Time to get a jump on our big, long holiday weekend! With lots of events both local and a bit farther afield, no one gets to be bored.
Since we’re starting the weekend early, you can too. Join artist Billy Kheel at Miracle Mile’s Craft and Folk Art Museum, tonight – Thursday, Sept. 3 – to make small felt objects in response to his “Imagining the Future of the L.A. River” project. Kheel was inspired to create an installation representing the broad range of wildlife, debris, and other remnants found in the L.A. River over the years. Participants will imagine and create objects that have flowed or will eventually flow in the river. Project demonstrations will be held at 7:00 pm & 7:30 pm, galleries will be open from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Workshop tickets are $8 (free for members) and include materials, drinks, and snacks. RSVP requested to: cafamseptember2015.eventbrite.com
As the actual weekend dawns, and after you check out this weekend’s big yard sale, festivals abound.
Closest to home is the Los Angeles Times’ The Taste, which runs from Friday, September 4 through Sunday, September 6 at Paramount Studios at Melrose and Gower. This annual celebration of the Southern California culinary scene will feature five distinct events that provide unlimited tastings from the region’s most renowned kitchens, coupled with pours and sips that reflect the local cocktail and nightlife culture. Chef-led cooking demonstrations will reveal the magic that goes into signature dishes, while a series of discussions led by Times Food staff will cover topics ranging from the time-honored use of fire to the Jonathan Gold-coined trend of Things in a Bowl. For more information, tickets and a schedule of events, see the link above.
Next, there’s the Leimert Park Village African Art and Music Festival, which runs from Saturday through Monday, September 5-7, at 4318 Degnan Blvd. The Festival features art, music, children’s activities (arts and crafts, storytelling, face painting, games, etc.) and food, with 80 vendors offering items ranging from cultural gifts, arts and crafts, health products and more. Following African tradition, each Festival day also opens with traditional African drumming. Activities are free; children must be accompanied by an adult or guardian at all times. See the above link or call (323) 596-0955 for more information. Allow extra time to navigate construction activity for Metro’s future Leimert Park station.
For evening entertainment, there’s West Adams Avenues “Under the Stars” Jazz and Music Festival on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, 7th Avenue between Adams Blvd. and 25th Street, from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday night’s program will be a Music Showcase; Saturday will feature Gospel, R&B and Jazz…and there will be Zydeco, R&B, Latin and Jazz on Sunday night. In addition to the live music, there will be dancing, children’s activities, booths from local restaurants, food trucks and more.
Another good option is the last big family-oriented event of the summer at the Hollywood Bowl: a screening of the modern classic movie “E.T” with live orchestral accompaniment, on Friday-Sunday nights. In a world premiere, the Los Angeles Philharmonic will perform John Williams’ entire Academy Award®-winning score from Steven Spielberg’s heartwarming masterpiece about a boy and his alien friend, while the beloved film is shown in HD on the Bowl’s big screen.
And finally, for those with extra energy and a sense of civic involvement, consider rising early on Sunday to chat with local police about issues in our neighborhoods. LAPD’s Olympic Division will host a “Coffee with a Cop” event this Sunday, September 6th, 2015, 9:00 am to 11:00 am at the McDonalds at 1800 S Western Ave. (McDonald’s will provide free coffee.) It’s a great opportunity for community members to get to know the Olympic Division officers working in their neighborhood.
[This article has been updated to add the CAFAM event.]
