I was the very lucky winner of a pair of VIP tickets for the Taste of Eastside via Yelp. Thanks…read moreYelp for my first event of 2018 !!! And thanks to Hillary S. for coordinating the details on our behalf! Taste of the Eastside is a yearly event that takes place at Los Angeles River Center and Gardens (there's the LA River Visitor Center inside) and showcases cool bites from restaurants located in the Eastern part of Los Angeles. The location is beautiful, Spanish style architecture, nice, charming venue with a huge parking lot (free!), easy to find in an area that I'm not that familiar with. As a VIP you get to sample as much food as your belly can take, 3 drinks, a VIP bag with goodies and an earlier entry (earlier than 4 pm). The event goes from 4 pm (or earlier for VIP-s at 3 pm) till 8 pm. It's ticketed, it's fun and worth it, but get there earlier while the food is plentiful and fresh! $45 regular tickets (unlimited food, drinks to buy separately), $55 at the door. VIP $75 or $85 at door. Check their site for more info, kids packages, etc. Highlights: Favorite dish was from Spread Mediterranean Kitchen, their pita with harissa braised beef, pickled cabbage and hummus. Just delicious, the right amount of spicy, flavorful meat and the freshest hummus! Close to the top were the tasty Southern Style sliders from The Guest House, with a layer of nice fig jelly that gave the a kick. And the nice hibiscus ice tea on the side, southern style as well. My favorite dessert: the Winner is Gigi's Cafe Cubano, with their lovely Cuban-Mexican pastries, great display, plentiful, generous, wonderful customer service. Their guava rolls rock! I have to visit their store in Filipino Town! Up there is Pazzo Gelato for the best ice-cream type at the Fest. I loved their selection, The Vietnamese Coffee + Donuts was great fun and the Peruvian Chocolate was dark and smooth! Favorite drink: The Amber beer (Sabre Toothed Squirrel) from Smog City Brewery. Other food samples that we enjoyed: The Octupus from Barbrix, well grilled, great tapas dish, the avocado toast from Spoke, the Pork Belly Taco and grilled corn from Diablo Cantina, the chocolate balsamic lamb chop from Bon Vivant (messy but tasty), the Olive Oil Cake from Dom's (very original idea), the Greek Meatballs and salad from Momed, cheviche from Malo and nice tamale with mussles and a wonderful blueberry cobbler from Red Herring. Jenni's Splendid Ice-cream had a great salted peanut butter flavor ice-cream and a nice darkest one. Nice service. Silverlake Wine had a decent selection to offer, I tried a nice red wine from Italy, there were other cool breweries as vendors that I didn't sample. Next time! I wasn't impressed with McConnell's Ice-cream, I love their flavors, but here they were resting on their glory, lazy, bad customer service (the girls working the stand were buy texting), they had one flavor, decent - strawberry/rhubarb float, but they let it out to melt. Careless. I wasn't also taken with Greenbar Distillery, I was craving for a good, cold cocktail when I got there, they made me a lemon vodka one. I didn't taste the alcohol, it was so much ice in that cup that you had to search hard to find the drink in there somewhere. I had to toss some of those ice-cubs to taste the thing! Nice atmosphere, relaxed vibe, there was a DJ keeping the mood up and a few bands later on. People bring blankets and make a picnic out of it. They have food and drinks demo, folks are serious, the lists were full too fast, I couldn't get in, just at the end of a cocktail demo and tasting which was fun (for Genever in Filipino Town). It was nice to take advantage of the VIP lounge, a cool place to relax, people watch, have a coffee to digest your food. Go Get Them Tigger Cafe provided some nice choices, their Latte was just right. Great event, had a blast, a wonderful way for foodies to try some of the coolest restaurants in town. Get a taste of they're up to till you'll visit them at their location. It gets your appetite going. Beautiful location, great food, felt spoiled! Wait, I was spoiled! Best way to explore the moveable feast of the Eastside of LA!

(Attended 05/31/15 SU @ 3:00pm): A sampling of tasty treats and liberal libations as you explored a…read moreculinary collection of Los Angeles' Eastside! My 2nd year as a proud volunteer at the 5th annual Taste Of The Eastside event, I previously attended its first three years at the Barnsdall Art Park in East Hollywood. A lovely local event where ALL proceeds benefited L.A.'s first cooperative nursery school, Rose Scharlin Cooperatve Nursery School, in addition to Pablove Foundation, SEE-LA, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, and the Hollyhock House, this allowed restaurants to showcase themselves for a wonderful cause. Here was an over-arching synopsis of 2015's event: TICKET PRICES Kids Under 2-years old: Free Kids 2 to 12-years old: $8.00 General: $50.00 (included unlimited tastings) Premium: $60.00 (included unlimited tastings, 3-sample bar flight, VIP food & mixology demos access) VIP: $90.00 (included unlimited tastings, 3-sample bar flight, VIP food & mixology demos access, early entry at 3pm, exclusive gift bag, front row demos seating, priority parking) Drink tickets: 1/$6.00 or 4/$20.00 VENDORS/ENTERTAINERS: A collage of selected images (sorry for those excluded) as if you were there! Diablo Pop/Taco http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=Xe5KuztXjK6gggU_Ujl7qQ El Condor http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=hpRpy0rrp7dOUdmOhg3yCg Feast Catering http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=o4ibHMTJBZLJcVQ_9Am7KA The Greyhound Bar & Grill (local beers: Angel City Brewery, Golden Road Brewing) http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=4LF0i0AUL_9KOUmqtqZ8sw Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=1hdIN0b5JurDziAKXsQ81Q Knuckle & Claw http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=WQnzenU99N3xU7SOndZCow Lemon Poppy Kitchen http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=dMsoW1YHAW8oM68XXv8DRQ Little Dom's http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=xfv2uIjMZ7R_hixQ45yXIw Maximiliano http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=UJ0OS0oBayjz8SSOqJ7zIQ Momed http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=Dou1xSx6-MdqQEy5g0clGQ Podunk Punks http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=Kd_vKSEp-AoyYMlU8gBrfQ Polka Restaurant http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=EKXwAuEuzw1jnyWUVvzayg Xoia Vietnamese Eats http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=ZgBtkDsTpsahuUNVswHEIQ Service - You were intermittently allowed in as a crowd control measure, but once inside the drink and food lines flowed easily and rapidly. All the vendors appeared happy to be there and were willing to answer any questions. Please note for next year that some vendors started packing up an hour before closing because they ran out of food. The live bands were a nice touch that the crowd enjoyed. The demos were informal, informative and interactive which held the crowd's attention. Everything seemed to run rather smoothly! Parking (Free) - Plenty of spots in their private lot or on the surrounding streets; 'nuff said. Atmosphere, décor, ambience - Held at the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens the past two years, this facility was truly a hidden gem in all places Cypress Park. Spanish style with a lively centerpiece water fountain http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=1_9N4C-k26nLZUESiYWhrA, a spacious courtyard, a family-friendly lawn area http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=rMU_RsxbncJBTQ-82kzICQ, a small beer garden, and halls filled with folding chairs where the demos were held. Tall tables (no chairs) covered with bright-white clothes dotted the entire facility for patrons while vendor tables where coordinated end-to-end to maximize space. Natural lighting as you'd imagine with some electric lighting brought in for the dusk hours. No TVs and the live bands provided all the music you needed. Attire - Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. Overall, the Taste Of The Eastside was a wonderful event to introduce oneself to some exciting and inventive cuisine in this corner of Los Angeles. Plus, our hard-earned money went to support some wonderful local organizations. However, I recommended that the organizers made a concerted effort to slightly change up the vendors from year to year for fear of it getting stale. I found total value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (total paid experience was around $70.00 [$50.00 general admission + $20.00 drink tickets] BEFORE any comps/discounts). And, they accepted my credit card of choice...AMEX! 5.0 STARS

Awesome business, Seneca provided the best customer service. work event with American River College…read moreBeaver Cares department.

The Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA) is a free interactive musuem dedicated to…read moreItalian American experience in the context of the nation's multicultural mosaic. The 6,000 square-foot museum is located in downtown Los Angeles. It features permanent exhibition as well as yearly special programming. After years of driving by IAMLA, finally I got the chance to see it. This museum is housed in the historic Italian Hall (est. 1908). Visitors can fully see the entire exhibit in less than 40 minutes. Their staff was nice and cordial. Parking lot available for $20. It's best to take public transportation. Overall, it's a nice free Italian museum.

It's a free museum. How people gonna complain about free, especially in a prime area like Little…read moreTokyo. You got spare time to spend a lazy day? Go spend it regulating your blood sugar levels from that hearty ramen/sushi lunch by walking around the Geffen Contemporary. They definitely get some interesting work coming through here; from highly technical paintings to puzzling installations 'n shit that is so ugly, you can only call it a modern art masterpiece. Though among my favorites has always been Haruki Murakami and all the sculptures and prints around the concept of Super Flat and the marriage of pop art to a fine art setting.

I recently visited The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA and was genuinely moved by the current…read moreexhibition. The show reflects on the histories and legacies of post-Civil War America and how they still shape conversations today. It brings together decommissioned monuments -- many of them Confederate -- alongside contemporary works that were both borrowed and newly created for this exhibition. Seeing these monuments removed from their original outdoor settings and placed inside a gallery changes everything. Some are unmarred. Others are heavily vandalized. Each state of transformation tells its own story. It forces you to look at them not as background fixtures, but as objects with weight, history, and consequence. The contrast between the historical monuments and the contemporary responses is powerful. It's not an easy exhibition, and that's the point. It invites reflection, discomfort, and dialogue. If you're looking for something visually impressive and intellectually challenging, this is absolutely worth your time.

I love art and I'm always looking for art events around the area. When I heard about BoldPas I knew…read moreI had to go. I came across it on Facebook and immediately became interested. I was able to find parking in a nearby parking garage and it was easy to find the art installations. They had a lot of really cool installations that were very interactive and picture perfect. My favorite part was the fact that these art installations were created by the local shops in the area which is amazing. I got to talk to a couple of the artists/ shop owners and all of them were so friendly and passionate about their art pieces. This is only the second year they do this event and it's definitely growing. If you love art and talking to locals I definitely recommend it. I really enjoyed it and can't wait to see what they create for next year.

I really love this free exhibit. I wanna know if I can donate I research this this exhibit used to…read morebe in Italian hall. I like the energy in the space. I've volunteered in museums and been a museum, educator and tour guide and this space does a great way of honoring the Ramona bowl, the Ramona play and the presence it has on California And not only Hemet California, but an Inland Empire and Los Angeles. I even highlighted this free museum to my professor at a California community college looking for ways to get students engaged with art history. This is a great resource in the community and it's definitely worth the travel on the Metrolink train to visit for the day. Visiting this museum is always a highlight on my trip when I come to Los Angeles.

It's free (donations appreciated), and you'll find it on Olvera Street. The museum docents will…read moretell you a bit about the history, and you might hear about what the neighborhood used to look like. I think it's all fascinating. When it's hot out, it's nice to go into an air-conditioned museum. More importantly, the history, though. You can probably go through it fairly quickly.

A book fair unlike any that I have ever attended. The soul…read moreand personality with the unusual pieces made it. From the Free Angela Davis original posters to the 50's pulp paperbacks: my favorite book fair by far. But the conversations, those were new and somewhat refreshing. *Guy makes eye contact with me, I smile and say a silent hi. His reply with a Devilish grin "Oh, I'd hit that" His two friends turn around: *skinny clean one "Oh Gawd no. He looks like my dad with tattoos" T_T *extremely large steroid esq body, Bic shaved head, decomposing white tank top, PAIN tattooed across neck guy "Oh, I'd hit it. I'd hit it quick and hard" He smiles sincerely at me. "It" left rather quick but at least I scored a two out of three. I count that as a good review. I also got some great new art and books for my collection. Win win win all the way around. Damn fine book fair, damn fine. I will hit it every chance I get.

This incredible 2013 inaugural fair, presented by Print Matter, Inc. and its director AA Bronson,…read morecomplements the New York Art Book Fair held in the fall. Every room and corridor of the Geffen Contemporary space is used -- a density that caught me off-guard, since so often MOCA exhibits don't even take up all the gallery space. Outside the gallery was an assortment of food trucks with communal picnic tables; at the entrance was a pop-up version of nearby Demitasse coffee. OK, I am *not* an art book collector; in fact, I know virtually nothing about this genre. I don't see why anyone would want to own most of this stuff. What do you do with it? I can understand posters, canvases, prints with which you'd adorn your abode. But most of these art books are too thin to display on shelves. If they're really valuable, I wouldn't want them on my coffee table. So is it art that's not meant to be often seen? Or leafed through and stroked carefully in tender nocturnal moments -- "my precious?" Nevertheless, there's some fascinating stuff here. Material for all tastes and sensibilities and price ranges. I really enjoyed Gagosian Gallery's Homage to Mike Kelley (1954-2012), which took the form of a library (okay, two book shelves) with a selection of materials reflecting cultural and intellectual interests and passions that other artists associate with the late artist. There should've been better signage: at first I thought it was a staging of Kelley's own personal library, kind of like Thomas Jefferson's library at the US Library of Congress or Julia Child's kitchen at the Smithsonian. Instead, it's a fake library made up of books other people think of when thinking of Kelley. It was wonderful nonetheless. I hope that future fairs can include more exhibits like this, not just sales tables.

The Beverly Hills Art show is one of our favorite happenings. The show is held twice a year…read more It is a juried show and has the best of everything. What's nice is we can always look forward to seeing new artists at this show. Another bonus is that the artist is always present to answer questions and talk about their art. If you are hungry, there are many food trucks in the center of the art show. There are approximately five blocks worth of artist to view. It's a great show. There is free street parking. The Beverly Hills police will ignore the two hour limit parking on the days of the art show. Please respect the neighborhood as it is a residential area.

A stroll or walk-run through Beverly Gardens Park is relatively routine when visiting Los Angeles…read more Still, we've often planned to visit our relatives around the time of the semi-annual (Spring and Fall) Beverly Hills Art Show to view this showcase of painting, mixed media, photography, sculpture, ceramics, glass, jewelry, drawing, and printmaking from local and artists around the nation. Also, part of our plan is to enjoy lunch from one or two of their gourmet food trucks at their Wine and Beer Garden after viewing the artwork for a nice picnic lunch. The free admission, weekend-long art show encompasses four city blocks in Beverly Gardens Park along Santa Monica Boulevard and goes on rain or shine. According to the information desk and map of artists, this Spring's event showcased over 300 artists. The original works range from traditional to very contemporary pieces and are represented by the creative artist in person. We enjoy talking with friendly artists willing to share their inspiration(s) or background to their work. Because we haven't purchased large art pieces and we live out-of-State, we can't say whether or not the artist will assist in wrapping or shipping the artwork to your home. Most times, we've bought either jewelry or small art pieces that we can either pack in our suitcase or carry on board with us during our return flight to Hawai'i. There are multiple City parking structures located one or two blocks south of the show site, or if you're lucky, you might be able to find free street parking north of the show. 2023 marks this art show's 50th Anniversary, and appeared to be more festive than in years past. We look forward to returning and browsing the art show in the Fall.

I recently attended the 45th Annual Lotus Festival at Echo Park by myself just to see what it was…read moreall about, and I had an absolute blast! My visit ended up being a little shorter than planned because of the summer heat, but I still had plenty of time to explore the booths, enjoy some amazing food, and snap lots of photos. Overall, it was such a fun experience! I showed up hungry, so naturally the first thing I did was scope out the food vendors. There were so many delicious options, mostly Asian cuisine. I originally had my heart set on grabbing some iconic Pioneer Chicken, but those plans changed the second I spotted an Indonesian food vendor called Papa Satay. As someone who's mixed with Dutch-Indonesian, I honestly haven't had much Indonesian food growing up, so I knew I had to give it a try. The woman working the register was an absolute sweetheart--so friendly, welcoming, and incredibly helpful while explaining the menu. I ordered Combo #1, which came with one pork satay skewer, one chicken satay skewer, two egg rolls, and fried noodles. Everything was mostly decent, but those satay skewers completely stole the show! They were packed with flavor, perfectly cooked, and easily my favorite part of the meal. I'll definitely be looking for Papa Satay again at future festivals. Beyond that, there were plenty of other tempting food vendors serving Thai, Chinese, Hawaiian, Korean, and more, so there was truly something for everyone. One thing I really loved was how many interactive booths and activities were spread throughout the festival. The LADWP booth had a fun spin-the-wheel game where I won a cute glasses cleaner, and the LA Public Library booth was handing out freebies while helping people sign up for library cards. There were live cultural performances, painting stations, arts and crafts, and so many opportunities to stop and explore. I was honestly surprised I'd never heard of this festival before! Someone told me that each year they highlight a different Asian country, and this year's featured country was Sri Lanka, which I thought was such a unique and meaningful way to celebrate different cultures. There were also lots of vendors selling handmade goods and other non-food items. I saw everything from henna artists and clothing to artwork, crochet creations, toys, and more. Before arriving, I even preordered one of the official Lotus Festival folding fans online and picked it up as soon as I got there. It was great quality and absolutely saved me in the heat! One of my favorite purchases of the day was the CUTEST crochet frog hat from Ducky Crochet House! Their booth was full of adorable handmade creations, and I couldn't resist. I made sure to follow them on Instagram because I definitely want to support them again and hope to see them back at next year's festival. Even though I attended solo, I genuinely had an amazing time. The atmosphere was welcoming, lively, and full of positive energy. Best of all, it's completely FREE to attend! If you've never been to the Lotus Festival, I highly recommend checking it out. I'll definitely be back next year!

Fun for the whole family. Cultural costumed music and dance performances throughout the day. Dragon…read moreboat races and Light of Dreams Lantern event on the lake. Booths selling cooked food and drink, including beer and wine. Booths offering LA city information and selling boutique and handmade crafts, jewelry and gifts. Carnival rides, arts and crafts and face painting. Enjoy swan pedal boats, views of the lake and lotuses and downtown LA.