Woot! Holiday weekend! A good thing considering there’s so much to do that you’ll need your Monday to recover. By the way, tomorrow morning I’m going to be on Carson Daly’s morning show, AMP Mornings, on AMP Radio 97.1 talking about weekend to-dos so please listen in! UPDATE: If you missed it this morning, you can listen to my chat with Carson right here.
Thursday, October 7
LA Beer Week Kicks Off Today!
Beer, beer, beer! All things beer kicks off today with several beery events like the cask tapping from Stone Brewing in Library Alehouse, Rocktoberfest at El Segundo’s Rocks & Brew and Lucky Baldwin’s 14th Anniversary. Check the LA Beer Week calendar for more upcoming events, some of my faves are included in this here roundup.
Friday, October 8
LA Beer Week: Grilled Cheese and Craft Beer at Eagle Rock Brewery
Man, you can’t go wrong with grilled cheese sandwiches and craft beer. Mmm! The Grilled Cheese Truck will be selling its tasty melty wares which you can enjoy at local brewery, Eagle Rock Brewery. The tap room opens at 4 and the truck gets there at 7. Trying to figure out which sandwich would go with which beer will be fun. The Cheesy Mac & Rib with Eagle Rock’s Solidarity? The Manifesto with the Brie Melt?
- 7-10pm. Eagle Rock Brewery, 3056 Roswell Street, Los Angeles (map)
Saturday, October 9
Zocalo Public Square and Jonathan Gold’s 2nd Annual Cocktail Party at Union Station
What does Jonathan Gold, celebrated and award-winning LA Weekly food reviewer, have to do with cocktails you say? Apparently enough to wield his power and gather LA’s popular bartenders under one roof at the Union Station for this very fancy must-do cocktail party. Tipple from the best like Comme Ca, Providence and Rivera! If you’re 30 years old and under (but over 21 obviously) you qualify to get the Young Professional discount, $125! (Regular price is $185). So line up your designated driver and dust off your cocktail attire. Hope to see you there!
- 7pm. $125-$185. Union Station, 800 N. Alameda Street, Los Angeles (map).
2010 Pasadena Wine Festival
Want a low-key, chill night of sipping your choice of 125 wines while listening to jazz, blues and funk bands? Haul your blankets and beach chairs to the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Garden for the 2010 Pasadena Wine Festival. You can play bocce ball or jump on a tram tour of the gardens as well as enjoy unlimited wine tastings. Featured food trucks include The Grilled Cheese Truck, World Fare Bustaurant and Sprinkles Cupcakes. If you spring for the VIP pass you get to mingle with the live music artists backstage as well as partake of the private VIP food samplings. Regular ticket prices range from $28-$85 (online sales end at midnight on Friday) or you can get them from $17-$51 on Goldstar.
Sunday, October 10
CicLAvia
I’ve always fantasized what LA would be like if we removed the cars. If you have, too, you’ll love this car-free event, CicLAvia, which takes over 7 miles aka 45 acres of downtown streets where Angelenos can bike, run, stroll, skate, boogie, walk dogs, etc. without fear of the four-wheeled beasties. Pedestrians can explore the city streets and check out local shops, restaurants, food trucks and more while enjoying live music and the Indian Summer night, which I hear will be nice and balmy.
- 10am-3pm. Free. From Heliotrope and Rosewood to Boyle and 4th (map of events).
LA Beer Week: Beer Float Showdown II
Food GPS’s tasty annual event is back and it’s bigger than ever. This time instead of just two beer bars facing off, you’ve got four! Yup, Boneyard Bistro, Ladyface Alehouse, Simmzy’s and Tony’s Darts Away are all competing for the title of Best Beer Float in LA. Each team will make a single float while all attendees (that would be you) get to taste each one and then vote on their faves! Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door with 50% of proceeds going to Share Our Strength, a charity that works to end childhood hunger in the U.S. and Canada.
- 5:30pm. $25-$30. Verdugo Bar, 3408 Verdugo Road, Los Angeles (map).
Whist at The Viceroy Santa Monica Kicks Off its Savor Sundays
Savor Sundays at Whist are back. The family-style menu by Executive Chef Tony DiSalvo is available for nine weeks with three courses going for $35. An Oktoberfest-inspired menu starts things off this Sunday with cheddar and beer soup, housemade sausages like every wurst you can think of and apple strudel or German chocolate. There will also be housemade beers available for purchase.
- 5:30-9pm. $35, $15 for kids 12 and under. Whist at The Viceroy, 1819 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica (map).
Second Week of dineLA Restaurant Week: October 10-15
If you missed the first week of dineLA’s Restaurant Week, you still have one more chance at it. From October 10 through the 15th, diners get to indulge at certain LA restaurants for affordable-ish prices. If anything I always figured this was a great way to try that restaurant I’ve always been meaning to go to. The dineLA meals are available in three price categories: Deluxe Dining is $16 for lunch and $26 for dinner; Premier Dining is $22 for lunch and $34 for dinner, and Fine Dining is $28 for lunch and $44 for dinner. Check the dineLA site for participating restaurants and to make your reservations!