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Alright friends, we’ve got a heck of a weekend in front of us, including a choice selection of awesome free events around the Southland along with plenty of sunshine to match. Let’s dig in.
From April 26-28 in Los Angeles, you’ll find a late-night grunion party in Venice, a Very Special Arts Festival Community Day at The Music Center, Projecting L.A.’s art activation in Chinatown, Metro Art Presents: KJazz Tracks at Union Station, KCRW’s Good Food PieFest, Active Streets in the 626, Street Food Cinema at The Autry, and and more. Get into the full rundown below.
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Things To Do This Weekend
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
ABUNDANCE – FA > Experience ABUNDANCE, a showcase of cutting-edge performance art and interdisciplinary works by artists challenging traditional norms and intersecting forms of oppression with their lived experiences as non-traditional or fat bodies. ABUNDANCE celebrates pride, generosity, and collective spirit, urging us to reclaim our bodies and disrupt the status quo. Held Wednesday through Friday at L.A. Dance Project, this event features performances and new works by a diverse group of artists. More info here.
Picture This! -> L.A.’s only live animated comedy show returns to The Virgil this Friday. During this show, see standup comics perform as talented animators, cartoonists and artists draw them live. Tickets are $10 pre-sale, or $15 at the door. Starts at More info here.
gRUNion Party – FA TP > During spring and summer, on select nights during the full and new moons, hundreds of shimmering grunion fish come ashore to spawn. Join the Venice Oceanarium this Friday for an interpretive party during grunion season, and anticipate the possibility of witnessing thousands of these silvery fish on the beach. Gather around 10:45, but please note that their appearance may be later, so the end time is uncertain. More info here.
Puppet Up! -> Producer and director Brian Henson with actor, director, and improv expert Patrick Bristow present Puppet Up! – an uncensored a night of outrageous puppet mayhem featuring 80 of the MISKREANT puppets brought to life by comedian puppeteers from The Jim Henson Company. The show continues for a second weekend at Hensen Studios in Hollywood this Friday to Sunday. The program includes puppet improv from audience suggestions, along with recreations of classic pieces that haven’t been seen by live audiences in decades. Tickets start at $75. More info here.
Wild Things Are Happening: The Art of Maurice Sendak at The Skirball -> The Skirball’s latest exhibit debut celebrates the artistic legacy of Maurice Sendak, a Jewish American artist renowned for his beloved children’s books including “Where the Wild Things Are”. Organized by The Columbus Museum of Art, the exhibition premiered in 2022, marking the first major retrospective of Sendak’s work since his passing in 2012. Comprising over 150 sketches, storyboards, and paintings sourced from The Maurice Sendak Foundation’s collection, “Wild Things Are Happening” offers a glimpse into Sendak’s creative process and is the largest and most comprehensive showcase of his art to date. More info here.
Very Special Arts Festival Community Day – M FA > The Music Center’s Very Special Arts Festival is an annual free, inclusive event celebrating the artistic achievements of students with all abilities. Happening on Saturday, the festival features student and professional performances, visual and performing arts workshops and a student art exhibit created around a theme that is introduced to the students each year. Runs 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. More info here.
Jackalope Pasadena – M FA > Jackalope brings its artisan market back to Central Park in Old Pasadena on Saturday and Sunday to showcase over 200 local vendors selling indie goods, clothing, jewelry, home decor, housewares, art, photography, and food. Outdoors. All-ages. Free to attend. Get more info here.
Projecting L.A. – M FA > Experience a free outdoor art this Saturday featuring works from 32 photographers projected onto an 80-foot-wide, three-story-high wall (all soundtracked by music). Enjoy two screenings on the side of a building in Chinatown as well as food trucks and popcorn. The event will take place at 713 N. Hill St. and is free to attend. Starts at 6 p.m. with screenings at 7:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. More info here.
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The 14th Eclectic Music Festival & Art Crawl – M FA TP > South Pasadena’s annual music festival returns on Saturday with dozens of diverse musical acts on stages and intimate venues all across town. An array of other activities are also on the dock including open galleries, beer and wine gardens, family friendly things to do, food trucks, an Artisans’ Alley marketplace and a South Pas Vintage Village. More info here.
Metro Art Presents: KJazz Tracks at Union Station – M FA TP > On Saturday, Metro Art brings puts together evening of energetic performances to the Old Ticketing Hall at Union Station, with the lineup including Grammy-nominated musician Kassa Overall, multi-instrumentalist, composer and educator Isaiah Collier, and vocalist and performer Darynn Dean also on the bill. KJazz DJ Rhonda Hamilton hosts. Runs 7:30 to 11 p.m. Free to attend, seating first-come, first-served. PLUS: The first 40 visitors to present their TAP cards to the Metro Art info table will receive a free Metro Art book, Los Angeles Through the Eyes of Artists. More info here.
Street Food Cinema -> The 2024 lineup of Street Food Cinema kicks off this Saturday with a screening of Barbie at The Autry. SFC screenings continue weekly through the rest of the summer at various venues including L.A. State Historic Park, L.A. Arboretum and more. Advance GA tickets start at $22. More info here.
Way Out West 6 Year Anniversary Party! – FA > Hawthorne’s Common Space Brewery celebrates their 6-year anniversary on Saturday with a lineup of craft beesr, BBQ, live bands, DJ’s, line-dancing, and live chainstitching. The party goes from noon to midnight, and it’s free to attend. More info here.
West Coast Craft -> This Saturday, West Coast Craft Market wrangles over 175 of the best artist and designer craftspeople for a single-day, outdoor market at ROW DTLA. Runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free and open to the public. More info here.
Astro Yoga at tommie Hollywood -> This Saturday, tommie Hollywood partners with ASTRO GONG YOGA to host a private rooftop 60-minute Vinyasa flow session. Led by a certified ASTRO GONG yoga instructor, the emphasis will be on an astrology-informed approach. The session starts at 10:30 am. After the class, goodies from Cymbiotika will be provided. Attendees will also get a complimentary agua fresca when dining at KA’TEEN after the session. Brunch reservations are available via RESY from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. More info here.
Pizza City Fest – M > Twenty pizza vendors are expected to fire up their signature pies this Saturday and Sunday for this food festival happening at L.A. LIVE. It’s not just pizza, a number of salad vendors, dessert participants, collaborations as well as panels and demos from respected pizza masters will be part of the festival. Tickets start at $125. More info here.
Grand Park Easy Mornings – M FA > Grand Park’s Easy Mornings programming returns this Saturday featuring relaxing, family-friendly activities focused on deepening relationships with self, community, and the park. Runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
A Morning at The Theater: Bob Baker Marionettes at Sierra Madre Playhouse -> Experience the timeless magic of puppetry when the Bob Baker Marionettes come to the Sierra Madre Playhouse every Saturday from April 13 to May 11, 2024. See beloved Bob Baker puppets take the stage for captivating performances and enchanting storytelling suitable for audiences of all ages. Tickets cost $10 a person. More info here.
Renaissance Pleasure Faire -> Ren-Faire enthusiasts can expect over 200+ artisans, merchants, and vendors, plus costume contests, games, rides, a food court and more, all taking place at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area on Saturdays and Sundays through May 19. Adult single-day admission starts at $42. More info here.
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Skirball Puppet Festival: A World of Dreams -> Spend Sunday with friendly monsters and eclectic creatures at this massive festival featuring puppets, live music, and creative activities. Tickets cost $20 per adult and $13 per child. More info here.
Active Streets – M FA > Formerly 626 Golden Streets, SGV’s main open streets initiative returns Sunday with a route from Mission street in South Pasadena to Mission Drive in San Gabriel, allowing bicyclists and pedestrians to navigate the roads car-free. There will be hubs featuring live entertainment, food and special activities along the way. Free to attend. Runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. More info here.
Fiesta Broadway – M FA > On Sunday four blocks of Broadway (between 1st and 5th) come alive for a Cinco de Mayo celebration featuring multiple concert stages, vendor booths, games, sports activities and a play area for kids. Runs 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. More info here.
Chess Sundays – FA > Downtown Santa Monica, in partnership with Santa Monica Bay Chess Club, invites chess players of all ages and levels to a weekly casual play on the 1200 Block of Third Street Promenade. Chess Sundays takes place every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Some chess sets (including a few giant ones) will be provided, but you’re welcome to bring your own. Free to participate, no sign-ups or advance registration required. More info here.
P.S. Arts -> P.S. ARTS’ largest fundraiser event returns this Sunday with over 25 interactive booths featuring engaging and kid-friendly art projects, as well as performances, community artworks and food. Tickets cost $275 and go to P.S. ARTS’ initiatives to provide every child in America with access to quality arts education. More info here.
Earth Focus Presents: River Perspectives – FA > On Sunday, PBS SoCal pops up at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) for an evening celebration marking a new season of the locally-produced environmental series Earth Focus. Expect episode screenings, a poetry workshop by LA River Arts, and other interactive activities. The program runs from 4 to 7 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Good Food PieFest – TP > [UPDATE: KCRW has cancelled PieFest due to campus protests at UCLA] KCRW’s Good Food PieFest & Contest comes to Royce Quad on the campus of UCLA this Sunday with hundreds of pies, baking demos, a marketplace, beer garden, kids activities, access to the Fowler Museum galleries, and more. This year is a little different, instead of free tastings you’ll need to purchase a tasting ticket. Proceeds will support KCRW and ticket holders will get a year of KCRW membership after the event. More info here.
Cinco de Mayo Family Day at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes – M FA > This Sunday, explore California’s connection to the Battle of Puebla through theatrical performances, music, hands-on workshops, and more. Free to attend. More info here.
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Raw Wine Los Angeles -> Raw Wine L.A. takes over City Market Social House in the Fashion District of downtown L.A this Sunday and Monday. Guests can explore organic and biodynamic wine, sit in on talks and tutored tastings. Tickets start at $70. More info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Amour Sunday Supper Tasting Menu -> Every Sunday, West Hollywood’s Amour offers a three-course tasting menu for $55, with an optional $40 wine pairing. Compared to the original $150 five-course tasting menu, this Sunday Supper option provides an affordable way to experience the French brasserie. The menu includes choices like Prawn Carpaccio or Snap Pea Soup to start, Summer Truffle Pasta or Beef Bourguignon for the main course, and a choice between Millefeuille or Cheesecake for dessert.
Ladyhawk Now Serving Brunch -> Chef Charbel Hayek’s Middle Eastern restaurant now serves weekend brunch. The menu features classic brunch dishes with a twist. Highlights include Lebanese Fried Chicken & Waffles with pomegranate maple syrup, a Wedge F’atoush Salad, and the Ladyhawk Brunch Platter, which includes Akawi cheese, string cheese, labneh, black olives, tomatoes, cucumber, makdous, honeycomb, and two eggs prepared any style. Brunch is available at Ladyhawk from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Festivus, A Hanukkah BBQ Pop-Up -> To mark Passover, Chef Jen Sills( Gjusta, Jon + Vinny’s, the quiet dumpling) and Natasha Feldman, author of The Dinner Party Project, are hosting another Festivus pop-up this weekend, on April 27-28, at Gingergrass in Silverlake. They’ll be serving their signature Crispy Latke Sandwiches with smoked brisket or pulled oyster mushrooms, starting at 5:30 p.m. until they sell out. More info here.
Sunday Supper at Naughty Pie -> Naughty Pie Nature, a 90s-inspired Neapolitan pizza place in Echo Park, serves up a $40 Sunday Supper for two. The meal includes a Caesar Salad, your pick of any pizza from their menu or their famous Vodka Rigatoni, and banana pudding for dessert.
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