Go Metro Weekends, July 29-31

Those Darlin's at The Echo

Music pick: Those' Darlin's at The Echo. Friday 8:30pm.

It’s the last weekend of July already? Go Metro this weekend for some summer fun before the summer’s gone! Lot of stuff going on this weekend: ESPN X Games 17, Grand PerformancesB-Movies and Bad Science at the La Brea Tar Pits, Long Beach Crawfish Festival and more! Read on for our full list of suggestions.

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 29

DESTINATION DISCOUNT AVAILABLE
ESPN X Games 17

See more than 200 of the world’s best action sports athletes including Shaun White, Travis Pastrana, Brian Deegan, and Tanner Foust throw down in four action-packed days of competition.
Website: http://espn.go.com/action/xgames/summer/2011/
When: All weekend
Price: $5+
Where: L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic Blvd.
Nearby Metro Rail
: Blue Line Pico Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Figueroa/Olympic (28, 81, 439, 728, Silver Line)

DESTINATION DISCOUNT AVAILABLE
Grand Performances: Blitz the Ambassador and Malverde

Ghanaian-born Blitz’s immediate and urgent lyrical flow paints vivid socio-political images. Powerful trombones, trumpets and horns mix seamlessly with turntables, drums, bass, guitar, djembe drums and various sampled sounds to enhance this 21st century hip hop visionary’s bold sound.
Website: http://www.grandperformances.org/
When: 8pm
Price: FREE
Where: 350 S. Grand Ave
Nearby Metro Rail: Red/Purple Line Pershing Square Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Grand/3rd (14/37, 70, 71, 76, 78/79/378, 96, 442, 485, 487/489, 770, Metro Silver Line)

DESTINATION DISCOUNT AVAILABLE
Bilingual Foundation of the Arts Performances
Three different classic Spanish language drama and contemporary plays (one each night), in order to bring awareness of Hispanic culture.  All shows in Spanish with supertitles in English.
Website: http://www.bfatheatre.org/
When: All weekend
Price: Show your valid Metro pass or Metro Rail ticket at any event and receive $5 off single-ticket prices for regular performances. Tickets must be purchased in advance by calling 323.225.4044.
Where
: 421 N Avenue 19
Nearby Metro Rail: Gold Line Lincoln Heights/Cypress Park Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: San Fernando/Humboldt (84/68) Avenue 26/Gold Line Station (251, 751)

Dance Downtown – Disco
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: 6:30
Price: FREE
Where: L.A. Music Center, 135 North Grand Ave.
Nearby Rail
: Red/Purple Line Civic Center Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Temple/Grand (2/302, 4, 10/48, 92, 445)

Stories ‘Round a (Flashlight) Campfire at LACMA
Families of all ages will gather for nighttime storytelling in the galleries inspired by the strange and not too spooky side of Tim Burton.
Website: http://www.lacma.org/
When: 7pm
Price:
FREE
Where: LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Boulevard
Nearby Metro Bus Stops
: Wilshire/Fairfax (20, 217, 720, 780)

The Pontiac Brothers at The Blue Cafe
West Coast rockers from the 80’s return after a looong hiatus to perform what L.A. Weekly calls “tough, smart Stones-style rockers.”
Website: http://www.bluecafelive.com/
When: 10pm
Price:
FREE
Where: The Blue Cafe, 217 Pine Ave.
Nearby Metro Rail: Blue Line Transit Mall Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Long Beach Transit Mall (60, 232)

Those Darlin’s, White Arrows, Motopony at The Echo
Indie rock in Echo Park.
Website: http://www.attheecho.com/
When: 8:30pm
Price:
$10
Where: The Echo, 1822 Sunset Blvd.
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Glendale/Park (92), Sunset/Park (2/302, 4), Sunset/Alvarado (704, 2/302, 4, 200, 603)

More weekend events, after the jump.

Saturday, July 30

DESTINATION DISCOUNT AVAILABLE
Grand Performances: Shoghaken Ensemble and Tigran

Grace, passion and enduring strength mark the music of Armenia, both modern and traditional.
Website: http://www.grandperformances.org/
When: 8pm
Price: FREE
Where: 350 S. Grand Ave
Nearby Metro Rail: Red/Purple Line Pershing Square Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Grand/3rd (14/37, 70, 71, 76, 78/79/378, 96, 442, 485, 487/489, 770, Metro Silver Line)

Ceci Bastida and Gaby Moreno at MacArthur Park
Open lawn seating and music from around the world reflecting the diversity of Los Angeles.
Website: http://www.levittla.org/
When: 7pm
Price: FREE
Where: MacArthur Park
Nearby Metro  Rail: Red/Purple Line Westlake/MacArthur Park Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Alvarado/6th (18, 200, 603) Alvarado/7th (26/51/52/352, 200, 603) Alvarado/Wilshire (20, 200, 720)

Old Pasadena Film Festival
Old Pasadena Film Festival is America’s largest free outdoor film festival, brining more than 20 screenings to the unique urban settings of historic Old Pasadena.
Website: http://www.oldpasadena.org/filmfestival/
When: 8:45
Price: FREE
Where: One Colorado, 24 E. Union St.
Nearby Metro Rail: Gold Line Memorial Park Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Colorado/Fair Oaks (180/181, 260, 762, 780)

Perform Chinatown
An evening of performance art on the streets of L.A.’s Chinatown.
Website: http://jancargallery.com/
When: 6pm
Price: FREE
Where: 961 Chung King Rd.
Nearby Metro Rail
: Gold Line Chinatown Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Hill/College (81, 90/91, 94, 96, 794)

B-Movies and Bad Science at the La Brea Tar Pits
Witness the thrills, chills, and, yes, all the goofiness of those vintage sci-fi and horror flicks, and get here early for a light-hearted discussion with the Page Museum’s own science experts to see if there’s any common ground between science fact and science fiction.
Website: http://www.tarpits.org/
When: 8:30-10:30pm
Price:FREE
Where: Page Museum, 5801 Wilshire Blvd.
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Wilshire/Fairfax (20, 217, 720, 780)

Silent and Classic Movie Nights at Heritage Square Museum
Picnic on the lawn while viewing classic and silent movies. This Saturday night: “Beyond the Rocks” a classic Rudolph Valentino silent movie.
Website: http://www.heritagesquare.org/
When: 7:30-10pm
Price: $10
Where: Heritage Square Museum, 3800 Homer Street
Nearby Metro Rail: Gold Line Heritage Square/Arroyo Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Avenue 43/Mosher (252)

Cinespia – “Flash Gordon”
Watch “Flash Gordon” 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)

Outdoor Cinema Food Fest at Los Angeles State Historic Park
Watch “L.A. Confidential” on a massive outdoor movie screen with food trucks!
Website: http://www.outdoorcinemafoodfest.com/
When: 5:30pm
Price: $10
Where: Los Angeles Historic State Park
Nearby Metro Rail
: Gold Line Chinatown Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Alameda/College (76)

Long Beach Crawfish Festival
Combining the best Cajun, Zydeco, and New Orleans sounds of music, tons of fresh crawfish prepared Louisiana style and served by authentic Cajun chefs, giant food court, children’s area, dance floor, two stages and beach bars to create the largest Crawfish Festival outside of Louisiana.
Website: http://www.longbeachcrawfishfestival.com/
When: Saturday 12pm-11pm, Sunday 12pm-10pm
Price: $13-$30
Where: Rainbow Lagoon Park
Nearby Metro Rail
: Blue Line 1st Street Station

RECESS at L.A. Center Studios
A Back To School Kick-Off Event supporting youth education in Los Angeles. Don your best Back to School attire, then come enjoy libations like the “Dodge (Melon) Ball Martini,” while enjoying LA’s Downtown Skyline and doing something great for the community.
Website: http://thinkingabouttomorrow.org/recess/
When: 9pm
Price: $40
Where: L.A. Center Studios, 1201 West 5th St.
Nearby Metro  Rail: Red/Purple/Blue Line 7th Street Metro Center Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: 6th/Bixel (16/316, 18)

Sunday, July 31

The Belle Brigade at Levitt Pavilion
San Fernando Valley natives Barbara and Ethan Gruska have been touring in support of their self-titled debut album, which The Los Angeles Times has described as “a dozen California pop gems.”
Website: http://www.levittpavilionpasadena.org/
When: 7pm
Price: FREE
Where: Levitt Pavillion
Nearby Metro Rail: Gold Line Memorial Park Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Walnut/Raymond (264/267)

Miranda July: Eleven Heavy Things at Pacific Design Center
Presnted for the first time in Los Angeles, this new exhibition from artist, filmmaker, and writer Miranda July features an outdoor installation of eleven sculptures that encourage viewer interaction.
Website: http://www.moca.org/
When: 11am-6pm
Price:
FREE
Where: MOCA Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Avenue
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: San Vicente/Melrose (10/48, 305, 550) Santa Monica/San Vicente (2/302, 4, 105, 550, 704, 705)