The 3rd Street Promenade Farmers Market
Wednesdays 8:30 - 1:00
Arizona and 2nd Street

Being a general skeptic of hype, I approached the uber-hyped and all-popular farmers market at Santa Monica’s 3rd Street Promenade with a critical eye. In many ways, the hype is well earned, evidenced by the throngs (no exaggeration) which attend this farmers market every Wednesday and Saturday morning.

The Wednesday market was huge; it takes up the intersection of 3rd Street and Arizona, as well as a block over at 2nd Street. If you have issues with crowds or are not impressed by booth after booth of family-owned, totally organic farm produce, then just go to the Pico or Westside markets and save yourself the grief.

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For people who have lived in Venice for a while now (SF transplants and all you nouveau-riche feel free to skip this article), you’re no doubt aware of the unwelcome Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf that popped up across from the Collage Cafe at the corner of Windward and Pacific.

Well, fear not, our beloved local coffee shop has prevailed!

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf has shuttered the location, deciding instead to relocate to a “higher foot-traffic area” (aka a place where they’re not regarded with hostility by locals).

Although unlike Starbucks, which is closing up shops like it’s going out of style, this seems to be a localized incident — the company is still expanding nationwide, and internationally.

So rest assured that the friendly, family-owned coffee shop is still, for the time being, intact.

Story via Eater LA, photo courtesy of www.yovenice.com

WEB LAUNCH

• Grnappletree Website Launch | Friday, August 15th, 2008 | Free with RSVP | 7:00 pm | Fresh Pressed - Map | A gamut of trippy-graphicked tees and strategically-patterned button downs can only be termed “original” so many times; however, Grnappletree.com dares the consumer to select their threads to accentuate themselves - already original. All the more reason to party! Not only will guests be treated to free drinks and music, but the first thirty to arrive will receive free gift bags. For more info, call (213) 489-2836.

CD RELEASE PARTY

• Citizen Savant | Friday, August 15th, 2008 | $15.00 at the door, $10.00 with flier | 10:30 pm | The Mint - Map | Contrary to popular belief, there is plenty of talent outside of the mainstream vortex. Indie band Citizen Savant will be displaying the fruits of their labor - their new EP, “The Man Down” - as a testament to that fact. Guests Adrian Vera, Stereo Fox, Jeff Bruckner, The Ghost Lullaby, and The Dropjoy will take the stage throughout the evening.

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A Majestic Tall Ship!

The Tall Ships will be sailing into the port this weekend, the 15th to the 17th.  San Pedro and the Port of Los Angeles plan to celebrate their presence with the Festival of Sail LA 2008.  These big, sailing ships were the main mode of travel and commerce for centuries, prior to the steam and diesel engined vessels that we know today.

The festival kicks off on Friday, at 10:00 am,  with a parade of these magnificent, tall-masted ships. They will be berthing near the Ports O’ Call Village area of San Pedro. There will be ship viewing, children’s activities and a variety of booths providing entertainment on each day of the festival from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm, except on Friday, which will begin at noon.

Some of the ships participating, will be the HMS Bounty and the HMS Surprise. The Bounty was used in the filming of Mutiny on the Bounty and the Surprise was in Master and Commander:The Far Side of the World, starring Russell Crowe. San Pedro’s Warner Grand Theater, plans to show these films on Friday and Saturday evening at 8:00 pm, respectively.

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HAPPY HOUR

• Bollywood Nights | Monday, August 11, 2008 | 6:00 pm | Nirvana - Map | Samosas, cocktails, and Bollywood films: I know it’s so cliche, but it sure as Hell sounds like Nirvana to me. When the menu itself refers to its appetizers as “foreplay”, you can assume that it’s either the truth or a boost to the establishment’s ego. Do yourself a service and find out. For more info, call (310) 657-5040.

FUNDRAISER

• BaRock the House | Monday, August 11, 2008 | 8:00 pm | suggested donation $15.00 | 21+ | Temple Bar - Map | Ashton and JT of Music Forward Productions have arranged this concert show to raise funds for Presidential hopeful Barack Obama’s campaign, and to keep the public informed on societal and political fronts before the quickly-approaching November 4th election. Bands Wallpaper, The Outline, Oliver Future, and White Arrows will be available for your rocking out pleasure. For more info, call (310) 393-6611.

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HAPPY HOUR

• Bollywood Nights | Monday, August 11, 2008 | 6:00 pm | Nirvana - Map | Samosas, cocktails, and Bollywood films: I know it’s so cliche, but it sure as Hell sounds like Nirvana to me. When the menu itself refers to its appetizers as “foreplay”, you can assume that it’s either the truth or a boost to the establishment’s ego. Do yourself a service and find out. For more info, call (310) 657-5040.

FUNDRAISER

• BaRock the House | Monday, August 11, 2008 | 8:00 pm | suggested donation $15.00 | 21+ | Temple Bar - Map | Ashton and JT of Music Forward Productions have arranged this concert show to raise funds for Presidential hopeful Barack Obama’s campaign, and to keep the public informed on societal and political fronts before the quickly-approaching November 4th election. Bands Wallpaper, The Outline, Oliver Future, and White Arrows will be available for your rocking out pleasure. For more info, call (310) 393-6611.

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Having the good fortune to live just blocks away from someone who makes the freshest, chewiest, most ridiculously soft and sexy coconut macaroons is just plain great luck. But when that neighbor then takes a chance and hires you to photograph the heavenly things, ah, that’s something different. That’s just straight awesome. Not only was I lucky enough to do something I love, I was introduced to this seriously amazing little treat.

Susan Hecht has created “MyMacs“, her pretty much flawless incantation of the classic coconut macaroon, both plain and chocolate dipped, and has just started selling them at what is now the new Sherman Oak’s Farmer’s Market. At last, we have our own Farmer’s Market!  Double hurrah for this week!

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Having the good fortune to live just blocks away from someone who makes the freshest, chewiest, most ridiculously soft and sexy coconut macaroons is just plain great luck. But when that neighbor then takes a chance and hires you to photograph the heavenly things, ah, that’s something different. That’s just straight awesome. Not only was I lucky enough to do something I love, I was introduced to this seriously amazing little treat.

Susan Hecht has created “MyMacs“, her pretty much flawless incantation of the classic coconut macaroon, both plain and chocolate dipped, and has just started selling them at what is now the new Sherman Oak’s Farmer’s Market. At last, we have our own Farmer’s Market!  Double hurrah for this week!

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DANCE

• Belly Dance and Brazilian Samba Dance Classes | Monday, August 4, 2008 | $16.00 | 7:00 pm | International Dance Academy Hollywood - Map | These twice-weekly classes will be held throughout the month of August - belly dancing at 7:00, and samba at 8:00 - under the instruction of Patricia Prata. I have seen her perform, rather effortlessly, in fact. Undoubtedly it will be fun and and a great stress reliever, but if solely for the purpose of doing it right, she is the one to learn from. For more info, call (323) 463-8865.

MUSIC

• Warpaint | Monday, August 4, 2008 | 9:00 pm | Free | Spaceland - Map | Taking over Mondays in August at Spaceland is Warpaint. Take a sample of their music here, a cover-inspired ditty that’s just plain angelic and pseudo-folksy with traces of Karen Oh and Meg White, and - rather appropriately - with a little less edge. For more info, call (323) 661-4380.

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The Huntington Beach Farmers Market
Fridays, noon - 5pm
The Huntington Beach Pier Plaza
Parking Lot, off PCH and Main Street

Yes, I know, Huntington Beach is not technically in LA but in Orange County. But, its only a touch south of the Orange Curtain, not a far jaunt off of the 405, and is home to one of the few farmers markets where you will be socially accepted even with no clothes on.

Huntington Beach’s farmers market and adjoining craft fair is not near the beach, it is on it, giving it a lot of Friday afternoon foot traffic from beach-goers and tourists. It sits at the end of Main Street, a crowded thoroughfare of pedestrians, loiterers and shoppers. Main Street is known for its surf shops, restaurants, and bars, and you could do worse on a day off than to hit the beach, buy some tomatoes, then gawk at the locals from the patio of some relaxed eatery.\ [ Read The Full Story -> ]

This weekend The Wine House in West LA will be hosting its Super Summer Clearance Sale. Saturday from 10-7 and Sunday from 10-6, over 750+ wines will be marked 30%-50% off. The website claims that the deals are too good to post, and no telephone or internet orders will be accepted. 2311 Cotner Avenue, Los Angeles, 800.626.9463

DailyCandy LA suggests taking up canning with the Fallen Fruit collective. Fallen Fruit began as an art project that grew into an organization dedicated to locating fruit trees on public property and posting the maps online for all to view and benefit from. This weekend’s event in Echo Park will focus on the basics of making your own jams and jellies - bring your own fruit, bring your own jars. Machine Project, 1200d N. Alvarado St., b/t W. Sunset Blvd. & Reservoir St., Echo Park 213.483.8761

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The time has come! LA is banishing fast-food! Well trying to. Recently we posted a video about the overwhelming obesity rate of this country and our city. Los Angeles is supposed to be the home of anorexics and yet over 30% of our population is obese. All the diets in the world won’t help when the fastest, easiest, and more addictive way to eat is at almost every single corner. Fast-food chains pack their food full of trans fat, sugars, starch, and sodium. After eating them it sends your body into shock making you feel like you need more just to balance itself out. The truth is you can get all the yummy tasting food from other places without all the harmful ingredients. Children are being raised to think that they can have Burger King for breakfast, Taco Bell for lunch, and MacDonald’s for dinner and not pay the price.

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