Best Activities To Do In L.A. This Week - May 30
The week starts with several great places to spend your Memorial Day, followed by a new restaurant opening in Silver Lake. Fans of the Magic Kingdom will get two chances to enjoy a night of Disney, with a special evening with Disney Legend composer Alan Menken, and a live performance of seven Disney Silly Symphonies by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. A little shopping to go along with an outdoor screening is in store, as is the very important celebration of National Donut Day. Cap the week off with a trip to the Santa Monica Pier to pedal for a good cause at the 6th Annual Pedal on the Pier event.
Celebrate Memorial Day
Multiple Locations
There are lots of ways to celebrate Memorial Day in L.A. today. In honor of both the holiday and their second anniversary, Playa Provisions in Playa del Rey is hosting an afternoon bash just steps away from the beach. Stop by after some fun in the sun at the beach, and enjoy a craft beer garden, burgers, hot dogs, face painting and inflatable obstacle course for the kiddies, and live music. Fiesta Hermosa is back again for a day of fun and food in downtown Hermosa Beach. A food court, Charity Beer and Wine Garden, live music, and a Kiddie Carnival are just some of the things you can look forward to at this year's festival. A special BBQ pop up of meaty eats and refreshing drinks will take place on the Ritz-Carlton rooftop as part of WP24's Rooftop Patio Dining summer series, or, if you'd like to take the day to just stay in and relax, get your barbecue delivered by Holy Cow BBQ, who makes it super simple to order their "slow smoked goodness" online for delivery. Order for yourself, or a BBQ Package if you're hosting your own shindig at home.
In addition to the multiple things to do today, there are several Memorial Day Celebrations in LA as well.
New Restaurant Opening: Sawyer
3705 Sunset Blvd.
Silver Lake, CA 90026
(323) 641-3709
www.SawyerLosAngeles.com
A new restaurant opens its doors almost every day in Los Angeles, but this new Silver Lake spot is a gem. Offering seafood-focused seasonal dishes and a unique cocktail program, make sure to visit Sawyer for delicious food. Take a seat inside and enjoy the airy garden atmosphere, with hand-painted wall accents, butcher block countertops and tables, and floor to ceiling windows, or, head outside to the cozy back patio and sidle up to the fireplace. Executive Chef Alex McWilliams is serving up both cold and hot shareable plates, as well as a variety of seasonal California large plates. Salt cod brandage, soft shell crab sandwiches, duck-fat popovers, and California fried chicken are just some of the dishes you can expect during dinner service. Sawyer also offers a daily happy hour from 4pm - 7pm with both drink and food options (oysters and wine for $12 anyone?). After dinner, head next door to newly opened cold-press juicery, Clover, for a refreshing and healthy nightcap.
Alan Menken
GRAMMY Museum
800 W Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 765-6800
www.grammymuseum.org
If you've seen a Disney movie, there's a good chance you've heard one of Alan Menken's songs. Winner of more Academy Awards than any other living individual, Menken is responsible for the song and score credits for such Disney classics as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and The Beast, Newsies, Aladdin, Tangled, and more. Along with the animated features, Menken has also composed for films from the Rocky, Home Alone, and the Captain America franchises. With awards from the GRAMMYS, Golden Globes, and the Tonys, his list of achievements goes on and on. Join the certified Disney Legend tonight for a conversation about his impressive career, hosted by VP of the GRAMMY Foundation, Scott Goldman. Arrive early and check out Bruce Springsteen: A Photographic Journey, on display through June 19.
Street Style Cinema
The Grove
189 The Grove Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 900-8080
www.whowhatwear.com
Outdoor movie season is ramping up, and The Grove is getting in on the action. Together with fashion website Who What Wear, they're bringing a bevy of fangirl classics to The Grove. Grab a seat under the stars tonight for a screening of the classic film Dirty Dancing. Before the show enjoy a little shopping, along with DJs, themed cocktails, a photo booth, and some tasty bites. A photographer will be on the ground snapping pics of the savviest outfits to be featured on Who What Wear. Bring a book to donate to Baby2Baby to score complimentary valet parking.
Celebrate National Donut Day
Multiple Locations
Whether you like them plain and cakey or fried and glazed, there's no wrong way to enjoy a donut - especially on National Donut Day! Silver Lake's Donut Farm is offering the first 30 customers a free cup of fair trade McLaughlin Coffee with purchase of one of the shop's gourmet vegan, 100% organic donuts. Over on the westside, Blue Star Donuts in Venice is celebrating the day with a surprise donut release, and by donating a portion of the day's proceeds to L.A.'s premiere small theater company, Rogue Machine Theater. Joan's on Third will be serving up their homemade donut holes for just $1 a bag, and if you haven't been to recent west coast transplant Dunkin Donuts, now's the perfect time to head there as they'll be offering guests a free donut with purchase of any beverage.
LACO @ The Movies: An Evening of Disney Silly Symphonies
The Orpheum Theatre
842 South Broadway St.
Los Angeles, CA 90014
(800) 745-3000
www.laco.org
Between 1929 and 1939, Walt Disney produced 75 Silly Symphonies in order to experiment with special effects and camera techniques. The music was composed first, followed by story and animation around the score. Tonight, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra will perform live alongside seven of the classic Silly Symphonies projected onto the big screen. From timeless fairytales to fantastical scenarios, tonight's films include five Academy Award-winning shorts, the very first Silly Symphony produced and directed by Disney, and the first commercial color short. Taking place at the historic Orpheum Theater, the interplay between film and music is bound to look and sound amazing, especially as the theater's original 1927 Wurlitzer organ will be featured.
6th Annual Pedal on the Pier
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA 90401
pedalonthepier.haroldrobinsonfoundation.org
Set against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean, Pedal on the Pier is back for its sixth year and ready to help fund the Harold Robinson Foundation. Money raised during the 5-hour/100 mile spin-a-thon will help the foundation send underserved kids in L.A. to a camp retreat where they can gain confidence and build character through recreational programs. This year's theme is "We Spin, Kids Win," with a goal of exceeding a million dollars. Participate as a registered rider, or just come enjoy the festivities while cheering them on. Live musical performances, DJs, celebrity guests, and local restaurants will be participating in the event. Parking can be tricky, so try out the newly opened Metro Line to Santa Monica (exit at 4th Street).
