Jaydi's Weekend Jems

Sat. Nov. 14th

11am-9pm, Mission Street Block Party

from Fair Oaks Pharmacy to City Hall

South Pasadena

FREE

Merchants to hold special open houses and hand out goody bags and discounts. Event to include strolling musicians and artists.

1-4pm, Fluxus Brentwood Opens

11677 San Vicente Blvd. Suite 109

Los Angeles

FREE

Meet head designer Jeffrey Sebelia, winner of Season 3 Project Runway and receive a 25% discount. Music and refreshments included.

Sun. Nov. 15th

9am-5pm, Eastside Metro Extension Grand Opening Party

East LA

FREE rides (for the Gold Line only)

Eight new metro rail stations from Downtown to East LA open at once, each featuring its own party! To include Chicano rock, Mariachi music, tasty food booths, local artisans, karaoke, and more.

12:30-5pm, National Bundt Day

Kiss My Bundt

8104 W. 3rd St.

Los Angeles

FREE

Sample slices of yummy cake, and get 15% off all purchases by mentioning YELP.

Jesus Is Sarah

Wed. Oct. 14th

8pm, Jesus is Magic

The Ivy Substation

9070 Venice Blvd.

Culver City

$20

Sarah Silverman's film followed by a Q&A with the actress herself. Click here to purchase tickets (courtesy of the WTF Festival). It's last minute, but there are still seats available!

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.

Taste This Thursday

Thurs. Oct. 1st

11am-1pm

Mrs. Fields locations

FREE chocolate chip cookies in celebration of National Cookie Month.

5:30-9:30pm, Taste of Downtown Burbank

On San Fernando between Magnolia & Orange Grove

To benefit the local YMCA scholarship fund, downtown Burbank’s restaurants will serve samples of their best recipes. Combined with live music and a beer garden, what could go wrong?

Click here to order tickets.

Jaydi's Weekend Jems

Fri. Aug. 7th

2-3pm, FREE Peet's Coffee

It's time for another Freddo...this time a coffee one!  What better way to get energized for the remainder of your work week?

5:30pm, Wax Unveiling

Madame Tussaud's

6933 Hollywood Blvd.

FREE

Quentin Tarantino attends the unveiling of his own wax figure.  You are invited to watch, but try not to melt.

Sat. Aug. 8th

10am-4pm, Designer Tag Sale

2500 Grandview Ave.

Venice

$10 admission fee (cash only)

With prices as low as $5, this huge high end interior designer yard sale is certainly worth checking out (especially for me now that I've moved).  Gift bags for the first 30 attendees.  I know I'll be one of them!

12-8pm, Korean BBQ Festival

(cook off to start at 5pm)

3223 6th St.

For $10-$15 a plate, you can sample all food from the competition, which is set to feature ten local Korean restaurants.

2-7pm, Fred Segal Makeover Party

8118 Melrose Ave.

West Hollywood

RSVP to rsvp@caromarketing.com and reserve an appointment for a courtesy makeover (to be followed by styling tips, a fashion shoot, cocktails, and in store discounts).  Thx to Caroline on Crack for the find.  Maybe I'll see you there.

3-5pm, Gourmet Ding Dong Tasting

Essential Chocolate Desserts

10868 Washington Blvd.

Culver City

$10

Not into Korean food?  No worries.  Another tasting event today - this one on the sweeter side. For a minimal fee, you can feast on up to 10 gourmet ding dongs.  Flavors range from white chocolate raspberry & banana peanut butter to espresso & carrot cake.  Call 310.287.0699 to reserve a spot.

9:15pm, Syesha Mercado Performance

City Walk

If you aren't too full from the BBQ and ding dong death wish, or all shopped out at the interior design yard sale and Fred Segal, check out this former American Idol.  I know I'll be wiped from today, but if anyone's voice can pick me up, it's hers!

Sake It to Me

Sat. Aug. 15th, 8-11pm

Renaissance Hotel

1755 N. Highland Ave.

Hollywood

Once again, Goldstar comes through!

I was holding off posting the LA Sake Fest, because it is supposed to cost $50; however you can purchase tickets at $30 for a limited time only.

How often do you get the chance to try 100 brands of sake?  Click here to purchase tix now.

Jaydi's Weekend Jems

Fri. July 24th

7:30-9pm, Salsa Lessons

Mama Juana's

3707 Cahuenga Blvd. W.

Studio City

$10

Rodrigo Guzman (Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance?) offers beginner salsa lessons. If you practice hard enough, you might be able to look like the woman in the picture. Don't want to look like the woman in the picture? Ignore me. Why are you reading this blog anyway?

7:30pm, Laserium Show

Historic Vine Theater

6321 Hollywood Blvd.

$12

An interactive light show set to Beatles music. Need I say more? Click here for restaurants that offer 20% off if you're planning on watching the show.

Sat. July 25th

8:30-9:30am, Yoga on the Pier

Santa Monica Pier

FREE

Presented by 102.7: bring a mat, towel, and photo ID. Nature will do the rest. Thanks to FWJ reader Megan for the heads up!

7pm, Cemetery Screening

(movie starts at 8:30pm)

FREE

Looking for the rainbow connection? Head to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. This time the series will be screening The Muppet Movie. Feel free to bring all friends - humans and puppets alike. Just remind them not to talk once the movie starts.

7:30pm, Hollywood Outdoor Cinema

the Old Circuit City

4400 Sunset Blvd.

Silverlake

If the cemetery doesn't do it for you, watch The Big Lebowski here instead, powered by an xbox on a 40' inflatable screen.

Sun. July 26th

5-8pm, Dessert Decadence

Renaissance Hollywood Hotel

1755 N. Highland Ave.

$40

Too much to spend for an endless assortment of all-you-can-eat pastries, chocolate, and more? Maybe. A dieter's worst nightmare? Absolutely. Enough to stop Jaydi...? I think not. Click here to join her.

7pm, Movie Under the Stars

(and every Sun. through Sept. 27th)

The W Hotel

930 Hilgard Ave.

Westwood

FREE

Paramount Home Entertainment presents The Kite Runner. Dine with "self-righteous monkeys" or get cozy in a private cabana. The choice is yours.

Jaydi's Weekend Jems

Fri. July 17th

7:30-9pm, Friday Night Sing-Along

W.M. Keck Amphitheater, Walt Disney Concert Hall

Join hundreds of Beatles lovers and live musicians as they belt out the band's favorite tunes. The event is FREE; however tickets are distributed 45 minutes prior to the event. Plan

accordingly, and you will have an easy day's night :D

Sat. July 18th

SusieCakes Giveaway

Brentwood

To celebrate their 3rd anniversary, this chain will be stuffing 10 "Golden Tickets" into their frosting-filled cakes. Winners will receive prizes ranging from baking classes to custom cakes each month for a year.

9pm, Old Pasadena Film Festival

33 E. Green St.

My pick for this weekend's film festival is Sixteen Candles, set to be screened on the rooftop of a schoolhouse parking garage. Have fun. Just don't let your date try to steal your undies!

Sun. July 19th

8am-11pm

Milk

7290 Beverly Blvd.

For National Ice Cream Day, this shop will be dishing out FREE scoops of ice cream (flavors ranging from vanilla to banana dulce de leche). All you have to do is enter the restaurant and utter, "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!"

7pm, Shakespeare by the Sea

Roxbury Park

471 S. Roxbury Dr.

Beverly Hills

Pack a picnic, kick back in your beach chair, and enjoy a FREE performance of Love's Labour's Lost.

Taste of Farmers Market

Tues. July 14th, 5-9pm

To celebrate 75 years of all things Farmers Market, you can sample food from all 36 restaurants for the price of $20.  Five dollars more will include 2 drinks.  To purchase tickets to the event, click here.

Jaydi's Weekend Jems

Fri. July 10th

2-3pm, Stop by and grab a FREE Tea Freddo from Peet's Coffee.

6:30-10pm, Dance Downtown - West Coast Swing

135 N. Grand Ave.

Los Angeles

Sat. July 11th

***12-5pm, Swap-O-Rama-Rama

California Market Center

110 E. 9th St.

$5-$10

This could be incredible or completely disgusting.  Show up and decide for yourself, as this will be my first swap-o-rama.  The concept: exchange your unwanted clothes for as many FREE clothes as you can carry out to your car.

The Renegade Craft Fair will be in the same building at the same time, where over 200 artists will be selling handmade clothes and accessories.

Click here for details.

Also, on your way to the event, why not grab a FREE slurpee at 7-Eleven in honor of 7/11's National Slurpee Day?

Fri. July 10th - Sat. July 11th

Old Pasadena Film Festival

The largest FREE outdoor film festival in Southern California will be screening movies every Friday and Saturday through July 25th.  This weekend, enjoy Notting Hill, The King and I, Daddy Long-Legs, and Footloose.

Special treats include a live orchestra performing the Daddy Long-Legs' soundtrack, and Alfred Newman's kids discussing their father's prolific scoring career.

For the full list of screenings, click here.

Sun. July 12th

Ketchup

8590 Sunset Blvd.

West Hollywood

Every Sunday this season, take 50% your bill by mentioning the "Sunset Strip Summer" promotion.

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.

Jaydi's Weekend Jems

Sat. June 20th

10am-5pm, BCBG Sample Sale

Residence Inn

1177 S. Beverly Dr.

Up to 70% off over 2,000 pieces of merchandise (an additional 10% off for cash purchases).

11am-3pm, USC Alumni Day at the Beach

Santa Monica Beach (just N. of Ocean Park)

$5 in advance, $10 upon arrival

Fight on! Click here to buy tickets to the 2nd annual beach day to raise money for the USC scholarship fund. Volleyball and surfing expected.

Sat. June 20th - Sun, June 21st

9am-5pm, International Makeup Artists Trade Show (IMATS)

Pasadena Convention Center

300 E. Green St.

$10 and up

Makeup demonstrations and FREE product samples upon arrival.  Click here to purchase tickets.

10am-7pm, Pasadena Chalk Festival

280 E. Colorado Blvd.

The largest street painting festival in the world is back again.

Sun. June 21st

9am-4pm, Open Casting Call

Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

7000 Hollywood Blvd.

TLC & Kelly Ripa are inviting female inventors to audition for their new show. If you have a "brilliant product and working prototype," they want to help you manufacture and market it. For more information on how to apply, click here.

7pm, How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days

(every Sun. through Sept. 27th)

The W Hotel

930 Hilgard Ave.

Westwood

That's right. The FREE rooftop screenings have returned! This summer, all films screened will be Paramount ones.

500 Days of Summer - Giveaways

Be one of the first 500 people to show up to any of the following locations, and receive FREE goodies (to promote the aforementioned flick):

- 9am Juice It Up (Chase Bank parking lot in Studio City)

- 11am Fiji water (on Santa Monica beach)

- 1pm Kogi Korean BBQ truck (1097 Glendon Ave.)

- 1pm Red Bull (on 3rd St.)

- 2pm Pink's hot dogs (8433 W. Sunset Blvd.)

- 2:30pm Cool Haus Ice Cream truck (1515 Abbot Kinney Blvd.) 

- 3pm Sprinkles (at The Grove)

Thx to Caroline on Crack for the heads up.

all weekend long

The Los Angeles Film Festival!!! Be sure to check out Paper Heart, the mockumentary starring Charlyne Yi!!! I saw it at Sundance and gave it lots of FWJ stars!!!

Cirque Berzerk!

This Weekend: Sidewalk Sales and Strawberry Pizza

Fri. May 15th

5-7pm

The Great Sydney BBQ

The Grove

189 The Grove Dr.

Calling all Yanks: Qantas Airways and Tourism South Wales team up to bring you FREE Australian food on the barbie, beer, wine, and entertainment (in an attempt to get you to buy tix to their country!).

Sat. May 16th

10am-6pm

Montana Ave. Sidewalk Sale

Santa Monica (6th-17th St.)

Over 150 stores will be offering 80% off their merchandise, ranging from Benefit Makeup to Pinkberry and Father's Office.

Sat. May 16th - Sun. May 17th

12:15-10pm

Guacamole Festival

Griffin Ave. & Baldwin St.

Lincoln Heights

Join over 15,000 people at this FREE festival where you can enjoy carnival rides and experience all foods guacamole.

10am-6:30pm

California Strawberry Festival

Strawberry Meadows of College Park

3250 S. Rose Ave.

Oxnard

$12

Join over 89,000 people in celebrating a fruit that California produces one billion pounds of per year. The weekend-long celebration promises to include tart tosses, strawberry pizza, pie eating contests, a demonstration by Fabio Viviani of Top Chef fame, berry decorating, and other "fruity" activities. Click here to buy your tickets now.

Moms, Matt, and Monica. Santa Monica.

Sat. May 9th

Amtrak's National Train Day

10am-3pm

Union Station

800 N. Alameda St.

Highlights include a FREE performance by Matt Costa at 1pm.  To check out a full list of events, click here.

Sat. May 9th, Sun. May 10th

LA's BBQ Fest

For $10, you can enjoy LA's 2nd annual BBQ Fest on the Santa Monica Pier, featuring live bands and a beer garden. If you are not VIP ($39), entrance begins at 1pm.

Sun. May 10th

FREE TCBY

A cup or a cone for all moms on this special day.

"Also, My Rug Was Stolen"

Lebowski Fest this weekend!

This Festival Is Going to "Stink"

Sun. April 5th, 10am-7pm

Hollywood Blvd. between Western and Vermont

SOooo excited for the FREE annual Curry Festival! Venture to this section of LA and taste a vast array of dishes incorporating curry in traditional and unique ways.

Don't worry, Lisa...there will be porta potties ;)

*Thanks to MAG for the title.

"Life is like a Box of Chocolates..."

...except this time you know what you're going to get.

Oct. 5th, 11am-5pm
LA's 2nd annual Luxery Chocolate Salon
Pasadena Center
300 E. Green St.
$17.50 - $20.00

Highlights feature chocolate tasting, demonstrations, chef & author talks, wine tasting and ongoing interviews by TasteTV's Chocolate Television program.

Purchase tickets here.

Find Your Inner Greek

For $5 until 10pm, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson invite you to participate in the last day of LA's annual Greek Fest.  This admission will provide you access to Greek music, cooking demonstrations, dance workshops, and more.

Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral
1324 S Normandie Ave
Los Angeles, CA