Best of LA: Week of March 17
The middle of March kicks off with St. Patrick's Day, which means luck is on your side, and you're in for a week full of treats. From festivals to happy hour, and everything in between, here is a rundown of what you can expect to go down in town this week.
Monday, March 17
St. Patrick's Day Festival
Casey's Irish Pub
613 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 629-2353
www.facebook.com/caseysirishpub
Party in the streets of Downtown Los Angeles with upwards of 20,000 people at the 4th Annual St. Patrick's Day Festival. The full day event starts at 6a, and runs until 2am, complete with three DJs, pizza sold by the slice from Pellicola Pizzeria and Guinness and Jameson drink specials, of course. General admission entry is $10, with an option to spring for the $40 VIP ticket if you want guaranteed entry into Casey's Irish Pub as well.
Tuesday, March 18
Late Night Bites Menu
Plan Check Kitchen + Bar
351 North Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(310) 288-6500
www.plancheck.com
If you need a good excuse to check out Plan Check's new location in Fairfax Village, make it a plan to sample the late night menu. Food and drink specials ranging from $3-$12 are served for two full hours prior to closing. Try the Beer Nuts with wasabi, Smoky Fried Chicken Sandwich with yam preserves and pickled okra or the Fifth Taste Beer Float, just to name a few. The menu will also feature a rotating item chosen by Executive Chef Ernesto Uchimura, which will keep offerings fresh and varied.
Wednesday, March 19
Downtown Culver City's Third Wednesday
Culver Boulevard and Ince Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232
www.downtownculvercity.com
The doors of Downtown Culver City will be open for the monthly Third Wednesday event. Pick up your event Passport for a full list of participating restaurants, bars and shops offering freebies and discounts between 5-9pm. There are three valet parking options near Culver Boulevard, as well as public parking structures that offer spots for free for two hours. Better yet, take the Metro Expo line, and enjoy a short walk to the main strip.
Thursday, March 20
Lunchtime Concert Series
Grand Park Performance Lawn
200 North Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 972-8080
www.grandparkla.org
If you work near Downtown, head over to Grand Park for a concert by Hawaiian slack key guitarist Jim "Kimo" West. The performance begins at noon and runs until 1:30p. Bring your lunch, and snag a spot on the lawn for a musical break in the day. Grand Park is easy to reach via Metro as well.
Friday, March 21
All-Star Chef Classic
L.A. Live
800 West Olympic Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 763-5483
www.allstarchefclassic.com
Starting March 21st, twenty-five talented chefs from across the country will gather at "Restaurant Stadium" and the "Chefs Tasting Arena" at L.A. Live's Event Deck for three days. Ludo Lefebvre, Alain Passard, Nancy Silverton, Gabrielle Hamilton, Roy Choi, Ricardo Zarate and Graham Elliott are just a few of the top chefs who will be in attendance over the course of the weekend. Check out the French Masters Dinner, All-Star Lunch, Grill & Chill and Savor The Season presentations and demos, in addition to tastings and larger showcases. Tickets start at $65 and are available online or via phone.
Saturday, March 22
ROGA
Santa Monica Pier
Colorado Boulevard and Ocean Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90401
www.santamonicapier.org
Work it out with other fitness-hungry folks as they run or walk a two or five mile course, then gather for a bit of yoga facing the water. Running starts at 8am, meeting at the corner of Colorado and Ocean, then you'll find a pack of yogis at the far west end of the Pier. Don't forget to bring your mat of course!
Sunday, March 23
Shen Yun 2014
Nokia Theatre
777 Chick Hearn Court
Los Angeles, California 90015
(888) 974-3698
www.shenyun.com
It is the last day to view the Shen Yun dance company on stage in L.A. It is a showcase of 5,000 years of Chinese history and story telling through dance, arts, breathtaking costumes and scenery. Tickets start at $60 and are available via phone or online.
View Best Of The Week - March 17 in a full screen map
Chrystal Baker is a freelance food and events contributor for CBS Los Angeles, Basil Magazine and Frugivore Magazine. She is the co-editor of a recipe blog, The Duo Dishes, and manages her own lifestyle and travel blog, Any and Everywhere.
