LA PRIDE: It's not only one of the biggest gay pride events on the planet; it is one of Southern California's largest celebrations. Thousands turn out for the parade -- that's on Sunday, June 9 along Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood -- but be sure to stop by West Hollywood Park for the full festival. Multiple entertainment stages, a rainbow of booths, and a little bit of community spirit are part of the June 7-9 festivity. A little bit of community spirit? Make that a lot of bit. Happy 43rd, LA Pride!
LA BLOCK PARTY: What if you had to plan one mega celebration that encompassed all of Los Angeles? It would be an undertaking, but the City of LA and Mayor Villaraigosa have you covered. Grand Park is the place, Mayor-Elect Eric Garcetti will get a welcome, and Bill Clinton will speak. Live tunes, live performances, and, yep, food trucks round out the Friday, June 7 bash.
HAPPY 100TH, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM: The priceless objects found inside the Exposition Park institution are much older than a century, of course -- let's not even start on the T. Rex skeletons -- but a centennial is totally worth celebrating. And celebrate people will, on Sunday, June 9. The new Nature Lab and Nature Gardens open, as does the new Otis Booth Pavilion (it's a stunner). Oh, and GZA/The Genius and DEVO are playing the birthday bash. Nice!
THE LACMA OF TOMORROW: There's been much talk over the years about a new campus for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. An eye-wowzing structure from architect Peter Zumthor has been proposed -- picture a giant dark flower shape covering a great swath of Hancock Park -- which has people talking. If built, it will be just about the most modern building anywhere. (Yep, it is hyperbole, but yep, you have to see it.) Want a sneak peek? An exhibit all about "The Black Flower" opens at the museum on Sunday, June 9.
LA RIVER RIDE: There was a day when the Los Angeles River wasn't in the news much, or, if it was, the reporting typically came with a dour headline. Not these days. River clean-ups, new sections opened to kayaking, and this annual bicycle roll, which pedals on Sunday, June 9, are par for our urban waterway's course. These are pretty good times to be the LA River, all in all. The LA River Ride leaves from and returns to Griffith Park, though there are a few LBC starters/enders in the mix.
