Boy, large corporations sure are feeling generous this summer. One can only assume this goodwill has nothing to do with a sluggish economy and is nothing more than a gesture of appreciation and altruism.

That being said, why not cash in on their marketing incentives and get yourself some free (and almost free) goodies today?

First up: Free Viviannos and Sorbettos! Double-check your local Starbucks, as this isn’t true for all of them, but reports state that certain SoCal locations will be giving away 16-ounce Viviannos and 10-ounce Sorbettos from 4PM to 7PM. Check out the new drinks, on the house.

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Westwood Village Farmers Market
Sundays, 10am - 3pm
1083 Broxton, Los Angeles

Westwood Village is a neighborhood with a lot of pros and cons. On one hand, it is a busy walking community with plenty of restaurants and shopping, and of course the famous Mann Village Theater. On the other hand, it is impossible to navigate by car, and even more impossible to find parking, let alone free parking. Unfortunately, the Westwood Village Farmers Market is suffering from this same mixture of good and bad.

Westwood used to have a hopping farmers market on Thursday evenings on the corner of Weyburn and Westwood Boulevard. Some discrepancy with permits or certification closed it down, and for a few years the village was market-less. Now the market on Sunday mornings on the quiet Broxton Avenue is smaller in both offerings and attendance, perhaps suffering from the soiled reputation of its predecessor, perhaps from the demographic of the neighborhood (all students, none of which will wake up on Sunday and walk to the Village because of hang-overs or a lack of caring).

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Veteran’s Garden at the VA

Sepulveda at Wilshire, just east of the 405

It’s the peak of summer and the nectarines are delicious. The Westwood Farmers Market, located in the picturesque Veteran’s Garden just off Wilshire, provides a succulent, seasonal respite from L.A.’s muggy city heat and incessant traffic hubaloo. In fact, despite its proximity to many of the West-side’s main thoroughfares, this Thursday afternoon market is surprisingly slow-paced and serene with the ultimate spread of in-season and organic edibles.

Showcasing a range of vendors, spreading from fresh berry-sellers (a 3-pack for $10!) to preservative-free tamales, the Westwood Farmers Market is the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon lunch get out of the office! and stock up your kitchen for the coming week. The winding marketplace proffers a festive atmosphere, welcoming visitors with grilled corn on a stick ($3), samples of juicy Valencia oranges, and an open area bright with both cut and blossoming flowers. Local artisans and craft-makers also contribute to the market the second and fourth Thursdays of each month.

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The West LA Farmers Market
Sundays, 9am - 2pm
11338 Santa Monica Boulevard at Corinth Avenue,
on the Court House/Civic Center Plaza

Conveniently located just two blocks from the 405 is the highly expansive West LA Farmers Market in Santa Monica. I read about it by chance on the internet, and surprisingly have come across no word-of-mouth recommendations for this noteworthy market. Not only did it have a great assortment of fresh produce, prepared food, crafts, and WiFi, the welcoming bandshell off of Corinth housed live jazz. This one is even open an hour later than most weekend markets, until 2pm instead of 1pm, giving you an extra hour to get there if you are not a morning person. The city really needs to learn how to publicize this stuff better.

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The Pico Market in Santa Monica
Virginia Avenue Park at Pico and Cloverfield
Saturdays, 8am-1pm

If the notorious and therefore heavily foot-trafficked Saturday Santa Monica Farmers Market on 3rd Street is at all off-putting to you, you can head to Virginia Avenue Park on Pico for a less crowded Santa Monica installment of fresh produce. Hardly a destination except for local shoppers and families with young children, the market was smallish and intimate with hardly an inconvenient crowd in sight. Definitely lacking in the hustle and bustle department, and the first market in the series without some form of live music, the Pico market is ideal if you are in the area and want to make a quick stop.

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Feeling Lazy? Why spend your precious time clicking from site to site trying to figure out where to eat when we’ll do it for you? Here’s the latest round-up of all the LA-centric sites from the foodie point of view:

The Rundown: They’re a little late to the game - everyone and their mother has already raved about Anisette Brasserie in Santa Monica. Per the hostess, the restaurant’s kitchen is currently closing around 10pm, but they have plans to extend hours till midnight in the upcoming weeks.

Daily Candy: Food events abound this weekend according to Daily Candy. There’s a cupcake cookbook signing at Big Sugar Bakeshop in Studio City, and while you’re in the Valley might as well swing by Valley Village’s newest hole-in-the-wall bar, The Fifth.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

Feeling Lazy? Why spend your precious time clicking from site to site trying to figure out where to eat when we’ll do it for you? Here’s the latest round-up of all the LA-centric sites from the foodie point of view:

The Rundown: They’re a little late to the game - everyone and their mother has already raved about Anisette Brasserie in Santa Monica. Per the hostess, the restaurant’s kitchen is currently closing around 10pm, but they have plans to extend hours till midnight in the upcoming weeks.

Daily Candy: Food events abound this weekend according to Daily Candy. There’s a cupcake cookbook signing at Big Sugar Bakeshop in Studio City, and while you’re in the Valley might as well swing by Valley Village’s newest hole-in-the-wall bar, The Fifth.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

Torrance Farmers Market
Charles H. Wilson Park, 2200 Crenshaw Blvd.
Tuesdays and Saturdays, 8am-1pm

I was recently told by someone, and very enthusiastically, that the Torrance farmers market on Crenshaw was the best they had ever been to. Until recently I had not even heard of it, let alone that it was worth taking the 405 and several minutes of driving surface streets to get to. In fear of sounding like a puff-piece author, it was indeed the best farmers market I have enjoyed to date, and I promise I didn’t take bribes from its coordinators to say so.

To start out with: abundant and entirely free parking directly adjacent to the event. I happened to visit on a Saturday, but this market is also open on Tuesdays, so if you are lunch-breaking in the vicinity, it would not take much effort in the parking department to stop in for lunch and groceries.

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ACTIVITY

• Hip Hop Shock | Monday, July 7, 2008 | 7:00 pm | $1.50 internet service fee | Ford Amphitheater - Map | The ongoing J.A.M. Sessions at the Ford Amphitheater now takes its turn at hip hop. Culture Shock LA will assist in the workings of four elements of the genre - spoken word, turntables, dance, and graffiti art. The event itself is free, but you will need a ticket. For reservations, click here.

DOCUMENTARY

• The Gits: Documentary Premiere | Monday, July 7, 2008 | 7:30 pm | $10.00 | The Echoplex - Map | This one-night-only film showing goes into the influence The Gits have had on the punk rock genre through its own development and evolution. It also touches on the murder of frontwoman Mia Zapata, bringing justice and closure to the mystery surrounding the tragedy. Director Kerri O’Kane, as well as members of the band itself, will be present following the screening.

CONCERT

• Stevie Wonder | Monday, July 7, 2008 | 8:00 pm | starting @ $35.00 | Hollywood Bowl - Map | Tempted by the fruit of this Wonder - signed, sealed, delivered; he’s yours. For the chance to not just hear his jams live but to experience his superior musical caliber, last-minute seats just might be worth clicking for. One thing just might lead to another, and if there’s any trouble, [...] blame it on meeeee. . .

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Where to go, what to do? It’s so much easier when others do the research for you. Here’s what the web suggests for this festive three day weekend.

Serious Eats suggests spending the 4th at Blue Velvet and indulging in some suckling pig, then Breadbar’s Build-Your-Own-Burger on Saturday and Wilshire’s Sunday BBQ night. See the whole article here.

Citysearch LA thinks that there is little else you should do this weekend other than enjoy the weather with a nice meal at one of their recommended outdoor restaurants. If you can afford Geoffrey’s, have a good time - you’re probably more likely to see me at the Galley.

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With the Fourth looming on the horizon, it’s time to brush up on our BBQ skills. And while many of you will no doubt be resorting to those hockey-puck frozen burger patties from Smart&Final and packs of Ballpark Franks, those of us with slightly more demanding palates will be prepping something a bit more refined.

And just in the off chance that your grill skills are like mine — nonexistent — the friendly folks over at Santa Monica Seafood will be holding a helpful little session called Grilling 101, the Ideal Bite informs us.

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Downtown Long Beach Farmers Market
Fridays, 10-4
Between 4th and 5th streets, East of Pine

The first installment of my weekly farmers market adventure was the surprisingly eclectic one held in downtown Long Beach. Though I am a Long Beach native, I had not yet visited the market near the recently built up and gentrified Pine area, and I was pleasantly surprised at how expansive it was both in size and offerings.

The market is held smack in the middle of a Friday, so the area was heavy with car and pedestrian traffic, but there is a wealth of metered parking around so one can easily stop in for lunch. The two block long event was quite jovial with its balloons and bannered light posts, not to mention the flutist playing Simon and Garfunkel tunes on the corner. Of course this market had the usual fresh produce options at prices and qualities that make us into farmer’s market patrons in the first place. The pluots were juicy, the apples crisp, the kettle corn irresistible. One vendor boldly claimed he was selling the best tasting apples on earth, and they turned out to be pretty good, as far as apples go.

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