Michele StuevenAfter a hiatus since 2019, Barnsdall Art Park Foundation has announced the return of its popular fundraiser, Barnsdall Fridays Wine Tasting. The event, which has always attracted sell-out crowds, takes place on the West Lawn of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House, Los Angeles’ only UNESCO World Heritage site, every Friday between Memorial Day and Labor Day (May 31 to Aug. 30) from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The opening event is already selling out quickly, and guests are encouraged to bring blankets for maximum comfort. Ongoing partner Silverlake Wine will curate a selection of boutique artisanal wines, and rotating food trucks will be on offer from popular LA haunts including Triple Beam Pizza and Ardi’s Eats & Sweets. Popular DJs will be featured over the course of the series, including DJ edma2z and Dougee Dimensional, a founding member and vocalist of the electronic lounge group The Gentle People. Through July 20, guests can also visit the COLA exhibition on view at DCA’s Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery (LAMAG), which is the culminating presentation of the recipients of the City of Los Angeles Independent Master Artist Project grant program for visual arts and design.
As part of the series, a limited number of tours of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House interior will be available for a premium ticket price throughout the evening. Wine-tasting tickets cost $45 and $70 with a guided tour of Hollyhock House. Designated Driver tickets are available for $15 with entry only and wine tasting not included. Purchase tickets here.
Molasses brown butter carrots (Courtesy 1010 Wine and Events)
May 6 is International Sauvignon Blanc Day, and to celebrate, Inglewood’s first and only wine bar, 1010 Wine and Events, will host the Battle of the Blancs. The friendly little competition will be a blind tasting of eight Sauvignon Blancs worldwide — South Africa, New Zealand, California and more. Event attendees cast a vote for their favorite and the region with the highest-ranked wines wins. The event also includes passed apps, games and prizes, and a live DJ keeping the vibes all night.
Sibling co-founders Leslie and Le Jones founded 1010 Wine and Events to fill a void in the industry and Inglewood neighborhood by creating a space for people to gather and enjoy a selection of Black-owned wines with an elevated dining menu. The 1010 Wine menu currently features more than 90% Black-owned wines not often found in local grocery stores, making 1010 Wine the largest selection of Black- and Brown-owned wine in California. The newly launched dinner menu features salmon crudo, Piri Piri chicken and prime beef bavette.
Redbird’s annual Kentucky Derby Party is back on Saturday, May 4, in the Vibiana Courtyard for “the most exciting 2 minutes in sports.” The afternoon event from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., will feature a menu of southern goodies by Chef Neal Fraser and the Redbird culinary team and Bar Director Tobin Shea’s Triple Crown Cocktail collection. Guests are encouraged to don their finest hats over live bluegrass music by The Silver Mountain String Band. Sample deviled eggs with smoked trout caviar and chive, blue crab cakes with dill tartar sauce, Benedictine sandwiches with cucumber and cream cheese, Beeler’s pork ribs, and Derby Pie with coconut. Sip on Mint Juleps with Woodford Reserve, mint and sugar, and Kentucky Colonel with Old Forester Redbird barrel, benedictine and bitters. Tickets are $58 per person for food with beverages and a cash bar is charged upon consumption.
Kentucky Derby party at Redbird (Sierra Prescott)
On Saturday, May 4, starting at 3:30 p.m., OLIPOP will scoop up a limited-edition Barbie Peaches & Cream prebiotic soda ice cream float at Van Leeuwen Ice Cream in Franklin Village. The first 100 customers will receive a free float and the following 100 customers will receive a free can of OLIPOP’s Barbie Peaches & Cream soda.
Mon Ami is launching a new immersive dining experience called First Class. Each month for one night only, they will offer an experience centered around a city in Europe, from the food and cocktails to live music and activations. Guests will take home “passports” to commemorate their “trip.” The first event will be Barcelona on Friday, May 17, with Flamenco dancers, live jazz music, sangria, jamon stations, and more. The venue will feature a guitar player and live Latin tunes. The First-Class dinner experience will take place each month throughout the summer, with the subsequent cities being Santorini and Amalfi next up on the calendar.
If you love strawberries, the 38th Annual California Strawberry Festival returns on Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19, at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Fifty food and drink vendors will be at the festival with strawberry-themed offerings like chocolate-covered strawberries, strawberry-topped funnel cakes, strawberry pizza, strawberry nachos, deep-fried strawberries, berry kabobs, strawberry tacos and strawberry beer and smoothies. There is also strawberry-covered fried dough, strawberry kettle corn and strawberry lemonade.
Strawberry nachos (Michele Stueven)
Hosted by the Santa Barbara Culinary Experience in partnership with The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts, the Taste of Santa Barbara returns Monday, May 13, through Sunday, May 19, with a lineup of events showcasing the region’s finest flavors. New this year, the weekend of signature events kicks off on Friday, May 17, with the Taste of Santa Barbara Soirée. Moving to Saturday is the annual Taste of Santa Barbara Wines and screening event, which this year features a conversation with creators from MAX’s “JULIA” and insights about the original “THE FRENCH CHEF” television series, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Check out the full schedule here: https://sbce.events/
The Young Professionals Advisory Council of nonprofit Chrysalis will host its inaugural Cheers to Changing Lives cocktail party on Saturday, May 11 at Expert Dojo in Santa Monica. The event will include dancing and live music, an open bar, hors d’oeuvres, and a silent auction. Chrysalis serves people navigating barriers to the workforce by offering a job-readiness program, individualized supportive services, and paid transitional employment. For 40 years, Chrysalis has served more than 85,000 individuals at its six centers and locations throughout Southern California.
What’s Popping Up is a weekly column in the L.A. Weekly that explores all that’s new in food and drink.
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