event

If you're in the Los Angeles area this weekend, I suggest you head over to H.D. Buttercup for the Domino Bazaar.

Open to the public from Oct. 17-19 from noon to 6 p.m. daily, the bazaar will feature a mix of green products, art, budget-friendly furnishings, super high-end designer goods, and antiques for the home and garden. Everything has been hand-selected by Domino staff, and styled into room vignettes. In addition, there will be a full roster of classes on everything from decorating to cooking. Oh, and as added temptation, everything will be 15 to 30 percent off retail price.

To find out how to attend, and for a video of last year's event, read more

Last year I was excited to tell you about Self Magazine Workout in the Park, so thanks to user HipMom for reminding me of this year's event.

Self Magazine Workout in the Park is a full day event of working out and fun in select cities nationwide where you'll get access to tons of classes (yoga, dance, Pilates, etc.) and exercises all in one day. Tickets are only $20 ($25 at the door) and that includes a one year subscription to Self. What's more? Proceeds will benefit Cancer and Careers, Fertile Hope and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

April 26 - San Diego, CA
Mission Bay Park, Ski Beach

May 3 - Miami, FL
Lummus Park, Ocean Drive between 11th and 12th Street

May 10 - New York, NY
Central Park, Rumsey Playfield, entrance at 72nd and Fifth Avenue

May 17 - Chicago, IL
Lincoln Park, Grove #8, behind the Nature Museum

If you're interested then buy your tickets here.

This past weekend Heroes star Hayden Panettiere stepped out in true geeky fashion for the 2007 National Big Apple Comic Book, Art, Toy, and Sci-Fi Expo convention. This three day annual event, now in its eleventh year, hosts more than three hundred dealers and exhibitors, and showcases comics, toys, action figures, original art, videos, autographs, non-sports cards, TV and movie memorabilia—making it the ultimate place to buy, sell or trade your collectibles!

Kristen Bell from Veronica Mars was also in attendance to join Hayden in greeting fans and taking pictures. Too bad Kristen was no where in sight for the photo-op with Star Wars characters White Stormtrooper and Blackhole Stormtrooper!

Source

When I lived in a third-story apartment, I really longed for more green space, and would have definitely taken advantage of Park(ing) Day, which just finished its second annual event this past Friday. Park(ing) Day is an event where businesses, government offices, and volunteers in several corners of the world take the time to construct parks in parking spaces. In San Francisco alone, over 55 parking spaces were occupied, including this pedal-powered park, constructed and operated by Oakland, California, collective Rebar, which started the whole phenomenon a year ago, with help from the Trust for Public Land.

To find out if your city participated in Park(ing) Day, just read more

Don't make me cry folks, so far there have been no takers for my American Idol food challenge. Please tell me that you're all in your kitchens whipping up something tasty (or untasty, this is American Idol afterall...) for my challenge. Entries are due this Tuesday May 8. Do I have to extend the deadline? Was the challenge too hard? Come on, I know you guys are up for a challenge. If a cake shaped like Simon is too hard, how about a parfait where each layer represents one of the judges? I know you've got it in you.

Here's what you need to do to participate:

• Write about your creation by May 8 (be sure to include a link to this here post). If you don't have a blog, you can always sign up for a TeamSugar account and post it there. Or post it in the comments below.
• Send me an email by May 8 (the roundup will be posted on May 11) with the following information:

  - Your name & location
  - Your blog name
  - Permalink for your post
  - What you made and why
  - A 100x100 pixel image of your creation (optional)

Send the emails to yumsugar[at]gmail[dot]com with the subject "American Idol Creation" - I can't wait to see what you guys come up with! I'll post the full roundup on May 11th.

Oh and if you're wondering, that Sanjaya cookie came from the crazy folks over at Milk Fat.

If you've ever wanted to see Paula Deen live, now's your chance. This summer she's kicking off a "National" Tour - I put national in quotes because it's only five cities: Shreveport, Charlotte, Nashville, Dallas and Atlanta. Each two hour show will feature Ms. Paula cooking up some of her favorite dishes, answering fan questions, sharing tips and doing whatever it is a chef does when on tour.

"People need to get on back to the kitchen," said Paula. "I'm gonna show you how we do it at my house. I'll tell you what I cook and share the secrets to making it good. But the most important thing I want folks to realize is that the memories are what matter. Families get to know each other through cooking a meal together, and then sitting down and lickin' their plates clean. Now that's comfort food."

Oh, that's what they do when they're on tour. They lick their plates clean...

If you live in one of those five national cities, then act fast, tickets are on sale now.

And if you don't live in one of those cities, don't fret, you can always register to win a trip to see her in Atlanta. If you win, please tell me what they have backstage in the greenroom, I want to know if she actually eats the deep fried butter balls.

Source: PR Newswire
Image Source

I recently met up with a few other food bloggers and during the meet-up, Catherine of Food Musings mentioned an article that she read about how there weren't many things in America that most Americans could talk about. In fact, according to the article there were two things: Harry Potter and the Sopranos. We discussed that for a while and decided that American Idol should probably be added to that list too. I mean, I haven't even watched the show in several years and yet I find myself talking about it at least once or twice a week.

At any rate, it got me thinking - there had to be a better reason for a bunch of food bloggers to end up talking about American Idol. So I figured, why not host an American Idol themed food challenge. I know, it's a little bit hokey (okay, maybe a lot hokey), but you know you are secretly excited over this one. And the rules are pretty simple, all you have to do is come up with a dish inspired by American Idol. It can be a loose interpretation of the words (something red white and blue perhaps?), but if you want to make a cake shaped like Simon Cowell, that would be more than awesome.

Here's what you need to do to participate:

• Write about your creation by May 8 May 15 (be sure to include a link to this here post). If you don't have a blog, you can always sign up for a TeamSugar account and post it there.
• Send me an email by May 8 May 15 (the roundup will be posted on May 11 May 18) with the following information:

  - Your name & location
  - Your blog name
  - Permalink for your post
  - What you made and why
  - A 100x100 pixel image of your creation (optional)

Send the emails to yumsugar[at]gmail[dot]com with the subject "American Idol Creation" - I can't wait to see what you guys come up with! I'll post the full roundup on May 11th May 18th.

YumSugar Out!
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Oh and if you're wondering, that Sanjaya cookie came from the crazy folks over at Milk Fat.

Looking for a race in the Indianapolis area?

The 2007 Outrun the Sun Race supports melanoma education and research initiatives at Outrun the Sun, Inc. (The race was started by two families who lost loved ones to melanoma.) The event includes a 5-Mile competitive run, 5K non-competitive run/walk and a 1-Mile non-competitive fun walk. The course takes participants in and around the streets of downtown Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Canal Walk and the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. The event is on Saturday June 2, 2007 at 7:00 pm. Why so late? Well this is a race to fight skin cancer, so it is only fitting that participants run while the sun is not at its peak. Visit OutRuntheSun.org to register online and for more information on the event.

Calling all wine lovers (actually, I should say wine enthusiasts)! Wine Enthusiast magazine is hosting an evening of music, wine (well I should hope so) and eating. Dubbed as "Toast of the Town," the tasting will feature premium wines and spirits from over 70 international producers, as well as signature dishes from over 30 Bay Area restaurants. The event is not exactly cheap (VIP $185, Tasting $95), however the benefit is for America's Second Harvest: The Nation's Food Bank Network and will also feature a silent auction of fine wine and accessories (plus think of all the wine and food you can taste).

Tickets for Toast of the Town are available online or at the door. The event takes place this Thursday (March 29) at the War Memorial Opera House.

I plan on being there, so if you're planning on attending, drop us a line and we'll see you there!

And for those of you not in the area, there are two other events going on soon. One in New York on April 23 and one in Chicago on May 3.