After what feels like weeks of off-and-on rain, the sun is FINALLY out. Enjoy it, Angelenos! If Valentine’s being a week away is going to drain your wallet a tad, we got you! Most of these events are free or relatively cheap.
Wingwalker Brewing Grand Opening
[dropcap size=big]I[/dropcap]f you’re out in the San Gabriel Valley this weekend, or live there, Wingwalker Brewing is opening up. There’s going to be live music and food pop-ups. Catch Compton favorite Goat Mafia there too! Goat Mafia going to be serving up their famous birria, this is definitely a good opportunity to check it out and have a drink or two. Get more details here.
[dropcap size=big]B[/dropcap]order Angels is a great org that helps migrants on both sides of the southern border. From running shelters in Tijuana to hosting water drop offs at the border for crossing migrants to day laborer outreach, Border Angels is putting in heavy lifting for migrants. This wine tasting benefit goes directly to funding the organization's many endeavors. Taco editor Daniel Hernandez, who grew up along the border, is a guest speaker at the event. More info here.
[dropcap size=big]E[/dropcap]ver wish you could have taken a college course taught by Angela Davis, but never had the opportunity to? We can’t hook you up with a time machine, but you can attend Angela Davis’s lecture on “a new generation finding their voice” in honor of Black History Month. Angela Davis is an award winning scholar, activist and author on race, feminism and prison industrialization. Seriously, I would go if I wasn’t working. Get more details here.
[dropcap size=big]L[/dropcap]ove all things Reggae and Ska, One Cali Reggae Fest might be the vibe for you. The line up includes California classics like the Rebelution, Sublime with Rome, Dirty Heads, Slightly Stoopid, and more. Sure it might be kinda chilly, but is there anything more picturesquely Californian than hanging out by the beach listening to Ska classics? Get more details here.
When: February 8, 9, & 10 Where: Queen Mary, Long Beach
You Had To Be There
$25
[dropcap size=big]R[/dropcap]emember house parties before phones and the pressure of living your best Instagram life? I don’t. But if you’re nostalgic for those pre-iPhone, Sidekick-Razr days, or want to experience it for the first time, head over to the You Had To Be There party. All the phones get put in a pouch and you get to party without it. Honest question though, what ever did we do before scrolling through awkward moments at parties? Get more details here.
When: Saturday, February 9 Where: Los Globos, Silver Lake
Rose Bowl Flea Market
$10
[dropcap size=big]I[/dropcap] finally went to the Rose Bowl Flea Market last month. It’s like a swapmeet, I guess, but there’s Kombucha, handcrafts, and antiques – so a fancy version? Anyway, catch me at the antique record section, the ones with the giant horns because I’m into that now. It’s a great place to get furniture, clothes, other knick-knacks or just walk around. Get more details here
When: Sunday, February 10 Where: Rose Bowl, Pasadena
Tales of the Heart curated by Mi'randa Villanueva
FREE
[dropcap size=big]W[/dropcap]ant to support local women artists? Head over to San Pedro to Machine Studio to catch the Tales of the Heart art show which is curated by Mi’randa Villanueva, an indigenous artist. Tales of the Heart boasts 23 featured artists. There will also be live music! Get more details here.
When: Thursday, February 7 Where: Machine Studio, San Pedro
Hecho con Amor: Milpa Grille’s Croquetas de Elote
$40
[dropcap size=big]A[/dropcap] huge part of preserving culture is passing down recipes. If your parents or grandparents couldn’t pass down delicious recipes to you, no worries LA Plaza opened up a teaching kitchen to host cooking classes. Check out LA Plaza Cocina’s Hecho con Amor: Milpa Grille’s Croquetas de Elote to learn about milpa corn growing techniques and how to make your own croquetas de elote presented by Milpa Grille. Get more details here.
Winter Exhibitions Opening Celebration at the Hammer Museum
FREE
[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]he Hammer Museum is opening two new exhibitions and throwing a celebration. Allen Ruppersberg: Intellectual Property 1968–2018 and Dirty Protest are the new winter exhibitions. You can be one of the first to check out the latest installments at the Hammer Museum. There will be live music and drinks! Get more details here.
[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]he East Los Artwalk is this Sunday! There will be a FREE screen printing workshop, so bring your own tee. There will also be 30 artists, designers and crafters, DJs, and food. A vegan pop-up featuring Dear Mama, Hood Bruja’s Kitchen, and Organic by the OZis also scheduled. Get more details here.
When: Sunday, February 1o Where: 1st & Indiana, Boyle Heights
Plus, a party highlighting pan-African cuisine, a new Taiwanese cookbook by an awarded local from the San Gabriel Valley, and a Little Saigon food festival that starts tonight! Welcome back to Spot Check!
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