Will Nguyen of Starry Kitchen sport the banana at this year's LA Street Food Fest?
Carmaggedon. Autopocalypse. The 405 freeway closed the whole weekend from the 101 to 10? What’s a Westsider who wants to hit up foodie favorite event LA Street Food Fest in Pasadena on July 16th to do?
Feel the Lure of LA Food Fest
A Sailor Jerry Rum bar if you want something other than beer, gin or tequila.
I mean, who would want to brave what’s being touted to be the clusterfuck from hell even if LASFF is a fun event featuring the food of LA’s most popular food trucks like Great Balls on Tires, Grilled Cheese Truck and The Frymsith?
And sure, restaurants Mo-Chica/Picca, Pal Cabron, and Starry Kitchen will also be serving up food and there’s even an Ice Cream Social with Scoops and Batch From Scratch, Bulgarini Gelato, CoolHaus and Ice Ice Shavie, the new mixology-driven shaved ice truck… Oh dear, that’s pretty hard to resist. (List of participants)
The things that may just push any booze-loving Westsider over the edge though? The Tequila Tasting Tent showcasing 13 tequilas as well as the Hendrick’s Gin sponsored Test Kitchen Luxe Lounge with Chef Farid Zadi and renowned mixologist Julian Cox (Rivera/Playa). Julian will be mixing up some unique specialties just for the event including his Gin y Hendrix with Hendrick’s gin, lime, mint, agave, salt and cucumber espuma as well as his Peat Rose with Hendrick’s, lemon, cane sugar, seltzer, lemon verbena, Islay Scotch and rose air. Now, do you still want to hole up at home with all this going on?
As Much as You Hate the Word, Call It a Staycation
The mayor will be returning to the food fest this year sans cast.
If you’re finding it hard to stick to your side of town but really don’t want to worry about driving either, LASFF organizer Shawna Dawson, the city of Pasadena and even Mayor Villaraigosa are trying to convince Westsiders to just take a “staycation” by booking a hotel room in the vicinity of the event.
The Courtyard Marriott in Old Town Pasadena is offering a special discount rate of $119 a night as well as a free shuttle to get to the event (perfect, considering that tequila tent). Well, it could be fun exploring what the ‘Dena has to offer. Hmm, I would be able to actually drink more at 1886 without having to worry about the long drive back home since the bar is just an affordable cab ride away from the Marriott.
Fun Things To Do in the ‘Dena During Your Stay
And Ms. Shawna, who herself is a resident of the 626, offered up other fun things to do, see, eat in Pasadena.
- Take in a movie at luxurious movie theaters: Gold Class Cinemas and ArcLight Theater.
- Relax at the Langham Hotel’s Huntington Spa with either their new summer Lemon Mint Swedish Massage (60 minutes for $110) or a Chuan back, neck and shoulder massage (30 minutes for $95).
- Must-do beer destination Lucky Baldwin’s Pub & Café is in the midst of its Xmas in July Beer Festival which features Christmas and rare vintage beers through July 17.
- Get an All-Out-Diva Pedicure ($60) at Dashing Diva to treat your feet after walking all over the festival.
- Enjoy vino at Heritage Wine Company, “the most comfortable Pasadena wine bar.”
- And if you still feel like eating after the festival, there’s the Hat‘s infamous chili cheese fries.
Maybe if I could get a friend to split that hotel room it won’t be too bad. Thinking, thinking.
Giveaway!
***CONTEST CLOSED***
To those who won’t be intimidated by a little traffic, I offer up the following: TWO tickets to the afternoon session (2-5pm) of the LA Street Food Fest this Saturday, July 16. Regular price is $60 a person and it includes food, drinks, cocktails, beer, music and parking but if you win you and your buddy get in for FREE!
No VIP tickets to give away this year but since the event is divided into three sessions with a limited capacity of 1,500 a sesh, it’ll be equivalent to what VIP was last year. Shorter lines and more elbow room! You in?
All you have to do to enter this giveaway is the following (do both steps to qualify):
- Leave a comment below saying how you plan to spend Carmaggedon this weekend (besides at LA Street Food Fest of course) and include your Twitter handle. (There is no right answer; I’m just looking for suggestions, heh.)
- Tweet: “#Carmaggedon be damned, I wanna go to @LAFoodFest, @carolineoncrack! http://wp.me/pNkdL-27M”
I’ll randomly pick a winner via Random.org on Friday at 10am and notify the winner via email. If I don’t hear from you by 2pm this Friday, I’ll draw another winner so check your email, Tweeps!
EVENT: SATURDAY, JULY 16 from
10am–1pm: Picnic in the Park (All Ages, Family Friendly)
2pm–5pm: Family Fun Day (All Ages, Family Friendly)
6pm–9pm: Date Night (21+)
The Rose Bowl
360 North Arroyo Boulevard
Pasadena, California 91103 (map)
Tickets: $60
Facebook: LA Street Food Fest
Twitter: @LAFoodFest
If I don’t go to the LA food fest then I’m hitting up Malibu to get some beach time! @kerribuck
I’m @jesswil. I’m going to see the HP Premier at midnight on Thursday, then will be hanging by the pool for the rest of the weekend so I’m not stuck in traffic. Unless I win tix of course!
I’m going to movies at Outfest, Carmageddons themed rooftop parties in Silverlake, and being upset about Harry Potter. @kerensacadenas
After the LA Foodfest, i am gathering a group of friends to try riding our bikes on as much of the closed down 405 as possible. ideally we can take pics in the middle of the freeway under the overpass signs!
I will hopefully be enjoying the LA food fest, but if not I’ll probably finish my book and enjoy walking-distance places near my apartment in Pasadena. @alohomora1
@lapeteh will be chillin by the bbq with any friends that decide to come hang – some fine summer cocktails and great food will keep this guy off the streets!
Unless of course I hit the LA Food Fest!
I’d otherwise be going to Cinespia at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Heck – I’ll still go… I can fit it in 🙂
@oenophile79
I’ll probably be in one of two places:
1.) go home (Glendale) to visit mom. She ran a half marathon in San Diego a few weeks back and her completion prize was a trip to Italy. Anyway, she just got back so I thought I’d visit and say hi and go out for some Sushi.
Octopus Sushi in Glendale is pretty good. There’s a great cafe across the street that serves epic Armenian Coffee too!
2.) Spend some time in Venice Beach with some friends. A buddy of mine just moved into town and he knows all the good places to hang, heh.
Now bring on the foodfest! (I’ll bring cake! Hehe…)
@Ribeezie
Probably trying to avoid the Westside at all costs. Maybe eat some hot pot and grabbing a brew at Verdugo
@dimsum01
Going to explore my neighborhood, Little Tokyo, and try out the Flying Pig Cafe.
@wwwtrash
I will go for a hike or bike riding. Also, BBQ and drinks at home.
Hitting up the Renegade Craft Fair at the Los Angeles Historic State Park, and then maybe Shojin for lunch afterwards (I’ve been meaning to go there for 2 1/2 years – lazy valley dweller here, lol)
@cruel_spark
Keeping it on the eastside… going for a little Indy Rock Music & Nighttime Zoo viewing Friday night @ Griffith Park, and volunteering at the Eat Real Fest on Sunday. LA Street Food Fest would sandwich in so nicely between those two!
@nicolemiizuka
Probably trying to avoid the Westside. Maybe eat some hot pot and grabbing a brew at Verdugo
@dimsum01
I’ll be at Outfest this weekend and chilling on my patio drinking some wine & avoiding traffic! @laura_luna
@amymariecook I live in Pasadena, so I’m staying in Pasadena! Picnic in the park & catch one of the outdoor movies this weekend.
will be helping boyfriend get all items he needs to start culinary school in 2 weeks..he can be hard to shop with but at least we will have time together.
@tonithetiger69
I will be smoking plenty of green and checking out the Art in the Streets exhibit at MOCA!
Carpocalypse Now!…Carmageddon Is COMING!!! (Hide the children 😉
I’m seeking solace in comfort foods. So far, it’s $4.05 — 405, get it? — sweeties from Essential Chocolate Desserts (Culver City). Maybe they’ll throw in a $1.01 short(cut).
But I’d GLADLY self-medicate my car withdrawal symptoms with LA Street Food Fest fare (given the chance…*hint, hint*). I’d even use *alternative transportation* to get there. 😀
@sublimities
I’ll be training in to Chinatown for the Renegade Craft Faire. Went last year – it was great! If nothing else comes up, maybe I’ll spend my whole weekend there learning different craft projects 😀
Gotta say I am a little stunned at the comments here from eastsiders. there is no reason for you not to hit Streetfood Fest. The RoseBowl is 20 miles from the 405, there are shuttles from Memorial Park to the RoseBowl and tons of parking in an area that will not really get much grief from the 405 shutdown.
Stay east, don’t head west and enjoy some of the best local vendors at an event that also donates a portion of the proceeds to the Downtown LA Women’s Center.
And in the spirit of disclosure, I am associated with the Streetfood fest, just wanted to give you the full info.
Cheers!
Marcus, Well, in all fairness, I did ask them what they would be doing during Carmeggedon besides the LA Street Food Fest. 🙂 Because I knew everyone would just say “Food Fest!”
staying in dt and hopefully the food fest!!!
I will be having a anti-405, Screw Carmaggedon party in Silverlake far from all the hoopla 😉
staying put in dt and hopefully hitting up the food fest!! @carisunnie
Going to figure out new ways to get around and across town using only the Metro, my bike, and my two little feet! @starvingjd
During Carmaggedon I plan on eating lots of BBQ on the eastside and laughing at all of the LA natives on the westside that can’t figure out how to navigate using just the streets. @Doubleque
Oh, I know how to navigate via the streets but fear that everyone else will be doing the same thing.
So far plans are tentative, but not because of Carmaggedon so much since we are in the Whittier area. However, right now plans are either the beach (Orange County), the Outdoor Cinema Food Fest, or dinner with friends east of LA.
Fingers crossed that this turns out the Y2K route and it’s just way, way, overestimated.
Sorry, forgot my twitter handle
@msbibliotecaria
I was planning on checking out @munchathon since it’s the food event farthest away from the freeway chaos, that is taking place this weekend but I would gladly experience carmageddon to go to LA Food Fest. – @T129CY
I was actually going to sit in front of my building and watch the poor saps as they attempt to circumvent the monstrosity (I live on Sawtelle right before the 10). Maybe walk over to the Palms bridge & take pictures.
#UnctuousLA
I’m @eight2tree and I would love to beat the evil Carmaggeddon.
Planning to stay local and enjoy a picnic and music at Huntington Gardens; maybe venture to Hollywood via the gold and red lines. @FunSizeSarge
I plan to spend Carmaggedon this weekend recovering from LA Art Walk, skateboarding, and staying off the freeways as much as possible. @TacticalFBombs
@pwbandit <could be headed south for the OC Fair, or to the beaches here in the South Bay unless Caroline hooks a girl up!! Who doesnt want free Crack??!! LASFF is an appealing alternative to the media bore the 405 closure has become and an excuse to treat my bf to good food, Thanks.
What I’ll be doing for Carmaggedon??? I hope in this order….Hike in the am, have a few beers, spend time with friends, have more beers, hang with family, maybe even take the bus for once in my life :-)… attend a bridal shower on Sunday, and if I must actually stay home and chill 🙂
I’ll be watching the final weekend of racing at Hollywood Park on TVG, since I won’t be able to get there in person. Oh, and going to the LA Street Food Fest, too!
@MiguelRaton
this carmageddon thing is pretty much ruining EVERYTHING! lol
brand new to your blog. yay. adding you to my blog roll. maybe you can do the same for me? i am an l.a. blogger, too. 🙂
This Carmeggedon weekend I am going to walk around my neighborhood test tasting one cocktail from every bar/restaurant around my place @marvinar.
I’m planning on taking advantage of free Metro trips and do some ‘sploring around LA….hit the Gold line east, for sure.
Preparing for an eventual zombie apocalypse by holing up in my Westwood apt (obviously one of the worst places to be) and practicing self defense on the xbox kinect…
If I don’t go to the LA food fest, I’ll be partying on the beach
Great weekend to spend inside with lots of finger food, frozen treats, booze and board games. I just bought guesstures!
@ wejalo will be studying for the Ca bar exam, sadly not the drinking kind. I’d rather be on the 405, or hiding under it maybe…
I’ll be riding my bike from Santa Monica to Malibu sometime during the weekend. Taking the metro from the valley. Nothing else planned, pretty much play it by ear.
@KhemikalAli
I’m going to spend the weekend biking and at the beach! @abbieleerumery
I plan on walking up the 405 to Mulholland just to see if I can get arrested. Then maybe skateboard back down? 😛
I am going to spend the weekend helping my neighbor shave her 4 cats, its at least a 2 person job.
[…] are ya? Especially when there’s a bunch of food festivals like LA Food Fest (which I’m giving away tickets to) going on! Plus all this other fun […]
Still shaving cats but I forgot to include my batsignal: @pasadenaupinya
walking/biking to the beach! i live in venice thankfully.
We will be enjoying the sunshine in our backyard, watching the Women’s World Cup final, and going for a jog…or two, if we’re lucky enough to eat our way through the Food Fest.
@CoreyandLA
still planning on shopping for boyfriends culinary school items…checked out New Chef in LA for chef attire..they rock…just got him a coat and apron..great staff..but want to go to food fest on saturday…
@tonithetiger69
As much as I’m dying to see the new documentary about A Tribe Called Quest…I’ll wait until the post-Carpocalypse and spend the weekend backyard barbecuing. Thank you for this giveaway!
@Grimock710
will be biking to a nearby gelato place meet a friend
@jeannelim
I live at the one of the intersections of this impending clusterfuck and since it’s scared everyone shitless, I plan to sunbathe and drink all Sunday to the women’s world cup finals. I’ll brave the traffic for the la food fest – I may as well get fat! @ndesan
I will be going to a family barbeque that weekend and maybe catching a movie at a local cinema! 🙂 @Lesismore50