If you think you’ve seen a lot of holiday shopping events in the last couple of weeks, just wait until you see what the neighborhood has in store (pun intended) for you this weekend!
First up on Saturday, and continuing on Sunday (9 a.m. – 2 p.m. both days) is an estate sale at 516 S. Norton Ave. The sale listing (see link) says “Homeowner is a respected clothing designer. Home and furnishings have been featured in many magazines. Most of the furnishings were purchased at Indigo Seas, owned by the famous IVY Restaurant.” And the list of featured items is HUGE, including funiture, china, pottery, crystal, rugs, decor items from around the world, mirrors, paintings, needlepoint, an antique grandfather clock, kitchenware, magazines, clothing, handbags, linens, prints, an iron daybed, patio furniture, accent pillows, lamps, trunks, a mantle clock, lanterns, and many more. Sunday prices will be half off.
Not too far away, in at 804 S. Longwood, in Brookside, there will be a big yard sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. The host says, “I’m blowing it out to the bare walls! Well, maybe not that far. But it’s a lot. A thousand books, 40 years of Christmas magazines! My last remaining records. Clothes and bags and dishes. Gifts in boxes! Help me move it all out. To quote Ab Fab, “Surfaces, dahling! I want to see surfaces!” Oh, and there’s also a 1943 Baldwin grand piano, if you know someone with a particularly large Christmas stocking.
Also in Brookside, at 937 S. Mullen, it’s time for fashion designers raw earth wild sky‘s End of Year Warehouse and Sample Sale, running Friday from 10 a.m-3 p.m., and Saturday from 11-4. Also, on Saturday only, representatives from Badass Sinkcare, Alegria Bazaar and Dyakim will be joining in with their hand-crafted products. Please note that purchases will be via cash and credit cards only; no checks.
Next, a bit west in Miracle Mile, Two Dog Organic Nursery, 914 S. Cloverdale, will be holding its Annual Holiday Sale and Open House on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 pm. Everything in the place will be 15% off…including all Certified Organic Herb & Veggie Seedlings, all Fruit Trees, and all Products including EarthBox Kits and Black Gold Potting Soil. So bring your holiday gift list and all your gardening friends (but please, not your pets). Refreshments will be served.
Also in the Miracle Mile area, at 1058 S. Ogden, Lavender Blue will be holding the final day of its week-long holiday boutique from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The purveyors of fine French tablecloths and other home linens will be offering 20% off on all in-stock merchandise.
Then, not to be outdone, it’s time for the John C. Fremont library’s monthly Friends of the Library Book Sale, running today (Friday) from 12-4 p.m., and Saturday, from 12-5. Most books are priced between $.10 and $1.00…with special sales on cookbooks, biographies, history, politics, classics and plays–50% discount!–and some media. This month there will also be a large number of Christmas books suitable for stocking stuffers, gifts or just your own holiday reading reading pleasure. All proceeds go to support the library’s programs.
Moving over to Larhcmont Blvd., Landis Gifts and Stationery, 138 N. Larchmont, will have the first of two special in-store events this weekend. On Saturday, from 12-3 p.m., botanical artist Sally Jacobs will be at the store to sign her 2019 calendars. Jacobs is an accomplished contemporary botanical artist who has exhibited work in numerous juried shows across the United States, was an award winner at the Brand 37 Works on Paper exhibition, and is also included in “Today’s Botanical Artists”, a publication of well-regarded nature artists. You can stop by to meet Jacobs on Saturday, or call the store to pre-order a signed calendar.
Next, a bit south in the West Adams area, and starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Surfas Culinary District, 3225 W. Washington Blvd., will be offering a free Bûche de Noël demonstration. The Bûche de Noël, also known as a Yule Log Cake, is a favorite European holiday dessert. Styled and shaped like the traditional log, it’s a wonderful, festive holiday project that makes a show-stopping finale to a holiday meal.
Moving briefly from shopping to art, and back to the Miracle Mile, the Craft and Folk Art Museum will hold a Printmaking and Political Poster Workshop with Sherin Guirguis and Andi Xoch at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Exhibiting artist Guirguis will collaborate with Andi Xoch from Self-Help Graphics & Art to lead “a dynamic workshop on making political posters using collage, printmaking, and gold foil techniques. Guirguis will also briefly speak about Egyptian feminist activist Doria Shafik, who inspired her current exhibition, Of Thorns and Love.” Space is limited, so please RSVP if you’re inteested. Cost is $25 for CAFAM members, or $35 for the general public (including materials).
Also in the art vein on Saturday afternoon, at 4 p.m., you could head back to Miracle Mile, where the LaunchLA Gallery, 170 S. LaBrea, will be hosting a discussion and walk-through of the exhibit, “Marie Thibeault: By Water, By Fire,” with CSULB painting and drawing professor Daniel Dove. In her work, artist Thibeault “examines the power of natural forces pitted against the vulnerability of architectural structures,” and this particular group of paintings “explores the consuming qualities of fire and water, both increasingly destructive forces affecting our precarious ecosystems.” The exhibit will run through Dec. 22.
If the cinematic arts are more your style, the American Cinematheque will welcome director Spike Lee, in person, to three special screenings of his films this weekend at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. The featured films are BlacKKKlansman (4 p.m. on Saturday), Malcolm X (7:30 p.m. Saturday) and a double feature of Do the Right Thing and Crooklyn (starting at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday)
And as long as you’re in Hollywood at this point, you could also check out Jollywood, a “pop-up party under the stars along the Walk of Fame,” which begins at 5 p.m. on Saturday at the Eastown apartments, 6201 Hollywood Blvd. In true Hollywood style, Santa Claus is expected to kick off the event, arriving on an LA Fire Department fire truck and staying for free cellphone photos with guests. The event will also feature a holiday gift market, carolers, sweet treats and music all night long. In addition, a modern take on an old-world “Wassail Garden” will serve holiday cocktails for purchase, including wassail, wine and champagne, hosted by Wood & Vine…and food will be available for purchase from nearby restaurants including Shake Shack, Greenleaf Gourmet Chop Shop, Dunkin’ Donuts and Totoyama Sushi.
Or, for those looking for more movies, head back south to the New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., where the newly upgraded and re-opened classics theater will be showing a pair of gangster movies on Saturday evening (Goodfellas at 6:30 p.m. and Machine Gun McCain at 9:25), and a pair of great westerns on Sunday (the Magnificent Seven at 6:30 p.m.…and Guns of the Magnificent Seven at 9:10).
Finally on Saturday, for those looking for some great music, check out Big Sunday’s 5th Annual In It Together Music Night (and a Little Comedy), starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Big Sunday headquarters at 6111 Melrose. The local volunteer organization will be hosting talented musicians (and one hilarious comedian) from the Big Sunday community, including Bill Devlin, jackbenny, Maddie Eaton & Friends, Rob Laufer, David Levinson, Michelle Mayne ,Chandra Lee Schwartz, Michael Skloff, and Danny Tucker. Admission is free – but, in true Big Sunday spirit, they ask everyone to bring new socks to help the teens and young adults at My Friend’s Place. Also, please note that this evenit is for ages 18 and over only. Beer, wine and light snacks will be served.
On Sunday, get a head start on your day bright and early, as more than 500 runners, walkers and volunteers of all ages will head down San Vicente Boulevard between Olympic and La Brea on the Westside Jewish Community Center’s One. Healthy. Community. 5K Run and Walk. This year’s race is the “Hanukkah Edition,” inviting all participants to get in the spirit of the holidays in addition to enjoying a fitness event that is uniquely accessible to all members of the community. The stroller and pet-friendly 5k run and 5k walk route will go down San Vicente Boulevard between Olympic Boulevard and La Brea Avenue, and will also feature a shortened kids’ fun run, as well as free childcare for all participants who register in advance. See the link above for full details about running, walking, volunteering, and and donating. “Day of” registration is also available starting at 7 am, with the run and walk starting at 8:30 am at Westside JCC, 5870 W. Olympic Blvd.
Later on Sunday, from noon to 3 p.m., head back to Landis Gifts and Stationery, 138 N. Larchmont, for an in-store holiday performance of music by flutist Libby Jo Snyder and tuba player Mark Beltzman.
Next, it’s back to the Craft and Folk Art Museum for “The Gift of Pattern: Printing Giftwrapping Paper CraftLab Family Workshop with Rachel Curry,” starting at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. Using block printing techniques, experiment with pattern and color to make a large-scale hand-printed sheet, which you can use for your holiday gifts, or simply frame it to admire. Space is limited, so please RSVP if you’d like to attend. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for children, including materials, or free for CAFAM members.
Just a bit later, starting at 2 p.m. on Sunday, you can also join City Council Member David Ryu, along with neighbors, friends and the communities of Council District Four to toast the season at Ryu’s annual holiday celebration at the Hollywood District Field Office, 6501 Fountain Ave. The event, including food and music, is free, though RSVPs are appreciated at http://davidryu.lacity.org/events. Also, please bring new or gently used pet supplies for a holiday drive to support local shelter animals.
And finally on Sunday, if you just haven’t had enough parties yet, definitely stop by Big Sunday’s 9th Annual Holiday Party & Sing Along, starting at 3 p.m. at Big Sunday HQ, 6111 Melrose Ave. Each year people from all walks of life join Big Sunday volunteers to eat, sing (with a live band!) and enjoy the holidays with the incredible kids from Ability First, and others who need a hand. According to the organizers, “There will be singing (good singing not necessary)(trust us)(and no, you don’t have to sing if you don’t want to). We’ll deck the halls and light a menorah, too. Of course, there will be loads of arts & crafts and delicious holiday treats. And yes, The world-famous Big Sunday Band will be back. We’ll also be collecting toys for kids, winter coats for kids and adults and packing bags of food for the End of the Month Club.” For more info and to sign up, see the event link above.
And have a great BIG holiday weekend!
