Jaydi's Weekend Jems

Fri. Oct. 23rd

5-7pm, FREE Pumpkin FroYo at Cefiore

Click here for participating locations.

Sat. Oct. 24th

All Day, Firenze Osteria Grand Opening

4212 Lankershim Blvd.

North Hollywood

I was fortunate enough to check out Fabio Viviani's (of Top Chef fame) new restaurant during last night's media preview. The complimentary risotto alla salsiccia e funghi (sausage and mushroom risotto) and malfatti burro e salvia (spinach and ricotta dumplings) - made specially for my vegetarian date - were delish...as was the red wine. Great date spot if you don't mind the TV at the bar.

7am-3pm, LF Warehouse Sale

5333 McConnell Ave.

Los Angeles

80-90% off. I go every year. So should you.

11am-1pm, The Charm of Korean Cuisine

Korean Cultural Center

5505 Wilshire Blvd.

Los Angeles

FREE

Renowned Korean food expert and director of The Institute of Korean Food, Sook-Ja Yoon, will be giving a lecture and workshop on the nutritional value and taste of Korean cuisine followed by a tasting of a variety of delectable dishes.

Sun. Oct. 25th

9am-2:30pm, Toyota Farm to Table Tour

Brentwood Farmers' Market

FREE

The best local chefs will prepare complimentary tastings featuring fare from their favorite farmers.

2-6pm, Bedrocktoberfest

Echo Park

FREE

Celebrate the opening of 8 state-of-the-art hourly music studios with an afternoon of music, food and their own brewery’s beer. Expect surprise guests, sneak peeks, and full access to recording studios.

6pm, High on Mackenzie

Book Soup

8818 Sunset Blvd.

West Hollywood

FREE

Mackenzie Phillips presents and signs High on Arrival.

Sat. Oct. 24th - Sun. Oct. 25th

11am-6pm, Brewery Art Walk

2100 N. Main St. Unit A10

Downtown

FREE

A biannual weekend at the world's largest art complex. Over 100 participating resident artists and the opportunity to purchase works directly from them at studio prices.

Thanks to FWJ readers Michael and Ami for the suggestion.

Jaydi's Weekend Jems

Thurs. Oct. 15th

Not into celeb sightings? Try vintage furniture.

7-10pm, tini Grand Opening

515 S. Fairfax Ave.

Los Angeles

Cocktails. Music. Shopping. RSVP to Jen@thisisnotikea.com.

Fri. Oct. 16th

4-7pm, Coffee Bean Giveaway

FREE 12 oz. Pumpkin Ice Blendeds or Pumpkin Lattes. One per person (or just hit up various locations and get five!).

7pm, Aimee Mann Concert

The Wiltern

3290 Wilshire Blvd.

Los Angeles

$22.50 and up

Click here to purchase tickets.

Sat. Oct. 17th

10am-5pm, Art Walk & Vintage Auto Show

Virginia Avenue Park

2601 Pico Blvd.

Santa Monica

FREE

Food. Art galleries. Oh, and you.

8pm, Horrible Movie Night

The Complex

6476 Santa Monica Blvd.

(doors open at 7:15pm)

Hollywood

$8

"HMN exhumes forgotten and unwatched cinematic disasters, and invites your biting barbs and witty rejoinders." Prizes awarded for best comments of the evening.

This month they plan to "poison your palate" with 2004's Suburban Sasquatch. RSVP now to horriblemovienight@pacbell.net.

Thx to FWJ reader Jerilyn for the suggestion!

Jaydi's Weekend Jems

Fri. Sept. 11th - Sun. Sept. 13th

10am-6pm, Larchmont Sidewalk Sale. Need I say more?

Sat. Sept. 12th

9:30-11am, Huntington's Yoga Series

The Huntington Library and Gardens

1151 Oxford Ave.

San Marino

$25

Enjoy a yoga class in one of the most beautiful settings in LA an hour before the public can gain entry. Garden locations will vary every week (such as the lilly pond). Advanced registration necessary, so call 626.405.2100 to reserve a space.

5-8pm, Pizza Fusion Grand Opening

2901 Ocean Park Blvd.

Santa Monica

Enjoy food samplings from their organic menu of pizza, sandwiches, and salads, as well as FREE organic beer and live music!

Sun. Sept. 13th

7pm, Mean Girls Screening

W Hotel WET Pool

930 Hilgard Ave.

Westwood

FREE

Every week through Sept. 27th, they will be screening a film (The Duchess and Major League to follow). One of the last movies of the series.

CHAM Korean Bistro

851 Cordova St.

Pasadena

Unable to attend their grand tasting last week, I sent FWJ food blogger Jackie in my place.  Her thoughts:

"When I entered Cham, I wanted to try everything at the tasting tables. Since I couldn't narrow down the selection, I asked the man at the register to select options for me. The result?

"Mint lemonade - a solid A+, on the sweet side, which I prefer
Watermelon salad - very refreshing, perfect for a hot summer day
Tofu pockets - the marinated fresh crab meat was my favorite, but the arugula and red radish is a great vegetarian alternative

"Ssam garden platter - let's just say YUM...give me SSAM more! This plate was interactive dining at it's best. The delicious ribs came on a piping hot skillet with grilled onions. All the fixings came on another plate. You create your own wraps. It was amazingly appetizing, and fun, too! The sesame leaves were my favorite new discovery. They taste somewhat like anise, and Koreans use these fuzzy (trust me, they're good) little leaves to wrap anything and everything up before ingesting it. Waaaay better than boring old lettuce.

"Crispy rice cakes + lean ground beef (crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, sauteed in CHAM special soy sauce) - I was about to stop eating when the owner asked if I wanted ANYTHING else. I'd been eyeing the rice cakes the whole meal, so she brought me a small taste. They were DELICIOUS. The "special" soy sauce on the beef was more than special, and the rice cakes themselves were perfectly crispy. It was also one of the few times I've eaten perfectly cooked broccoli in a restaurant. I'd never had anything like it. They also have a vegetarian version with sauteed vegetables. If I were a vegetarian, I would eat here at least once a week!

"The staff was extremely polite and helpful (not surprising for a tasting), and I got the sense they'll remain this way even after opening. The owner showed me how to put the garden wraps together and informed me the chefs don't use any MSG or white sugar. If you taste the food, you'll instantly know CHAM really is a healthy, fusion alternative to the artery-clogging Asian restaurants out there."

Bottom line?  Check out CHAM now (picture courtesy of Food GPS)!

Sure-Oh To Attend This

Wed. June 24th, 5:30-7:30pm

Xooro

8360 Melrose Ave.

West Hollywood

To celebrate the opening of their new location (next to Sweet Lady Jane), this store will be giving away FREE original vanilla xooros (pronounced sure'-ohs).  Their other flavored churros range from glutten-free to maple bacon and raspberry!

Take a Sip

Join Siptea downtown tonight from 6-8pm for their official grand opening!

Berry Nice

Tues. July 1st, 

12265 Ventura Blvd. #105

Studio City, CA

Berry Elegance

This amazing store, famous for its chocolate-dipped strawberries, is holding its grand reopening this week.  They are offering FREE samples, discounts, and other special surprises.  Frequent shoppers include Justin Timberlake, Megan Fox, Ryan Seacrest and others.