It’s starting to feel like fall this week, and the weekend events bring at least one hint of the next big holiday to come.
First up, though, is some good bargain-hunting, with a multi-family yard sale, starting at 8 a.m. Saturday, on the 600 block of S. Lorraine Blvd. Items for sale include furniture, toys, rugs, clothing, and more.
Next, as long as you’re out and about on Saturday morning, you could head over to Pan Pacific Park (enter from the parking lot of the Fairfax Public Library, 161 S. Gardner St), at 9 a.m.,for the monthly walking event – Everwalk – hosted by famed distance swimmer Diana Nyad and her Cuba expedition leader, Bonnie Stoll. On the first Saturday of each month, they lead this free fitness event, starting with juice and yoga stretches, and then moving on to walking five one-mile loops around the park (you can do as few or as many of those as you like). It’s a great way to exercise and meet some new friends to help support you on your larger fitness journey. See the link above for details and to sign up.
Also starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, and continuing until noon, is a free California Friendly® Landscaping Class, sponsored by LADWP in downtown LA (specific location will be given when you sign up). Learn how to become a water-wise gardener and get a beautiful, sustainable landscape using a holistic approach to gardening. Topics include building a living soil sponge, understanding the elements of your landscaping site, selecting the right plants, capturing rainwater and managing irrigation. Registration is required; parking is free. To sign up, e-mail [email protected] or call (800) 544-4498 and select option “5.” You’ll need to provide your name, the date of the class, your LADWP service address, phone number and the name of a guest, if you’d like to bring one (limit one guest per attendee).
For even more gardening fun on Saturday, and also from 9 a.m. -12 p.m., Wilshire Crest Elementary School, 5241 W. Olympic Blvd. (between Sycamore and Mansfield) will hold its annual Beautification Day, where volunteers are welcome to join in and spruce up the school’s big teaching garden with a variety of fun and educational projects. All ages are welcome – just sign up at http://greenapple.org/wilshire-crest-gardenfarm-beautification. Free parking is available in the large lot east of the school playground (enter from Olympic Blvd.)
Meanwhile, back in the Larchmont area, the Rotary Pumpkin Patch, 568 N. Larchmont Blvd., opens for the season at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Come check it out and pick your pefect jack-o-lantern-to-be!
A bit later, it’s back to shopping as the Friends of the John C. Fremont Library, 6121 Melrose Ave. (at June St.) holds its monthly used book sale on Saturday, from 12-5 p.m. As always, DVDs and CDs will be on sale for just $.50 each…and this month there will be some other suprise sale items as well.
For lunch or dinner on Saturday, you could mosey over to the St. Sophia Cathedral, 1324 South Normandie Ave. (just south of Pico Blvd.), where the 2019 LA Greek Fest will be in full swing. This “largest and most iconic Greek food and wine festival in Los Angeles” runs Friday (5-11 p.m.), Saturday (noon-11 p.m.) and Sunday (noon-10 p.m.), with “Greek food, wine, traditional Greek dancing and one-of-a-kind cultural experiences.” Admission is $5, but if you sign up at the link above, where the full schedule and other details are also available, you’ll receive a coupon for $2 off.
Finally on Saturday night, those who love big charity galas will have to make a big choice, as both the Craft Contemporary and the Petersen Museum will be holding their huge annual fundraisers. The Craft Contemporary’s event is actually a three-parter: first, the big gala party with food, drink, and a silent auction of “work by craft-inspired artists.” Proceeds support the museum’s exhibitions, arts education programs and hands-on workshops. Next, after the main party, there will also be a first-ever DJ-led after-party, accessible to those who attended the earlier gala, or those who buy tickets just for the later event. The after-party, for ages 21 and over only, will run from 8:30-11:00 p.m., with an open bar, pizza oven, dancing, and – of course – a mask-making craft project. And finally, the silent auction mentioned earlier is also open to all online, whether or not you attend either one of the gala parties – so you can check it out and bid at https://www.32auctions.com/craftcontemporary.
Meanwhile, the Petersen Museum will also be hopping with its own big 25th Anniversary gala on Saturday night, “Celebrating Sliver, Going for Gold.” According to the museum, “the festive night will feature food by the famed Drago brothers, unparalleled entertainment and a chance to win superb once-in-a-lifetime experiences during the live auction,” as well as some legendary special guests from the automotive world. See the event link for tickets and more information.
On Sunday, Ciclavia will provide a great chance to recover from the parties the night before, by getting out and getting some exericise from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This latest edition of the popular open streets event will wind through the “Heart of LA,” from MacArthur Park to Mariachi Plaze in Boyle Heights, to the Civic Center area downtown, and then through Chinatown. Streets along the route will be closed to motorized traffic and open for walking, biking, rollerblading, skateboard and more. It’s not a race, so start and stop where you want, and take the time to explore and enjoy some of LA’s oldest and most interesting neighborhoods.
And finally on Sunday, from 1-5 p.m., don’t forget to check out the Windsor Square-Hancock Park Historical Society’s annual historic home tour, this year focusing on five little-seen homes on Rossmore Ave. Docents will guide visitors through the houses and gardens and describe the history of each home, featuring some of Hancock Park’s most iconic architectural styles including Georgian, Tudor Revival and Mediterranean Revival. In addition, guests will enjoy refreshments and a backyard concert at one of the homes, along with a silent auction. Tickets, available at the link above, are $50 for WSHPHS members and $60 for non-members. Funds from this year’s tour will support the installation of a permanent sign marking the Ebell of Los Angeles, the city’s oldest women’s club located at Wilshire and Lucerne, which is now celebrating its 125th anniversary.
Have a great weekend!
