To start your weekend on a relaxing note this week, try some reflection, meditation, peace, and letting go at the Peace Awareness Labyrinth and Gardens, 3500 West Adams Blvd. On Saturday, from 12 – 4 p.m., tap into your inner peace as you walk the labyrinth (with in-depth labyrinth instructions offered) and reflect in the meditation garden, letting the sounds of running water soothe you. Tickets are free (though donations are welcome). For more information, contact [email protected] or (323) 737-4055.
After chilling out, you might be hungry, and one great option would be the L.A. Taco Festival, running from 12-8 p.m. Saturday at downtown’s Grand Park. More than 30 taco vendors, of every variety imaginable, will be there for your gustatory pleasure, and the event – created and organized by the non-profit Jovenes, Inc. – supports homeless youth in Los Angeles.
On Saturday evening, after your tacos (or get some to go), head over to Griffith Park for the Independent Shakespeare Company of LA’s production of “The Two Gentlemen of Verona,” part of the annual Griffith Park Shakespeare Festival, at 7 p.m. Admission is free, and this performance will also feature an American Sign Language interpreter. Reserved spots are available at this link. Contact [email protected] or (818) 710-6306 for more information.
If you’re in more of a movie mood on Saturday evening, check out the American Cinematheque’s tribute to the King of Horror, Stephen King, with a triple feature of Cujo, Pet Semetary and Graveyard Shift at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood (6712 Hollywood Blvd.), starting at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. There will also be a discussion following Cujo with director Lewis Teague, actress Dee Wallace and composer Charles Bernstein…and a discussion following Pet Sematary with actors Denise Crosby, Brad Greenquist and Miko Hughes. Tickets are $15 general admission, and $13 for Cinematheque Members (no vouchers). See the link above for more information.
For a less scary movie option, the Cinematheque is also hosting “Paul Dooley Presents Buster Keaton,” in a separate space at the Egyptian Theater at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. Dooley, star of stage, screen and TV, will reminisce about the early days of his career and his association with Keaton, followed by screenings of the 1920 and 1921 Keaton shorts “One Week,” “The Goat” and “The Playhouse,” with live musical accompaniment by Cliff Retallick.
On Sunday morning, early risers can beat the predicted heat with this month’s Petersen Museum Breakfast Club Cruise-In event – a Lowrider Car Show in honor of the opening of the exhibit “The High Art of Riding Low: Ranflas, Corazón e Inspiración.” Starting at 8 a.m. on the third level of the Petersen parking structure, visitors can stroll through rows of classic, custom, exotic cars, trucks motorcycles and more. Complimentary parking, coffee and bagels will be provided to all who attend…and museum members will have early access to the museum from 9-10 a.m.
A bit later, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Sunday, women can try a free women’s self defense workshop at Knowles Karate Academy. Participants will learn and practice two standing, one ground, and two strike techniques in this safe, positive, supportive environment. It’s a preview of an upcoming six-week self-defense class, so friends are welcome, too.
If you’re in a more artistic mood, or looking for something the whole family can enjoy, try this week’s Andell Family Sundays workshop – Flower Tour – at LACMA’s central courtyard. Drop in any time between 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. to learn about the importance of flowers in art and how artists from all over the world have been inspired by the beauty of flowers. You can travel through the museum’s galleries looking for flowers, from Italy and Holland to Mexico, Korea, and Japan, and then work with artists Hadley Holliday, Gustavo Garcia Vaca, and Sofia Gutierrez to experiment with mixed media, make a sun print, and more. Be sure to also pick up a special flower guide written by Holliday, who spent a year drawing all the flowers of LACMA. The event is free with general admission; children must be accompanied by an adult.
Finally on Sunday, for architecture fans, you could check out this month’s Los Angeles Visionaries’ Association (LAVA) Sunday Salon, “The Cranky Preservationist in Search of Lost Art Deco Landmarks,” from 2-5 p.m. in the basement of downtown’s Grand Central Market (317 S. Broadway). Nathan Marsak, a.k.a The Cranky Preservationist, will talk specifically about the Richfield Building, “the most amazing Art Deco building the world has ever known. Erected in 1928 at the prominent Bunker Hill intersection of Fifth and Flower Streets by the Los Angeles-based Richfield Oil Company, the Stiles O. Clements-designed tower was distinguished by Gladding McBean’s black and gold terra cotta decoration including sublime angel figures, and an outlandish erupting neon oil gusher roof sign.” Following the presentation, participants will walk to the site where the Richfield Building used to stand (now the ARCO Plaza/City National Plaza), visit the public art installation created from the Richfield’s Art Deco elevator doors, and discuss the importance of preserving this exemplar of Meisian Corporate International style. (The current owners are contemplating a significant “re-imagining” of the towers…which has the Cranky Preservationist “hopping mad.”) Please note that space is limited and each attendee must be registered with his or her own name and unique email address. There are absolutely no “plus ones” and any attempts at making multiple reservations using the same email address will result in cancellation.
Have a great weekend!
