Weekend

Bite at the Beach
Join in the first annual Bite at the Beach food and beer pairing event. Indulge in bites from restaurants throughout the South Bay that will be paired with a specific craft beer. Some of the restaurants involved are MB Post, Fishing with Dynamite, Darren’s Restaurant and Paul Martin’s American Grill. Local breweries include newcomers Ohana Brewing Company and Alosta Brewing Co. Also debuting, will be a number of informative panel sessions hosted by Food Network Star contestant, Adam Gertler. The Art and Craft of Beer Pairing includes a panel of Cicerones and beer connoisseurs, such as Cyrena Nouzille of Ladyface Alehouse & Brasserie, that will teach the art of pairing beer with food and what to look for in a brew. The second panel, Fun with Beer will discuss the varied of beer such as utilizing it to wash your hair, marinating a steak and even fixing your lawn. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Surfrider Foundation whose mission is to protect the world’s oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network. Saturday, 2-7 pm; MBS Media Campus, 1600 Rosecrans Ave., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Ghostbusters 30th at Gallery 1988
Ghostbusters has a very special place in my heart. That movie kept my brother and I occupied for hours when we were little. (Of course we fast forwarded the scary parts). Gallery 1988 is celebrating the movie’s 30th with works based on the movie from over 80 artists. Opening reception Saturday, 7-10 pm; 7308 Melrose Ave.; 323.937.7088

ToC Opens
This place has the holy grail of challah breads…it has chocolate chips in it! Wash it down with Turkish coffee. (If you haven’t had Turkish coffee, you’ll thank me later). They’ve also got fried-turkey-and-brie sandwiches with cranberry mayo and crepes, salads, pastas, etc. Friday; 8556 W 3rd St., Beverly Hills, CA; 310.275.4235

The Must Happy Hour
This wine bar in DTLA has a patio to wind down and enjoy their happy hour from 4-7 pm during the week and 3-7 pm, Saturdays & Sundays. More than 10 glasses of red, white, and rose wine are all under $10 a glass! Sangria and well drinks are all only $5, along with draft and light beers as low as $2 a can. As for food, nothing is more than $5! Order up Sharp Cheddar Gooey Mac & Cheese with a goldfish crumble; Smashed Tater Tots with ketchup & roasted garlic ranch; and Schnitzel Schlydaz(“sliders”) with red cabbage kraught & mustard crème fraiche (choice of pork cutlet, chicken or mushroom). 117 Winston St., Los Angeles, CA 90013; 213.628.2000

Los Angeles Vegan Beer & Food Festival
The 5th edition of LA Vegan Beer and Food Festival will feature forty craft breweries, including Golden Road, El Segundo, Automatic, and Modern Times. Food vendors include Cafe Gratitude, Gracias Madre, Sage Vegan Bistro, M Cafe de Chaya, and Mohawk Bend. In addition to providing animal-friendly food and drink, the festival is donating a portion of the proceeds to K-9 Connection. $30; Saturday, 1 pm; 8950 W. Sunset Blvd.,West Hollywood, CA

Tender Greens Summer Beer Garden and Whole Animal Roast Kick-Off
Summer may not officially start until June, but it sure feels like it with these temps lately. Get outside and join in a pig roast, while you cool off with Belgian Apple Pie beer. Spots are limited so RSVP! Sunday, 5 pm; Tender Greens Hollywood, 6290 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood

Delphine Restaurant’s Wine Dinner
Innovative Dining Group presents Long Shadows president, Dane Narbaitz, for a dinner at Delphine Eatery and Bar at the W Hotel in Hollywood. Inspired by the wines of Long Shadows, celebrated chef Joey Castillo has prepared a five course menu and includes seven wines made by seven globally famous winemakers: Armin Diel for Riesling, Randy Dunn for Cabernet Sauvignon, Michel Rolland for Merlot, John Duval for Syrah, Philippe Melka and Agustin Huneeus, Sr. for Bordeaux-style blends, and Ambogio and Giovanni Folonari for Sangiovese. (Stay late for the W Hollywood’s weekly Sunday Jazz night in the Living Room from 10 pm – 1 am). Sunday, 7 pm; 6250 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028; 323.798.1355

The Ultimate Santa Barbara Wine Fest
Don’t feel like making the trip to Santa Barbara? Spoil yourself with booze from Santa Barbara and you will feel like you’re there in no time! A portion of the proceeds from this wine fest will benefit Project Angel Food. Saturday, 2-5 pm; K&L Wine Merchants, 1400 Vine St., Hollywood

Vintage Fashion Expo
Shop at this vintage clothing mecca. With over 50 prestigious dealers of vintage couture, jewelry and rare items, you’re sure to find the treasure of a life time. Saturday, 10 am-6 pm; L.A. Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90015

Venice Art Walk Community Celebration
The 2014 Venice Art Walk features a silent auction with 350 pieces by emerging and established Los Angeles artists, studio tours and a community celebration taking place outside Google’s headquarters on Hampton Drive, which is closed off for this day-long event. The celebration includes food trucks, live music, family activities, and art exhibitions. The Art Walk benefits the Venice Family Clinic and celebrates the establishment’s four decades of service. See an LA Weekly slideshow of the 2013 Venice Art Walk here. Sunday, 12-6 pm; Google Headquarters, 340 Main St., Venice

FUSICOLOGY Fridays at FIG
FIGat7th proudly presents FUSICOLOGY Fridays at FIG with music from KCRW’s Jeremy Sole and DJ Monalisa. Happy hour food and drink specials are available at City Tavern – DTLA, Loteria Grill and The Melt. Free; Friday (Every third Friday in May and June), 4 – 8pm

L.A. Comedy Shorts Film Festival
Who doesn’t love to have a weekend full of laughs? Head to L.A. Comedy Shorts Film Festival, where you’ll get to see screenings of hilarious shorts. Through Sunday, May 18; Click here for full list of venues.

Bug Fair
The Natural History Museum hosts the 28th annual Bug Fair, which is the biggest bug festival in North America. You can buy bugs from more than 70 vendors, see bug collections, and learn about the world of arthropods and arachnids. Activities include live animal presentations, citizen science projects, crafts, live music, and tastings from some of the greatest bug chefs in the world. New this year are the activities outside the museum, in the recently-opened 3½ acres of green space that include trails, citizen science activities, bird and butterfly-watching areas, an edible garden, and water features. Bug Fair tickets: (include admission to NHM), $12/adults; $9/seniors (62+), students with ID, ages 13-17; $5/ages 3-12; free/2 and under and for Museum members; Saturday & Sunday, 9:30 am-5 pm. (Members can enter at 9 am); 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007

Taste of the Nation LA Fundraiser at Paiche
Taste of the Nation is still a few weeks out, but it’s never too early to start raising funds for LA’s premier culinary event. Stop by for Daisy’s signature sidecar and a portion of the proceeds from your drink will go toward Taste of the Nation and Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign. Plus, you’ll get 20% off tickets to the June 1 food fest! It’s a win win, all around. Friday, 11:30 am-11:30 pm; Paiche, 13488 Maxella Ave., Marina del Rey

Floral design workshop with Botany
Founded as a creative respite from a busy career in fashion, Botany’s Stephanie Schur, the former force behind Michon Schur, puts her love of beauty and flowers into creating her one-of-a-kind floral arrangements. Her first shop is located in the Brentwood Country Mart. Stephanie Schur of Botany will lead a themed, hands-on floral design demo this weekend. Flowers and supplies will be provided. Sunday, 10 am – 12 pm; One Colorado, 41 Hugus Alley, Pasadena, CA 91103; RSVPs required: 626.564.1066

Dominick’s 5th Annual Crawfish Boil
Chef Brandon Boudet brings New Orleans flare to LA with a menu that includes Crawfish by the Pound; Grilled Alligator Meatballs with Caramelized Onions & Creole Mustard; BBQ Oysters; Crawfish Boil Artichoke with Creole Remoulade; Roast Beef Po’Boy; and Soft Shell Crab Po’Boy. Plus, they will have Bloody Marys, Pecan Bourbon Old Fashions and PBRs in a can as well as New Orleans Abita Amber in a can, keeping true to the NoLa tradition. Saturday and Saturday, May 24th; 8715 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90048; 310.652.2335

Seven at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
What’s in the box!? David Fincher’s breakthrough thriller is still one of the scariest and most well crafted of the era. Brad Pitt is a cop who teams up with a harsh but wise senior detective to track down a serial killer. Kevin Spacey is icy and terrifying as a cat and mouse game unfolds. $15; Saturday, doors: 6:30 pm, movie: 8:30 pm; 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA

A Streetcar Named Desire at Your Downtown Drive-In
Change up your outdoor movie going experience with a drive-in! Catch a classic in an old timey drive-in in DTLA. Saturday, 8:30-10:30 pm; Electric Dusk Drive-In, 1000 San Julian St., Downtown

Super Saturday
Shop deep discounted wares from Versace, Hudson Jeans, Kate Spade Saturday, and more. Plus, 100% of the proceeds go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. The JCPenney sponsored event will be hosted by Rachel Zoe and Molly Sims, and will also feature food and drinks, activities for kids, complimentary blowouts, and more. Saturday, 11 am-5 pm; The Barker Hangar Santa Monica, 3021 Airport Ave.; 310.390.9071

Artists & Fleas
Downtown is really making moves in the retail market. In addition to Downtown Flea and the Arts District Flea, now there’s Artists & Fleas, a legendary New York-based bazaar. Expect vendors like jewelry from LA’s Nina Savill, vintage from Fair Season Vintage and reclaimed furniture from MFEO. Zugo Liquitarian will have a beer garden and a DJ booth will have live sets throughout the day. Saturday & Sunday, 11 am-6 pm; 647 Mateo St., Los Angeles, CA 90021

Picnic on the Promenade
This summer, a patio pops up on Third Street Promenade Fridays beginning this Friday. If you work and/or live in Santa Monica, take a break and snag a spot at one of the picnic tables and umbrellas at the lively outdoor lunching area. It’s here for the summer to help celebrate Third Street Promenade’s 25th Anniversary. Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. has also partnered with KCRW and to launch the inaugural May 16 Picnic, station DJ Garth Trinidad will spin his signature progressive world rhythm for picnic-goers. Chris Douridas will take the turntables on June 13th, and Raul Campos will lay down the Friday funk on August 8. Free; Friday, noon-3 pm; Corner of Arizona and Third Street, Santa Monica

International Plant Conservation Day
The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens will celebrate International Plant Conservation Day by hosting tours and educational talks about plants and their vital relationship with butterflies, insects and animals. This year’s Plant Conservation at the Zoo theme will be drought-tolerant plants and how any garden can thrive even in the midst of a drought. Free with paid admission ($18/adults, $13/children 2-12, $15/seniors 62+); Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm; 5333 Zoo Dr., Los Angeles, CA  90027; 323.644.4200

Raise a Child’s Gala
The gala will recognize prominent supporters of foster and adoption programs including Actor Denis O’Hare (American Horror Story) and benefit a number of programs aimed to educate and encourage the LGBT and heterosexual communities to build families through fostering or adoption to answer the needs of the 400,000 children in our nation’s foster care programs. The event will include a red carpet declaration of “Raise a Child Day” by Los Angeles Council member Mitch O’Farrell followed by a special performance by Singer/Songwriter Bonnie McKee (American Girl). The Awards Reception to follow will include introductions by Joely Fisher, Ed Begley Jr., Alec Mapa, and others. Tickets here; Sunday, 10 am; W Hollywood Hotel, 6250 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA90028

Sales:

Apt 2B
Score 30 -70% off seating, art, textiles, beds and stylish home furnishings and decor during their first warehouse sale. Friday-Sunday; 7300 Fulton Ave., North Hollywood, CA 91605; 877.825.8705

Brokedown Clothing
Get up to 75% off the loungewear brand’s vintage-inspired graphic tees, sweatsuits and accessories during their sample sale. Friday; 1604 Babcock St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627

Classic Concepts
Enjoy up to 80% off contemporary home furnishings: seating, pillows, bedding and more during their two-day sample sale in Vernon. Friday & Saturday; 4505 Bandini Blvd., Vernon, CA 90058

Genetic Denim
Score the denim brand’s past seasons’ merchandise (including resort and spring 2014) for $25-35 during their two-day sample sale in DTLA. Note that strollers are not allowed. Friday & Saturday; 1013 S Los Angeles St., Los Angeles, CA 90015

Fidelity Denim
Score men’s and women’s denim bottoms and jackets for $25 a pop (or 5 items for $100) during the jeanswear brand’s two-day warehouse sale. Friday & Saturday; 4770 E 48th St., Vernon, CA 90058