Weekend

Savor the Taste of South Lake
The Taste of South Lake is presented by Logix Federal Credit Union and you can enjoy cuisine from over 20 South Lake Avenue Pasadena restaurants, live cooking demos from the area’s most talented chefs, music performances from internationally known bands, an interactive vendor village, beer, wine and cocktail garden and much more! Sample a diverse selection of mouthwatering bites from restaurants including Paul Martin’s American Grill, Urban Plates and Pacific Seafood Grill. Live cooking demos are with chefs such as Luisa Fabbri, owner of Contessa Foods, Ronald Russell, the renowned vegan and raw food chef, as well as Caroline Cazaumayou, owner of Califresh cuisine, teaching gourmet French classic dishes with a California twist. Free; Saturday, 11 am – 5 pm; 251 S. Lake Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101; 626.792.1259

DTLA Oyster Festival
Oyster farmers from all over the West Coast will be on hand as vendors put up their best seafood-centric dishes. The Oyster Gourmet will offer a selection of French wines by the glass, while across the Market, other vendors will offer specials such as Jazz Fest fried oyster “Po Boy” pizza topped with semolina crusted oysters, fresh heirloom tomatoes, shaved iceberg lettuce, crumbled Gorgonzola cheese and creole barbecue sauce drizzle at Olio; Baked oysters with brown butter garlic and Parmesan at Horse Thief BBQ; and Fried Curry Oysters on Cucumber Yogurt with Flying Fish Roe at Prawn. On Saturday evening at 8 pm, enjoy wine and oysters on the Market patio during a free screening of the film “The Oyster Farmers.” Saturday & Sunday, 11 am-8 pm; 317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Tots and Beer Festival
Vote for the “Best Tater Tots in Southern California” while you sip on a killer lineup of craft beers. $36 (Includes 15 beer tasting and five tots tastings); Sunday, 11 am-2 pm & 3-6 pm; 27150 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91350

Pico Block Party
The 18th Street Arts Center is marking the launch of its neighborhood cultural history project, Culture Mapping 90404, with a block party full of exhibitions, live music, art-making workshops, open studios, food trucks, feminist card readings, and kiddie activites. Free; Saturday, 1-4 pm; 1639 18th St, Santa Monica, CA 90404

Oktoberfest at Laurel Tavern Hermosa Beach
Join Laurel Tavern Hermosa Beach for their 1st annual Oktoberfest. The bar will be celebrating in true Oktoberfest fashion with stein lifting contents and food and drink specials, including $5 German beers and culinary offerings like beer cheese, sausages, and more. Saturday, 8-10:30 pm

Ghostbound Westbound
Friday the 13th marks the start of the spooktacular Ghostbound extravaganza at Westbound. The Halloween experience from the DTLA’s speakeasy-inspired craft cocktail bar will host a series of haunted and favorite childhood activities throughout the month of October. Throughout the month, there will be double-features screened on the back patio every Sunday night, as well as on Friday the 13th and Halloween. From cult classics to Halloween must-sees, the fright-fest will begin at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Below is the full schedule: Double screening of Friday the 13th (the original from 1980, Friday) The Addams Family and Beetlejuice (Sunday); Young Frankenstein and Killer Clowns from Outer Space (October 22nd); Shawn of the Dead and Dawn of the Dead (October 29th); and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and Halloween (October 31st).

2nd Annual LA’s Best Vegan Taco Competition
2017 Participating Chef Lineup includes: Café Gratitude / Epifanio Ruiz; Cena Vegan / Carmen Santillan & Mike Simms; Charlys Vegan Tacos / Charly Garcia; Gracias Madre / Miguel Gutiérrez; Sage Vegan / Mollie Elias Engelhart; Sun Cafe / Ashli Marie Mercado; Vegatinos / Alex & Carol Vargas; and Taqueria La Venganza / Raúl Medina. Plus, enjoy GT’s Kombucha, Eel River Brewing, Groundwork Coffee, Winc Wines, Kernal Of Truth Tortillas, The Detox Market, Tantris Yoga, Boochcraft Hard Kombucha & celebrity judges! $30 (Proceeds will be donated to Mexico Earthquake Relief); Saturday, 12-3 pm; Café Gratitude Larchmont, 639 North Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004

Diner en Blanc
The Parisian-inspired picnic draws outdoor eating enthusiast dressed all in white to a secret location. Just pack your picnic and accoutrements (like your finest china and stemware), rally at one of the predetermined destinations and wait for the final call that will lead you to the evening’s secret destination. There’s also live music and dancing. $40+; Saturday

Winsome’s Dinner for “No Island Left Behind”
“No Island Left Behind” is a hurricane relief benefit for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Guest chef Luke Reyes of the upcoming 9th Street Ramen will be serving dishes from his native Puerto Rico including alcapurrias (taro and green banana fritters filled with picadillo and achiote) and platanos con mojo (fried green plantains with green garlic dipping sauce). Plus, enjoy freshly shucked oysters courtesy of Hama Hama Oyster Company. $25 (includes two drinks and all food); Friday; 1115 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Chef Chris Santos Launches Sunday Brunch at Beauty & Essex Los Angeles
Santos along with Executive Chef Kyle Kingrey and Chef de Cuisine Daniel Pfeifer-Kotz curated the menu full of creative twists on multi-ethnic specialties, a wide array of sweet and decadent treats, and an ocean of raw bar delights. Menu highlights include: Chicken & Waffles Tacos with Sausage Gravy and Kale Slaw; Oreo Cookie Pancakes with Vanilla Icing; Avocado Latke Benedict with Latke, Poached Egg and Espelette; and Braised Short Rib Huevos Rancheros with Sunny Side Up Eggs, Black Beans and Cotija Cheese. Sunday, 11 am-3 pm; 1615 Cahuenga Blvd, (entrance on Selma Avenue between Wilcox and Cahuenga; 323.676.8880

The Hollywood Crawl of Fame
Hollywood’s top bars are teaming up to host a nine-bar crawl. Led by bartender tag teams, two groups will journey by foot to four different bars, all of which are opening especially for this crawl, before convening at the fifth and final bar for a big party. Your ticket includes a surprise, signature drink at each of the five stops. The routes and participating bars (subject to change) are as follows: Northside Crawl: MiniBar Hollywood, Ever Bar, Lost Property, Black Rabbit Rose, and Lono led by Jeremy Allen of MiniBar Hollywood and Rebecca Votel of Copper & Kings American Brand; Southside Crawl: The Three Clubs, Sassafras, The Hungry Cat, Mama Shelter and Lono led by BC Hoffman of Sassafras/ The Edison & Zach Patterson of Lono/ Melrose Umbrella Co. $50; Sunday, 2 pm; info@minibarhollywood.com

San Antonio Winery Centennial Party
DTLA’s urban winery celebrates 100 years with a party that features live music and dance performances, wine and beer garden and food from some of the city’s favorite food trucks. Saturday, 3-7 pm; San Antonio Winery, 737 Lamar St, Los Angeles, CA

Herringbone Santa Monica Brunch Package – A Day at the Polo Classic
Enjoy a package includeing brunch for two with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label and two general admission tickets to the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in Los Angeles this Saturday. $225; 1755 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA; 310.971.4460

Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic
Picnic, sip champagne and see professional polo led by world-renowned polo player Nacho Figueras at the eighth L.A. edition of this sporting event. $75-$400 (Tickets includes shuttle between dedicated lot and event grounds); Saturday, 11 am-5 pm (match starts at 2 pm); Will Rogers State Historic Park, 1501 Will Rogers State Park Rd, Pacific Palisades, CA

Help Fight Breast Cancer at Tam O’Shanter
Tam O’Shanter is partnering with J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines to raise money for National Breast Cancer Awareness month this October. J. Lohr will donate $2 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation for the sale of each bottle of J. Lohr’s Carol’s Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, while $3 will be donated for the sale of each bottle of Carol’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. In addition, the Tam also will offer a special “Pink CC Brown’s Sundae” promotion, which features an $8 classic strawberry ice cream sundae with net proceeds from the treat going to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Carol’s Vineyard is named after the late wife of the founder of J. Lohr. Money raised from the donation program will fund mammograms for women in need and support Patient Navigation programs and services. 2980 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039; 323.664.0228

The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Los Angeles Offers Chocolate-Infused Treatments with Valerie Confections
The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Los Angeles collaborates with Los Angeles-based chocolatier, Valerie Gordon, to design a collection of winter treatments that pamper you in the aroma and natural nutrients of chocolate. Healing iterations of Valerie Confections’ Peppermint Bark, Champagne Truffles, Nature is Slow bar, and Scotch & Stout Truffles are offered as a Massage, Facial, Scrub, and Pedicure. Organic oils, spices, and herbs are used to match the flavor and fragrant notes found in each sweet. Begin with a cup of Valerie’s hot chocolate blend and you will be gifted with the treatment’s corresponding chocolate to enjoy at the spa or take home. Treatments include Chocolate Peppermint Pedicure, inspired by Valerie’s Peppermint Bark, this treatment begins with a lavender-chocolate scrub using 100% pure organic cocoa oil to relax tense muscles, followed by a mint aromatherapy mask and moisturizing cocoa massage. Finish with a polish application and the Peppermint Bark to nibble on during or after the treatment. (50 minutes/$95); Chocolate Spice Organic Facial, which features an application of paprika herbal mud infused with cinnamon, willow and sage to exfoliate and revitalize skin, followed by chocolate hydration mask to help promote elasticity. An aromatic moisturizing application leaves the complexion dewy, glowing and ready for holiday festivities. Complementing the facial is the Nature is Slow bar featuring candied and dried rose petals. (50 minutes/$185); Chocolate Glow Body Ritual that starts with a gentle peppermint scrub to smooth skin, followed by an aromatic chocolate crème mask and wrap to deeply hydrate and soften. After a brief rinse, enjoy a moisturizing body massage that leaves skin bright and revived. Finish with a dusting of shimmering, gold powder along the décolletage for the perfect holiday glow. Leave with a box of Champagne Truffles. (50 minutes/$185); and Whiskey-ing Away for the Holidays, a twist on the traditional hot stone massage, this treatment uses soothing essential oils that invoke the essences of whiskey – such as vanilla, honey and oak – with heated basalt stones to relax knotted muscles, relieve tension, and rejuvenate the holiday spirit. After the massage, relax with a glass of scotch and a box of the Scotch & Stout Truffles. (50 minutes / $185). October 15-December 31; 900 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015; 213.763.4400

Art & Design Open Market
Join in an open-air art market with artists from Art Center School of Design and Pasadena City College. Now proudly celebrating its 16th year, One Colorado presents Art & Design Open Market featuring artwork for sale from students and alumni of Pasadena’s leading art institutions, Art Center College of Design and Pasadena City College. Art and artisans will fill the One Colorado courtyard and tree-shaded pedestrian alleyways, accompanied by live musical performances in the courtyard. There will be pop-ups from Vroman’s Bookstore, Fallen Fruit, Flower Pepper Gallery, First Street Gallery Art Center, Twiggz Flower Market, along with live music, kids’ face painting and more !Sunday, 10 am-3 pm; One Colorado Old Pasadena – 41 Hugus Alley, Pasadena, CA 91103

Pasadena Artwalk
The San Gabriel Valley’s largest urban art fair features over 70 participating visual artists in a festival atmosphere. The event also features free museum admission, hands-on activities, entertainment and a self-guided walking tour. Saturday, 11 am-6 pm; Green Street and Madison Avenue, Pasadena, CA

Japanese Garden Festival
Celebrate Descanso Garden’s Japanese Garden with a weekend of activities like an Ikebana display, tours of the outdoor oasis, Taiko drummers and crafts. $9; $6/seniors and students, $4/children, free/under 5; Saturday & Sunday, 9 am-5 pm; 1418 Descanso Dr, La Cañada Flintridge, CA; 818.949.4200