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Hello, friend, and welcome to the weekend.
Share the joy of the beginning of Pride Month. Check out the first night of the free summer concert series Grand Performances. Come celebrate sobriety at a comedy show.
Get connected with Mother Nature with our outdoor pick this week, the Living In A Wildlife Corridor exhibition at Descanso Gardens.
Dining and drinking options this weekend include free donuts from Danny Trejo and Drag Brunch at Gracias Madre.
And one more thing: We here at LAist are working on a new project and need your input! Plus, you can enter to win a pair of Dodger tickets if you fill out this short survey. Thanks!
Visit LAist for more happenings, including shows from the Hollywood Fringe Festival, a musical tribute to French great Edith Piaf, and more.
— Mike Roe |
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Courtesy of DESIGNECOLOGIST on Unsplash |
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Grand Park’s NYELA
Saturday, Dec. 31 – Sunday, Jan. 1; 8 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.
Grand Park
200 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A.
Attend the family-friendly dance party that encompasses six city blocks. The night features several L.A.-based DJs and musicians, including DJ Marques Wyatt and Cuban Funk band Cimafunk, performing on two stages. Watch the countdown to 2023 with Grand Park’s signature 3-D video projection and light show on City Hall. The Grand Park festivities are alcohol free. |
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| Courtesy of Grand Performances |
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Grand Performances: Son Rompe Pera
Saturday, June 3
California Plaza
350 South Grand Ave., downtown L.A.
This year’s annual free Grand Performances series kicks off Saturday with cumbia punk marimba rock group Son Rompe Pera. The outdoor events are a blast, offering a chance to enjoy excellent music in a scenic outdoor venue without you having to open your wallet. |
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Party On! A Sober Comedy Show
Sunday, June 4: 7 p.m.
The Crow
2525 Michigan Avenue, Santa Monica
This show presents sober comics as they explore sobriety through humor. The show has headliners who’ve appeared on HBO, Netflix, and late-night shows, sharing their experiences in a way that’s universal. This month’s headliner is Graham Elwood, joined by Mike Muratore, Kay Hanley, and Ally Weinhold, as well as show hosts Laura House and Kim Clevenger. |
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| Small Bear Shake © Johanna Turner, courtesy of Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy |
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Living In A Wildlife Corridor
Boddy House, Descanso Gardens
This exhibition features photography capturing native creatures up-close, along with life-size sculptures giving dimension to the animals seen in these images. You’ll also find a curated selection of original paintings, prints, and drawings exploring the diverse wildlife found at Descanso Gardens. The show is informed by knowledge from Tongva Culture Bearers, scientific and research expertise from conservationists, and insights into conservation in the greater L.A. area. You’ll also be able to learn ways you can help protect and preserve the natural world. It runs through Oct. 1. |
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Courtesy of Trejo's Donuts |
Here are a few dine and drink options to indulge in this week:
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Friday is National Donut Day. Among those encouraging you to get your Homer Simpson on is Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts, offering free donuts (1 per person) while supplies last. The four signature donuts on offer include Cookie Pop Oreo, Cookie Pop Nutter Butter, Candy Pop with Sour Patch Kids, and Cereal Pop Fruity Pebbles donuts. The event is Friday from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; actor Danny Trejo will be on hand between 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. They’ll also give away donuts with ticket purchases at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, with Trejo and his wax figure on the red carpet between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
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Gracias Madre in West Hollywood will host its Sip & Strut Sundays Drag Bunch every month, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., with live drag performances and Pride cocktail specials. The venue will open one hour earlier each week, featuring a variety of performers each week. Their featured cocktails include Raspado Shaved Ice, Diver Girl, and Tequila-A-GOGO, for $18 each. Reservations are required — you can make yours here.
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You can find grab-and-go charcuterie boxes at Fior Di Latte cheese shop at The Hangar at Long Beach Exchange. It’s located near the Long Beach Airport, so if you’re headed on a trip, you can pick up one (or more) of these curated boxes with snackable artisan cheeses. Check out the full menu here.
See more food items at LAist.com. |
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| Samanta Helou Hernandez/LAist |
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Some post-Soviet émigrés who once blanketed West Hollywood, Little Armenia, Glendale, and North Hollywood in the ‘90s have migrated farther north to the San Fernando Valley. A handful of Russian-speaking banquet halls are cherished, serving heaping helpings of home. |
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A new comedy show in Santa Monica looks to flip the alcohol-forward comedy venue dynamic. It features sober comics joking about sobriety in a sober-friendly space, the first Sunday of every month. |
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The Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival kicks off this week in Hollywood with Flamin' Hot, the directorial debut of Eva Longoria, and SNL alum and auteur Julio Torres’ Problemista. |
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