The Twilight Dance Series at the Santa Monica Pier is the most fun you will ever have ignoring a band. This is not to say that the bands aren’t worth your attention (track down Kokono #1, a Congolose dance-trance outfit that rocked the stage earlier this month.) But they’re up on the pier, and the real action is down in the sand…

As the sun sinks, the beach becomes checkerboarded with picnic blankets as revelers stake their claims. Sangria gets sipped from plastic cups; tendrils of sweet smoke drift past, hinting that your neighbors may be engaging in the deplorable practice of smoking marijuana; laughter flows. Unlike the Hollywood Bowl, where the sound-system overpowers conversation and the rows of seats provide a semblance of privacy, the Twilight series seems almost designed to help you meet the people around you. Pretty soon, you’re surrounded by no-longer-strangers and doing the merrily unsteady barefoot-in-the-sand dance.

This Thursday, they’ll be featuring Kailash Kher, an Indian pop-folk singer who fills stadiums back on his native subcontinent despite vaguely resembling the little brother in Spy Kids. It’s spacey, kick-off-your-shoes music, a nice fit for a setting lit by the lights of a ferris wheel. Get there early, the beach fills up quick.

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WHAT: Weekly concert series on the beach
WHEN: Thursday evenings, 7 pm
WHERE: The Santa Monica Pier
$$$: Free

I was sure that there was a Heathers joke to be had in that headline (”Teen Tetricide — Do It”), but you can’t win ‘em all.

ANYWAY.

This Saturday at 8 PM, the underground Echo Park gallery Pehrspace is hosting the opening night of Tetricide, a month-long exhibit of old-school-video-game-inspired artwork. It’s going to be wall-to-wall 8-bit awesomeness, with an emphasis on “interactive and experiential” pieces, with more pixelated imagery than you can swing a flaming arm of fire at. Featured artists include such avant-garde luminaries as J.R. Baldwin (known for creating the “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” board game, which I suppose makes him like the Parker Brother who doesn’t get invited to family reunions anymore) and Sam Yurick (a genre-jumper known for rapping over laptop beats while wearing a homemade Spiderman costume, amongst other great feats of what-the-fuckery.) They’re even hosting the premier of director Felix Lee’s “Back to the Future the Ride” music video, and although I have no idea what that means, I’m deeply intrigued.

The place is extremely difficult to find, detailed directions are here. Plus, it’s free. (Power-ups not included.)

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WHAT: Old-school-game-inspired art show
WHEN: Saturday, July 10th, 8 PM – Midnight
WHERE: Pehrspace
$$$: Free

Hey all, you asked for this. What, you say? It’s best described as a screening of 10 short films featuring interactive elements (Phantom of the Opera style sing-a-long anyone?) Some of the films include: A lascivious magician that makes husbands disappear and then beds their wives, The awkward moments after an inter-racial swingers party, Paula Deen facing off against the Busch Bean’s Golden Retriever, A tribute to porn’s greatest boom operator, A tickle fight that goes on for too long, and at least one of the films feature Michael Cera and Elaine Carroll. How are you not intrigued? This Saturday there will be a screening of these gems at Synchronicity Space; the event is the culmination of General Delight’s creative output thus far. General Delight is, well, click on the photo and read for yourself. Oh yeah, and, open bar!

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WHAT: General Delight; new video works, comedy and otherwise screening/reception

WHEN: Saturday June 26th, Screening @ 8:00pm; reception to follow
WHERE: Synchronicity Space, 4306 Melrose Ave
$$$: gratis

“The difference between being ‘naked’ and being ‘nekkid’ is, that when you are naked, you have no clothes on. However, when you are nekkid, you have no clothes on and you are up to something.” — Tom Robbins, “Skinny Legs and All”

This Saturday, happening in 70 cities and 20 countries across the globe, is World Naked Bike Ride day — a world-wide celebration of all things bicycle and body-image. Anyone with a bike and a willingness to go balls-out (or, y’know, whatever-out) is welcome to join. And as part of my quest to make the unsuspecting civilians of Los Angeles see things they can’t unsee, I too will be participating. Ladies, please, CALM YOURSELVES.

Is nudity mandatory? Not at all — this thing is “bare as you dare.” (Although for anyone who’s seen me with my shirt off, it’ll be more like “bear as you dare”– zing!) Everyone’s going to meet in Echo Park at 1:30 PM for a body-decorating party, with the ride leaving at 4 PM sharp. It’ll be a medium-paced 13-mile loop around the East Side, ending in a barbecue/after-party at a to-be-disclosed location. (Please say “Pat Robertson’s house”, please say “Pat Robertson’s house.”) RSVP on Facebook to get ride directions and info.

We’re gonna get a medal for this one, kids.

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WHAT: World Naked Bike Ride Day
WHEN: Saturday, June 12th, pre-ride at 1:30, ride at 4
WHERE: Echo Park (rsvp for details)
$$$: Free

Because what’s more punk rock than romping around the notoriously kitschy redwood forest themed bar, Bigfoot Lodge? Hanging out in an alley contemplating disestablishmentarian notions you say? Poppycock! (Or perhaps you’ve simply become bored that your only other social options on Tuesdays are being stuck in Hollywood, pretending to be pretentious. Bleh! That’s not punk rock at all!)

Starting this Tuesday, Some Nerve, the new bi-weekly punk rock n’ roll themed night invites you to take a few hours off from your anarchy planning to go have fun dancing around with Smokey The Bear while drinking cheap Colt 45. They’re on special (when are they not?) along with other drinks sure to unleash your wilderness rock monster. The various music providers of the evening (commonly referred to as “DJs”) include Helleion, Jacob Safari, and TNT, along with the roaming photographic stylings of Shadowscene, so don’t forget to get that studded leather jacket and mohawk in tip top shape!

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WHAT: Some Nerve punk rock n’ roll party
WHEN: Tuesday, June 1st – 9pm – 2am
WHERE: The Bigfoot Lodge, 3172 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039
$$$: Free!!!

Two years ago, a gang of spirited young hooligans armed with MP3 players invaded Mann’s Chinese Theater to hold a very public dance-party. The invasion started quietly, done in plain sight, everyone simply mingling and pretending to examine celebrity handprints outside… until 10:07 PM, when everyone busted out earphones like gunslingers in a Robert Rodriguez movie and danced their ass off to whatever was on their Ipod — a silent, joyous collision between flash-mob and discotheque. There was also a conga-line at one point.

Tourists were mystified. Employees were stymied. Security was unable to stop laughing, even as they escorted us out. Undeterred, the party continued, West Side Story-style, down to Hollywood and Highland, where street performers, celebrity impersonators, and random passerby joined in on the festivities. (A guest appearance was made by several stone-faced, video-camera-brandishing members of the LAPD.) Footage of all this epic-ness is available right here.

Anyway — this year, rather than hold our party at some Hollywood tourist trap, we’re instead going for a prized LA institution, something this city holds near and dear, a place where regular folks go to peacefully shop, dine and take trolley-rides. That’s right, kids: we’re gonna storm The Grove.

Meet-up point is in front of Pacific 14 Movie Theater, by the fountains. Get there by 10 PM. Come ready to boogie in public (do what you need to do here, guys.) Mingle, act normal, do not attract attention from civilians. Headphones go in at exactly 10:07 PM, and then we dance like lunatics until security shows us out, at which point we respectfully go find a new “dance floor” elsewhere and repeat.  Afterparty at The Kibitz Room bar at Canter’s.

RSVP on Facebook here.

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WHAT: Mobile Dance-Club Party
WHEN: Friday, June 18th — dancing starts at 10:07 PM, sharp
WHERE: The Grove, in front of movie theater
$$$: Free

People talk about Runyon Canyon as being an “escape from the city.” Nonsense, I tell you — Runyon is basically a Crunch’s gym with sunlight. I see more Blackberry users there than at Insert Upscale-Beverly-Hills-Restaurant-That-I-Don’t-Go-To Here. If you want a real escape from the city, listen close…

Hidden directly off Los Feliz Blvd, right around the corner where it turns into Western, there’s a hidden woodland oasis that looks like something straight out of J.R.R. Tolkien’s subconscious. I’m talking about a place called Ferndell Park — which, you notice, even has a vaguely Middle Earth-y sounding name. You turn in near the sculpture of the dancing bear, and from here, you follow a densely shaded path, ensconced in California sycamores, winding up along gently trickling streams, past wooden guide-barriers and under stone bridges. The sound of the distant traffic fades out, and is replaced by that of birds, running water, and even — that rarest of LA commodities — silence. And yet you are still only a short walk from snacks.

For short men with hairy feet, i.e. me, this place is a dream come true.

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WHAT: hidden LOTR-esque mini-hike
WHEN: good all year round
WHERE: Ferndell Park
$$$: Free

If ever you’ve wondered what would happen should the coy, kittenish call of the feminine psyche were exposed, and displayed; pulled and prodded in every which way, screws and nails sent to do the dirty work of holding it all together, today (errrr…tomorrow) is your lucky day.

Edgar Varela Fine Arts has a new home and, true to their audacious nature, are opening with a bang.   Ashley Gibbons’ Coquettish Modernisms is, by words of the artist: “…a soft space with fabric to provoke hard dialogue…to explore issues of sex, intimacy, female form, function, style, and gender roles.” Layers upon layers of these intimate menageries (aka: panties!) are revealed to “…highlight and personify the dichotomy of a woman’s role”, while also “convey(ing) mood, priority, and function to the individual woman.”

In simple terms: frilly fantasy and modern individualism have collided into something you can admire, talk about, and buy while mingling with other hot-headed artistic types such as yourself.  Oh, and there will be wine.  The yummy, organic, FREE (my favorite!) kind.

Exhibiting a mix of established as well as up-and-coming artists, you might know EVFA from their previous location (just a hop, skip, and a jump from the Little Tokyo Arts District), if not for their creatively imposed art/music-related events.  With years of expertise and a natural flair for knowing what people want, visiting EVFA means you are just as likely to run across a scruffy Eastsider you’ve seen play the El Rey as you are the CEO of an entertainment company.  Either way, you will meet those you would like to meet again, listen to music you wish you could Shazam, and be surrounded by artwork you may just be able to rationalize purchasing with this month’s rent money.

Be there or be square.

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WHAT: Coquettish Modernisms by Ashley Gibbons
WHEN: Wednesday, May 12th, 5pm-9pm
WHERE: Edgar Varela Fine Arts: 102 W. 5th Street, LA 90013
$$$: FREE (But…bring your rent money, just in case)

Along one of LA’s ugliest streets — a soul-deadening stretch of Jefferson Blvd that runs through the industrial sector of Culver City, past tinny warehouses and the graffiti-strewn cement banks of Ballona Creek — lies one of the city’s best views.  Not on the street, mind you, but above it, in the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook. From atop that unassuming hill, surrounded by fields of yellow flowers and winding garden paths, you can see from Catalina to Compton, from downtown to the Hollywood sign, from Century City to the Inland Empire, and everything in between.

As for how you get up to there, you have two choices — 1: automobile/bike, or 2: PAIN. And by that I mean, a set of steps that are like the brutish, inked-up, just-got-out-of-jail cousin to the Silverlake Stairs — haphazard slabs of stone, spaced unevenly in a dizzying line straight up the face of the mountain. They’re an infernal test of a workout (you know you’re in for a treat when the Yelp reviews say things like “Do not climb these stairs without first downloading ‘Ms. New Bootie’ by Bubba Sparxxx onto your Ipod; thinking of how nice this is going to make your ass look is the only thing that will prevent your imminent collapse.”) But that ordeal only makes the breath-stealing sights up top so much more rewarding.

You’ll notice the overlook doesn’t offer the same pastoral view of the city you’d get from, say, Paseo Miramar. Instead, it serves up a warts-and-all portrait of everything gorgeous and awful about our city — gleaming sun-bright towers and anonymous urban sprawl, nightmarishly teeming freeways and rolling green hills, blue ocean and beige smog, industrial and residential, rich and poor, the effing terrible and the ineffable.

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WHAT: Urban hike with an amazing view
WHEN: Good all year round
WHERE: West Jefferson Blvd, Culver City
$$$: Free

You haven’t really lived until you’ve gone flying down Wilshire Blvd on a bicycle at 10 o’clock at night surrounded by a speeding mob of 300 hundred other cyclists — and this Friday, you have the opportunity to do just that. Critical Mass is world-wide celebration of bike culture, happening once a month in different cities all around the globe, wherein hordes of pedal-enthusiasts take to the night-time streets and let their freak flags fly. The event’s moniker comes from a phenomenon in which traffic is compelled to a stand-still once a high enough number of bikes take over the road. (This doesn’t, however, give you license to be a dick to passing motorists and/or the cops — this means you, idiot from last month who wowed the world with his creativity by yelling “I smell bacon” at the LAPD.  Guys like you make me wish Daryl Gates was still alive.)

The ride starts at 7:30 PM sharp, at the Western/Wilshire metro station. Bring your wheels, helmet, an extra tube, water, and learn the call-outs.  And most importantly, bring front and rear lights — crucial for obvious safety reasons, as well as being part of the magical visual effect you get when you crest a hill and look down upon a moving river of blinking red luminescence. For the three hours of contained anarchy that go along with CM taking to the streets, there’s no better way to spend a Friday night.

For more information, check out their Facebook page.

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WHAT: Crazy night-time bike ride
WHEN: Friday April 30th — meet up at 6:30, ride at :730
WHERE: Wilshire/Western metro station
$$$: Free

I think you people out there need to laugh a little. Maybe even a lot. Yup, you people out there need to laugh a lot. You also happen to be in luck, because I know just the way to make that happen. On Tuesday, April 27 (the one coming up), the sketch group Tremendosaur will be putting on a free show at The Comedy Central Stage in Hollywood.

I’ve seen some rough variations of the sketches they’re planning on performing and I can guarantee you will laugh at every single one. I am so confident, I’ll give whoever doesn’t laugh their money back. And if you don’t think that was funny, well good. The show is nothing like that.

This is an important show for the duo, as they have some important people showing up to watch and it’s taking place at a pretty cool/big spot. One thing, however, is that you have to call a number and make reservations in advance, like now. The number to call: (323) 960-5519. Listen to the message and follow the instructions. I think they’ll want your name, phone number, and the show you’re going to see (you can say Tremendosaur).

Go check these guys out. It’s free, it’s something to do on a Tuesday night, and you will leave laughing.

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WHAT: Tremendosaur Sketch Show
WHEN: Tuesday, April 27th @ 8:00PM
WHERE: The Comedy Central Stage
$$$: Free! (BUT RSVP at (323) 960-5519)!!
Ages: All.

What happens when a group of young musicians/entrepreneurs rally together with with several companies downtown and gets the mayor’s stamp of approval? NEW, a darkly comedic experimental rock opera set in a post apocalyptic time where synthetic decadence battles mother nature’s drive for us to be better people. Heavy. Featuring artists Adriana Delawari, the LA Ladies Choir, members of The Moonrats, Pleasure Circus Band, and He’s My Brother She’s My Sister, and so many more to mention, I feel bad not making this roster an entire paragraph!

Showing in an extremely limited engagement this Thursday and Friday at the 2500 seat Million Dollar Theater, be sure to rsvp as soon as possible! Also, on Friday night one of the sponsors, The Standard Hotel, will be having an official launch party of “Free Art For The People!” innovative after the show’s close. (No word for an rsvp for that however…)

For more information of this project and others from this group, check out Post Fact Productions.

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WHAT: NEW: The Free Art For The People Rock Opera
WHEN: Thursday and Friday, April 22 and 23 at 8pm
WHERE: Million Dollar Theater, 307 South Broadway Ave
$$$: FREE!!!! For the people!!

You’ve been staring at that little box on your calendar that reads “Sunday, April 25th” with a wish in your heart that just keeps nagging for an excuse to break out that can of aqua net, glitter tights, and those fun vintage 80’s clothes lurking in your closet that you haven’t quite had the nerve for yet. Taint that pure churchy glow that you were prancing around all day with by going to La Cita downtown for Erotic City! This week they’re having a live performance from Josie Cotton who will be performing her classics from the Valley Girl soundtrack along with some new material. Every week they have $3 brew, $4 well drink specials and entry is free, but be sure to RSVP.

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WHAT: Erotic City with Josie Cotton
WHEN: Sunday, April 25, 9:30pm – 2am
WHERE: La Cita Bar, 336 Hill Street, DTLA 90013
$$$: FREE all night long

Ron Robinson, Fred Segal, and FILTER magazine invite you to shop in style this Saturday, with music, drinks, and pizza at the Fred Segal store on Melrose. Who doesn’t love music, drinks, and pizza-especially together? Scratch that; who doesn’t love music, drinks, pizza, and a free limited-edition screen-printed t-shirt? Nobody, that’s who. Shannyn Sossamon (the hot girl from 40 days and 40 nights) will bring the tunes, Original Penguin will bring the duds; the first 25 people to make purchases will get a $25 gift card. RSVP to Sharon@Ronrobinsoninc.com

WHAT: Original Penguin Spring Fling
WHEN: Sat. April 24 3-6pm
WHERE: Fred Segal, 8118 Melrose Ave
$$$: free to attend

For those of you who have given up on trying to figure out the difference between freak-folk and acid-folk, and now turn to music blogs for your daily recommendations, we here at BoredLA have something for you.  Blondes is an up-and-coming, Brooklyn-based electronic duo that is starting to gain some notoriety on the ol’ information superhighway.  Powered by Sam Haar and Zach Steinman (both brown-haired, oddly), this band sprinkles chilled-out melodies over analog techno beats to produce something spacey, atmospheric, and pleasing to the ears.

Blondes have two things going on for us Angelenos this week.  This Wednesday (the 21st), they will play DJ set at The Mountain Bar in Chinatown.  After that, on Thursday (the 22nd) they will play a live show at Synchronicity Space with Lucky Dragons and VoicesVoices.  See the flyer for more info.

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WHAT: Blondes playing music
WHEN: Wednesday, April 21st and Thursday, April 22nd
WHERE: The Mountain Bar and Synchronicity Space
$$$: No cover charge at the Mountain Bar, Synchronicity Space is $5

This Sunday (TONIGHT, love), whether you are attempting a rather leisurely comedown from the weekend desert madness or, rather, to make up for the fact that you may have just missed the best concert of your life, rest assured, I have just the cure.

Guaranteeing the latest of Vampire Weekend greatness, Miike Snow remixes, and a few oldies, but goodies (Joy Division-style), the completely FREE White Bunny Disco event is invading (the upstairs lounge of) the Mountain Bar in the best way possible.  Just south of your eastsider roots, park easily on Broadway or Hill and follow the red paper lanterns to feng shui central (aka: Gin Ling Way).

Situated within one of Chinatown’s oldest restaurant-turned watering holes, expect ladies & gents exhibiting a diverse mix of artistic fanfare, original and reasonably-priced drinks (heavy pour alert!), dancing delight inspired by resident djs Knyfeprty and J Man, and only the best in party photographers to, naturally, capture it all on film.  Beware of the melting walls, possible restroom confusion (“G” is for gentlemen, NOT girls, yo), and be sure to end the night respectively with some walnut shrimp at the night-owl friendly Full House Chinese Restaurant (open ‘til 3am), located just within stumbling distance.

See?   Bunnies after Easter really aren’t a faux pas after all.

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WHAT: White Bunny Disco
WHEN: THIS Sunday, April 18th 10pm-2am
WHERE: 475 Gin Ling Way (& Bamboo Lane) in Chinatown
$$$: FREE all night long

If you know me at all, you know music is a big part of my life…as well as cupcakes.  Soooo give me a day to celebrate both (see this week’s Soundboard) while contributing to a good cause?  Done and done.

After a morning fulfilling your deepest music fantasies (well…as far as limited vinyl finds go anyway), pop on by Morel’s French Steakhouse & Bistro at The Grove for the National Food Bloggers Bake Sale and share some of your good fortune.  With over 40 local LA bakers and bloggers (you probably already follow, Twitter-style) donating their time and tasty treats, your day will nearly triple with sugary goodness.

Amongst the decadent deliciousness will be: Blondie brownies with butterscotch and chocolate chips from event hostess, Gaby of What’s Gaby Cooking, Deadly Chocolate Almond Toffee from La Fuji Mama, Espresso Black and Tan Cookies (a SoCal twist on the NYC fav) from Daydreamer Deserts, and some yummy surprise cupcakes (finally!) from I Heart Cuppy Cakes.

Not to mention the fact that this is part of the first annual food blogger’s charity fundraiser.  All proceeds made from cities across the U.S. on Saturday, April 17th (that’s TODAY, folks!) 10:30am-1:30pm will be donated toward Share Our Strength’s effort to end childhood hunger in America.  Should you not be able to tear yourself away from the record store ruckus (a bit of a quandary, I know), feel free to shoot over a charitable donation through their website between bands.

Music, cupcakes and good deeds?  My oh my, it IS a beautiful day.

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WHAT: National Food Bloggers Bake Sale
WHEN: THIS Saturday, April 17th 10:30am-1:30pm
WHERE: Morel’s French Steakhouse & Bistro at The Grove
$$$: FREE until you spot the goodies

Seriously.

Put the name brewery and art in the title of any event and I’m there, no questions asked. Of course, a few extra details never hurt anyone, right?  Plus, I’m not 100% sure you’re convinced yet and hey, I’ve got your back.

Here goes:

The Brewery Art Walk is a twice-annual (Spring & Fall) open studio weekend event for the 300 or so artists who work/live/play here in the world’s largest art colony (ummm…yes, please) to exhibit and sell their creations to the public (you!) at lower studio prices.

The Brewery Art Association was in fact, at one time, a PBR (Pabst Blue Ribbon, for those of you living under a rock) brewery and bottling plant.  While, unfortunately, no PBR is currently being made here (ridiculous, I know), they could possibly be selling it or, if not, I am sure all you resourceful chaps have figured out a way to satisfy your liquid cravings on your own anyways (i.e.; bring your own). Nevertheless, this event is completely FREE, parking is FREE (nearby lot is provided by UPS), and you have the opportunity to purchase amazing, one-of-a-kind pieces while supporting your local art community.

Pick up a 6’ red stiletto sculpture or one of the aluminum steel Angry Dog and Shark functional art tables, compliments of contemporary/abstract metals master, Bruce Gray. Should those not be your cup of tea (or can of PBR), there will be an endless supply of original jewelry, photography, books, and other artistic inventions you never thought you needed until now.  If you have a few extra bucks, be sure and pick up a little something from the kids at the Barnsdall Arts: Ragan Art Academy booth and support local children’s art education programs.  Oh, there’s also an on-site bar/restaurant (Barbara’s at the Brewery) as well as a few art-friendly food vendors to keep you appropriately fueled (and sober, if need be), plus… a couple of food trucks lingering in the distance too.

In a nutshell:

(Reformed) Brewery + Art = FUN.

I’ll be there and you should too.

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WHAT: Brewery Art Walk
WHEN: THIS Saturday & Sunday, April 17th & 18th, 11am-6pm
WHERE: 2100 N Main St. (& Moulton) in DTLA
$$$: FREE unless you buy something

Have you always wanted to be famous, but know you don’t have what it takes to become a star (i.e. a sex tape where Ray-J pees on you?) Fear not — because on April 24th, we’re all getting famous. No, this does not involve guns, put those down. STOP THAT.

Full disclosure: I’m one of the guys throwing this event. Now here’s how it works: we meet at noon in front of the WME building, where we run a winding, three-mile obstacle course through Beverly Hills. Hidden throughout the course will be packs of photographers. Your goal is to make it to the finish line without them getting a picture of your full face.

Scattered along the way will be hidden caches of “identity concealers”, i.e. low-brimmed hats and those sunglasses that put a black bar over your eyes. (We were going to offer ski masks, and then remembered ski masks + sprinting through Beverly Hills in broad daylight = “Officer, these cuffs are too tight.”)

Got a camera and the ability to be sneaky? We want you. Got a pair of running shoes and a well-developed flight sensibility? We want you. (Costumes are also encouraged.) The race starts at noon, but paparazzi are required to show up at 11 AM so we can get you vultures in your respective hiding places.

Afterward, in a stirring tribute to something that would totally happen in real life, the celebrities and the paparazzi will meet up for a beer at the Writer’s Bar in the L’Ermitage Hotel.

Be sure to RSVP for the event on Facebook.

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WHAT: Celebrities Vs. Paparazzi footrace
WHEN: April 24th, noon-1 PM (Paparazzi to meet at 11 AM)
WHERE: Starting at the WME building
$$$: Free

“There’s something wrong with my ass — I need to shake it.”  This was the bound-for-immortality quote my friend delivered to me as we headed out to a Shade party last summer. And if there is ever a better reason to shake your ass in a grassy park on a Saturday afternoon, I have yet to find it.

The brainchild of LA-based DJ’s DivaDanielle and Porter Tinsley, Shade is a once-a-month “day party”, kicking off this Saturday from noon til sunset  in Woodley Park. It’s the kind of place where you’ll find yourself drinking strange libations with friendly strangers on picnic blankets in the afternoon sun; where you can go ballistic with squirt-guns during impromptu water-fights; where you can try your hand at hula-hooping or spinning poi (being met with, if you’re anything like me, hilariously mixed results); where you’ll watch silk-rope acrobats slowly gyrate in the trees, like an NSFW Disney cartoon; where DJ’s you’d normally have to venture out deep into clubland (or into Burning Man) to find, are happily spinning funky house and ghetto-tech to their hearts’ content. It’s one of those things that reminds out-of-towners why they moved to LA, and reminds locals why they love it here (and for me, why I ever got into event-blogging in the first place.) It’s a secret too good to keep.

Summer’s here. Stop dilly-dallying. Go shake it.

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WHAT: Daytime dance party in the park
WHEN: Once a month, Saturdays from noon til sunset
WHERE: Woodley Park
$$$: Free