Your perfect LA weekend: Dec 13-15

We curate an LA weekend itinerary of the city's best concerts, culture and cuisine, every week, just for you.

By Michael Juliano Thu Dec 12 2013

Friday

Sweeten your Friday night with some drab-yet-delicious pastries from the Depressed Cake Shop. The pop-up bakery, which sells gray-colored baked goods in order to raise awareness about mental health, will be setting up shop at the St. Joseph Center in Venice. Friday night will be one of your only chances to hit up this holiday sale, so make sure to stock up on those rain cloud-colored cupcakes.

Hide one of those cookies in your bag for a holiday double bill at the Hudson Backstage in Hollywood. 30 Minute Musicals works its melodic magic on Home Alone, featuring Joss-Whedon-sweetheart Tom Lenk in the lead role alongside Chaz Bono as the McAllister clan patriarch. If that’s still not enough Christmas spirit for you, stick around as the ensemble performs its debut Holiday Mashup, which reworks scenes from some other Christmas classics, including Die Hard, Batman Returns and Citizen Kane.

Saturday

When your weekend gives you cream, churn it. Musicians Jimmy Fusil and Mike Wait lead an '80s-themed fitness class on Saturday at the west end of the Santa Monica Pier, where you'll learn and churn the basics of making butter. Come out early, as the Butter Aerobics Holiday Jam classes are limited to 150 spots, and hang out after to hit up a few buttery vendors, including Peddler's Creamery, one of our picks for the best of 2013.

Transition from retro cheese to handsome minimalism at the A+D Museum Holiday Open House. Wine and dine with the museum’s top brass while you check out the new Armin Hofmann Farbe/Color exhibition. And of course, no trip is complete without a stop at the blackhole of art museums: the gift shop, which will be selling limited edition prints from the Swiss graphic designer.

Spend the rest of your night (and possibly morning) at the Cinefamily 24-Hour Holiday Telethon. This free fest manages to cram an unbelievable lineup of films and performances into a single night as Werner Herzog meets drone metal, Mike Judge shares his found footage collection and an acapella group sings Philip Glass's minimalist score to Koyaanisqatsi. The fest is broken up into multi-hour blocks, so be sure to RSVP to your favorites and show up early as it’s first-come, first-served.

Sunday

Whether you're nursing a hangover or searching for sustenance after a long night at Cinefamily, look no further than the Taste of Tamales Food Festival for a pick-me-up. Vendors from all over LA will be steaming up starchy, doughy deliciousness for an afternoon of culture and music at Olvera Street.

Just around the corner, the mother of all holiday markets makes its way to LA State Historic Park and you should, too. Renegade Craft Fair marks its winter session with works for sale from over 200 makers along with a free screen printing demo and photo booth.

Close out your weekend with some not-so-wholesome holiday entertainment at King King. The Mental Head Circus Holiday Spectacular takes the sinister circus' usual mix of aerialists, jugglers and contortionists and adds "vintage Christmas with a splash of Chanukah." Mazel tov!