Pick of the Week is this Sunday, May 19th, CRUSH takes place at 18th Street Arts Center and will feature wine, art and food tasting from 1pm – 5pm. Order your tickets NOW to CRUSH.

The center is calling all urban foodies, wine loving enthusiasts and art aficionados for CRUSH, the complimentary event to the organization’s successful annual Beer, Art and Music Festival (BAM Fest), which brings 1,600 attendees each year to the Santa Monica-based nonprofit. CRUSH, will feature over 50 unique wines, specialty cocktails and culinary delights from Los Angeles’ leading chefs and restaurants. A unique twist on your typical wine and food festival, CRUSH also offers live original music performed by local bands, open artist studios, and a preview of the collaborative exhibition Forêt Intérieure/Interior Forest by Alexandra Grant.

If you’re not exactly the culinary connoisseur or it has been a while since your last visit to an art exhibition, not to worry, you won’t have to spend hours researching online or pouring over art history books. Your wine, art and food have been carefully curated to tantalize your taste buds, spark your curiosity, and engage your creative sensibilities. CRUSH highlights wines from award-winning wineries, small bites from West Los Angeles’ trendsetting chefs and restaurants and cutting-edge contemporary art by local, national and international artists in a fun and inviting atmosphere.

And the event is a steal, with tickets at $45 for general admission and $55 for VIP. Both General and VIP admission includes unlimited sampling of wine and food, with VIP admission including special wine and cocktail tastings and presentations, admission an hour earlier and some surprise perks. CRUSH attendees not only feel great because they are spending a Sunday afternoon sipping and sampling in the sun, meeting artists, viewing exceptional artworks and listening to talented young jazz musicians, but also because they know that all proceeds benefit 18th Street Arts Center, a 24-year old, influential non-profit arts organization in Santa Monica.

For this year’s CRUSH 18th Street is partnering with Edible Westside Magazine, a food and drink print publication focusing on the coastal communities of LA County, to help facilitate the artisanal food and drink side of the festival. Publisher of Edible Westside Magazine, Linzy May Mahoney aims to keep the focus on fresh, seasonal foods, sustainable practices and the local community of farmers, chefs and wine-makers. Participating wineries ranging from big to small are featured at CRUSH, including one of the most recognizable cause brands, ONEHOPE Wine, which, produced in partnership with Robert Mondavi, make an impact with every bottle sold by donating half of all profits to different causes. Smaller winery Turiya Wines, also featured at CRUSH, produces ultra boutique wines from the Central Coast of California and plans to present its rare, fine wines, both blends as well as extremely small releases of single cultivars.

For the foodie at heart, over ten restaurants, chefs and catering companies will offer a bounty of small bites from signature dishes to new creations utilizing local farmer-fresh produce. Favorite Santa Monica neighborhood restaurant, Wilshire will feature its “New Urban Cuisine,” developed around local, organic and seasonal ingredients, while the newly opened Culver City restaurant, Muddy Leek, will showcase their made-from-scratch, globally-motivated dishes. Even Restaurants yet to be open, will also be at CRUSH to show off their skills and what they plan to bring to the Westside scene. Bank of Venice, to open mid-April will feature the craft beer-influenced dishes it plans to offer the Windward Avenue area while Santa Monica restaurant, Fork in the Road to open in early May, will be offering organic, Mediterranean-themed dishes to be paired with rare vintage wines and top shelf cocktails. With the marriage of wine, art and food, 18th Street has concocted a one-of-a-kind fundraising event.

CRUSH attendees also get the special opportunity to explore the multi-faceted installation, Forêt Intérieure/Interior Forest, by Los Angeles-based artist Alexandra Grant based on an ongoing exchange with the iconic French author, poet, playwright and philosopher Hélène Cixous. In addition, the resident artists who live, work and create daily at 18th Street open their studios for attendees to experience works in progress.

Photo by Dave Irvin

And if you’re looking for a way to get to and from the event safely, SideCar, the smartphone app that instantly matches people who need a ride with regular, everyday drivers who are willing to give them one, will be providing a $25 credit to all CRUSH attendees anywhere in Los Angeles. Without a doubt, CRUSH is poised to draw a great crowd in its first year as Santa Monica’s best wine, art and food tasting event!

Tickets run $45 for general admission and $55 for VIP Tickets. Buy Tickets here.

What: Crush, Wine Art and Food Tasting!
Where: 18th Street Arts Center, 1639 18th St. Santa Monica, 90404
When: Sunday, May 19th –  1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Phone: 310-828-1912
Website: http://18thstreet.org/