Posted by Every week in Los Angeles there are tons of great things to do (even before the weekend gets started) that we think you ought to have on your radar. With that in mind, we put together a list every Monday morning to keep you in the know about what’s happening in the city you love (or maybe just like).
This week, from Monday, May 30 to Friday, June 3, features free Memorial Day entry at LACMA, a Wavey Pool Party, Election Fever at The Hammer, Friday night wine tastings at Barnsdall, DTLA Dark Nights, Paul Simon at The Hollywood Bowl, First Fridays, and lots more.
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Hope you find the rundown useful and, as always, enjoy your week!
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Monday May 30th,2016
1. LACMA Free On Memorial Day
Need something to do on Monday that won’t hit your wallet too hard? Entry to LACMA is free this Memorial Day, thanks to the folks at Target.
2. Fiesta Hermosa
Claimed as the “Largest Arts & Crafts Fair in Southern California,” expect over 300 artists, sculptors, photographers and hand crafters to participate at Fiesta Hermosa a three-day affair taking place May 28-30. The festival is free with plenty of fun for all ages from a charity beer and wine garden to a special kiddie carnival area.
3. Santa Anita Carnival
Santa Anita Park Infield will be transformed into a free three day carnival with all the classic carnival attractions and indulgences.
4. Topanga Days
Topanga Days County Fair will take over Memorial Day weekend with live music, food, arts, and a parade at the Topanga Community Club.
5. Geeky Craft Faire Comes to Whimsic Alley
The Geeky Craft Faire will offer a variety of vendors selling handmade goods in the Whimsic Alley Great Hall. Fans of Game of Thrones, Star Wars, Sherlock Holmes, and Harry Potter should stop by this one, entry is free, the faire takes place May 28-30.
6. Jazz Reggae Festival Happening at UCLA
Celebrating three decades of the Jazz Reggae Festival along with the sweet sounds of Barrington Levy, Jesse Royal, Nightswimmers, and more. Spend a day enjoying ethnic food options, shopping for handcrafted cultural items and even art.
7. Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade
To pay respect to those who lost their lives for American freedom, the 27th Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade features marching bands, larger than life floats and even military aircrafts up in the sky. Festivities start at 11 a.m.
8. Viviane Poolside Memorial Day Luau
This all-day, AYCE luau at Chef Michael Hung’s poolside restaurant will coincide with The Avalon’s Summer Sundays Pool Party. Guest will feast on Hawaiian BBQ dishes and refresh with tiki cocktails all day long. The special Memorial Day event will also allow restaurant guests access to the pool something usually reserved for hotel guests.
9. Playa Provisions Celebrates Two-Year Anniversary with a Memorial Day Bash
From noon – 5 p.m. at the parking lot directly in front of Playa Provisions, guests can enjoy a beer garden featuring a variety of Stone Brewing’s craft beers on-tap, plus cocktails, grilled burgers, and hot dogs. A DJ will be spinning and local band Royal Rats will perform. Kid friendly entertainment includes face painting and an inflatable obstacle course. Tickets can be purchased at the door, pricing is TBD at the moment.
10. Wavey Pool Party
Celebrate Memorial Day with a pool party at Skybar at the Mondrian. Kicking off the Wavey sessions is live music and DJ performances by Todd Edwards, Juan MacLean, With You and more. RSVP here.
11. AYCE Backyard BBQ at Terrine
All-you-can-eat Backyard BBQ returns to Terrine’s gorgeous patio. Chef Kris Morningstar will be at the grill all day serving up smoked beef brisket, smoked pork ribs, fried chicken and more. The meal cost $45 per person.
12. Valley Greek Festival
Head to Northridge to the Valley Greek Festival (May 28-30) for a day of Greek food, Greek wine, dancing, shopping, cooking demos and more. Taking place at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church admission is $3, children under 10 are free and folks over 65 are free as well.
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13. Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City Free Admission for U.S. Military Personnel
Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City USA will both offer free admission to all U.S. active and retired military personnel this Memorial Day Weekend May 28- 30. Military personnel will also be given access to purchase discounted tickets for family members.
14. Gamex
This all-age annual convention (May 27-30) focuses on tabletop games and draw crowds of over 2,000 to learn, play, watch and buy a wide variety of board, card, miniature, role-playing, collectible and video games. There’s a enormous shopping hall, tournaments, Gaming 101 sessions, 700+ game library, live entertainment, a miniature painting area and even special activities for families.
15. The 58th Annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival
The Garden Grove Strawberry Festival returns to Village Green Park May 27-30 for a ‘berry’ fun time full of rides, parades, game booths, celebrities, music and, of course, plenty of strawberry themed treats.
16. Muscle Beach Memorial Day Weekend Spectacular
Watch some of the strongest people in Los Angeles compete at Muscle Beach over Memorial Weekend (May 29-30) this is an all ages free spectacle.
Tuesday May 31st, 2016
17. Food Truck Night at The California Heritage Museum
Food truck night at the museum host a big selection of gourmet food trucks every Tuesday night from 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at the California Heritage Museum on Main Street.
18. 42nd Street at The Pantages Theatre
42nd Street tells a story of an inexperienced chorus girl who finds herself stepping into huge success. The Tony award winning musical comedy from the 80’s is set during the Great Depression, with memorable numbers, such as “We’re in the Money,” “I Only Have Eyes For You,” and “Lullaby of Broadway.” Get more information and discount tickets for this weeks show via Goldstar.
19. LACMA Tuesday Matinee Film Series Screens Raintree County
Every week LACMA screens a classic film, the ongoing Tuesday Matinee film series cost $2 for members and $4 for non members.
20. Dinosaurs: Unextinct at the L.A. Zoo
The L.A. Zoo will play host to some prehistoric residents. Come get up close and personal with 17 life-size animatronic dinosaurs some reaching almost 22 feet high and weighing close to 7,000 pounds. Additions to the new exhibit are a Fossil Dig, controllable Stegosaurus, climbable Pachyrhinosaurus, and a free 3-D augmented reality app. Tickets cost $5 the exhibit will run till October 31st.
Wednesday June 1st, 2016
21. Paul Simon at the Hollywood Bowl
See the legendary Paul Simon perform at the Hollywood Bowl, you might hear songs from the 60’s like “Mrs. Robinson” or 70’s hits like “Me and Julio Down by the School Yard” to his latest 2016 album release Stranger to Stranger. Get more information and discount tickets via Goldstar.
22. Election Fever Screening of Idiocracy at the Hammer Museum
The UCLA Hammer Museum is holding a variety of free politically themed screenings and talks. This week they will screen Mike Judges Idiocracy at 7:30 p.m.
23. LA Film Festival
The LA Film Festival lineup includes over 50 features and shorts from nearly 30 different countries from June 1-9 all screened at ArcLight Cinemas.
24. Disney’s Alice Through the Looking Glass 3D, Plus Pre-Show at El Capitan Theatre
Join Alice, the Mad Hatter and the rest of the colorful characters in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland sequel Alice Through the Looking Glass. The film will be shown in 3D, come early for a pre-screening light show and to view the costumes and props from the movie. Get more information and discount tickets via Goldstar.
Thursday June 2nd, 2016
25. ‘After 5’ Music Series at Hauser Wirth & Schimmel
Arts District gallery Hauser Wirth & Schimmel will be offering a brand new ‘After 5’ weekly music series all summer long. Guests will be able to enjoy a mix of live bands and DJ sets, craft cocktails from The Spare Room, plus Russian hand-pies from the Airstream kitchen of Pirozhki LA. Guest will also be given access to the ARTBOOK bookstore and all current exhibitions.
26. Downtown Los Angeles Food Walking Tour
Sidewalk Food Tours of Los Angeles will lead you on a fun three-hour walking tour through Downtown Los Angeles. Your guide will share stories of the city’s early settlers, gossip about Hollywood’s heyday, architectural highlights, cultural changes of L.A. and the food scene. You’ll get plenty of chances to grab a bite from unique eateries, that include the best bakeries, ethnic restaurants and the most buzzed about establishments currently in spotlight, there are seven stops in all so come hungry. More information and discount tickets for Thursday and Friday’s tour via Goldstar.
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27. Street Style Cinema
The Grove together with Who What Wear are putting on a free movie screening under the stars every Thursday during the summer. Kicking off the series is Dirty Dancing! Enjoy DJs, themed cocktails and a photo booth. Snag free valet parking by donating a book to Baby2Baby.
28. The Unauthorized Musical Parody of The Big Lebowski
Watch the Coen Brothers’ classic comedy The Big Lebowski in musical form now through July 22 at The Rockwell Table & Stage. Get more information and discount tickets for Thursday and Friday via Goldstar.
29. Pop-up Yoga and Wine Party in DTLA
Join the Grip The Mat team for their dynamic wine and yoga party, Vinyasa to Vino. Flow to a custom DJ mix and live music at C.A.V.E. Gallery in Venice this Thursday, admission is $30 and mat rentals are $2.
30. Free Museums This Thursday
- The Japanese American National Museum offers free admission from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. every Thursday.
- Every Thursday evening from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. admission is free to both the MOCA on Grand and The Geffen Contemporary.
- The Skirball Cultural Center is free to all every Thursday.
31. The Virus: An Immersive Escape Room Experience
A deadly virus has swept the earth and a team of scientists (played by you and other folks!) are in an underground laboratory trying to find a cure. Sounds like your kind of mission?. Head down this Escape Room experience in Burbank with a couple of your smartest friends to see if you have what it takes! Get more information and discount tickets for this Thursday and Friday via Goldstar.
32. Lucha Vavoom Glam Slam
Ever heard of the lucha libre? You know, masked wrestlers going to town on each other, riling up the crowd as one gets whackier than the next in order to entertain the fans? Imagine that, plus the world’s best stripteases, comedy, mariachis, music, tamales, and 5 de mayo?! Sounds like the next installment of Lucha VaVOOM!
Friday June 3rd, 2016
33. Downtown Dark Nights
Downtown Dark Nights returns this Friday with a free soirée at L.A. LIVE that includes loads of live performances, street performers, graffiti artists, craft vendors, art installations and happy hour like specials at all participating restaurants.
34. Barnsdall Park’s Friday Night Wine Tasting
All summer long Barnsdall Art Park has a weekly wine tasting fundraiser to benefit the Barnsdall Art Park Foundation programs and projects. Perched on a hill with a gorgeous panoramic view of Hollywood, guests will enjoy fine wine and art in the gardens of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural gem, Hollyhock House. Silver Lake Wine will curate fine selections of boutique, small production, artisanal wines for park-goers as well as local gourmet cheese shop, Say Cheese.
35. All Space Considered
The Griffith Observatory hosts a monthly forum where some of the most amazing phenomena in the known universe are explained and discussed. It’s called All Space Considered and it takes place on the first Friday of every month. Oh, and it’s free!
36. Natural History Museum First First Fridays
Party at The Natural History Museum after-hours, go on guided tours, enjoy scientist led discussions, mingle at the DJ Lounge and rock out to your favorite bands at NHM’s First Fridays.
37. Free Shark Lagoon Nights At The Aquarium of the Pacific
Get up close with the ocean’s ultimate predators for FREE during Shark Lagoon Nights.
38. Lunchtime Yoga Retreat
Get your sun salutations on in the middle of Downtown in Grand Park! The free yoga class starts at 12:15 p.m. and runs to 1 p.m.
39. Los Angeles Dodgers Friday Night Fireworks
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Nothing beats catching a game beneath the stars especially with our beloved Dodgers . After the final out is called, the lights will go down and guests can actually go on to the field for a spectacular fireworks show. This weekend the Dodgers are up against the Saint Louis Cardinals, and our friends at Goldstar have discount tickets while supplies last.
40. Friday Night Jazz at LACMA
LACMA’s award winning Department of Music Program provides hundreds of free concerts and musical events every year for Angelenos to enjoy. This Friday their jazz series continues at the BP Grand Entrance.
41. Free Museums This Friday
The Long Beach Museum of Art is free every Friday.
The Norton Simon Museum is free from 5 p.m. – 8p.m. this Friday.
Pasadena Museum of California Art is free this Friday from noon to 5p.m.
42. FIGat7th Hosts a Free Screening of Ghostbusters
Catch a classic film down at FIGat7th this Friday at a special free outdoor screening of Ghostbusters. Bonus: There’s a Saturday screening of the 90’s hit Independence Day too! Both events will have free popcorn for all guests.
43. First Fridays at Venice Beach
On the first Friday of the month head down to Abbott Kinney Blvd. in Venice Beach for tons of food trucks, open galleries and late-night shop hours. Get more information via the official event blog.
44. Venice Pride Sign Lighting and Block Party
The Venice sign will light up in a rainbow of colors to celebrate Venice Gay Pride. In advance of the lighting, Venice Pride will host a block party featuring live music, dancing and more.
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