Archives for 2015

The Queen Mary is pleased to welcome back the annual Big Bite Bacon Fest for two pork-filled days of bacon, beer and pork-inspired entertainment. An abundance of local restaurants, chefs and breweries will offer sweet and savory samples of pork infused delicacies and beer tastings across two full days of festivities in honor of the star ingredient – bacon.

The 2014 Big Bite Bacon Festival at the Queen Mary sold out in record time with incredible demand for more…guess what…bacon! In order to accommodate the demand, the festival producers have extended the event to two days in its second year, offering more bacon and more porkalicious fun for all bacon enthusiasts to enjoy.

“We are committed to growing the Big Bite Bacon Fest in order to welcome all passionate bacon lovers,” commented Big Bite Event’s Chief Bacon Officer, Mark Entner. “We have expanded the festival into two-days and secured double the number of bacon purveyors to participate to create a sensory overloaded environment where bacon enthusiasts can truly enjoy all things bacon.”

Southern California chefs will be testing culinary boundaries as they show off their deep fried skillsets. Bigmista’s BBQ, winner of the 2014 People’s Choice for Best Bacon Award, will return to the 2015 festival aside chefs from favorite local hotspots including Red Leprechaun and Rajin Cajun Café. Star chefs, Ricardo Heredia, Winner of the World Bacon Title and World Food Championships, and Jodi Taffel, deemed “The Bacon Babe,” will go head to head with the best bacon treats their kitchens can pork out. Bacon favorites Slater’s 50/50, Stuffin’it Burger Truck, Sweet Lou’s BBQ Truck, OC Donut Bar, Chunk N’ Chip, Twisted Sweets, Hula’s Hawaiian, and Whole Foods are only a few of the vendors presenting samples of their own spins on the salty star, with endless more pork purveyors still to be unveiled. Festivalgoers can wash down their favorite pork cuisine with craft beer samples from multiple local brew houses.

The 2^nd annual Big Bite Bacon Fest will offer a choice of a daytime or evening tasting session on Saturday, August 1 and one daytime tasting session on Sunday, August 2. VIP bacon lovers will gain entry to the event one hour prior to all other guests, have access to the exclusive VIP bacon lounge, and receive a souvenir cup, beer caddy and opportunity to take a self-guided tour of the majestic Queen Mary ship. Special Bacon Lovers packages are also available.

Tickets for the Big Bite Bacon Fest go on-sale May 15 and start at just $35 online for general admission. For more information about this one-of-a-kind “Foodtainment” event and to purchase tickets visit www.bigbiteevents.com.

Credit: The Queen Mary.

To commemorate the Rancho’s transfer from the Bixby family to the City of Long Beach in 1955, Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site is presenting Back To The 50’s, a celebration of American Rock n’ Roll, Jazz, and Country Music. The series takes place on the fourth Sunday of the month between June and August, and is completely free. Guests are welcome to arrive at 4:30 p.m. for pre-concert picnicking on the beautiful backyard lawn. Music begins at 5:30 and continues until 7 p.m., and the adobe home will remain open for self-guided tours until intermission.
The series begins on Sunday, June 28, with a performance by The Smokin’ Cobras, a high energy sextet that’s performed at festivals up and down the California coast, and throughout Southern California. They have a vast repertoire of songs that span decades but, for this performance, they will stay focused primarily on the Rock n’ Roll explosion of the ‘50’s.
In July, the series continues with Chet Getz Cool, featuring the music of Chet Baker and Stan Getz and, in August, The Walking Phoenixes will resurrect the spirit of the Man in Black, Johnny Cash. Guests are welcome to bring blankets and low beach-style chairs. Pets and smoking are not allowed anywhere on the site. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. There is limited handicapped parking on site, and additional parking is available in an adjacent lot, and on the street.
About Rancho Los Cerritos: Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site is located at 4600 Virginia Road in Long Beach. Built in 1844, the adobe home and grounds echo with the rich history of Spanish, Mexican, and American California and with the families who helped transform Southern California from its ranching beginnings to a modern, urban society. The site, a National, State and Long Beach Historic Landmark, also includes historic gardens and a research library and archives. The Rancho is operated by the Rancho Los Cerritos Foundation in private-public partnership with the City of Long Beach. For more information please call (562) 206-2040, or visit the website at RanchoLosCerritos.org and like us on Facebook at facebook.com/rancholosc.

Credit: Rancho Los Cerritos.

Guests are invited to celebrate the Aquarium’s anniversary with environmental programming and a special appearance by Linden the Mermaid.

The nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific opened its doors seventeen years ago in June of 1998 with a mission to instill a sense of wonder, respect, and stewardship for the Pacific Ocean, its inhabitants, and ecosystems. Since then the Aquarium has reached over 23 million on-site visitors, including 3 million students, and millions of people off-site with learning opportunities about the ocean and environmental issues impacting all life on our planet. The Aquarium is dedicated to conserving and building natural capital (nature and nature’s services) by building social capital (the interactions between and among peoples) through a diverse array of programming that combines sciences with the arts and through forums, public lectures, live webcasts, and other programs. To celebrate its anniversary, the Aquarium has invited Linden the Mermaid to take a dive in the Aquarium’s largest exhibit in the Tropical Pacific gallery. Mermaid Linden will be available for photo opportunities and introduces her new line of kid’s Mermaid Monofins and swim products by Body Glove at the Aquarium’s Pacific Collections gift store. Linden will be available for photo opportunities. Guests can also explore the new Jellies exhibits and learn about environmental issues in the Ocean Science Center and daily shows. Since opening, the Aquarium has added numerous new exhibits including the June Keyes Penguin Habitat, Southern California Steelhead Story, Our Watersheds: Pathway to the Pacific, Shark Lagoon, and Lorikeet Forest.

WHEN: Saturday, June 20, 2015. The dive in the Tropical Pacific tank will take place at 3:30 p.m.

WHERE: Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802.

COST: General Admission–$28.95 adult (12+), $25.95 senior (62+), $14.95 child (3-11), and free for children under age three and Aquarium members.

AQUARIUM: The nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific is a community gathering place where diverse cultures and the arts are celebrated and where important topics facing our planet are explored by scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders in search of sustainable solutions. The Aquarium is dedicated to conserving and building nature and nature’s services by building the interactions between and among peoples. Home to more than 11,000 animals, Aquarium exhibits include the June Keyes Penguin Habitat, Ocean Science Center, Molina Animal Care Center, the interactive Shark Lagoon and Lorikeet Forest exhibits, and the new Jellies exhibits. Beyond its animal exhibits, the Aquarium offers educational programs for people of all ages, from hands-on activities to lectures by leading scientists.

Credit: The Aquarium of the Pacific.