39 Awesome Things To Do in L.A. This Weekend [6-5-15 to 6-7-15]

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 a free dance party at the Music Center, the Great Horror Campout, Harold & Maude at the Hollywood Forever, the Make Music Pasadena Festival, a CatCon 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!

Downtown Los Angeles View
Credit: _maddish_ 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 June 5th, 2015

1. Dance Downtown (With free Salsa lessons)

The Music Center hosts free, weekly dance parties all summer long they believe “The world needs more spontaneous dancing” and I agree! This week the theme is salsa so put on your dancing shoes and get down out on the town. There will be beginner dance lessons, live music and a open dance floor. Guest are welcome to bring a picnic or grab a bite on site.

2. Great Horror Campout

The Great Horror Campout (GHC) is a “choose your own adventure” overnight, interactive camping experience held at the at Old Abandoned L.A. Zoo. Camp Creepers will be roaming the grounds and terrorizing overnight guests all night long. The campout features separate events for both this Friday and Saturday nights.

3. FREE Doughnut at Krispy Kreme for National Doughnut Day

In honor of National Doughnut Day stop into any Krispy Kreme for a FREE doughnut of any variety–including its world famous Original Glazed® doughnut.

4. Free Outdoor Movie Screenings on the Redondo Beach Boardwalk

Put together by The Redondo Pier Association this weekly summer film screening will kick off with Disneys Big Hero 6. The Redondo Beach Pier movie screenings will take place at 100 Fisherman’s Wharf Redondo Beach 90277 (starting at dusk).

5. Rip Curl Sample Sale

Get great deals on wetsuits, swimwear, watches, and other great Rip Curl apparel and gear. The sale runs from June 5 to June 7 and the first 200 people to enter the sale each day get a free t-shirt.

Location: 3030 Airway Dr. Costa Mesa, California

6. Barnsdall Park’s Friday Night Wine Tasting

All summer long Barnsdall Art Park has a weekly fundraiser to benefit Barnsdall Art Park Foundation programs and projects. Perched on a hill with a gorgeous panoramic view of Hollywood, guests will enjoy fine wine and art in the gardens of Frank Lloyd Wright’s newly restored architectural gem, Hollyhock House. Silver Lake Wine will curate fine selections of boutique, small production, artisanal wines for park-goers as well as local gourmet cheese shop, Say Cheese.

7. 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. Find discount tickets  Friday via our friends at Goldstar.

8. WordTasting Tour 2015

Asymmetrical Press’ team of talented authors is hitting the road in May and June for a WordTasting Tour across the western United States and Canada and they are here this week in LA. Join Colin Wright, Josh Wagner, Shawn Mihalik, Skye Steele and special local guests for an evening of word tasting: readings, stories, live music, questions, and answers. Plus special guest Joshua Fields Millburn of The Minimalists will read at the event. Additional special guests include writer Matt Summell and artist Josh Hagler. Artist Jessica Lynn Williams will host.

9. 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.

10. Los Angeles Dodgers Friday Night Fireworks

Nothing beats catching a game beneath the stars especially with our beloved Dodgers . After the final out is called, the lights will go down and guests can actually go on to the field for a spectacular fireworks show. This week the Dodgers are up against the St. Louis Cardinals, and our friends at Goldstar have reserve MVP seats starting at $32.

11. Available Light 

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Three postmodern influencers – choreographer Lucinda Childs, composer John Adams, and architect Frank Gehry will re-conceive their multi-layered masterpiece, Available Light, for The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall this Friday and Saturday. Childs, Adams and Gehry will come together for a post-performance discussion about the production, co-commissioned and co-presented by Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center and the LA Phil. The original production opened 31 years ago. The rare conversation with all three creators will follow the Friday performance. Tickets start at $65 but our friends at Goldstar has them discounted starting at $33.

12. National Day of Civic Hacking Kick Off Party

To celebrate the 2015 National Day of Civic Hacking, CTRL Collective and Hack For LA have decided to throw a huge party. There will be speakers, hacker demos, food trucks, an open bar and live music. The event is free.

13. Sip Cocktails, See The Sights With The Historic Hollywood: Stars & Bars Gang!

Get a taste of Old Hollywood sip on classic cocktails as an awesome guide share history tidbits, celebrity stories and more on Urban Adventures tour of Historic Hollywood. Usually tickets are $79 but Goldstar is hooking people up with $47.40 tickets.

14. 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. Get more information and discount tickets via Goldstar (prices starting at $6.50)

15. First Fridays

Remember this Friday is the first of the month, which means First Friday festivities at NHM (It’s their finale for the season!), in Venice Beach, Pasadena and Bixby Knolls…

Saturday June 6th, 2015

16. CatConLA

CatConLA promises everything you could ever want in a cat symposium / expo / festival. The weekend long event will feature a gambit of cat related activities and interests, from new products and ideas in art and design to cat inspired furniture and cat-centric pop culture panels. There will also be appearances from YouTube stars and conversations with some of the top cat experts in the world. CatConLA will be held at the Reef in Downtown Los Angeles. If want to go be sure to grab discount tickets for either Saturday or Sunday via our friends at Goldstar.

17. Eddie Izzard at the Hollywood Bowl

Eddie Izzard’s Force Majeure tour comes to the Hollywood Bowl this Saturday night at 8:30pm  Get more information and half-off tickets via Goldstar.

18. Eat|See|Hear Breakfast at Tiffany’s Outdoor Screening

Audrey Hepburn plays the quirky Holly Golightly in one of her most famous movies of all time Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Eat|See|Hear will take place at The Autry in Griffith Park the large, grassy lawn is perfect for cozy blankets and pillows, there will be plenty of food trucks too so lounge and eat while watching the movie! If you can’t make it there on time, there are still a few ‘fashionably late’ passes with reserved seating available via Goldstar (while supplies last).

19. Matilda The Musical

The Tony winning story of the little girl with big dreams comes to the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles. You can save more than $20 on Saturday night’s performance (starts at 8:00pm) if you purchase through Goldstar.

20. Make Music Pasadena Festival

Make Music Pasadena is a FREE, all-day, all-ages music celebration in the heart of Old Town Pasadena, now returning for its 8th year in a row. There will be over 30 Pasadena venues spanning 20+ blocks where visitors can enjoy live musical performances. The musical lineup is comprised of more than 150 bands featuring a diverse set of styles and genres. Like recent years it gets crowed, parking might be a problem so carpool or take a Lyft or Urber.

21. KCRW Summer Nights: De Lux + Dan Wilcox

Checkout De Lux before the new album drops at KCRW’s Summer Nights. This is the first of the Summer Night series, check out their full line up for summer to take full advantage!

22. Armenian Food Fair

Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Cathedral is proud to present the 6th Armenian Food Fair & Fest. Enjoy Armenian food, pastry, dancing, live music and dance performances. Try Auntie Manig’s world famous pirashki a fried dough stuffed with savory ground beef or seasoned potato.

23. Los Angeles Bread Festival

Umm… if you are on a low carb diet you might want to stay away and for the rest of us there is a FREE, two-day celebration called the Southern Californian artisan bread renaissance hosted by Grand Central Market. Guest get to sample nom worthy offerings from a variety of LA bread makers, partake in a community bread bake, enjoy panel bread discussions and more.

24. Parachute Market

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Parachute Market is a biannual, conceptual design fair and marketplace that satisfies the conscious collector’s appetite for object art and design. The market offers a platform for timeless objects and enduring design with an innovative marketplace of furniture, decorative objects, and fashion by emerging and established artists, designers and collectors. General admission is just $10.

25. Take an Insider’s Tour Through East Hollywood’s Ethnic Neighborhoods

Thai Town, Little Armenia and Koreatown are filled with great food, shops and culture. For those interested in getting to know these neighborhoods this walking tour / tasting session is the perfect introduction. Tickets are normally priced at $79 but you can find some for as low as $47.50 (plus fees) via Goldstar.

26. Harold & Maude Screening At The Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Love can come from unlikely places and knows no bounds. Harold is a teenage recluse who is fascinated with death, but when he meets 79 year old Maude, she teaches him how to live. This hilarious comedy is one of the most famous and unique romance stories in cinematic history. Cat Stevens provides the gorgeous and heartbreaking soundtrack. Come see this 70’s oddball classic at the legendary Hollywood Forever Cemetery as part of the Cinespia outdoor summer screening series.

27. Design-n-Dim Sum Bike Tour

Enjoy a day of studio visits, biking and bao. This year as part of the LA Design Festival, de Lab is taking guests on a LA river route, stopping at some of the new businesses and non-profits currently transforming the riverscape. To go on the ride is free, they have some bikes for rent for $15 but bikes are limited so rsvp quick and the end of the ride takes the hungry to The Golden Dragon Restaurant for dim sum! To join in on the dim sum you have to purchase a $20 ticket.

28. Grab A Partner And Compete In The Amazing Santa Monica Race

Part sightseeing, part scavenger hunt and 100% team work! This race will have you and your partner exploring Santa Monica Beach and the Venice Boardwalk searching for clues to solve the ultimate puzzle. Grab your discounted tickets before they run out!

29. Historic Core Mural Art Tour

Take a walking tour of the incredible murals and street art that help define the Historic Core district of DTLA, as presented by the Downtown Art Walk and the Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles. Great opportunity to learn and explore. Starts at 11:00am on Saturday. Tickets are $15 via Eventbrite.

30. Project Social T First Ever Sample Sale

From 9:00am to 4:00pm, score one the hottest star-faved brand’s for women’s and juniors basics. Prices range from just $5 to $10 each during its one-day sample sale. I know I will be there!

Location: 615 South Clarence Street Los Angeles, CA 90023

Sunday June 7th, 2015

31. Hike Fern Canyon with Ranger Ernie

This Sunday at 8:00am Ranger Ernie leads a free hike to Fern Canyon Trail in Griffith Park. Beginner level, only 2.5 miles total. Brian and I will be there!

[UPDATE 6/5/15: Ranger Ernie announced via his Facebook page that the hike this Sunday has been cancelled!]

32. Connected Fest Poolside Pop-Up

Connected Fest presents a special pop-up edition of its popular fashion festival hosted by Hotel Figueroa. The poolside event will feature a special curation of clothing, accessories, shoes and gifts. Brunch and bottomless mimosas will also be available to shoppers through the hotel’s Fig Street Café. This intimate edition of the event will feature brands offering exclusive pricing to the public and admission is free.

33. Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 Screening At TCL Theatre 

Celebrate the 75th anniversary of Walt Disney’s “Fantasia” and the 15th anniversary of “Fantasia 2000. Join Cinespia for a rare screening of the original 1940s masterpiece, Fantasia, followed by a screening of its millennial cousin, Fantasia 2000. Photo booths and special themed cocktails will also be featured at this first-ever back-to-back screening.

34. Chris Burden: Ode to Santos Dumont At LACMA

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After a decade of artist research and work Chris Burden: Ode to Santos Dumont debuts at LACMA. This monumental performance sculpture, by the late artist pays homage to ingenuity, optimism, and the persistence of experimentation, failure, and innovation. Inspired by Alberto Santos-Dumont a french pioneer in aviation the kinetic airship sculpture is one of the last works of the American artist.

35. Contemporary Crafts Market

The Contemporary Crafts Market is throwing its’ 30th annual three-day vendor fair. Head on over
to Old Town Pasadena for an American-made shopping experience where you will find one of a kind ceramic goods, home furnishings, custom jewelry, quality textiles, hand-blown glass pieces, and more. Admission is $8.

36. Place Your Bets and Drink Beer in Santa Anita Park’s New Budweiser Lounge

Grab your best hat and spend a day at the races! The new Budweiser Lounge is offering a great package that includes a buffet, over 20 television’s at your disposal, a view of the Paddock Gardens and your very own private betting station. Oh yeah and a free beer to get the party started! Cheers!

37. Noah Purifoy: Junk Dada

LACMA is yet again relocating another massive piece of art and this time its not a giant rock. Works from artist Noah Purifoy’s Outdoor Sculpture Museum will be transported to LACMA for a special summer exhibition. Purifoy’s works are sculptures created mostly from discarded materials so the name is befitting. Purifoy is a CalArts graduate, WWII veteran and a Angeleno who spent a lot of time in his Joshua Tree studio. He was also one of the founders of the Watts Towers Arts Center.

38. One-Day Joshua Tree Adventure: Experience the Majestic Mojave

If you’ve always wanted to check out the amazing beauty of Joshua Tree but needed a little extra motivation, consider this package that includes bus fare, a guided tour of local sights, and opportunities to dine at some of the best eateries in the area. Awesome excuse to go on adventure if you want to liven up your weekend. Get more information and discounted tickets on the package at Goldstar.

39. Taste of the Nation Los Angeles

A hot food and wine event that helps fight childhood hunger? Count me in! Taste of the Nation® for No Kid Hungry features top chefs and mixologists coming together to donate their time, talent and passion to end childhood hunger in America. Guest get to taste over 40 different bites from the best Chefs in town and meet them! Taking place at Culver City’s Media Park, Taste of the Nation is celebrating more than 25 years of helping end childhood hunger.


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