OC Fair opens: Where can one possibly begin at this giant of the county fair scene? Will you ride Titan, "the largest booster ride in the U.S."? It is making its California debut, after all. Will you nosh on an Elote Dog or Waffle Pizza? Might you head straight for the Pacific Amphitheatre, to catch The B-52's or Weird "Al" Yankovic? Or is it all about the animals for you, the beautiful horses, the cuddlesome piglets, the wee chicks? Or maybe you just want to get hitched in a barn? Whatever your fair-focused pleasure is, this midway'd-out, food-tastic biggie is on for 23 select days beginning on Friday, July 12.
dineLA begins: How's your scrolling finger? Have you been putting it through the daily exercises? Good. Because there is plenty of scrolling do with this two-week, city-wide event, thanks to the restaurant after restaurant that's participating (more than 400 are on board for this summertime go-around). Nope, you don't need a ticket to arrive for a prix fixe lunch or dinner at any of the dineLA eateries, though, of course, reservations are often a great idea. Lunch courses begin at $15 at some spots, while dinners run the $29-$59 gamut (with a few special $99 places).
Lotus Festival: It's one of the gems in our city's cultural calendar, and it gives families the awesome opportunity to soak up a host of performances and events. The Echo Park Lake-based party, which is 39 in 2019, is all about honoring "The People & Culture of Asia & The Pacific Islands." A food court, a Thai pavilion, dragon boats, the chance to learn origami, and more merriment are on the schedule. As for the price to join all of these entertaining goings-on? Oh, this is as sweet as a just-opened flower floating on lake water: It's free. Float by this beloved gathering on July 13 and 14.
Lucas Museum's first public event: The enormous institution now rising at Exposition Park doesn't yet have a firm opening date, but it does have a name that plenty of fans know: The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. If you're intrigued by some of the offerings that will one day be on the museum's schedule, you can check one out now, or on July 13, rather, in Leimert Park. Two artists, one from the "Star Wars" universe and one from Disney," will lead a day of creature-cool creation. Would your tot dig this kind of thing? It's free.
Hello Kitty Cafe Truck: Just when you send your over-sized pink glitter bow to the cleaner, believing that the popular on-the-go Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is beyond Southern California, it returns, and with several new items in tow. it's headed to Montebello on Saturday, July 13, and there'll be treats for sale, and new cafe cushions, and a new t-shirt, and other fresh-fresh-fresh merch. There might be a queue, do note, so arrive a little early, but here's something as nice as a smile or sunshine: The truck'll be there for ten hours, giving lots of fans the chance to check it out.
