Kick off your Independence Day Weekend with Metro. All weekend long there’s the Anime Expo, fireworks with Daryl Hall and John Oates at The Hollywood Bowl and the Everything is Festival at the Cinefamily theatre. On Saturday don’t forget to check out the sequel to last year’s unique transit event, Meet Me @ Metro. There’s also Metro’s own Art’s a Trip tours of the art of the Metro Rail system. And for more sustainability action, and a chance to win an electric scooter courtesy of Transit TV there’s a screening of What is the Electric Car? at the Silverlake Library on Saturday.

Don’t forget, buses and trains are on Sunday schedules on Monday, July 4th!

All events are subject to change or may be be sold out, please check with the venue before making plans.  To plan your trip and to check all other transit options, please consult Google Transit or the Metro Trip Planner.

Friday, July 1

New Kids On The Block + Back Street Boys at Staples Center
The best of 90’s boy bands join forces this Friday at Staples.
Website: http://www.staplescenter.com/
When: 7:30pm
Price: $29.50-$99.50
Where: Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St.
Nearby Metro Rail: Blue Line Pico Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Figueroa/Pico (81, 442, 445, 460, 701, 721, Silver Line), Olympic/Figueroa (28, 728)

Anime Expo 2011
North America’s largest anime and manga convention.
Website: http://www.anime-expo.org/
When: All weekend
Price: $50 one-day pass; $65 two-day consecutive pass; $75 four-day pass; $35 kids 6-12; 5 & under free
Where: L.A. Convention Center, , 1201 S. Figueroa St.
Nearby Metro Rail: Blue Line Pico Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Venice/Figueroa (33, 81, 442, 445, 460, 733) Pico/Figueroa(30, 81, 439, 442, 445, 730, Silver Line)

Everything is Festival at The Cinefamily
An insane and eclectic five day celebration of everything we both love: discovery, weirdness, and just plain fun.
Website: http://www.cinefamily.org/
When: Various times, all weekend
Price: $10-$14
Where: The Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave.
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Melrose/Fairfax (10/48, 217, 218, 780)

Dance Downtown – Bollywood/Bhangra
Two left feet? Learn how to dance and shake it, move it and groove it under the stars with live music/DJ and beginner dance lessons sprinkled throughout the evening. No experience necessary.
Website: http://www.musiccenter.org/
When: 6:30pm
Price: FREE
Where: L.A. Music Center, 135 North Grand Ave.
Nearby Metro Rail: Red/Purple Line Civic Center Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Temple/Grand (2/302, 4, 10/48, 92, 445)

More weekend events, after the jump

Saturday, July 2

DESTINATION DISCOUNT AVAILABLE
Meet Me @ Metro II
Meet Me @Metro II is an exciting theatrical journey that takes place at Metro stops between Watts and Long Beach.
Website: http://wattsvillagetheatercompany.org/
When: 11am, Saturday and Sunday
Price: $11
Where: Red Line Hollywood/Highland Station
Nearby Metro Rail: Red Line Hollywood/Highland Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Hollywood/Highland (212/312, 222, 217, 780, 156/656)

DESTINATION DISCOUNT AVAILABLE
Art’s a Trip, FREE Metro Art Tour
Learn how the Metro Art Department commissions artists to incorporate art into a wide array of transportation projects throughout LA County.
Website: http://www.metro.net/about/art/
When: 10am, Saturday and Sunday
Price: FREE
Where: Red Line Hollywood/Highland Station
Nearby Metro Rail: Red Line Hollywood/Highland Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Hollywood/Highland (212/312, 222, 217, 780, 156/656)

Sustainable Saturdays at the Silverlake Library
Silver Lake Film Premiere: What is the Electric Car? directed by Ken Grant and Scott duPont (runs 75 minutes) Q&A with the film’s producer to follow. Dree raffle give-away of a new ZAPino 100% Electric Scooter (sponsored by Transit TV)
Website: http://www.sustainablesilverlake.org/
When: 11am
Price: FREE
Where: Silverlake Library, 2411 Glendale Blvd
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Glendale/Silverlake (92)

Freddie Ravel at LACMA
Grammy-nominated composer and pianist Freddie Ravel began his career performing worldwide with Brazilian master Sergio Mendes.
Website: http://www.lacma.org/
When: 5pm
Price: FREE
Where: LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Boulevard
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Wilshire/Fairfax (20, 217, 720, 780)

Blonde Redhead at El Rey
Blonde Redhead is an alternative rock or indie rock band. It was formed by Kazu Makino, Maki Takahashi and Italian twin brothers Simone and Amedeo Pace.
Website: http://www.theelrey.com/
When: 9pm
Price: $25
Where: El Rey, 5515 Wilshire Blvd.
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Wilshire/La Brea (20, 212/312, 720)

Richie Hawtin at The Music Box
An English-Canadian electronic musician and DJ who was an influential part of Detroit techno’s second wave of artists in the early 1990s and a leading exponent of Minimal techno since the mid 1990s.
Website: http://themusicbox.la/
When: 9pm
Price: $25
Where: The Music Box at the Henry Fonda, 6126 Hollywood Blvd.
Nearby Metro Rail: Red Line Hollywood/Vine Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Hollywood/Gower (180/181, 217)

July 4th Fireworks w/ Daryl Hall and John Oates at The Hollywood Bowl
Everyone’s favorite American pop duo Daryl Hall & John Oates, members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, join the orchestra for a night of their classic hits, plus spectacular fireworks and good old-fashioned American music to celebrate our country’s 235th birthday.
Website: http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/
When: 7:30pm, Saturday-Monday
Price: $31-$158
Where: The Hollywood Bowl, 2301 North Highland Avenue
Nearby Metro Rail: Red Line Hollywood/Highland Station (Transfer to Bowl Shuttle), Red Line Universal City Station (Transfer to Bowl Shuttle)

Sunday, July 3

Cinespia – “Ghostbusters”
Watch “Ghostbusters” in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Website: http://www.cinespia.org/
When: 7pm
Price: $10
Where: Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd.
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Santa Monica/Gower (4, 156/656)

Walt Disney Concert Hall Andrew Lloyd Webber Meets Puccini at Walt Disney Concert Hall
Opera performances of Phantom of the Opera – La Bohème – Cats – Evita – Sunset Blvd. – Madame Butterfly – Nessun Dorma
Website: http://www.laphil.com/
When: 2-4:30pm
Price: $43-$100
Where: Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 South Grand Avenue
Nearby Metro Rail: Red/Purple Line Civic Center Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Grand/2nd (70, 71, 76, 78/79/378, 96, 442, 485, 487/489)