LAWineFest 2025 – Celebrating 20 Years of Wine, Community, and Fun

This year’s LAWineFest, taking place May 31 and June 1 along the waterfront at the Harry Bridges Memorial Park in Long Beach, marks two decades of bringing wine lovers together for a weekend of tastings, education, and entertainment, and to celebrate the Fest is celebrating the milestone with tons of incredible opportunities to taste something special, and win incredible prizes. 

A Greer’s OC pro tip: Snag your VIP Garden tickets for Sunday June 1 to get a chance to experience the super exclusive La Crema Nine Barrel tasting in The Garden. La Crema produces only nine barrels of these incredible wines, and they are not available for sale to the public! Adding to the festivities, Wild Fork Foods will have celebrity chef Wing Lam grilling up delicacies all weekend - all being paired with hand selected wines from San Antonio Winery.

Set against the picture-perfect backdrop of the historic Queen Mary, guests will enjoy a weekend filled with live music from the Unofficial Slam Band, gourmet food trucks, and boutique shopping featuring unique finds from local artisans. In keeping with its mission to give back, LAWineFest continues its partnership with the Los Angeles Boys & Girls Club, helping raise awareness and funds for community programs.

VIP Garden – An Exclusive Experience

For a more elevated tasting experience, the VIP Garden, hosted by Hotel Maya and Jackson Family Wines, offers access to premiere and boutique wineries, showcasing rare small-production wines, including La Crema’s Nine Barrel wines. VIP guests will also enjoy gourmet bites from Fuego’s Executive Chef Luis Torres, a Michelin-starred culinary expert, as well as cheese and charcuterie from Fior di Latte. With only 400 VIP tickets available per day, early purchase is highly recommended. Saturday VIP ticket holders also get early entry at 1 p.m.

Plan Your Weekend

Extend the celebration with a stay at Hotel Maya or aboard the Queen Mary, both just a short walk from the festival.

Event Details:

Dates & Hours

• Saturday, May 31: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. (VIP early entry at 1 p.m. – Saturday ONLY)
• Sunday, June 1: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Tickets:

General Admission ($100 at the gate) – Includes a commemorative glass, unlimited* wine and craft brew tastings, water, coffee, and full festival access.

VIP Garden ($150 at the gate) – Includes all GA perks, plus access to boutique wineries, gourmet bites, and exclusive seating. Limited to 400 per day.

Designated Driver ($25) – Enjoy all festival amenities without alcohol tastings.

Getting There:
Parking is available at The Pike Outlets and Aquarium, with free Long Beach Transit shuttles running all day. Carpooling, ride-sharing, and public transportation are highly recommended.

Location: Harry Bridges Memorial Park, Long Beach
Tickets & More Info: LAWineFest.com

Tickets sell out early—secure yours today!

Bowers Museum Celebrates $500,000 Lead Gift for Terracotta Warriors Exhibition

With just four weeks to go before the opening of World of the Terracotta Warriors: New Archaeological Discoveries in Shaanxi in the 21st Century, Bowers Museum announces a transformational $500,000 gift from Charles and Ling Zhang. Their generous contribution anchors a wave of support for the exhibition, which opens May 24, 2025.

Lead support for the exhibition also comes from Southern China Airlines, South Coast Plaza, PNC Bank, East West Bank, the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, and Huaxie Int’l Fine Art Freight Service Co., Ltd.

Curated by Bowers Chief Curator Dr. Tianlong Jiao, World of the Terracotta Warriors features more than 110 newly excavated relics from Shaanxi Province—many never seen before in North America. This historic presentation highlights groundbreaking discoveries that reshape understanding of China’s First Emperor and the civilizations that came before.

President and CEO Dr. Seán O’Harrow and Dr. Jiao will lead a press preview May 23, joined by a delegation from China’s most prestigious cultural institutions, including the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration, Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum Museum, and others.

The museum also thanks Chairwoman Anne Shih, whose decades of visionary leadership and fundraising have raised more than $30 million. Shih is leading the museum’s exclusive May 22 Gala, where guests will enjoy a first look at the exhibition. Gala support includes major sponsors Mei Yen and I Wan Huang, Dona Diane Anderson, and South Coast Plaza, among others.

The members-only opening night is May 24, and general tickets at bowers.org/warriors.

A full calendar of programs and events will begin prior to opening and culminate in a major symposium on June 21, featuring top international scholars.

Exhibition Details:

• Dates: May 24 – Oct. 19, 2025
• Location: Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana
• Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Admission: Special ticketed pricing $29 adults, with discounts available

This extraordinary exhibition invites visitors into a world rarely seen—and now newly revealed.

Image provided by the Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Center

Celebrate Mother’s Day at Wild Strawberry Café in Newport Beach

Wild Strawberry Café invites the community to celebrate Mother’s Day on Saturday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its Newport Beach café located at 240 Newport Center Drive, Suite 100.

The café will host a festive celebration with live music by Jerome Dean, great food, and a complimentary mimosa for all moms. It’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy quality time with loved ones in a warm and welcoming setting.

Congratulations are also in order for Milena, daughter of founders Natasha and Alex, who recently celebrated the grand opening of Wild Strawberry Café in Laguna Beach. Located in the former Koffee Klatch space, the new café brings the family’s “Healthy Eating, Healthy Living” philosophy to the heart of Laguna.

Known for organic coffee, fresh-baked goods, sweet and savory crêpes, omelets, wraps, artisan sandwiches, and farm-to-table salads and soups, Wild Strawberry remains committed to freshness and quality—without seed oils.

Wild Strawberry Locations:

• Wild Strawberry Café – 240 Newport Center Drive, #100, Newport Beach | 949.706.0462
• Wild Strawberry Café – 400 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach | 949.704.2162
• Wild Strawberry Kiosk – 610 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach | 949.423.2066
• Wild Strawberry Café – 1440 S Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach | 949) 704-2122

Learn more at wildstrawberrycafe.com