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Here are 20 awesome events happening in L.A. this weekend, and if this list isn’t enough, then check out our July Guide for even more suggestions.
FRIDAY, JULY 28
LUCKYRICE GRAND FEAST (Food fest)
The annualLuckyrice Grand Feast returns to Vibiana in DTLA on Friday, serving up Asian-influenced foods and cocktails from 8-10 pm (7 pm entry for VIP tickets). Confirmed food/drink participants include: Bling Bling Dumpling, Bone Kettle, Hinoki & the Bird. Tickets: $88-$150 (VIP, entry at 7 pm). Ages 21+. Price tickets are all inclusive.
LA MUSICAL COMEDY FESTIVAL (Performance + comedy)
The free LA Musical Comedy Festival begins on Friday at 6 pm at The Clubhouse in Los Feliz (in the Jons Shopping Center) and continues on Saturday. More than 60 acts will perform on the venue’s two stages. Performances by Magic to Do - Upright Citizens Brigade Musical House team; The Pickup and Bevel - Upright Citizens Brigade Musical Mess Hall teams; as well as Kaboombox, Dopetown 3000, Adele Dazeem, 808, Garage Band and others.
TOM GUN LIVE (Theater)
The team behind Point Break Live and Terminator Too Judgment Play, presents their newest show Tom Gun LIVE at the Regent Theater on Saturday at 8 and 10 pm. The Tom Cruise homage is an interactive night at the theater. Tickets: $25-$45.
SATURDAY, JULY 29
PORTUGAL. THE MAN (Music)
Wasilla, Alaska’s Portugal. The Man plays the Hollywood Palladium on Saturday and Sunday. Benjamin Booker opens on Saturday. Doors at 7 pm. Tickets might be easier to score on Sunday night when Hanni El Khatib, Fatlip open. Tickets: $35+ fees.
POLITICON (Politics)
POLITICON—a convention billed as a comic-con style event for political and entertainment junkies—is at the Pasadena Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday. This gathering features panel discussions, debates, TV & movie screenings, live radio, podcasts, comedy, book readings, interviews, art exhibitions and more. Already confirmed are a number of participants across the political spectrum including: Chelsea Handler, James Carville, Ann Coulter, Pod Save America, Congressman Ted Lieu and comics Greg Proops, Lizz Winstead, Al Madrigal, Jena Friedman and many many others. Tickets: $50 per day or $80 for the weekend.
UNICORN BRUNCH (Food + drinks)
On Saturday from 11 am to 1 pm, Feastly Venice presents a unicorn-inspired event right. Guests enjoy a six-course plant-based meal that includes Melting Unicorn Mimosas with citrus popsicles; Unicorn Toast with smoked pea puree, beet confit and farmers’ market pickles; and Unicorn Benedict with funfetti waffles, fresh avocado and carrot “lox." Tickets: $48 per guest with 15% of proceeds will be donated to Dogs Without Boarders Rescue. Address will be provided to ticket holders.
SOUND IN FOCUS (Music)
There’s a great lineup on tap for KCRW / Annenberg Foundation’s latest Sound in Focus concert on Saturday at the Annenberg Space for Photography. Headlining are the guitars of Rodrigo y Gabriela with support from Latin Grammy winner Natalia Lafourcade. KCRW DJ José Galván spins tunes in between sets. The show is free and all ages. Advanced registration is available at KCRW.com/soundinfocus.
CARE PACKAGES FOR THE HOMELESS (Giving)
On Saturday from 11:30 am-12:30, The Dream Builders Project holds its annual Care Packages for the Homeless event at Plummer Park. Volunteers can assemble their own care packages filled with personal care items for those living on the streets. Donation $14.
EARTH FOCUS ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL (Film)
KCET and Link TV launch the first film festival in Los Angeles dedicated to environmental issues on Saturday.The Earth Focus Environmental Film Festival takes place at the Egyptian Theatre from 10 am to 9:30 pm. The free event is open to the public with screenings (and Q&As) of several films tackling the most important and relevant global environmental issues today, including The Age of Consequences and Water & Power: A California Heist.
GIANT ROBOT: GO GET’ EM TIGER (Art)
Go Get 'Em Tiger, an exhibition curated by Cassia Lupo, opens at the Giant Robot Store with a reception on Saturday from 6:30-10 pm. The feline-themed group art show coincides with a Ako Castuera solo show at GR2 and features works by dozens of artists from Luke Chueh to Sweaty Taxidermy.
CAMP-IN-MOVIES: MOONRISE KINGDOM (Road trip)
There’s a camping and movie event taking place in Southeastern Cuyama Valley (remote Santa Barbara County) on Saturday night. Camp on a remote 20-acre mesa while enjoying a screening of Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom on a 12-foot screen. The tickets also include: one free popcorn, a Fliquor Bean coffee whiskey tasting, PBR beer & West Side Wine Co. canned wine (limited) and free Verve coffee Sunday morning. Tickets: $60; group of 4 tickets for $200. Ages 21+.
ROONEY + RIVER RUN NORTH (Music)
KROQ Locals Only presents Rooney with Run River North on Saturday night at the Teragram Ballroom. Swimm opens the all-ages show. Tickets: $20. Doors at 8 pm, show at 9 pm.
THE BROAD’S SUMMER HAPPENINGS (Music + performance)
The Broad’s Summer Happenings series continues its second season on Saturday night with Strange Forest, featuring music from Japan or inspired by Japanese culture and the works of Takashi Murakami. Performances by Miho Hatori, Afrirampo, Ikue Mori, Dustin Wong & Takako Minekawa, Devendra Banhart and others. Tickets include access to the full museum. Tickets: $25-$30. 8:30 pm. Ages 21+.
LA BREA’S WIRTSHAUS (Party)
La Brea's Wirtshaus holds a six-year anniversary party on Saturday with a tapping of their ceremonial “birthday” keg at 3 pm. Beer from the ceremonial keg will be free for guests who are seated and purchase an entrée. There will also be food/drink specials, activities and contests throughout the day. $5 beers available after the first keg runs dry. Get there early if you want that birthday keg.
CRUFFIN CONE (Ice cream pop-up)
Smitten Ice Cream teams up with Mr. Holmes Bakehouse for an “ice cream/pastry masterpiece.” The Cruffin Cone is a hollowed out cruffin [croissant baked like a muffin] filled with a scoop of Smitten's ice cream. A limited quantity of the Cruffin Cone will be for sale beginning at 11 am on Saturday (until supplies last).
SOUNDS LIKE YOU: SUMMER (Music)
Pandora brings back its free and 5th annual summer concert to the LA Memorial Coliseum on Saturday featuring performances by Big Sean, Machine Gun Kelly, Noah Cyrus, Starley, PRETTYMUCH and sets by DJ Mustard and others. RSVP needed. Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis with RSVP.
MICRODOSE (Music)
Dangerbird Records presents Microdose, a free monthly music series at Dangerbird HQ in Silver Lake. The event is free and open to the public and features music by Midnight Faces. 21+ Free w/ rsvp.
CHATS ON CATS (Comedy)
Chats on Cats With Joey Clift takes place on Saturday at UCB Sunset at 7pm. It’s a cat-themed late night talk show by and for people who love cats. It includes: monologue jokes, characters and interviews with celebrity cat owners. Guests for Saturday’s show include Haley Mancini (The Powerpuff Girls) Arisce Wanzer (Model, Strut on Oxygen) and Caitlin Gill (Hidden America, Take My Wife, The New York Times). $1 for every ticket sold will be donated to LUXE Paws cat rescue. Tickets: $7.
SUNDAY, JULY 30
JOHNNY RAMONE TRIBUTE (Film + talk)
On Sunday night at Hollywood Forever, Linda Ramone and Cinespia present The 2017 Johnny Ramone Tribute. The night features a screening of Buffalo 66, with director Vincent Gallo in person (a friend of Johnny’s). There will also be a pop-up gallery of Ramones’ memorabilia, and a tribute to friend Chris Cornell, who was laid to rest next to Ramone. Billy Idol and Steve Jones will also perform acoustically during the tribute. Gates at 6:30 pm, screening at 8:30 pm. Tickets: $20.
SWEETFIN BLOCK PARTY (Food + fun)
Sweetfin Poke holds its first Sweetfest Block Party at their soon-to-open Silver Lake location (3112 Sunset Blvd.) to celebrate summer on Sunday from 3-7 pm. Free eats and drinks by participating neighborhood establishments and performances by Stephanie Beatriz (MC), Deep Touch, Shea Carter, FOX, Laura Jean Anderson, Jamie N Commons, Marieme and Hudson Thames. The event is free and open to the public with RSVP.
Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.
