Paul McCarthy is bringing his landmark Chocolate Factory to Los Angeles for the first time, transforming the Performance Art Museum’s Chinatown warehouse into a fully functioning chocolate factory through the holidays, from Friday, Nov.  20 through Saturday, Dec.  26.

McCarthy, an early supporter and board member of PAM, will unveil his evolving work to LA as a benefit for the museum ahead of its January 2027 opening. 

First realized in New York in 2007 and later at the Monnaie de Paris, Chocolate Factory explores production, consumption, labor, and value. As part of the installation, costumed workers will produce hundreds of chocolate sculptures daily, accumulating throughout the space as the factory itself becomes the performance.

The 14th annual L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade Stand took in more than $1.5 million last weekend at the UCLA Royce Quad, which contributed to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

More than 2,000 people, including more than 100 chefs, mixologists and vintners, were on site to raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer research.

Celebrities Jimmy Kimmel and Molly McNearney, Camilla Belle, Andrew Bird,  AJ Cook, Pete Cappela, Ashley Sutton,  Zach Gilford, Catherine Haena Kim, Joe Mantegna, and Kirsten Vangsness were in attendance to lend their support for pediatric cancer research. 

chocolate factory

A very chefy LA Loves Alex’s Lemonade Stand 14th Annual Food and Wine Event at UCLA (Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

The always high-energy  live auction raised more than $551,000, including:

  • Movie Night at Phil Rosenthal’s House & Jimmy Kimmel Live! for twelve with a dinner prepared by Chef Mason Royal of Max & Helen’s, joined by Chris Bianco and Adam Perry Lang, followed by a movie screening, plus VIP access for all to a taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live! 
  • A five-night culinary getaway at COMO Parrot Cay in Turks and Caicos for four guests in a luxurious two-bedroom beach house plus a private dinner prepared by James Beard Award-winning culinary legends  Chef Michael Schwartz and Chef Suzanne Goin, which sold to a winning bidder for $30,000.
  • The highly popular  Women Chefs Dinner featuring  Giada de Laurentiis, Daisy Ryan, Suzanne Goin, Valerie Gordon, Nancy Silverton, Sherry Yard and Dana Younkin, along with wines by women winemakers curated by Caroline Styne, sold two dinners for $150,000.
  • The  Men Chefs dinner featuring  William Bradley, Michael Cimarusti, Josiah Citrin, Marcus Jenmark and John Yao raised $70,000 for two dinners.
  • An exclusive one-week Umbrian experience for twelve with Chef Nancy Silverton for an intimate al-fresco dinner at her picturesque home in Panicale, Italy, inclusive of a truffle-hunting excursion, a visit to the legendary Dario Cecchini in Tuscany, plus other adventures. Two lucky bidders won this incredible lot, bringing in a total of $150,000.

Holiday Gift Idea: The Messermeister knife brand is hosting its 2nd Annual Ojai Makers Market at Gather, its Ojai kitchen and showroom, on  Friday, Nov. 6 from 3 p.m. to  8 p.m.

Messermeister will transform its 2,000-square-foot showroom and parking lot into a festive indoor/outdoor shoppable experience, featuring 15 local makers including artisan breads from Dinkelbrot Carpinteria, botanical-based formulas by Ojai Essentials, wooden spoons from Four Leaf Wood Shop, local olive oil by Maslina Ranch and more.

Messermeister will be selling its selection of home and professional cutlery, from bread knives to cleavers to utility knives, and offering custom laser engraving. Marketgoers can also enjoy live music and refreshments. There’s no cost to attend.

What’s Popping Up is a column in the L.A. Weekly that explores everything new in food and drink