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Free weekend? Check out cat art, free yoga and the dark side of love
People donate and sell back their used books to The Last Bookstore.
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Andres Aguila/KPCC
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It's not just you. Four-day workweeks totally feel longer. Luckily, the weekend is upon us. And we've got a slew of free events at our feet. See a faux cat riding a Roomba, volunteer at Venice Beach or learn about the dark side of love at the Last Bookstore.
Here's everything you need to know:
1. The largest cat art show IN THE WORLD
(Photo: "A Great Big Giant World" by Marc Dennis featured in Cat Art Show Los Angeles.)
What's better than an interactive art exhibit including a cat riding a Roomba? Probably nothing. Curated by journalist Susan Michals, the Cat Art Show Los Angeles is real — and it's opening in West Hollywood this Saturday. It'll feature the work of more than 50 artists, including Shepard Fairey, for "a meditation and a celebration of the feline form." The artwork will also be for sale — and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Stray Cat Alliance of Los Angeles. Purrrrfection.
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When: 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
Where: 101/exhibit | MAP
Price: Free
2. Community beach cleanup at Venice
Scour the city of Venice and pick up trash with locals to help restore and maintain the vibrancy of Venice Beach. The community event is a part of Angel City Brewery's monthly cleanups. Gather at Danny’s Venice to meet Angel City staff, pick up your volunteer T-shirt and grab some gloves, trash bags and trash pickers. When you're done scrubbing the earth's surface clean, treat yourself to a round of booze and grub.
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When: Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday
Where: Danny's Venice | MAP
Price: Free
(Photo: a4gpa/flickr Creative Commons)
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Yoga noob? No sweat. The Sylmar Library is offering free yoga classes for beginners. Stretch out the stresses of the week and enjoy a relaxing day with this introductory workshop. It's geared towards young adults and beginners — yoga mats are provided.
When: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Sylmar Library | MAP
Price: Free | No reservations needed
4. Festival of Human Abilities at the Aquarium of the Pacific
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Enjoy a scenic day with the family and celebrate Aquarium of the Pacific's eleventh annual Festival of Human Abilities event, which showcases the talents of people with disabilities and features live music, scuba demos and wheelchair dances. Classes will include sessions on hip-hop dancing, painting with wheelchair wheels, decorative hat painting and singing in sign language. Sign language interpreters will be present at all major shows and an audio tour is available for those who are blind.
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Where: Aquarium of the Pacific | MAP
Price: General admission; members get in free
5. 'Convertible Chocolate' book release at the Last Bookstore
(collect moments/flickr Creative Commons)
Bookworm? Join author R. Steven Johnson during the launch party for his book "Convertible Chocolate" at downtown L.A.'s the Last Bookstore. The book highlights the many ups and downs involved in the quest for true love, including a handful of “significant and unusual” relationships. Enjoy selected readings, guest speakers and a special red carpet ceremony.
When: 7 to 9 p.m. Friday
Where: The Last Bookstore | MAP
Price: Free
6. Bike SGV hosts family-friendly ride
Join the SGV Bike Train and make your way to the scenic Rio Hondo and San Gabriel rivers. Enjoy and explore the hidden gems of the San Gabriel Valley and get in shape before the end of January. Bikers: Meet up at the Santa Fe Dam at 8:30 a.m. You'll see special signs marked with "BikeSGV." Special free bike repairs and maintenance services will be provided at the BikeSGV Mobile Pit Stop throughout the day.
When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area | MAP
Price: Free | $10 for parking
7. Shop home decor at a sparkly warehouse sale
Funky couches, Katy Perry's roller skates and vintage desks. Shop designer Tarina Tarantino's groovy fashion and decor at the Sparkle Factory's first warehouse sale. The jewelry designer's downtown shop won't officially open until this summer, but this is a great opportunity to visit the historic and revived Broadway Street. Pro tip: Bring cash; credit cards not accepted. And grab a drink at the brand new Ace Hotel afterwards.
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday
Where: 910. S. Broadway | MAP
Price: Free | Bring cash for purchases
What'd we miss? Share your plans in comments, on Facebook or Twitter @KPCC. Send future events and tips to klepore@scpr.org.
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