18TH STREET
Crushing on wine, art, food
18th Street Arts Center has announced tickets are on sale for its artisinal wine, art, and food sampling event, CRUSH, which will be held on Sunday, May 19.
If your focus is art, there will be a preview of Alexandra Grant's collaborative exhibition Forêt Intérieure/Interior Forest. The exhibition focuses on the French poet and philosopher Helene Cixous' book "Philippinesas."
Grant emphasizes the repeating theme of the forest as a source of beautiful imagery and a profound shared space.
This year, the arts center will be partnering with Edible Westside Magazine to facilitate the artisanal food and drink of the festival.
Over 10 restaurants, chefs, and catering companies will offer a wealth of dishes to choose from utilizing locally grown produce.
Santa Monica restaurant Fork in the Road, set to open in May, will offer organic Mediterranean dishes with vintage wines and cocktails.
For the Santa Monicans just interested in drink, there will be over 50 unique wines to choose from, including Turiya Wines and ONEHOPE wine.
To top off the artful festivities, live music will be played by local bands. General admission is $45 and VIP is $55.
Both VIP and general admission allow unlimited food and wine sampling, with VIP offering special presentations and tastings.
VIPs will also be allowed into the event an hour earlier for surprise perks.
All proceeds go toward the 24-year-old nonprofit organization, 18th Street Arts Center. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://18thstreetcrush.eventbrite.com.
Those who want to leave their cars at home can download the smartphone app SideCar, a company that instantly matches people who need a ride with regular, everyday drivers who are willing to give them one. SideCar will be providing a $25 credit to all CRUSH attendees anywhere in Los Angeles, organizers said.
— Henry Crumblish
