Best Activities To Do This Weekend In L.A. - April 22
The world was dealt a heavy blow this week. Unexpectedly, Prince died, and tributes and celebrations of his life have sprung up everywhere. In addition, there are a bunch of other great activities going on in and around Los Angeles to take part in. What we will advise is to work yourself off the couch, crank some "Purple Rain" and wear your best purple shirt. Seriously.
Purple Rain
LACMA
5905 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 857-6000
www.lacma.org
In honor of Prince's untimely death, one of LACMA's most requested and popular art installations will be showering people with purple rain. In fact, the artists responsible for the installation actually requested it in honor of Prince. But, you better act quick, because it's a one day only event. The piece, which is a full room of rain that stops whenever people are below it, is a sight to be seen regardless of the tribute.
Earth Day LA
Grand Park
200 N Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90012
www.grandparkla.org
To celebrate Earth Day 2016, LA's Music Center and The Department of Water and Power are seriously giving away trees if you can prove you live in LA. Grand Park will be lined with booths offering everything from composting seminars to electric vehicle demos, to recycled art all consistent with the theme of keeping Mother Earth in mind. The event is free for the public and runs from 9am until 2pm, giving you plenty of time to take in the scenery and learn a thing or two about making your daily routine a bit greener.
Meet The Grunion
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
3720 Stephen M. White Drive
San Pedro, CA 90731
(310) 548-7562
www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org
The staff of Cabrillo's Aquarium are hosting an evening on the beach to welcome the grunion that typically hit the shores around the New Moon/Full Moon. The facility will open at 8pm and begin a bit of informative background on what guests are about to see. Then guides will take visitors out to the and to watch the thousands of sardine-sized silverfish hit the shore to leave their eggs. The spectacle is something unique to Southern California and a great way to soak in a bit of nature. All ages love the beach at nighttime and this is a great reason to bundle up and still get your toes wet.
Freestyle Festival
Queen Mary Events Park
1126 Queens Highway
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 472-4562
Sure, there is a massive festival happening in the desert, but the big boat on the water in Long Beach is playing host to a stacked line up of it's own. Taking fans way back, the 11th annual Freestyle Festival features energetic performances from 80's staples, Salt N Pepa, Berlin, Slick Rick, Trinere, Lisa Lisa, Stevie B. and more. An impressive collection of pop's legacy artists, the festival has struck a chord with a generation that still loves their dance tunes. Running for over a decade now, the annual event has become one of the most anticipated in the Southland and continues to move to bigger rooms due to demand. This is going to be a party on the boat.
Bargains & Beer
Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet
13963 Alondra Blvd.
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
(562) 921-4359
www.sfsswapmeet.com
It's tough to miss the iconic marquee that snuggles next to the 5 freeway going south from LA. The Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet has been a weekend destination for decades. Lined with vendors selling just about everything imaginable at some pretty insane prices, the Swap has also become a hang out for those looking to take in some live entertainment, grab a few beers, and eat some homemade food. Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the stage at the swap hosts a variety of tribute and cover bands ranging from soul and funk, to classic rock and cumbia. Positioned inside the massive beer garden, the suds are cool and food is packaged so you can shop and snack in between sets. Far from the flea markets lined with rows and rows of junk, the Santa Fe is stacked with plenty to enjoy.
Dinosaurs UnExtinct
LA Zoo & Botanical Gardens
5333 Zoo Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 644-4200
www.lazoo.org
In an effort to both educate and entertain, the folks at the Los Angeles Zoo have developed a unique exhibit that brings the dinosaurs back to life. 17 different dinosaurs are placed throughout the footprint. These animatronic prehistoric creatures all have electronic brains and help to illustrate how adaption played such a huge role in evolution. In the same exhibit, guests can begin to understand how fragile nature is as the same threat of extinction now faces a multitude of endangered species. Fun for both the kids and the adults alike, this is a way to explore Jurassic Park without having to run from raptors.
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