For those who don’t mind traveling a bit, this weekend features one of the local architecture and preservation community’s biggest annual events – the Pasadena Heritage Craftsman Weekend, which runs from Friday through Sunday at the Pasadena Convention Center and many other venues.  This is the 25th year for the all-things-Arts-and-Crafts weekend, which feature tours of notable Craftsman homes, bus and walking tours of surrounding neighborhoods, a show and sale with more than 50 exhibitors of antique and contemporary furniture and decorative arts, a silent auction, workshops and presentations…as well as several exclusive receptions at historic locations throughout the weekend.  For tickets, schedules and more information, see http://www.pasadenaheritage.org/craftsmanweekend
Closer to home, there are a couple of truly notable estate sales this weekend.  The first is at the recently-sold home of “Friends” producer Marta Kaufman. The sale, which runs Friday-Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 335 S. Rimpau, features antique European tapestries, art, rock and roll memorabilia, large scale Remington bronzes, large dining table, antique sideboard and hutch, cane chairs, other furniture by notable designers, luggage, rugs, candeliers, sconces and lamps, silver flatware and decorative items, crystal, china, and much, much more.  For more information, see https://www.EstateSales.NET/CA/Los-Angeles/90020/1348677
The other notable sale, from Friday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., is in the gated Fremont Place neighborhood, so requires a reservation at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sensational-historical-fremont-pl-estate-sale-tickets-29262530015.  Items for sale include a gray velvet Calvin Klein sofa, black marble coffee table, pair of antique Eastlake Spring rockers on castors, an antique Art Nouveau chaise lounge, art deco-style side tables, Catalina tile tables, an antique record player cabinet, primitive cabinet, studded upholstered sectional, wooden contemporary round pedestal based table, black lacquer dining chairs, vintage trunk bench, grey corduroy sofa, large distressed wooden TV console, art deco vanity, leopard vanity chair, art deco desk and chair, black dresser, twin bed, black wooden queen mattress and nightstand, triple framed piano mirror, antique Art Nouveau carved wooden bench loveseat…and well as framed poster art, crystal glassware, kitchen items, vintage toys and more.  More details at https://www.EstateSales.NET/CA/Los-Angeles/90005/1362639
At 9:00 Saturday morning, you can join the parents, students and staff at Melrose Ave. Math, Science and Technology Magent, to plant 16 new trees on the school campus, at 731 N. Detroit St. (NW corner of Melrose and Detroit).  The event is funded by a generous grant from TreePeople and the Los Angeles Beautification Team, both of which will be there to help.  There will be a lunch, provided by Pink’s Hot Dogs, after the event.
After lunch, continue the nature theme with “Colors of Nature: A Natural Dye Workshop with Mimi Haddon,” at 1 p.m. at the Craft and Folk Art Museum. Â Participants will “explore the basic techniques of working with colorants extracted from natural sources such as bugs, vegetables, plants, and spices!” Tickets are $80 ($70 for members) and do include workshop materials.
A bit later, for another kind of art, the John C. Fremont library, 6121 Melrose Ave. (NE corner of Melrose and June), will host a performance by classical guitarist David Margolis at 2:00 p.m. The program will feature music from the 17th through 20th centuries, including works by Manuel Ponce, Domenico Scarlatti, Fernando Sor, and William Walton. All ages are welcome and the event is free.
For a more active afternoon, try the annual Holiday Ice Rink at downtown’s Pershing Square, to provide snow-starved Angelenos a taste of the quintessential winter activity under warm California sun…or stars.  The rink is open daily from now through January 16 for skating and other special events. General admission is $9, and figure and hockey skates are available for $4 rental.
Closer to home, Fancifull, the Melrose Ave. purveyor of fine foods, wine and gift baskets, is also in a holiday mood on Saturday, with a Holiday & Fine Food Extravaganza and Student Art Fundraiser, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m.  Attendees will get to sample a variety of wines, cheeses, salami chocolates and more, meet some of the artisan food suppliers, and check out artistic creations from the Advanced Placement art class at the School for the Visual Arts and Humanities – an LA Public High School serving low-income teenagers.  All proceeds from the events will go to art supplies to help students from the school complete their portfolios.  Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door, and you’ll also get to meet some of the student artists.
On Sunday, enjoy breakfast with the cars at the Petersen Museum’s monthly Breakfast Club Cruise-In, starting at 8:00 a.m. on level 3 of the Petersen parking structure.  You can enjoy strolling through rows of classic, custom and exotic cars, trucks, motorcycles and more…along with complimentary parking, coffee and bagels.  Museum members also have early admission to the museum from 9 to 10 a.m.
Later, for lunch, check out the California Vegetarian Food Festival (which is actually all vegan, not just vegetarian), at Raleigh Studios, 5300 Melrose Ave., from 10 am to 5 p.m. on Sunday.  General admission tickets include access to all presentations on the Speaker and Food Demo stages, as well as musical entertainment and fitness and kids activities. Many vendors will be offering free samples as well as full meals for purchase.  VIP admission includes all of the above as well as a jam-packed goody bag, festival tee shirt, festival tote bag, and drink tickets.  For more information, see the link above.
Meanwhile, both vegetarians and carnivores will find things to their taste at the Sycamore Square neighborhood’s annual meeting, elections and chili cook-off, which starts at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, in the outdoor courtyard between the buildings at 742 and 746 S. Mansfield Ave.  The event will include an informational panel discussion on the possibility of adopting an Historic Preservation Overlay Zone for the neighborhood, election of four members of the Sycamore Square Neighborhood Association’s Board of Directors, and the traditional chili cook-off.  There will also be a large raffle of items donated by neighborhood merchants, with proceeds benefiting the SSNA.  All Sycamore Square neighbors and friends are welcome.  For more information, see https://www.facebook.com/events/321034264945625/
And finally, on Sunday, back at the Craft and Folk Art Museum, this weekend’s CraftLab Family Workshop is Work Over Paper: a Collage Workshop with Dana Bean.  Drop in between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m., and have fun layering paper patterns, found images and inspiration from your own memories to create special collage artwork.  Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for children and free for CAFAM members.
Have a great November weekend!
