Ska Night @ Dipiazza’s
7:00 pm – 1:00 am, March 16
Dipiazza’s, Long Beach
http://www.facebook.com/events/545157272254569/
Get your skanking on tonght in Long Beach. The cover for this all-ages show costs $8.
St. Patrick’s Day
March 17
Worldwide
Too many places to name will do something special on this day, so check with your favorite local establishment to see what they have going on. Have a good time, and stay safe!
5th Annual Grilled Cheese & Beer Tasting Event
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm, March 17
Vintage Enoteca, West Hollywood
http://www.vintageenoteca.com/
$30 gets you three different grilled cheese sandwiches and three 6oz beer pairings for each sandwich.
Taste of Downtown Long Beach
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm, March 18-19
East Village Arts District, Downtown Long Beach
http://downtownlongbeach.org/Latest-News-Detail/Taste-of-Downtown-East-Village?id=68164
Sample food & drinks from various restaurants from Downtown Long Beach at this tasting fest held in the East Village Arts District. Free to attend for all-ages, guests simply pay to eat, purchasing booklets of 12 tickets for $10 each. Each restaurant accepts varying amounts of tickets depending on their offerings. Live music and artists will keep guests entertained as well.
Bottle Share @ The Rookery
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm, March 18
The Rookery, Pomona
http://www.facebook.com/events/806966066062534/
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.
Scrapbook Expo – Orange County
10:00 pm – 6:00 pm, March 19-21
Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim
http://www.scrapbookexpo.com/
The nationally-famous Scrapbook Expo comes to Southern California this week! Admission to this all-ages expo varies in price, starting at $8 for a one-day general admission adult ticket.
Hanadoki Con 2015
9:00 pm – 1:00 am, March 19
11:00 am – 2:00 am, March 20
10:00 am – 2:00 am, March 21
10:00 am – 5:00 pm, March 22
Town & Country Resort, Mission Valley, San Diego
http://www.hanadokicon.org/
Basically, a Japanese pop culture convention. Come see all things anime, manga, and cosplay at this four-day convention taking place this week in San Diego. Registration varies in price, starting at $20.
Viernes 13 – CD Release Shows
8:00 pm – 1:00 am, March 19, The Observatory, Santa Ana http://www.observatoryoc.com/event/8-Kalacas
7:00 pm – 1:00 am, March 20, White Oak Music & Arts, Van Nuys http://www.facebook.com/events/756552411100854/
Viernes 13 has released a new album, and they will perform a few shows to celebrate its release. Tickets to these all-ages shows vary in price, so click on the link of a show for pricing details.
Hammerland – Bottle Release Party
12:00 pm – 10:00 pm, March 20
El Segundo Brewing Co., El Segundo
http://www.facebook.com/events/620583461407345/
ESBC will release their coveted Hammerland this Friday, and they have greatly prepared for it, so observe the timeline carefully. The main tasting room opens at noon, and they will start pouring Hammerland for visitors to enjoy in the tasting room. At 4pm, ESBC will open the tasting room annex to accommodate for increased visitors. Finally, a VIP party starts at 7pm that costs $99 to attend that includes a 12-bottle case of Hammerland, unlimited pours of any brew on tap at the time, unlimited food while it lasts, and access to a VIP area.
2015 South Bay Home & Garden Show
12:00 pm – 7:00 pm, March 20
10:00 am – 7:00 pm, March 21
10:00 am – 6:00 pm, March 22
Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach
http://www.homeshowconsultants.com/
This free and all-ages expo will showcase the latest in home improvement, remodeling, interior-design, decorating, landscaping, and more. Parking starts at $5, but parking the neighborhood east of Alamitos can bypass any parking fees.
8th Annual Musink Tattoo & Music Festival
3:00 pm – 11:00 pm, March 20
12:00 pm – 11:00 pm, March 21
12:00 pm – 10:00 pm, March 22
OC Fair & Events Center, Costa Mesa
http://musink.org/
Welcome to Musink, an all-ages music, tattoo, skateboarding, and pin-up festival that takes place at the OC Fairgrounds this weekend. Some of the largest names in punk rock will perform this weekend, such as Rancid and Bad Religion. Over 300 tattoo artists from around the world will fly in for the weekend. Tickets will remain on sale until the end of the fest on Sunday, so do not worry about not obtaining a ticket. Bring cash, as most of the vendors do not accept cards. Parking costs $10 per vehicle, so I highly recommend carpooling or getting dropped off.
3rd Annual Bankers Hill Art & Craft Beer Festival
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm, March 20
The Abbey, Bankers Hill, San Diego
http://bhbeerfest15.brownpapertickets.com/
Bankers Hill will host a beer and art festival this Friday night for the third year in a row. Tickets cost $30 presale and $35 at the door, and include ten 4oz beer pours plus unlimited food from participating local vendors while supplies last. No one under 21 may attend.
Implants – Live in Boyle Heights
7:00 pm – 2:00 am, March 20
Mi Ranchito, Boyle Heights
http://www.facebook.com/events/1392007477773158/
Rock out with some great punk bands this Friday night in East LA. The cover for this show costs $7. No one under 21 may enter.
Agent Orange – Live in Riverside
8:00 pm – 1:00 am, March 20
Mission Tobacco Lounge, Riverside
http://www.facebook.com/events/409373999240489/
Legendary surf punk band Agent Orange will headline a small show in Riverside this Friday night. Tickets to this show cost $12 presale or $15 at the door. No one under 21 may enter.
Ska Night @ The World Famous Doll Hut
8:00 pm – 1:00 am, March 20
The World Famous Doll Hut, Anaheim
http://www.facebook.com/events/1549405118669103/
Get your skanking on with these local ska bands this Friday night at the Doll Hut in Anaheim. The cover for this show costs $5. No one under 21 may enter.
Halftoberfest @ Alpine Village
8:00 pm – 2:00 am, March 20
Alpine Village, Torrance
http://www.facebook.com/events/793786844024354/
Missing the feel of Oktoberfest? Relive it this Friday night at Alpine Village in Torrance, complete with everything that Alpine Village’s actual Oktoberfest has. Entry costs $8, or anyone dressed in Oktoberfest clothes gets in for free!
Into The Wild – OC Trail Run
8:00 am – 11:00 am, March 21
Irvine Regional Park, Irvine
http://www.intothewildoctrailrun.com/
Seeking a challenging run through the wilderness? Check out Into The Wild, a 10k or 21k course running through trails of rocks, dirt, and more uneven ground. Registration costs $55 presale, and $60 on the day of the race.
Escape from the Walled City – Los Angeles
9:30 am – 8:00 pm, March 21
Weingart Stadium, Monterey Park
http://realescapegame.com/sp/la/
From the creators of Real Escape Game comes this new real life escape game that will take place in Monterey Park this Saturday. Three different sessions will take place that each last 90 minutes, starting at 10:30am, 2:30pm, and 6:30pm. This interactive event requires that you use your intuition and survival instincts to reach the goal in time, so participants should wear active clothing or anything that allows maximum mobility. Registration costs $30 presale or $35 at the door. Children under 6 may enter for free with a paid adult, but I would not recommend bringing children as they could hinder your ability to escape in time.
4th Annual Healthy Living Festival
10:00 am – 6:00 pm, March 21-22
Del Mar Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall, Del Mar
http://www.healthylivingfestival.com/
Check out this health & wellness expo this weekend, FREE to attend for all ages! Guests can experience cooking demos, medical testing, belly dancers, fitness workshops, food & drink samples, massages, speakers, fitness tests, yoga classes, speakers, and more.
4th Annual Winners’ Circle BBQ Championship
10:30 am – 4:00 pm, March 21
Santa Anita Park, Arcadia
http://santaanitabbq.com/
Enjoy some traditional BBQ meats this Saturday afternoon at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. Admission to this all-ages food fest costs around $12 per person, and once inside, tasting tickets cost $1 each. Each vendor takes a varying amount of tickets depending on the item offered.
2015 ¡Latin Food Fest! Los Angeles
11:00 am – 3:00 pm, March 21
Hangar 8, Santa Monica
http://latinfoodfest.com/
The title explains it all – sample all sorts of Latin foods and drinks at this tasting event in Santa Monica. General admission costs $50 and starts at 12pm. VIP admission costs $150, starts at 11am, and provides access to a VIP area.
FirkFest – A Cask Ale Festival
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm, March 21
Anaheim Farmers Park, Anaheim
http://www.firkfest.com/
Craft beer fans will want to travel to Anaheim this Saturday, as Anaheim hosts FirkFest, a beer fest with only cask ales. FirkFest will feature over 30 breweries, and costs $50 to get in. No one under 21 may attend.
6th Annual Native American Festival
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm, March 21
Shoreline Village, Long Beach
http://www.shorelinevillage.com/6th-annual-native-american-festival/
At this FREE and all-ages festival, visitors will find various forms of cultural entertainment, such as storytelling, dancing, singing, exhibits, and more.
Xplore Los Angeles
12:00 pm – 9:00 pm, March 21
Downtown Los Angeles
http://xperienceadventures.com/
Basically, a scavenger hunt meets a 5k and parkour. Participants of this event must scour Los Angeles on foot to discover clues, points of interest, and landmarks using their physical abilities plus environmental senses to navigate the city and reach the goal in time. Anyone can participate either as an individual or on a team, and registration costs will vary based on that.
Norooz Festival & Persian Parade
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm, March 21
Grand Park, Downtown Los Angeles
http://www.noroozfestival.com/
At this FREE and all-ages event, visitors will find all sorts of Persian-themed vendors, food, drinks, merchandise, and more. Visitors will also enjoy a parade in the afternoon.
Skate Punk Fest 2015
6:00 pm – 12:00 am, March 21
Glass House, Pomona
http://www.theglasshouse.us/event/770929-jfa-pomona/
A bunch of great local punk bands will perform at the Glass House in Pomona this Saturday night. Tickets to this all-ages show cost $15.
Simply Wine Festival
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm, March 21
CBS Studios, Studio City
http://simplywinefest.com/event.cfm?showtimingid=46667
Basically, rich people showing off. Come drink wine for $120 per person, or upgrade to VIP status for $165.
Luicidal – Live in Long Beach
7:00 pm – 2:00 am, March 21
Blacklight District Lounge, Long Beach
http://www.facebook.com/events/1091891057503202/
Release some inner aggression at this hardcore punk show this Saturday night. The cover for this show costs $8. No one under 21 may enter.
Long Beach Restaurant Week
March 22-28
Participating locations, Long Beach
http://www.eatlbc.com/
Long Beach finally gets their own restaurant week to celebrate the entire city, after decades of “Tastes” of just communities within Long Beach. Participating locations throughout Long Beach during this week will provide lunch and dinner specials, so refer to the website for a full list of locations and their specials.
Bottle Logic Brewing 1st Anniversary Celebration Week – The Week of Logic
March 22-28
Bottle Logic Brewing, Anaheim
http://bottlelogic.com/
Orange County craft beer fans have looked forward to this for a year, and the time has finally arrived. In anticipation of a massive turnout, Bottle Logic will celebrate their first anniversary with a full week of beer festivities. Starting on Sunday, Bottle Logic will release a new barrel-aged beer daily, culminating with the release of Ideation, a Bourbon-Aged Wheat Wine, on Saturday, March 28th. Throughout the week, Bottle Logic will also bring back some old favorites, as well as opportunities to win merchandise. None of the days require a cover or admission fee – simply show up, and drink away.
Hot Chocolate 15k/5k San Diego
6:00 am – 9:00 am, March 22
Petco Park, Downtown San Diego
http://www.hotchocolate15k.com/sandiego/
Run through Downtown San Diego this Sunday morning, and get lots of chocolate out of it, not just the hot drinkable kind. Registration costs $49 for the 5k or $74 for the 15k race.
103rd Kit Collectors Expo
9:00 am – 3:00 pm, March 22
UFCW Local 324, Buena Park
http://www.kitcollectorshow.com/
Hundreds of vendors will gather here to showcase their model kits of cars, ships, planes, miniatures, armor, sci-fi/fantasy, space, and more. Admission to this all-ages expo costs just $5.
CicLAvia
9:00 am – 4:00 pm, March 22
Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks
http://www.ciclavia.org/
Much of Ventura Blvd in the San Fernando Valley will close to bikers this Sunday afternoon. Cars may not enter the designated areas during this time – only bikers and pedestrians may roam the streets.
A Punk, A Camera, and An Empty Stomach 