Top 5 Weekend Food Events: Ribfest, Soda Tasting, Food For Thought, Live & Dine LA + ColLAboration Beer Garden

ColLAboration Beer Garden
Forget Bastille Day. In honor of Belgian Independence Day (actually celebrated on July 21st), ColLAboration will theoretically have Belgian brews on tap at its third summer beer garden. Technically, ColLAboration is a members-only club. For members, admission is free; for non-members, it costs $15 to join.
When: noon - 9 p.m., Saturday, July 23rd.
Where: 8950 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069.
Cost: Admission: free (members), $15 (non-members). $6/beer. (Buy tickets here.)

Soda Tasting
The King of Pop -- not Michael Jackson, soda maven & Galco's owner John Nese -- leads soda connoisseurs in a tasting, with proceeds benefiting the Friends of the Southwest Museum. Charles Phoenix will also be on hand serving "poptails."
When: 5 - 8 p.m.; Sunday, July 24th
Where: Galco's Soda Pop Stop
Cost: $12. (Tickets can be bought here.)

Ribfest
The genteel charm of Lucques may seem incongruous with down-and-dirty grub like ribs, but chef Suzanne Goin knows how to throw down. A Lucques tradition since 2000, she spends a week smoking her meats to create a menu of Saint Louis-style pork ribs, braised beef ribs, lamb spare ribs, spicy chicken wings, coleslaw, baked beans, long-cooked greens, grilled cornbread and peach and blackberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream. The bar will offer "Beer in a Can" and a special selection of "cowboy cocktails."
When: noon - 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, July 24th
Where: Lucques
Cost: $55/person. (RSVP recommended; 323-655-6277.)

Live & Dine LA
Hosted by Angeleno magazine, Live & Dine LA pays tribute to their picks for Chef of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, Best Pastry Chef and Best New Restaurant while offering culinary demos from 20 of LA's top chefs. This year's guest chefs include Ray Garcia (FIG), Roy Choi (A-Frame), Zach Pollack (Sotto), Jordan Kahn (Red Medicine), David Féau (The Royce), and more.
When: 4:30 - 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, July 24th
Where: Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows
Cost: $95, regular; $150, VIP. (Buy tickets here.)

Food For Thought
City Sip wine bar in Echo Park partners with Large Marge Sustainables to host Food For Thought, the first in a monthly series of philanthropic pop-up dinner parties. At each monthly dinner, 100% of the proceeds will benefit a different charity. The inaugural supper will support Medicines Global, a charity that encourages global adventurists to give back to the places they visit by delivering first aid supplies to remote, community-based medical centers. This Monday's menu, which includes boutique wine pairings for each course, includes Persian yogurt and cucumber soup, melon carpaccio, roasted pork (or grilled portobellos) and coconut rice pudding.
When: 7 p.m.; Monday, July 25th
Where: The Green Beacon, Elysian Park
Cost: $65/person. (Tickets must be purchased in advance.)