Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/8603
LIVEMAGS.NET APRIL>>10 21 THE APRIL TODO LIST A Taste of Spring: Taste of Huntington Beach April 25 th BY>>TYLER ANDREWS S pring is here, which means it's time for picnics in the park, outdoor concerts, groovy sun hats, time to let your feet see the light of day and your nose hover over a smoking barbecue, and the city of Huntington Beach is here to help. On April 25th, Orange County 's most exciting and delicious picnic, the Taste of Huntington Beach returns for its 10th consecutive year at the Huntington Beach Sports Complex (located at 18v100 Golden West Street at Talbert). Over 30 restaurants--offering everything from fine dining to casual family themed cuisine to gourmet pastry and dessert selections as well as a variety of wine and beer-- bring their kitchens and their top chefs to the HB Sports Complex to prepare small versions of their most popular dishes. For a single all- inclusive ticket, every entrant gets endless food samples and the opportunity to pair their delectable choices with a variety of different wine and beer selections (also included in the price of admission). Once you've made the rounds of restaurants and beverage vendors, sampling to your heart's and stomach's delight, amble over to the entertainment venue for live music by the Sportin' Woodies. Who are the Sportin Woodies you ask? The Woodies' core three, Willie Utley, Jack Lillycrop, and Gerry Springthorpe have been on the So Cal music scene for more than ten years in such bands as Big Neal and the Blue Rhythm Band, Push-Button Trany, and Who's Yer Daddy. Now, along with two new additions— Eddie Mariscal and Joe Helin—they make up the reinvented Sportin' Woodies. The group brings a deep bag of tricks to the stage and is ready to drop on the crowd at the Taste of Huntington almost 50 years of collected works of jump swing, blues, classic r&b, surf guitar, and rock and roll. If you love rock and roll, the Woodies have got a little something for you. Every person who purchases a ticket to the Taste of Huntington also is automatically entered into a drawing held that afternoon for a free trip to Hawaii along with accommodations, courtesy of Duke's. How's that for a door prize! A limited amount of V.I.P ticket upgrades are available which offer the buyer a second raffle ticket for the Hawaii drawing. Along with the added value for the drawing, each V.I.P will gain early entry to the V.I.P reception area for a cheese and champagne toast and a grab bag upon exiting the Taste. Finally, every V.I.P will have first choice of the restaurants. This means no lines, time to savor your favorite dishes before beating traffic to the next tent, and a valuable chance to get settled before the rest of the Tasters arrive. The Taste of Huntington, along with promoting local restaurants and businesses, also benefits the Huntington Beach Children's Library supporting programs that support literacy, writing workshops for young writers, reading groups, and study programs. If you are interested in purchasing tickets to the 10th Annual Taste of Huntington, they are available online for $55 at www.tastehb.com until April 5th. The price increases to $65 on the 5th and up until the day of the event. Tickets can also be purchased at Duke's Surf City , The Lazy Dog Café, The Longboard Restaurant and Pub, and The Market Broiler. For people who've received Taste gift certificates, those can be redeemed for tickets to the Taste at the Huntington Beach Central Library. V.I.P packages are only available for online purchase and the amount will be capped at 200, so act fast if you want early entry and a second chance to win the Hawaii trip. The Taste runs from 11-4 on Saturday, April 25th, so mark it down and come join other HB locals as they party at Orange County 's most delectable picnic in the park.