This Weekend! Restaurant Week Begins, Festivals From Santa Monica to Koreatown

The blessings of fair, summer-ish weather are still upon Southern California.  Get out and enjoy it!  Who knows how long this “late summer” will last.  Here are a few things to consider while planning your weekend.

dine LA’s Fall Restaurant Week

The highly anticipated dine LA Restaurant Week — two weeks, actually — starts this Sunday with spectacular deals at eateries all over the county.  You’ll have to make up your mind as you select from lunch and dinner menus at almost 300 restaurants.

As usual, the South Bay only has a few offerings.  I’ll give a more in depth analysis next week with details on the menus, locations, best value, and more.  Stay tuned!

Prices range from $16 for the lowest priced lunch to $44 for the highest priced dinner.  Don’t get too happy:  beverages, tax, and gratuity are not included.  Sadly, neither are Saturdays!

• Sunday, October 3 through Friday, October 15 (excluding Saturday, 10/9)
  http://discoverlosangeles.com/restaurantweekv2/index.jsp

38th Annual Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair

Year after year (38 times!) this event brings friends and families back home to Manhattan Beach.  Located in the Live Oak Park area, this fair features entertainment, arts & crafts, and plenty of foods & bevs.

Parking close to the event area is limited but there’s a free shuttle leaving from Aviation Park near the corner of Aviation and Space Park Drive.  Check their website for details.  Or do like I do and park at Target or Manhattan Village a nearby shopping center and bike it the rest of the way!

• Saturday, October 2 and Sunday, October 3; 10 AM – 6 PM both days
  http://www.mbfair.org

37th Annual Los Angeles Korean Festival

Wow!  Here’s another one that’s been bringing the crowds out for many years; the LA Korean Festival.

The Los Angeles Korean Festival Foundation will host its 37th annual Festival from Thursday, September 30th to Sunday, October 3rd at Seoul International Park in Koreatown. The four day festival will feature cultural shows, food and beverage booths that highlight Korean cuisine, and will host various international stars in the world of sports and entertainment.

They have events lined up all weekend.  Personally, I’m curious to check out the Wonder Girls, the headliners for Saturday Night’s concert! K-Pop’s Finest!

• Thursday, September 30 – Sunday, September 3
  http://www.atkoreatown.com/events/37th-annual-los-angeles-korean-festival

Beer, Art, & Music Festival go BAM in Santa Monica

What could be better than a beer festival, an art festival, and a music festival?  How about one that combines all three!

Santa Monica’s 18th Street Arts Center presents its BAM Fest this Saturday at 1 PM.  Just $35 gets you all the music, art, and beer you can handle.  Gourmet organic food will be provided by the Green Truck and Big Swirl Truck will be on hand selling sweat treats.  Check out their website for location information and a full listing of galleries and performing artists.

• Saturday, October 2, 1 – 6 PM
  http://18thstreet.org/events/bam-fest

Coming Up and On Going

LA County Fair — Your last chance for fried snickers and feeding baby goats is coming up this Sunday!  Don’t miss it.  http://www.lacountyfair.com

Taste Art at The Avenues, West Hollywood — Tuesday’s in October, diners can get an in depth lesson on art, wine, and the foods they inspire at Taste Art at The Avenues in West Hollywood.  Each dinner will pair a West Hollywood art gallery with a local restaurant for an experience that pleases the eye and the appetite.

Each tasting will consist of a multi-course menu and wine pairing inspired by a selection of artwork that will be presented in a gallery-like atmosphere. During each event, the curator, chef and sommelier will each present their unique contributions to the menu, providing insight into their philosophies behind the evening’s art, food, and wine selections.

The Kick off gala on Tuesday, October 5 features Gordon Ramsay at The London and Tasende Gallery.  Check out their website for reservations and more information. http://www.avenueswh.com/events/tasteart