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Hey, go see the Cherry Blossoms at Lake Balboa!/Photo by = Manny = via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
Annual Blessing of the Animals
From Noon to 5 today, head down to Olvera Street with your dogs, cats, bunnies, birds, goats, and hamsters for the 79th annual Blessing of the Animals. Cardinal Roger M. Mahony will preside over this ceremony steeped in tradition, that includes a procession on Olvera Street commencing at 2:00 p.m. followed by the blessing. Want to be a know-it-all? How about this: The centuries-old ceremony of Blessing of the Animals dates back to the fourth century when San Antonio de Abad was recognized as the Patron Saint of the Animal Kingdom. In those days, the people would take their animals to the priest to receive a blessing and ask for fertility and health. Today, Blessing of the Animals is held in grateful recognition of the tremendous services given to the human race by animals. Oh, and you don't have to have a pet in tow to have fun!
6th Annual Fracas Festival
The improvised shenanigans continue tonight at USC as part of the annual Fracas Festival, which began Thursday and continues through the weekend. Tonight, at the Ground Zero Performance Cafe from 6 p.m.-Midnight, catch collegiate improvisers from all over the US, including area troupes from LMU, UCSB, USC, Chapman, culminating in an open jam from 11-midnight.
Sunken City Skates' Art Show and Free BBQ
Sunken City Skates in San Pedro is an up and coming shop run by two 24 year old local skateboarders. Tonight they are hosting an art show and BBQ for the popular skateboarding brand, Antihero, from 4-8. The shop is located at 619 South Mesa, San Pedro. Everyone's invited to "Come on down and get pumped."
Opening Night of Soy
Soy is a new Saturday night VIP room inside Club Sushi tonight. The space will be open to the public for the first time tonight with an event for 21+ with drink specials and DJ Vinyl Dave spinning all night. (Club Sushi is the newest tenant in the restaurant space in the complex where the ArcLight is in Hollywood.) Besides being of age, all you'll need is your "trendy attire" and the wish to dance and drink.
Art Openings
If you have a taste for being the first to see new art on exhibit (or you just like a cheese plate and dixie cups of wine) you might want to catch a couple of openings happening around town tonight. Sylvia Ji's "Haute Epoch" kicks off tonight with a reception from 7-10 (the show runs until 4/28) at the Corey Helford Gallery in Culver City. Regen Projects opens an exhibition of new works by German artist Manfred Pernice, who creates sculptures and installations from conventional building materials such as particle board, concrete, plywood and masonite. The reception is from 6-8 at the gallery tonight, and the show runs through May 16th.
