BASTILLE DAY LOS ANGELES: Wine, petanque playing, (think boules), Paris-summoning tunes, and French fare are on the table at this Elysian Park party. The day's highlight, or at least, a goodly slice of comedy/sports: the Waiter Race. Don't spill! Sunday, July 12th
ECHO PARK COMMUNITY FESTIVAL: There's no Lotus Festival this year in '09, but there is this fam-friendly hoedown with a true international flavor. Dance performances with a global bent, bands, and eats -- plus a "Lotus Children's Area" -- are part of the July 10th-12th festivities at Echo Park Lake
RENEGADE CRAFT FAIR: There isn't a person around who doesn't don something -- a shirt, a bracelet, a belt -- who doesn't secretly wish it was kind of one-of-a-kind-ish. Not always possible, but this handmade-y hullabaloo may provide some of that particular satisfaction. July 11th-12th, California Market Center
KCRW WORLD FESTIVAL: Balladeer Ray LaMontagne makes pretty, sleepy-day music that sounds like it might have come off a reel-to-reel. Jenny Lewis makes pretty, tangled-heart music that sounds like something you might hear while driving by the corner of Sunset and Alvarado. Sunday, July 12th, Hollywood Bowl
MARY PICKFORD BIG-SCREEN EVENT: Before the last 387 press-crowned America's Sweethearts, there was the original, Ms. Mary Pickford. Seeing a Pickford flick large is a treat. Seeing it at the Alex Theatre is a treat. Seeing it so close to Porto's, where one might indulge in a fried dough meat balls, is a treat. "Sparrows" screens Sunday, July 12th
