This post-Thanksgiving weekend marks the big start of the holiday shopping season, with other holiday events kicking into gear as well.
First, though, it’s worth nothing that – thanks to yesterday’s Thanksgiving holiday – city trash pickup has been delayed by one day this week for those whose regularly-scheduled pickup days are Thursday and Friday. Thursday pickups will take place today (Friday), and Friday pickups will happen on Saturday.
Next, as we noted a couple of days ago, the Larchmont Boulevard Association will kick off its annual holiday season with its big Holiday Open House event on Small Business Saturday. Enjoy live music on the street, special shopping deals at stores up and down the Boulevard, Santa’s arrival by firetruck at the Rotary Christmas Tree Lot, and a free shuttle to escort you various points on Larchmont between First Street and Melrose.
Christmas is also arriving at the Miracle Mile Toy Hall, 5464 Wilshire Blvd., for its Small Business Saturday Christmas in the Toy Hall event on Saturday. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., kids can meet Santa, make food for the reindeer, make a Christmas tree craft, and decorate cookies to take home. There will also be a play dough pop-up station and some special guests – the authors of the books Wild, Wild Weasel and Once Upon a Weasel. Tickets are $10 per child, of which $5 may be used for store credit which can be applied to any purchases the day of the event. (Adults only need tickets if they’ll be participating in the craft-making activities.)
A bit further west along the Miracle Mile, the Craft Contemporary will be holding its big annual Holiday Marketplace event on both Saturday and Sunday. You can support LA’s “vibrant community of artists and designers by shopping local, handcrafted, and with a holiday drink in hand.” This year’s vendors include more than 20 “diverse artists, designers, and makers who represent a wide range of handcrafted goods, including ceramics and jewelry.” There will also be music and complimentary refreshments. The event is free with museum admission on Saturday…and “pay what you can” on Sunday.
If all this holiday shopping (not to mention our chilly temperatures for the last few days) puts you in a wintery mood, this is also the beginning of ice skating season in LA, with two big rinks – one in Century City, and one in downtown’s Pershing Square – ready to help you scratch that seasonal skating itch. See the two rinks’ individual websites for dates, times and prices (with or without skate rentals). Both will be open throughout the holiday season.
Of course, holiday weekends are also good times to enjoy big movies, and the American Cinematheque will oblige with a triple feature of all three Lord of the Rings movies, shown back to back starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Egyptian Theater, 6712 Hollywood Blvd. The films include the official “extended versions” of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King…all shown in 35mm. Tickets are $15 for general admission, and $13 for Cinematheque members.
Moving on to Sunday, Mark the Magician will make his monthly appearance at the Miracle Mile Toy Hall, with a fun, family friendly show at 11 a.m. See https://miraclemiletoyhall.com/event/magic-with-mark-the-magician/ for tickets and more information about Mark, who has been studying and performing magic since he was 7 years old.
And finally, the big event on Sunday is the 87th annual Hollywood Christmas Parade . It starts at 5 p.m. with musical performances in the grandstand area (sold out), and then the parade starts around 6 p.m., moving move east down Hollywood Blvd., from Orange Dr. to Vine St., then south on Vine, and west on Sunset Blvd. back to Orange Dr. It will include, of course, all the traditional balloons and floats, celebrity guests, equestrians, marching bands, and other performers. And even if you don’t attend the parade, it’s worth noting that street closures in the area will be in effect for more than just the actual parade hours. See https://thehollywoodchristmasparade.org/routes-and-closures/ for details.
Have a great weekend!
