Thankfully, many of the communities feature their own events so you can stay close to home, avoiding crowds, road rage, and parking frustration.  Here’s a list of events from north to south!

Marina Del Rey
http://www.visitmarinadelrey.com/sg/july_4/index.html
July 4th, 9 PM

• Just on the other side of LAX, the Marina Del Rey fireworks display — sponsored by Los Angeles County Department of Beaches & Harbors — runs for 20 minutes. If you’re driving, get there early…parking and traffic can be miserable.  If you are able to get out of your parking spot and time it just right, you might be able to make it to El Segundo for the tail end of their show too!

El Segundo
http://www.elsegundo.org/depts/recreation/special_events/default.asp
July 4, 9 PM

• I love El Segundo for its small town charm!  Their massive fireworks show is launched from Recreation Park and can be seen and heard from just about all over town.  Of course, the best locations are in the park and Main street.  There are plenty of bars and restaurants along Main street where you can enjoy dinner before the show.

Lawndale
http://www.lawndalecity.org/PDFs/LESD.pdf (Requires PDF Reader)
July 3, 5:30 – 9 PM

• Thank goodness the folks in Lawndale decided to do their party on Saturday instead of Sunday!  You can check this show out and not have to worry about crowds and traffic on the fourth.  Or you can do both!  This pre-fourth party includes food and entertainment for the whole family, followed by a blazing fireworks show.

Redondo Beach
http://www.redondofireworks.com
July 4, 9 PM

• Redondo does it really big when it comes to the fourth with celebrations on the pier and in Seaside Lagoon, the official location for their fireworks show.  The Lagoon opens at 2 PM. You have a buy a ticket — some tickets include parking — but you’ll be sure to have a great seat for the show along with the fun of splashing in the lagoon.
• If you’d rather have a patio or roof-top view of the show in Redondo, check in at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.  If you’re a guest, you can watch the fireworks from their roof-top pool deck.  If getting a room is too rich for your blood, just have dinner at Splash, the hotel’s restaurant.  Diners get three hours of free parking in the hotel’s parking deck and can stay and watch the show from the restaurants patio. Sweet!

Torrance
http://www.ci.torrance.ca.us/Parks/7652.htm
July 4, 11 AM – 9 PM

• Torrance’s celebration in Wilson Park is another big Independence Day celebration starting early in the day and going on into the night.  More like a street fair, the celebration features food vendors, bands, and rides of the kids.  The event is free but parking is $10.  Shuttles are offered from Del Amo Mall and the Civic Center.  Best bets for catching the fireworks show without (too) much traffic hassles: approach Wilson Park the east on Carson St and Arlington Ave.  You should be able to catch the show from the surrounding neighborhood or the lawns around Torrance High School.

San Pedro
http://www.cabrillobeachbathhouse.org/
July 4, 9 PM

• For 59 years running, the folks in San Pedro have been celebrating the Fourth with fireworks on Cabrillo Beach.  Although its not a part of the fireworks show, you can find a really cool experience when they ring the Korean Bell at Angels Gate Park on Sunday morning at 10:30 AM.  Its one of the few times each year that they actually ring the bell!

Long Beach
http://www.longbeachseafestival.com
July 4, 9 PM

• Not to be outdone by any of its neighbors, Long Beach has several fireworks shows including one from the Queen Mary and one near the Aquarium of the Pacific.  Both events include options for BBQ dining along with the oohs and aahs.  Fireworks from both shows can  be viewed from various locations through The Pike and Rainbow Harbor.
• http://www.queenmary.com/?page=fourthofjuly
• http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/newsevents/eventsdetail/4th_of_july

With all the things listed here, there’s still more going on!  Whatever you do to celebrate, have a safe and enjoyable Independence Day weekend!

Photo credit JohnKay.

Palm Lined Streets of Riviera Village in Redondo Beach.

This weekend you can get a generous dose of arts, crafts, food, and live music at Redondo Beach’s Riviera Festival.

Spanning two days — Saturday and Sunday, June 26-27 — this festival is centered in the Hollywood Riviera neighborhood of Redondo. The Riviera is home to many great restaurants and shops.  The prime location is just a few blocks away from stunning cliff-top views of beaches, the Palos Verdes peninsula, and Catalina Island (if skies are clear).

Check out the festival website for directions on where to park or how to get there via shuttle from Redondo Union High School.

I’ll be taking a closer look at the festival this weekend thanks to an invitation from the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce.  Stay tuned over the next couple of weeks as I report on some of the hot spots that make Redondo Beach a great vacation destination — for all you folks out of town — and a great place to live and hang out for the rest of us!

Riviera Village Summer Festival

http://www.rvsummerfestival.com
Saturday, June 26th & Sunday, June 27th
At the corner of Catalina and Avenue I in Redondo Beach.

The four day event runs from Wednesday June 2 to Saturday June 5 and combines food, fashion, and the beverages that bring everything together.  Follow this link to the event home page to purchase tickets and get complete details on the parties, fashion shows, and Saturday’s Grand Tasting.

The culminating event on Saturday features bar tender competitions and unlimited tastes of many popular and unique liquors and beverages.  General admission to the Grand Tasting is $50.

Thankfully, the Spirits Festival is not just about yummy mixed drinks.  Each night is capped off with a party where a $10 donation covers admission, hosted bars, and donations to charitable organizations including the San Diego Junior League.

This is one event that is definitely worth the road trip.  If you’re not spending the night, make sure you take a DD!

San Diego Spirits Festival

http://www.sandiegospiritsfestival.com/

The Grand Tasting,  Saturday June 5, 1 – 5:30 PM
Hilton San Diego Bayfront
1 Park Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92101

Sex and the City 2 in Theatres May 27

The fierce foursome is back on the big screen!  Sex and the City 2 premeires on Thursday, May 26 and will likely top the to-do lists of girlfriends all over LA.  Here’s a list of show times around the South Bay.  If you’re looking for a happy hour to go along with your viewing, check out the Bluewater Cosmo Deal at Bluewater Grill in Redondo Beach.  From May 26 through June 6, show your used or unused “Sex and the City 2” move ticket and receive a free $4 Happy Hour food item with the purchase of every signature Bluewater Cosmo.

Fiesta Hermosa, Hermosa Beach

http://www.fiestahermosa.com/
Friday, May 29 – Monday, May 31
10 AM to 6 PM

The “Beautiful Celebration” comes around twice a year.  But don’t think you cant miss this one and catch up later!  You can read my review of last year’s Labor Day Fiesta Hermosa to get an idea of what to expect but each fiesta offers a variety of events, food, and entertainment.  If you’re looking for me, you’ll find me in the beer garden!

24th Annual Jazz Reggae Festival, UCLA

http://jazzreggaefest.com/
Sunday, May 30 – Monday, May 31
12 Noon – 7 PM

This two day concert held on the campus of UCLA is one of the largest student-run events in the nation.  Given the length of the shows, the quality of the entertainment, and the price of the ticket, this concert series is a heck of a deal.  $26 wouldn’t even get you in the door for a normal concert but at Jazz Reggae Fest it gets you up to 7 hours of live music on either day.  Spring for the $50 ticket and get access to both days.  This year’s line-up has Q-Tip and  Raphael Saadiq headlining Jazz day on Sunday while Nas and Damian Marley are the big names for Saunday’s reggae show.

Bring a blanket and a closed bottle of water if you go!  Seating is on a field and no chairs are allowed.  Plenty of food vendors will be on hand but no alcohol will be served.  Get nice BEFORE you go.

Regardless of where you go or what you do, be careful!  While you’re drinking responsibly, keep your eyes open for the folks that didn’t.

Most of these events are fundraisers that support organizations and efforts focused on children.  Just think:  as you’re enjoying your wine or bidding in a silent auction, you’ll also be doing your part to help our future. Thanks in advance!

Taste of the Nation Orange County; Friday, April 23 (Coming to LA in June)
http://strength.org/orangecounty
The Island Hotel, Palm Garden
690 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660

• General Admission $75 Price at the door is $85.00.
• VIP $125 (early entry, private champagne reception with the chefs, first peek at the silent auction items, and an upgraded swag bag of fabulous treats.) Price at the door is $135.00.

Savor the finest food, spirits and wine with the OC’s hottest chefs and mixologists, who will donate their time and talent to helping end childhood hunger. One hundred percent of ticket sales go to feeding Orange County’s hungry children.

5th Annual Riordan Wine Gala; Saturday, April 24, 6 – 10 PM
http://riordanfundraising.com/gala.html
Beverly Hills Country Club
3084 Motor Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90064

• Standard ticket – $50 – Event Admission
• Premium ticket – $75 – Event Admission, plus complimentary two-week membership to the Beverly Hills Country club, free 1-hour personal training session, and free 30 minute massage

The Gala is an annual charity event that directly benefits the Riordan Scholars Program, which supports college-bound high school students interested in learning more about business and developing leadership skills. You’re invited to join us for an evening with a purpose filled with wine tasting, lively music, interactive entertainment, and a silent auction. All proceeds from the event will go to the Riordan Scholars Program.

Orange County California Wine Festival Grand Finale; Saturday, April 24, 2010 1 – 4 PM
http://www.californiawinefestival.com/eventschedule.html#Danatickets
Doheny State Beach
25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive
Dana Point, CA 92629-2923

• $59 in advance.
• $75 at the gate.
• Limited to 3,000.

Your ticket buys unlimited wine and food sampling!  Hit the grassy, palm-lined Doheny State Beach to experience the quintessential California wine tasting event at our Orange County California Wine Festival grand finale. Indulge in this heady, springtime ‘right of pleasure’ and join the afternoon-long celebration — Unlimited tasting of fine wine & foods, plus sun, sea and music. Sip hundreds of vintage California wines, sample dozens of hot and cold gourmet appetizers, artisan breads and cheeses, fresh cut fruits, and for a change of taste, sample local and regional craft brews too.

Honda For Our Children Food and Wine Festival; Sunday, April 25, 2010, 1:30 – 5 PM
http://www.sandpipers.org/events/focmain.html

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Headquarters
1919 Torrance Boulevard, Torrance

• General admission is $150 prior to event and $175 at the door.

Honda presents the 25th annual For Our Children Food and Wine Festival, partnering with Providence Little Company of Mary Foundation and Sandpipers. The Festival is held at the headquarters of American Honda Motor Co, Inc. in Torrance. Guests will experience incredible gourmet foods and fine wines from over 90 restaurants and wineries. The spectacular silent and live auctions feature unique gift items, sports tickets and memorabilia, dining, entertainment and exciting travel packages. Proceeds benefit Providence Little Company of Mary children’s programs and Sandpipers philanthropic programs.  Their Scholarship Program supports 11 new local high school graduates and 28 continuing students with college scholarships totaling $150,000.

Photo Credit

Toma Tequila Mixology Competition

First up is a challenge to pros and amateurs alike to mix up the next great tequila cocktail.  You know how people are always going back and forth about who invented the margarita and when?

Wouldn’t it be awesome if the creation of the next-most-famous tequila cocktail was well documented….and created by you!?

Ortega 120′s Toma Tequila Mixology Competition is your chance to come up with a tasty tequila cocktail and be rewarded and recognized for it.  Along with bragging rights and a championship title, the winner gets a $250 gift card to Ortega 120, their winning tequila cocktail on the Ortega 120 menu, and an editorial feature in Mutineer Magazine.

Entries will be judged on taste, creative use of ingredients, visual presentation, and mixology practicality.  Winners will be announced during the “Toma Tequila” Event Finals on Monday, May 3, 2010 at the resatuarant.  Download your application today!

Sister Cities Fundraising Event

If you want to get your Cinco De Mayo celebration started early, consider The Sister Cities Fundraising Event, hosted by Ortega 120.  On Sunday, May 2, The Hermosa Beach Sister City Association — representing the beach towns of Manhattan, Hermosa, and Redondo — will be holding a fundraiser to help in their efforts to provide care to their sister cities in Baja California, Mexico.

For just $25 in advance ($30 at the door) attendees can sample tequila, enjoy tastes of some great Mexican food, and benefit from happy hour pricing on house margaritas.  The event also includes music along with live and silent auctions.  Funds raised go directly towards cultural education, medical assistance, educational funding and more to the Sister communities in Mexico.  Follow this link for more information and to buy tickets.   http://hb-sistercity.org/cinco2.html

Sister Cities Fundraising Event, May 2, 1 – 4 PM
Toma Tequila Event Finals, May 3, 7 – 10 PM

Ortega 120

http://www.ortega120.com
1814 Pacific Coast Highway
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 792-4120

One of the many delectable samples in the Grand Tasting at the 2009 Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival.

With a stellar line up consisting of a who’s-who of celebrity chefs and winemakers, its easy to see why this event has such a big draw.  In addition to the Grand Tasting event, there will also be wine tastings and cooking classes with celebrity chefs.

Last year, I was fortunate to attend the Lexus Grand Tasting event along with several other Foodbuzz Featured Publishers.  I documented that experience in a series of posts to let everyone know just what a great time I had.

If you’re thinking of going and need some convincing — or you’re already convinced and just want some more info — check out these summaries:

• Location and Setting – Pebble Beach is a beautiful seaside community and this event takes advantage of it in a major way.  Read this post for an overview of the Lexus Grand Tasting event.

• Food and Beverages – Some much to taste, so little time.  I did my best to get around to all of the expert chefs and beverage vendors that were offering samples.  This is a summary of some of the things I tasted.  Of course, the dishes will be different this time but I will venture to say that they will be delicious.  My advice: if you go to the Grand Tasting, go hungry!

• Wrapping it Up – An event of this magnitude requires some reflection.  Even though the Grand Tasting was one event that was just a few hours long, the impression it left was tremendous.  This post takes a look back with some video and more pictures. Bah! The videos are not working!

Oh, here’s one more thing to help you make up your mind:  Foodbuzz is offering a 15% discount on tickets to ALL events during the festival.  Follow this link to buy your tickets and the 15% discount will already be applied.

Unfortunately, I won’t be attending the Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival this year.  I hope you go, though, and have a great time in Pebble Beach.  Cheers!

I had a great time at Pebble Beach in 2009!

Your cooking is terrible.  The upside?  You could be on TV.

This Saturday, March 27 from 10 AM – 3 PM, Food Network will be interviewing the best of the worst for a new season of the show Worst Cooks in America.

If you think you have what it takes (and I mean that in a bad way), then download an application from www.worstcookscasting.com and head over to Burbank on Saturday.

LA Casting for Wost Cooks In America

www.worstcookscasting.com
Saturday, March 27, 10 AM – 3 PM

LA Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel & Convention Center
2500 N. Hollywood Way
Burbank, CA 91505

Photo credit goes to wallyg.

The event takes place this Saturday, March 27,  starting at 1 PM and going until 4 PM.

All cooks — from individuals to professionals — are invited to prepare their best New England or Manhattan style clam chowder.  If you think you have what it takes to whip up a chowder that will have the judges raving,  download an entry form and rules.

If you’re more inclined to simply sample a wide array of chowders, public tasting will begin at 1 PM.  Your $7 “Tasting Kit” will include tickets for five samples and a ballot to vote for your favorite.

May the best clam win!

Waiters and bartenders serve us all the time.  But how often do they bump, set, and spike?  On Saturday, November 14, from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, Tin Roof Bistro will team up with athletes from Manhattan Beach-based Association of Volleyball Professionals to raise money for Padres Contra El Cancer, a non-profit foundation that supports children living with cancer.

Volleyball players who are used to serving on sandy courts will, instead, serve the public as waiters, bartenders and hosts at the luncheon. All tips collected will be donated to Padres Contra El Cancer to supplement the funds being raised that day by Tin Roof Bistro.

In addition to mingling with the players, guests will have an opportunity to get pro level tips and advice at a temporary volleyball clinic set up near the restaurant.  Here’s a chance to support a cause and take your beach game to the next level at the same time!

“We’re delighted to be teaming with the AVP in supporting a nonprofit that is close to all of our hearts,” said Mike Simms, owner of the newly opened Tin Roof Bistro at the Manhattan Village Shopping Center.  “For our first fundraiser, I thought it would be nice to invite the players to learn a new way of serving and it’s all for a good cause.”

“The players are stoked about joining Mike and the team at Tin Roof Bistro in this great event for Padres Contra El Cancer,” said Jay Reynolds, manager of AVP Cares, the fundraising arm of the athletic organization. “The afternoon should be a lot of fun and we’re hoping that the public will join us in supporting this special event.”

Space for this event is limited.  For reservations or more information, please call 310-939-0900.

“Serve Up a Cure” Saturday, November 14, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM at Tin Roof Bistro

www.tinroofbistro.com

3500 N Sepulveda Blvd
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(310) 546-6180