Taste buds will be en fuego -- and not just at the Hot Sauce Expo. Culinary delights also await at the Pacific Food & Wine Classic, E.R.B. x Bacchanal party, Battle of the Booze, Sunday Funday and a Jonathan Gold Memorial Food Tour. Prefer to laugh? Check out the Comedy Get Down, Loop de Loop and Packcon3 Comedy Festival. You've also got your pick of outdoor concerts and film screenings. Just another busy weekend in Southern California.
FRIDAY, AUG. 17; 8 p.m.
The Comedy Get Down
Microsoft Theater -- 777 Chick Hearn Ct., downtown L.A.
Get your kicks and giggles at this comedy show, featuring four titans of the industry: Cedric 'The Entertainer,' Eddie Griffin, D.L. Hughley and George Lopez.
COST: $30 - $135; MORE INFO
FRIDAY, AUG. 17; SUNDAY, AUG. 19
Monster Jam Triple Threat Series
Staples Center -- 1111 S. Figueroa St., downtown L.A.
The competition starts Friday Friday Friday with drivers handling three different vehicles -- trucks, speedsters and ATVs. Battling for points in both freestyle and racing events, the roadsters are trying to earn a trip to the World Finals.
COST: $25 - $80; MORE INFO
FRIDAY, AUG. 17; 7 p.m.
'Madeline's Madeline'
Nuart Theatre -- 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A.
Writer-director Josephine Decker's experimental film explores the line between reality and performance as Madeline (newcomer Helena Howard) becomes a standout performer in prestigious theater troupe. When the artistic director (Molly Parker) pushes the teen to incorporate her history with her troubled mom (Miranda July) in her work, the battle begins. July does a Q&A after the 7 p.m. screening.
COST: $9 - $12; MORE INFO
FRIDAY, AUG. 18; 8:30 p.m.
Picture This! meets Loop De Loop!
The Downtown Independent -- 251 S. Main St., downtown L.A.
Two great events come together to present a night of video loops, comedy and live animation. Hosted by Paul Danke, you'll get comedy from Adam Conover, Sabrina Jalees, Jade Catta-Preta and Cornell Reid and live animation from Mike Hollingsworth, Kati Prescott and Aaron Long. Plus, the night includes a screening of dog-themed animation from L.A. Loopers.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
FRIDAY, AUG. 17 - SUNDAY, AUG. 19; 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Growing Habitat: LA's Wildlife & Descanso
Descanso Gardens' Sturt Haaga Gallery -- 1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge
It's your last chance to see this exhibition, which explores the connection between urban settings and a healthy wildlife habitat as well as Descanso's role in that dynamic. The show features taxidermy, photos and maps.
COST: FREE with Descanso admission $4 - $9; MORE INFO
FRIDAY, AUG. 17; 8 p.m.
The California Feetwarmers & Hermanos Herrera
Grand Performances -- Two California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles
Marisoul Hernández, lead singer of La Santa Cecilia, curates a night of music with two of her favorite local bands: the California Feetwarmers, who play New Orleans jazz and ragtime, and Hermanos Herrera with modern versions of Son Huasteco, Son Jarocho and música Norteña.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
FRIDAY, AUG. 17; 6 p.m.
'Westwind' screening
The Wende Museum -- 10808 Culver Blvd., Culver City
The museum and the Goethe Institut screen Robert Thalheim's 2011 film. It's set in the summer of 1988, a year before the fall of the Berlin Wall. Twin sisters from East Germany are inseparable, training hard in rowing. Their close relationship changes when one of the sisters falls for a young West German. On Sunday afternoon, the museum screens the documentary, "Czechoslovakia: Portrait of a Tragedy."
COST: FREE, but email RSVP@wendemuseum.org to be added to the waitlist for either screening; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, AUG. 18; 12 - 5 p.m.
African American Book Expo - Cali Edition
The SOL Venue -- 313 E Carson St., Carson
Peruse some of the hottest titles in African American literature while meeting authors and publishers. The day also features music, food, beverages and door prizes.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, AUG. 18 - SUNDAY, AUG. 19; 4 p.m. - 12 a.m.
All My Friends Music Festival
ROW DTLA -- 777 S. Alameda St., downtown L.A.
Catch the hottest music artists on three stages at the former produce market turned into shoppers' district. Saturday's acts include RL Grime, Gucci Mane, Jhene Aiko and Little Boots. Sunday features M.I.A., Jamie xx, Yo Gotti and Them Jeans.
COST: Single-day tickets: $79 - $89; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, AUG. 18; 1 - 3 p.m.
65th Anniversary of the Historic Speedee McDonald's
McDonald's --10207 Lakewood Blvd., Downey
Downey honors the world's oldest operating McDonald's location with a celebration and ceremony. Special guests include architect Alan Hess, who qualified the Downey McDonald's for the National Register of Historic Places, and kitsch expert Charles Phoenix, who included the restaurant in his latest book "Addicted to Americana."
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, AUG. 18; 8:30 p.m.
'The Outsiders'
Hollywood Forever Cemetery -- 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood
Do it for Johnny. Head to Cinespia's screening of the 1983 Francis Ford Coppola film based on the S.E. Hinton cooming-of-age novel. Watch the rivalry between the Greasers and the Socs, while checking out Rob Lowe, Tom Cruise, C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio, Diane Lane, Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze and Emilio Estevez when they were young.
COST: $16; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, AUG. 18 - SUNDAY, AUG. 19; 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Hot Sauce Expo
City National Grove of Anaheim -- 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim
You'll have multiple chances to set your taste buds on fire with samples from 40 hot sauce companies from around the world. Multiple competitions and challenges take place throughout the weekend on the "Stage of Doom," including a Guinness Book of Records Carolina Reaper Pepper Eating Contest (with a $1,000 prize for a broken record), a Booze & Infuse Cocktail Competition, a Chihuahua beauty pageant, lucha wrestling, craft beers and specialty cocktails.
COST: $10 - $75; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, AUG. 18; noon - whenever
PACKCON3
The Pack Theater -- 6470 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood
The comedy festival celebrates its third anniversary with a day of mirth and merriment. The lineup features nerly every kind of comedy. Stand-up, sketch, improv and variety shows run back-to-back until about midnight. All but two of the shows are donation based. Special guests include Ian Roberts, Esther Povitsky, Kurt Braunohler and Kevin Dorff.
COST: FREE - $15; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, AUG. 18; 2 - 6 p.m.
Corita 100 Mini Film Festival
The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute -- 7936 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood
This celebration of artist, educator and social justice advocate Corita Kent's centennial year features an afternoon of film screenings about the former nun's life and work. An innovative, yet underappreciated printmaker, she primarily worked in serigraphy (silk screening/screen printing). A Q&A follows the screenings.
COST: DONATION; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, AUG. 18; 6 - 10 p.m.
Battle of the Booze
Groundwork Coffee Co. -- 811 Traction Ave., Arts District
To celebrate the opening of Coffee Fest Los Angeles 2018 (a trade show at the Convention Center), several L.A. coffee and booze purveyors are holding a coffee-cocktail competition. The night starts with a matcha lesson by Rishi Tea at 6:30 p.m.. The competition begins at 7:30 p.m. RSVPs to attend are required, and attendees must be 21 or older.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, AUG. 18 - SUNDAY, AUG. 19
Pacific Wine & Food Classic
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort -- 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach
The Pacific Wine & Food Classic is an all-inclusive event with summer-inspired dishes created by Orange County chefs . Attendees can try more than 150 wines, cold beer and crafted cocktails. The weekend is 21+. VIP tickets get first entry into the food festival.
COST: Single-day tickets start at $130; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, AUG. 18 - SUNDAY, AUG. 19
2018 Nisei Week Japanese Festival
Various locations in Little Tokyo -- downtown L.A.
The long-running Japanese cultural festival wraps up this weekend with a bang. The 2018 Day-Lee Foods World Gyoza Eating Championship happens on Saturday starting at 2 p.m. and there's a Taiko Gathering at noon on Sunday.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, AUG. 18 - SUNDAY, AUG. 19; 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Viva Pomona!
The Glass House -- 200 W. Second Street, Pomona
Surf Curse and The Marías headline this two-day music festival that also features Pal, Still Woozy, Shannon Shaw, Omar Apollo and nearly 50 bands.
COST: $25 - $40; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, AUG. 18; 8 p.m.
The ___ Variety Hour
The Theatre at Ace Hotel -- 929 S. Broadway, downtown L.A.
Natalie Morales (formerly of "Parks & Recreation") hosts a night of comedy, music and variety with performances by Broods, Foster The People, Garfunkel & Oates, Family of the Year, Grandson, Pete Holmes, Retta, Bradley Whitford, Paul F. Tompkins and magician David Kwong. Proceeds from the show benefit March for Our Lives: Road to Change.
COST: $35 - $45; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, AUG. 18; 12 - 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Taco Festival
Grand Park -- 200 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A.
Join thousands of fellow Angelenos to induldge in almost every type of taco and taco-adjacent offering. Kogi BBQ and EpicTacos will be there along with Rice Balls of Fire, Jackfruit Cafe, Plant Love Food and Best Fish Taco In Ensenada. Proceeds from the event go to Jovenes, a nonprofit helping homeless youth in Los Angeles.
COST: FREE admission; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, AUG. 18; 7 p.m.
Wrestling Pro Wrestling
Burbank Moose Lodge -- 1901 Burbank Blvd., Burbank
We recently found out about this monthly comedy and wrestling show produced by WWE wrestler Brian Kendrick. Competitors include Darwin Finch, The Fourmage Horsemen, King Dezi, Meany Chino, Sh**ty Superman, Birds of a Feather, Thassy Athassin, Mean Janine, Cereal Man and Eric Watts. The show is 21+.
COST: $10; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, AUG. 18; 4 - 8 p.m.
Grace Rose for Cystic Fibrosis Fashion Show Fundraiser
Toms HQ -- 5404 Jandy Place, Playa Vista
Grace Rose is a 15-year-old designer and performer whose Rosie G clothing line helps raise funds for awareness and a cure for cystic fibrosis (which she has). Her annual fashion show displays new looks from her collection, styled with TOMS shoes, natch. The kid-friendly event, emceed by Access Hollywood's Kit Hoover, also features a DJ set by Micah Paul and performances by Trinity Rose, Olivia Sanabia, Jaheem Toombs and Gabe de Guzman. There's also a silent auction, pampering stations and candy from Organic Candy Factory.
COST: $25 - $200; MORE INFO
SUNDAY, AUG. 19; 2 - 10 p.m.
Bacchanal Returns to E.R.B.
Everson Royce Bar -- 1937 E. 7th St., downtown L.A.
Chef Joaquin Rodas from NOLA's Bacchanal Wine throws a carnival-style party in the downtown bar's parking lot and on its patio. The pop-up features New Orleans music, buckets of wine, cocktails from the Big Easy (e.g., Sazeracs!) and most importantly, food. All beer, wine, drinks and food-items will cost one ticket each. RSVPs requested so they know how much booze to order and how much food to cook for party.
COST: $9.50 per ticket; MORE INFO
SUNDAY, AUG. 19; 11 a.m. - 7 a.m.
Sunday Funday: Mexico Meets L.A.
Civic Center Studios -- 207 S Broadway Suite One, downtown L.A.
The LA Food Fest's third Sunday Funday event offers nibbles from food trucks and chefs alongside ware from local crafters and makers. There's also a pop-up maker studio for DIY crafting. Yoga, music and cocktails round out the event.
COST: FREE admission, but ticket necessary; MORE INFO
SUNDAY, AUG. 19; 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Jonathan Gold Memorial Food Tour
Four locations in downtown L.A.
Avital Tours honors Jonathan Gold with a tour of four restaurants in downtown L.A. that he loved. (It's a four-course progressive prix-fixe dining experience.) Each stop on the approximately 1.5-mile walk will feature a tasting and stories of the late writer's relationship with them. Profits from the tour will be donated to The Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.
COST: $101, gratuites not included; MORE INFO
How are you spending your weekend? Let us know on Twitter @christineziemba and @LeoHasACat.
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