Holiday weekends mean serious partying. How about some jazz, strawberries and cars to choose from?
May Jazz Dinner – BeBop Explosion – Newport Beach
Experience dinner and a show with the help of Back Bay Bistro tonight. For $35, select your starter, choose between seafood or filet mignon and finish with chef’s choice of dessert. Only interested in the show? That’s $20 ($10 for students!). Dinner service is between 6-8 p.m.; the live band performs from 7-9 p.m. Call ahead for reservations (949) 729-1144. Learn more about the musicians by visiting their event page.
Taste of Brea: Chasing Delicious
If you’re headed towards north OC this evening, stop by the family-friendly festival between 5-9 p.m. Purchase a wristband by pre-ordering through the Brea Chamber of Commerce or visiting their booth. Our favorites include Lillie’s Q, Green Tomato Grill and Brunos Italian Kitchen. Check out the complete list by visiting their website.
Strawberry Festival – Garden Grove
The 58th annual ode to strawberries takes place tomorrow through Monday. Offering free admission and unlimited all-day rides for $30-$35, join in on the action. Friday night features free strawberry shortcake to all attending the cake cutting ceremony at 6 o’clock. Saturday’s VIP charity breakfast and Strawberry Stomp 5k Run are an excellent way to get your weekend going. Live entertainment makes Euclid Park the place to be all weekend.
Newport Beach Wine Festival
Serious and not-so-serious wine lovers can partake in Balboa Bay Resort’s 13th Annual Wine Festival Saturday and Sunday (the Friday night winemaker dinner is already sold out). Each activity is priced separately, so be sure to check the schedule before making up your mind. We recommend Saturday’s Grand Tasting, featuring over 100 wines and decadent food pairings. All wines poured will be available for purchase by the case.
Champagne Tasting and Cars & Cafe at Moulin – Newport Beach
Offering a duo of desirable events this weekend, Moulin Bistro continues their educational wine tasting series on Saturday with French Champagnes. Sip thru class while noshing on their charcuterie and cheese boards for $29 per person from 5-7 p.m. Phone ahead for reservations to (949) 474-0920.
If you can make it out of bed on Sunday morning from 7-9 a.m., the reward of free hot coffee and cool cars will greet you back in Newport. We recommend getting there earlier instead of later to view the entire lineup, and browsing with a savory croissant in hand.
A contributing writer for OC Weekly, Anne Marie freelances for multiple online and print publications, and guest judges for culinary competitions. A Bay Area transplant, she graduated with a degree in Hospitality Management from Cal Poly Pomona. Find her on Instagram as brekkiefan.