TOSHIBA TALL SHIPS FESTIVAL: Spying the occasional large-of-mast vessel is rather thrilling, but when seven pull into port, well: Break. Out. The. Cameras, yes? The Bill of Rights, The Curlew, and American Pride are three of the seven big boats in the line-up, and a bow-full of shiply haps are on deck, literally, for the Sept. 6-8 weekend fest. Cannon battles, tours, sails, on-shore to-dos, and the famous Friday night sunset parade. Oh, and that on-shore spot? It's Dana Point.
EXXOPOLIS: It's hard to picture a color-saturated, air-filled walk-through sculpture that's on a massive scale, but our imaginations will have some help when a real one lands in Grand Park on Saturday, Sept. 7. It's free to enter, but you may have a wait; the installation can only take so many people at once. Music and performance will fill the visual wonder, which was created by the whimsically monikered Architects of Air. If you can't make Sept. 7, four other dates are ahead: Sept. 8, 13, 14, and 15.
SURF DOG SURF-A-THON: Hounds are known to avoid baths, but the same can't be said of the ocean. They love it, romp in it, and sometimes surf in it, to raise funds for fellow Fidos in need of homes and some tender loving care. Human-hound surfing is a favorite sight of the day, a day that brings out a lot of animal-loving spectators looking to help out the Helen Woodward Animal Center. Del Mar is the dogly spot, Sunday, Sept. 8 is the dogly date.
KCRW GOOD FOOD PIE CONTEST: It's a bit too late to enter your perfect chiffon pie, but check this out: The LACMA-based pie-off will have 347 crusty-cool entries. What does that mean? Some tastes for you, if you head to the museum on Saturday, Sept. 7. The categories are varied -- savory, art-inspired, and fruit are three -- and check this out, part two: Moby is the judge for the vegan pies. Yes, Moby. LA, let us high five you for just your epic LAness!
WORLD 3-D EXPO: A lot of classics'll be going up on the big screen at the Egyptian Theatre over this sprawling, varied-genre dimensional par-tay. Look for gems like "House of Wax" as well as plenty of favorites from the non-horror-screamer set. A noir 3-D film? Interesting; a few are on the schedule. Everything leaps practically into your lap over several days starting on Friday, Sept. 6.
