Eat your way through Carmaggedon weekend
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Foodies can avoid the 405 Freeway this weekend by keeping themselves busy with one of these fun events. According to California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Ming Tsu, “There is no way to anticipate how much traffic there is going to be until the day of.” He advises travelers to have plenty of gas in their tank and allow plenty of time to arrive at their destination. For more information on the closure and alternate routes, visit the Metro website. If you know of any other events or specials going on during Carmaggedon, please let us know in the comment section.
L.A. Street Food Fest: The annual street food festival will be held at the Rose Bowl on Saturday. Marcus Beer, a spokesman for the event, says ticket sales have been slower because of the closure. ‘Last year at this time the event was sold out.’ Organizers have responded to travel concerns by offering free shuttles for Metro users, free parking, and bicycle racks. They also have secured discounted room rates at the Courtyard Marriott for those attendees who want to make a weekend out of the event. The festival is divided into three sessions, with a myriad of food trucks and carts, local loncheros, and chefs attending each one. Tickets range from $60 to $75 per person and can be purchased online or at the door. 1001 Rose Bowl Dr., Pasadena, www.lastreetfoodfest.com.
Orange County Fair: The OC fair begins Friday and lasts until Aug. 14. This year, the fair’s theme is family and food. There will be numerous stalls selling typical outrageous fair fare such as chocolate-covered bacon, chocolate-dipped corn dogs, and deep-fried thin mints, brownies and even Kool Aid. Food trucks will be at the fair every Thursday from noon until 10 p.m. In addition, there will be demonstrations from celebrity chefs such as Duff Goldman and Carla Hall. Robin Wachner, the OC fair communications director, doesn’t expect the 405 closure to have an impact on the fair or ticket sales. The fair is offering a special transportation promotion: If you ride the Metro and the OC Fair express, admission to the grounds is $2 rather than the standard prices of $11 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $6 for youth. Buy tickets online at Ticketmaster.com. 88 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa, www.ocfair.com.
Eat Real Festival: This weekend, the first Los Angeles Eat Real Festival will be held at Helms Bakery in Venice. Local food trucks and 20 craft breweries will be attending the event to satisfy your hunger and thirst. Admission to the festival is free but food and drinks will be charged separately. Times Food editor Russ Parsons will be participating in a panel, along with OC Weekly’s Gustavo Arellano and other Southern California food writers and bloggers, to discuss the future of food writing. Event director Susan Coss says she doesn’t know what to expect. ‘It might cause more or less people to attend the festival, I just don’t know what will happen.’ The event is combating Carmaggedon by arranging for bike tours to the festival with the Los Angeles County Bike Coalition. They are also offering a free shuttle to the event, with several stops along Washington and Culver boulevards. 8800 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, www.eatrealfest.com.
$4.05 Food & Drinks: This weekend, Tender Greens is offering a glass of beer for $4.05 with a Los Angeles I.D. The Daily Grill is also offering $4.05 prices for cocktails, appetizers, and desserts. www.tendergreensfood.com, www.dailygrill.com.
Run and Munch: The first marathon and obstacle course that integrates food is Saturday. More than 40 gourmet food trucks will be present. Ticket and participation information can be found online. 5305 Santiago Canyon Rd., Orange County, www.munchathon.com.
Celebrate Bastille Day: On July 17, this national French holiday will be celebrated with some added L.A. flair at Elysian Park. There will be plenty of French food and live entertainment. The entrance fee is $5 per person and children under 13 are free. 1880 Academy Dr., Los Angeles, www.bastilledaylosangeles.com.
White Light, White Night: A fund-raising event will benefit Walk With Sally, a group that supports children who have suffered from emotional trauma. Admission is based on donations ranging from $150 to $50,000. The night will feaure many restaurants and musical group Blues Traveler. 655 N. Harbor Blvd., Redondo Beach, www.walkwithsally.org.
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--Leah Rodrigues