Stories

It's National Burger Month, so of course I invited Burger Lounge for a cookout with their 100% grass-fed burgers, organic quinoa burgers and other tasty eats. I also had Ice Cream Lab from Beverly Hills come by to show us their liquid nitrogen frozen treats!! (SOOO GOOD!) And the cherry on top of all this?? A live performance by three-time Grammy winners Ozomatli!! They sang "Paleta," a song from their new album coming this fall. You can see them FREE this Sunday at the TASTE of Hawthorne!!!

It's Mother's Day Weekend so why not take Mom out to chow down like a mutha at the West Coast BBQ Classic @ the Queen Mary? It's going on Saturday afternoon and there will be tons of stuff going on including all manner of BBQ from 60 different pitmasters from around the country, a kids zone, pie and watermelon eating contests, music and adult games including one called CORNHOLE. Yes, it's true. There's also the workout event at all 12 Spectrum Athletic Club locations this weekend where you & Mom can sweat it out while raising money for a very good cause. For a $25 donation, you can take any class and 100% of the proceeds go to ALS research. Happy Mother's Day!!!

With all the fires and serious news this week, I was particularly grateful to be out and about for something very positive today. I joined FOX Gives (our network's philanthropic organization of staff volunteers) to celebrate Cinco de Mayo at the LA Mission with a special fiesta featuring Mariachi Bella and delicious meals served to more than 500 women, men and children in need. Thanks, FoxGives by Twentieth Century Fox!!! And thanks to the Los Angeles Mission for the absolutely extraordinary work they do for so many people EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE YEAR!

It was kind of a #craycray morning behind the scenes on GDLA today, but it all turned out great. I had Grammy-winning Venezuelan party band Los Amigos Invisibles come preview their big show this Friday night at The Music Box @ Fonda. I also had Short Order and Osteria La Buca LA stop by to showcase the fantastic citywide LAdrinks2Boston fundraiser going on this Saturday. And let's not forget the fab folks from The 18th Annual Uptown Whittier Spring Antique Street Faire where there'll be tons of vendors, fashion, food & live entertainment from Memories Swing Team. Have fun!

Today I got to live out another fun-tasy ... bungee jumping! Well, sort of. It was the kiddie version with the trampoline beneath me, but that's what made it so great. None of that 'OMG I might actually die doing this' factor. It's part of the Balboa Fun Zone along Balboa Village in Newport Beach, which is kicking off a week of celebrations for the big Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race, the world's largest international sailing event. There will be lots of freebies this weekend including food samples, drinks, museum admission, live music, chalk art and mini boat-making for kids. There's also the old-school Ferris Wheel, Segways, arcade and a ton of other activities. It's worth the drive!

Balls flying at my face! Paint popping in my mouth! Must mean one thing: the World Series of Paintball is back in town. I had the chance to preview all the action and it's no joke. It was my first time EVER holding a paintball gun, let alone actually getting on the battlefield. It was a little painful and a whole lot of fun, thanks to the ladies of Team Destiny, the only all-female group in the league, who were incredibly sweet and supportive. Girl power!!! You can get your fill of surf, sand & paintballs all weekend in Huntington Beach.

It's a wacky wig & wing-filled weekend for you! Hit up the DTLA Artwalk tonight if you wanna get "A Fair and Honest Appraisal of Your Appearance" from underground (and incognito) performance art sensation The Bumbys and enjoy some yummy Korean wings & sliders from Belly BombZ. You can also get wild with Lucha Libre USA in Ontario this Sunday. But before you do, check out Chris Stills who, along with Crosby, Stills & Nash (and a ton of celebs including Jack "Nacho Libre" Black) will be at Club Nokia for the Light Up The Blues Concert - An Evening of Music to Benefit Autism Speaks.

I LOVE LA!! Where else could I get Mr. Cartoon (you know, the guy who's tatted up everyone from Snoop Dogg/Lion and 50 Cent to Justin Timberlake and Justin Bieber) to show up with his lowriders, which are actual works of art that have been shown in museums around the world + Kris Jenner eating Pink's Hot Dogs aaaaaand my favorite 19-piece 1930s-style orchestra & cabaret to perform?!!!