Get Out: Saturday

Photo by the_mule via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr

CELEBRATE CHINATOWN'S 70th: Head down to Chinatown's Central Plaza tonight to celebrate this incarnation of the area's 70th Anniversary (and learn what other Chinatowns came before!). They're having 40s-style Big Band music and dancing, cocktails from the era, costume contests, and lots of historic photos and info and a bunch of entertainment. The event is free, and so is the dancing.

SHOP AND GIVE BACK: Two businesses on Melrose Avenue today will be donating a percentage of their daily take to Melrose Avenue Elementary via the "Friends of Melrose" project, which is a group focused on generating community support for the school. You can visit Muse Atelier Salon @6912 Melrose, or Baskin Robbins @7150 Melrose, to pitch in and help out.

EAT BAKED GOODS FOR A GOOD CAUSE: You already love Scoops on Heliotrope, so why not love it more today while the No Cookie Left Behind fundraising bake sale is going on. The funds go to Share Our Strength as part of the Great American Bake Sale. Between Noon and 4 this afternoon you can pick up all sorts of baked goodies to go with your one-of-a-kind Scoops gelato.

GET GREEN IN VENICE: It's the first ever Venice EcoFest, which is, as the name suggests, an "ecologically themed festival featuring over 150 eco-conscious and educational exhibitors offering information on a variety of environmental issues." You'll have your requisite food, booths, stuff to buy, people giving speeches, things to look at, music, and kids activities at Windward Avenue & Venice Beach from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

DRAW & DANCE, BRONX STYLE: Silver Lake's Ghettogloss Gallery is launching their summer dance and play event called the Bronx Zoo today at La Cita Downtown. From 2-8 p.m. chill out and try your hand at sketching models (wearing gorilla masks!) or do some dancing.

Other things to do: Check out Green & Greener in Valley Village, ride the RVIP Lounge at the LAFF, go to some art openings, see Glorious! in Malibu, or attend the LA Social Forum.