LANTERN FESTIVAL: It's free, it's full of kid-nice activities, it lasts for a full afternoon, and everyone waits for sundown when the glow-in-the-dark dragon will dance. Why don't we have a glow-in-the-dark dragon in our lives, like, daily? We feel like that could be something very special. The Chinese American Museum is the spot and Saturday, March 2 is the day. Oh, and this rounds out the new year's festivities, if you want to enjoy one more party to welcome the Year of the Snake.
PALEYFEST OPENS: "It's the television event of the year" gets trotted out so much that we hate to even use it. But PaleyFest really is the television event of the year, seeing as how stars from most of the major series gather on stage, alongside the creators, and Q&A about their shows. Fans travel from all over to see it, but it is right here in LA. Saban Theatre is the place, opening date is Friday, March 1. Oh? There are a few sold-out nights, like "The Walking Dead," but plenty of tickets remain for other shows.
CAVALIA'S "ODYSSEO": The Montreal-born, horse-filled reverie "Cavalia" has trotted the world over and played to thousands upon thousands of equine buffs. This new show features 67 horses and "a magically appearing 302,000-litre lake." Plus humans doing all sorts of amazing acrobatics and feats. Burbank is the place -- and the only place, too, in the U.S. that this show is scheduled to travel thus far -- and the final date is Sunday, March 17.
GRAND PARK'S DOWNTOWN BOOK FEST: There's a lot to be said for momentum in the first year of any enterprise. Grand Park, the Civic Center-close green space, has kept up its forward-motion with a host of interesting free events. The one up on Saturday, March 2 is all about indie authors, devoted readers, offbeat publishers, a pop-up shop from downtown's The Last Bookstore, and, of course, food trucks.
FIRST FRIDAYS: The Natural History Museum deals very much in the concept of time (as in eras and eons). But how four months can pass so quickly is a mystery. That's about how long the First Fridays series lasts each year, and we're halfway through. Want to catch music, science, dancing, and a talk on earthquakes? Get to Expo Park on Friday, March 1.
