Upcoming Events: February 23 – March 1, 2015

Bell’s Brewery Tap Takeovers
5:00 pm – 10:00 pm, February 24, Pie Dog, Fullerton http://www.facebook.com/events/705932302839040/
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm, February 25, Meat Up BBQ, Placentia http://www.facebook.com/meatUpBBQ/photos/a.645749405516015.1073741829.645725588851730/784668281624126/
7:00 pm – 11:00 pm, February 26, Naja’s Place, Redondo Beach http://www.facebook.com/events/371903702981576/
5:00 pm – 10:00 pm, February 27, Alpine Village, Torrance http://www.facebook.com/events/1441370076153213/

Bell’s Brewery will have their beers at a handful of Southern California locations this week. Check out where they will have their beers, and enjoy a cold one.

Taking Back Sunday – 2015 Spring Tour
6:00 pm – 12:00 am, February 25, Riverside Municipal Auditorium, Riverside http://concerts.livenation.com/event/0B004D67F5D632A3
6:00 pm – 12:00 am, February 26, House of Blues, San Diego http://www.houseofblues.com/sandiego/events/eventdetail/?viewNav=/event-detail&eventId=0A004D67D3C02439&oid=0
7:00 pm – 1:00 am, February 27, Hollywood Palladium, Hollywood http://www.thehollywoodpalladium.com/events/taking-back-sunday-letlive-the-menzingers/
7:00 pm – 1:00 am, February 28, The Observatory, Santa Ana http://www.observatoryoc.com/event/Taking-Back-Sunday

Taking Back Sunday’s Spring tour will swing through Southern California this week with these four shows. Each show has its own ticket price, so click on a link above for more details about that show.

San Luis Obispo Craft Beer Fest
5:30 pm – 9:00 pm, February 27
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm, February 28
Alex Madonna Expo Center, San Luis Obispo
http://www.slo-beer-fest.com/

Get sudsy in San Luis Obispo this weekend and enjoy dozens of beers from dozens of breweries. Friday night consists of a pre-party with beer and blues music. Saturday will contain the full brewery lineup. Saturday-only tickets have sold out, but Friday’s event costs $30 while a two-day pass costs $75.

Yeastie Boys @ The World Famous Doll Hut
8:00 pm – 1:00 am, February 27
The World Famous Doll Hut, Anaheim
http://www.facebook.com/events/637282176401135/

Get your weekly dose of punk rock at the World Famous Doll Hut in Anaheim this Friday night. The cover for this show costs $6. No one under 21 may enter.

Color In Motion 5k – San Diego
7:00 am – 1:00 pm, February 28
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego
http://colorinmotion5k.com/San_Diego

After many weekends of other off-center 5k races, we now return to the style that started it all – the color 5k. Start your weekend off with an all-ages 5k run while getting color dusted in your face. Registration costs $50 per person, or $45 if registering with a team. All participants should wear white during the run to absorb and show off the most color. Participants should bring extra towels and spare clothes for the ride home.

37th Annual LA Chinatown Firecracker 5/10K Run
7:30 am – 4:00 pm, February 28
6:00 am – 12:00 pm, March 1
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.

Atlas Race SoCal 2015
8:00 am – 4:00 pm, February 28 – March 1
Vail Lake Resort, Temecula
http://www.atlasrace.com/racepage-socal.html

Test your might at this unforgiving obstacle course this weekend in Temecula. Participate in a standard obstacle course that lasts about four miles, or take part in a longer obstacle course lasting about eight miles. Registration prices vary depending on the event and time, starting at $85.

2015 Long Beach Comic Expo
10:00 am – 6:00 pm, February 28
10:00 am – 5:00 pm, March 1
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.

Open That Barrel Night
11:00 am – 12:00 am, February 28
Hangar 24 Brewery, Redlands
http://www.facebook.com/events/424118834417866/

Enjoy some live music, rare barrel-aged beers, and one-off beers this Saturday at the Hangar 24 tasting room in Redlands.

Barrel & Stave Tap Takeover
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm, February 28
The Brew House, San Juan Capistrano
http://www.facebook.com/events/1650892148471998/

The Brew House in San Juan Capistrano will tap dozens of oaked & barrel-aged beers matured in everything from chardonnay & port barrels to oak chip & bourbon casks this Saturday for your drinking pleasure. This event costs $45 to attend and includes ten 3oz beer tasters, a souvenir glass, and one meal ticket for the visiting food truck.

Punk Fest 2015
12:00 pm – 12:00 am, February 28
The World Famous Doll Hut, Anaheim
http://www.facebook.com/events/320160751501554/

Over a dozen local punk rock bands will perform at this all-day concert this Saturday at the Doll Hut in Anaheim. Tickets to this show cost $15 presale or $20 at the door. No one under 21 may enter.

Litmus Green @ House of Tacos
7:00 pm – 1:00 am, February 28
House of Tacos, Hollywood
http://www.facebook.com/events/632181126885945/

Enjoy a local punk rock show in Hollywood this Saturday night. The cover for this all-ages show costs $12.

Monster Squad @ SCLA Apparel
7:00 pm – 1:00 am, February 28
SCLA Apparel, Los Angeles
http://www.facebook.com/events/1486227114993885/

Follow no rules at this punk show in South Central LA this Saturday night. The cover for this all-ages show costs $13.

Say Hello To Sunshine 10 Year Anniversary Show
8:00 pm – 12:00 am, February 28
Glass House, Pomona
http://www.theglasshouse.us/event/743913-finch-pomona/

Finch will headline this one-off show, not part of any tour, this Saturday night at the Glass House in Pomona. Tickets to this all-ages show cost $25.

Orange County Restaurant Week
March 1-7
Various restaurants in Orange County
http://www.orangecountyrestaurantweek.com/

For one week, numerous restaurants in Orange County will offer prix-fixe multi-course meals, ranging from $10-20 for lunch and $20-40 for dinner.

Get Happy – Old Pasadena Happy Hour Week
March 1-14
Participating locations, Old Pasadena
http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/

Enjoy extended Happy Hour food & drink specials at participating locations in Old Pasadena during this two-week period.

Party For The Planet
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm, March 1
Big Red Sun, Santa Monica
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/party-for-the-planet-tickets-15678157792

With a very vague and ambiguous description, this event has music, art, food, drinks, raffles, and more. It costs $20 to enter. The event page lists no other details, such as age limit, parking, content, and more.

2015 Vegan Street Fair
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm, March 1
Weddington St & Bakman Ave, North Hollywood
http://www.veganstreetfair.com/

The vegans have their day in North Hollywood this Sunday afternoon. This event takes place on the streets of North Hollywood, closing the intersection of Weddington St & Bakman Ave to traffic. Dozens of vendors will set up booths in this event, serving up vegan food samples to all visitors. Visitors must purchase $8 booklets containing 12 tickets that they can redeem for food samples.