This week marks the end of the first month of summer (wah, WAH), and while that means we've still got two months left to enjoy half-day Fridays (KIDDING, we don't get those), there's no time like the present to start living life to the fullest, at least for the two days each week during which you're sprung from your cage. We know that beach traffic can be daunting, but if you do nothing else this weekend, we strongly suggest you suck it up and make the drive out to the Annenberg Beach House for a DIY party we're hosting with Kristen of Glitter 'N Glue, wherein you and your friends can nosh on snow cones, learn a few tricks, and leave with some extra color for your wardrobe courtesy of your freshly-made neon wrap bracelet. It's about time you stopped blinding everyone with the extraordinary whiteness of your sunscreen-and-cubicle-protected skin and instead started blinding them with some neon bling, no?
Friday
Friday nights can be rough. You've had a long week, you're pretty sure you're going blind from staring at a computer screen 24/7, and your feet ache from sporting those killer heels all day. As soon as your boss/warden releases you from your cell, head downtown to La Cita for their Angry Hour, featuring cheap drinks (to buy in bulk!), loud punk music and free pizza. If you'd prefer a little stimulation with your booze, however, we suggest heading to Fairfax, picking up something delicious at The Golden State, browsing art books at Family, and then crossing the street over to the Silent Movie Theatre for a screening of Pee Wee's Big Adventure -- because you're "a loner, Dotty, a rebel," and what better way to forget about the past week than to immerse yourself in absurdity and nostalgia? (Broke Girl Pro Tip: bring something soft to sit on, as the seats are not so comfy.) Or, if you're brave enough to face the crowds and/or weren't devastated by David Letterman's big mouth on the subject, you could opt instead to see The Dark Knight Rises at The Grove. As a third option, there's always French Film Fridays at LACMA -- this week, they're screening The Devil, Probably and The Phantom of Liberty. After the credits roll on whichever film you choose, throw a few back at the nearby Kibitz Room at Canter's (followed by a late-night, heavy helping of latkes next door) if you're feeling mellow (but thirsty!), or make your way west for yet another night of insanity at Bootsy Bellows.
Saturday
Begin your Saturday with a braid -- WeHo's Warren Tricomi salon is hosting a Braid Boutique from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Then, pack a little picnic and sport said braid to the beach, where you'll spend your day lazily enjoying our mild summer weather (73 and sunny!) at any sandy spot between Marina del Rey and Malibu. Break only for food and for the BGG & Glitter 'N Glue DIY event at the Annenberg Beach House from 4 - 5:30 p.m. In regards to the former, we suggest you take advantage of dineLA with specials at Chaya Venice and Sunny Spot, or indulge in newbie Venice hotspots Superba Snack Bar or Cafe Gratitude.
If the thought of squeezing yourself into a bikini terrifies you even more than it does us, opt instead to stay on dry land downtown. Sleep in, and then grab lunch for $20 via dineLA at Mo-Chica. After, hit up BloomfestLA for live music, local artisan goods, and a rotating gallery showcasing the works of renowned street artists. If you like performance art, swing by Perform Chinatown afterward to catch a show or two featuring talent from around the world. If good food is enough to motivate you to sit on the freeway for a while (hence the aversion to swimwear of any sort), hike it to Pasadena anytime between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. for the LA Street Food Fest. Stick around for an 8:30 p.m. screening of Poltergeist as part of the Old Pasadena Film Festival, or return to LA proper for screenings of Little Miss Sunshine (with a Ruby Sparks preview), Tommy Boy, or Invasion of the Body Snatchers. If you opted not to make the drive out to Pasadena, we suggest trying newbie Soleto's dineLA menu for dinner downtown instead. And finally, if you're a little burnt out on moviegoing at this point, you could opt instead to join Tavi Gevinson for her Rookie Road Trip's "Strange Magic" opening party at Space15Twenty, with dinner before or after via dineLA at Street.
Sunday
On Sunday, drop everything and fly to Alaska to help the small town of Kodiak prepare for soulful torch-singer Pitbull's trip to Walmart. Or, if your (nonexistent) travel budget makes said trip an impossibility, get off the Internet and sprint (by which we mean sit in your car and drive) to Dollar Sunday at Jet Rag, which opens at 9 a.m. Competition can be fierce, so watch out for hipsters bearing tasers and mace. When the battle is over, de-stress by grabbing a lemonade or gluten-free muffin while checking out hot macrobiotic enthusiasts at the nearby M Café on Melrose. Then stop by Sonos Studio on La Brea in Hollywood, where it's the last day to catch the gallery's must-see psychedelic fashion exhibition celebrating Marijke Koger's influence on '60s style. Unless the next destination on your agenda is your couch, where you and your Tivo will be catching up on the week's news and PBS programming (okay, fine, reality TV), then head east for social hour at the Lazy Ox Canteen from 5 - 7 p.m. You might also want to grab dinner, since Lazy Ox is offering a special dineLA menu for $35. If you're still actually moving at this point, make your way to the Los Feliz Village Street Fair, where bands will be playing until 10 p.m. Last year's festival had 20,000 attendees... so if we can't find a decent guy here, we officially give up.
A VISUAL GUIDE:
