Holy red, white and blue! Fourth of July is right around the corner and Los Angeles is throwing down for America this weekend. From Americafest at The Rose Bowl to Fourth of July Block Party in Venice and the LA Freedom Festival in Century City, there are endless ways to celebrate. If America isn't your schtick right now, don't sweat the small stuff. There are a plethora of other things going on. Spend the day biking through East LA or at the beach with hundreds of Corgis. If you're not a day person, party hard with Heartbreaker L.A. or kick back and watch queer films from the Bay Area. Whatever your flavor, it's all happening Los Angeles!
Thursday, June 29
Rosé Wine Tasting & Tapas
Rosé is the talk of the world right now and Pitchoun is throwing a summer wine tasting to transport you to Provence. This Thursday, taste a selection of three different rosés alongside three French homemade tapas inspired by the flavors of Nice and the French Riviera. Entrance is free with a RSVP, but participating in the tasting is $12. There is a full menu available if hunger strikes and all wine bottles are 10 percent off during the event.
Image courtesy of @pitchounbakery
Board Games & BBQ
With Fourth of July around the corner, it’s time to munch on some good BBQ and Horse Thief BBQ is rolling in early with a Board Games & BBQ night. Talk about a good time or a perfect date night ... cough cough. Anyways, this Thursday evening head downtown for beer pong, corn hole, giant Jenga and Connect Four. If those games don't tickle your fancy, take a seat with board games like Scrabble, Monopoly and Cards Against Humanity. Additionally, music and giveaways will be going down all night.
Image courtesy of @horsethiefbbq
Friday, June 30 - Sunday, July 2
626 Night Market
626 is celebrating six years of bomb food, small businesses, arts and crafts, community and lasting love for a weekend extravaganza. If you're unfamiliar with 626 Night Market, it is the OG and largest Asian-themed market to hit the United States. The market aims to unite and empower the community by creating a platform for local businesses and talent. Warms your heart, huh? Note, the event officially cracks the doors open at 4 p.m., but if you want to go to the races (horse races that is) and have a little fun, arrive at 1 p.m. Whenever you arrive, come hungry as this lively market has over 150 Asian street food vendors. Who’s ready?
Deets: Friday and Saturday 4 p.m. - 1 a.m.; Sunday 4 p.m. - 11 p.m.; Santa Anita Park; $3 GA Friday and Sunday; $5 Saturday; Children 6 and Under Free; More info HERE
Image courtesy of @626nightmarket
Friday, June 30
NoBanNoWall L.A.
#NoBanNoWallLA showcases artists from predominantly Muslim countries for a night of conversation and celebration. Tickets are $15 and 100 percent of the proceeds are going to the evening's performers. So, pass up booze cruisin' for a night and sit in on a conversation that matters. Plus, it's always a wonderful idea to go out and support local arts!
Image courtesy of @ridzdesign
A Sorted Assortment of Queer Film from the Bay Area
Echo Park Film Center and the Andy Warhol Foundation for Visual Arts are hosting a viewing party for the experimental queer film from the Bay Area. With films spanning over 40 years from 1972 - 2016, you will dive deep into the history and current state of queer film from the Bay Area. Such films include Confessions by Curt McDowell in 1972 to Affirmations by Marlon Riggs in 1990 and Scream Of The Mandrake by Gary Fembot in 2015. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and admission is $5.
Image courtesy of @etmm
Heartbreaker L.A.
Now that you've taken a step into art and politics, dance your ass off at Heartbreaker L.A., an underground club night for LGBTQ+ family and friends. Rotating on Friday nights, monthly, this week's guest DJ is DJ Kiyomi or Sweet Beats. If you haven't spotted her cruising the LA streets in her Sweet Beats Truck, you're missing out. When she’s done spinning sick beats, resident DJ Whitney Day takes the stage. Note, there is no cover entry for the event and parking is $10 valet for all Heartbreak guests. It is recommended to catch a Lyft as booze is sure to flow through your systems all night.
Image courtesy of @heartbreakernights
Saturday, July 1
Summer 2017 So Cal Corgi Beach Day
This entry really does not require an extra convincing, but it’s a part of the job so here it goes. This summer, Corgi Beach Day is heading to a brand new location in Long Beach, where more events, contests, corgis and overflow parking is calling your name. Here's the lowdown on the schedule. The festivities begin with a Corgi talent contest, followed by a Patriotic costume contest and a Corgi limbo competition. Say what? Corgis doing the limbo? We're sold. If that's not enough to sell you, shame! Nah, but there are free pawdicures, corgi tattoos, a corgi kissing booth and a bubble pavilion filled with tons of corgis flocking among bacon and chicken flavored bubbles. Oh yeah, and there are food trucks for the humans.
Want to check out what's going on nearby? Check out our guide to Long Beach with the founder of LaK Shoes HERE ...
Image courtesy of @socalcorgibeachday
Hauser & Wirth Public Opening: Takesada Matsutani, Paul McCarthy, Monika Sosnowska
Even though we were sad to see Jason Rhodes' long-standing neon exhibition go last month, Hauser & Wirth continues to wow us with the public opening of Takesada Matsutani, Paul McCarthy and Monika Sosnowska this weekend. At a recent press opening of the Matsutani exhibition, the artist himself appeared in a casual t-shirt for a humbling live performance of his work. The gallery will be celebrating the new shows with food and drinks provided by Manuela and music from KCRW’s very own DJ Mathieu Schreyer in one of our favorite courtyards in Los Angeles. If you’ve never been to the powerhouse contemporary gallery, this is the perfect summer event to dip your toe into LA’s booming art scene.
Deets: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.; Hauser & Wirth; Event is free and open to the public; The bar will be accepting all major credit cards; More info HERE
Image courtesy of @contemporaryartreview.la
Eastside Mural Ride 2017 Presented by Metro
This Saturday morning, Los Angeles Metro is hosting the 2017 Eastside Mural Ride, a family-friendly ride through East LA to celebrate the rich history of murals that reflect the communities. So don your best bike shorts, a load of sunscreen and cruise down to East LA Civic Center at 9 a.m. for a culture ride. Note: this is a slow to medium paced 10-mile bike ride with varying levels of inclination. Before you get scared, there will be plenty of pit stops and rest breaks to hydrate and reapply sunscreen. Seriously, it's going to be hot and the sun is not your friend. Additionally, it’s highly recommended you bring a refillable water bottle/canteen.
Deets: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.; East LA Civic Center; Free; More info HERE
2322 Collective and Restless Group are joining forces to bring you Venice's 3rd Annual Block Party featuring Phantogram. Come listen to great live music from a series of artists and DJs like Grizfolk, D!Y, isle&fever and more. As the tunes float through the event, grab grub from Green Truck and Peace4Kids. Once you've refueled, you have the option to lounge, play cornhole or oversized beer pong and partake in live art. Remember, all proceeds from this event go to Peace4Kids, a non-profit, volunteer supported organization promoting trust, equality and stability for children in foster care.
Deets: 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.; 2300 Zeno Place Venice, CA 90291; $27+ GA; More info HERE
Image courtesy of @shanelopesphoto
Tuesday, July 4
LA Freedom Festival
Looking to shake up your fireworks routine? Have you been wondering what the deal is with that mysterious yellow box near Century City? The Freedom Sculpture, a large-scale public artwork by Sri Lankan-British architect and artist Cecil Balmond, will be unveiled at the first LA Freedom Festival this Tuesday with an epic firework show. With more than 1 million supporters on social media (including Elon Musk and Mayor Eric Garcetti) and $2.2 million raised, the monument is a crowd-supported gift from the Farhang Foundation to Los Angeles as an homage to freedom and inclusiveness. To celebrate, Los Angeles is closing off the six intersectional lanes of Santa Monica and Century Park East in Century City. This is huge! The festival is filled with live international music and multi-ethnic foods including Marisco Jalisco, Ho-Lee-Chow, Son of Bun and Green Truck.
Deets: 5:30 - 10 p.m.; Santa Monica Blvd. and Century Park East; Free; More info HERE
Image courtesy of Cecil Balmond
Fourth of July Americafest at the Rose Bowl
Let’s welcome Americafest, the celebration of all things red, white and blue. With classic American food, a motorcycle stunt show and a world-renowned firework show, it’s a shindig you don’t want to miss. The doors open at 2 p.m. for an afternoon of inflatable rides, games and crafts, so feel free to bring the kidos. The fireworks pop off at 7 p.m. with a concert to follow at 9 p.m., so make sure you’re hydrating well all day. Additionally, parking is $20 for the event, but the Rose Bowl is making it worth your while with an afternoon of tailgating.
Deets: 2 p.m. - 11 p.m.; Rose Bowl Stadium ; $13 GA; $25 Preferred Seating; Kids 5 and Under Free; More info HERE
Image courtesy of @muellercurson
Fourth of July Block Party
Grand Park and The Music Center are throwing down for the Fourth. With live music, delicious grub and fireworks being shot into the sky along the Civic Center skyline, what more do want out of the day? Note, music and artists that call L.A. home will be performed on two stages from 2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and fireworks start at 9 p.m. Please check the website for the list of items prohibited! As always, free bike valet is available at 2nd and Hill St.
Image courtesy of @grandpark_la
Header image courtesy of @jiminburbank
