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Best Things To Do This Weekend In Los Angeles And Southern California: May 17 - 19
Enjoy the Renaissance Faire while you still can!
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Matt Benson
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Unsplash
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Welcome to the weekend! Summer festivals are gearing up and we’ve got tons of great music, art, and neighborhood events to check out. We kick things off with the last weekend of the Renaissance Faire in Irwindale and the bluegrass stylings taking over at the Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Fest and wrap up with tasty Greek delights at the Greek Festival in Anaheim.
There’s also a special art and breathwork event in Long Beach, a comedy night that’s not to be missed at Dynasty Typewriter, an evening of Elton John orchestral covers, and a selection of documentaries about the Black experience at AFI.
Visit LAist.com for more to explore, including a visit to the best spot to see migratory birds this time of year in SoCal. And if you’re wanting to amp up your social life, How To LA has a new guide to getting into pickleball, dance, and other fun group activities.
Events
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Fri, May 17'Rocket Man': A Live Orchestral Experience
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St. Monica Catholic Church
725 California Ave., Santa Monica
See pianist Michael Sobie play all of Elton John’s greatest hits in Santa Monica with a full 34-piece orchestra.
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St. Monica Catholic Church
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Sat, May 18'Don't Stop I'm About To Jazz'
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Dynasty Typewriter
2511 Wilshire Blvd., Westlake
Following the Netflix Is a Joke festival, a host of local standup comedians will perform their sets alongside live piano accompaniment.
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Dynasty Typewriter
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Sun, May 19Renaissance Pleasure Faire
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Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area
15501 E. Arrow Hwy., Irwindale
Don your best puff sleeve and corset and head to Irwindale for the last weekend of the Renaissance Pleasure Faire.
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Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area
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Sat, May 18Illuminating Art + Wellness: A Night Of Live Artistry And Intoxicating Breathwork
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Compound Long Beach
1395 Coronado Ave., Long Beach
Artist Shantell Martin brings her iconic line drawings to a special event with breathwork expert Biet Simkin.
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Compound Long Beach
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Sat, May 18AAPI Joy Festival
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Central Library
630 W. 5th St., Downtown L.A.
L.A.'s Central Library is hosting events all day long for the whole family, celebrating AAPI communities, history, and traditions.
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Central Library
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Sun, Jul 7'Before, After: Reflections on the Armenian Genocide'
The Glendale Library is hosting an exhibit on the Armenian Genocide that takes a unique look at the history and legacy.
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Sun, May 19Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Fest
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King Gillette Ranch
26800 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas
The Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Fest brings together both professional performers and amateur musicians.
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King Gillette Ranch
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Mon, May 20Design Miami.LA
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Private Location
RSVP for Details
Art fairs are the place to see and be seen lately and this weekend is the first outing of Design.Miami in Los Angeles.
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Private Location
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Sat, May 18'Broken Bone Bathtub' Documentary: World Premiere Screening
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Thymele Arts
5481 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood
Performance artist Siobhan O’Loughlin premieres her documentary that follows tours of houses, tubs, and towns.
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Thymele Arts
Viewing Pick
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Sat, May 18Day of Black Docs
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AFI Campus
2021 North Western Ave., Los Feliz
Explore a wide range of stories about the Black experience, hosted by film critic Tim Cogshell, at AFI.
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AFI Campus
Sponsored message
Outdoor Pick
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Sat, May 18Silent Book Club Meet-Up
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Pan Pacific Park
7600 Beverly Blvd., Fairfax
Silent Book Club is spending time in the sunshine with their tomes in Pan Pacific Park.
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Pan Pacific Park
Dine & Drink Deals
Enjoy these dining and drink options this weekend.
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Sat, May 18Yobo Kish Aperitif Happy Hour
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The LINE L.A.
3515 Wilshire Blvd., Koreatown
Top Chef host Kristin Kish’s soju cocktails and bites from her Austin flagship restaurant Arlo Grey.
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The LINE L.A.
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OC Greek Festival
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St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church
405 N. Dale St., Anaheim
Enjoy a wide range of Greek delights from moussaka to spanikopita to baklava at the Orange County Greek Festival.
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St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church
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Sun, May 19Brunch With Phil Rosenthal
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Caldo Verde
1100 S. Broadway, Downtown L.A.
Phil Rosenthal joins chef Suzanne Goin and restaurateur Caroline Styne at the Proper Hotel for a family-friendly brunch.
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Caldo Verde
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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