100+ VINTAGE CARS AND TRUCKS: The corner of Third & Fairfax, where the Original Farmers Market sits today, has long ties to autos (remember racing at Gilmore Stadium?) and gasoline (yep, there's even a vintage gas station replica on the grounds). So an auto show celebrating the best of fenderdom feels right. See a bunch of cool machines take over the grounds -- including the Studebaker Avanti, the star of the day -- and see it for free on Saturday, June 1.
25TH ANNUAL AIDS Walk Long Beach: The beneficiaries for this fundraising walk extend to Manhattan Beach, so it is definitely one of the most important annual large-scale fundraisers in the South Bay. Want to walk? You can. Want to sponsor somebody? You can do that, too, or you can make a donation. If you want to join the event itself, it wends through downtown Long Beach on Sunday, June 2. Some satellite events, including a new Beach Challenge Obstacle Course, are part of the day.
MAKE MUSIC PASADENA: You could almost build a short poem out of the following sentences: Largest free music festival in California. Over 35,000 people in attendance. Some 150 concerts including performances by Tanlines and Yacht. Happening Saturday, June 1. (If we had some of those refrigerator poetry magnets, we'd lend them to you. Aaaand, go!)
PEDAL ON THE PIER: Count 'em up: 100 stationary bikes and some 400 riders, give or take, will pedal 100 miles at Santa Monica Pier to raise money to provide "underprivileged children free, year-round camp retreats" with a nature angle. It's a mega high energy day -- yeah, we unleashed a "mega" there, because if you go you'll see -- and loads more people turn out to cheer on the riders, listen to music, watch dance, and get into the amped-up spirit. Date? Sunday, June 2
LAST REMAINING SEATS OPENS: Everyone loves our vintage movie palaces -- yep, "love" is a pretty big word but poll five people and see if they don't -- but not everyone is able to see an actual movie in them, due to a variety of reasons, including the fact that many of our gorgeous downtowners simply don't screen a lot of flicks. The LA Conservancy's annual summertime "show an older movie in an older landmark" program brings the spotlight back and helps raise conservation funds, too. "Casablanca" and "My Fair Lady" are ahead. June 1-30, select dates.
