We curate an LA weekend itinerary of the city's best concerts, culture and cuisine, every week, just for you.
Friday
Spend a music and art-filled evening outside the Natural History Museum during Summer Nights in the Garden. Craft paper flowers, learn how to make shibori indigo designs and put together herbs and potpourri while sipping on cocktails made fresh from the museum's garden at the final installment of this summertime series.
Head over to Griffith Park for another evening of Odd Nights, a night market at the Autry packed with everything imaginable—beer gardens, live music, bounce castles, more than 200 artisan vendors—and then some (i.e. horse parking, yes, horse parking).
Up for an evening of Sunset Strip sleaze inside a baseball stadium? Then make your way to Dodger Stadium for two-and-a-half-hours of Guns N' Roses, complete with costume changes, super sexy backup dancers, a stage-chewing Slash and a pyro-filled finale of "Paradise City."
Alternatively, keep things low key at NerdMelt with Andy Kindler's Particular Show. The frustrated, self-defeated comedian is worth seeing in his own right, but Friday night's show has the added benefit of sets from Anthony Jeselnik, Mary Holland, Guy Branum and more.
Saturday
Head into Little Tokyo for the Day-Lee Foods World Gyoza Eating Championship. Exactly what it sounds like, the event pits competitive eaters against each other to down as many dumplings as possible in 10 minutes—last year the winner gobbled up 343. It's part of the larger Nisei Week Japanese Festival, which takes over the JACCC plaza today and tomorrow.
If you still have an appetite, splurge on a dinner at the Live Art Supper Club. Part art show, part dinner party, this Venice event combines pieces—including a Banksy—from local gallery Art Unified and five-course meal (alcohol included) from chef Christian Navarro.
Summer must be almost over because the final Chinatown installment of KCRW Summer Nights takes place tonight. Bust a move in the middle of Chinatown Central Plaza with a fun-filled evening fueled by a pair of KCRW DJs.
Take your pick between two late-night museum events tonight, starting with LACMA's annual Muse 'til Midnight. This year, A Club Called Rhonda is sending off Reigning Men: Fashion in Menswear with an anything-goes evening of high fashion, low lighting and off-the-wall DJ sets.
Alternatively, browse the Broad's galleries after-hours at Nonobject(ive): Summer Happenings. The summertime series includes full access to the museum as well a series of performances inspired by its collection; tonight's lineup includes music by Rostam, William Basinski, Jlin and Macy Rodman, plus a yoga session by Tabita Rezaire.
Sunday
We must have missed the memo about Sunday being some sort of unofficial BBQ day, because there are three major meat-grilling events taking place. First up, indulge your inner foodie and shopaholic at Smorgasburg LA. The Brooklyn export has landed in the Arts District and it's already a hotbed of fantastic food and retail vendors—as well as the home of today's Barbecue Day with Bludso's and Barrel & Ashes.
If you're looking for a more formal affair, sink your teeth into the All-American Summer Rib Fest at Lucques. The swanky West Hollywood spot is serving up traditional BBQ plates with "cowboy cocktails" and a staff dressed up in Stetsons and boots.
Alternatively, head toward the water for the Long Beach BBQ Festival. The annual feast takes over Rainbow Lagoon with a bonanza of meats and sauces vying to be crowned the attendee-voted favorite.
Close out your weekend at Echo Park Rising. The weekend-long music fest wraps up its sixth year of neighborhood-wide free performances from more than 100 handpicked local up-and-coming acts. If you're heading over to Echo Park, make sure to check out our 10 must-see acts—including Cassandra Violet and Chola Orange on Sunday.
Find more things to do this weekend by clicking each day or by heading over to our weekend calendar.