This week has been crawling by so slowly that we were beginning to feel as though we might be stuck in the limbo that is Tuesday/Wednesday forever. Luckily, we've escaped that fate and made it out to the other side, where we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel known as Friday. In preparation for our impending jailbreak, we've put together an intensive itinerary that should keep you so busy this weekend that you nearly forget what has to happen when you wake up on Monday morning...
Friday
If you don't make it to the Yamashiro farmers market tonight, ditch work early tomorrow and go up to the Pagoda Bar to enjoy the early summer weather with a view and a drink. Afterward, head over to the Barnsdall Art Park for Eat.Drink.Art., where you'll enjoy art installations, gourmet food truck fare, wine and beer tastings, and more. Tickets are $25, but proceeds go to benefit the gallery.
If all of that sounds too aggressive for your Friday night, opt instead to screen The Last of the Mohicans at The Egyptian Theater. "No matter how long it takes, no matter how far, I will find you." -- enough said.
Saturday
Start your weekend proper off on the right foot by walking or running both feet through the Revlon 5k Run/Walk for Women. Grab breakfast afterward at nearby Nickel Diner, or make your way a bit north for brunch at Sage Organic Vegan Bistro, which will prepare you for something we're sending you to a bit later in the day. Sage will put you close to the Echo Park Craft Fair, which includes wares from 25 local artists and runs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Spend just a little time there before heading over to the L.A. Vegan Beer & Food Festival, but only IF you're really into that kind of thing, as tickets are a bit pricey at $50. If you don't care whether your beer is vegan or not, pop into Mohawk Bend for some reasonably-priced day drinking instead.
If you get really ambitious midday, head to the Home Depot Center for Wango Tango, which includes performances by Nicki Minaj, Pitbull, Maroon 5, J.Cole, and more. Tickets start at $35, and the shows start at 2 p.m.
Later, you've got a host of options at your disposal. For starters, Saturday marks the return of the Cinespia cemetery screenings, and first up is Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train. If you don't have someone to cuddle with, we suggest you opt instead to check out Rebel, James Franco's latest art project, which opens Saturday in Hollywood. If you still haven't gotten over Coachella and can't get enough of the whole live music thing, Saturday night will present you with a choice between the Nikka Costa show at the Luckman (tickets start at $25) or the Rufus Wainwright show at The Orpheum (tickets start at $35). Finally, you can opt to support the arts by attending a $20 performance by The Next Dance Company or by grabbing a $20 ticket to LA Opera's La Boheme.
Sunday
Our first suggestion, naturally, is for you to whip up some of our favorite Mother's Day brunch dishes and present them with one of our broke-girl-friendly gifts. If your cooking skills leave a bit to be desired, another option is to take Mom (or just yourself, if she's not in town) to the sure-to-be-delicious, brand-new brunch at Sunny Spot. If Mom's visiting and is, admittedly, a bit of a tourist, take her to Gladstone's for their Mother's Day brunch, which is actually pretty fairly priced considering how much food you get.
Afterward, treat her to a makeup application at Blushington, where they're offering a 2-for-1 deal -- if you book an appointment in advance online or over the phone, hers is free. You'll also both receive a complimentary lip gloss trio.
Later, take mom back over to the Echo Park Craft Fair if you missed it on Saturday, and then head to The Egyptian for a nostalgia-inducing 4 p.m. screening of The Sound of Music.
If Mom would rather kill herself than watch The Sound of Music, a day spent at Rush Street (or one of our other favorite sports bars) might be more up her alley, as there will be plenty of NHL, NBA, and MLB events to choose from this Sunday.
Later, send Mom back from whence she came via plane, train, or automobile, then snuggle into your PJs for a little Mad Men/Game of Thrones Sunday-night viewing party (you + pizza + bed).