{"id":3504,"date":"2014-03-11T18:11:59","date_gmt":"2014-03-11T18:11:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lbpost.com\/articles\/life\/food\/expanded-taste-of-downtown-kicks-off-in-east-village-with-live-music-art-classes-new-beer-garden-bike-valet\/"},"modified":"2014-03-11T18:11:59","modified_gmt":"2014-03-11T18:11:59","slug":"expanded-taste-of-downtown-kicks-off-in-east-village-with-live-music-art-classes-new-beer-garden-bike-valet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/hi-lo\/food\/expanded-taste-of-downtown-kicks-off-in-east-village-with-live-music-art-classes-new-beer-garden-bike-valet","title":{"rendered":"Expanded Taste of Downtown Kicks Off In East Village With Live Music, Art Classes, New Beer Garden, Bike Valet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Photo by Brian Addison<\/em><\/p>\n

The Downtown Long Beach Associates’ 2014 “Taste of Downtown” series is giving residents even more of a reason to gather around local food, with an expanded vision for the occasional food fest that includes craft beer, live art and a collaboration with local retailers that encourages shopping alongside tasting. <\/p>\n

This year’s first event will take place over two evenings, on March 12 and 13, in the East Village Arts District. In addition to featuring live music along with sample portions of food from Downtown restaurants as the roving event has done since its inception in 2009<\/a>, the Taste of Downtown will now include an event-wide craft beer garden, live art classes by Brushstrokes and Beverages and a bike valet provided by the East Village Association.<\/p>\n

East Village stores 1897LB, Anneise and Make Collectives–which are on 1st Street, which will be closed down for the event–will also participate by offering free tasting tickets for each $10 spent at their shops.<\/p>\n

“The DLBA is always looking for ways to improve and expand our signature events,” said Kraig Kojian, President & CEO of the DLBA. “By adding a beer garden to the East Village event, we are able to feature the craft beers and boutique wines that make Downtown a culinary draw.”<\/p>\n

Participating Downtown restaurants include ASHA, Auld Dubliner, Beachwood BBQ & Brewing, Buono\u2019s Pizzeria, Cafe Sevilla, Gladstone\u2019s, Hooter\u2019s, James Republic, Kabob Curry, Michael\u2019s Pizzeria, The Breakfast Bar , The Greenhouse, The Reef Restaurant, The Sky Room, Utopia and Village Grind.<\/p>\n

Guests can purchase discounted presale tasting tickets online for $10 for 12 tickets, $20 for 24 tickets, or $30 for 36 tickets until March 12 or pay $1 per ticket at the door. To purchase tickets or learn more about the Taste of Downtown series and other DLBA events, please visit www.downtownlongbeach.org<\/a> or call (562) 436-4259.<\/em><\/p>\n

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