Your weekend has officially begun.

Celebrate the end of a shark-infested workweek and pet a few live ones at the resurrected Shark Lagoon Nights.  Find an excuse to sneak out of work or revel in your freelance-society bliss because this one gets started early (6-9pm) and is located at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.

A little bit of a journey for you Angelenos, but definitely worth the trek!  For FREE you can get up close and personal with bamboo sharks and sand tiger sharks, among other sea giants.  Liquid courage is available in the form of various wines and beer (for those feeling a little faint of heart) as well as coffee treats and sugar snacks for a different type of happy hour.  Rotating bands and dj’s perform, according to the night, but be sure to check their calendar before heading to this outdoor escape, just in case the rain STILL hasn’t migrated its way back to Seattle.

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WHAT: Shark Lagoon Nights
WHEN: Most Fridays, 6pm-9pm, starting March 5th
WHERE: Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach
$$$: FREE!

Remember back in the 80’s, when no self-respecting action movie could come out without ninjas? We have reached that golden point again, my friends — only now instead of black-clad Asian stereotypes kicking Michael Dudikoff in his blow-dried head, we’ve got a French style of street acrobatics known as Parkour.  It involves sprinting, scrambling up walls, vaulting over obstacles, and generally looking like a complete bad-ass. (See CASINO ROYALE, LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD, the DISTRICT B-13 flicks… even the space-smurfs in AVATAR are doing it.)

Now if you, like me, are more of an “armchair bad-ass” and don’t want to risk breaking your spine while leaping over the bike-rack outside Taco Bell, The Los Angeles School of Gymnastics has the perfect thing for you: Thursday Night “Intro to Parkour” Classes — where a ridiculously skilled instructor will teach you basic rolls, vaults, and climbs, and the floor is made of nice, cushy padding for when you fall.  There is no size, skill, or experience level requirement (I’ve taken the class before, and was given nothing but warm encouragement and great coaching, despite most of my maneuvers looking like something from “Kung Fu Panda” before the panda learns kung-fu.)

You never know; this time next year, you could be making a dazzling escape down a set of scaffolding while taunting Bruce Willis. Register by emailing pkcali@gmail.com.

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WHAT: Parkour Lessons
WHEN: Every Thursday, 8:15 pm – 9:45 pm
WHERE: LA School of Gymnastics
$$$: $15 per class

According to Berlin-native and house-producer, DJ KAOS, the answer is YES!  In a rare U.S. appearance this Saturday night at the Chase Loft Series-February Edition, the dj heavyweight promises to keep the crowd movin and groovin’ until the wee hours to his own version of Chicago-inspired house and disco beats.

Presented by The Chase, EVFA, and MEO, KAOS will be joined by rockin’ resident dj’s: JaseFromOuterSpace and Klassique at Junglerush, a hidden indoor/outdoor venue perfect for late-night dalliances or just a fun night out of the oh-so-predictable Hollywood scene. True to its downtown roots and promotional prowess, this event is one not to be missed.

Annd….that’s not all!  The recession-style OPEN BAR will keep the conversation flowing, not to mention your glass full for a mere $15 until 11pm and $20 thereafter.  I don’t know how much YOU typically spend on cocktails a night, but let me tell you, this is a STEAL in my drink-infused world.

Whether this inspires you late-nighters to at least consider making it in the door before the price increase or you still run a little late due to a last-minute addition to the perfect outfit, $5 more is a small price to pay for fun on the run, so I say let the rationalization takes its natural course. After all, the party will be poppin’ ‘til 3am and if Italians really do do it better, it will be well worth the wait.

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WHAT: Chase Loft Series-February Edition
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 20th, 10pm-3am
WHERE: Junglerush/EVFA, 542 S Alameda (Cross St. Palmetto)
$$: $15 before 11pm, $20 after with open bar, CASH ONLY

Celebrate all things Jewish this weekend at the Jewlicious Festival 6.0. Yep, ya heard. Whether you’re Jewish or not (or if you just love a potato latke or two), you can attend this celebration and meet some folks, hear some music, chow down, and I guess….get Jewlicious on yo’ ass? There are special guests (speakers, artists, presenters, etc) and it all goes down in Long Beach. FYI: Jewlicious is one of the largest Jewish sleep-overs that isn’t a sleep-away camp. Everyone brings a sleeping bag or air mattress (the event is in the Alpert Jewish Community Center). All Jewlicious-related inquiries may be answered here. Just don’t expect Matisyahu to be there (but expect many other intriguing bands).

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WHAT: Jewlicious Festival 6.0
WHEN: Friday Feb. 19-21
WHERE: Long Beach
$$$: $36 for students, $75 for non-students

The good loony people at Zombie Joe’s Underground are at it again with the sixth installment of their smash hit play, Urban Death. Every year, a director and a handful of actors get together and come up with 30-40 wordless horror vignettes in this small non profit North Hollywood black box theatre. This year their theme of Once Upon A Nightmare spotlights some of those crazy things that happen in ones head during slumber time. Expect lots of blood, screaming, laughing, skin, and the occasional blue monster.

This being a limited run and a very small theater, it’s suggested that you call ahead of time to make your reservation at 818-202-4120. Get there early for a good seat, and please, for your own sake, don’t sit in the weird side seats. Just take my word for it.

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WHAT: Urban Death: Once Upon A Nightmare
WHEN: Fridays and Saturdays throughout February, 8:30 pm
WHERE: Zombie Joe’s Underground, 4850 Lankershim Blvd., 91601
$$$: $15

Interested in street food but don’t hit the streets enough? Street Food Festival is for you. Let the street vendors come to you in one convenient location so you can try all the food trucks your co-workers have bragged about and even sample a thing or two you may have seen on Bourdain. In my humble opinion, this kind of thing defeats the purpose of randomly stumbling upon something unique and delicious and to-be-eaten-with-hands, but I guess convenience is key for most fully-functional adults in the world. LA’s first street food fest is not just a food truck fest- no, no, no- there will be authentic LA street food like coconut fritters, Korean chicken wings, and everything you can imagine from a traditional taco truck, as well as vendors from LA’s Breed Street, like barbecoa and pancakes. There will also be vendors of inedible delights like UniqueLA’s pop-up mini-mart, a DIY den to make your own Valentine’s, a Valentine’s food truck themed photo booth, live entertainment, beer and wine bars (hallelujah), and a bike valet. Man, that’s one jam-packed street fest. Of course, the food trucks are the stars of the show- including The Buttermilk Truck, Grilled Cheese Truck, Sweets Truck, Fresser’s, Frysmith, Slice Truck, Flying Pig, Fishlips, many more and hopefully Coolhaus (can you tell which one is my fave?)!! So hit up those beer/wine bars heavily so that you can eat in full denial. It would make an odd Valentine’s date, but an interesting one at the very least.

*Update: Tickets are $5 at the door or presale. Maximum of 60,000 peeps can attend, so get there on time! I’m confused because some places say they are “giving away tickets” but as I far as I can tell you don’t need tickets.

WHAT: LA Street Food Festival
WHEN: Saturday Feb. 13th 11am-5pm
WHERE: LA Center Studios, 500 S Beaudry Ave
$$$: 5 entry + cash for vendors

Come one, come all, donned in your finest whites and perambulate though the streets of downtown tonight in your very own mini (I’m assuming sidewalk) parade! Being the second Thursday of the month, tonight is the downtown artwalk, and it seems that some of the organizers are sending out an open invitation for anyone who would be interested to join them in a living art piece of people. Encouraged props include: musical instruments, stilts, and beauty. Meet them down at Vibiana’s Cathedral, meander down Main to 6th, ending at The Temple of Visions on Spring. Have fun and don’t forget your Tide pens! (Ketchup stains from those hot dog stands are impossible to get out in the morning.)

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WHAT: Downtown Artwalk: Dress In White
WHEN: January 14th, 7pm
WHERE: Vibiana’s Cathedral, 210 South Main St.
$$$: Free!

If you ever find yourself with nothing to do on a Friday night, look no further than the Edison, which is a cool bar on any night but particularly on TGIF because you can drink to the sounds of FDR’s legendary Fireside Chats. I can’t think of a better reason to dress up in my best flapper attire and spend a little more than I should on a classy cocktail. However, even better yet, between 5pm and 7pm those classy cocktails are offered at “vintage prices.” In addition to the smooth sounds of FDR’s voice you can drink to “the sounds of the thirties.” This would be the perfect thing to bring someone from out of town to, or just you and your posse.

WHAT: New Deal Fireside Chats Cocktail Hour
WHEN: Fridays, 5pm-7pm cocktail hour
WHERE: the Edison, downtown
$$$: no cover, but check the dress code*

Bon voyage, dear 2009! You were quite a kick in the pants. Should you feel like kicking your short term memory in the pants for the night, head on down to ye old Alvarado House in Echo Park tonight for an all night dance under sheets, stars, and low basement ceilings rager. Brought to you by the Hang The DJs crew, these parties do not disappoint. Outside is a tented backyard with video projections and Star Wars sheets, inside is a somewhat ramshackle house where you’d sooner assume to see haunted portraits of former owners rather than 100 club kids smarmily dancing and pounding on the ceiling.

This installment features DJs Ana Calderon, Knyfeprty, Aaron Castle amongst others, along with (more) free Colt 45 10 – midnight, cash bar the rest of the night. Be sure to bundle up with lots of layers since it’s primarily outdoors, however the indoor dance room does get pretty sweaty. And don’t plan on going to that early morning church service tomorrow. They look down on hangovers, so I hear.

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WHAT: HTDJs End Of Year Party
WHEN: Saturday, December 26th, 10pm – 4am
WHERE: The Alvarado House, 1027 N. Alvarado St., Echo Park 90026
$$$: $5

In a move surely masterminded by Dov Charney to sell more winter leggings, the LA parks department has partnered with Spaceland to hold a concert series on an outdoor ice rink.  As they have for the past 12 years the parks department has erected an ice rink in Pershing Square, and this year every Wednesday night Spaceland will hold concerts there through mid January. The first concert is tonight with Salt Petal joined by Boweevil.

Boweevil describes themselves as “an eclectic mix of rock & country with a dash of garage, psych. and punk style.”  So basically it is rock music, and that aint bad.  Salt Petal is a fun and fast band with an adorable lead singer, who sings in both Spanish and English.  She also plays the accordion, and thanks to Mad Men we now know that the accordion might be the sexiest instrument a woman can play.

Spaceland will be hosing concerts at the outdoor rink on Wednesday nights into January, check the LA parks Website for the complete schedule.  Skating is only $6 and renting skates is a mere $2 more, so no excuses.  Fun skating and some good music, fork over the eight bucks.

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WHAT: Ice Skating Outdoors With Spaceland
WHEN: Wednesdays 8-10pm, today through January 18th, 2010.
WHERE: Pershing Square
$: $8 including skate rental.

Saturday is Repeal day, when President Roosevelt repealed the 18th amendment back in the day so we could get back to drinking, and many  bars will be having drink specials on whiskey and bourbon. One of the more interesting celebrations is the Edison’s repeal day skating party. $25 tickets include ice skating in Pershing Square with complimentary hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts, and Christmas cookies, and then you can walk back to the Edison to sample a part of their barrel of seasonal blend Woodford Reserve bourbon, which has more spice and cinnamon. Yum! There will be more food and drinks offered, of course, and eggnog!

WHAT: The Edison’s Repeal Day Celebration
WHEN: Sat. Dec. 5th 6pm
WHERE: Pershing Square/the Edison downtown
$$$: 25

Anyone who has subscribed to the LA Opera newsletter will have heard about the 110 Project.  For the few of you out there that aren’t totally engrossed in the art music world, here is a little bit about the new opera about LA freeways.  From their website:

Through four central characters, The 110 Project travels through time down the 110 Freeway, from the birth of the space program in Pasadena’s Arroyo Seco in 1939 to downtown Los Angeles at mid-century to the thriving international port of San Pedro in the present day. Based on true stories, historical documents and original material, the opera opens an intimate window onto 70 years in the history and daily life of Los Angeles. When completed, The 110 Project is expected to incorporate the work of multiple composers and librettists. The music draws its influences from freeway sounds as well as cultural and historic source material. The singers are characters, but they also make up a freeway chorus that scats and honks its commentary.

This Saturday, there will be a sneak preview of the freewhelin’ opera at the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena.  For those that can’t make Saturday, there will be a repeat performance at the California African American Museum by USC.  There will be an opportunity for the audience to give feedback after both performances.

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WHAT: 110 Project Sneak Preview
WHEN: Saturday, November 21st @ 1pm;  Sunday, November 22nd @ 1pm
WHERE: Pacific Asia Museum (Sat); California African American Museum (Sun)
$$:  PAM – $9 general, $7 students/seniors, (full admission info); CAAM – FREE

Have you ever thought that you would be much better off if you had been in your prime in the 1920’s? I certainly have (red lipstick, coiffed hair, gin bottles…come on)…and here’s our chance to experience the swinging ’20’s in a fast and loose city. Dress in your best tweed, feign a mustache, and muster up all the moxie you can handle for a historic bike ride through downtown L.A. Seriously, this is the best idea ever. Meet at Union Station at 12:30pm and ride through L.A.’s oldest streets and art deco highlights, and end at Royal Clayton’s English Pub for a pint and probably some belly-warming food. Do some killer thrifting this week and you could win Best Period Outfit, Best Bike and Tweed Pairing (awesome!), Most Graceful Mount and Dismount, or Best Facial Hair. I’m thinking cabbie hat, tweed blazer, mustache, perhaps a pipe and pocket watch, and hopefully a matching Paul Frank cruiser/tweed combo. Don’t forget to bring water; must be 18+ to time travel.

WHAT: Tweed, Moxie, and Mustache Ride
WHEN: Sat. Nov. 21st (our own Scarlet’s birthday) 12:30pm
WHERE: Union Station
$$$: free!

Some of you may know who Dave Malki ! and Kris Straub are already, but for those that don’t, you have a great chance to find out.

For those less familiar with their work, you mayhaps will recognize the names of their respective webcomics, Wondermark and Starslip.  Well on top of all that greatness, they have joined forces to create Tweet Me Harder, a “smash hit comedy podblast” crafted by the two gents.  Things to expect:  rapier-sharp witty repartee, rampant exuberance, an appearance by America’s Favorite Funnyman, Dave “Duckman” Kellett, nemesis (perhaps Arch Nemesis, even) Fake Stan Lee, and many, many pandora’s boxes of comedy sure to be opened.

Note to Antarctic scientists: if sunny Southern California is too far away for you, you can also tune in to tweetmeharder.com to watch a live stream of the show.

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WHAT: Tweet Me Harder LIVE!
WHEN: Saturday, November 14th @ 8pm-10pm
WHERE: The Complex (map)
$$$: FREE!

The Neo Acro Theatre Co. is hosting it’s very own city-wide scavenger hunt. I highly suggest taking advantage of this opportunity! It’s not every day someone else will organize a massive hunt for you! Plus, with teams of five, the entry fee is $25 which means only $5 a person! It’s such a great deal because most of the scavenger events around town cost upwards of $30/person. To sign up, send your name, number, and email address to this e-mail. I’m sure they will accept walk-ins as long as you bring the cash! Entry fees are due on the day of the event at the home base on a sweet little street called Lankershim. You cannot participate unless your entry fee is paid when you arrive! Your team will have 5 hours from noon to 5pm to complete as many of the tasks as possible. And of course the winners will receive some sort of secret prize, maybe a pony. Who knows. But remember, you’re never too old to go on a scavenger hunt!!!
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WHAT: City-Wide Scavenger Hunt
WHEN: Saturday, November 14th @ 12pm-5pm
WHERE: RSVP to find out!
$$$: $25/team of 5

Save the date of December 6th because GuerrilLA Drive-In is screening The Muppet Christmas Carol for free downtown! We’ve posted about GuerrilLA’s free screenings before, and I think the Muppet’s are a perfect excuse to get a group of friends together, pile into a car with some warm and toasty treats (booze), and prepare for an evening of magical movieness and vegan hot dogs! That’s right, our friends the Frankenstand will be there, as they always are, steaming up vegan sausage with all the fixings- cilantro, cilantro, cilantro. Check out this article in LAWeekly about the drive-in; it really is a guerrilla operation. At the noted time, a car pulls up with electronic equipment, everyone tunes into 104.7 to pick up the movie’s score, and the screening commences on the wall of a downtown building. Sounds like the holiday spirit to me.

WHAT: GuerrilLA Drive-In- The Muppet Christmas Carol
WHEN: 8pm Sunday Dec. 6th
WHERE: 1032 S. Main St. Downtown LA!
$$$: Free! (bring cash for a Wolf dog)

It’s finally here: easy, cheap access to East Los Angeles. I’m seriously ecstatic. To celebrate, Metro’s offering free rides and tons of events at several different stops. Little Tokyo/Arts District will feature live karaoke, a mini street fair with booths from neighboring restaurants and businesses, and plenty of family activities. Union Station will bring Christmas SUPER early (awkwardly so) with a visit from Santa and some carolers. Over at Mariachi Plaza Station, there will of course be live mariachi bands, tons of Latin live music, and Boyle Heights’ first ever block party and street fair. Included in the fair will be tons of delicious food, free giveaways, and local art exhibits.Finally, the East L.A. Civic Center Station will offer live Chicano rock, a farmer’s market, more food booths, family fun, cooking classes, and more. One can easily spend his or her day riding the Gold Line (for free, remember?) and checking out all these free activities highlighting L.A.’s diversity and it’s eagerness to change it’s transportation issues, one line extension at a time!

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WHAT: Metro Gold Line Extension Grand Opening
WHEN: Sunday, November 15th All Day
WHERE: East L.A.
$$$: Free

The infamous Vice Magazine is busy celebrating their grand 15 year anniversary just as you’d expect a gritty counter culture magazine to do. Oodles of free music and another open bar for this weekend! Friday night at the Los Angeles Ukrainian Cultural Center, get ready to party like it’s 1994! There will be performances from Brother Reade and White Arrows, with Dj sets from Boom Bip, Bobby Evans, and  DJ compact disk. I’m guessing the open bar is going to be tequila. Because there’s that giant bottle on the flier. Just a guess. All with the awesome price of free with an RSVP!

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WHAT: Vice Magazine’s 15th Anniversary Party
WHEN: Friday, November 5th, 9pm – 2am
WHERE: Los Angeles Ukrainian Cultural Center, 4315 Melrose Ave, LA
$$$: Free. RSVP HERE.
Ages: 21+

This one’s for all you fashionistas (and fashionistos) out there: a social ride that starts with Scoops and ends with lots of fun shopping at Melrose.  Dress in your most fabulous duds and meet at Melrose and Heliotrope for some delicious ice cream followed by a leisurely ride down the street to shopping.  The group will decide how much shopping to do and where to stop, but it should be at least a couple hours’ worth.  After you’re all shopped out, you’ll bike back for dinner (maybe) at Scoops.

Even if you’re not a super biker, don’t worry!  This ride is no Wolfpack Hustle.  In fact, the LA Cycle Chic website advocates the Slow Bicycle Movement and biking in heels, so you’ll need to worry more about showing off your cute clothes than your mad bike skillz.

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WHAT: Shop Melrose with LA Cycle Chic
WHEN: Saturday, November 7th starting @ 3 PM
WHERE: Starts at Melrose and Heliotrope
$$$: Depends what you buy

Plenty of stores are getting into the Halloween spirit and not just by putting lame decorations in their windows.  Some stores are actually offering some sweet freebies, and not just the candy kind.  All you have to do is show up at the right time or do something silly at the behest of your frozen yogurt overlords.

The folks at dealnews.com put together a comprehensive list of places to go with activities and rewards for both adults and kids.  You stand to receive anything from sandwiches to free bowling to toys and more.  I have a bunch of brown butcher paper left over from my Halloween decorations at work, so maybe I’ll swing by Chipotle and show them what an angry burrito looks like.

Click here for the list and check back for it to be updated.