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Things to do this weekend in Los Angeles: August 5-7

Michael Juliano
Written by
Michael Juliano
Editor, Los Angeles & Western USA
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We curate an LA weekend itinerary of the city's best concerts, culture and cuisine, every week, just for you.

Friday

Ditch your pants and strip down to your undies for a Pokémon Go underwear party in Santa Monica and Venice. Take part in gym battles, grab a drink and take a half-naked ride on the Ferris wheel at the Santa Monica Pier.

Take your pick between two parties at LA institutions on Friday night. Learn how to make drinking vinegars, hummingbird feeders and rock necklaces during the latest outdoor installment of Summer Nights in the Garden at the Natural History Museum.

Alternatively, knock back some craft brews as monkeys and exotic birds screech in the background during Brew at LA Zoo. The Los Angeles Zoo is hosting an after-hours party with live music, DJs and more than 55 craft brews.

Settle in for an evening at the Greek Theatre for a set from Ryan Adams. Expect the prolific singer-songwriter to play everything from alt country to Taylor Swift covers; Nice As F*#k (Jenny Lewis, Erika Forster & Tennessee Thomas) opens the show.

If you're in the mood for classical music, head to the Hollywood Bowl for the Tchaikovsky Spectacular with Fireworks. Gustavo Dudamel conducts the beloved annual tradition, featuring the iconic 1812 Overture with the Bowl’s famous pyrotechnic display.

Saturday

Dapper yourself up for an afternoon at Uncorked: Derby Days Wine Festival. This Culver Studios tasting features more than 100 wines to sample, as well as gourmet food trucks, a cigar lounge and a champagne bar. 

Don't forget to lather up with your best mustache wax for today's Beard Battle: Los Angeles. This brawny bout at the Federal Bar in NoHo includes facial hair competitions across 10 different categories, including "whiskerinas" for the ladies.

Head Downtown for a raucous rest of the day at the Save the Smell Fest. Support everyone's favorite all-ages, alcohol and drug-free music venue with sets from No Age, Audacity, White Fang, So Many Wizards and more.

Journey to a galaxy far, far away for back-to-back-to-back screenings of the original Star Wars trilogy during the Return of the Trilogy. The Theatre at Ace Hotel will host the marathon, with clips and contests held between each film. Oh, just a warning: it's the 1997 special edition, not the original theatrical cut—so Hayden Christensen is a ghost and Greedo shoots first.

Sunday

Start your day by taking advantage of discounts and activations at more than 30 different storefronts in Downtown's Historic Core during ShopWalk DTLA. Peruse a mix of brick-and-mortar shops and pop-ups, like a market at Spring Arcade.

Walk a couple of blocks over to Pershing Square for the inaugural DTLA Proud Festival. Celebrate Downtown's LGBT community with booths from local restaurants and stores alongside a music stage and a pop-up water park. While you're there, make sure to check out Liquid Shard, the canopy of silver streamers that's covering part of the park.

Hop on the Metro and head to Union Station for the opening of and artist reception for Cabinet of Curiosities. Peer into a collection of mysterious, mini worlds designed by local artists that are only viewable through peepholes.

If you're hungry, take the Gold Line to Arcadia for 626 Night Market, the massive summertime Asian food market at Santa Anita Park.

Otherwise, take the Red Line into Hollywood for concert from Sufjan Stevens, Kurt Vile and the Violators, and Ibeyi at the Hollywood Bowl. Stevens's banjo-strumming Space Age symphonies impressed the hell out of us at Coachella; he shares the bill with lo-fi psych troubadour Kurt Vile and the smooth, rhythmic and haunting sounds of twin sisters Ibeyi.

Find more things to do this weekend by clicking each day or by heading over to our weekend calendar.

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