It’s the 2nd day of the Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival (our Pick of the Week), which runs through Sunday August 30. Headquartered in the heartPOW LAFW-band of Downtown Los Angeles, with main events taking place directly in front of the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall (with closures along Grand Avenue, between 1st and 3rd street).

The festival’s acclaimed Power Lunch Series returns on Friday, August 28, with exclusive chef collaborations taking place at Los Angeles’ premier restaurants across the city.

“Lexus Grand Avenue Night Market” on Friday evening, August 28, hosted by Tyler Florence, featuring small bites from culinary masters Charles Phan (The Slanted Door), Jet Tila (Pakpao Thai), and Hannah An (The District), among others.

A Supper with Lexus Culinary Master Michael Chiarello (Friday, August 28, 7pm-10pm): This installment in the Lexus Signature Series promises to be a memorable evening with a prolific multicourse dinner prepared by celebrity chef and one of the founding Lexus Culinary Masters, Michael Chiarello.

Please continue to visit the website for updates and details on full programming of events, chefs, wineries, sommeliers, mixologists, and culinary talent participating at the 5th Annual Los Angeles Food & Wine festival.

TICKETS: Tickets range from $50 – $350 (VIP) and are available to purchase by visiting the website

What: Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival
Where: Walt Disney Concert Hall 111 South Grand Ave. (with closures along Grand Avenue, between 1st and 3rd street)
When: Runs through Sunday, August 30, 2015

2022 UPDATE: Unfortunately for all of us the LAFW event is no longer taking place and the website has been shut down. See Destinations Section for a full list of food festivals or CLICK HERE for a direct link to the best LA annual Food Events.Visit the Stories Section; under Dining Drinking – the Events Page to read reviews of these food events or CLICK HERE for the direct link.

=====================================

L.A. LIVE presents another exciting night – Downtown Dark Nights features live musicians, performers, artists and indie craft vendors AND unbeatable $5 food & drink specials at participating L.A. LIVE restaurants! 6pm – midnight!  for details.

=====================================

In West LA….

JAUS is very excited to present “If All The World Were…,” a two person exhibition featuring recent works by Christine Morla and Aska Irie.

The title of the exhibition is derived from a comic poem written circa 1658 “If All The World Were Paper” whose verses were like riddles designed to inspire critical thinking. The two artists, who have exhibited together on multiple occasions, have been paired up, because they both create highly personal universes through the repetitive application of a single, albeit mutually distinct, material. In the case of Morla, she uses found paper and packaging materials which are cut into thin strips and meticulously woven together into geometric and floral shapes. Irie, on the other hand employs tiny beads, often associated with the Native Mexican Huichol communities, to create childlike and playful imagery, and more recently geometric landscapes.

On view: August 28 – September 27, 2015

What: Opening reception
Where: Jaus, 11851 La Grange Ave., LA 90025
When: 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Phone: 424.248.0781
Website: www.jausart.com

=====================================

Back in Venice…Trunk Gallery presents a group exhibition of art that has been created in honor of, or influenced by, artist Ai Weiwei. The exhibition “Ai Weiwei: A Tribute” pays homage to the world-renowned artist and social activist. Opening Friday evening, August 28th (Ai’s birthday) with a reception from 7pm–11pm (cake will be served). The exhibit continues on Saturday and Sunday, from 10am–6pm.

Fri-Aug28-TrunkGalleryAi Weiwei is China’s most famous and politically outspoken contemporary artist. He is a recipient of Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award for 2015 and was named the “Most Powerful Person in the Art World” in 2011 by ArtReview magazine. He has endured false imprisonment and police brutality yet continues to fight for artistic freedom of expression and speak out against China’s human rights abuses.

The show includes mixed-medium, painting, photography, drawing, video, sculpture, installation art and performance. The gallery has also installed a small-scale replica of Weiwei’s Sunflower Seeds. Artists include Babak, Chalavie, Yaron Dotan, Dwora Fried, Ryan Gilden, Lee Ann Goya, Alyssa Ilves, Lily La Bare, Joseph Lee, Mitchelito Orquiola, Wesley Pacleb, Yecenia Torres, and Michael Wilde. A portion of the sales will be donated to Human Rights in China (HRIchina.org).

On view: August 28 – August 30

What: Opening reception
Where: Trunk Gallery, 12818 Venice Blvd., LA 90066
When: 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm

2022 Update Trunk Gallery has closed its doors

=====================================

In the Valley…

Please join LA Fromagerie for a unique and magical night under the stars at the wonderful French restaurant that’s been around forever!!! Enjoy great music and delicious cheese paired with fine wine. Three-cheese platter offered from LA Fromagerie for $20. Paired perfectly with Rive Gauche’s flight of wine for $15. Cathy Segal Garcia.performs with Allan Walker on tenor sax and piano styling by Mark Massey. No Reservations Necessary…First come, first serve

What: Performance
Where: Rive Gauche Cafe, 14106 Ventura Blvd. Sherman Oaks
When: 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Phone: 818-990-3573
Website: http://cathysegalgarcia.com/

=====================================