Great Taste Magazine

The Downtown Long Beach Associates (DLBA) will produce more than 10 free, high-profile public events in 2010 in an effort to drive consumer traffic into Downtown Long Beach, it was announced today by President and Chief Executive Officer, Kraig Kojian.

The DLBA’s 2010 event calendar includes the return of many popular events, including the Taste of Downtown, the 2nd Annual Long Beach Bike Festival, the widely-acclaimed Summer And Music series and the 2nd Annual Latin American Parade & Festival.

“Our goal is to build on the success of events that have proven to have a positive impact in the past,” said Kojian. “By creating a variety of opportunities for visitors and residents to experience many facets of the Downtown, we’re able to showcase our urban center in unique ways while helping to generate additional revenue for the business community.”

The slated events are expected to draw more than 75,000 attendees and generate a direct economic impact of up to $1.5 million for Downtown Long Beach throughout the year. The introduction of the DLBA’s Annual Calendar affords businesses greater opportunity for planning to customize their marketing and promotional initiatives in order to take advantage of anticipated crowds.

In addition to producing these scheduled events, the DLBA’s Marketing and Special Events Task Force will review requests and provide in-kind sponsorship support to groups planning select events in the business district, thereby leveraging the DLBA’s resources to further enhance the image of Downtown Long Beach.

“The DLBA has a long history of supporting community-oriented groups in their efforts to bring events into Downtown Long Beach,” said Richard Lewis, DLBA Executive Committee member and Chair of the Marketing & Special Events Task Force. “We look forward to continuing the collaborative work that has helped to cultivate so many wonderful events over the years.”

The Grand Romance
200 Aquarium Way, Dock #4
Long Beach, CA 90803

www.dinnerdetective.com

Benefiting the Aquarium of the Pacific, festivities include an open bar, silent and live auctions, culinary treats from more than 20 restaurants, samples of brews and wines, and live music and dancing with the fish! $100 per person. 6:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. www.aquariumofpacific.org (562) 437-FISH

 Big Red Bus, Morry’s of Naples and Tracht’s presents Saturday Sippers, with additional wine tastings on the bus. This month’s theme is wines from Sonoma County. Saturday Sippers wine tasting tours every second Saturday of the month.  Guests will board the double-decker Big Red Bus where they’ll breeze through Long Beach between stops at Morry’s of Naples and Tracht’s. This month, guests will enjoy additional wine pours on the bus as they take a relaxing and scenic drive along the harbor and waterfront. Enjoy tastings of hand-selected wines and appetizers at each venue on the open-air tour. Future dates: June 13, July 11, Aug. 8, Sept. 12 & Oct. 10.  Guests will start their tour at Morry’s where they will enjoy a wine and appetizer tasting before boarding the Big Red Bus to continue the tour to Tracht’s plus wine tastings on the bus ride.$42 per person.
Purchase tickets online at:www.ticketderby.com/saturdaysipper

Tracht’s will host a Chef’s Collaborative four-course dinner where local farmers, vintners, Chef Michael Poompan and Beverage Director Ryan Romero will teach guests about the sustainable food movement. Chef Michael is very passionate about this movement himself, and wanted to show guests the benefits of supporting sustainability in the culinary industry. $75 per person.
For reservations, please call: 562.499.2533
or visit: www.trachts.com.

The Renaissance is the host hotel to Toyota, so there will be lots of celebrity and pro racecar drivers on property the entire weekend.  In the culinary celebration of the Toyota Grand Prix weekend, Tracht’s will feature its first, never-before-seen outdoor seafood bar on the restaurant’s acclaimed patio and lounge, complete with a fire pit and sunny views of all the Grand Prix action along Ocean Boulevard. Choose between a spread of seafood favorites, including Alaskan king crab, Dungeness crab, giant prawns, wild shrimp ceviche and lobster tail, starting at $2.50 a serving and also available in platters for large parties.

For reservations, please call :562.499.2533
or visit: www.trachts.com

 Enjoy Saturday Sippers wine tasting tours with transportation provided along the waterfront. Every second Saturday of the month, guests will board the double-decker Big Red Bus where they’ll breeze through Long Beach between stops at Morry’s of Naples, Tracht’s and a special guest venue. Four samples of hand-selected wines and appetizers at each venue make Saturday Sippers the perfect way to taste Napa Valley in your own backyard.Guests can choose to start the wine tour at either Morry’s or Tracht’s where they will enjoy 4 samples of wines and appetizers, then board the Big Red Bus to continue the tour at two other destinations. Saturday Sippers will begin every second Saturday of the month, starting March 14.  Future dates: April 11, May 9, June 13, July 11, Aug. 8, Sept. 12 & Oct. 10. $52 per person.

www.ticketderby.com/saturdaysippers

Tracht’s, Morry’s and Big Red Bus
111 East Ocean Blvd. Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone for info: 562.499.2533

Winemaker Luca Currado Vietti appearing at Michael’s on Naples to conduct a wine tasting. Dinner prepared by Chef Matthew Poley highlighting unique flavors of the Italian region Piedmont. $85 per person.

562.439.7080

www.michaelsonnaples.com