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If you’re pondering ideas for the coming weekend, you’ve come to the right place.
This June 16-18 in Los Angeles, you’ll find plenty of Father’s Day food options, some free ideas (and free fares!) centered around Metro’s Regional Connector, the Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival, a New Orleans Corridor Street Festival, a Juneteenth Celebration in Santa Monica, CicLAvia in South L.A., a Chalk Festival in Pasadena, and more. We know, it’s a lot. Time to start planning!
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Make Metro Part of Your Weekend
L.A. Metro’s long-awaited Regional Connector opens to the public at noon on Friday, meaning that for the first time Angelenos will be able to ride a single train without transferring between Santa Monica and East LA or between Azusa and Long Beach. To mark the opening of the new routes/stations, Metro will offer FREE rides on all Metro bus, rail, bike, and Metro Micro services across all of Los Angeles County from June 16-18. So where should you go?
We put together a handy guide of free things to do this weekend near the new Regional Connector, including a pair of highlights below:
Patches & Pins Expo -> If you want to go to something event-based, consider this funky flea market popping up at Grand Central Market this Saturday starting at noon. Work up an appetite exploring 70+ vendors offering pins, patches, art, toys, vintage fashion, pop collectibles, retro nostalgia, sneakers, and more. Plus, if you make plans to come by in the late afternoon, then maybe you’ll continue the fun with our next pick (see below).
GO METRO: Take the A or E Lines to Historic Broadway station
Grand Performances -> The free summer concert series at California Plaza continues this Saturday with a performance by Iranian musician, singer, composer, poet, author, and political activist Shahin Najafi. Things get going around 6 p.m., and if you’re coming from the P&P Expo (mentioned above), you can simply walk the hill or ride Angels Flight to get up to the plaza.
GO METRO: Take the A or E Lines to Grand Av Arts / Bunker Hill station.
More Things To Do This Weekend
American Contemporary Ballet Presents Concerto Barocco – M > Starting this Thursday, The Los Angeles American Contemporary Ballet’s latest production brings the choreography of George Balanchin to the the 28th floor of Two California Plaza, set to Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor. Tickets start at $40. Shows continue on select dates through June 25. More info here.
Bloomsday 2023 – FA TP > The Hammer celebrates author James Joyce and his novel Ulysses with Bloomsday this Friday. The evening of entertainment includes a theatrical blend of staged readings and musical performances all centered around the author’s most iconic work. Performances are followed by festivities in the museum’s courtyard with more live music and Guinness on tap. Admission is free and the box office opens one hour before the event. Starts at 7:30 p.m. Parking is $8 after 6 p.m.. More info here.
Roaring Nights at the L.A. Zoo -> On Friday, The Los Angeles Zoo’s annual after-hours music series Roaring Nights returns for summer 2023 and this time it’s all about the 80’s. Come experience a party atmosphere featuring DJs, an era-appropriate cover band, silent disco, animal feedings, plus on-site food trucks. Tickets cost $25. More info here.
Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles Concerts – M FA > The Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles annual summer-long series of free concerts features acclaimed and emerging talent from a broad range of musical genres. Events continue this Friday to Sunday, including a Father’s Day Celebration featuring Utopia DJ’s: KG Superstar + DJ Adé, and Katalyst Collective. All free to attend. No reservation required. Get more info here.
Trans Pride Los Angeles – M FA > The 2023 edition of Trans Pride LA will be a two-day event, including a town hall this Friday evening followed by an afternoon festival on Saturday featuring live performances, special vendors, food, and educational workshops. Free to attend. Get more info here.
Complexions Contemporary Ballet – M > This Friday to Sunday, Complexions Contemporary Ballet returns to The Music Center, with stunning ballet performances featuring music from artists that include Kendrick Lamar, Logic, Drake and Lenny Kravitz. Tickets start at $34. More info here.
New Orleans Corridor Ribbon Cutting & Street Festival – FA > This Saturday, a stretch of Jefferson Boulevard will be dedicated as L.A.’s “New Orleans Corridor,” with the milestone to be accompanied by a free festival featuring live musical performances. The ribbon cutting ceremony starts at 11 a.m., and will be followed by a parade and concert. Free to attend. More info here.
Q Con LGBTQ+ Comic Con – FA > This Saturday, Q Con celebrates the diversity of LGBTQ+ comics, games, and popular media. The day includes panel presentations, meet and greet with comic creators and publishers, a costume contest and more. The event is free to attend and family friendly. More info here.
MOCA x Insomniac & Secret Project Present Party/After-Party Sessions – M TP > MOCA, with an assist from Insomniac / Secret Projects, is hosting concerts and a dance party built around Carl Craig’s Party/After-Party sound and light installation currently on exhibition at The Geffen Contemporary. Tickets are $15. More info here.
Juneteenth Celebration in Santa Monica – M FA > The 31st annual Juneteenth Celebration in Santa is back at Virginia Avenue Park this Saturday from 1 to 7 p.m. Expect an afternoon of music, unique food and craft vendors, and local resources, all banded together under the 2023 theme of “Coming Together in Appreciation, Reconciliation, and Commemoration!” Free to attend. More info here.
Roller Jam Juneteenth Celebration – M FA > Celebrate Juneteenth in Old Pasadena this Saturday with an afternoon of tunes, food trucks, art, and vendors, all located at the plaza at Pasadena City Hall, which will be transformed into a mini roller skating rink. Runs 4 to 9 p.m. and is free to attend. The event website doesn’t mention skate rental, so our advice is to bring your own if you plan on lacing up. More info here.
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Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival – TP > This Saturday and Sunday, the annual jazz festival returns to the Bowl for a two-day concert that includes performances by Kamasi Washington, Leon Bridges, West Coast Get Down, Poncho Sanchez and others. Tickets start around $40. More info here.
Garagiste Wine Festival -> Garagiste Festival is Los Angeles’ only wine festival that exclusively features wines from commercial California ‘garagiste’ winemakers. The wines are poured by the winemakers or owners themselves at the festival offering a rare opportunity to meet the sources behind the wine. The event starts this Saturday at 11:30 a.m. Ticket prices range from $65.00 to $135. More info here.
Pasadena Chalk Festival – M FA > The Pasadena Chalk Festival returns to The Paseo this Saturday and Sunday for a two day-long event featuring art and music featuring some 200 murals and over 500 artists. This event is free to attend. More info here.
CicLAvia South LA Presented by Metro – M FA TP > On Sunday, L.A.’s biggest and longest running open streets initiative heads to South LA with a car-free course along Vermont Avenue. Runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free to attend. Rain or shine event! More info here.
Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance – FA > Is dad a car guy? Spend Father’s Day up-close with some of the world’s most luxurious vehicles at this annual free car show in the heart of Beverly Hills, featuring an array of classic and rare vehicles plus food truck/carts on-site. It’s free to attend and runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More info here.
Frenchielandia -> This Sunday, French Bulldogs descend onto Santa Anita Park for a day of fun in the sun and one heart pounding Frenchie race. Tickets cost $10. More info here.
Dining & Drinking For Father’s Day Weekend
(picks by Christina Champlin)
San Laurel -> This Father’s Day, Downtown’s San Laurel hosts a Jamón and Mezcal special featuring an a la carte menu of jamón dishes paired with Del Maguey Mezcals. Highlights include Jamón Ibérico de Bellota a.k.a. the finest ham in the world and a Japanese influenced Jamón Chawanmushi. Located at the newish and stunning Conrad Los Angeles, the California meets Spain menu will also be available during service.
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Encanto -> Elevated Mexican restaurant Encanto in Los Feliz celebrate dads who love a good steak with a Bone-In Kansas City Steak Special served in a hot skillet with jalapeño relish, and tempura nopales fries ($56). Encanto’s regular menu by new executive chef Christopher Lin will also be available along with a cocktail special, the “Broma de Papa” (translation “Dad Joke”) a take on a Tequila Flip made with Nixta Corn Liqueur, egg, lime, simple syrup, soda, served in a glass with a corn-chip dusted rim.
Caldo Verde -> Take dad to a Sunday Supper in DTLA at Proper Hotel’s Portuguese-inspired restaurant Caldo Verde. The restaurant is featuring a three-course pre-fixe that starts with a steakhouse salad and choice of Pancetta-Wrapped Bluefish or Grilled Westholme Wagyu Manhattan. The meal concludes with chef Suzanne Goin’s father’s favorite dessert, a Vanilla Meringue Stuffed with Vanilla Ice Cream with bittersweet chocolate sauce and toasted almonds. The meal cost $65 a person and throughout the evening, guests will have the option to sip on The Dalmore’s 12-year, 14-year, or 15-year single malt scotch whisky in 1 oz. or 2 oz. shots, or a flight of all three. Reservations can be made on Open Table.
Per L’Ora -> Downtown’s Hotel Per La’s gorgeous restaurant Per L’Ora will be offering a Father’s Day prix-fixe menu on both Saturday and Sunday. The menu starts with a salad, followed by a Basil Spaghetti dish with blistered tomato and goat cheese, and capped by a Bone In Prime Ribeye with celery root porcini pave with additional accompaniments. The prix-fixe runs $110 per person.
Big Daddy Bloody Mary -> Is dad’s favorite drink a Bloody Mary? Does he like barbecue or just meat in general? Take him to Culver City’s Maple Block Meat Co. for The Big Daddy Bloody Mary made with a spicy smoked Bloody Mary with Tito’s Vodka, garnished with a celery stalk, olives, pickled onions, lemon, and bacon topped with a pork spare rib. The drink costs $25 and is available all day Father’s Day.
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