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As we prep you for the coming weekend, there’s plenty on deck to be excited about.
For this August 1-3 in Los Angeles, catch a pickle party farewell at Cole’s French Dip, KCRW Summer Nights at CAAM, CatCon in Pasadena, Negritude Festival at LA Plaza, FoLAR’s third annual River Fest, the Avocado Fest at Angel City Brewery, and more.
Things To Do This Weekend
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
Pickle Party at Cole’s -> After 117 years in business, Cole’s French Dip will be shuttering its doors after this weekend by the end of September [see updated story here]. As the the iconic sandwich spot and speakeasy winds down its final weeks, Kwame’s Pickle Party will be popping up at Cole’s this Friday from 1 to 9 p.m. Expect pickles, music, French dips, and plenty of heartfelt tributes. Get more info here.
KCRW Summer Nights at CAAM – M FA > KCRW brings Summer Nights to the California African American Museum this Friday for a vibey all-ages dance party featuring live sets from Guest DJ Linafornia and KCRW DJ Tyler Boudreaux. Enjoy special in food trucks, a beer garden, a maker activity, and after-hours access to all CAAM’s exhibitions. It all starts at 7 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
The Music Center’s Dance DTLA – M FA > Dance DTLA is back one more time this Friday at The Music Center’s Jerry Moss Plaza. The series wraps up their 2025 summer lineup with an evening of Disco led by instructor Andrew Vaca. The event is always free to attend, and always all-ages. Runs 7 to 11 p.m. More info here.
Grand Performances – M FA > Grand Performances hosts on a pair of performances to kickstart August. First on Friday, they’ll close out the She Speaks poetry series with a performance by Yesika Salgado. Then on Saturday, catch a concert headlined by Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated artist Adrian Quesada. Both nights get going at 6 p.m. Both are free to attend. More info here.
CatCon – M > This Saturday and Sunday, catch the latest in feline culture at this two-day expo in Pasadena featuring cat-centric merchandise, workshops, and performances. Individual day GA tickets start at $47.93 per person. Get more info here.
Summer Night Market at Mandarin Plaza – M FA > Steep LA is curating a Summer Night Market this Saturday at Mandarin Plaza in Chinatown. Expect a specially curated tea cocktail menu, a selection of stylish local vendors to peruse, and a listening session co-hosted by Aura Studios. The market starts at 5 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
CatVideoFest 2024 -> Starting this Saturday, CatVideoFest brings cat videos to the big screen with a 73-minute romp filled with internet cat classics, animations, and music videos, all in the name of the cute AF kitty. This year’s fest takes place at Vidiots in Eagle Rock, and highlights a pair of local charitable orgs: Tail Town Cat Cafe and Kitten Rescue of Los Angeles. Screenings of the CatVideoFest will continue on select dates through August 15. Tickets are $13 for adults. More info here.
Negritude Festival at LA Plaza – M FA > Negritude Festival pops up at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes this Saturday for a jam-packed afternoon of programming celebrating the Afro-diasporic culture and highligting queer and femme voices. Expect live performances, art & installations,a black-owned marketplace, community conversations and workshops, and food and drinks available for sale. It all runs from 2 to 8 p.m. and is free to attend. More info here.
Corporate Cookout West at Desert 5 Spot -> Sunscreen brand Vacation throws a retro-inspired rooftop bash this Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. at Desert 5 Spot in Hollywood. Expect summer camp meets office party vibes with free Baileys cocktails, complimentary tacos, and live sets from Poolsuite DJs. Guests can cool off with a rooftop dip, ride a mechanical bull, and catch a country band covering Jimmy Buffett classics. Free Vacation sunscreen included. More info here.
Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles Concerts – M FA > Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles routinely offers the most prolific annual free concert series in the city, all taking place at MacArthur Park. Next up, this Saturday you can check out a team-up event with KCRW featuring performances by Eddie Chacon + Thee Heart Tones and Hello Stranger. Music starts at 7 p.m. More info here.
LACMA Latin Sounds – FA > LACMA Latin Sounds brings a series of Saturday evening, outdoor concerts at Hancock Park (adjacent to the museum campus) with world-renowned artists performing everything from Indigenous music to sounds from Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, Peru, and Los Angeles. This Saturday the series continues with a performance by Chino Espinosa y Los Dueños del Son. It’s free to attend and uns 5 to 7 p.m. More info here.
FoLAR’s Third Annual River Fest – M FA TP > On Sunday, Friends of the LA River (FoLAR) invites the public to River Fest a free, all-ages event featuring live performances by local artists, a visual art gallery, a vendor marketplace, eco-friendly family activities, and food trucks. Ticket registration is required to enjoy all the complimentary festivities. Runs 2 to 8 p.m. More info here.
Angel City Brewery Avocado Fest – M FA > Angel City Brewery is celebrating the release of two crowd-favorite seasonal brews – Avocado Ale and Guavocado Ale with a party featuring avocado-themed games, live music, food and vendors, all taking place this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free. More info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Golden Hour Sundays (Sunday’s) -> Sushi Roku Santa Monica recently launched a new happy hour menu with extended hours from 3-7 p.m. every Sunday. Three new frozen cocktails are also on the menu as well as Panko Seabass Sliders, a sushi handroll trio, tuna crudo and soy honey glazed chicken wings .Take advantage of Golden Hour Sundays on the patio and in the bar area. More info here.
Sommelier Sundays at WeVINO (Begins August 3) -> WeVINO in Westlake Village launches Sommelier Sundays, a new guided tasting series led by Head Sommelier Andrei Garcia Starshaya. The debut event on August 3 at 5 p.m. explores Italian white wines—crisp, mineral, and aromatic. Tickets are $35 per person, available via OpenTable. WeVINO also offers modern Italian fare, a stunning 3,000-bottle cellar, and a rare Enomatic system for by-the-ounce pours.
Breakfast Tacos at Cookbook Market Larchmont (August 2) -> This Saturday, Cookbook Market’s Larchmont café debuts a limited breakfast taco menu from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The tacos are made with Caramelo’s Sonoran tortillas and available while supplies last. More info here.
Friday Wine Flights at Bar Santos (Fridays) -> Bar Santos in Cypress Park pours a curated wine flight every Friday for just $25. Selected by wine director Evelyn Goreshnik, each lineup showcases unique, thoughtful picks to start your weekend right. More info here.
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