East LA Meets Napa Returns to DTLA

Posted on July 22, 2022 by Karin E. Baker

East LA Meets Napa Preview Dinner. Photos by Karin E. Baker for The LA Beat.

Enjoy live music from Ozomatli, gourmet dishes from 15 top Latino-owned Los Angeles restaurants, premium spirits, and wine pairings from 15 acclaimed Napa Valley vintners when East LA Meets Napa returns to LA Live in Downtown Los Angeles on July 29.

East LA Meets Napa celebrates the richness and diversity of LA’s Latin cuisine and the Latin-owned wines of California. Now in its 15th year, East LA Meets Napa is the premier fundraiser for AltaMed Health Services.

During an East LA Meets Napa preview dinner at LA Live’s Sol Agave, we savored an outstanding multi-course meal with wine pairings. Chef Oscar Perez of Sol Agave served rack of lamb with mole, chorizo mashed potatoes, and baby veggies. It paired beautifully with a 2013 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Herencia del Valle Wines in Napa.

Michelin-starred Chef Rocio Camacho, known as “la diosa de los moles” (“goddess of moles”), heads the kitchen at Rocio’s Mexican Kitchen in Bell Gardens. She presented us with chicken topped with white mole made of white chocolate and almonds.

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Movies Till Dawn: Otherworldly Encounters

Posted on July 21, 2022 by Paul Gaita

“The UFO Incident” (1975, Kino Lorber) Unnerving TV-movie take on Betty and Barney Hill’s alleged abduction by aliens, which is revealed through hypnosis by psychiatrist Barnard Hughes. Though directed with considerable atmosphere by TV vet Richard Colla (whose judicious use of lighting helps to sell the limited makeup for the aliens), “Incident” belongs to stars James Earl Jones and Estelle Parsons, who shoulder both the intimate drama of the Hills’ relationship (complicated by their interracial status in the 1960s) and harrowing emotional workouts as they recall their alleged encounter with the aliens. Regardless of your take on the Hills’ experience, the performances make this a compelling entry in the ’70s TV-movie canon; Kino Lorber’s Blu-ray includes commentary by historian Gary Gerani, who knows his vintage TV, and who also contributes a thoughtful documentary on the film’s composer, Billy Goldenberg.

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watt’s picture of the week – wednesday, july 20, 2022

Posted on July 20, 2022 by Mike Watt

nothings happened w/this pad for years but recently something been going on w/the old odd fellows temple on gaffey street at tenth here in my pedro town… just about to get repurposed? crimony!

photos by mike watt

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Tail o’ the Pup Grand Opening Tonight!

Posted on July 20, 2022 by Elise Thompson

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B-Boy B-Girl Summit In Grand Park Promises A Free & Funky Sunday Afternoon

Posted on July 16, 2022 by Bob Lee

This Sunday’s B-Boy B-Girl Summit Reborn in Grand Park LA looks to be a brilliant opportunity to get your funk on, for nothing. This free event goes on from noon to 8pm and will highlight each of the Key Elements of Hip-Hop: DJing , street art, dancing, battling, and of course rapping. The former members of the Pharcyde that have reunited for 2022 aren’t calling themselves that, exactly, but I’ll bet their performance at 5:15 will include your favorite songs from Bizarre Ride II Tha Pharcyde since that album gets its thirtieth anniversary this year. An appearance from Inventor of the Scratch Grand Wizard Theodore, damn, the Old School don’t get much older than that. Breakestra are a live band that cuts like a good DJ, and anyone complaining about hip-hop people being unable to play real instruments can get schooled at this set. If you bring your kids, they’ll have a craft area to make their own funky creations, as well as a Kids Battle set for 1pm. Food trucks, local vendors and a display of “eye-popping” graffiti art will be part of the PG, that means program, and it’s easy. If Hip Hop is a question – What are you going to do? – this afternoon gathering in the park provides a wide range of possible answers.

EVENT SCHEDULE:**
Noon – 1:00 p.m.:                  DJ Frankie Flave
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.:           Kids Battle
1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.:           Battle of the DJs: Bonnie & Clyde vs. DJ Skeme Richards
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.:           Lockin’ & Poppin’ Showcase: DJ LA Smurf & Silky D
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.:           DJ Battlecat
4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.:            Grand Wizard Theodore
4:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.:             Breakestra
5:15 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.:            Far Side
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.:           Behind the Groove with DJ KS360 NY Funk

B-Boy B-Girl Summit Reborn takes place on Sunday, July 17 from noon – 8:00 p.m in Grand Park (in the Olive Court, the Performance Lawn between Grand Ave. and Hill St.), 200 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Admission is free, all are welcome. 

**All artists and set times subject to change.

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Toys that Kill, Lawndale and Carnage Asada Rock the Sardine this Saturday to Celebrate Steve Reed’s Birthday!

Posted on July 15, 2022 by Elise Thompson

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5 Places in LA to Celebrate National Caviar Day

Posted on July 15, 2022 by Karin E. Baker

Caviar Frites. Image courtesy of The Green Room, Burbank.

This Monday, July 18, is National Caviar Day. If you love caviar, you know that any reason is a good reason to indulge in the delicacy. 

Caviar isn’t just an indulgence – it’s also healthy, as it’s full of protein, vitamins, and minerals. Below, you’ll find five LA restaurants and bars where you can make your champagne wishes and caviar dreams come true.

GrandMaster Recorders, Hollywood

Once a recording studio for legends like David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Foo Fighters, and Queens of the Stone Age, Grandmaster Recorders is now a restaurant with one of the most happening rooftops in LA. Take in the view as you nibble on a caviar cannoli, or go full-on and luxuriate in the Ossetra Caviar service. 

The Green Room, Burbank

Known for one of LA’s most stunning views, The Green Room is the glamorous hidden lounge at Burbank’s Castaway. You’ll find not just  Caviar Frites (Yukon Gold French fries generously studded in Petrossian caviar), but also Steak Tartare Caviar “Cigars.” Made of steak tartare rolled up in pastry or phyllo dough dotted at the end with a dollop of caviar to resemble cigars, the “cigars” are served in a crystal ashtray with burnt onion ash and a smoke-filled cigar box. 

Asterid, DTLA

Located at Walt Disney Concert Hall, asterid is the newest offering from Chef Ray Garcia (Broken English). Sit on the expansive patio at one of LA’s most iconic structures and enjoy a vibrant dining and cocktail experience. Don’t miss the organic squash tamal topped with caviar and crema. 

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watt’s picture of the week – wednesday, july 13, 2022

Posted on July 13, 2022 by Mike Watt

my first hobble on the waterfront in my pedro town in over a month and crimony… I wasn’t even on tour! well, I’m fit and hobblin’ again but still keepin a good eye on the deck, don’t wanna tumble!

photo by mike watt

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Fountain Theatre’s Free Live Stream of “Roe” Coming July 10

Posted on July 9, 2022 by Karin E. Baker

A powerful play focusing on the real women involved in the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, “Roe” has played to sold-out audiences at LA’s Fountain Theatre for the past three weeks. Audiences everywhere can watch a free hyper-staged live stream of the final performance of “Roe” on Sunday, July 10.

Written by Lisa Loomer, “Roe” goes beyond the headlines to look at Norma McCorvey, known as “Jane Roe,” and Sarah Weddington, the lawyer who defended her in Roe v. Wade. Recently overturned, the landmark Supreme Court case made safe, legal abortion a right for American women. “Roe” also examines the years after the court’s decision and the great divide surrounding the issue in today’s America.

The live stream is sponsored by The Center on Reproductive Health, Law, and Policy at the UCLA School of Law. For more information or to get involved with the cause, go to law.ucla.edu/academics/centers/center-reproductive-health-law-and-policy.

Published in 2019, “Roe” has been praised as both poignant and humorous. To receive a link to watch the free seven-camera live stream, go to www.fountaintheatre.com.

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Meals on Wheels Wowed us with their Glamorous ‘Hollywood Under the Stars’ Gala

Posted on July 7, 2022 by Elise Thompson

A delicious spread from Sumac Restaurant at Hollywood under the Stars benefit for Meals on Wheels 2022. Photo by Elise Thompson.

The LA Beat recently enjoyed “Hollywood Under the Stars” on the Paramount Studios lot. The charity’s first event in two years offered delicacies from over a dozen local chefs and patisseries, plus live music from the 10-piece De Bois All-Star Band. The event benefitted St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, the largest privately funded senior nutrition program in the country.

Everyone was friendly and having a good time dancing, chatting and posing for pictures on the beautiful film lot. Of course, if you know us at all, you know that for us it was all about the food. There were some old favorites there as well as some exciting newcomers.

Our new regular lunch spot Agnes, once again set up an absolutely insane cheese table. I especially love the triple cream soft cheeses, dried apricots, fresh fruit, coppa, fig jam, pimento cheese spread, and their signature corn nuts. Make sure to stop in at their cheesery and restaurant in Pasadena for their tater tots, pastas and bomb diggety sandwiches. Yes, their food is so good that it threw my slang right back to the early 2000s! Continue reading →

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