The annual Chinese New Year Festival is taking place at the Central Plaza in Chinatown. The family-friendly event has live music, cultural performances, cultural artisans, vendors, food trucks and a craft beer garden. The highlight of DTLA’s Chinese New Year festivities is the 119th Annual Golden Dragon Parade. The parade features dozens of floats, marching bands, entertainers, local business leaders and cultural groups. The parade starts at Hill and Ord streets and concludes at Broadway and Cesar Chavez. The Golden Dragon Parade is the oldest celebration of its kind in the United States. Free; Saturday, noon-8 pm, parade: 1-3 pm; 727 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Celebrate the Lunar New Year at Santa Monica Place
Ring in the Lunar New Year at Santa Monica Place. Watch Asian-themed stilt walkers, traditional Korean fan dancers, a Chinese music duo, a Chinese dough artist, a balloon twister, and a Chinese dragon dance, guided by emcee Katherine Ho, a contestant on The Voice. Also, don’t miss the mall’s gong and Wishing Trees through February 19th. Saturday, 2-6 pm; 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Chinese New Year Festival at The Huntington Library
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens welcomes the Year of the Dog at the annual Chinese New Year Festival. The festivities includes lion dancers, mask-changing artists, martial artists, musicians playing traditional Chinese instruments and tai chi artists, as well as demonstrations of calligraphy, painting and floral arts. The festivities will take place in and around the Chinese Garden, which is considered one of the largest such gardens outside of China, and other performance spaces. All activities are included with general admission. Saturday & Sunday, 10 am-5 pm; 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108
Lunar New Year Festival at USC Pacific Asia Museum
Enjoy the Lunar New Year Festival to celebrate the Year of the Dog 7 at the USC Pacific Asia Museum, one of the few U.S. institutions dedicated to the arts and culture of Asia and the Pacific Islands. Check out the galleries, performances, art making workshops and more. Performances include music, dances, acrobatics and martial arts. The museum, housed in a Chinese Qing dynasty-inspired mansion, has a collection of more than 15,000 items spanning more than 5,000 years. Free; Saturday, 11 am-5 pm; 46 N. Los Robles Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101
Target Free Holiday Monday: Presidents’ Day
Visitors of all ages are invited to a free day at the museum, with bilingual tours, and live music with the California Feetwarmers at 12:30 and 2:45 pm. Free; Monday, 11 am; 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Emancipation Proclamation at NHMLA
Now is your chance to see a rare edition of the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln. This print is one of only two signed by Lincoln in museum collections on the West Coast. $15, $12/seniors and students, $7/children, Free/members; Through March 30th, 9:30 am-5 pm; Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
Sounds of L.A.: Cuba LA
The Getty Center’s 20th anniversary celebration continues with a special performance by Mariachi Los Camperos, Cuba LA and the Getty debut of Hermanos Herrera. The event kicks off the annual Sounds of L.A. concert series that celebrates Los Angeles’ diverse and vibrant music scene. Free, reservations required (Parking $10 after 3 pm); Saturday, 7 pm Sunday, 4 pm; Harold M. Williams Auditorium at the Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA
ScotsFestival & International Highland Games
Celebrate the annual games with professional and amateur competitions in darts, piping, drumming, massed bands, Highland dancing and Highland athletics. Daily festivities include Border Collie sheep-herding, firing demos, performances by the Royal Scots Greys Calvary, L.A. and O.C. Royal Scottish Country Dance Society and historic reenactments. Whisky and scotch tasting sessions with aged malt experts are available for adult festival goers ($18) and well-known chef McBride will demo authentic Celtic Cuisine in the Culinary Corner. $25, $12/ages 4-11; Saturday & Sunday, 9 am-6 pm; The Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Hwy, Long Beach, CA; 877.342.0738
Panxa Cocina Kicks Off Monthly “Mimosas & Mutts” Brunch
This monthly brunch gathering features a special invite to our four-legged friends as Executive Chef and Owner Arthur Gonzalez welcomes brunch-goers to bring their canine companions to the sunny patio at Panxa Cocina located in the Belmont Heights neighborhood on the third Saturday of every month. The convivial brunch event will launch on the first weekend of the Year of the Dog in the Chinese Lunar calendar and the monthly gathering will provide a dog-friendly menu of Southwestern staples like rice and beans for the slobbery set, as well as a free juice flight to accompany bottles of champagne for thirsty dog moms and dads. Panxa Cocina encourages all dog-owners to enjoy favorites from the New Mexican-inspired brunch menu, including Blue Corn Piñon Pancakes, Chilaquilas Roja, Smothered Breakfast Burrito, and Stacked Enchiladas, as well as classic and new-fangled brunch libations from accomplished Bar Manager Greg Goins. Guests are also encouraged to use the hashtag: #pupsatpanxa to share their experiences on social media. Satruday, 10 am-3 pm (Every third Saturday of the month (March 17, April 21, May 19); Panxa Cocina, 3937 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90803; 562.433.7999
The Stalking Horse Brunch
Celebrate the weekend with a new brunch at The Stalking Horse. Cocktails include The Fewture of Brunch made with Few Breakfast Gin, Disaronno Amaretto, egg white, almond milk, and lemon ($14, vegan available); Top O’ The Morning made with New Amsterdam Vodka, Leopold French press style coffee liqueur, coconut cream, and cinnamon ($14); Bloody *Ell! Mary made with vodka, house made bloody mix, fried caper, olive, and fresh mozzarella (($14, vegan available); Old Thymey made with Old Thymey, Astral Pacific Gin, tangerine, and thyme (($14, Spicy Thmey available); The Stalking Horse Bellini made with house sparkling wine, Peach Consomme, Bar Keep Saffron Bitters, and an edible Nasturtium Flower ($11); and the Blood Orange Mimosa ($11). Brunch highlights include Baked Chickpea Masala made with griddled avocado, crusty bread, fresno chillies, served with field greens ($11); Eggy in the Basket smothered with chicken pot pie filling and chives ($12); Stalking Horse Breakfast made with pork belly rasher or griddled avocado, one Yorkshire pudding or crispy bread, with baked beans, roasted tomato and dipping chips ($14, add Two Sunny Eggs + $2, vegan available); Crispy French Toast with macerated berries, maple syrup, whipped coconut cream ($11); Pancakes with macerated berries and maple syrup ($11); and the Breakfast Sandwich with scrambled egg, Brioche bun, bacon, cheddar, and roasted tomato aioli ($9). Saturday & Sunday, 10 am-3 pm; 10543 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064; 424.832.7511
Black Truffle Tasting
Indulge on a five-course truffle tasting menu with stunning panoramic views of the Pacific as your backdrop. Chef de Cuisine Andrew Vaughan oversees the menu that showcases highlights like chestnut veloute (granny smith apple, celeriac, crispy faro topped with black truffle) and petite filet rossini (seared foie gras, puree of red potatoes, black truffle), among others. $225; Through February 28th; mar’sel, 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Early Bird Special at Love & Salt
The Italian-inspired eatery is now offering the first 15 brunch guests of the day a free breakfast sandwich with house made chicken sausage, fontina, pesto and scrambled eggs. Early risers can upgrade their sandwich with a $5 Tequila Sunrise. That will have your Saturday staring off to a good start! Saturday, 10 am; 317 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach, CA; 310.545.5252
Meet Knish LA
From the guys who brought you the legendary “MatzoBall” party, meet the hottest Jewish singles in LA at Meet Knish Party at The Parlour Room. Sip a scotch chaser fireside on the private brick patio at The Parlour Room in the heart of Hollywood. Queue up the jukebox and casually kick back with a crafted cocktail. $30, $199/VIP annual membership; Sunday, 9 pm-2 am; The Parlour Room, 6423 Yucca St., Los Angeles, CA 90028
PAN African Film & Arts Festival
Celebrate Black History Month with one of the best film festivals of the year, fully dedicated to showing Black creative works. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences designated PAFF as an official qualifying film festival for live action and animation short films. $12+; through Sunday; venue info here.
