Go Metro Weekends, Feb 20 – 22

Friday

Start your weekend off with a laugh. Catch actor/comedian Mike Epps’ “Real Deal” stand-up tour, at 8 p.m. at the Orpheum Theatre. Tickets range from $45 to $65. (Metro Red/Purple Line to 7th St/Metro Center or Blue/Expo Line to Pico Station plus a 10 minute walk to the theater, or various Rapid and Local buses serving Broadway/8th St.)

What would Hollywood’s famous composers sound like if they weren’t composing for film? This question is at the heart of pianist Gloria Cheng’s newest album. Hear Cheng perform songs written for her by John Williams, Randy Newman, Alexandre Desplat and other musical greats at two concerts this Friday at the Boston Court Performing Arts Center. Showtimes are 8 and 9:30 p.m. and tickets are $25. (Metro Gold Line to Lake Station then walk 10 minutes south on N. Lake Ave to Boston Ct.)

Saturday

Chinatown is celebrating the Lunar New Year with the 116th Golden Dragon Parade and Festival. This free community event lasts from noon to 9 p.m. and features music, performances, artisans, food trucks and of course, the parade at 1 p.m. Here’s how to Go Metro to avoid traffic–which will be as heavy as the celebration will be fun (hint: very).

The L.A. Opera performs The Ghosts of Versailles at the Dorthy Chandler Pavilion this Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. If you’re a fan of opera, 18th-century history, the splendor of Versailles or the play-within-a-play effect, this performance is for you! Ticket prices vary. (Metro Red/Purple Line to Civic Center/Grand Park Station.)

Sunday

Proving that vegans like their comfort food as much as the rest of us: it’s the 7th-Annual Vegan Chili Cook-Off! This year’s competition takes place at Tony’s Dart Away in Burbank. From noon to 4 p.m., $10 gets you five three-ounce tastings, plus a ballot to vote for the People’s Choice winner. (Metro Bus 183 to Magnolia Bl/Reese Pl.)

February has been a big month for the Barnsdall Art Park. Last weekend the newly-renovated Hollyhock House (designed by Frank Lloyd Wright) opened to visitors, and this Sunday is the opening of two exhibitions on famous “lowbrow” artist Robert Williams and the artists he inspired. The opening lasts from 2 to 5 p.m., after which the exhibits will be open each Thursday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

UCLA Professor Fabian Wagmister, in conjunction with California State Parks’ IMLab, will lead a free walking tour of L.A. State Historic Park this Sunday at 2 p.m. Each month, IMLab crafts an original route beginning at Wellspring, the interactive sculpture below the North Broadway Bridge. Each walk lasts about 3 hours and ends with food and drinks at the IMLab workspace adjacent to LASHP. This month’s tour looks at the park and surrounding area from a geological perspective.

All Weekend

Finally, if you’ve got tickets to the Air + Style Tour at the Rose Bowl, don’t forget that it’s relatively easy (and hugely affordable) to arrive via Metro! Complimentary shuttles will be available to festival participants on Holly Street, just steps from the Gold Line Memorial Park Station. The shuttles will run from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (festival hours). For more information, select the “Public Transit/Shuttle” tab after clicking the link above.

Hope you enjoyed our weekend roundup! Here’s a little more information to help you get where you’re going: