event listings FREE all Summer: the HAMMER MUSEUM: no admission charge till Labor Day -- go see their excellent exhibit, EDEN'S EDGE, and more. Such a deal! Missed the LIVE EARTH concerts? See highlights at: liveearth.msn.com
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| Aug 18-20: the annual WESTERN FOODSERVICE and HOSPITALITY EXPO returns to LA. This event caters to the specific needs of the California foodservice industry. Thousands of industry professionals are expected to demo, touch, taste, smell, compare and source all the latest products and services required to run a successful foodservice business. This event will be held August 18-20 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. There are dozens of things to do; here are some highlights:
> The launch of the Ferdinand Metz Foodservice Forum with industry experts handpicked by Ferdinand Metz, Master Chef and former head of the Culinary Institute of America for more than 20 years. These sessions will give restaurant professionals the keys to all aspects of a successful foodservice business, help uncover hot new trends, increase revenue, loyalty and operational excellence, lower costs, minimize turnover while building winning teams, deliver optimal customer experience, enhance menu, cuisine and profits, minimize risk and legal issues and boost beverage earnings.
> Back by popular demand, the Western Foodservice and Hospitality Expo will again host "The Hot Spot" Culinary Extravaganza. This state-of-the-art culinary theater featuring celebrity chefs and guest appearances by notable newcomers and industry icons including incredible chefs from BRAVO's hit TV series, Top Chef, Sam Talbot; Mike Midgley and Marisa Churchill; The Modern Mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim; Food Network's Too Hot Tamales Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger; PBS Cooking / Travel Series Host Tommy Tang; and Akasha Richmond, Hollywood's favorite healthy chef.
> As a special presentation in the HOT SPOT, the Forum is also proud to announce three culinary legends in the MASTER CHEF COOKING SERIES: Master Pastry Chef Joseph Decker, Master Chef Frederic H. "Fritz" Sonnenschmidt and Master Chef Edward G. Leonard. Each will lead a one-hour cooking demonstration and presentation in the HOT SPOT.
> Jot Condie, President and CEO of the CRA will moderate a session on Trans-Fat and Menu Labeling, on Saturday, August 18 from 1:00 - 2:30 pm in Room 403. California may soon vote to eliminate trans-fats from restaurants and impose labels on menus. What does this mean for the industry, what are the alternatives and how do restaurants remove trans fats from their menu items without compromising taste? The answers to these questions and many more will be addressed by a panel of leading industry executives.
> Be the first to discover the hottest new foods and beverages to hit the market at the Innovative New Product Gallery. Attendees will be able to view new products in the gallery and throughout the exhibition floor each day of the Show.
> Be sure to check out the Thai Cooking Theater hosted by The Royal Thai Government and Chef Tommy Tang, in conjunction with Thailand's Department of Export Promotion. Learn from celebrity chef and restaurateur Tommy Tang how to prepare Thai Hom Mali Rice in traditional and innovative ways.
> The 3rd Annual California Pizza Championships presented by ROMA. Competitions include "Best Gourmet Pizza," and the "Best Traditional Pizza" and the newly instituted "Iron Pizza Chef Competition" where contestants will use a wide variety of products to create their own unique pizza from scratch in a one-on-one duel.
> The Ultimate Barista Challenge® USA hosted by Whole Cup Coffee Consulting. Professional barista will face challengers on the exhibition floor where they prepare their signature espresso beverages for a panel of discerning judges.
> There will be a showdown of three flights of espresso frappe, espresso cocktails and beautiful café latte art.
> SHOW HOURS:
> August 18, 10:00am - 5:00pm
> August 19, 11:00am - 5:00pm
> August 20, 11:00am - 4:00 pm
> LOCATION: The Los Angeles Convention Center, Downtown on Figueroa at Pico. On-site parking.
> PRODUCED AND MANAGED BY: The Western Foodservice and Hospitality Expo is produced by Reed Exhibition, sponsored by the California Restaurant Association. BEST BET
www.westernfoodexpo.com The long-awaited much-blogged-about opening of RED MANGO finally took place on Weyburn in Westwood Village, just east of Broxton. Some say their frozen yogurt is creamier than their competitor PINKBERRY (which is right down the street). Let the FroYo Wars begin! redmangousa.com
DR. STRANGELOVE (Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb), Stanley Kubrick's 1964 classic, will be presented at The Landmark theatre starting June 15, in a fully restored, remastered, ultra-high-resolution 4K digital presentation! Exclusive 4K projectors offer four times the resolution of standard digital presentations.
The new Landmark features a wine bar, a retail area and - the best part - five levels of parking with over 3000 FREE parking spaces! Next to Barnes and Noble, Pico at Westwood Blvd.
At the Geffen Playhouse: go see "MONSIEUR CHOPIN". geffenplayhouse.com
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"A Tribute to the Legendary Katharine Hepburn", hosted by Harrison Held, should be repeating on Time Warner Cable (soon available as streaming video at www.harrisonheldstarmedia.com ). Guests: award-winning actress/producer Karen Sharpe Kramer, wife and partner of the late film legend Stanley Kramer, who directed the groundbreaking feature "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" starring Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy & Sidney Poitier; Ms. Hepburn's God Daughter, award-winning actress and writer ' Kat' Katharine Kramer, the west coast representative of the Katharine Hepburn Historical Society; and noted film director/producer Mark Rydell, who direAnd cted Ms. Hepburn, Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda in Oscar winner "On Golden Pond."
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| LAunch window What's opening, what's being launched and what just launched -- in LA and beyond MORRISON HOTEL GALLERY - new photo exhibit launched May 12th. (The LA Report liked last year's exhibit with photographer Neal Preston; his shots of Led Zeppelin and many other musicians, from one of the largest music archives, are considered among the best ever.) 7517 W. Sunset Blvd. 323-874-2068.  TommyRays was the place to be on January 11, the setting for the first great party of 2007 -- the Grand Opening of this stellar new Studio City eatery. Friendly owner Tommy LeVasseur -- a former San Diego Padre, seen here between Ed Begley, Jr. (star of HGTV's "Living With Ed") and Ed's wife/co-star Rachelle Carson Begley -- made the rounds all night, posing for pics with celebs and making sure guests were happy, and indeed they were. More than 175 fans and food lovers turned out to ‘Party With Bacardi’ and enjoy Tommy's excellent cuisine and libations. Guests were treated to Bacardi Voodoo Doll Martinis, Bacardi Mojitos and the Grey Goose Tommy’s Crush as they enjoyed a delectable fare, prepared by Executive Chef Maryanne "Z" which included Asian Chicken Salad on Wonton Crisps, Laura Chenel Chevre (goat cheese tossed in toasted almonds with whole roasted garlic & red peppers served on crostini), Prawn Cocktails, Teriyaki Beef Bok Choy, Grilled Scotch Smoked Salmon, Hoison Pork on Sesame Rice Cakes, Caprese Skewers, and Dungeness Mini Crab Cakes. And, as if you needed more, there were even Smores! (By the outside bar, guests could roast homemade marshmellows on a mid-bar fire and add chocolate and graham crackers to their heart's delight.) I mentioned celebs, and indeed the stars came out for this shindig. In addition to the Begleys, The LA Report mingled with party hostess Carolina Bacardi (of the Bacardi Rum Family), comedienne Judy Tenuta, plus actresses Patrika Darbo, Robin Riker (RR starred in one of my fave sitcoms ever, "Get A Life") and Charlene Tilton (the darling of "Dallas"). Other celebs who came by included Peter Onorati, Matt Cedeno, Dominic Comperatore, Adrian Bellani, Adrienne Janic, Kiko Ellsworth, Rachel Melvin, Tasia Sherel, Lee Reherman, Jack Krizmanich, Justin Chon, Johnny Pacar and Kate Linder. There were even guests from as far as Memphis: Jaime and Michelle, two southern belles who just launched a Tennessee event company called Social Butterflies. So, for all you social butterflies who desire a night of great food and friendly atmosphere, go down to TommyRays, destined to become one of LA's hottest spots. A splendid time is guaranteed for all. (Special thanks to Glam Entertainment PR for another great event.) --Don Rose
TommyRays restaurant is located on Ventura Blvd., between the two Canyons (Coldwater and Laurel). Just remember 1,2,3,4,5! TommyRays, 12345 Ventura, Studio City CA. Check out their website: www.tommyrayscafe.com 
TOXIC AVENGER the Novel? Yes. The "Lloyd Kaufman, Adam Jahnke and J.D. Salinger epic" finally hit bookstores worldwide June 12, 2006, according to the press release. The creator of the Toxic Avenger and Toxic Avenger: the Novel co-writer, Lloyd Kaufman, did a national book tour. Note the third co-author they mentioned above. Gotta love Troma. www.troma.com The KANSAS CITY BBQ is a new restaurant recently opened at the corner of Lankershim and Aqua Vista in Toluca Lake, a minute north of Universal Studios. The owner tells The LA Report this is real Kansas City BBQ, featuring slow cooked chicken, ribs, brisket, and great beans. LAst look 
Henry Diltz's photo show was a big hit in '06 at the MORRISON HOTEL GALLERY. LA's legendary music photographer has been shooting the Southern California music scene for four decades. (Shown here: Diltz photo of the band America -- plus, yep, John Wayne and Bob Hope. Cowboy, comic, rockstars, letter jackets, sports locker -- if this pic doesn't sum up America I don't know what does. By the way, I'm pretty sure there was some apple pie to the left and a Chevy to the right.) 
A strange yet mesmerizing Business Card Origami 3-D Fractal, known as the Menger Sponge, appeared recently at Machine Project on Alvarado at Sunset. Here's a final gaze at the amazing maze. ALLURE ON LOCATION, their event last Oct 14 benefited Clothes Off Our Back; info on future events at www.allureonlocation.com
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