Weekend Buzz – Events for July 30-31, 2016

It’s still pretty warm this weekend, but it shouldn’t be too hot to enjoy your L.A. weekend.

Starting early on Saturday, you have three great local bargain-hunting opportunities.  The first is an estate sale at 174 S. Highland. Running Saturday (the second day of the two-day sale), from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the home belongs to “one of the original “Mad Men,”” who designed logos, displays and packaging for clients such as Capitol Records, Mattel, and others.  The sale organizers promise classic mid-century furniture and furnishings, original art, many art supplies (some in their original boxes)…along with “English ceramics, antiques from Derbyshire, England, quality copper pots and a yard/garage chock full of vintage hand and power tools, vintage electronics, books, records and CDs.”

Starting just an hour later, at 9 a.m., the Sycamore Square neighborhood (Wilshire to Olympic and Citrus to La Brea) is having its more or less annual neighborhood yard sale.  A number of homes on the 700 to 900 blocks of South Citrus Ave., Mansfield Ave., Orange Dr. and Sycamore Ave. will be participating.  A list of the participants will be available at each house, or you can just walk or drive the neighborhood. Items for sale include furniture, trinkets, movies, games and more.

Finally for bargain shoppers, running from 12-5 p.m. on Saturday is the John C. Fremont Library‘s monthly Used Book Sale.  Prices of most items range from $.10 to $1.00, so book lovers can definitely indulge without breaking the bank.  The library is located at 6121 Melrose.

After your hard morning of shopping, there are a number of special festivals and events this weekend, most with venues in or near the downtown area.

First up is National Dance Day at Grand Park, which runs from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. on Saturday.  “Lace up and grab your friends for a day of dance with So You Think You Can Dance creator Nigel Lythgoe and celebrities from the show as they lead the crowd in the official National Dance Day routines. The day continues with short classes for all ages and interactive performances by some of the best and brightest young dance talent in Los Angeles!” More information is available at the link above.

Next, and also Saturday only, is the LA Weekly’s second annual  Burgers & Beer festival, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, 3911 S. Figueroa St..  Billed as a “craft beer and artisanal burger extravaganza,” the event is curated by the Weekly’s food writer Garrett Snyder and beer expert Sarah Bennett. It showcases “signature sliders and tasty brews from the best restaurants and breweries in the state.”  There will also be live music curated by Spaceland productions and samples from other liquor vendors.  Also, do note that this is a 21+ event – you must have a valid, government issued photo ID to enter.

Next up is the Delicious Little Tokyo festival, which offers a full “weekend of Culinary Experiences in the Heart of LA!,” starting today (Friday) and running through Sunday.  The festival features special menu items at selected Little Tokyo restaurants, discounts, tours, giveaways and workshops. More information, along with special event descriptions and tickets, are available at the link above.

Also bringing some Asian flavor to downtown this weekend is KCON – the “all things Hallyu (or “Korean cultural wave”)” convention at L.A. Live.  Genres covered include pop music, TV dramas, movies, fashion, food, and beauty, which will be experienced and celebrated with favorite Korean stars, speaker panels, interactive workshops, and “countless booths of fun dedicated to putting the world of Hallyu at your fingertips!”

Later, for your dining pleasure, this is the final weekend of DineLA Restaurant Week, with special prix fixe meal specials at a wide variety of restaurants in our area and throughout the city.  To make your choice, see the link above to search by cuisine, neighborhood or other criteria.

Or, if you’re in a more kitchy mood, check out the American Cinematheque’s 12th Annual Tiki Night and South Pacific screening at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood.  The event features King Kukulele, who will perform with his band The Friki Tikis, along with tiki-themed vendors, cocktails from the Tonga Hut, food (including Hawaiian barbecue), fashion, movies, dancing and more Tiki entertainment, including authentic island dances from the Polynesian Paradise Dancers.  Admission is free to shop the vendor booths from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., and from 4 to 7:15 p.m. there will be ticketed entertainment, food, shopping and cocktails in the theater courtyard.  The South Pacific film screening starts at 7:30. See the link above for event, food and film ticket information.

If wizards and magic are more your style, then you’re probably eagerly awaiting the July 31 release of J.K. Rowling’s’s new book, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One & Two.”  For a community celebration with like-minded readers, head over to the Grove for Barnes and Noble’s Countdown to Midnight Party, at 8 p.m on Saturday, to await and anticipate the midnight book release.  The party will feature a special Muggle Wall where customers can share their favorite memories of Harry Potter, as well as giveaways, a variety of fun, family-friendly activities…and a chance to win a set of seven Harry Potter limited edition cover prints, available exclusively at B&N.

On Sunday, start the day at the Petersen Museum’s Breakfast Club Cruise-In at 8 a.m.  This month, the event “is bringing Detroit iron to the Miracle Mile” with a celebration of the Ford Motor Company’s landmark innovations.  Ford owners are invited to bring their cars to the third floor of the Petersen parking structure, where awards will be given for Best In Show, People’s Choice and the most historically authentic car.  Free coffee and bagels will be provided.  And after the breakfast event, don’t forget to tour the museum and see the new Keith Haring art car, now on display for the first time anywhere.

Next, Sunday is a good day to cross the street and visit the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where two two big exhibits are closing  this weekend.  Robert Mapplethorpe: The Perfect Medium explores the span of Mapplethorpe’s career, from early drawings and collages to iconic photographs and seldom-seen video works…while Physical: Sex and the Body in the 1980s, focuses on how the body was at the center of creative consciousness in the ’80s.

Later, to complete your local museum tour, visit the Craft And Folk Art Museum’s ClayLA, a brand new ceramic sale and fair that celebrates some of Los Angeles’ most dynamic makers and artists working in clay. Meet and shop from a vibrant group of emerging and established ceramists who are shifting and changing the relationship people have to everyday handmade objects, design, and art.  The event will also include fun workshops, music, and drinks.  The $7 entry fee includes admission to all current exhibitions, an air-dry clay workshop, and complimentary drinks.  See the link above for the list of participating artists and other information.

Finally, as usual, we’ll leave you with an update on this weekend’s subway construction and closures in the Wilshire-La Brea area.  Beginning at 8 p.m. tonight (Friday), through 6 a.m. Monday, Metro begins Phase 3 of its decking installation work, which which will continue for the next 16 weekends. Wilshire will be closed from Highland to La Brea, though the Wilshire-La Brea intersection itself will once again be open to north and southbound traffic on La Brea. Local access for residents and businesses on Wilshire will be maintained. For more information on Metro’s decking process, see the handy online fact sheet explaining the construction process.  Pile installation and jet grouting will also continue along Wilshire, east of La Brea, this weekend. For more information about this weekend’s work, see https://www.metro.net/projects/notices/additional-weekend-construction-activities-wilshir/

Have a great weekend!