Everything Fun You Can Do This Weekend in LA
Support Black artisans, get a double dose of comedy and jazz, and eat Korean fried chicken this weekend.
At press time, the forecast for this weekend calls for heavy rain, and if it comes to fruition, we won’t hold it against you if you look out your window and opt for your food delivery service and terrible dating show of choice from the comfort of your couch (Perfect Match FTW). That said, there is a lot of good stuff going on, including some Black History Month celebrations, new restaurant openings, and festivals (weather dependent, obviously). And if you’re looking for more ideas, it might be a good weekend to actually eat well while you watch basketball, to try the awesome Sichuan jelly dessert bingfen, or to continue your 2023 adventure through the Thrillist 50.
Now open
6333 W. 3rd St (Mid-City)
BHC is a new South Korean import that’s just landed at the Farmer’s Market (well, right across the street near the Container Store, but the parking validation’s the same). The menu includes tons of different styles of fried chicken and a slew of different ways to serve fried cheese. You’ll get 10% off if you stop by before February 28.
Cost: Varies
Friday, February 24
The Echoplex (Echo Park)
Dre Day LA used to be an annual celebration of the life’s work of Andre Young (AKA…well, you know) until Covid came along and screwed that all up. The first Dre Day since 2019 is this Friday, and you can expect to break it down not just to hits from The Chronic and his years with N.W.A. but everything else he’s touched— so, like, all of hip-hop history, with mixmasters from KDAY and Root Down dropping the bangers.
Cost: $10-$30
Friday, February 24
The Roosevelt (Hollywood)
This schmancy event features two great forms of entertainment rarely seen together: jazz music and comedy. Featuring The Daniel Rotem trio with stand-ups including Jackass’s Rachel Wolfson and Nicole Aimee Schreiber, who used to moonlight as a writer for a publication called Thrillist before breaking through on Netflix and Comedy Central.
Cost: $25-$35
Saturday, February 25
California African American Museum (Exposition Park)
The recurring pop-up Prosperity Market was founded to showcase Black makers and artisans in LA. For the Black History Month edition, they’ve assembled 30 Black-owned businesses to showcase everything from coffee to vegan pizzas. There’ll also be DJs, photo booths, a kid’s corner, yoga, and more.
Cost: Free
Saturday, February 25
LA State Historic Park (Chinatown)
The Bob Baker Marionette Theater has been a staple in LA for decades, with generations of kids (and adult-aged kids) entranced by the decidedly low-fi, highly-skilled puppet shows that have become a defining part of LA culture. This all-day celebration of the theater features a slew of special guests, including actors from Guillermo del Toro’s Oscar-nominated Pinocchio, musicians, clowns, and more.
Cost: Free
Sunday, February 26
Pacific Park (Santa Monica Pier)
This eating contest is literally nuts: Wonderful Pistachio is hosting, which means major league eaters (including world-famous hot-dog guy Joey Chestnut) are going to be vying to see who can eat the most pistachios. Of course, there’s also gonna be free nuts and swag for the audience as well.
Cost: Free
Sunday, February 26
Sherman Way between Canoga Park & Reseda
Ciclavia—the ongoing, beloved event where long stretches of streets are closed to car traffic, leading to a near-utopian mess of bikes, pedestrians, vendors, and more—is back, taking over Sherman Way in the SFV for the first time since 2019. There’s a focus from the organizers for participants to discover local gems, and this route includes many, including the fantastic vegan noodle spot Vinh Loi Tofu, the killer vintage spot Retro Relics Etc, and the Guatemalan pastry spot Guatepan Bakery.
Cost: Free
Sunday, February 26
Soul Supreme Studios (Windsor Hills)
This celebration of black cuisine is a one-day-only affair with a ton of vendors still TBA, as well as music, games, raffles, prizes, and more.
Cost: Free