Our Mother’s Day weekend event list starts with a reminder about all the great local Big Sunday volunteer projects going on this week.  Take a look if you (or you and your mom) would like to pitch in and help some other folks who would really appreciate the assistance.
Saturday, May 13, is also LAFD’s official annual Fire Service Recognition Day. LAFD fire stations throughout the City are hosting open houses where the public can learn about the services LAFD offers, get a closeup look at the trucks and other equipment, interact with firefighters, increase your fire safety knowledge and enjoy some free family fun.  Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at all neighborhood fire stations.  (Our closest local stations are Fire Station 29, at 4029 Wilshire Blvd., and Fire Station 61, at 5821 W. Third St.)
For another kind of safety, Knowles Karate Academy, 4378 W. Third St., is offering a free Women’s Self Defense Workshop at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday.  Women of all ages are welcome; bring friends and wear comfortable clothes.
Also on Saturday afternoon, you can check out a trio of events at the John C. Fremont Library, 6121 Melrose Ave.:  first up, STAR Volunteer Reader Frances will read to kids of all ages in the children’s reading room from 12-2 p.m.  You can stop by anytime during her shift, hear a story, and learn how your child can earn a free book. Next, at 2:00 p.m., Master Gardener Annie Cipolla will conduct an orchid care workshop. Learn how to nurture your orchid and maximize its chances to re-bloom. Steps include trimming roots, re-potting your plant and creating the ideal environment for your orchid to push out new blooms. You can even bring your spent orchids in their pots and a pruner, if you have one. All other materials will be provided.  Then, finally, also starting at 2 p.m., join the BARK volunteers and bring your kids to read to certified therapy dogs.  All the dogs are specially trained to work with children, and the owner is present at all times. All ages welcome, and of course, all three of these programs are free of charge.
Our other libraries will be active on Saturday as well.  A bit earlier in the day, starting at 10 a.m. at the Wilshire Branch Library, 149 North Saint Andrews Place, there’s the weekly, free Citizenship and Financial Literacy class, which teaches students the English, civics, and history required to pass the U. S. Citizenship test…along with some beneficial financial literacy skills.  For more information, or to sign up, please contact Jonathan Fein Proaño, (818) 937-2869. (Se habla español!) Students must have a green card. Open to all who seek citizenship information.
And, finally, the Friends of Memorial Branch Library, 4625 W. Olympic Blvd., will hold its weekly used book sale from 4 to 5 p.m.
For a more social afternoon, try the Longwood Highlands Neighborhood Association block party, running on Tremaine Ave. between Edgewood and 12th St. from 3-6 p.m. on Saturday.  There will be a raffle, craft faire, dog show, food, activities, booths from local businesses and schools, and much more.
Saturday is also a good day (and evening) for vintage movies.  Starting at 2 p.m. at the New Beverly Cinema, catch the classic People That Time Forgot.  It’s the 1977 sequel to The Land That Time Forgot, with Patrick Wayne launching a daring journey to rescue the first movie’s Doug McClure from the lost continent at the heart of the Arctic Circle.  Then, later, starting at 7 p.m., there’s a great 1950s double feature of Rebel Without a Cause and The Gene Krupa Story.
Meanwhile, at Hollywood Forever cemetery, Cinespia kicks off its popular movies-in-the-graveyard summer screening series with Chinatown (doors open at 6:45, movie starts at 8:30).  “Golden sunsets, deco mansions, and the neon of Chinatown paint a backdrop to a mystery in one of cinema’s greatest masterpieces” …not to mention one of the all-time best “Los Angeles” movies…and iconic performances by Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway.
And finally on Saturday, for those who prefer food to film, visit the Los Angeles Times Food Bowl’s Night Market .  The Food Bowl is a month-long series of food-related events, all over the city…and the Night Market is a bustling outdoor street-food market that takes over Grand Park for five consecutive nights from May 10 to 14, featuring 50 diverse and exciting food booths from L.A.’s favorite restaurants, food trucks and bars. Bring an appetite, a sense of adventure and be prepared to taste some of Jonathan Gold’s much loved dishes  – from Chendgu Taste’s famous Toothpick Lamb to Side Chick’s Hainan Chicken, and Guerrilla Tacos‘ legendary tacos to Bludso’s brisket BBQ. The event is FREE, but you can purchase tickets to The Super Market (see link above), which provides access to curated food vendors, additional seating areas and food booths, bars, premium lounges and entertainment.
Of course Sunday is Mother’s Day, and since our local institutions recognize that you’re probably going to be spending at least part of the day with family, formal events are fewer that day.  We definitely .recommend brunch and browsing on Larchmont Boulevard – and we know our local merchants can provide just the right food, wine, gifts, flowers, etc. to make it a lovely celebration.
Later in the day, you could take mom (or just a mom’s kids, and give her the day off) to Fiber Mobiles with Mimi Haddon: A CraftLab Family Workshop at the Craft and Folk Art Museum.  Drop in any time between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. and Haddon will help you construct your own fantastic fiber mobile sculpture,using wire, thread, and fabric to create a hanging art piece, as well as making tassels and pom-poms to add as decoration. Tickets are $7 for adults , $5 for children, free for members, and include all art materials.
And finally on Sunday, what better way to end Mother’s Day and make you appreciate your own mother more than ever, than by taking in a screening of the ultimate “bad mom” story, “Mommie Dearest.”  Showtime is 7:30 p.m. at the American Cinematheque’s Egyptian Theater, 6712 Hollywood Blvd. Just remember: no wire hangers!
Last but not least, don’t forget – starting Friday, May 12 (today) from 8 p.m. thru Monday, May 15, at 6 a.m. there will be a full closure of the Wilshire/Fairfax intersection for Metro street decking construction. The closure will extend from 6th St. to 8th St. on Fairfax Ave. and from Crescent Heights Blvd. to Spaulding Ave. on Wilshire Blvd. On Friday, May 12th at 10am, Wilshire Blvd will be also reduced to one lane in each direction from Spaulding to San Diego Way to support piling activities.
Have a great weekend…and Happy Mother’s Day!
