This was my second time at this event. Honestly, it was ok. A nice afternoon out and about. Just be…read moreprepared with parking situation. They have the roads closed from Kester all the way down to Van Nuys Blvd on Ventura. There is someone controlling traffic which is nice. But parking will be crazy throughout the neighborhood. If you entering from Kester, that's where all the kids ride are held. There's a few things for them with zip line, the bouncy slides, and some rides. It's not a big selections but good for the young one. Ticket booth was right in the middle where rides are. We arrived not to long after they started. Around 12:30 which none of the games were even set up yet. By the time we left, they were up. The street fair seems to be more business vendors and food trucks. They did have pet adoption that brought loads of people to the sections. Two stages, the main one right in the middle while there was a smaller one at the opposite side on Van Nuys Blvd. Business were still open which is a big thing for them as it brings people inside. There's also a section that's blocked off for the adults alcohol section. Someone was at the entrance checking people's id. Overall, it was a nice little afternoon spent out. Was there a lot of vendors, somewhat. More of business promoting themselves and getting words out. They did have a good amount of food vendors which was nice.

A great way to get out there and see the neighborhood. I live a few miles down the street, and love…read morethese outdoor fairs, because there's always a fun energy, lots of local businesses and organizations, and often some free samples and local things to try, so I know what restaurant or business to look out for next time I'm driving through the area. Parking is usually alright, but will likely be around a half mile walk, unless you live around the area or get extra lucky. The event is often hosted in the hotter part of the year as well, so if you're not a fan of the heat, that could be a concern. Personally, it doesn't bother me. It's great to see so many local businesses come out and give back to the community a bit. I'm glad we have this type of street fair on my side of town, and I'll plan to come every year they have it.

This is a great activity to add to your list when it comes to seeing Christmas lights. It's only 1…read morehouse that goes all out in this block it seems like so you wont be there for long. Parking is free but a bit tricky Overall add this to you list of Christmas lights to check out

All went to perfect at doctor Fleming's office! He is such a caring and knowledgeable of his craftread more

It's nice that the City holds this event, but it's pretty lackluster; the rides are no less than a…read moredecade old, the staffers are questionable at best, and the copious exposed wiring is a bit unnerving to those with younger children. There is a ferris wheel, a handful of carnival games with prizes, a mini roller coaster, a train for kids, and a live stage for entertainment. There are refreshment options, but in total - the City (Chamber?) should do a better job of promoting the event if they're going to have it in the first place. If that were the case, they'd likely get the turnout necessary to hire a more professional carnival event. The good news is there is no charge to enter, and you pay per the ride (usually three tickets, $1 apiece). If you're on Hazeltine on Memorial Day weekend (but not Memorial Day itself), stop by - it'll keep the kids occupied for 30 minutes.

We started going to this park regularly because my daughter started taking ballet/ tap classes…read morethere last summer. My daughter loved the classes taught by Ms. Sylvia who is very sweet and patient; we love Ms. Sylvia. They even have a winter showcase with costumes and a pancake brunch. Now granted, the brunch was not well coordinated and the teenaged volunteers were dense and daft, but it's the city park so you don't expect perfection. All their staff members try their best and the children love it. We will be returning. Also their park equipment is well-maintained. Recently they found used syringes in the sand in this playground and they discussed it on the news. Just beware. Anywho... 4 stars.. minus 1 star for the used syringe thing...

After the fiasco last weekend known as the "Awesometown Food Truck Festival" and seeing that Lardon…read morewas no longer on the list for Sunday was tempted to skip this. I saw that Jin N. checked in there on Saturday and dropped him a quick note asking how it was. He replied back with his recommendation that it was worth going to so we made the trip down. The event was scheduled to start at 11:30 and we found street parking a block away about 5 minutes after that. I was completely fearing the worst with the crowds and as we walked into the lot, there was maybe 30-40 other people there. Even when we left at 12:45 would have to say the worst line was 10 deep at the most and the majority of the trucks had lines that were 2 or 3 people deep. The trucks were set up in a "U" around the parking lot with lots of room and tables. There were a few trucks there that I had never seen before and really liked that we were able to talk with the owners. They loved the fact that my daughter was taking an interest in food and asked what we liked, didn't like and what we looked for when going to a truck. It felt like they were honestly looking for feedback instead of just having to throw something out the window to keep the lines mooving (get it, like a cattle call??) The crew from Wholly Rollers did a great job circulating to see that everyone was having a great experience which they should get kudos for! My only regret is that I didn't head down on Friday and Saturday nights as well!!! The next time they have an event, I'll be there as this is how a food truck festival should be set up and run!

[November 12th event]…read more First off, I just want to say that this was a really great experience. Props to Wholly Rollers Events for putting on a successful street food fest!! I missed the first event last month mainly by choice because I didn't eat so well the previous week so I figured it would be a bad idea to end it with more less than healthy food. My wife and I made it out to this one intending to limit ourselves to mostly small bites. We rolled up at about 7pm Friday and easily found valet parking right next door for $2. Even before we stepped into the parking lot, we could sense it was just the right atmosphere for gourmet food truck fans. Trucks were lined up on either side and at the end of the space with plenty of tables and chairs in the middle. DJ Kino was spinning good tunes. We noticed all walks of life there...from young, hip 20-somethings to families with young kids. Security guards kept things in order and the clean-up crew was very attentive making sure trash cans did not overflow and tables were wiped down. Now, onto the food... Shrimp Pimp: 2 drunken shrimp tacos -- sherry ginger marinated shrimp sauteed and served with, I believe, pickled jicama and carrots on 2 tortillas. Verdict: 2.5 stars (out of 5). They were just okay. Didn't really taste a lot of marinade in the shrimp. Thought the tortillas could've been quick-grilled for a little more flavor. I have to say I was expecting this truck would have at least 1 Hawaiian-style garlic shrimp over steamed rice dish. I think that would round out the menu a bit. The Guinness-marinated shrimp & chips looked really tasty though. Patty Wagon: 2 "Shine On Harvest Moon" sliders -- a ground beef burger with Havarti cheese, warm bacon/cabbage/leek slaw, slice of pink lady apple, bit of mayo with homemade pickle on a toasted roll. Verdict: 5 stars. Delicious! Great grubbing food. I had mine w/out the apple since I'm allergic to raw apples. I could taste pretty much every ingredient. The grass-fed ground beef reminded me of beef I had on a trip to Ireland where they have some of the best in the world. It was perfectly-cooked and juicy. The roll had just the right crispy crust while still pillow-soft in the middle. Willoughby Road: Twice fried chicken w/grilled watermelon and side of creamy mac & cheese. Verdict: 3 stars. Chicken was greasier than I'm used to. The batter had a slightly sweet flavor w/a bit of a kick. The chicken meat itself was fairly juicy and not dry. I don't normally care for watermelon but grilling it enhances the flavor. I liked it. The mac & cheese was less than impressive. The consistency was pretty good but the flavor was lacking. I tasted more of the pasta itself than cheese. The Street Hawker (Singaporean): Fried rice w/shrimp, carrots, peas, onions, a bit of scrambled egg and topped with cilantro and red chili pepper. Verdict: 4 stars. Full of flavor! I couldn't totally place the seasoning. There was definitely soy sauce but I couldn't tell what else. It was slightly smokey. The color was a rich, dark brown. The rice was not quite sticky like most places which actually was just fine. I must mention we asked to make it not so spicy so I'm not sure how spicy it normally is. Good portion for $8. We wanted to eat it all but we saved half for tomorrow. Ahn-Joo (Korean): 3 small, grilled skewers of ginger & soy marinated beef w/cherry tomatoes. Verdict: 4 stars. Great flavor! The tomatoes complemented the beef perfectly. A few of the beef pieces were a tiny bit chewy--seemed to have a bit more fat. Other than that, great snack! Mango Tango: Peach Italian ice. Verdict: 5 stars. Texture was just right. Actual peach chunks. If it wasn't too chilly I would've eaten it up within 10 minutes. Generous portion for a small size ($4). My wife also had a grilled Nutella bhang w/berries from Ahn-Joo which I did not taste. It's basically a grilled Nutella sandwich w/fresh berries sprinkled with powdered sugar. Looked tasty! Again, I felt like the event was put together pretty well. Everyone seemed satisfied (except for one older lady in front of us at the Shrimp Pimp who had apparently asked for something not spicy but it was still too spicy for her. She later apologized for complaining and the truck manager made sure she was satisfied). I forgot to mention the large projected designs (one for Wholly Rollers, the other snowflakes) on the side of a tall office building next door. Classy! Plenty of seating for everyone. The DJ didn't play dancy, pop music all night. He actually threw in some good mainstream rock songs too which was a nice change. Great job Wholly Rollers!! Looking forward to the next one. This should be a WEEKLY thing like The Brig in Venice!!

I've been on this little farmers market vibe after visiting the one in Granada Hills (reviewed)…read more The Sherman Oaks Farmers Market seemed a little more legit like the farmers markets I'm used to with vendors selling produce, fruits and organic foods. The market was small but packed with a little bit of everything. It's located in the back of the Westfield Fashion Square in the parking lot. I was in a rush after work because apparently I didn't realize it only goes from 2pm-6pm on Tuesdays. So, I rushed out the house at 5:20pm with my mom and made it just in time to fly through it in about 20 mins. Next time I'll spend a little more time hanging out and getting a closer look at some of the stuff I wanted to purchase. My mom picked up a few things like some honey and some fudge. I don't know if a lot of people attend because of the hours but my only suggestion would be, since it's on a Tuesday, extend the hours a little so people who work and get off at 5pm have enough time to get there and check it out during peak traffic hours. OOOO 4 out of 5 Afros

It's been a minute since I've been to this Farmers market. Parking is not an issue here. There's…read morealways your regulars and now I see new vendors. I like that everything is spaced out well and allows you to stroll throughout.

Came here on a wednesday around 9am no wait to get in. Ticket 5 dollars parking lot free. Serivce…read morefriendly. Took around 30 minutes to walk everything. Its in a loop. Restrooms inside clean. It was a really nice and relaxing well kept garden. Cool history and plenty of photo opportunities. It had wildlife as well ducks and goose. All in all a hidden gem.

This 6.5 acre lush Japanese garden is unlike any other garden you'll ever visit…read more Conceived by engineer Donald C. Tillman and designed by UCLA professor Dr. Koichi Kawana, it opened in 1984 with a message in mind- recycled waste water can sustain new life. The result was a landscape of lotus and ponds, home to wildlife from mosquito fish to egrets. Meanwhile in the backdrop, pumps as wide as 8 feet in diameter are elevating sewage to be treated. The crowd was sparse on a weekday, ideal for a leisurely stroll. From the Shoin Building, a series of screen windows look out into the vast garden. It's an opportunity for rest and reflection. Operating hours are 9:30 am to 3:30 pm M-Th and one Sunday a month. Admission is $5 per adult. Restrooms, including gender neutral ones, are behind the Shoin Building. No filming allowed of any kind without a FilmLA permit, even on a phone for personal use. Seems overly restrictive by modern standards. Photos are fine if not posed/professional. This lush Japanese garden is fed by 6 million gallons of reclaimed water a day, making it unlike any other. You wouldn't know by looking at it, and that's the beauty.

This event is amazing and so much fun! It was so easy to spend that $35(food and drinks) knowing I…read morewould be able to stuff myself silly with samples of different foods. There are tons of booths offering samples of reallllly delicious food. It was a little crowded at first but lines went by quickly. Fun music and people dancing... what a wonderful night to be outside with friends and a full belly! :) We parked in the public parking structures by the AMC plaza... which is basically where this event is held. There were plenty of parking (free!) when we got there around 7pm. Oh and not only do they provide plates..but there are also water stations along the way to fill your cups with water! cools! I can't wait for next year... my friends and I have already decided to make this an annual event!

A million thanks to Sarah A. for the pair of free Yelp tickets to this wonderful event!…read more It was a night of gluttony I won't soon forget. For actual food food, we gorged on Brazilian BBQ, thai, indian, sushi, burgers, and much, much more! For dessert, we had ice cream, tiramisu, cupcakes, pastries, and caramel apple slices (they were giving out WHOLE ones but started to run out...darn!) My favorite food vendors were Porto's and Haagen Dazs. I kept going back for more ice cream, and ended up getting three scoops of three different flavors. Mmm. I had a scoop of Half Baked from Ben and Jerry's too. And along with the Porto's desserts I ate, I took home a creme brulee, red velvet cupcake, and a hard candy apple. YES I AM A GREEDY, GREEDY LITTLE GIRL, muahaha! I was disappointed with Kabuki's offerings. And honestly, you know what a CPK pizza tastes like...I tended to stray away from the generic chains and tried some of the more "exotic" goodies that I wouldn't normally try. Portions are just the right size too, I think. You don't get TOO full before you've tried all you want to try. Then you can go back for seconds of the things you want. Yelp was awesome enough to also include tickets to the beer and wine garden, so the boyfriend enjoyed that. You get 5 samples of 4oz. cups of beers or wine. What I wish I had known beforehand: -You can get blue plastic plates at a table up front...it reduces waste and gives you more room to get more samples! But they ran out by the time I got there. -Parking is a *$#(%)*$ (but free!) -Gotta get the whole apples while you can -Take your time. I was running around and stressing out for the first 30 minutes thinking that the lines would take forever and then the vendors were going to run out of food...they won't, don't worry! So enjoy and TAKE YOUR TIME! Major props to the city of Burbank for putting this event on...I can't wait for next year's!! And I will be certain that the $20-30 ticket price (that goes to the Burbank YMCA) will be TOTALLY WORTH IT!

I was able to attend the festival this past weekend, and I had a great time…read more As a foodie, I noticed that it lacked more food bites than drinks. But that is ok, I still enjoyed myself overall. The event had a VIP section, GA tables, vendors, and a nice dance floor with live music playing. The event was organized well, security noted at the front. I felt safe being there. Parking was easy to get to, free and large lot. Event was held next to the parking lot; you see the entrance pathway. Staff members were helpful with check-ins, and I received my nice wine glass/dish upon checking in. Got to try a lot of red wine, seltzers, beer, and other spirits. Got to meet new people, including some vendors which were super nice to talk to. Getting to know about businesses that wanted more exposure. I loved going to the photo booth several times. I was able to use props and make my photoshoots more fun. Really nice memories. The weather was perfect too. Couldn't ask for more. Overall, since it was a much smaller event, it felt like I was able to taste most of the spirits available.

I had been wanting to attend this event for a long time, so I was excited to finally experience it…read more This event supports ONEgeneration and the programs and services they provide for older adults and young children, which made the day feel even more meaningful. As someone who attends a lot of food events, I did expect it to be a bit larger with more variety. That is the only reason I am taking off one star. That said, what they offered was still very well done. It was so nice having so many great San Fernando Valley spots all in one place. I spent most of my time walking from booth to booth, trying everything, sipping, snacking, and going back for more. Every booth delivered. The atmosphere was also a highlight. There was music playing, people were having fun, and the overall energy was so positive. Parking was very easy and free, with a large lot right next to the event, which is always a major plus. Overall, it was a nice event for a great cause.

--Info, Atmosphere & Service-- A Taste of Encino is a…read moreyearly one-day event hosted by the Encino Chamber of Commerce. This year it was it's 29th annual event! Ventura Blvd is closed down from Amestoy Ave. to Balboa Ave for several hours. The street is lined up with various booths/vendors (over 50 I believe from this year). This year, besides the booths and vendors they also had food trucks (6 of them), a music stage, a beer and wine garden (a couple mixed drinks included) and a kids fun zone at the park off Genesta Ave. Vendors/booths included all sorts of things from different businesses both near and far such as craft style products to home improvement businesses and more. Visit as many booths and vendors as you'd like. Admission is free! --Parking & Prices-- Various parking is available within walking distance, mainly via Ventura Blvd. Admission is free, and some vendors/booths might give away a freebie. Besides that, there's various items to purchase at different costs for items and food/drinks.

HOw can I explain just how bad this event turned out. I feared for my health it was just that bad…read more The organization who put on this event needs to be jailed. 3 hours just to get into the event in over 105 degree weather. People hoarded together like cattle. All complaints have been erased and banned from their website. To top it off this was not a cheap event. The minimum entry ticket was $60.00.

How can I start never never never in my life have I been so mad with the lack of help, security,…read moreorganization, etc we paid for diamond box seating and they didn't even have a table or chairs for us.... There was a lady talking about she paid $54 to get in the park not to mention $25 to park and had a seat up front. Well we paid over $1500 dollars and was standing while they went looking for us table and chairs.... We left because of the lack of planning on there part and now can't get them to even respond about our refund... This has been the worst event every in my life...and all I want is my money back......cause this was SOME BULLSHIT