Jaydi's Weekend Jems

For those not attending the FREE Jason Mraz concert in San Diego:

Fri. Oct. 9th - Sun. Oct. 11th

Buy one, get one FREE Peet's Coffee. Thx to FWJ reader Melody for the heads up.

Fri. Oct. 9th

7pm, The Deer Hunter Concert

The Knitting Factory

7021 Hollywood Blvd.

$20

Just show up (to Hollywood, not Hazel St.)!

9pm, Haunted Hayride (and Ghost Story)

Gillette Ranch

26800 Mulholland Hwy

Calabasas

$35

A small fee for the scare of a lifetime. Ticket includes ghost story (read to you by none other than actress Amy Smart) and a haunted hayride. Sound lame? Now picture being pulled in a hay-filled wagon in the middle of a dark forrest filled with spiders, insane asylum inmates, and creatures trying to snatch you away from your ride...

Sat. Oct. 10th

11am-4pm, A Taste of Dance

The Music Center

135 N. Grand Ave.

Downtown

$1 per lesson

Learn all different styles of dance for a buck a piece (each lesson is 20 minutes). Styles include Irish step, Columbian salsa, the moonwalk... I went last year with some friends and had a blast (the pop and lock class had my sides hurting from laughter).

6-9pm, Raising the Bar

Joe's

1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd.

Venice

$10

A mixology competition with bartenders from Comme Ca, Providence, and more. All cocktails (classic, rum-based, and "free style") to be judged by owners of competing restaurants (and you!). RSVP to Claudia at 310.392.5655.

8pm, Streep Tease

Bang Improv Studio

457 N. Fairfax Ave.

Los Angeles

$15

You don't have to be drunk to enjoy Meryl Streep monologues performed by men.

Sat. Oct. 10th - Sun. Oct. 11th

12pm, Beyond Eden

LA Municipal Art Gallery

4800 Hollywood Blvd.

FREE

Expanding on last year's East of Eden exhibit, this one features work from 15 galleries across LA.

Sun. Oct. 11th

11am-5pm, Luxury Chocolate Salon

Pasadena Center

$20 ($25 at the door)

Attendees can sample chocolate from all over the world, view demonstrations, attend chef and author talks, and sample some great wine to go with the delicious chocolate confections. Chocolatiers range from Marti Chocolatt to Clarine’s Florentines.

Click here to purchase tickets now.

Jaydi's Weekend Jems

Fri. June 26

5pm-9pm, FREE Pinkberry

Normally overpriced, this awesome chain will be launching 2 new flavors: coconut and passion fruit (or the "tropical swirl" if you mix them together). To celebrate, show up between the hours listed and receive a small cup at 

no charge! Also, if you are feeling adventurous, try it with this season's Bing cherries.

6:30pm, Dance Downtown

Music Center Plaza

135 N. Grand Ave.

Salsa your way through International Latin Ballroom night.

Sat. June 27th

10am-6pm, Venice Eco Fest

Winward Ave. & Ocean Front Walk

Venice Beach

This celebration of art, music, and dance will incorporate organic treats and green technology to "raise awareness about our ecosystem."

1pm, Ashley Tisdale concert

The Grove

189 The Grove Dr.

Arrive early for this FREE performance.  Thx to LA Freebee for the heads up!

7:30pm, East of Eden

Hollywood Forever Cemetery

6000 Santa Monica Blvd.

Feeling bad? Through and through bad?

This outdoor screening is technically FREE, but $10 donations are encouraged. The film starts at 9pm, but get there early with lounge chairs and picnic supplies to claim your spot. I'm so excited this summer treat is back!

Sun. June 28th

10am-7pm, FREE Spray Tans

Sunset Tan

Click here for participating locations.  No purchase necessary!

11am-4pm, FREE Burgers, Fries, and Shakes

Ruby's Shake Shack

23000 Pacific Coast Highway

at the Malibu Pier

Enjoy guacamole burgers and malibu mud pie shakes (amongst other delicious items) in honor of their grand opening!!!

12-3pm, Milo Ventimiglia Signing

Collector's Paradise

7131 Winnetka Ave.

Canoga Park

Issue #1 of the comic book Berserker to be signed by the Heroes star himself.

Sun. June 28th - Tues. June 30th

Got what it takes to be the next American Idol? Then check out Season 9 auditions at the Rose Bowl (1001 Rose Bowl Dr. in Pasadena) during these dates. The front of the line is at Gate F, and they will not be charging for parking. Click here for more information.

No Doubt About It

Wed. March 25th, 8:30am

Nokia Plaza

800 W. Olympic Blvd.

I don't normally encourage skipping work, but tomorrow morning, Gavin Rossdale will be performing a FREE concert across from the Staples Center (as part of the Donate Life Concert Series).

Tune in to 104.3 if you can't make it.

"Take Me Out" to Amoeba

Fr. Jan. 30, 7pm

Amoeba

Hollywood

Arrive early for a FREE Franz Ferdinand concert to celebrate the release of the new album.  Posters will be available with CD purchases.  This event is first come, first served.

Do You Wonder Where the Self Resides?

I don't post concerts often, but there are two good ones coming up in the next few weeks:

Mon. Feb. 2nd, 8:3pm - DeVotchka (you may remember them from the Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack) at The Viper Room.  Should be a treat seeing them perform in such an intimate setting. $25

Wed. Feb. 18th, 8pm - Andrew Bird (pictured) at The Orpheum Theater.  $30-$35

New Year at the Knitting Factory

Thx to FWJ reader Megan, you can now get FREE tickets to the Knitting Factory on Jan. 12th (at 6m) for the performance of your choice.  To check out the full list of options, click here.

Personally, I am planning on checking out Dear and the Headlights along with Miniature Tigers on Feb. 24th.

Sondre Sings

Anyone seeing Sondre in concert tonight?

Live Nation for $10!

The same FWJ reader "M" who took 20 minutes to order dinner, has an incredible recommendation for us:

"In light of the escalating transportation costs [Live Nation] fans are experiencing during the summer, this Friday only, over 40 shows at eleven of Los Angeles and San Diego favorite concert venues will have $10 tickets available! Participating artists include Rod Stewart, Maroon 5 and Counting Crows, Santana, ZZ Top & Brooks and Dunn, Alejandro Fernandez, Steel Pulse, and many, many more! Tickets will be available while supplies last on Friday, July 18 from 10am to midnight. Get out and support live music in Los Angeles and San Diego."

Click here to buy your tickets!

Victoria’s Secret Pinkapalooza feat. Fall Out Boy

Thurs. July 17, 5-10pm
380 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica

Over 15,000 people are expected to attend this FREE Fall Out Boy concert (9pm) in support of Victoria Secret's PINK line.  Get there early (before 5pm), for the first 3,000 people present will get FREE rides and games.  Also, they will be giving away some items from their new collection.

To participate, you must download your pass here and bring it to the pier.

*Fools In Love*

For those who miss The OC, or for those who love Inara George, the video below is for your viewing pleasure.  If you haven't already, hurry up and buy $15 tickets to see Inara perform on June 23rd from 8-10pm at The Fold in Tangier.  21+ only.

Sondre Lerche Tickets

A boy I don't care for very much introduced me to this 25-yr.-old Norwegian singer, but that's no reason I shouldn't share him with you.  If you like what you see below, hurry up and snag tickets to his upcoming concert in W. Hollywood on Aug. 24th.

Marie Marvelous

Fri. June 20th, 8pm

El Rey Theatre

Marie Digby in concert!  Tickets only $19!!

Play Me Some Wine

Sun. June 15th, 6-10pm

Ford Amphitheatre

Relax and enjoy a wine tasting, following vocals accompanied by a string quartet.  Notes from the Edge will be performing Radiohead, Elvis Costello, The Killers, Pink Floyd interpretations, and more.

Tickets are normally $49 each, but you can get them at Goldstar for just $29!

Rilo Kiley in concert

Wed. June 18th, 7:30pm

$33.50

at the Greek Theatre

get tix here

Don't know Rilo Kiley?  Download their music here.