Creme Day! Mark the holiday by enjoying one of these decadent yet simple treats in a variety of flavors. Satisfy a serious chocolate craving with FIG & OLIVE'S chocolate pot de creme, served with crunchy praline financiers, vanilla cream, and finished with shaved orange zest. For the best butterscotch pot de creme in town, head to Gjelina where they deck out their pots de creme with salted caramel and creme fraiche. Or keep it simple with a classic vanilla pot de creme from A.O.C., served with spanish chocolate and marcona almonds. There's no wrong way to celebrate this creamy dreamy treat.
Fiesta La Ballona
Veterans Park
4117 Overland Ave.
Culver City, CA 90230
(310) 253-6667
www.fiestalaballona.org
Kick off the weekend with Culver City's annual "Party in the Park"! The weekend's festivities will include carnival rides, games, live performances, a petting zoo with pony rides, and over 100 booths of artisan wares. On the food front, fiesta goers can look forward to food trucks, a farmers market, and a food court offering a plethora of fair favorites. What fiesta would be complete without a beer and wine garden to wash down that those tasty treats. Fiesta La Ballona opens tonight at 4:30pm (carnival rides open at 5:00pm), and runs through the weekend.
Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival
Various Locations
www.lafw.com
Some of the biggest names in the food world will be dishing up dinners, lunches, seminars, cooking demonstrations, and more at this year's 5th Annual Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival. Various food and wine-centric events will take place across the city, with a main stage located in front of the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall. Distinguished Michelin-starred honorees, James Beard Award Winners, and Food & Wine Best New Chefs will be among the culinary royalty at this three day event. Saturday night features a performance by Questlove and The Roots, as well as tastings from over 30 chefs and 100 wineries. A full line-up of the festival's events and their locations can be found here.
Dog Days of Summer Happy Hour
Plan Check Downtown
1111 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 403-1616
www.PlanCheck.com
End the weekend with a doggy date at Plan Check's downtown location, where they are welcoming four legged friends and their humans to lap up libations together. From 3:00pm-10:00pm, the restaurant is offering their Dog Days of Summer Happy Hour on the patio, with cocktail and beer specials from $5-$10, and food from $3-$9. Feel good about throwing a few back with your pooch, as they are partnering up with locally owned root beer company Margo's Bark, and donating 10% of all happy hour sales to local dog rescues and shelters. Treats and water bowls available upon request.
