Looking for something to do this weekend? This new blog feature will help our readers find out what is going on in their city for the ultimate work week relief. Every Friday, we’ll take away the guessing game by listing our top 10 must go to events for the weekend.
For more events throughout the month, visit our event calendar on Cuisine Noir magazine. Have an event you want to add to the Weekend Round-Up? Send an email by 12 pm PST each Thursday to events@vshereepublishing.com.
Top 10 +1 for the Weekend of August 31 – September 3
WEST
Sonoma Wine Country Weekend
Sonoma County, California
Friday, August 31 – Sunday, September 2
http://www.sonomawinecountryweekend.com/events.asp
A wine and food event unlike any other, Sonoma Wine Country Weekend combines unpretentious style of Taste of Sonoma at MacMurray Ranch, with the festivity, elegance and pure fundraising spirit of the Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction at Chateau St. Jean. If that’s not enough, book an intimate Winery Lunch, Dinner Party, and Barbecues for three unforgettable days of celebration, Sonoma style.
Los Angeles Times – The Taste
Los Angeles, CA
Saturday, September 1 – Monday, September 3
http://events.latimes.com/taste
Los Angeles Times’ annual celebration of the Southern California culinary scene. Each of THE TASTE’s five events reflects The Times’ award-winning coverage of the Southland’s best chefs, restaurants and food trends. Named BizBash’s top food, wine and hospitality event in 2011, THE TASTE is again cooking up a locally-focused, internationally-flavored menu of offerings with Thomas Keller (Bouchon, The French Laundry), Nancy Silverton (Mozza, La Brea Bakery), Ludo Lefebvre (LudoBites), Susan Feniger (STREET), Roxana Jullapat (Cooks County), Nyesha Arrington (Wilshire), Jason Kim (Forage), Bricia Lopez (Guelaguetza), Kris Yenbamroong (Night + Market), Ricardo Zarate (Picca, Mo-Chica), Judy Han (Mendocino Farms, Blue Cow), Alie Ward and Georgia Hardstark (Cooking Channel) and many more.
42nd Annual Millbrae Art & Wine
Millbrae, CA
September 1 – 2
www.miramarevents.com
Presented by the Millbrae Chamber of Commerce, the festival is the “Last Blast of Summer” with two days of sensational live music, gorgeous handcrafted work by 250 of America’s top artists and craftmakers, fabulous food and drink, a microbrew tasting tent, the “Classically Cool Car Show”, an organic and green products showcase, artisan specialty foods, home and garden exhibits, health and wellness displays, and tons of fun for kids. The festival takes place on Broadway (1 block west of El Camino Real) between Victoria and Meadow Glen. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Admission is free.
Doin’ It In The Park
San Francisco, CA
Sunday, September 2
http://www.doinitintheparksf.com
Join Doin’ It In The Park 2012 as they celebrate their 9th year of community service, yes – community service. Doin’ It In The Park has always been about community and giving back. This is their way of saying thank you. This is a family event, all ages welcome. Enjoy free BBQ (burgers and hot dogs while supplies last), inflatable jumper (small children only), and music (Bay Area DJs) from noon till 6pm on September 2, 2012. A lengthy list of DJs will be spinning hip hop, soul, reggae, rare grooves, and plenty of Sunday afternoon delights.
MIDWEST
23rd African Festival of the Arts
Chicago, IL
Friday, August 31 – Monday, September 3
www.africanfestivalchicago.com
Chicago’s largest outdoor cultural festival, the African Festival of the Arts, will feature an array of musical talents from around the African diaspora, along with several decidedly American acts such as George Clinton.
8th Annual Taste of Hudson
Hudson, OH
Sunday, September 2 – Monday, September 3
tasteofhudson.com
Savor the flavors from over 20 of the area’s best restaurants and chefs as they prepare scrumptious selections from their in-restaurant menus. While enjoying these culinary delights you can leisurely stroll the many acres of family activities and non-stop entertainment. With eight stages and over 100 live entertainment performances being planned we are certain you will have a great time in Hudson this Labor Day weekend.
EAST
West Indian American Day Carnival
Brooklyn, NY
Thursday, August 30 – Monday, September 3
http://www.wiadca.com
Eastern Pkwy from Schenectady Ave and Flatbush Ave Ext, Crown Heights, Brooklyn. This Caribbean celebration, known for having lively music and lots of skin, is never short on costumed stilt dancers, floats blaring soca and calypso music, and plenty of flags from countries such as Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. Look for vendors stationed along Eastern Parkway selling island eats like jerk chicken, curry goat and oxtail, to name a few dishes.
Brazilian Day
Manhattan, NY
Sunday, September 2
http://www.brazilianday.com
September 2nd, at 46th Street, also known as Little Brazil, and 6th Avenue, near Times Square. Presently the event takes over 25 blocks surrounding Little Brazil. The festival began to celebrate Brazil’s Independence Day. Since 1984, that small celebration has only grown, up to the point of attracting over 1.5 million people in 2011, according to official information from NYPD. People come from as close as Connecticut and as far as California. Perfectly bonding with the diverse population of New York City, people also come from Europe, Asia and Africa, to join in the festivities. Some travel in groups, they commute by bus, some fly in, and others simply drive hundreds of miles. No one wants to be left out of this party, which is now considered the world’s biggest Brazilian event outside Brazil and one of the greatest ethnic events in the Big Apple.
SOUTH
Launch of LeSutra with Timbaland
Miami, FL (Fontainebleau Miami Beach)
Friday, August 31 – Sunday, September 2
Super Producer Timbaland will launch his new brand LeSUTRA Sparkling Liqueur at Fontainebleau Miami Beach with a weekend long series of events over Labor Day weekend. Guests will join Timbaland in celebrating the launch of his new ultra premium brand with pool parties and events, including an iconic concert performance by Timbaland and Nas, as well as surprise celebrity guests and performances.
7th Annual Atlanta Caribbean Jerk Festival
Decatur, GA
Sunday, September 2
http://www.atlantajerkfestival.com
Glen Simmonds Events, Carib Event Partners and the Atlanta Montego Bay Sister Cities Foundation, with support from Business Concept Consulting, will present the 7th Annual Grace Atlanta Caribbean Jerk Festival and Family Fun Day on Sunday, September 2, 2012 (the day before Labor Day) from noon to 10 pm. Organized as a multi-cultural community event, the festival will be held in Dekalb County, Georgia.
House in the Park
Atlanta, GA
Sunday, September 2
http://www.ramonrawsoul.com
House in the Park is an annual music festival bringing together innovative musicians, DJs, and a diverse audience in a beautiful outdoor park space since 2005. HITP provides a family-oriented atmosphere, and is known throughout the Southeast as the “MUST-attend-event” for avid fans of deep house-music, Afrobeat and soul classics, and attracts over 1,000 people. HITP is held the Sunday before Labor Day, from noon to 8pm in an Atlanta park and is open to the public.
