Saunter into most public places or attractions and you'll have a sense as to where to start your visit.
Arrows will point you to a ticket window, or a posted sign will tell you where to stand.
But some places overwhelm, delightfully and deliciously, and finding your own personal begin point is part of the adventure.
Look to the Original Farmers Market at the corner of Third & Fairfax, which just might be the most "where do I start"-y spot in all of Los Angeles. Why? The historic public market is rife with many cuisine choices, from the beloved Bob's Coffee & Donuts to Loteria.
There's an annual event that addresses the "where do I start" question, though, and it does so with flair: It's Taste of Farmers Market, which provides ticket holders a little tidbit, or sizable snack, or good-sized bite at all of the stalls around the stroll-sweet destination.
The date is Tuesday, July 19, and if you're thinking that sort of coincides with the market's birthday, you'd be correct: Farmers Market is turning 82 this July.
As for the 2016 theme of the 5 to 9 p.m. soiree? That's "All Fired Up," and, you guessed it, local firehouses Station 68 and Station 61 are the evening's beneficiaries (via the First-In Fire Foundation). Firefighters will be on hand at the market, whipping up tasty Firehouse Chili and handing out samples.
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A ticket to all of this gourmand goodness? It's $35 in advance, $40 there, and there's a brand-new kid's ticket, too, for ten bucks (which includes ten tastes).
You'll receive a bevy of tidbits, from seafood to sweets to beer and wine, for the price of your ticket, for sure. Get ready for Harris Ranch Prime Rib Sandwiches at Huntington Meats, Ham and Cheese Borekas at The Village, and lots more.
And another gift of the night, albeit one that's not on your plate or in your glass? Hanging out at LA's central gather spot, a no-hurry-no-worry favorite that's kept Angelenos in doughnuts and chilaquiles and pizza for over eight decades. That community-cool quality can't be handed out, in sample form, but it can surely be sensed at this special place.
A place that can challenge a newcomer who doesn't know where to start. Taste of Farmers Market, though, helps answer that question, yummily, at least for a night.
