The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is a favorite annual LA event. The whole USC campus is…read morepacked with authors, exhibitors, community booths, sponsors, food vendors, and live entertainment, and you can connect with the authors of terrific new books, hear them speak about the works, and just engage in all things books! We had a great time again this year. The music was awesome - I love anytime I get to hear the USC marching band play...there were plenty of food options too, and I appreciated that they had water available with all the walking around. I also like that the event gives something for everyone, with performances, talks, signings, family activities, and lots of interesting booths to check out. It's lively, free to attend, and always feels worth the trip. Come join us at the next one!

The LA Times Festival of Books is one of our favorite things to do annually. The only cost is the…read more$25 parking fee at USC's campus; however, we always get our value in coming here. This year, we got 5 hardcover used books for $8 each, we got 2 hardcover slightly damaged cooking books for $10 each, we got to watch Phil and Lily Rosenthal attempt to make the hot chocolate from Max and Helen's diner. We got the opportunity to meet and greet with Phil and Lily Rosenthal and they signed our copies of their books. We got samples of Liquid Death's new energy drinks, which I'll need to use this week at work. I also love hearing the USC marching band, which opens the event annually. Overall, I think it's a great event. Definitely keep an eye out for the used book vendors as they give the best value; however, there are some really interesting panels and author signings here that could make it really worth your while.

The parade and festival had a really fun vibe overall, with some highs and a few confusing parts…read more We got super lucky right from the start--and found a parking spot in the neighborhood near Orange Street and Anaheim St., which is where the parade began before heading toward Long Beach City College PCC campus. It also wasn't overly crowded where we were, which made it a lot less stressful. The parade itself had some beautiful moments. The Cambodian pride was sooooo contagious--it was honestly the highlight. There were so many stunning traditional outfits, traditional music, and dancers that made the parade feel special and meaningful. That said, there were quite a few gaps between 'floats' - or parade participants, and at times it things just stopped altogether. At one point, the gap made us think the parade ended, so we left and went to the festival. We actually walked the parade route and the more festive and crowded part was closer to LBCC. The festival was lively with lots of things to check out. There were tons of food vendors (though the lines were pretty long), along with booths offering services and others selling different things. They also had a stage with music and dancers, which kept the atmosphere fun, and even a bounce house for kids. Be careful walking around the neighborhood...on our walk back to the car, the neighborhood had several homeless and sketchy folks trying to talk to my friend and I...just be aware. Overall, even with the slow pace of the parade, the cultural pride, performances, and festival atmosphere made it a worthwhile experience. Just wish I could've grabbed some yummy food. I stood in line for a bit..but it didn't move...so we decided to grab lunch elsewhere.

This is my second Star Wars Celebration. The first one I went to was in LA…read more.. Perhaps the difference between Los Angeles and Anaheim is relevant but it is also... Disney took over. This one wasn't nearly as much fun. It was more families and less sexy stormtrooper parties (yes, that is a thing). The biggest disappointment is that the ONE official Celebration store was so overwhelmed and underprepared that it was closed after the first full day. When we tried to go in, there was an absolutely enormous line just to enter and truly frightening lines to check out, so we just walked away. There also weren't as many interesting panels this time or big events/organized parties. It was basically shopping at a giant Star Wars garage sale. Which is still not a bad way to spend a day. The food options at this one were much improved as well. And I did come home with some very cool geek toys. MTFBWY!

The year 2022 was a huge success. I was fortunate enough to see and attend Obi-Wan Kenobi's red…read morecarpet world premiere. Security and event staff need to be more organized. They always seemed to be clueless about what was going on or how to handle a situation. This is the only issue I have with the event. The rest of it is fantastic. There's so much to see and do. Pro Tip: Even if you live close by, as I do. Choose a hotel that is close to the event and I mean basically next door like the Marriott or Hilton. The Marriott was where we stayed. It was well worth the money because you will be exhausted and hungry at the end of each day and it save so much time. We walked out of the event and were in our hotel or restaurant in less than 5 minutes. You can easily do that multiple times a day without hassle and using a car.

Art Gathering (LA?) is the truncated version of the infamous Ink and Iron, which headed east and…read moreset up shop in Nashville. Apparently, the festival in Tennessee didn't draw the crowd that LBC guaranteed each year and flopped. The modified version, Art Gathering, has been seriously edited down. Here's the skinny: - Vendors: 20% of what it had been previous years. Maybe 15 booths tops outside. - Bands: No bands, boo. Only one stage with a DJ. - Booze: Bars were inside only. - Food: 3-4 food trucks and a couple of food booths. - Cars: No more than 10 cars. - Burlesque: Nope. - Performance Art (Cabinet of Curiosity): that was probably one of the highlights on Friday--a contortionist, family-friendly dancer, marionettes, and an edgy clown. - Tattoo Gallery: Still as vibrant as previous years with many artists from all over the globe. - Exhibits: This was the new addition, which was chock-full of wonderful low brow art! But it was hard to find, as the signage was lacking. Art Gathering was small, sparse, confusing, and the program didn't highlight the performance schedule/location. But the focus wasn't on performance art nor music, so my bad. Oh, the individual tattoo artists names and visual artists were all listed though. The promoters should probably rename their event 'Ink Convention with Art.' If you decide to go, do not expect Ink and Iron or you'll be disappointed. If you're just going for a tattoo or to buy art, then it might be worth your time and money.

This is an awesome festival! I'm surprised that out of the thousands of people there, no one has…read moreyelped about it to spread the word. It's this weekend only, but in case you miss it, there's always next year. Just went today for the first time with the family and I was impressed with the scope and scale of the event. Nonstop cultural performances on the stage (music, dance), awesome food booths, island handicrafts for sale, and so much more. The cultures of Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti (Polynesia), Aotearoa (New Zealand), Guam, Northern Marianas, Marshall Islands (Micronesia), and Fiji (Melanesia) are featured at this event. This gathering of cultures is not something you run across every day! Really, you must go check it out for yourself to truly grasp what a great (and free!) event this is. No festival would be complete without food, and this one did not disappoint. I had the Tonga food plate and it was delicious. Granted, I am no expert on Tongan food since it was my first encounter with the cuisine, but it was really tasty. Maybe I'll go back tomorrow to try some of the other foods. I would have gotten more today but if you know island foods--they're not exactly light fare. What: Third Annual Pacific Islander Festival Where: In Central Park, just behind the Huntington Beach Public Library When: Saturday, 9/18/10 and Sunday, 9/19/10 from 10am to 5pm Cost: free admission and free parking!

ISLANDER LOVE. First…read moretime checking out the festival and will not be the last. It is a "picnic" style festival so bring those beach mats or lawn chairs. The festival is in the park and behind the library. There's plenty of parking but can be hard to score a space if there are other events going on in the area. Expect to see a park full of pacific islanders (hawaii, samoa, tongan, guam, tahiti, etc...) and there are a handful of food booths to get your grub. TAHITIAN PERFORMANCES were my favorite. Every islander event I've attend since I was young... tahitian were always my favorite. On another note, the men.... yah.... hmm wow. On to the food. Take note, do not eat before you come here. Eat when you get here. I learned my mistake. But i was still able to get some goodies. OTAI - this is sold at the Tongan food booth for $5. Probably the best mango beverage I've ever had in my life. It was creamy and sweet with mango meat and tiny bits of young coconut. I could drink this everyday and be happy - so delicious. PANIKEKE - this is old at the Samoan food booth for 2 for $1. It reminds me of a sweet and dense ball of dough resembling a big donut hole with a crunchy outer layer. Fried like a donut but sweeter. SHAVED ICE - this is sold at the Refreshment booth for $3. WTF!!! THIS BOOTH NEEDS HELP, its ran by little kids. You buy your ticket at another booth, walk to the booth next to it with two windows "Order Here" and another window "Pick Up". Give ticket, place order, wait in the pick-up window area FOREVER, when you get to the front they ask you for your order again, and then they make it on the spot. They make the shaved ice on the crappy side, so much syrup its too sweet to drink and they hand you a messy cup. I was wearing white and the syrup got on my clothes when they handed me the cup. It's just disorganized and you should not wait that long to get a cup of ice with syrup in it. See you next yr.

I've been to other boat parades in California and the Newport Beach one is my favorite (and one of…read morethe most renowned) While it's fun to be in a boat for the boat parade, I truly believe the best view is from the shore! We try to go every year and the best time I've had is getting one of the coveted restaurant reservations and being able to sit by the window of a restaurant and eat a great meal and watch the boat parade go by from the warmth and comfort of inside one of the many restaurants that line the harbor. Another option is just to bundle up (although this year it wasn't that cold on a few days) and find parking and then watch it from the shore. That is the free option and since the boat parade is really good at publishing their schedule you can time your visit to when the parade will pass by that location. I love seeing all the creatively (and some professionally!) decorated lit up boats! My kids really enjoy it too and we always take hot chocolate and make it a fun family holiday activity!

The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is one of the most iconic traditions around the holidays in…read moreOrange County. I know the coastal cities in California all have their own variation of this experience, but the Newport Beach one is the closest one to me and the one that I have taken family who visit for Christmas. When you book boat tours during this season, keep in mind to pick a tour after sunset. You'll see that the 5-8pm times are slightly more affordable because those tours will see the decorated houses along the water but the best time to see the boat parade would be taking a 8pm or 8:30pm tour. You have to check in with your tour company an hour prior, and the lines form quickly so you might even want to come earlier than that. Whatever time your tour is I recommend arriving 2 hours earlier because it takes a while to find parking. We arrived 90 minutes prior to our tour time and barely made it, and we even split up. My niece and nephew went to get our wristbands and got in line while my cousin and I circled around for over an hour for parking. The line began to move to board as soon as we got there. In retrospect I would have driven down there even sooner to have dinner in the area so we wouldn't have to stress so much about being late. The tour boat we were on had snacks and beverages, both alcoholic and nonalcohilic, for purchase. We got a window seat and was able to see all of the beautifully decorated boats of all sizes. Some of these people get super creative. Some pick a theme. Some just put on a lot of lights. It's hard to describe but it's such a wonderful feeling of feeling the joys of the holidays. I uploaded a few pictures, but I promise my pictures don't do the experience justice. Great for family and spectators of all ages. Just be patient and come early to ensure your optimal experience. Being early also ensures you get a good window seat on the boat. This is definitely one of the unique attractions when spending Christmas time in California.

With the introduction of the Quantum class of ships in 2013, the two story TWO70 theater and…read moreobservation deck took ocean viewing to another level. Fully enclosed and temperature controlled, it provides 270 degree views of the surrounding ocean, optimized for trips to colder climates with great ocean views (e.g. Alaska). It also has a cafe for light dining and surround seating for a night-time theater experience. My wife and I had a chance to visit it during our 4 night cruise from LA on the Quantum of the Seas, and found it to be really enjoyable place for both sandwiches and a nighttime show. To get the multi-media theater experience, we booked a complementary reservation for the first performance on the cruise of Starwater, an original song and dance 50 minute show. Reservations were accepted but were not enforced since it was not sold out. It was a 6:30 pm show. The seating is dinner theater Las Vegas style on the main floor (a lot of tables for parties of 2 - 8). We ended up on the balcony, finding nice comfortable seats on row 2, behind folks who I think were also performers on the ship. It started right on time, with dancing based on the Madonna song: Vogue. It went on for a bit, with six men and six women (dressed very formally) constantly striking a 'pose'. The music switched to 'Bitter Sweet Symphony', but kept the 'strike a pose'. I was afraid the entire show would be about that. But then it switched, focusing on the songs being played, with dancing and solo vocal performances matching. One of the big features of the space are 6 100 inch LED roboscreens, and they were used throughout the performance. Next a powerful vocalist in a wedding dress that had a train that was so large (reminded me of the parachute game we played in grade school where we would undulate a parachute to get balls on the parachute to go somewhere). The first song was a version of 'Diamonds Are Forever', which immediately got my attention. Then 'Diamonds' by Rhianna. There was a lot of levitating (she was in a harness), with some aerial acrobatics with the dancers. Then they switched over to Adele's version of 'Skyfall'. I wondered if RC has the rights to James Bond theme songs, since other performances have used other JB themes. Next was the Bill Wither's 'Ain't No Sunshine' (remembered from Notting Hill). Then Michael Bufle's 'Feeling Good', song as a duet. Throughout, a lot of modern dance was performed. It moved to a tango performance, with a very different version of the Police song 'Roxanne'. It lasted the whole 50 minutes non-stop with constant switching. I didn't know the last two songs, but it ended with a roaring 20's type of costumes. There was some front row audience participation with constant high-fiving. The show ended exactly at 7:20. For the curtain call, I noticed there was 15 performers, including 3 singers. It was a solid, original show. Later during the trip, I stopped by for a mid-day snack at the cafe. It has the same menu as the newer Central Park cafe on the newer class of boats. The central focus is hand carved roast beef for beef and weck sandwiches. It also had two soups, along with hand pressed sandwiches. However, as the first time for me, it used thin pita breads and it was a game changer. The cuban sandwich was quite good, mainly because it had been heated all the way through. One thing I forgot to ask was if they had bagged potato chips like they do at Central Park cafe.

A MUST DO! 4 & 3/4 STARS! Martha's Stewart's Food & Wine Experience presented by USA Today. Well it…read morewas a Perfect Day & some Great food in DTLA @ LA Center Studios. Goldstar had Discount Tickets for this event. As soon as you arrived you were presented with a Martha Stewart Wine Glass & a card for Food & Wine/ Beverages. There were lots of different foods items you could sample from various restaurants. There were Lots of Tasty Treats & Dishes! They also had Food manufactures introducing some new Food & Beverage products for the Retail Market. There was a Meet & Greet with Martha Stewart. There was also some cooking demonstrations going on by some celebrity chefs. Parking can be difficult in this area but that's the only negative. What a Fun Eating Culinary Experience & looking forward to the next one. It used to be, you had to have mega bucks & be really rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!

Scored some Yelp tickets from Megan R. for the recent Martha Steward Wine and Food Experience…read more Pretty cool event with ample samplings of mostly local restaurants and wineries from all over. Located at the CBS Studios lot in DtLA along the frontage road of the I-110, this event was easy to get to. This event was very organized which I can appreciate having been some other ones in years past. Lines for each vendor weren't too deep. The longest wait was 5 minutes or so. Weather during the event was warm and sunny. So, it was pleasant to have a drink in one hand and ample food samples on the other. The cocktail samplings of gin from Juniper Grove was refreshing and memorable. Rums of Puerto Rico provided full on cocktails. Two to choose from. Likewise with Don Julio. The charcoal grilled steak from Inko Nito was very good. I went for multiple samples. Also, memorable were the Nutella bite size pies as well as the apple caramel version from The Pie Hole. I wish I wore cargo pants to store these. The tacos with blue corn tortillas were also very good. I forgot which restaurant served these. Overall, the quality of the dishes here were mostly good. Definitely worth checking out if you're seeking a food and wine event. Well planned and organized. This event will leave you in good spirts. Thanks again to Megan R for the tickets.