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Weekend Roundup
Find the best Los Angeles things to do for the weekend of 06.03.11
EVENTS
STAR WARS IN CONCERT
June 3-4. Being the only North American performances this year, this unique multi-media event showcases music from all six of John Williams’ epic Star Wars scores, and features stunning visuals, live orchestra, choir and narration. Tickets: 800.745.3000. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood.
First Fridays
June 3. 7th season of the provocative series in which live music, discussion and curatorial tours converge wraps up with a discussion on dinosaurs with Dr. Luis Chiappe. See performances by Gayngs and Dirty Beaches. Resident FF DJ, Anthony Valadez spins with special guest Dan Wilcox. $5-$12/$10 parking. 6:30-10 p.m. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd., downtown, 213.763.DINO. www.nhm.org
Gilmore Heritage Auto Show
June 4. Check out nearly 100 vintage and classic American cars. This year celebrates a by-gone era with Tone It Up ~ A Tribute to Multi-Toned Cars. The free show is casual, friendly and great fun. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Farmers Market, 6333 W. 3rd St., L.A., 323.933.9211 Map I13 www.farmersmarketla.com
Tim Burton
Continuing. Taking inspiration from pop culture, fairy tales and gothic traditions, Burbank-born film director Tim Burton has a darkly whimsical style all his own. Tim Burton, an exploration of the film director’s creative work in film and beyond, showcases more than 700 drawings, paintings, photographs, film and video works, storyboards, puppets, costumes and cinematic ephemera, including art from little-known personal projects, are organized into three sections. The Resnick Pavilion itself receives some “Burtonesque” touches for the exhibition, including a topiary inspired by Edward Scissorhands and Balloon Boy, a 21-foot-tall creature from Burton’s book The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories. LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., 323.857.6000 lacma.org
“WET Weekends” at W Hotel Los Angeles–Westwood
From pool parties, to movies, to wellness and afternoon hangover bbqs, the W Los Angeles, Westwood is your new weekend hot spot. Fridays kick it off with outdoor movies starting at 7 p.m.; Saturdays offer fitness classes with celebrity trainer Kit Rich. Relieve those hangover blues with Executive Chef Dakota Weiss’ sure-to-cure remedies, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday rounds out the weekend with the hottest pool party on the westside. 930 Hilgard Ave., Westwood, 310.208.8765. www.whotels.com/LosAngelesWestWood
Solar Sundays at Drai’s Hollywood
May 22. From the club that brings a Vegas party to LA, spend your summer Sundays poolside, sipping cocktails in cabanas or noshing on the lunch menu to the tune of top DJs. noon-6 p.m. $25. Email sami.lin@drais.net for cabana/daybed reservations. Drai’s Hollywood, W Hollywood – 12th floor, 6250 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 323.962.1111. www.drais.net
LA BRAKELESS POP-UP at ROYAL/T
Through Jul. 3. Culver City’s eclectic art and retail space hosts the Venice-based bicycle store for a six-week celebration of two-wheel transportation. Offering a wide selection of high quality, hard-to-find bicycle gear, apparel, and colorful accessories, the limited-engagement shop will provide pedaling Angelenos with everything they need to use bicycling as an empowering form of personal expression, exercise, and eco-consciousness. Public opening party with DJ, drinks and delas, May 20, 7-10 p.m. Royal/T, 8910 Washington Blvd., Culver City, 310.559.6300. www.royal-t.org
GET ART4
June 4. Find more than 200 affordable works of art for sale in various media by more than 100 artists. The event features photography, painting, prints and sculptures with pricing accessible to both beginning and seasoned art collectors. All proceeds of sales will go to benefit the life-sustaining work of Project Angel Food. $10 advance, $15 door. Siren Studios, 6063 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. getart.org
Music
Bird and the Bee
June 4. Back from hiatus, the locally loved and worldly recognized indi-pop duo (and Hall & Oates enthusiasts) made up of Greg Kurstin and Inara George bring their whimsy to the Bootleg Theatre. 2220 Beverly Blvd., L.A., 213.389.3856. www.thebirdandthebee.com
Theater
SUPERIOR DONUTS
Continuing. Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Tracy Letts weaves a heart-warming and humorous tale of unlikely friendships in one of Chicago’s most diverse neighborhoods. At Arthur Przybyszewski’s Superior Donuts, a local doughnut shop, the arrival of a fast-talking dreamer named Franco shakes things up. Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood Village, 310.208.5454 Map J10
Extraordinary Chambers
Through July 3. As the Khmer Rouge once again attracts international attention, this world premiere play gets to the heart of the headlines. When Carter, an American telecom executive, brings his wife Mara on a business trip to Cambodia, he never imagines that the ghosts of this beautiful country will find a way to haunt their lives. As business deals unravel and personal negotiations brim with political consequences, Carter and Mara must decide if the salvation of one life is worth sacrificing the justice of many. Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater, Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood, 310.208.5454.
Shopping
EVA FRANCO SAMPLE SALE
June 3-4. Eva Franco has earned praise from top fashion publications for her playful yet sophisticated designs. Shop her sample sale this weekend and see for yourself. Fri. noon-8 p.m.; Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 731 Spring St., #500, downtown. rsvp: customerservice@evafranco.com. www.evafranco.com
Beer Gardens
ColLAboration
June 4. A new mobile craft beer garden, pops up at Gower Street and Hollywood Boulevard from noon until 7 pm. Find dozens of craft beer selections from labels such as Russian River, Beer Valley, Craftsman and Green Flash. collaboration.la
Chaya Downtown Beer Garden
June 6-Sept. 2. Chaya Downtown offers its Japanese Beer Garden on the restaurant’s spacious outdoor patio. Patrons can order pitchers of Kirin Beer or Asahi Dry and hard-to-find Japanese craft beers such as Ginga Kogen. Additional libations include specialty cocktails such as a Sake Sangria, weekly changing sake flights and single-malt Japanese whiskies. Mon.-Fri., 5 pm to close. Chaya Downtown, 525 South Flower St., downtown, 213.236.9577. thechaya.com
Eat | Drink
DRAGO CENTRO Summer Concerts with LUCA ELLIS
Thursdays through June 16. Dine on top Italian cuisine by Celestino Drago, to the tune of Luca Ellis, Sinatra-esque crooner and star of the theatrical, musical production “Hoboken to Hollywood” which premiered at Santa Monica’s Edgemar Center. 7-10 p.m. Drago Centro, The City National Bank Plaza, 525 South Flower St., downtown. www.dragocentro.com
“Aperitivo” Menu Fig & Olive
It’s finally starting to feel like summer and what better way to kick back than with a handmade cocktail or beer ($7-10) paired with complimentary light summertime bites. Just find a place to relax in Fig & Olive’s bar and lounge area and commence on your journey through this European pre-dinner tradition of invigorating their appetites with an assortment of complimentary house-cured olives, crudités, bruschetta, dips, roasted vegetables, and seasonal Focaccia breads. To kick off the Aperitivo menu, from May 25-27, guests can further savor the flavors from the South of France with a special complimentary tasting of Chateau Léoube Rosé wines. 5 -7 p.m. 8490 Melrose Pl., West Hollywood, 310.360.9100. www.figandolive.com
Platine Cookies Ice Cream Sandwich
Celebrate the summer season with ice cream sandwiches from Jamie Cantor, former pastry chef at French Laundry. Cantor helms Platine Cookies and now offers the seasonal treat made from two cookies (think chocolate ginger snaps, snickerdoodles, chocolate galore and more) and a scoop of MILK ice cream in between. 10850 Washington Blvd., Culver City, 310.559.9933. www.platinecookies.com
Out of Office Fridays
Fridays. Start the weekend early this summer at Asia de Cuba, which offers a special menu Friday afternoons. Find classic dishes like tuna pica, crab croquetas, lobster shiitake pot-stickers, and cocktails like their signature mojitos for $5 and $5 valet parking. 1-4 p.m. Asia de Cuba, Mondrian Hotel, 8440 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 323.848.6000. bit.ly/cegNFd
Brunch at Mas Malo
Saturdays + Sundays. Add a splash of Mexican decadence to your weekend with brunch at Mas Malo. Start with a pinnate smash (El Jimador reposed, serrano chile, cilantro, pineapple, lime agave) or bloody maria and indulge in offerings such as carnitas machaca (slow roasted carnitas, scrambled eggs), Del Mar breakfast burrito (sauteed shrimp, tomatillo, scrambled eggs, black beans, and country potatoes) and huevos rancheros. You can also enjoy a wealth of vegetarian and vegan options like the super chignon vegan burrito (soyrizo, tofu, tempeh, avocado, pico de gallo, and no-lard refried beans), buttermilk corn and spinach pancakes, tres leeches oatmeal and vegan menudo. 515 West 7th St., downtown, 213.985.4332. malorestaurant.com
Southern Brunch at Whist
Sundays. The South hits the Pacific coast at Whist’s new southern brunch. Executive Chef Tony DiSalvo dishes out down-home cooking with a crisp, contemporary twist, such as house-cured cajun shrimp, green tomato salad and biscuits & gravy. Start your Dixie extravaganza with a Georgia mint julep from the “Revive Bar,” a special selection of southern cocktails specifically created to lift the spirits and get the day started. $45/pp. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Whist, Viceroy Santa Monica, 1819 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, 310.260.7511. viceroysantamonica.com
