4th Annual San Diego Comic Fest
9:00 am – 11:00 pm, February 12-13
9:00 am – 5:00 pm, February 14-15
Town & Country Resort & Convention Center, Mission Valley, San Diego
http://www.sdcomicfest.org/
Much smaller and more intimate than the San Diego Comic Con, this weekend expo will feature artists, writers, actors, models, screenings, speakers, autograph sessions, merchandise, apparel, accessories, and more. Admission on Friday or Saturday costs $25 for adults, $12.50 for students, and free for children. Admission for Sunday costs $15 for adults, $7.50 for students, and still free for children. Parking costs $4 per vehicle per day.
Discover The Dinosaurs – Long Beach
10:00 am – 7:00 pm, February 13-15
Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach
http://www.discoverthedinosaurs.com/Events/longbeach.html
Bring your friends and family to this dinosaur exhibit at the Long Beach Convention Center this weekend. Check out all the dinosaur exhibits or participate in arts & crafts, while children can play in the inflatables section. Admission ranges from $18 to $25 – see the website for pricing details.
Bottle Share @ The Rookery
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm, February 17
The Rookery, Pomona
http://rookeryalehouse.com/Events.html
Share your favorite craft beer with other craft beer enthusiasts at this bottle share this Wednesday night in Downtown Pomona. Bring in a 750ml bottle of craft beer and order at least $10 of food in order to participate. Guests can find plenty of free parking in the area, and can avoid paying for parking entirely.
Bottle Logic Night
5:00 pm – 10:00 pm, February 18
Select Beer Store, Redondo Beach
http://www.selectbeerstore.com/
http://www.facebook.com/events/1664156433853138/
Bottle Logic Brewing will take over the taps at Select Beer Store in Redondo Beach this Thursday night. This event has no admission fee – simply show up, and enjoy a cold one or two.
2016 Big Spring Home & Garden Show
12:00 pm – 7:00 pm, February 19
10:00 am – 7:00 pm, February 20
10:00 am – 6:00 pm, February 21
Fairplex, Pomona
http://www.homeshowconsultants.com/
This free and all-ages expo will showcase the latest in home improvement, remodeling, interior-design, decorating, landscaping, and more. Bring cash for parking, which costs between $5 to $10.
San Diego Winter Brew Fest
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm, February 19-20
Hall of Champions, Balboa Park, San Diego
http://www.sandiegobrewfest.com/
This winter beer festival returns to Balboa Park this weekend for TWO beer tasting events. General admission to this winter beer festival starts at 7pm and costs $40 presale or $50 at the door. Pay $10 more to enter the festival an hour earlier at 6pm. No one under 21 may enter.
The Chocolate & Art Show (Experience)
7:00 pm – 2:00 am, February 19-21
KGB Studios, Los Angeles
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/chocolate-and-art-show-los-angeles-february-19-20-2016-tickets-19570978323
This chocolate and art show returns for another installment this weekend for $15 per person. If you plan to attend, do not carry high expectations.
Breasts: An Explorative Exhibit
7:00 pm – 2:00 am, February 19-21
Oddville: A Creative Space, Downtown Los Angeles
http://www.oddvillestudios.com/
http://www.facebook.com/events/1696576560579382/
An art gallery featuring breasts will open to the public this weekend in Downtown LA. The cover for this art gallery costs $10 before 9pm or $20 afterwards. No one under 18 may enter. Visitors may not bring cameras into or take cell phone photos in the art gallery.
Starpool: Live in Riverside
8:00 pm – 1:00 am, February 19
Romano’s Concert Lounge, Riverside
http://starpoolmusic.com/
http://www.facebook.com/events/324750977719396/
Get your skanking on this Friday night in Riverside with Starpool and more. Tickets to this show cost $10 presale or $12 at the door. No one under 21 may enter.
Symbol Six @ The World Famous Doll Hut
8:00 pm – 1:00 am, February 19
The World Famous Doll Hut, Anaheim
http://www.facebook.com/events/982715695115636/
Get your weekly dose of punk rock this Friday night at the Doll Hut in Anaheim. The cover for this show costs $10. No one under 21 may enter.
Pliny The Younger Day
February 20
Select beer locations in California
http://russianriverbrewing.com/pliny-the-younger-release/
The most overhyped beer in brewing history makes its way to Southern California this weekend to many locations. Check with your local craft beer establishment to see if they have Pliny The Younger available. Click here for a brief list of places that will have it.
38th Annual LA Chinatown Firecracker 5/10K Run
7:30 am – 4:00 pm, February 20
6:00 am – 12:00 pm, February 21
Chinatown, Los Angeles
http://www.firecracker10k.org/
Start off the new (Chinese) year right with this 5/10K Run/Bike race this weekend in Chinatown. The bike race takes place on Saturday, while the run takes place on Sunday. All races cost $40 to enter. Various festivities will also take place in the Chinatown Central Plaza for most of the day.
2016 Gluten Free & Allergen Friendly Expo
10:00 am – 4:00 pm, February 20-21
Del Mar Fairgrounds Wyland Center, Del Mar
http://gfafexpo.com/locations/san-diego-ca-2016/
Find all things gluten-free and allergen-friendly at this expo in San Diego County this weekend. Admission starts at $15 with $10 parking, and grants access to the entire expo floor, full of vendors, seminars, free goodies, and more.
2016 Pomona Gold & Treasure Show
10:00 am – 5:00 pm, February 20
10:00 am – 4:00 pm, February 21
Fairplex, Pomona
http://www.goldprospectors.org/goldshows
This show brings hundreds of collectors worldwide to share, buy, sell, and trade their gold and other rarities. Complete with seminars, workshops, press conferences, vendor booths, auctions, and more, this all-ages expo will delight anyone interested in collecting valuable goods. Admission to this all-ages event costs $5 per day.
Southern California Pet Expo
10:00 am – 6:00 pm, February 20
11:00 am – 4:00 pm, February 21
Fairplex, Pomona
http://www.socalpetexpo.com/
This FREE all-ages expo for all things pet-related takes place this weekend at its new location at the Fairplex in Pomona. Open to all types of pets (with proof of vaccination), visitors can experience agility demos, prize giveaways, pet adoptions, free grooming, training sessions, and more. Bring cash for parking, which will cost between $5 to $10 per vehicle.
2016 Long Beach Comic Expo
10:00 am – 6:00 pm, February 20
10:00 am – 5:00 pm, February 21
Long Beach Convention Center, Downtown Long Beach
http://longbeachcomicexpo.com/
Comic fans rejoice! The Long Beach Comic Expo returns for its annual installment at the Long Beach Convention Center this Saturday. Admission costs $30 for Saturday, $20 for Sunday, or $45 for both days, giving guests all-day entry to the all-ages expo, where they can find plenty of merchandise, vendors, workshops, seminars, comic book signings/autographs, and more. Expect hundreds of cosplayers, as both exhibitors and attendees will dress up as their favorite fictional character. The convention center will sell food to hungry guests, but you can also check out the other great restaurants nearby if you get hungry, plus the bike fest going on across the street. Convention Center parking costs $10, so I suggest taking carpooling, taking public transportation, or parking in the neighborhoods east of Alamitos Ave and walking to the Convention Center.
Noble Ale Works 5th Anniversary Celebration
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm, February 20
Noble Ale Works, Anaheim
http://www.noblealeworks.com/
Noble Ale Works celebrates their fifth anniversary this weekend, and to commemorate, they will throw a beer fest at their brewery just like last year. General admission costs $40 and provides three hours (starting at 1pm) of over 30 different brews, unlimited pours, live music, food trucks, a souvenir glass, and more. For $10 more, enter an hour early to get a head-start on the day. No one under 21 may attend this event.
Cupid’s Undie Run
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm, February 20, Belasco Theather, Downtown Los Angeles http://www.cupidsundierun.com/city/los-angeles/
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm, February 20, Moonshine Flats, Downtown San Diego http://www.cupidsundierun.com/city/san-diego/
Enjoy Valentine’s Day by running about a mile in your skivvies at this fun run in West Hollywood. Registration for this run costs $55 per participant, and anyone interested can also register as a team. For full rules and regulations, please see the official website linked above. No one under 21 may participate.
2nd Annual Air + Style Los Angeles
1:00 pm – 11:00 pm, February 20-21
Exposition Park, Los Angeles
http://airandstyle.com/los-angeles-2/
Music and snowboarding collide at this extreme sports event this weekend in Los Angeles. Tickets to this concert start at $75 and go up depending on your mode of attendance.
3rd Annual Pub Crawl “The Twelve Pints of Christmas (in February)”
3:00 pm – 8:00 pm, February 20
East Village Tavern, Downtown San Diego
http://www.facebook.com/events/175456696145701/
Join in on a pub crawl this Saturday evening in Downtown San Diego and explore five different locations while you get drunk with friends and/or complete strangers. All participants must pay for their own drinks.
LA Weekly’s The Essentials
5:00 pm – 10:00 pm, February 20
California Market Center, Downtown Los Angeles
http://microapp.laweekly.com/essentials/2016/
Mix & mingle with other rich people as you munch on delicate food and drink samples curated by some of Los Angeles’ most hip places to hang out at. General admission costs $70 and starts at 6pm, while VIP admission costs $105 and starts at 5pm. All attendees receive unlimited food and drink samples while supplies last. No one under 21 may attend.
5th Annual Winter Wine Classic
5:30 pm – 9:00 pm, February 20
Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort, Santa Barbara
http://www.californiawinefestival.com/
Attend this wine tasting event this Saturday night in Santa Barbara with unlimited wine samples & appetizers, and a souvenir wine glass. General admission costs $90 and starts at 6:30pm while VIP admission costs $110 and starts at 5:30pm. No one under 21 may attend.
The Toasters: Live in Los Angeles
7:00 pm – 2:00 am, February 20
The Airliner Nightclub, Los Angeles
http://thetoasters.band/
http://www.facebook.com/events/1512750922359392/
Ska band The Toasters will headline a show in Los Angeles this Saturday night. The cover for this show costs $10 before 8pm or $15 afterwards. No one under 18 may enter.
The First Ever Skacademy Awards
7:30 pm – 1:30 am, February 20
Out Of The Park Pizza, Anaheim
http://www.facebook.com/events/512193625628242/
Southern Californian ska bands have banded together to throw the first ever awards show dedicated to the booming SoCal ska scene. Free to attend for all ages, various awards will go out to select bands, and a handful of ska bands will perform a set as well.
Punk Rock Karaoke
9:00 pm – 1:30 am, February 20
Alex’s Bar, Long Beach
http://www.alexsbar.com/event/1061173-punk-rock-karaoke-long-beach/
Sing your favorite punk rock hits accompanied by a live band this Saturday night at Alex’s Bar in Long Beach. Tickets to this event cost $10 presale or $12 at the door. No one under 21 may enter.
The Toasters: Live in Fullerton
8:00 pm – 12:00 am, February 21
Slide Bar, Fullerton
http://www.facebook.com/events/458619857674489/
Ska band The Toasters will headline a FREE show in Fullerton this Sunday night. No one under 21 may enter.
A Punk, A Camera, and An Empty Stomach 