Self-Help Graphics is a community art center nestled in the middle of Boyle Heights. It was…read morestarted by a group of East LA artists in the 1970's. If you are just driving by you will miss this beautiful building composed of a ceramic mural. When visiting the gallery, Make sure you make your way to the back of the building, there, you will find a beautiful sculpture of the Virgen de Guadalupe made completely out of ceramic mosaics! Self Help showcases work from its Printmaking Atelier Program, which invites artists to spend a week creating limited-edition silkscreen prints with a master printer. It also offers youth-based art programs lead by local artists. They also have a great Day of the Dead celebration. From day of the dead sweet bread to sugar skull making, music, altars...the works! It's a great cultural experience. Some of their work is displayed in the Self Help gallery and gift shop. All of their stuff is reasonably priced.

While I love this place and really appreciate how it brings local art to the community, I have to…read moresay that in the last few years this place has suffered and declined. Though I guess that's to be expected with their budget being so demanding and their sources of revenue shrinking with every budget cut so far. I mean, how long has the exterior been working on. Then worse how they pretty much gutted a gallery for the potential of a cafe which never saw the light of day. It's all a bit sad when you think about how this place could bring the community together through art and offering some alternative to the kids on the street in an area that is high with crimes. But I believe it was a change of ownership that has really brought this place down. Even the festivals and events they throw seem to have been altered a great deal and not for the better. The Dia De Los Muertos festivities used to be one of my favorite things. Surpassing even the Hollywood Forever for actually having authentic appeal without pandering to the masses. Being big enough but intimate enough for you to feel it. Then they changed it around and tossed it over at a local park and the vendor booths seem to pop up every where and many of which sold nothing but items that perpetuate the Mexican stereotypes. As much as I don't like the direction it's going, I still have to give this place high marks because while it's not what it used to be, there's nothing else out there that comes close to providing what this does for the local impoverish east los angeles residents.

Cool local event. I'm new to the Food Truck Culture so I decided to try out First Fridays…read more There's plenty of parking and a decent amount of food trucks. I believe different trucks alternate every month. Tables and chairs are set up for you to enjoy your treats. Event is kid/family friendly...super plus. Not insanely crowded. Lines move at a decent pace. Hours: 4:30-9:30pm (approx).

We LOVE this First Fridays. we were originally big fans of the Abbott Kinney FF, but, after moving…read moreto ES, it's pretty challenging to get up to the westside on a friday evening while dragging the kids out. for the most part, the best thing about AK's FF was the Food Trucks. enter Westchester FF. 12 trucks line this closed off section of little Sepulveda. nice touch to close off the street. (heads up AK) ironically, there are a handful of old school, classic shops on this little block, like AK. actually, this is where i found the vacuum store that had my band available. who has a vacuum store anymore? this place! multiple types of food trucks: Soul food, country food, fried foods, curries, cupcakes, cookies, sliders etc etc. very good selection and competitive prices. numerous tables set up in between the trucks and on the street itself. get there early, cause they fill up fast. plenty of families with kids running around all over the place. we felt right at home! a lot different than AK with all its' hipsters and bar hoppers. oh yeah, no bar around here either. very cool spot that we will be checking out again!

This event was spectacular! Some of the art exhibits that I explored were really interesting and…read morecreative. I liked that they were spread around the city and included live music artists. - I also appreciated that they included all types of artist, including those who were experienced, and those who were more entry-level. The event gave everyone a space to show off their abilities.

Now this is not a review on the city of Venice.. That gets 10 stars!! This is specifically on the…read moreVenice Art Craw. I frequent Santa Ana's and Los Angeles' Art Walk so I was kind of expecting something similar. Reading all the reviews from years ago made it seem like a lot larger and more organized. There were stalls set up few and far between. Hard to know where it started, ended, are we even there yet? Did we miss some? Where the heck is all the art work!? We even downloaded the phone app and it didn't help. Venice, your Art Crawl is lacking but has SO much potential. I'm hoping that you'll make it a priority and hoping I can re-visit and update my review.

This is the NEW, 2014, location for the Renegade Craft Fair in L.A. Personally, I believe this is a…read moremuch better location from where it was held at The Los Angeles State Historic Park over the past few years. Here it is much more contained -- not so expansive, going off to no-where. And, certainly less dirty and dusty. In terms of the sellers and the experience. I have noticed that over the past years, each year the L.A. Renegade Craft Fair gets a bit more mainstream. In the early years, the items you would find here were truly unique. Now, well... You can still find some fun items but not so revolutionary. All this being said, it is a fun place to visit and view some nice, creative works that may inspire you.

Finally managed to check out Renegade Craft Fair for their holiday fair last year. Located at Grand…read morePark, you are either going to have to get lucky with street parking or find a paid parking lot nearby. We parked a few blocks away in a paid parking lot and walked over. Renegade is a lot smaller than UniqueLA but the entrance is free and I liked that it was outdoors (although I have no idea what they would do if it rains o.O) I recognised several vendors from UniqueLA, but most of the vendors were different. There was a lot of art prints, jewelry, and terraniums... but of course they also had clothing, food, and various merchandise vendors. It was a warm day so we ended up getting popsicles from Front Porch Pops. They also have a photobooth, courtesy of Magbooth. You know I love photobooths so of course we used it! The bad part of the photobooth is that they didn't have a screen showing you what you looked like, so it wasn't until afterwards that we found out that we were not all in the frame :/ Toyota was also present and if you waited in line and signed up for their newsletters then they would print a free totebag for you. I love free things so we did that as well. We didn't spend too much time here since it was a small market, but it was free (apart from parking) and we had fun. I would like to check it out again if I'm ever in the area while it's happening, but I don't think I would go out of my way to come here (it's not enough to make paying for parking worth it to me).

VENUE ______________…read moreRaleigh Studios was a great venue for this event. Parking was at a lot across the street ($10) which was convenient but pricey. This was a perfect day to be outdoors. There were two places with restrooms. There was enough room to walk around and the vendors filled up the space. I liked that the restaurant was left open so that we could eat in their outdoor space. It was shady, convenient, and very comfortable for a festival event. EXHIBITORS _______________ According to the food festival schedule/book there were 61 of them. There were a few food trucks, some food stands, some people selling their products like vegan themed t-shirts and lotions. It was really a mix of things but, of course, the highlight was the food. FOOD _________ The food here was amazing! It was definitely a highlight of coming here. I discovered a lot of places I really liked that I never would have known about beforehand. Cena Vegan: Carne Asada Nachos (guacamole was an extra cost but necessary and should have been included in the price), would have liked a little more salsa on it as I ran out of sauce at the end. Nevertheless, this was delicious and definitely the most beautiful dish here, enough for 2 people to split Mama's International Tamales: We split the mole tamale and the sweet corn tamale. Both were good. I preferred the savory taste of the mole to the sweet corn which was much sweeter. Pop-Pa's Gourmet Popcorn: This vendor was the best. Generous with his samples, CEO is a super friendly and a kind person, very fresh product with great flavors, and a family business. We got the cinna-pop but it was hard to decide between that flavor and the savory fiesta flavor. Only $3 a bag. Scandylous Delights: OMG this funnel cake! We got The Works which was the funnel cake with strawberry, and bananas, a scoop of soy ice cream, chocolate sauce and powdered sugar. We told them we were sharing and they cut it in half for us. Sweet vendor! These funnel cakes won "best of vegan street fair LA 2017" and it's definitely well-deserved. This was one of my favorite desserts at the event and maybe of all time. Punk Rawk Labs Cashew milk cheese: Just tasted this cheese on a cracker. Tasted rich, almost like real cheese. Very delicious. I approve of this vegan creation. Lulu's Sorbetto: I just had a taste of these flavors but they were amazing. Not too sweet. 100% natural and dairy free, gluten free. The pure chocolate was so good. Entertainment ________________ I skipped the speakers as there wasn't too much I was interested in and, for the most part, it was not cooking demonstrations and my focus was on the food. The main speakers were speaking in an area of the restaurant and it was hard to hear them unless you were sitting up close so I didn't stay for that. The speakers were free but I wish there was more free food or they were making food for me to eat for free. They had a nice band playing as we walked in. They were very good. I enjoyed listening to them. They had a kid zone which is nice and convenient for families. PRICING __________ Not a huge fan of the price for this event. The entry fee the day of is steep: $30 and before the event it is $20 (they also had a promo code for 40% off online). Goldstar (a discount event website) had tickets for $12 (plus the service fee). For the entry price, I expected there to be more free samples there were hardly any. There was some free water bottles from Essentia water, Cedar's hummus gave a generous sample, and Pop-Pa's Gourmet popcorn was also generous. Most everything else was pay as you go. Parking at $10 was a surprise we weren't expecting. And for the entry fee, I thought there'd be some sort of souvenir, even a mug would be nice but no, nothing. And, if you wanted a bag to carry the stuff you were buying or picking up, well, that was $15 too. I wish they just didn't have an entry fee or had a cheaper entry fee as I'm not sure what I was paying for besides maybe the use of the space. I would also be okay with an entry fee that was higher where the food from the vendors was included in the price. I think they should rethink their pricing for next year so people get more bang for their buck. OVERALL 3.5 stars __________ This was a fun event. I love the concept of a vegan food festival. Great venue. Amazing food options to purchase. Lots of people but not overcrowded (and everyone I met was super nice). Lines weren't long and food was fast to pick up. Parking was convenient but pricey. It was a nice experience and I'm really glad I went and I would recommend it for people of all ages, families, and dates. I think there should be more cooking demos than speakers, emphasis should be on the food. I do think they should rethink the entry price and the parking price and give some kind of souvenir/gift basket (it could have samples and coupons advertising their vendors) at the door and have more free samples in general.

First Annual CA Veg Food Fest was pretty awesome!…read more They were promoting this like crazy on social media so there was 40% discount promo codes for pre-purchase tix which came out to $18 per ticket. I saw many complaints online about vegan events being so crowded. But this was the LEAST crowded vegan event that I've been to this year and I've been to 6 vegan festivals in 2016. That's the benefit of this having an entrance fee versus being free to the public. Now the most important stuff, THE FOOD!!! It was easy to walk right up to the vendors since there were hardly any lines. Here's a list of all the yummy things we got to enjoy: - Mac n Cheese, BBQ Chickun and Greens from Southern Fried Vegan http://bit.ly/2fQO1mg - Mole Nachos from Casa de Brisa http://bit.ly/2fpFND5 - OMG Grilled Cheese from TGI Vegan http://bit.ly/2fLnc2s - Vegan Bratwurst from Dogtown Dogs http://bit.ly/2f7rXlT - Rocky Road Vegan Dots http://bit.ly/2g9040V My favorite was the OMG Grilled Cheese which was cheddar, mozzarella, pepper jack, parmesan, garlic butter and avocado on sourdough. I think it's my new favorite thing in life! :) Knowing that I couldn't eat everything on site, I was fully prepared to take a few goodies home including: - Tamales from Taqueria La Venganza - Cosmic Date Treats (raw chocolates) from Alegria Xocolatl I couldn't resist getting a fresh coconut from Zen Comfort. Electrolytes please! http://bit.ly/2fOqHnx I'm also kinda regretting not picking up some tacos to go from Cena Vegan :( It was a hot day but it wasn't super difficult to find some shade to sit in. The layout wasn't as spacious as I thought it would be considering that this event took place at Raleigh Studios. But I appreciate the easy parking situation. They do have a parking structure. Not sure how much it was since we found residential parking nearby. Didn't find any parking restrictions on a Sunday. If the entry price is the same I might go again next year. If they offer the same discount, I'd definitely go.

Dance Home was the highlight of my week for 20 years! it was charged with love, boundless…read morecreativity and sweet community. i am so grateful for every evening I spent there. It was a deep spiritual and heart-warming time in my life. thank you, DANCE HOME!! One of a kind... Mary

Beautiful things happen in this space, packed with history and magic! I LOVE the Contact Impov jams…read moreon sundays!

We had such a fabulous time at this Bastille Day event. We plan to return year after year.read more

"(I am re-posting my reviews... My account was hacked into and SOMEONE thought that it would be…read morecute to delete some of my reviews.... Yelp HQ retrieved them) Jul 14, 2008 / 5 Stars Fete Nationale occurs every year on July 14Th in France and well obviously here in WeHo as well... Think of it as the Cinco De Mayo for the French... It was the 7Th annual event of Bastille Day.. If you are unsure of what it is Google it.. The event was held at the West Hollywood Park across the street from the Pacific Design Center. Which by the way is an amazing piece of building to stare at. A group of 6 of us came out for this event...Which was dope... Approaching the cement path leading to the gated event was a park filled with young families playing in the park and tons of blankets where people were sprawled out on having picnics in the park enjoying the music that was coming from the stage. The entrance fee was a small $5.. The festivities started at 12pm and I am glad that we didn't get here till after 4pm.. Seriously it was hot and humid. Once we were in I noticed tons of umbrellas boasting the Chimay name (isn't that a Belgian beer)? Well, I noticed a food vendor that made crepes. I decided to wait in the long line for a crepe. The vendor was LA Crepe which is a restaurant in W. Hollywood http://www.yelp.com/biz/la-crepe-west-hollywood.... Let me rephrase that LA CRAP. While my friends waited in line for beer I stood in line with the sun beating on me waiting to order a Nutella crepe.. Which was the grossest thing that I have ever had. The crepe itself tasted like egg and was soggy.. This is no crepe. I threw it away... Ehh... Whatever.. I haven't had one good crepe in the states.. So.. On I scooted with my friends to get a drink.... The Chimay station not only served beer but it also served red and white wine as well.. I met a really rad dude named Florent.. Yes, he was French. He was a wine distributor for Wines of the World.. I forgot what the name of the wine that he gave me but it was Chateau something (merlot).. He went into detail about the wine and gave me his number so that I can order some. We made our way over into the main area where the stage was along with other vendors. Tons of tables where out with umbrellas which was a good thing. We all wanted to see the "Paris Loves LA" show which was a cabaret tribute to Serge Gainsbourg (I love Serge) and Brigitte Bardot. It was to start at 6:37 and it didn't go on till nearly 8:30.. They were running behind schedule.. But, none of us were bitching. It was nice to just be outdoors (once the evening began to cool down) listening to live bands and having cocktails with friends... Tons of people dancing to the live music.....The outdoor portable toilets were a nice accessory for the event... They even had a Smart car om display with a Mercedes dealer present to answer questions.. I even sat in it and yes my tall 5"11 and a 3/4 drink of water ass could fit comfortably.. So in short it was a nice day in the park.... The line up was fun.. We missed several of the shows because we didn't get in till the late afternoon... But, the music was fun.. I love French pop... 5*

Best event space ever with the nicest owners. I produce comedy shows here @cursoncomedy on…read moreinstagram. Check us out and come to a show! They have the coolest art, signs, furniture, and even a black light area, all of which come with the place. Highly recommend using this spot. - Kiki

Such an awesome venue! Had a group art show here and it was an incredible place as an overall…read moresocial setting. There's a black light room which makes all the art pop as well as an outside space. It's such a fun place and I'd definitely recommend throwing an event or some type of show here. It's not too big but not too small. There's also a stage and sitting area in the back. Can't wait to be invited back again!