The evening started early, while the sun was up and very bright, but by the time sunset hits the colors change and you guaranteed to have the time of your life at the Concern Block party, I know I did.
Concern Foundation for cancer research hosted it’s 45th Annual block Party on the back a lot Paramount Studio in Hollywood on Saturday July 13th 2019 featuring multiple stages of live entertainment, casino style games, live and silent auctions, and food, desserts and beverages from over 70 of Los Angele’s best restaurant and caterers. This year, in honor of their lifetime of contribution and effort in support of the concern foundation, Judy Carroll, Lexy & John Carroll& the Carroll Family with the lifetime Giving Award. The event was led by the concern office staff and a team of volunteers and designed once again by john Fredenzi of town and Country Event Rentals.
For the 15th Year in row, concern helped celebrate the Best of LA 2019 in Los Angeles Magazine, and featured lounges, photo booths, food stations, DJ dancing, and much more. The magazine also donates $25,000 each year to Concern to help further the mission.
Here are the vendors involved:
Food & Drinks: Tasty bites: 1212 Santa Monica, Atmosphere Mar Vista, Bar Hayama, Bertha Mae’s Brownie co., Beyond Meat, Bistro Jolie, Button Mash, Buzz Bar, Café Del Ray, California Sushi Academy, Casablanca Restaurant & Catering, Castle’s Creole + Southern Catering, DeLuscious Cookies & Milk, Dylan’s Soul Food on Crenshaw, El Floridita Cuban Supper Club, Factor’s Famous Deli, Farm Fresh to You, Fatamorgana Gelato, Fogo de Chao, Fresh Brother’s, Gluten Free Goddess, Gyu-Kaku, Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill & Jazz, Jayde’s Market, Just Jans, KIND Snacks, La Boheme, Maria’s Italian Kitchen, Marmalade Café & Catering Santa Monica, Mychals, Oak Smoke, BBQ, Ocean Prime Beverly Hills, Pink’s Famous Hot Dog, Porta Via, Samba Brazilian Steakhouse, SITK (someone’s in the kitchen), SLAB, STK Los Angeles, Stonefire Grill, Tavern LA, The Fry Grill, The Grill on the Alley, The Pie Hole, The Urban Oven, Torelli Trattoria, and Wurstkuche.
Cocktails & Refreshment: Asahi Beer U.S.A, Beauty and the Bar, Bulletproof, Buzzbox, Coke Products, Don Francisco’s Coffee, Don Q, Dulce Vida Tequila, Health-Ade Kombucha, Macallan Nude Tequila, Pasquini Espresso Co., Reed’s Ginger Brews, Suja Life, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Trader Joe’s, UPTIME, Weaver’s Coffee and tea.
The Garagiste Wine Festival Micro Winery Testing: Ascension Cellars, Cloak And Dagger, Dewitt Vineyard, Dusty Nabor Wines, Hoi Polloi Winery, Marin’s Vineyard, Montague Russe, Powicana Farms, and RF Wines.
I had a few favorites restaurants that I really enjoyed! Gyu-kaku did a Japanese BBQ beef that was out of this world. Bistro Jolie did a very nice vegetable tart with a fresh basil leaf on top, 1212 did an amazing fried oyster deviled egg, so rich and creamy one of my favorites. La Boheme served a delicious shrimp and scallop Ceviche that was very refreshing. Oaksmoke BBQ had a great smoky brisket, delicious. And of course Pinks had turkey dogs, vegan dogs and jumbo beef dogs, all with choice of their famous chili. Factors had their delicious beef pastrami. Fogo de Chao served their amazing beef, which was succulent and tender. The sushi at Bar Hayama was well worth the long wait; their crab roll was so delicious with real crab. You have to get here early because by 8:30 PM most of the food stalls are packing up their gear for another day.
The backlot streets was filled with over 75 food and beverage vendors under the direction of Nancy Eisenstadt, with plenty of musical and interactive entertainment featuring the Tom Nolan Band and D’ City Sound & Events. Throughout the venue guest enjoyed a photo studio, lounges and SPA services provided by the Beauty Bus Foundation.
One of the highlights of the evening was The Silent Auction and live auction under the direction of this year’s auction chairs Lynne Fox, Bettina Tendler O’Mara, Wendi Nogradi, and Courtney Teller. Live and silent auction items and packages include one-of-a-kind opportunities, concert and event tickets, restaurants, staycations, golf packages and so many other wonderful items donated friends throughout the community.
Starting from a simple idea back in the early 70’s and watching it become a reality with thousands of moving parts is the one thing that sets Concern’s signature Block Party apart from most other organizations in this city. It takes a tremendous team comprised of three generations of volunteers all working together each year and this year’s Block Party is one most successful fundraising event yet.
Paramount Studios
Hollywood 5555 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90038
https://www.concernfoundation.org/block-party.html
https://www.concernfoundation.org/
#ConcernBlockParty
#ConcernNow
* Note some content was taken from their website.