Best Activities To Do This Weekend In L.A. - June 23
4th Street On 4th Friday
Retro Row / 4th Street
4th Street between Hermosa and Temple
Long Beach, CA 90814
(562) 686-2707
www.4thstreetlongbeach.com
Long Beach has earned a reputation for nurturing the idea of community with plenty of neighborhood driven gatherings that reinforce the idea of small businesses growing and working together. It only makes sense that one of the hippest stretches in Long Beach has it's own evening dedicated to all things Retro Row. The walkable drag between Hermosa and Temple on 4th Street is home to a wonderful collection of cafes, watering holes, boutiques, galleries, and even a boxing club. For the final Friday of the month, all of the businesses that make Retro Row home stay open later and create programming within their spaces that designed to invite foot traffic in. Music, art, food, and drink are everywhere and guests are welcomed to hang, shop, sip, and eat from the stylish small businesses that add a personalized touch to their brand. Whether you are with family or out on a date, the final Friday of the month is a cinch for a good time on 4th Street.
Riviera Village Summer Festival
Plaza Riviera
1611 S. Catalina Avenue
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
www.rvsummerfestival.com
Not that anyone really needs and excuse to spend some quality time down by the beach, but for the last 40 years, Redondo has hosted the Riviera Village Summer Festival to usher in the summer season. Between the live music, the 300+ vendors, the food, drink, and community gather just a block away from the sand, this annual party is a two-day celebration that focuses on community and reaches outside the immediate area. For both Saturday and Sunday there will be a rotation of live bands, a huge collection of exhibitors and local artisans selling their wares, plus you get to cruise the streets with the ocean breeze washing over you for the first official weekend of the summer. There is no better way to spend your time away from the office.
The South Bay Festival of the Arts
Torrance Cultural Arts Center
3330 Civic Center Dr.
Torrance, CA 90503
(310) 781-7150
www.torrancearts.org
Functioning as the kickoff for another season at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center, the South Bay Festival of the Arts is a daylong event that includes three stages of live performances and hands-on activities to reinforce the arts within the community. Guests can roam between Torino Plaza, Nakano and Armstrong Theatres to soak in live performances ranging from high school bands, the Peninsula Symphony, contemporary bands, Irish dancers, and even comedians. For those looking to do more than be a spectator, the festival has hosted projects from organizations like the El Segundo Museum of Art and the Angels Gate Cultural Center all of which are geared towards a wide range of visitors looking to create a work of art to call their own.
Beer & Donut Pairing: LA Beer Week
Craft Beer Cellar
1353 Colorado Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90041
(323) 206-5164
www.labeerweek.org
This weekend marks the conclusion of LA Beer Week and to ensure things end with a bang, the folks at Craft Beer Cellar in Eagle Rock have teamed up with local donut legend Donut Friend for a unique pairing that should have you drooling. Why it has taken this long for someone to figure out how well beer and donuts marry, who knows, but lucky for you, Sunday is just around the corner. Known for their tasty treats with witty punk rock puns, the truth about Donut Friend is that even if baked goods didn't have such clever names, they would be just as amazing. Whether you fancy yourself a foodie or a beer snob or are just curious, here is your chance to not only sample great seasonal craft beer from local breweries, but now you can get your hands on a donut that stands alone in the vast confectionary landscape of LA. Beer and donuts, who knew?
Arroyo Seco Festival
Rose Bowl
1001 Rose Bowl Dr.
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 577-2700
www.arroyosecoweekend.com
Unless you have been living under a rock for the last few weeks, it would be impossible to complete this weekend's event forecast without including the Arroyo Seco Weekend. Any concert at the Rose Bowl is likely to have some magic in store, but this particular gathering boasts the likes of Tom Petty, Mumford and Sons, Alabama Shakes, Weezer, Charles Bradley and even Roy Ayers. The roster of heavyweight talent is enough to make this a hot ticket but with the event happening at such a legendary venue like the Rose Bowl, the ambiance is likely to ratchet up the romance of the weekend. This one is a no-brainer guys. Head out to Pasadena and get there early.
