Weekend

Artisan Market at W Los Angeles – Westwood
As an official welcome to the spring season, Choice Hospitality Group is hosting the second annual Artisan Market at W Los Angeles – Westwood. The event is sponsored by Mezcal El Silencio and includes specialty cocktails and live demos. The California Olive Oil Council is presenting a sampling of 10 different olive oils, and Whole Foods Market is offering a DIY station where you can mix and match essential oils and create your own body scrubs. The Artisan Market will also offer a sampling of some SoCal’s best homemade products, including coffee and beans from Caffe Luxxe, spreads from Laura Ann Jams, creative spice and herb blends from Gustus Vitae Condiments, and pickles by Pickled by Hattie. There’s also a station for Executive Chef Dakota Weiss’ Pop Parlor, with flavors including Curried Pig with madras curry toffee, Hobb’s bacon, and smoked pistachios; and Holy Mole with chipotle-cinnamon toffee, dark cocoa, toasted sesame seeds, and sundried red chile powder. Weiss is also creating a special BBQ menu for the event with Mezcal El Silencio and California Olive Oils in the dishes. Sunday, 11 am – 3 pm; 930 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90024; 310.208.8765

Bourbon Supper Club Grand Opening
New and semi-nude. With resident DJ Mando Fever playing classic hip-hop, reggae, bangers and latin flavors, you can catch a burlesque show this weekend. Saturday, 9 pm-2 am; Bourbon Supper Club, 734 E. 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Concours D’Elegance
The beautiful Greystone Park & Mansion in Beverly Hills is having the annual showcase of vintage, classic cars and motorcycles. Also enjoy lectures, a marketplace, gourmet food, beverages and access to Greystone Park & Mansion interior and grounds. Sunday, 10 am–4 pm; $120 in advance, $145 day-of, under 10 free; Parking: First Credit Bank Building, 9255 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; Greystone Park & Mansion, 905 Loma Vista Dr., Beverly Hills; 310.285.6830

NKLA Pet Adoption Weekend
Get your new best friend this weekend. Stop by and adopt your new furry partner in crime from over 50 of LA’s shelters. With adoption fees starting as low as $25, plus a starter kit filled with goodies, you’ll be feeling great and doing good. Saturday & Sunday, 10 am-5 pm; La Brea Tar Pits, 5801 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036

Beats & Eats at Escala
Brunch here means coconut waffles and spicy chicken, along with a Mango-Chili Mimosas. A That’s what you get with a Colombian restaurant in Koreatown with live DJ sets by Babu. Sunday, 12-4 pm; Escala, 3451 West 6th St., Los Angeles, CA 90020

Chocolate Indulgence Tour
If you love chocolate, listen up! This three-hour tour of LA’s finest chocolatiers includes at least five tastings. Feast on pastries, candies, and beverages all with one thing in common…they have chocolate. Saturday, 3-6 pm; Jin Patisserie, 5741 Buckingham Parkway, Culver City

Angel City Brewery’s Heritage Festival
Celebrate Angel City Brewery’s first anniversary with an Urban Beer Picnic: an outdoor music and beer oasis including a beer garden, numerous food trucks serving tasty LA-inspired food and beer popsicles, and more including live music and artisan bazaar. Saturday, 1-8 pm; 216 S Alameda St., Downtown, 213.622.1261

Date Nights at The Grove 
Revive your date night with The Grove’s new “date night,” which includes dinner for two from the restaurant of your choice, two movie tickets, and free valet parking all for $30/person. Now through May 31, every Monday-Friday; The Grove, 189 The Grove Dr.; 323.900.8080

Coolhaus Anniversary Party
Coolhaus, the all-natural, ice cream sandwich truck is turning five! Celebrate this ice cream cookie sandwich this weekend and raise money for 9 Dots, an after school tutoring program for underserved children. Enjoy free food by Pizzanista! and Free Range LA, a DJ set by Paul Tao of IAMSOUND and live music headliner De Lux, open bar with craft cocktails, kegs and beer floats by Golden Road Brewing, and cocktail Jelly Shots by Ludlows Cocktail Co. Oh, and of course, ice cream and ice cream sandwiches! In addition to all that goodness, your ticket includes pre-ordered copy of the upcoming Coolhaus Ice Cream book, delivered to you upon release date (5/20/14), Coolhaus mason jar for ‘sustainable’ drinking during the event, Coolhaus tote bag filled with all-natural goodies from DrySoda, Purity Organics, Herbal Zap, Cocomels, Mountain Valley Spring Water, and more! $65; Friday, May 2, 8 pm; The Unique Space, 1275 East 6th St.

BCBG Max Azria Group’ s Runway Archival pop-up shop
This fashion brand that has been around for two decade is opening their Vernon HQ to the public to showcase a must-see exhibition and special-edition Runway Archival pop-up shop. “Living the Bon Chic Life” retrospective will be open from 12-5 pm on Saturday May 3, Sunday May 4 and Saturday May 10. Private tours can be scheduled by contacting RSVP@BCBG.com. 2761 Fruitland Ave., Vernon, CA 90058

ShopWalk DTLA’s Block Party
If you’ve yet to explore the Historic Core’s retail therapy, you’ll want to get down there this weekend. Expect free bites and sips, plus price tags slashed at nearly half off at a bunch of boutiques. Deals include 25% off brands like UNIF, Nasty Gal, Jeffrey Campbell and more at Round2 LA; up to 20% off Buttons & Bows’s pre-loved designer merchandise; 10% off at Kapsoul; 50% off select women’s vintage at 1 Man’s Trash and fall/winter men’s apparel at Beautiful Ful; and Pale Violet’s offering 20% off everything (including brands like Finders Keepers, Cameo and more); 10% off storewide at Curio; and 30% off at Sub_urban Riot’. Check out a map of the event here and the full lineup of fashion, food and beauty participants here. Sunday, 12-7 pm

The 3rd Biennial Taxidermy Show
Road kill is a central part of the “recycled” philosophy of this unusual and enlightening exhibition, as are discarded livestock, destroyed nuisance animals, casualties of the pet trade and animals that have expired from natural causes. Other sculptures use taxidermy techniques in unique ways to make beasts from everyday materials. Elements of technology and decoration combine to create ornaments that approach high art, not only in craft, but in concept. Materials and even species are mixed, helping to broaden presumptive definitions. Pieces in this exhibition span Steam Punk to Rococo -from playful to elegant.On Saturday, May 3rd from 2 until 5 PM, Katie, Divya, and Lauren will present a live taxidermy demonstration using prepared and raw materials as they answer questions about the artform. ANIMALS ARE NOT KILLED IN THE WORK, but rather are used to create a conversation about death and taxidermy. Here’s a link to pics from the last Rogue Taxidermy Show in 2012. We are also spotlighting the work of Ave Rose in an exhibition within an exhibition. Ave uses antique insects, bones and taxidermy ephemera in congress with motion mechanics to produce reanimated, organic robots that tend more towards rococo than science fiction. Also incorporating precious gems and metals, her creatures are whimsical amusements that practically breathe with artificial life. May 2 – June 1; opening reception: Friday, 8-11 pm; live taxidermy demo: Saturday, 2-5 pm; La Luz de Jesus Gallery, 4633 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027; 323.666.7667

Natural History Museum’s First Fridays
Join in the “Tracking and Trapping L.A.’s Wildlife” tour with Aisling Farrell, Collections Manager, and Gary Takeuchi, Assistant Collections Manager, at Rancho La Brea. This season’s First Fridays tour explore how Museum biologists are “Tracking and Trapping L.A.’s Wildlife.” (Tour tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. The “Back to the Future: The Scientific and Cultural Importance of Rancho La Brea” discussion is with Dr. John Harris. Learn about fossils! Music this month includes KCRW DJ Lounge with Anthony Valadez and DJ Daddy Kev, Groundislava featuring Rare Times, and HOLYCHILD. $18/Concert Ticket + Museum Admission, $12/Museum Admission; Tours: 5 pm, 5:30 pm, 6 pm; Discussion: 6:30 pm; Music: 5:30–10:00 pm; 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90007; 213.763.DINO, or performances@nhm.org.

2nd Annual Home Run for Kids in Brentwood
Upward Bound House, a leading provider of housing and services to homeless families, will hold its 2nd Annual Home Run for Kids in Brentwood, which is a morning of exercise, food and fun that provides an opportunity for kids and parents to work together to solve family homelessness, a growing crisis across Los Angeles. The event will include a 10k, 5k, and Kiddie K as well as family activities, food and drinks. The course is both stroller and dog friendly. All proceeds from the event will go to Upward Bound House, which helps provide food, shelter and basic needs for 53 homeless families. Sunday, 7:30 am; RSVP: info@choicehg.com

TDR + BottleNotes + Napa Valley Vintners
Enter the beautiful and historic Ebell of Los Angeles to taste world renowned wines as Bottlenotes and Napa Valley Vintners take you Around Napa Valley in 80 Sips, the launch party for Taste Around Town LA! Sample wines from a wide range of Napa Valley regions, including Carneros, St. Helena, Stags Leap, Yountville and more. The experts will be on hand for any questions you may have. Sip and enjoy light hors d’oeuvres, while mingling with Three Day Rule. Fri day, 6:30-9:30 pm; RSVP here

Unique LA
With more than 350 vendors, this is the largest independent-design show in the country. JOin in workshops, while the cafe serves a variety of dishes from local food trucks and restaurants. $10; Saturday & Sunday, 11 am-6 pm; California Market Center, 110 E. 9th St., Downtown Wellness Weekends The hotel is offering a free hour-long Pilates class with celebrity trainer, Kit Rich. Kit has a unique approach to Pilates training combined with yoga, cardio and weights. Each class ends with a free mimosa and 20% off brunch that day! Free (they provide mats); May 3– Labor Day, Sundays, 9-10 am

Venice Garden and Home Tour
Check out the architecture and landscaping of one of Venice Beach at the annual Venice Garden and Home Tour. The self-guided tour visits 30 spots on the streets near Abbot Kinney Boulevard and the boardwalk, including a barnlike building designed by Arata Isozaki and once owned by Eric Clapton. $60 in advance, $70 at the door, under 12 free. Saturday, 10 am-5 pm; Starts at the Neighborhood Youth Association, 1016 Pleasant View Ave., Venice; 310.821.1857

Venice Garden and Home After Party
800 MAIN, one of the city’s hottest new event spaces, is hosting the official after party for this year’s The Venice Home and Garden Tour. Food and drinks provided by Hotel Erwin, Primitivo, Ado, Sauce on Hampton, 3 Square Cafe – Rocken Wagner Bakery, Ocean’s Halo, Firestone Walker Brewing Company & More. Local Fine Artists on display and for sale and music by DJ Loboman and DJ 6ix Seven. Saturday, 5 pm – Midnight; 800 Main St. Venice, CA 90291

Flavors of Los Angeles 2014
This event includes a five-course gourmet dinner prepared table side by one of the city’s most notable chefs. This year’s event begins with a special cocktail reception featuring tray-passed hors d’oeuvres and Christophe Happillon, who is known as the Oyster Gourmet. Complimenting the oysters will be chilled shots of American Harvest Organic Vodka, along with specialty hand-crafted cocktails made with American Harvest Organic Vodka and Barenjager, as well as some specially selected wines from Kiamie Wine Cellars and Vina Sympatica. Following the cocktail reception, you will be seated at tables of twelve, where you will join by a personal Chef for the evening. Each course will also be paired with wines selected by each host restaurant to perfectly compliment each dish. Musical entertainment will be provided throughout the evening, and this year’s host and MC will be Chef Sharone Hakman from FOX’s hit show Master Chef. $275; May 4th, 5:30 pm; Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, 1700 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, 90401; more info: 310.670.4624 or e-mail Taly Fantini, tfantini@liverfoundation.org.Gates 

Performs at Canoga Park at Cobalt Cafe
The five piece New Brunswick, New Jersey based band Gates have self-produced two EP’s since 2011. Gates picked up steam touring with bands like Prawn and Gifts from Enola before signing to Pure Noise Records, who re-released their EP You Are All You Have Left To Fear in 2013. They’ve most recently toured with The Gaslight Anthem, and have just finished recording their debut full-length with producer Mike Watts (The Dear Hunter, As Tall As Lions), due out on Pure Noise later this year. Saturday; 22047 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, CA 91303; 818.348.3789

Junior Drake
Enjoy deep discounts on the contemporary handbag brand’s totes, hobos, satchels and more. Deals include $5 daily doorbusters, two bags for $109, three bags for $119, and a free gift with $150 purchase. In addition, score a chance to win a $500 gift card during their Instagram contest. Friday & Saturday; 740 E 60th St., Los Angeles, CA 90001; 323.233.9845 

Matisse Footwear
Grab the footwear brand’s stylish sandals, boots and more for 50-75% off. Friday, 12 am-6 pm; Saturday 10 am-2 pm; 1550 E Franklin Ave., El Segundo, CA 90245

Tokidoki
Get 35-75% off apparel, toys, bags, tech accessories and more during the brand’s warehouse sale. Friday & Saturday, 10 am-3 pm; 5534 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90016