A really solid event with a ton of vendors selling their products. I loved getting to learn about…read morethe unique snack foods and getting to engage with the people who made the products in many cases. There's so much energy at this event - it gets really, really packed (particularly around the food stand/food truck area). I really enjoyed checking out the local companies, organizations, and vendors, and there was actually a fashion show going on when my wife and I arrived. That was a first for me, and was exciting too. A couple of things to know...there is effectively no available parking the entire weekend within the better part of a mile, so my advice would be to take the metro if you plan to attend, or plan on walking quite a distance. Also, if you're the type of person who gets a little claustrophobic, this might not be your event. I'm planning to be back next year :)

This was a great annual activity! There are tons of great vendors, food trucks with delicious food,…read moreand great entertainment!

My wife and I absolutely love drive-ins! It's our preferred way of watching movies instead of going…read moreto a theater - we get to bring our own food/drinks, rest comfortably in our car, bundle up with blankets if it gets cold, control the volume, etc. It was our first time trying out Electric Dusk Drive-In in Glendale but we were up for an adventure. Tickets are bought online and range in price. Astro turf seating is $13 per person or $20 for two. No car parking is included (so you have to park outside the event) and you have to bring your own chair or rent one from them. Early Bird Car Entry + Driver is $28 ($20 for the car fee, $8 for the driver). Additional passengers are $8 per person. VIP is $75 and covers 1 car and 4 people for front row seating (just behind the astro turf area). Doors open either an hour or an hour & a half before showtime. When we scoped out the place, there was a sign that said exactly when the doors were going to be opened in the driveway. Since we had time (we were a wee bit too early), we went around the corner to get some grub. When we came back, we were second in line roughly a half hour before opening. Not too shabby and I definitely recommend showing up early to get a good spot (unless you're a VIP fancy pants). The line formed shortly after and wrapped around to Central. Pro tip - don't be a jerkasaurus and try to cut in line! The employees do notice anyone trying to pull a fast one and will make you go to the back of the line. Electric Dusk Drive-In is located off of Central Ave and California Ave in the old Sears parking lot. You cannot turn left into the parking lot on California! You have to enter from Central so that you turn right into the lot and don't block traffic. It was entertaining seeing so many people not grasp this simple idea. Once inside, the employees will scan your tickets and direct you where to park. If you want to back up and watch from your trunk, tell them and they'll help you out. If you're worried about your car battery dying out - bring your own radio or you can rent a transistor radio from them. If you listen via your car radio and it dies, they'll help jumpstart your car after the show. For restrooms, they provide two porta potties in the back side along with a hand washing station. If you're feeling munchy, they have a concession stand near the entrance but I'd encourage just getting your food beforehand from any eatery around the area (The Great White Hut is directly across the street). If you're thinking about trying Electric Dusk Drive-In, stop thinking and just do it already! They have a wide variety of movies to choose from (some are double-features) so you're covered no matter your taste of genre. It's such a fun nostalgic night and I can't wait to go back!

It's a bit of a drive from home, but there's something about this place that makes the trip worth…read moreit. Every Friday, I find myself here, slipping away from the noise of everyday life to just sit back and take it all in. There's this familiar, almost haunting feeling as I settle in, like the quiet echoes of a simpler time when life had fewer responsibilities and the weekends felt endless. It reminds me of the freedom of youth--those days when we'd get together just to laugh, talk, and sometimes just sit, high on life and each other's company. Coming here alone gives me space to think, and maybe I'm pining for something that's already slipped away. There's a beauty in watching everyone gathered, all ages connected in the moment of a shared movie under the open sky. Couples sit close together, holding hands behind the truck beds, while kids are practically bouncing as their parents grab popcorn and candy, their joy so pure and unrestrained. This place is a gem, perfect for unwinding, reflecting, or even sharing a quiet evening with someone special. The staff here are warm and attentive, and the food choices are simple but affordable. With plenty of room between cars, you get enough privacy to feel like you're in your own world but not so alone that you can't feel the presence of others sharing the night. It's a place to escape, to remember, and to take life just a bit slower

The street fair is on Hillhurst Ave from Los Feliz Blvd to Prospect Ave. For clearing such a huge…read moreblock of the surface street, the booths are lackluster and mildly interesting. The bouncy air mattresses for the kids looked very dirty and worn... I don't think I would want my kids to climb all over that germ mountain and put their hands in their mouth. There was a booth with free photo booth that seemed interesting. Otherwise, it's hard to not compare this to so many of the bigger, newer, cleaner fairs around the city (626 Night Market, OC County Fair, LA County Fair, etc) But go Yelp for having a booth! Represent!

Perhaps this street fair deserves a higher rating at any other time, but when I got there at around…read more9:00 at night, it was pretty dead, and according to the vendors, it had been that way all day. Fortunately, there were still interesting things to see, from jewelry makers using materials from a disassembled nuclear warhead, to bracelets with a cause that's supposed to make you happy when you wear it. My favorite vendors there were Noral Clothing which makes gorgeous custom, and Lulu Designs, which have awesome vintage designs on high quality materials. bracelets Music and food is also featured here, with a special area for the 21 & older crowd looking to dehydrate the old fashioned way. With alcohol. And once that's done, there are vendors giving away "healthy" soda samples. The food vendors range from Umami Burger, to traditional Thai food. And if worse comes to worst, and you don't find anything on the street, there are pretty trendy restaurants on the sidewalk. My personal favorite, is a Thai vegan place called 'Green Leaves Vegan,' selling healthy food at very reasonable prices. Even if it's not the most exciting of places to go to, it's definitely worth stopping by if you're in the area. You might find a small treasure worth the effort.

I recently attended the 45th Annual Lotus Festival at Echo Park by myself just to see what it was…read moreall about, and I had an absolute blast! My visit ended up being a little shorter than planned because of the summer heat, but I still had plenty of time to explore the booths, enjoy some amazing food, and snap lots of photos. Overall, it was such a fun experience! I showed up hungry, so naturally the first thing I did was scope out the food vendors. There were so many delicious options, mostly Asian cuisine. I originally had my heart set on grabbing some iconic Pioneer Chicken, but those plans changed the second I spotted an Indonesian food vendor called Papa Satay. As someone who's mixed with Dutch-Indonesian, I honestly haven't had much Indonesian food growing up, so I knew I had to give it a try. The woman working the register was an absolute sweetheart--so friendly, welcoming, and incredibly helpful while explaining the menu. I ordered Combo #1, which came with one pork satay skewer, one chicken satay skewer, two egg rolls, and fried noodles. Everything was mostly decent, but those satay skewers completely stole the show! They were packed with flavor, perfectly cooked, and easily my favorite part of the meal. I'll definitely be looking for Papa Satay again at future festivals. Beyond that, there were plenty of other tempting food vendors serving Thai, Chinese, Hawaiian, Korean, and more, so there was truly something for everyone. One thing I really loved was how many interactive booths and activities were spread throughout the festival. The LADWP booth had a fun spin-the-wheel game where I won a cute glasses cleaner, and the LA Public Library booth was handing out freebies while helping people sign up for library cards. There were live cultural performances, painting stations, arts and crafts, and so many opportunities to stop and explore. I was honestly surprised I'd never heard of this festival before! Someone told me that each year they highlight a different Asian country, and this year's featured country was Sri Lanka, which I thought was such a unique and meaningful way to celebrate different cultures. There were also lots of vendors selling handmade goods and other non-food items. I saw everything from henna artists and clothing to artwork, crochet creations, toys, and more. Before arriving, I even preordered one of the official Lotus Festival folding fans online and picked it up as soon as I got there. It was great quality and absolutely saved me in the heat! One of my favorite purchases of the day was the CUTEST crochet frog hat from Ducky Crochet House! Their booth was full of adorable handmade creations, and I couldn't resist. I made sure to follow them on Instagram because I definitely want to support them again and hope to see them back at next year's festival. Even though I attended solo, I genuinely had an amazing time. The atmosphere was welcoming, lively, and full of positive energy. Best of all, it's completely FREE to attend! If you've never been to the Lotus Festival, I highly recommend checking it out. I'll definitely be back next year!

Fun for the whole family. Cultural costumed music and dance performances throughout the day. Dragon…read moreboat races and Light of Dreams Lantern event on the lake. Booths selling cooked food and drink, including beer and wine. Booths offering LA city information and selling boutique and handmade crafts, jewelry and gifts. Carnival rides, arts and crafts and face painting. Enjoy swan pedal boats, views of the lake and lotuses and downtown LA.

Went to the first event of the 3 planned for this year. It was 80's night and I had made the…read morepurchase from Goldstar. Didn't realize yelp has a link too! Overall had a great time. Some event hacks: -Plenty of parking- and free. Consider ride share if you'll be served alcohol :) -Buy tickets in advance for a more efficient entrance; - Several food trucks scattered around, the ones we tried accepted credit cards; - a fun dance floor is set up on the far right after you pass carousel. This is where the draft beer section was and most of the food trucks - take a light jacket it gets chilly at night

I have found my happy place!…read more Summer Nights at the LA Zoo combine animals, music, dancing, food, drinks and art into an amazing experience. Thanks to Groupon I was able to save a few dollars on the entrance cost. $17 to see animals and hear DJs and live music was well worth it. Plus if you arrive exactly at 6pm you can enjoy the animal talks and see various animals be fed. I arrived at 7pm and still caught 2 of my favorite animals, the giant otters and the jaguar. If I had prioritized animals over drinks I could have seen more but the bar called my name! The bar has beer, wine, and mixed drinks. The options are not extensive but adequate and decently priced at $12 for a mixed drink and the bartenders are pleasant. With a drink in hand and an animal or 2 to view I ventured off up the hill to get food before viewing the jaguar feeding. Most of the food trucks advertised were there barring 2 noticable absences. I lucked into eating at a truck I had enjoyed 1 year earlier, India Jones Chow truck. I ordered the lamb Frankie for less than $10 and would order it again. Each bite had better flavor than the last. The Frankie was very portable and allowed for animal viewing and dancing. There are multiple DJs and live music venues around the zoo. The music and foods available are diverse. I found that my timing was perfect as no line was too long but I think I was lucky as the later it got the longer the bar line was in multiple locations. Plus the silent dance party line was very long to enter. I didn't get to enjoy the silent dance party but the Detroit Nights band was very fun and situated next to a painting station where you could paint on a canvas to take home. With so many options this event is surely one I will visit again. Next date is September 27, 2019 and it is already on my calendar to be there.

Saw Francis Mercier here and holy moly, what a venue!…read more I'll admit, I was a little nervous driving in. GPS had me cutting through Skid Row, and when it said I was close to the venue I thought, "wait.....we really about to party here?!" Thankfully, California Plaza has its own parking structure and once you pull in, everything feels safe and organized. Parking was $10 cash or $17 card at my event. From there it was a breeze, just hop in the elevator straight up to the venue. The DJ stage was beautiful, sound and lighting were amazing, and there were plenty of spots to chill if you needed a break. Bathrooms were clean with plenty of stalls (longest line I waited in was maybe 2 minutes, which is nothing for a packed show). The VIP area looked pretty underwhelming. Personally, I wouldn't bother with VIP tickets here. Overall though, fantastic night, incredible music, and I'd definitely come back for another show!

Recently saw Camel Phat here and thought it was ok. The positive is parking was $10 and at the…read morevenue, lots of room to move around and good views of downtown. Negatives were I wasn't a fan of the sound system here and the attendees were all local L.A or Westside people that were here to be seen. It wasn't an EDC vibe, but more of a networking event with DJ's in the background. The loud conversations everyone was having and the sound system being centered in one area just made it lackluster. I've been a Camel Phat fan since the beginning or at least 2018/2019 so to see all their sets go off on You Tube videos then come to this was a little disappointing. Not their fault, just the crowd drowned out the sound. Sometimes the L.A. crowd is such a bummer.

YESSSS! I did it - 100th review of 2013! And I couldn't be prouder that it is on the LA Culture…read moreFestival, aka Hollywood Carnival! If you ask around, most people are pretty familiar with Carnival in Brazil. BBF - beads, bikinis, and feathers galore! Loud music, rhythmic drums, sexy Samba dancers. But not many people are familiar with Caribbean Carnival, specifically originating in Trinidad and Tobago. This is where my family is from and I am a die-hard Carnival Jumbie (Google that!)! I can't be more excited to celebrate and share the Caribbean Carnival culture with the Los Angeles area. There are so many cities across the world that host a Caribbean Carnival - Miami, New York, San Francisco, Houston, Notting Hill, Toronto, Berlin. It's about damn time the entertainment capital of the world also had a Carnival! The parade started in 2012. In only 2 years time, this has become a grande event! Carnival dancers in costumes, infectious soca and calypso music, a Carnival Village with food, drinks, face painting for the kids, crafts and vendors, and live performances. If you've never had a "Bake and Shark" sandwich, this is a MUST MUST MUST! The best thing you ever did eat! Yes, I'm biased because it gives me an excuse to be drunk in the streets on a nice hot day dancing my worries away! But it's also such a diverse event that really mimics the unique blend of cultures in LA. Takes place usually the 3rd Saturday in June. The parade is on Hollywood Blvd at starting at Vermont and ends just passed Vine or Cahuenga. Now, Carnival is not a spectator event! You *can* watch from the sidewalk if you'd like, but it's so much fun to join a band, get in a costume, and be IN the parade! I have had the best times ever the last 2 years and can't wait for 2014's parade. See you on the road!

I am in this parade every year. For the last two years I was in the Epic mas band. I love the…read morepeople, the music and the energy. Every year it gets bigger and bigger. So much better than Westchester carnival, which no longer exists! Its so notice to see everyone come out and celebrate. Even the businesses welcome everyone, so its refreshing Parking can get really hard. I was fortunate to find some at LaBrea and Hawthorn, then shuttle over to the start which is at Hollywood/Vermont. I am sure next year will be even bigger and better.

Taste of events are usually super fun! Taste of Industry had lots of food and drink samples. No…read morelong lines and lots of free parking! It was not overly crowded and everything was organized. Bathrooms were clean and the normal kinds. I liked the event a lot!

An incredibly fulfilling event, both emotionally and for your belly, the City of Industry's Taste…read moreof the Town is a showcase for local chain and individually owned restaurants to come together in an intimate and festive venue and fill up the tummies of guests with delicious and generous portions of food in the form of tacos, pastas, cerviches, sandwiches, and much more. In addition, there was great live music and a lot of friendly people to meet. I think the best part about attending the event was finding out about menu items I didn't know existed for chain restaurants, and also what non chain restaurants were up to and doing for the community. I was particularly impressed by a roastery that was run by a high school. Thank you to Yelp SGV for the tickets - it made me feel good to know that such an event existed and really gets its guests to associate themselves with their community better.