27 Awesome Things To Do in L.A. This Weekend [5-8-15 to 5-10-15]

Los Angeles provides no limit of things to do, some awesome and some not so awesome. Since time is precious in this fast paced city, we decided to curate a list of things to do in Los Angeles every weekend that’ll help you decide how you want to spend your limited supply of attention (not to mention dollars!).

This weekend includes NBA playoffs at Staples, the Hola Mexico Film Festival, outdoor movie screenings, a free Underground Art Tunnel, MILFs at Villain’s, and much, much more!

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So grab some friends or go at it alone, but most importantly have fun and enjoy yourself!

Elysian Park Palm Trees
A view of palms from Elysian Park. Credit: Eric Richardson via flickr

[REMINDER: In some cases We Like L.A. does receive revenue when visitors click on ticket links and make purchases, however we maintain complete editorial control over the events we suggest. Basically, it only makes it on to the website if we think it is cool!]


Friday May 8th, 2015

1. Clippers vs. Rockets (Premier Seating)

Yeah, the Lakers are terrible and missed the playoffs…. but at least the Clippers are still repping our city in the Western Conference Semifinals! With the series vs. the Rockets tied heading into the weekend and Chris Paul’s injury status still up in the air, the next two games will be pivotal. If you feel like being impulsive and checking out the action live, you can still get 25% off list price for tickets in the 200 section at Staples Center if you purchase via this Goldstar offer. Friday’s game is at 7:30pm, Sunday is 5:30pm.

2. The Hola Mexico Film Festival

From May 8-17, the Hola Mexico Film Festival presented by DishLATINO, will feature over 20 films from Mexican by a mix of fresh and established talent. All films will screen at the REGAL Cinemas in Downtown Los Angeles at LA Live. Special events will include: an opening night fiesta, L.A. Gran Parrillada, and a closing night screening / concert.

3. Projection by Vincent Lamouroux

Get your Instagram game on! Silver Lake’s deserted Sunset Pacific Motel (a.k.a. Bates Motel) has been soaked in limewash for French artist Vincent Lamouroux’s latest art installation. The building located at 4301 Sunset Blvd and it’s adjacent billboard and nearby palm trees have also been painted stark white. Projection will remain on view until May 10.

4. The Groundlings: The Completely Different Late Show

The Completely Different Late Show is a hilarious improv show by the cast of the Groundlings’ Main Company. Audience shout suggestions throughout the night for improvisational scenes performed by some of the best in the business. It’s also a testing ground for brand new material for the Groundlings’ main show. Tickets are usually $13 but we found half price tickets on Goldstar!

5. The Grand Unveiling of the Erin Hanson: Wildflower Art Collection

Attention lovers of the great outdoors, vibrant impressionism and just a good art party in general… painter Erin Hanson is showcasing her latest paintings of beloved landscapes and wildflowers. Inspired by rock climbing Red Rock Canyon and the Southern California desert, Hanson has since spent almost a decade painting the dramatic scenery of Utah, Nevada, Arizona and California. Attendees will enjoy live music, wines and signature cocktails, as well as a chance to enter a special drawing for an original oil painting.

6. Free Shark Lagoon Nights At The Aquarium of the Pacific 

The Aquarium of the Pacific invites you to get up close with the ocean’s ultimate predators for FREE during Shark Lagoon Nights. There are opportunities to touch bamboo sharks and see large sharks as well as rays in the lagoon.

7. Raymond Pettibon Art Opening

Most well known for his punk rock album cover art, the Black Flag logo was designed by Pettibon and so was Sonic Youths Goo album. Regen Projects will open his show From my bumbling attempt to write a disastrous musical, these illustrations muyst suffice, an exhibition of new work by the artist. Will run in L.A. till May 30.

8. Cruel Intentions: The Completely Unauthorized Musical Parody 

This musical takes all the sexy, funny and memorable moments from the original movie, mashes them up with a soundtrack of top-40 hits from the 90s and then performs it all live onstage with a powerhouse cast and live band. With three sold-out preview performances last month this show is sure to be a hot ticket item. Find discount tickets via our friends at Goldstar.

Saturday May 9th, 2015

9. James Perse’s Marina Del Rey Sample Sale

Located at the LA label’s Marina Del Rey headquarters this two-day epic sale will feature up to 75% off on luxury essentials for women, men, kids, and home! Sale runs Saturday (10am-7pm) to Sunday (10am-6pm). Cash and credit are accepted, and drinks and snacks will be complimentary!

Location: James Perse HQ 4144 Glencoe Avenue, Marina del Rey, CA 90292

10. Sugar & Stilettos Bake Sale Extravaganza

Find baked goods from all of LA’s top bakeries, such as Sweet Lady Jane, Bouchon Bakery, Susie Cakes, Jamaica’s Cakes and more at the annual Sugar & Stilettos Bake Sale Extravaganza. Shop gift certificates from LA’s best restaurants, diamond jewelry, beauty items from Dry Bar and L’Occitane. Plus plenty of free activities for kids to keep them distracted while you take a bite into Thomas Kellers killer macaroons! This event benefits the Westside Food Bank and St. Joseph Center’s food pantry program. Partnering this year with URBAN FARMING™ a non-profit, guest will leave with a FREE plant (while supplies last) to anyone who buys a baked good!

11. Nightmare On Elm Street 3 At Great Horror Campout Movie Night

Grab your blankets and a couple of your bravest friends and head to L.A.’s Elysian Park to watch super-villain Freddy claw his way through Nightmare on Elm Street 3: The Dream Warriors. The screening will also include prizes, merchandise and scary cameos from the GHC monsters. Enjoy Nightmare on Elm Street 3 with an exclusive VIP package (just $15! via Goldstar), which includes reserved preferred seating, a free soda and VIP admission that lets you cut the line.

12. Hats Off to Dr. Seuss!

The first ever national touring exhibition of Dr. Seuss’s private hat collection is coming to Beverly Hills. Audrey S. Geisel, the widow of Dr. Seuss, opened up the Estate’s legendary “hat closet” to allow the public to view the collection. Hats Off to Dr. Seuss! is the first time any of these hats have traveled outside the Seuss Estate.

13. Runyon Canyon Donation Based Bootcamp

L.A.’s best donation based bootcamp is back! Every Saturday and Sunday at Runyon Canyon get your hiking and strength training on! Get ready to work with equipment like battleropes, kettlebells, slamballs, heavy duty resistance bands and sandbags. Check out their Facebook page for class times and future schedules.

14. Free Underground Art Tunnel in Cypress Park

Celebrate the reclamation of this unique public space with art (at least 9 different artists on display), live music, spoken word readings, crafts, and a special commemoration of the life and work of Richard Duardo. Duardo was a Master Printer from Highland Park, who some have called ‘The Warhol of The West.” Duardo passed away last November. The Tunnel Art Walk takes place from 5:00pm – 10:00pm on Saturday.

15. Villains Tavern’s Alternative Mother’s Day Event

Get your MILF on at Villains Tavern’s Pre Mother’s Day Burlesque Show featuring the the ladies of the Dirty Little Secrets Burlesque group. A night of campy fun starts at 9:00pm. with two shows full of shimmies, shakes and all things burlesque from some of the hottest moms in Southern California. Kick those flowers and brunch plans to the curb and celebrate the hot momma in your life with sexy burlesque, champagne sangria and craft cocktails all for no cover charge.

16. The Farriers Package at Santa Anita

Why not spend a day at the races with a package that includes admission to the races, box seating and a racing program, along with a pint of local craft beer from the Farriers bar. Get more info and discounted tickets via Goldstar.

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17. West Coast BBQ Classics

Grill masters from around the country will gather at the Queen Mary’s Waterfront Events Park to compete for the title of West Coast’s BEST BBQ at the West Coast BBQ Classics. This competition will bring together Southern California’s most accomplished Champion Pitmasters.  This finger lickin’ belly busting festival features: delicious BBQ tastings, live music, backyard games, kids’ country, a merchant market and an awards ceremony for the chosen Pitmaster.

18. Eat|See|Hear Opening Night!

The Eat|See|Hear Summer Movie Series (winner of L.A. Magazines Best Outdoor Movie Series), is finally here! Kicking off the 19 week series is the 2012 sing along infectious Pitch Perfect. In addition Eat|See|Hear will also be giving away all sorts of PitchPerfect 2 goodies, including tickets to the premiere screening on May 12th! Grab your tickets soon they tend to sell out.

19. The 7th Annual UNIQUE LA Spring Market

UNIQUE LA is the only curated, modern made-in-America design show in the country. It’s also a HUGE shopping event in LA. Seriously, it’s big! Shop from 350 designers & artists. Happening at Downtowns California Market Center, tickets are just $10 and include complementary drinks, free DIY workshops, photo portraits & prints from Oh Snap Studios! and the first 1,000 shoppers each day get free tickets to the OC Fair! Of course they didn’t forget about Mothers Day, free rose will be given to all moms (Sunday only) while supplies last!

20. The Dollface Dames Burlesque Show at Magicopolis

L.A. based burlesque troupe The Dollface Dames take over the Magicopolis stage for a night of tease, balloon popping, belly dance and even clogging? Lets just say they do a lot in their 80 minute show. But the fun doesn’t end there the Magicopolis bartenders double as magicians! Grab half price tickets and spend your money at the bar!

21. Crawl4Nepal

Join some of the best AND charitable breweries and bars around Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino Counties as they raise money for the crisis in Nepal. Awesome bars like Angel City Brewery, King Harbor Brewing Co. and Tony Darts Away will have at least one beer on draft as their “donation beer” so drink up! 100% of the proceeds will go to GlobalGiving, a highly vetted organization raising funds for both immediate use as well as long term recovery. They have already raised over $2 million! For a list of participating bars check out their events page.

22. Bar Ilegal Pop-Up at Harvard & Stone

Bar Ilegal is spicing things up over at Harvard & Stone bar goers can get a taste of Bar Ilegal’s Guatemalan-based Café No Se pop up and a glass of mezcal. Take a sip of their finest concoctions, as well as Mexicali beer for $4-$10, and nosh a late-night food menu from James Bear Award-Winning Guelaguetza. Best night ever!

23. The Giving Tree

This play inspired by Shel Silverstein’s classic story is the perfect evening spent with your kids. Playing at the Los Angeles Children’s Theater the story follows a boy from young age to old. Get more information and discounted tickets to The Giving Tree via Goldstar.

Sunday May 10th, 2015

24. Gracias Madre

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Mother’s Day Brunch at Gracias Madre just got tipsy! Yay! Moms of L.A. can sip on the Karma Chamomiliana compliments of the restaurant. Gracias Madre serves Mexican-inspired vegetarian cuisine and is a beautiful spot plush with olive trees, fresh organic produce, and stylish decor. It’s the perfect setting to celebrate mom.

25. Buy One Drink Get One Free On Mother’s Day at The Detour Bistro Bar

Culver City’s Detour Bistro Bar will be honoring moms with free drinks at brunch. From 8:30am to 3pm, The Detour Bistro Bar will celebrate mothers with buy one get one free offerings of Mimosas, Kir Royals, Bloody Mary’s and more. Mom not in town? Guess what the “for mom” part is actually not mandatory so come eat, drink and be merry!

26. L’Assiette Steak Frites Offering Complimentary Kir Royals For Mothers

Mothers get a complimentary Kir Royal with their spring fare this Mothers Day at L’Assiette Steak Frites. Known for specializing in a signature offering of steak frites, Chef/Owner Jacques Fiorentino will debut new dishes inspired by the cuisine his native country, such as Salmon Tartare and Seared Foie Gras. Bon appetit!

27. Drawing In L.A.: The 1960s and 70s At LACMA

Los Angeles-based artists drawings will be on display at this LACMA exhibit. Culled from LACMA’s collection and select local holdings, Drawing in L.A.: The 1960s and 70s features work by nearly 50 artists who approach drawing in numerous media and styles.


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