Looks like a lovely, relaxing weekend in mid-Los Angeles.
Saturday activities start bright and early, though, with the city’s Neighborhood Council Budget Day starting at 7:30 a.m. at Los Angeles City Hall (200 N. Spring St.). For those interested in learning more about how our city spends its money, and having a voice in that process, this annual event is a must.  All Los Angeles residents and stakeholders (those people who do business of any kind in the city) are invited. The morning will start with a hot and cold buffet breakfast in the City Hall atrium, and then attendees will proceed to the City Council Chambers to hear some of Los Angeles’ elected and appointed officials talk about how the City’s budget relates to your life. And afterward, there will be break-out sessions to discuss regional concerns. The event is entirely free (including parking!), but RSVPs are required at the link above, and participants must bring a photo ID.
Later, after the Budget Day gives you some good food for thought, you could head back to Memorial Branch Library, 4625 Wilshire Blvd., which will host a workshop called “Meditation in the 21st Century – Why Meditation Matters Even More!”, starting at 2 p.m. According to the event description, “People have been practicing meditation for centuries and its popularity continues to grow as new benefits continue to be discovered. Incorporating meditation into one’s life has many positive effects. Now more than ever in today’s modern world with all the stresses, meditation is needed more than ever.” The workshop will be led by Doug Frankel, long-time meditator who has been speaking on the topic for more than 30 years. Participants will learn a simple meditation technique that can help in all aspects of your life. And this event, too – like all at the library – is free.
A bit later, at 2 p.m., you can move from Memorial Branch Library to the John C. Fremont Branch, 6121 Melrose Ave., where the Los Angeles Play Readers will present their fourth production–Moss Hart’s comedy “Light Up The Sky,” a sarcastic look a bunch of theater folks at one another’s throats during the Boston tryout of a new play. Light refreshments will be served…and, again, all for free!
After the play, just move east down the street a bit to Raleigh Studios, 5300 Melrose Ave., where the L.A. Taco and Beer Festival will be back for its annual visit from 3-7 p.m. on Saturday and 2-6 p.m. on Sunday. The event (for ages 21 and over only), features unlimited tastings from “some of the top restaurants in the region, along with unlimited craft beer tastings from local and regional breweries, cider houses and beyond.” There will also be vendors selling handmade, original art, along with DJs, games, hand-rolled cigars and more. Tickets are available at the event link above.
On Sunday, you can sleep in for a while, and then starting at 12 p.m., K9 Connection, an organization that helps teens “break through learning and life barriers by training and bonding with homeless dogs,” will hold a special Summer Fest event at Pan Pacific Park’s field #2.  You and your pooch can enjoy games, treats, doggie yoga and massage, a special obstacle course and more. See the flier at left for details and tickets.
A bit later, starting at 2 p.m. on Sunday, the Craft and Folk Art Museum will host a special walk-through of its new exhibition “Katherine Gray: As Clear as the Experience.” Gray is a Los Angeles-based artist who creates “conceptual installations of glass that amplify our experience of common glass forms through unusual presentations and dramatic lighting. By exaggerating the physical presence of familiar glass forms, Gray reminds us of the material’s constant presence in our lives and the underlying nostalgia and history often embodied in the domestic glass objects we collect and display.” The new interactive installation at CAFAM also gives visitors “an immersive experience of the sights, smells, and sounds of the glass blowing studio.” You can join Gray and exhibition curator Holly Jerger for a gallery walkthrough and discussion about the artist’s process of making mesmerizing glass installations that combine hand-blown glass, found glassware, and theatrical lighting. The event is free, but space is limited, so please RSVP at [email protected].
Next, just an hour later, join the Windsor Square-Hancock Park Historical Society for its annual meeting and a rare opportunity to tour the historic Gilmore Adobe, at the Farmer’s Market, which is not usually open to the public. The event will also feature a talk by the L.A. Conservancy’s Adrian Scott Fine, on the efforts to save the CBS Studios buildings at Beverly and Fairfax, and a barbecue dinner, including beverages, wine and dessert. Tickets are $45 for WSHPHS members and their guests, and $60 for non-members. See the attached flier for details and ticket information.
And finally, please don’t forget traffic that there will be a number of traffic delays and street closures for various special events in Hollywood this weekend – best to avoid the area bounded by Barham Blvd., Cahuenga Blvd., Sunset Blvd. and La Brea Ave., if at all possible, for the next couple of days. [UPDATE: As of Friday, June 22, this event is SOLD OUT.]
Have a great weekend!
