August 2012 event guide: Los Angeles, Miami and Dallas

Aug 3, 2012
LadyLUX

All work and no play makes a very boring person, so this August, experience Los Angeles, Miami and Dallas’s events and live it up. Plan your social calendar with the August 2012 event guide and enjoy the summer season before it ends with food festivals, inspiring art exhibits or even an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drive a sports car on a racetrack – how can you say no to that?

Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival
From August 9-12, celebrity chefs and foodies are gathering together to celebrate the second annual Los Angeles Food & Wine festival. Based at Downtown’s LA Live, the epicurean festival boasts over 40 events sprawled across Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and Hollywood, and range from cooking demonstrations to actually dining with chefs such as Wolfgang Puck and brothers Michael and Bryan Voltaggio. The food and wine festival supports the St. Vincent Meals on Wheels charity. Read more details.

Factory 77
As a teenager in ‘70s Southern California, Brad Elterman shot candid photos of L.A. rockstars or stars that were touring through the city. Factory 77 in Venice Beach’s Kana Manglapus will showcase Elterman’s exciting photography featuring Bob Dylan, Joan Jett, John Lennon, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Duran Duran, Debbie Harry, David Bowie, The Ramones and many more. The exhibit is open until September 10. Read more details.

DreamWorlds: Behind the Scenes, Production Art From DreamWorks Animation
Running through September 7 at USC School of Cinematic Arts Gallery, DreamWorlds: Behind the Scenes reveals the process behind animated feature filmmaking. Twenty-four animated films are presented in this series, including Shrek, the Kung Fu Panda saga, the Madagascar franchise and DreamWorks’ latest, the Rise of the Guardians. Read more details.

Meet and greet with Santiago Gonzalez for Nancy Gonzalez
From 1:30 to 3:30PM, Nancy Gonzalez and her son Santiago will be at Neiman Marcus Fashion Island for a meet and greet. The duo will be presenting their latest collection. Read more details.

Fabergé: Imperial Jeweler to the Tsars
Discover the spectacular designs of Peter Carl Fabergé. Best known for his Imperial Easter Eggs created for the Russian Royal family, the jeweler also crafted jewelry and luxurious gifts for many ruling families of Europe. Get inspired by his master goldsmithing and inventive designs through this special exhibition. Read more details.

Made In L.A. 2012
Made in L.A. 2012 features the work of artists in the early stages of their careers alongside that of midcareer artists who are vital to the community but are arguably underrecognized. With 60 artists, the exhibit showcases figurative and abstract painting, sculpture, video installation, site- and situation-specific works, photography, works on paper, and a series of performances and public programs. Made in L.A. 2012 is shown across three locations including the Hammer Museum in Westwood, LA. Read more details.

Treasures of The Walt Disney Archives
Presented by D23, The Official Disney Fan Club, and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives are revealed at the Reagan Library until April 1, 2013. The 12,000 square foot exhibit features over 500 artifacts from nearly nine decades of Disney history. Fifty percent of the pieces have never been seen by the public before. Read more details.

Malibu Walking Food Tour
The Malibu Walking Food Tour showcases the food and culture of Malibu, boasting delicious restaurants and merchants from Cross Creek Road, the heart of Malibu. Tastings will include fresh juices, exotic hot chocolate, crepes, Mexican, Greek and Italian specialties, homemade local favorites and gelato. The tour will also offer an experience of the rich history of Malibu. Read more details.

Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival 2012
The Shakespeare Festival at Griffith Park features “The Winter’s Tale,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and “The Comedy of Errors” every Thursday through Sunday until September 2. The performances are free with donations welcomed. Read more details.

LadyLUX via winebtb.com, ilovemiamispice.com, tasteofbrickell.com, miami.com and soulofmiami.com

Wine by the Bay: Wine Pairing Class

On Friday August 3, Wine by the Bay offers a class educating about the do’s and don’ts of wine pairing and more importantly – why. Read more details.

Miami Spice
Miami Spice is a tasty restaurant promotion offering the very best cuisine Miami has to offer. The city’s top restaurants present three-course meals featuring signature dishes created by world-renowned chefs. The culinary event runs through September 20. Read more details.

Beats After Sunset
Bass Museum presents Beats After Sunset happy hour event for art lovers. Taking place on August 3, guests can experience exhibits from Charles LeDray, Erasey Page, a collaboration between Jillian Mayer and Eric Schoenborn and an Egyptian Gallery. Read more details.

The Inaugural Burger, Beer and Balls by Brickell Food & Wine Festival 2013
The Inaugural Burger, Beer and Balls Bash shows off how Miami’s most celebrated restaurants and chefs interpret what a “burger” or “meatball” means to them. The foodie event takes place at the Historic Miami Circle on Saturday August 4 at 5PM. Read more details.

Imagine Lifestyles Super Car Experience
On August 4 for one day only, auto enthusiasts will have the opportunity to experience driving a Ferrari or Lamborghini around the 4.6-mile racetrack at Homestead Miami Speedway. The ultimate event is offered for $149 with the possibility to purchase additional laps. Read more details.

LadyLUX via galleriadallas.com, dallasmuseumofart.org, opentable.com, unionbear.com

The Union Beer: Beer and Cheese Pairing
On August 8, The Union Beer is enjoying a night of beer and cheese with Scardello pairings. Join the fun at 7PM. Read more details.

Dallas-Fort Worth KRLD Restaurant Week
Presented by Central Market, the Dallas-Fort Worth KRLD Restaurant Week indulges in three-course, prix fixe dinners at participating restaurants. The special dinner is available for $35 from August 13-19. Read more details.

Dallas Cityscape at Galleria Dallas
The Galleria Dallas presents the Dallas Cityscape, a creative view of Dallas built entirely of LEGO bricks. The cityscape uses over three million blocks to construct over a dozen memorable landmarks from the city. Tickets are $5 for adults and children age 2 and up, with proceeds benefiting East Dallas Community Schools. The LEGO artwork will be on display until September 3. Read more details.

Encountering Space at Dallas Museum of Art
Encountering Space presents works of art from the Museum collections and asks visitors to consider how space is used to invite engagement, raise questions, and create meaning as viewers begin to encounter works of art as active participants. The exhibit features 12 works of art from the Museum’s collections. Read more details.